Hart's/Halsey's Battery  (Hamptons Legion Artillery)

 

Known as the Washington Artillery Volunteers and Hampton's Legion Artillery, this battery was more often referred to by the name of its second captain and known as "Hart's Battery." Made-up largely of men from Charleston, Orangeburg, Barnwell, Colleton, Beaufort and Bamberg Districts, the company was formed from a division of the Washington Artillery of Charleston. The newly organized Washington Artillery Volunteers had approximately fifty members on its rolls in less than a month following the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Composed largely of artisans and mechanics, the company of men soon sought out leadership that was "to be officered by men educated to the profession of arms." With this reassurance exhibited, the company's ranks were soon filled and efforts expedited in order to find a staff of worthy officers. In the meantime, in early June, the company was inspected and received as the "Washington Artillery Volunteers" as a part of the famous Hampton's Legion.

Several officers were solicited for the post to lead the company including Arthur Middleton Manigault (later colonel, 10th S.C. Infantry), William Cruger Heyward (later colonel, 11th S.C. Infantry), John B. Villepique, John Pegram, and other West Point graduates. The captaincy was finally placed in an offer to Captain Stephen Dill Lee. Then a member of General P.G.T. Beauregard's staff, Lee immediately signified acceptance of the post. However, due to his obligations with the quartermaster's department, Lee was unable to assume command until the company's arrival in Virginia.

On June 10 the company left Hampstead Mall, under an escort by the (1st) Washington, German and Lafayette Artillery, proceeded to Military Hall and was presented with "a handsome guidon." Following the brief ceremony, the proud new company made their way to Columbia where they arrived on the following day. On June 13, the Washington Artillery Volunteers were officially mustered into service with 147 men "rank and file." The company departed for Virginia on June 24, 1861.

Upon arrival in the suburbs of Richmond and camp made at Rockett's, the officers at once set to work on supplying the company. Armed initially (by the latter part of July) with pieces manufactured by the Tredegar Foundry (two rifled pieces with 3 ½ inch bores, and four 12-pounder howitzers), the battery was later supplied with a fine battery of four Blakely Rifles brought from England to Savannah, Georgia in November, 1861, aboard the steamerBermuda.

Detained from serving with the Hampton Legion at 1st Manassas due to failure to receive armament in time, the battery later served, mostly under the command of Hart, in several battles before being transferred with Hampton to the cavalry and ultimate service with the famous Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion. While in the service of this battalion, Hart's Battery saw service in a plethora of engagements under battalion commanders such as John Pelham, Robert Franklin Beckham, and Roger Preston Chew. In the long list of actions in which the battery was involved, Captain Hart was seriously wounded and replaced by the promotion of Halsey as the last battery captain.

Eventually attached to Butler's Division, Halsey's Battery followed several South Carolina cavalry regiments to serve in their native Palmetto State and North Carolina against the advance of William T. Sherman's menacing forces. The battery was eventually surrendered as a part of the Army of Tennessee with General Joseph E. Johnston at the Bennett House near Durham, North Carolina on April 26, 1865 and the survivors were given paroles on May 2, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.

 

ENGAGEMENTS
 

September, 1861	Freestone Point, VA (on the Potomac)
November 9, 1861	Cockpit Point, VA (on the Potomac)
June 25 - July 1, 1862	Seven Days Battles
August 28-30, 1862	2nd Manassas/Bull Run, VA
September 12, 1862	Monacacy, MD
September 13, 1862	Frederick, MD
September 14, 1862	South Mountain, MD
September 17, 1862	Sharpsburg/Antietam, MD
October 9-12, 1862	Stuart's Chambersburg Raid [one section]
November, 1861	Barker's Crossroads, Little Washington, Sperryville, Va
December 11-15, 1862	Fredericksburg Campaign, VA
May 1-5, 1863	Chancellorsville, VA
June 9, 1863	Brandy Station, VA
June 17, 1863	Warrenton, VA
June 19, 1863	Middleburg, VA
June 21, 1863	Upperville, VA
June 30, 1863	Hanover, PA
July 2-3, 1863	Attached to III Corps, Gettysburg, PA
July 5, 1863	Williamsport, MD
August 1, 1863	Brandy Station, VA
September 11 & 12, 1863	Raccoon Ford, VA
October, 1863	Jack's Shop, VA
October 9-22, 1863	Bristoe Campaign, VA
November - December, 1863	Mine Run Campaign, VA
May 5-12, 1864	The Wilderness Campaign & Yellow Tavern, VA
May 8-21, 1864	Spotsylvania Court House, VA
May 28, 1864	Hawe's Shop, VA
June, 1864	Trevillian's Station
June 20, 1864	York River, VA
June 24, 1864	Samaria Church, VA
June 1864 - April 1865	Petersburg Seige, VA
September, 1864	McDowell's Farm, VA
October, 1864	Armstrong's Mill, VA
October 27, 1864	Burgess' Mill, VA
October 28, 1864	Hatcher's Run/Dinwiddie Road, VA
March 19-21, 1865	Bentonville, NC

 

 

ORGANIZATION

Commanders:

Stephen Dill Lee - a West Point (USMA '54) graduate, S.D. Lee assumed command as first captain of the Washington Artillery but was promoted on November 8, 1861 to major and artillery battalion commander within the Hampton Legion. S.D. Lee was more popularly known for his service as artillery battalion commander in what he proclaimed as "Artillery Hell" near the Dunker Church at Sharpsburg/Antietam on September 17, 1862 and even more for his service as a Confederate general.

