4th Independent Battery
Light Artillery
Civil War
Serrell's Artillery; Parrott Battery; Battery C, and Later D, New York Artillery; Smith's Battery

History
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 4th ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

Mustered in: October 24,1861.
Disbanded: December 4,1863. Men transferred to other units

This battery was recruited and organized in New York city as Company L, Artillery Company, Serrell's Engineers, and part of the 1st Troop, Washington Greys (Varian's Battery, 8th Militia"), formed its nucleus. It was mustered in the United States service for three years at Staten Island October 24, 1861, and left the State the next day commanded by. Capt. James E. Smith. Later in October it received its arms, Parrott guns, and was designated Battery C, and a few weeks later, Battery D, N. Y. Light Artillery. December 7, 1861, it received its numerical designation from the State. Some of the men of Busteed's Chicago Light Artillery were transferred to it in December, 1861. The battery served in Hooker's Division, Army of the Potomac, from November, 1861; in 2d Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March, 1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 3d Corps, from May, 1863; in the 2d Division, 2d Corps, from July, 1863; in 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, from August, 1863. December 4, 1863, the battery, commanded by First Lieut. Wm. T. McLean, was discontinued, and December 12, 1863, Second Lieut. J. S. Clark and 40 enlisted men-, originally enlisted for Serrell's Engineers, were transferred to the 1st Engineers (Company L) ; 18 enlisted men to the 5th, Battery; First Lieut. E. S. Smith and 18 enlisted men to. the 15th Battery, and a. few enlisted men to Battery B, 1st Artillery. The battery lost by death, killed in action, 3 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 11 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 16 enlisted men; aggregate, 17; of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.

Battles and Casualties Table from Phisterer

Monument at Gettysburg

Historical Sketch

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.

Smith, James E. A famous battery and its campaigns, 1861-'64. The career of Corporal James Tanner in war and in peace. Early days in the Black hills, with some account of Capt. Jack Crawford, the poet scout. By Captain James E. Smith, 4th N.Y. independent battery. Washington, DC: W. H. Lowdermilk & co., 1892.

Leigh, David; Drumgold, Henry. Letters, 1862-1864, to Henry Drumgold, New York
Abstract: Describes his experiences as sergeant in the 4th N.Y. Ind. Battery; gives his impressions of Hooker, Sickles, and Meade as commanders; describes battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
Number of Pages: 24 items
Located at Dartmouth College.

Items the museum owns are in bold.

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