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2nd United States Artillery, Battery A

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: Unit existed prior to the war.1
Muster Out: Unit existed after the war.2

Commander(s):
Lieutenant William Neil Dennison
Commander Image

Lieutenant Robert Clarke
Commander Image

Lieutenant John H. Calef
Commander Image

Lieutenant James H. Lord
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Horse Artillery Brigade | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army3,4

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: 6 x 3-inch Ordnance Rifles (March 31, 1864)5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Horse Artillery Brigade | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7

  • Commander: Lieutenant William Neil Dennison (June 30, 1864)8
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Horse Artillery Brigade | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army9,10

  • Commander: Lieutenant William Neil Dennison (July 31, 1864)11
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army12,13

  • Commander: Lieutenant Robert Clarke (August 31, 1864)14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander: Lieutenant William Neil Dennison (October 31, 1864)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This battery accompanied 1/2/Cav/AotP during the Battle of Boydton Plank Road on October 27-28, 1864.20

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army21,22

  • Commander: Lieutenant John H. Calef (December 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia from December 7-12, 1864.24

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25,26,27

  • Commander: Lieutenant William Neil Denison (January 31 & February 28, 1865)28,29
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 2nd U. S., Battery A was attached to 1/2/Cav/AotP during the month of January 1865 and at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run on February 5-7, 1865.30,31
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.32

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | Cavalry Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army33,34

  • Commander: Lieutenant James H. Lord (March 31, 1865)35
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 2nd U. S., Battery A was attached to 1/2/Cav/AotP during at this time.36

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles37:

  • Sheridan’s Trevillian Raid June 7-24.
  • Trevillian Station June 11-12.
  • Black Creek or Tunstall Station and White House or St. Peter’s Church June 21.
  • St. Mary’s Church June 24.
  • Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 29, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Lee’s Mills July 12, 1864.
  • Demonstration north ½ of the James River July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 27-28.
  • Malvern Hill July 29.
  • Lee’s Mills July 30.
  • Demonstration north of the James August 13-20.
  • Gravel Hill August 14.
  • Deep Run August 16.
  • Strawberry Plains August 16-18.
  • Dinwiddie Road, near Ream’s Station, August 23.
  • Ream’s Station August 23-25.
  • Poplar Grove Church September 29-October 2.
  • Arthur’s Swamp September 30-October 1.
  • Boydton Plank Road October 27-28.
  • Reconnaissance toward Stony Creek November 7.
  • Stony Creek Station December 1.
  • Warren’s Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Namozine Church April 3.
  • Payne’s Cross Roads April 5.
  • Amelia Springs April 5.
  • Sailor’s Creek April 6.
  • Appomattox Station April 8.
  • 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. 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. 233
    4. 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. 551
    5. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 2nd United States Artillery, Battery A Entry, Page 161; 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.
    6. 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. 233
    7. 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. 551
    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. 551
    9. 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 262
    10. 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 736
    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 736
    12. 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”
    13. 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 121: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    14. 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”
    15. 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. 1297.
    16. 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)”
    17. 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 464: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    18. 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”
    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 464: “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 1 (Serial Number 87), page 159: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    21. 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)
    22. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    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. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    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 333: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 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 746: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    27. 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 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    28. 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 333: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    29. 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)
    30. 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 333: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 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 96), page 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 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 68: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    33. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    34. 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 592: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    35. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    36. 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 576: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    37. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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