Second Brigade, Army of the Potomac

Major J B Walton, Acting Chief of Artillery, commanding the Washington Battalion Artillery

Washington Battalion Artillery

Mustered in Confederate service on 26 May, 1861. The 1st and 2nd Companies arrived at Manassas Junction on 25 June, 1861, and the 3rd and 4th Companies on 8 July, 1861

MAJOR J B WALTON
Major J B Walton accompanied the 1st and 4th Companies on 21 July, 1861.

First Company: CAPTAIN H M ISAACSON
First Lieutenant C W Squires commanding the 1st Company on July 21, 1861, as Capatin H M Isaacson was not present for duty and resigned in August 1861.
First Section: FIRST LT. C W SQUIRES Three 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841
Second Section: FIRST LT. J B RICHARDSON Two 6 pounder 3 inch rifles

Assignment: Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Sixth Brigade , Army of the Potomac).

The 1st and 4th Companies were under the command of Major J B Walton on 21 July, 1861, and First Lieutenant J B Whittington and Second Lieutenant J Dearing, 3rd Company, were assigned to the 1st Company on 21 July, 1861. There is no documentation of Captain H M Isaacson being present on 21, July, 1861 and may have remained at Camp Beauregard, near Richmond, resigning in August 1861.

Second Company: FIRST LIEUTENANT T L ROSSER
First Section: FIRST LT. C C LEWIS Two 12 pounder field howitzers
Second Section: SECOND LT. C H SLOCOMB Second Lieutenant C H Slocomb resigned in November 1861 and was assigned to the 5th Company on 6 March, 1862. Two 12 pounder field howitzers

Assignment: Second Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Second Brigade , Army of the Potomac).

Second Lieutenant H A Battles, 4th Company, was assigned to the 2nd Company on 21 July, 1861.

Third Company: CAPTAIN M B MILLER
First Section: FIRST LT. J NORCUM, Fourth Company Two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841

Assignment: Third Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Third Brigade, Army of the Potomac).

Second Section: SECOND LT. J J GARNETT First Lieutenant L A Adam reported sick after being engaged in the battle of Blackburn's Ford on 18 July, 1861. 6 pounder smoothbore, M1841 & 6 pounder 3 inch rifle

Assignment: Fourth Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Fourth Brigade, Army of the Potomac).

First Lieutenant J B Whittington and Second Lieutenant J Dearing were assigned to the 1st Company on 21 July, 1861, and First Lieutenant J Norcum, 4th Company, was assigned to the 3rd Company.

Fourth Company: CAPTAIN B F ESHLEMAN
First Lieutenant C W Squires commanding on July 21, 1861, as Captain B F Eshelman was wounded on 18 July, 1861.

The 1st and 4th Companies were under the command of Major J B Walton on 21 July, 1861, and First Lieutenant J Norcum was assigned 3rd Company and Second Lieutenant H A Battles to the 2nd Company on 21 July, 1861. First Lieutenant W I Hodgson remained in New Orleans, Louisiana, on recruiting service with a reserve force of twenty men and organised the 5th Company.

Assignment: Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac (See the Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac).

Fifth Company: CAPTAIN W I HODGSON
First Lieutenant W I Hodgson was assigned to the 5th Company as captain on 27 June, 1861.
First Section: SENIOR FIRST LT. C H SOLCOMB Second Lieutenant C H Slocomb resigned from the 2nd Company in November, 1861, and was assigned to the company as junior first lieutenant on 6 March, 1862. Two 12 pounder Field Howitzers
Second Section: JUNIOR FIRST LT. W C D WAUGHT Two 6 pounder 3" Rifles
Third Section: SECOND LT. E L HEWS Two 6 pounder Smoothbores, M1841

First Lieutenant W I Hodgson, 4th Company, was ordered to remain in New Orleans, Louisiana, with eighty-one members of a reserve corps and to recruit volunteers for the four companies at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction. First Lieutenant W I Hodgson organised the reserve corps as the Washington Battalion Artillery, 5th Company, and was appointed captain on 27 June, 1861. The 5th Company was mustered in Confederate service for ninety days, under the command of Captain W I Hodgson, at Lafayette Square, New Orleans, on 6 March, 1862. The company and four companies of the 24th Louisiana Infantry, under the command of Colonel M J Smith, were ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, to join the Army of Mississippi, on 8 March, 1862. The company arrived at Corinth on 31 March, 1861, and was assigned to Brigadier General P Anderson's Brigade, Second Corps, Army of Mississippi, on 1 April, 1862.

