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New York Light Artillery, 1st 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 Auburn, N.Y., and mustered in November 23, 1861.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 23, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Brevet Major Andrew Cowan
AndrewCowan1stNYBttyv044p2172L3

Brevet Captain Orsamus R. Van Etten
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | VI 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 Brigade | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army 7,8

  • Commander: Captain Andrew Cowan (June 30, 1864)9
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10

  • Commander: Captain Andrew Cowan (July 31, 1864)11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The artillery batteries which remained with the Sixth Corps moved to City Point, Va. and embarked for Washington D.C. on July 10, 1864.12,13

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.14

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.15

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:

  • No longer present at the Siege of Petersburg.16

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Washington, D.C. | 22nd Corps | Union Army (?)17

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9-12, 1864.(?)18,19

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (January 26-February 28, 1865)20,21

  • Commander: Brevet Major Andrew Cowan (February 28, 1865)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 1st Battery of New York Light Artillery joined Sixth Corps on January 26, 1865.23

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

  • Commander: Brevet Captain Orsamus R. Van Etten (March 31, 1865)26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles27:

  • Before Petersburg June 17-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 18-July 9.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23.
  • Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11.
  • …away…
  • Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9-12. (?)
  • Siege of Petersburg December (or is it January?), 1864, to April, 1865.
  • Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault and capture of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Sailor’s Creek April 6.
  • High Bridge April 7.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

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. Andrew Cowan image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 44, Page 2172L.  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. 228
    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. 548
    6. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 1st Battery New York Light Artillery Entry, Page 131; 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. 228
    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. 548
    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. 548
    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 258
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXVII, Part 2 (Serial Number 71), page 551
    12. 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 258
    13. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    14. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    15. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    16. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    17.  New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912: Frederick Phisterer’s famous book claims the unit was with the 22nd Corps in December 1864, which would place the unit in Washintgon, D. C.  Phisterer further claims the unit reached the 6th Corps at Petersburg in on January 26, 1865, but the Official Records roster for January 31, 1865 does not list the unit with the 6th Corps.  More research is needed.
    18. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3): Dyer’s Compendium claims the unit moved to Petersburg in December 1864, but the unit does not show up in the Official Records order of battle for December 31, 1864.
    19.  New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912: Frederick Phisterer’s famous book claims the unit was with the 22nd Corps in December 1864, which would place the unit in Washintgon, D. C.  Phisterer further claims the unit reached the 6th Corpps at Petersburg in on January 26, 1865, but the Official Records roster for January 31, 1865 does not list the unit with the 6th Corps.  More research is needed.
    20.  New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912: Frederick Phisterer’s famous book claims the unit was with the 22nd Corps in December 1864, which would place the unit in Washintgon, D. C.  Phisterer further claims the unit reached the 6th Corps at Petersburg in on January 26, 1865, but the Official Records roster for January 31, 1865 does not list the unit with the 6th Corps.  More research is needed.
    21. 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 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    22. 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 744: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    23.  New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912: Frederick Phisterer’s famous book claims the unit was with the 22nd Corps in December 1864, which would place the unit in Washintgon, D. C.  Phisterer further claims the unit reached the 6th Corps at Petersburg in on January 26, 1865, but the Official Records roster for January 31, 1865 does not list the unit with the 6th Corps.  More research is needed.
    24. 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 572: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    25. 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 588: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    26. 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 572: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    27. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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