James Franklin Hart - A Graduate of the Citadel (SCMA), Hart was initially a lieutnant of C.S. Engineers. Enlisted with the Washington Artillery and promoted lieutenant, June 15, 1861. Promoted to captain at Lee's promotion to major, November 27, 1861. In the severe action at Burgess' Mill, Hart lost a leg, but was promoted to major, February, 1865.

E. Lindsey Halsey - A native of Charleston, Halsey assumed command following Hart's disabling wound, was promoted to captain and commanded the company through the close of its service with the surrender of Johnston in North Carolina on April 26, 1865.

 

 

Citad

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South Carolina Legions Hampton Legion (COMMANDING OFFICERS) LT. GENERAL WADE HAMPTON (Legion) Wounded First Manassas Promoted Brigadier General (5/23/62) Wounded Gettysburg Promoted Major General (8/3/63) Promoted Lt. General (2/15/65) MAJOR GENERAL MATTHEW BUTLER (Mounted) Promoted Colonel, Second S.C. Cavalry (8/62) Lost Right Foot (6/63) Promoted Brigadier General (9/1/63) Promoted Major General (9/19/64) BRIGADIER GENERAL M. GARY (Infantry) Promoted Brigadier General (5/19/64) BRIGADIER GENERAL T.M. LOGAN (Infantry) Wounded during the Seven Days Battles Promoted to Brigadier General (2/65) LT. COLONELS B.J. JOHNSON (Killed in Action 6/12/61) First Manassas J.B. GRIFFIN Lt. Colonel (6/21/61) Injured by Lightning (10/61) Dropped at Reorganzation BRIGADIER GENERAL MARTIN GARY See Above R.B. ARNOLD Lt. Col. (5/19/64) Surrendered the unit at Appomattox. MAJORS LT. GENERAL STEPHEN D. LEE (Artillery) Promoted to Brigadier General (11/06/62) Promoted to Major General (8/3/63) Promoted to Lt. General (6/23/64)   MAJOR GENERAL M.C. BUTLER (Mounted) See Above BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES CONNER (Infantry) Promoted to Colonel, 22nd N.C. following Seven Pines Wounded in leg, Seven Days Battle Promoted to Brigadier General (6/1/64) Wounded in leg, Cedar Creek BRIGADIER GENERAL MARTIN W. GARY (Infantry) See Above J.B. GRIFFIN See Above J. HARVEY DINGLE Killed in Action at Sharpsburg, with the Legion flag in his hand. R.B. ARNOLD See Above B.E. NICHOLSON Wounded at First Manassas and Darbytown Road Paroled at Augusta, Ga. Staff: T.G. Barker (Adj.) T.C. Beggs (Capt. Comsy.) J.S. Buist (Capt. Asst. Surg.) J.T. Darby (Major/Surg.) C.L. Goodwyn (AQM) W.P. Green (Asst. Surg.) S.L. Hammond (Lt.) Richard Johnson (Capt.) W.B. Johnson (Chap.) B.W. Taylor (Capt. Asst. Surg.) W. Taylor (Asst. Surg.)

lag by Marilyn

 

 

Hampton Legion Artillery, Company A Officers

.S.D. Lee (Capt./Major).

.W.R. Marshall (1Lt.).

.S.G. Horsey (1Lt.).

P.H. Hitchinson (2Lt.).

 

 

Hampton Legion Artillery, Company B Officers

W.K. Bachman (Capt.)

Rudolph Siegling (1Lt.)

James Simmons Jr. (1Lt.)

H.A. Wagener (2Lt.)

 

 

Lee's Battery Officers

Stephen D. Lee (Capt.)

W.F. Barnwell (1Lt.)

Benjamin Sloan (1Lt.)

J.G. Blount (1Lt.)

T.B. Hayne (2Lt.)

J.A Keith (1Lt.)

 

 

Bachman's Battery Officers

Wm. K. Bachman (Capt.)

Rudolph Siegling (1Lt.)

James Simmons Jr. (1Lt.)

Wm. Schwers (2Lt.)

Ernst Schmacher (Guidon)

 

 

Hart's Battery Officers

E.L. Halsey (Capt.)

J.F. Hart (Capt.)

F.M. Bamburg (1Lt.)

Wm. T. Adams (2Lt.)

 

 

Washington Artillery Battery Hart’s Horse Artillery Hart’s Battery Halsey's Horse Artillery J.F. Hart E.L. Halsey Army of North Virginia Walter's Battery G.H Walter Defense of South Carolina. The guidon of Hart's Battery is located in the Confederate Relic Room in Columbia, S.C. Dedmondt, Glenn, The Flags of Civil War South Carolina, ISBN NUMBER 1-56554-696-2 Hart's Battery or Halsey's Company and Walter's Battery are two different elements of the Washington Artillery.  Hart's Battery served with Stuart in the Army of Northern Virginia. and Walter's in the Defense of South Carolina. Hart's Battery also served as Company A of the Hampton Legion Artillery under Stephen D. Lee, who was Captain of the unit. It is also called Lee's Company on occasion in its very early history during the war. For Additional Reading: Brooks, U.R.: Stories of the Confederacy U.D.C.:Recollections and Reminiscences 1861-65: Individuals: Brabham, Sergeant H.J. Brabham, Hart’s Battery, Vol. 11, Page 347, U.D.C. Hart, James, F. Washington Artillery, Hart’s Battery, Vol. 5, page 192 Phillips, John Franklin Phillips, Hart’s Battery, Vol. 9, page 596, U.D.C. Washington, Dan, Hampton Legion Artillery, Washington Light Artillery, Hart’s Battery, Slave Account, Washington was wounded. Vol. 4, page 592 Rosters and Other: None Walter's Battery

Stations and Battles of Hart's Light Artillery