1st Artillery Regiment (Light)
Battery B
Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Letters FROM: SOLDIERS.—
A letter from John Stanton, son of Rev. F.H. Stanton, of the First Ward, gives an interesting account of the movements of Pettit's Battery, (of which he is a member) in the Virginia campaign. The battery participated in every day's fighting of the eight days' battles and lost none killed and but eighteen wounded. The battery consists of six guns, and used up over two thousand rounds of ammunition in two days alone. The lamented Sedgwick was standing between two of these guns when he was picked off by a rebel sharpshooter.
— William E. Ruggles, son of our townsman, Noble E. Ruggles, was one of the members of the 122d who were at first reported killed. He sends his parents an interesting account of the operations of that regiment, and also of the circumstances which led to his being reported killed. On the night of the 6th—after having been fighting all that day, and participating in three charges, he was detailed on picket duty, and the rebels making a charge on the line he was captured by three of them. Shortly after, taking advantage of the carelessness of his guards, young Ruggles eluded them, and recovering his gun gave them a sharp foot-race, in which he came out ahead. He ran six miles, until he came up with a wagon train, and the next day he rejoined his regiment.

PETTIT'S BATTERY
This famous Battery, which has been of so much service throughout the war, and has escaped with very slight losses, probably suffered considerably in this battle. A telegram received last evening states that one of its most valued members, Harry Rosecrans, son of Mr. Samuel Rosecrans, (watchman at Central. depot,) was killed on Friday.

List of the Killed and Wounded in Pettit's Battery
HEADQUARTERS CORPS HQSPITAL
July 4th, l863.
DEAR JEEMS:-The following is a list of the killed and wounded of "Pettit's Battery," in the late engagement, at Gettysburg:
KILLED:
Amos F Maynard, Lysander, N. Y.
Harrison Wright, "
N. L. Twitchell, Chicago, Ill.
L. D. Daryean, "
C.Y. Radue, ''
Hugh Gavin, New York. '
Patrick Kelly, "
Michael O'Halloran "
John Barry, Phoenix. N.Y.
Henry C. Rosencranz, Syracuse, N. Y.
WOUNDED:
Lieut. A. S. Sheldon, right and left groins, slight.
Serg't. M. P. Childs, knee, slight.
Jno. M. Scoville, side and arm, severe, but doing well
Augustus Rogers, right leg amputated,
Theo. Denoyer, head, slight, ,
Oscar L. States, left arm, slight,
Archibald Campbell, back, slight.
Corridon Wallace, foot, severe.
Stephen Sherman, arm, severe.
George Robb, head, slight.
John Buckley, right leg, slight,
Patrick McGowan, shoulders, severe.
Alex T. Mallory, head, slight,
Rob't. F. Thorn and A. J. Hooker, run over, slight.
None of the wounded are dangerous. Excuse haste and writing. I remain Your obd't. serv't.,

CAPT. PETTI'IT says there was no news of Sergt. HARVEY Cox, when he left. The circumstances attending the wounding of Mr Cox were these. He had just sighted his piece and stepped one side and raised his hand as a signal to fire when a cannon ball struck his heel. The momentum was so great that it spun him round several times like a top before he fell. From Capt. P.'s description it must have carried away the entire heel. Capt. P. had a strap drawn tightly around the limb to staunch the bleeding. As the conflict was then raging in all its terrible power, it was impossible to have him cared for properly, and in the retreat that soon after took place, he was left on the field. Capt. P. hopes that Mr. Cox is still living. We trust so; still we have our fears.

Letter from Pettit's Battery.
Correspondence of the Syracuse Journal.
WARRENTON JUNCTION VIRGINIA,
August 12th, 1863.
On t he first of this month the reserve Artillery, is now attached, arrived at this place and were fortunate in procuring a good camp in all except good water, of which this place is entirely destitute. Our camp is in the woods, in which our horses are picketed and our tents erected, thus escaping the burning rays of the sun, which is at this time, and since the first of the month, extremely hot, rendering exercise o f any kind impracticable.

