26th Independent Battery Light Artillery

Nickname: Barnes' Rifle Battery

Mustered in: February 25, 1863. 
Mustered out: September 12, 1865.

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 26th ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

This battery was recruited and organized at Rochester, and, commanded by Capt J. Warren Barnes, left the State December 4, 1862. It was mustered in the United States service for three years February 25, 1863, at New Orleans, La. On its journey to the Department of the Gulf it was wrecked twice and was en route fifty-one days. It received, December 20, 1864, a number of men by transfer from the 18th and 21st Batteries. The battery served in the defenses of New Orleans, La., from February, 1863; in the 4th Division, 19th Corps, from September, 1863; at Port Hudson, La., from December, 1863; in the 2d Division, 19th Corps, from February, 1864; in the 1st Division, 19th Corps, from March, 1864; in the District of Morganza, La., from July, 1864; in the Reserve, 2d Division, Department of the Gulf, from November, 1864; in the Artillery Brigade, 13th Corps, from March, 1865. Commanded by Lieut. Adam Beattie, the battery was honorably discharged and mustered out at New Orleans, La., September 12, 1865, having, during its service, lost by death of disease and other causes, 34 enlisted men.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers, Volume II: New York, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.

Twenty-sixth Independent Battery.—Capts., J. Warren Barnes, George W. Fox. The 26th Battery, "Barnes' Rifle Battery," was recruited and organized at Rochester, and left the state on Dec. 4, 1862, en route by transport to the Department of the Gulf. On the passage it was wrecked twice and was en route 51 days, finally reaching New Orleans, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years, on Feb. 25. 1863. The battery was employed for a j'ear in garrison and guard duty at New Orleans and at Port Hudson, and in March, 1864, was attached to the ist division, 19th corps, with which it moved on the Red River campaign, engaging at Cane river crossing, Avoyelles prairie and Mansura. On its return it served in the District of Morganza and then in the reserve 2nd division, Department of the Gulf. In the artillery brigade, 13th corps, it was engaged at Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and Mobile in the spring of 1865, and was mustered out at New Orleans, commanded by Lieut. Adam Beattie, Sept. 1, 1865. Its loss during service was 34 enlisted men who died of disease and other causes.

26thIndBatGuidon2004.0089.jpg

26th Independent Battery, NY Volunteers | Guidon | Civil War

The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes two flags carried by the 26th Independent Battery including this silk, swallowtail guidon in the “stars and…

NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Other Resources

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 ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@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.

Millard, Alexander S. Diary, 1865. Auburn, Ala: Auburn University Special Collections and Archives.
Abstract: Consists of the diary of Second Lieutenant Alexander S. Millard of the 26th New York Independent Light Artillery Battery (a.k.a. Barnes' Rifle Battery) from January 1 to November 29, 1865. Includes daily entries from military camps near Mobile, Alabama and Brownsville, Texas. Offers a brief description of the Union Army siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely.
Original located at Auburn University.

 

Items the museum owns are in bold.