Battery A – First Regiment – Artillery – Volunteers.

This Battery was originally organized as a part of the Militia force of the State, and was attached to the Third Regiment, Hudson Brigade. It remained in this connection until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, when the services of the Battery were tendered to the Governor of this State, but by reason of no authority having been received for the acceptance of this branch of the service, their offer was declined. Its organization was continued and recruited up to the full standard, and waited only an opportunity to enter the service. In this they were at last successful, having been accepted under the provisions of an Act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and by authority received by the Governor from the War Department, Washington, D. C., dated July 29, 1861. The Battery was then organized and completed under the requirements of General Orders No. 16, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., May 4, 1861. It was fully completed, officered and equipped by the 12th day of August, 1861, at which time it was mustered into the service of the United States for three years or during the war, at Hoboken, New Jersey, by Frederick S. Larned, Captain Twelfth Infantry, United States Army, the strength of the Battery being – Officers, 5; Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, 151. Total, 156. It left the State August 20, 1861, en route to Washington, D. C. Soon after arrival it was furnished with the necessary outfit of guns, horses and equipments, and under orders crossed into Virginia, having been assigned to the First New Jersey Brigade. On the 16th of October, 1862, by reason of the disbandment of Company K, First Regiment, Infantry, the greater part of the enlisted men of that Company joined the Battery by transfer. Under the provisions of General Orders No. 191, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., June 25, 1863, a number of the enlisted men re-enlisted in the field for three years or during the war. Those who did not re-enlist and whose term of service having expired, reported at Trenton, N. J., in compliance with Special Orders No. 213, Paragraph 2, Head Quarters Army of the Potomac, August 9, 1864, and were mustered out August 18, 1864, by George B. Eckert, First Lieutenant Third Infantry, United States Army. At different times during the years 1862, 1863 and 1864, the strength of the Battery was increased by the joining from Draft Rendezvous, Trenton, N. J., of a large number of recruits and some substitutes. The Battery continued its organization and remained in active service until the close of the war, when it was mustered out at Trenton, N. J., June 22, 1865, by R. Burnett Smith, Brevet Captain Eleventh Infantry, United States Army, in compliance with General Orders No. 105, War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, D. C., June 2, 1865.

The Battery was first attached to the Defences of Washington, D. C.; then to an Artillery Brigade, Franklin’s Division, Army of the Potomac; then to an Artillery Brigade, First Division, Army of the Potomac: then to an Artillery Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps; then to an Artillery Brigade, Sixth Army Corps; then to the Fourth Brigade, Volunteer Division, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; then to the Fourth Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; then to the Third Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; then to the First Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; then to the Second Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac; then to an Artillery Brigade, Sixth Army Corps.

The Battery took part in the following engagements: West Point, Va., May 7, ’62; Mechanicsville, Va., May 31 and June 1, ’62; Gaines’ Farm, Va, June 27, ’62; Charles City Cross Roads, Va., June 30, ’62; White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, ’62; Harrison’s Landing, Va., July 4, ’62; Germantown, Va., August 30, ’62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, ’62; Crampton’s Pass, Md., Sept. 14, ’62; Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, ’62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 12 to 15, ’62; Mayre’s Heights, Va., May 3, ’63; Fredericksburg, Va., May 3 and 4, ’63, Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, ’63; Rappahannock Station, Va., Nov. 7, ’63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 30, ’63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, ’64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 15, ’64; Galt House, Va., May 16, ’64; Po River, Va., May 19, ’64; North and South Anna River, Va., May 24, ’64; Tolopotomy, Va., May 30 and 31, ’64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 12, ’64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 13 to 21, ’64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, ’64; Hatcher’s Run, Va., Feb. 5, ’65; Fort Steedman, Va, Mar. 25, ’65; Capture of Petersburg, Va., April 2, ’65; Sailors’ Creek, Va., April 6, ’65; Farmville, Va., April 7, ’65; Lee’s Surrender (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, ’65.

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