The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, First Division

Members of the 8th New York State Militia in camp at Arlington, June 1861

Members of the 8th New York State Militia in camp at Arlington, June 1861

Varian's Light Artillery, Eighth New York State Militia, Company I

Mustered in United States service for three months on 18 April, 1861, and arrived at Washington D. C. on 27 May, 1861. Not present at the first battle of Manassas

CAPTAIN J M VARIAN

First Section: FIRST LT. S H CORNELL
Two 6 pounder Smoothbores, M1841
Second Section: SECOND LT. E C BYRNES
Two 6 pounder Smoothbores, M1841
Third Section: SECOND LT. J T CARPENTER
Two 6 pounder Smoothbores, M1841

Sources

"It appears that an order had been received to the effect that the Grey troop should leave the howitzers and take six 6 pounders."

"In Hudson street, the Grey troop, numbering 100 men, with a battery of six 6-pounders and thirty-six horses, turned down and proceeded to Pier No. 13, where they embarked on board the steamship Montgomery."

Rebellion Record: Document 93, Departure of the 8th, 13th, and 69th N. Y. Regiments, New York Tribune, 24 April, 1861

"Varian's Battery consisted of six smooth-bore six pounder brass pieces, with carriages, obtained from the 7th Regiment, and thirty-six horses, all that could be collected in the brief period allowed for that purpose. We were provided with 200 rounds of ammunition per gun."

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

New York in the War of Rebellion, 1861–1865 (Volume 1), by Frederick Phisterer

Notes

The Washington Grey Troop was organised at Brooklyn, New York, as Varian's Light Artillery, 8th New York State Militia, Company I, and was mustered in United States service for three months on 18 April, 1861. The company was detached from the 8th New York State Militia at New York Harbour and arrived at Annapolis, Maryland, on board the steamer Montgomery on 22 April, 1861 (See the 8th New York State Militia). The 8th New York State Militia was ordered to Washington D. C. on 18 May, 1861, and Varian's Light Artillery and the 13th New York State Militia, under the command of Brigadier General B F Butler, Massachusetts militia, were assigned to guard duty on the Annapolis River (See the 13th New York State Militia). Varian's Light Artillery was ordered to Washington D. C. and rejoined the 8th New York State Militia encamped at Arlington Heights, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861. the First Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, under the command of Colonel E D Keyes, was ordered to proceed to Vienna, Virginia, via the Georgetown Turnpike and the Leesburg Stone Roads, at 2 PM on 16 July, 1861. Colonel E D Keyes was ordered to proceed between Fairfax Courthouse and Centreville, Virginia, to Germantown, Virginia, at 5.30 AM on 17 July, 1861, and Varian's Light Artillery voted to be discharged the same day. Colonel E D Keyes offered Second Lieutenant J E Smith the command of the company but he did not accept. Varian's Light Artillery was ordered to proceed along the Warrenton Pike to Centreville, Virginia, at 7 AM on 18 July, 1861. The First Brigade, First Division, Army of Northeastern Virginia, arrived at Centreville, Virginia, at 9 AM on 18 July, 1861. Varian's Light Artillery's term of service expired on the 17 July, 1861, and First Lieutenant F E Prime, United States Corps Engineers, ordered Captain J M Varian to return the six field pieces to the United States Ordnance Department at 10 PM on 20 July, 1861 (See the United States Corps Engineers). The company was ordered to Falls Church, Virginia, at 1 AM on 21 July, 1861, and arrived in the evening on 21 July, 1861. The six field pieces remained at the camp of the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry and were assigned to detachments of the 8th New York Infantry and 29th New York Infantry, under the command of Captain C Bookwood, 29th New York Infantry, Company H, on 21 July, 1861 (See Bookwood's Independent Light Artillery). The company arrived at Alexandria, Virginia, at 3 PM on 22 July, 1861, and returned to Washington D. C in the evening the same day. Varian's Light Artillery was mustered out at New York City on 2 August, 1861.

Second Lieutenant J E Smith returned to New York City and organised a light artillery company with about forty members of Varian's Light Artillery and was assigned to the 1st New York Engineers, Company L, under the command of Colonel E W Serrell, on 4 September 1861. The War Department refused to sanction the assignment and the company was designated as the 4th New York Independent Light Artillery on 7 December, 1861. The 4th New York Independent Light Artillery, as part of the 8th New York State Militia, was mustered in United States service for thirty days during the Pennsylvania Campaign in 1863 and was assigned to duty as artillery and cavalry, generally as an independent company, under the command of Captain R Brown.