23rd Independent Battery
Light Artillery (Veteran)
Civil War

History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 23rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

Originally Battery A, Rocket battalion of artillery, became the 23rd battery, November 1,1862. The order making the change was, however, not approved until February 11, 1863.
Mustered out: July 14, 1865.

This battery, originally Battery A, Rocket Battalion of Artillery, became the 23d Battery November 1, 1862; the change was, however, not final until it was approved February 11, 1863. It was recruited in the counties of Niagara, Essex and Warren; organized at Albany, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years December 6, 1861. At the expiration of its term of service, the men entitled thereto were discharged and the battery continued in service. It left the State December 9, 1861, com-manded by Capt. Alfred Ransom, and served at Washington, D. C, from December, 1861; in North Carolina, and the 18th Corps, from April 23, 1862; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, Department of North Carolina, from June, 1862; at Newbern, N. C., from July, 1862; at Morehead City, N. C, from October, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Corps, from December, 1862; in the district of Pamlico, Department of North Carolina, and in the district of North Carolina, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, from May, 1863; with the Cavalry Division, General Sherman's forces, from April 1, 1865. July 14, 1865, the battery, commanded by Capt. Samuel Kittinger, Jr., was honorably discharged and mustered out at Fort Porter, Buffalo, N. Y., having, during its service, lost by death of disease and other causes, 46 enlisted men.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Unit Roster

Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to int-historians@ng.army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Low, Thomas. Papers, 1861-1865.
Abstract: Letters and a diary, 1861-1863, describing daily life, morals of the troops, intemperance, rumors, disease and monotony. Entries made in Washington, D.C., include descriptions of the mud, Congressional sessions, lectures at the Smithsonian, some poems, and an account of Fairfax Court House, Va. The diary also describes rockets and target practice; the sea journey to North Carolina; the U.S.S. Monitor off Fortress Monroe, Va.; camp life at New Bern; opinions about draft evaders who fled to Canada; the attacks on Washington, N.C., April, 1863; and the recruitment of black troops for the U.S. Army. The correspondence with family members includes a letter written at the hospital on City Point, Va., shortly before Low's death; it describes the reactions of the wounded to the news of Lee's surrender and mentions a visit by Abraham Lincoln.
Number of Pages: 5
Located at Duke University Library.

Lowry, Thomas Power. Civil War Rockets. Charleston, SC: CreateSpace, 2012.
Available for purchase through Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Rockets-Thomas-Power-Lowry/dp/1470029839/

Kittinger, Joseph. Year: 1979 Diary, 1861-1865, Joseph Kittinger, 23rd New York Independent Battery : enlisted Sep't. 1861 as private, mustered out April 19, 1865 as 1st. lieutenant. Buffalo, N.Y.: Kittinger Co., 1979.

Items the museum owns are in bold.

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