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Massachusetts Light Artillery, 11th Battery

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Organized at Readville and mustered in for three years January 2, 1864.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 16, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Captain Edward J. Jones
EdwardJJones11thMABttyv70p3497L3

Commander 2
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army4,5

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: 6 x 3-inch Ordnance Rifles (March 31, 1864)6

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery | Second Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (June 30, 1864)9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (July 31, 1864)12
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army13,14

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16,17

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 11th Massachusetts Battery remained in Fort Howard during the Fifth Offensive and was temporarily attached to Ferrero’s command.18

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (October 31, 1864)20
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This battery remained in the fortifications and did not accompany the Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac in the field during the Battle of Boydton Plank Road on October 27-28, 1864,21

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (December 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army24,25

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (January 31 & February 28, 1865)26,27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28,29,30

  • Commander: Captain Edward J. Jones (March 31, 1865)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, implying it was present during the battle.32

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles33:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Fort Stedman March 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee to Appomattox C. H. April 3-9.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. Edward J. Jones image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 70, Page 3497L.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
    6. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 11th Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery Entry, Page 111; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 1); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.: Not many returns exist for June 30, 1864, and none exist past that, so I’ve made the decision to include the March 31, 1864 ordnance return data in the absence of better information.  I’ll add more immediate reports of tube numbers and types as they are found.
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 549
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 261
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 735
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 618: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 127: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 618: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    16. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301.
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 142: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    18. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301.
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 463: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1122: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 332: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 574: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)”
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 590: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 574: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)”
    33. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    { 2 comments… add one }
    • gary skinner February 25, 2014, 9:46 am

      Hello,

      Just wondering what ever became of the transcribed copies of the letter from the 11th mass battery I sent you?

      Thank you!

    • bschulte February 25, 2014, 5:35 pm

      Hi Gary! I still have the transcription in my files. I’ll make a point to get it posted this week, maybe even tonight.

      Brett

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