The reserve is always noted for drill and exercise of all description. And before the sun makes his appearance in the morning the bugle sound is heard ordering a "forward march," "counter march," "riders pre pare to mount" or "dismount," &c. An hour after the sun has risen the bugle is still and those passed for drill and exercises are reclining in the shade, Captains and Lieutenants most likely making arrangements for a change of drivers.

This bad driver, the Captain remarks, has made a right when ordered to make a left wheel, for which offence you will put him in future on a wheel team. This cannoneer is not fit for that post, nor that cannoneer for this; have them changed immediately.— Thus the time passes in the reserve, which is not the place for exercise for the members of Capt. Pettit's Battery, as they have been taught by their old loved Captain, to seek services of a different character, and exercise more beneficial to the government and country.

But the reserve is good for something. We get plenty of fresh bread and beef and have nothing to complain of in the way of food. There is a vacancy in the Battery for some fifty men and I would advise some of my old friends and neighbors who were fortunate enough to be drafted to come and join this battery, its members will be glad to see them, and will lose no opportunity in teaching them the necessary drill, which is according to our old custom, "When you see the enemy give him ."
Truly yours,
EDWARD HOUSE,
Battery B, 1st N. Y. A.

RE-ENLISTED.—The following named gentlemen, members of the First New York Artillery, Battery B, residents of this county, have, with some fifty other members of the battery, re-enlisted for three years: CHAS. A. GATES, DENNIS HESS, ISAAC MATTISON, LAFAYETTE MEAD, all of West Monroe. We suppose, of course, these apply, according to Marshal FRY'S decision, on our county quota. Doubtless, in the various regiments that have re-enlisted there are men who, ought to be credited to our county, but for want of looking after go to the credit of some other county.— Perhaps there is no way to avoid this, if the recruit himself does not take the pains to make it known.

Wounded Again.- Capt. A.S. Sheldon of battery B, First New York artillery has again been wounded. It was in one of the most recent battles. A friend telegraphs for him that he is in hospital in Alexandria, but does not state what is the nature of the wound. One of the members of his father's family left this morning for Alexandria. It is nearly a year since he was first wounded at the battle of Gettysburg.

Capt A. S. Sheldon.—Mr. E. SHELDON, father of Capt. SHELDON, of Battery B, First New York, who went to Alexandria in answer to a telegram announcing that his son was in that city, wounded, telegraphed that the Captain was seriously wounded in the lower jaw with a musket ball.

VETERANS. — Some fifty or sixty members of Battery B, 1st N, Y. Artillery, residents of this county, have re-enlisted.

BATTERY B, FIRST N. Y. ARTILLERY.—The Baldwinsville Gazette says that several members of this famous company, having served out their time and received an honorable discharge, arrived home a few days since. Among them we notice Charles E. Minard, Darius Hall, Hooker, Thorn and others. All honor to the men who have served three years in this glorious war!

— Corporal Daniel Rodgers, of Baldwinsville, who re-enlisted in Battery B, First N. Y. Artillery, died in hospital at Washington last week from the effects of a wound received in the late fight on the Weldon Railroad. He was a son of Henry Rodgers of Baldwinsville, and was a brave soldier.

CAPT. SHELDON AT HOME.--Capt. A. S. Sheldon, of Pettit's Battery, has reached his father's at Utica. Capt. Sheldon was wounded in the lower jaw, which is nearly destroyed. He is now getting along comfortably.

BATTERY B, FIRST N. Y. ARTILLERY.—-The Baldwinsville Gazette says that several members of this, famous company, having served out their time and received an honorable discharge, arrived home a few days since. Among them we notice Charles E. Minard, Darius Hall, Hooker, Thorn and others. All honor to the men who have served three years in this glorious war!

— Corporal Daniel Rodgers, of Baldwinsviile, who re-enlisted in Battery B, First N. Y. Artillery, died in hospital at Washington last week from the effects of a wound received in the late fight on the Weldon Railroad. He was a son of Henry Rodgers of Baldwinsville, and was a brave soldier.

