The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Alexandria Artillery

Mustered in Confederate service on 30 June, 1861

CAPTAIN D KEMPER
D Kemper was appointed captain, suceeding Captain G Duffey, on January, 1861.

First Section: FIRST LT. W D STUART
Two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841
Second Section: SECOND LT. R BAyLISS
Two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841

Sources

"The company's armament was no more impressive than its men; four small six-pounder brass guns. The city had borrowed the guns from the U S Navy Yard and regularly fired them on Washington's birthday and other notable dates."

The Virginia Regimental Histories Series: The Brooke, Fauquier, Loudoun & Alexandria Artillery, First Edition, No.785 of 1000, by Michael J Andrus

A guide to Virginia military organisations 1861–1865, Revised Second Edition by I A Wallace, Jr.

Notes

The Alexandria Artillery was reorganised, under the command of Captain D Kemper, at Phoenix Hall, Alexandria, Virginia, on 10 January, 1861, and was mustered in Confederate service on 30 June, 1861. The company's armament was four 6 pounder brass pieces that were borrowed from the United States Navy Yard, Washington D. C. The Alexandria Artillery was assigned to the Alexandria Battalion Volunteers consisting of the Alexandria Riflemen, the Mount Vernon Guard, and the Old Dominion Rifles, under the command of Major M D Corse, on 19 February, 1861 (See the 6th Virginia Battalion Volunteers). By the 27 April, 1861, the Emmett Guards and the Irish Volunteers were assigned to the battalion and was designated the 6th Virginia Battalion Volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A S Taylor, Confederate States Army. The 6th Virginia Battalion Volunteers was ordered to Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia, on 3 May, 1861, and was ordered to return to Alexandria, Virginia, on 5 May, 1861. The Alexandria Artillery remained at Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia, and was detached from the battalion. First Lieutenant W D Staurt's section of two 6 pounder smoothbores, under the command of Captain D Kemper, stationed at Frying Pan Church, Virginia, joined Colonel M Gregg's reconnaissance towards the Potomac River and the skirmish at Vienna, Virginia, on 17 June, 1861 (See the Vienna expedition). The Alexandria Artillery was ordered to withdraw to Mitchell's Ford, via Centreville,Virginia, with the 2nd South Carolina Infantry, the Hanover Light Dragoons, and the Appomattox Rangers, under the command of Colonel J B Kershaw, on 17 July, 1861. The company was assigned to the 2nd South Carolina Infantry at the first battle of Manassas and was dismounted on 24 January, 1864. The Alexandria Artillery was assigned to the 18th Virginia Battalion Heavy Artillery, Company E, under the command of Major M B Hardin, by Special Order No.19.

On 25 July 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the Alexandria Artillery was assigned to the First Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General M L Bonham.

Report

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.94: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 535–536
Captain D Kemper, Alexandria Artillery