Sixth Company: CAPTAIN H Doane

On the depature of the 5th Company on 8 March, 1862, a new reserve corps was organised, under the command of Sergeant W H Henning. The Washington Battalion Artillery, 6th Company, mostly honorary members who were either unfit for duty or opposed to leaving their businesses for war was organised under the command of Captain H Doane. The company had limited armament as all arsenal supplies had been forwarded with the 5th Company to Corinth, Mississippi. When New Orleans was evacuated in April 1862, the 6th company, with four brass field pieces, proceeded to Camp Moore, Louisiana. On arrival at Camp Moore, Louisiana, the company, organised with older members, became fearful of military life and turned over four brass field pieces to other companies and was disbanded.

Washington Battalion Infantry

Major H St. Paul

Company A Louisiana Foot Rifles, First Company: First Lt. E Macoin
The company was mustered in Confederate service on 19 April, 1861, and was ordered to Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 27 September, 1861, under the command of Captain H St Paul. The company was assigned to the Washington Battalion Infantry at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction on 1 October, 1861.
Company B Catahoula Guerllas: CAPT. J W BUHOUP
The company was assigned the 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry, Company D, and was transferred to the Washington Battalion Infantry on 1 November, 1861 (See the 1st Special Battalion Louisiana Infantry).
Company C Crescent Blues, Company B: CAPT. Mcg C Goodwyn
The company was temporarily assigned to the 49th Virginia Infantry during September 1861, and was permanently assigned to the Washington Battalion Infantry at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 1 October, 1861 (See the 49th Virginia Infantry).

The Washington Battalion Infantry, also known as the 7th and 19th Louisiana Battalion Infantry, was organised at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 1 October, 1861, and was assigned to the Washington Battalion Artillery as sharpshooters. The Catahoula Guerrillas was assigned to the battalion on 1 November, 1861, and the Washington Battalion Infantry was assigned to the 1st Louisiana Battalion Zouaves, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel G Coppens, on 31 May, 1862. Companies B and C were ordered to report to the 3rd Louisiana Battalion Infantry on June 24, 1862, and were assigned on 2 August, 1862. The 3rd Louisiana Battalion Infantry was designated the 15th Louisiana Infantry, under the command of Colonel F T Nicholls (See the 8th Louisiana Infantry).

Baton Rouge Barracks and Arsenal Expedition

Captain J B Walton

On 6 January, 1861, Governor T O Moore ordered Major General J L Lewis, commanding the First Division, Louisiana State militia, to order a detachment, under the command of Captain J B Walton, to proceed on board the steamer National to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and seize the Federal arsenal and barracks. The detachment consisted of the Washington Artillery, under the command of First Lieutenant H T Voorhies; the Orleans Cadets, under the command of Captain C D Dreux; the Louisiana Guards, under the command of Captain S M Todd; the Crescent Rifles, under the command of First Lieutenant W A Metcalf; the Sarsfield Guards, under the command of Captain J O'Hara; and the Louisiana Foot Rifles, 2nd Company, under the command of Captain S Meilleur. Major B Avegno, commanding the Louisiana Foot Rifles, was also attached to the expedition and the Jefferson Rifles, under the command of Captain J G Dreux, was ordered to follow. Brevet Major J A Haskin, 1st United States Artillery, commanding the Baton Rouge barracks, Louisiana, and First Lieutenant J W Todd, United States Ordnance Department, commanding the Baton Rouge arsenal, Louisiana, surrendered in the evening on 10 January, 1861 (See the Defenses of Washington D. C.).

Fort St Philip and Fort Jackson Expedition

Major P E Theard

On 10 January, 1861, Governor T O Moore ordered Major General J L Lewis, commanding the First Division, Louisiana State militia, ordered a detachment on board the steamer Yankee, under the command of Major P E Theard, to seize the Federal garrisons at Fort St Philip and Fort Jackson, on the Mississippi river. The detachment consisted of the Orleans Battalion Artillery, 1st Company, under the command of Captain F Gomez; the Orleans Battalion Artillery, 2nd Company, under the command of Captain B W Hebrard; the German Yagers, under the command of Captain F Peters; the Lafayette Company No.2, under the command of Captain C Roemer; the Chasseurs, 1814–15, under the command of First Lieutenant L Houidobre; and the Louisiana Foot Rifles, 1st Company, under the command of Captain H St Paul. Twenty-seven men of the Louisiana Foot Rifles, 1st Company, remained as a reserve at the arsenal. Sergeant H Smith, United States Ordnance Department, stationed at Fort Jackson, on the Mississippi river, surrendered the post and Fort St Philip on 11 January, 1861. The Louisiana Foot Rifles, 1st Company, under the command of Captain H St Paul, was stationed at Fort St Philip and the remaining companies at Fort Jackson, on the Mississippi river.