BATTERY B, FIRST N. Y. ARTILLERY—RETURN OF LIEUT. SLAUSON.
— First Lieut. Joseph B. Slauson, of Battery B, First N. Y. Artillery, passed through here this morning, on his way to his home at Baldwinsville, from the army on the Weldon road. Lieut. Slauson has been in the army three years, and was last week honorably discharged at the expiration of the term of service for which he enlisted. He is one of the original members of Battery B, which was raised by, and became famous under the command of Capt. R. D. Pettit. He was First Sergeant when that organization entered the field August 31st, 1861, and for meritorious conduct was promoted from grade to grade until he became First Lieutenant. The Battery has done an immense amount of service, and has been under fire no less than ninety-four times. It has participated in all the leading battles of the Army of the Potomac. Lieut. Slauson was wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville, but passed unharmed through the other actions in which the Battery was engaged. His military career has been highly honorable and meritorious throughout. He has done his duty to his country, thoroughly and creditably.
Lieut. Slauson expressed to us his firm belief in the speedy success of Gen. Grant's campaign before Richmond. This is the confidence of the now largely augmented army before that city and Petersburg. His opinion is that the present demonstration is intended to attract Lee's attention so as to permit Gen. Sheridan to carry out the plan of his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley; and that the result of Grant's operations will be the fall of Petersburg arid Richmond without any very heavy battles. These views are based upon the prevalent impressions in the army. He is personally best acquainted with the position of our army on the Weldon Railroad, in the taking of which he took part in command of Battery B on the 18th of August. He has since that time been in command of a fort at the extreme left of our lines; and his battery was for an entire month daily engaged with the rebels in Petersburg.
Lieut. Slauson brings the most encouraging accounts of the political soundness of the army The vote of officers and men will stand in favor of Mr. Lincoln's re-election as nine to one. The regular army is even more decided in favor of Mr. Lincoln than the volunteers, although the Copperheads have claimed that McClellan was especially strong among the regulars. There are thousands in the army who would probably support " Little Mac" on a sound Union platform, who turn from him in disgust now that he is tied up to the Chicago Platform and indissolubly associated with the avowed rebel sympathizer, Pendleton.

Battery B, First New York Artillery, Re-enlisted for the War.
BRANDY STATION, VA., Jan. 5. 1864
To the editor of the Syracuse Journal:
I enclose for publication in your Journal, a list of the men of my Battery who have re-enlisted for three years, or the war, as veteran volunteers.
A.S. Sheldon, Captain
Perine, Diwitt M, Lysander
Grey, Edward, Lysander
Gates, Charles N., West Monroe.
Murphy, John, Boston.
Ramsey, Robert R. Lysander.
Warren, Samuel, Lysander.
McLaughlin, Thomas, New York City.
Fitzpatrick, James, New York City.
Borden, Charles I., Van Buren.
Wheeler, Hendrick S., Tioga.
Slade, Sylvester I., Geddes.
Brown, John, Brooklyn.
Brown, James H., Lysander.
Barclay, John, Lysander.
Bogan, Walter, New York.
Booth, Anson, New Gillan.
William T., Steuben.
Gallagher, Michael, New York.
Hess, Dennis, West Monroe.
Kensler, Eugnot, Lysander.
Ketchum, Alonzo, Tioga.
Lockwood, Edward P., Lysander.
Murphy, Richard, Boston.
Mattison, Isaac, West Monroe.
Marshal, Joseph, Lysander. :
Mead, Lafayette, West Monroe.
McLaughlin, Timothy, New York.
McMahon, William, New York.
McSorley, John, New York.
Palmer, John B., Lysander.
Purvis, William W., Lysander.
Redman, Henry, Lysander.
Stuart, Charles H., Lysander.
States, Oscar L., Lysander.
Swift, Austin, Smyrna.
Sprague, Calvin, Smyrna.
Gidel, Julius H., Van Buren.
Van Valkenburg, Wm., Van Buren.
Virginia, Joseph A., Lysander.
Wicks, Sanford, Lysander.

Back to 1st Artillery (Light) Battery B