Fort Pike Expedition

Captain G Clark

On 10 January, 1861, Governor T O Moore ordered Major General J L Lewis, commanding the First Division, Louisiana State militia, to send a detachment on board the steamer Mobile, under the command of Captain G Clark, to seize the Federal garrison at Fort Pike at the Rigolets. The detachment consisted of the Continental Guards, under the command of First Lieutenant A M Merriam (See the 7th Louisiana Infantry); the Louisiana Greys, under the command of Captain W T Dean; and the Chalmette Rifle Guards, under the command of Captain A E Shaw. The Federal garrison at Fort Pike, at the Rigolets, surrendered the post on 14 January, 1861.

Duty at Baton Rouge

Colonel L HÉbert

The East Baton Rouge Regiment, under the command of Colonel L Hébert, was assigned to duty at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and consisted of the Pelican Rifles, under the command of Captain W F Tunnard; the National Guards, under the command of Captain H C Rauhman; and the Creole Guards, under the command of Captain J L Fremeaux (See the 8th Louisina Infantry). The Louisiana or Baton Rouge Fencibles, under the command of First Lieutenant J H Stith (See the 7th Louisiana Infantry; the Grosse Tete Rangers, under the command of Captain C W Keep; the Delta Rifles, under the command of Captain H M Favrot; and the Carter Minutemen, under the command of Captain J O Fuquo, were attached to the East Baton Rouge Regiment.

The Louisiana State militia was replaced by the 1st Louisiana Infantry: Company A, under the command of Captain C H Bradford, at Fort Jackson, on the Mississippi river; Company B, under the command of Captain J AJacques, at Fort St Philip, on the Mississippi river; Company C, under the command of Captain H A Clinch, at Fort Pike, at the Rigolets; Company D, under the command of Captain H M Pierce, and Company E, under the command of Captain F H Farrar at the Baton Rouge barrackcs, Louisiana, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel F M Kent, East Baton Rouge Regiment.;

Sources

"Two of the guns for my battery had been completed when the Washington Artillery, from New Orleans, arrived in Richmond, completely equipped with the exception of two guns. I was earnestly entreated to turn over to them two of the pieces intended for my battery. Realising that it was for the good of the service I granted their request , and this delay occasioned the absence of my battery from the battle of Manassas." 1st Maryland Light Artillery

Richard Snowden Andrews, Lieutenant colonel commanding the First Maryland Artillery, Andrews' battalion, Confederate States Army: A memoir, edited by Tunstall Smith, Baltimore

"Before leaving Richmond there had been assigned to the Battalion, Lieuts. T L Rosser, James Dearing, and J J Garnett. These young officers had been at West Point Academy when hostilities broke out, resigned, and came home to Virginia before graduating. They were assigned to the artillery as instructors and for general service, and assited very materially in battery drills upon the of Manassas plains."

"On the 21st of July we were up and stirring at daylight, and rode over to Beauregard's head-quarters. The enemy, throwing an occasional shell over us from a big gun on the high ground between Blackburn's ford and Centreville, were evidently feeling for our lines. To-day the guns of our battalion were assigned for duty as follows:
Two 6-pounder smooth bores, and two rifle 6-pounders, under command of Lieut. C W Squires and Lieuts. J B Richardson and Whittington, with Col. Early's brigade, bivouacking near Mclean's farm-house.
Four 12-pounder howitzers, under Lieut. T L Rosser, commanding; Lieuts. C C Lewis, C H Slocomb, and H A Battles, with Gen. Ewell, at Union Mills ford.
Two 6-pounder smooth bores, under Capt. M B Miller and Lieut. Joe Norcum, with Gen. D R Jones's Third Brigade, at McLean's ford.
One rifle 6-pounder and one smooth 6-pounder, under command of Lieut. J J Garnett and Lieut. L A Adam, with Gen. Longstreet's Fourth Brigade at Blackburn's ford.
Three 6-pounder smooth bores, and two rifle 6-pounders, under command of Lieut. C W Squires and Lieuts. J B Richardson and Whittington, with Col. Early's brigade, bivouacking near Mclean's farm-house, – thirteen guns in all."

In camp and in battle with the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, by William M Owen

Southern Historical Society Papers Volume 11: Sketches of the history of the Washington Artillery, by Colonel J B Walton, Captain J A Chalaron, Colonel B F Eschelman, and Colonel W M Owen

A soldier's story of the war including the marches and battles of the Washington Artillery, and of other Louisiana troops

The pride of the Confederate artillery: The Washington Artillery in the Army of Tennessee, by Nathaniel C Hughes

Louisiana: A Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Organizations 1861–1865, by A W Bergerun, Jr.

Compendium of the Confederate Armies: Louisiana, by Stewart Sifakis

Notes

The Washington Artillery, under the command of Captain J B Walton, was organised at New Orleans, Louisiana, and ordered to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to seize the arsenal and barracks by Brigadier General E L Tracy, Louisiana militia, on 9 January, 1861. The company arrived at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 11 January, 1861, and returned to New Orleans, Louisiana, on 12 January, 1861. The Washington Artillery was organised as a battalion with four companies on 3 May, 1861, and was mustered in Confederate service for the war at Lafayette Square, New Orleans, on 26 May, 1861. The Washington Battalion Artillery, accompanied by a twelve piece brass band, under the command of Band Leader J V Gessner, was ordered to Lynchburg, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861, and arrived on 2 June, 1861. The battalion was ordered to Richmond, Virginia, at 10 AM on 3 June, 1861, and arrived at Camp Beauregard, Union Hill, near Richmond, Virginia, on 4 June, 1861. The 1st and 2nd Companies and headquarters were ordered to report to Brigadier General P G T Beauregard at Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, on 24 June, 1861, and encamped at Camp Louisiana, near Mitchell's Ford, Virginia, on 25 June, 1861. The 3rd and 4th Companies, under the command of Captain H M Isaacson, reamined at Camp Beauregard, Union Hill, near Richmond, Virginia, as there was a delay in obtaining field pieces, harness, and drivers and arrived at Camp Louisiana, near Mitchell's Ford, Virginia, on 8 July, 1861. First Lieutenant C W Squires and three 6 pounder 3 inch rifles was ordered to accompany the Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel J Early, to Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, on 18 July, 1861, and were joined by First Lieutenant J B Whittington and First Lieutenant L A Adam and two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841, at Mclean's farmhouse, Virginia (See the Sixth Brigade, Army of the Potomac). Captain B F Eshelman and First Lieutenant J B Richardson and two 6 pounder 3 inch rifles were ordered to proceed with the 7th Louisiana Infantry and one 6 pounder 3 inch rifle and two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841, remained assigned to the 7th Virginia Infantry. Second Lieutenant J J Garnett and two 6 pounder smoothbores, M1841, arrived at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia, and was assigned to the Fourth Brigade, Army of the Potomac, under Brigadier General J Longstreet (See the Fourth Brigade, Army of the Potomac). After the first battle of Manassas the Washington Battalion Artillery returned to Camp Louisiana, near Mitchell's Ford, Virginia, on 24 July, 1861.

A reserve corps of eighty-one members, under the command of First Lieutenant W I Hodgson, 4th Company, was assigned to home duty. First Lieutenant W I Hodgson organised the reserve corps as the Washington Battalion Artillery, 5th Company, and was appointed captain on 27 June, 1861. On 6 March, 1862, the 5th Company was mustered in Confederate service for ninety days, under the command of Captain W I Hodgson, at Lafayette Square, New Orleans. A new reserve corps was organised, under the command of Captain H Doane, at New Orleans, Louisiana, as the 6th Company and when New Orleans, Louisiana, was evacuated in April 1862, the company proceeded to Camp Moore, Louisiana, and was disbanded.

First Lieutenant T L Rosser, Second Lieutenant J J Garnett and Second Lieutenant J Dearing resigned from the West Point Military Academy, New York, and were assigned to the Washington Battalion Artillery as instructors and for general service at Richmond, Virginia.

On 25 July 1861, the Army of the Potomac was reorganised and the Washington Battalion Artillery was assigned to the Reserve Artillery, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Major J B Walton.

Report

Official Report No.85: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 515–518
Major J B Walton, Washington Battalion Artillery

Orders of Battle

The above painting, 'The Fourth Alabama', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historial artist.