1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery Volunteer Regiment
Encyclopedia
The First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery Regiment was an American Civil War
regiment, first raised in 1863 for the defenses of Portsmouth Harbor
in New Hampshire
and Maine
. They were later transferred to garrison the numerous fortifications of Washington, D.C.
.
. The men were mustered into service on 22 July 1863, and stationed at Fort Constitution in New Castle. On 17 September 1863, the Second Company was mustered in, and garrisoned Fort McClary
in Kittery Point, Maine
. They remained at these posts until the following spring when, on 6 May 1864, both companies were ordered to Washington, D.C.
, for the defense of the capital; detachments of them spread between a dozen forts and batteries. Following this, a third company had begun recruiting in Manchester.
In August 1864, Ira McL. Barton, the captain of Company B, requested further recruits and, with authorization granted to organize a battalion-sized unit, returned to New Hampshire to take part in the raising of an additional four companies. Recruiting within the cities of Nashua, Concord, Laconia and Dover, the number of volunteers exceeded what was needed. The state adjutant applied to the War Department for authority to continue the formation of companies, and by November 1864 nearly had the required number of men to be organized into a proper regiment. To do so, the 1st New Hampshire Light Battery
, who had just gone through its reenlistment following the end of a three-year term of service, became "Company M" of the 1st NH Heavy Artillery on 9 November. However, they were soon detached and returned as light artillery in Hancock's II Corps
.
As soon as each unit was organized, they were sent to Washington and assigned to different divisions, though seven companies remained together under Lt Col Barton in DeRussey's Division, 3rd Brigade. Col Long was mustered in as the regiment's commander on 16 November and took command of the 1st brigade, Hardin's Division, XXII Corps
, on the 21st. While Company A returned to Portsmouth Harbor in November 1864 and Company B did the same the following February, the remainder of the regiment stayed in the vicinity of Washington.
On 15 June 1865, the regiment was mustered out, arriving in New Hampshire
on the 19th for final pay and discharge.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
regiment, first raised in 1863 for the defenses of Portsmouth Harbor
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. They were later transferred to garrison the numerous fortifications of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
History
With the 17th New Hampshire Infantry failing to reach regiment strength and its organization halted, Lt Col Charles H Long was commissioned captain of the First Company NH Heavy Artillery Volunteers, ordered by the War Department for use in the defenses of Portsmouth harborPiscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
. The men were mustered into service on 22 July 1863, and stationed at Fort Constitution in New Castle. On 17 September 1863, the Second Company was mustered in, and garrisoned Fort McClary
Fort McClary
Fort McClary is a former defensive fortification of the United States military located along the southern coast of Maine at Kittery Point, the seaside district of Kittery. Used primarily throughout the 19th century, it was built to protect approaches to the nearby Piscataqua River...
in Kittery Point, Maine
Kittery Point, Maine
Kittery Point is a census-designated place in the town of Kittery, York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,135 at the 2000 census. Located beside the Atlantic, it is home to Fort McClary State Historic Site and, on Gerrish Island, Fort Foster Park...
. They remained at these posts until the following spring when, on 6 May 1864, both companies were ordered to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, for the defense of the capital; detachments of them spread between a dozen forts and batteries. Following this, a third company had begun recruiting in Manchester.
In August 1864, Ira McL. Barton, the captain of Company B, requested further recruits and, with authorization granted to organize a battalion-sized unit, returned to New Hampshire to take part in the raising of an additional four companies. Recruiting within the cities of Nashua, Concord, Laconia and Dover, the number of volunteers exceeded what was needed. The state adjutant applied to the War Department for authority to continue the formation of companies, and by November 1864 nearly had the required number of men to be organized into a proper regiment. To do so, the 1st New Hampshire Light Battery
1st New Hampshire Light Battery
1st New Hampshire Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st New Hampshire Artillery was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire and mustered in September 21, 1861 for three years service under Captain George A. Gerrish.The...
, who had just gone through its reenlistment following the end of a three-year term of service, became "Company M" of the 1st NH Heavy Artillery on 9 November. However, they were soon detached and returned as light artillery in Hancock's II Corps
II Corps (ACW)
There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps during the American Civil War.* Army of the Cumberland, II Corps commanded by Thomas L. Crittenden , later renumbered XX Corps...
.
As soon as each unit was organized, they were sent to Washington and assigned to different divisions, though seven companies remained together under Lt Col Barton in DeRussey's Division, 3rd Brigade. Col Long was mustered in as the regiment's commander on 16 November and took command of the 1st brigade, Hardin's Division, XXII Corps
XXII Corps (ACW)
XXII Corps was a corps in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was created on February 2, 1863, to consist of all troops garrisoned in Washington, D.C., and included three infantry divisions and one of cavalry...
, on the 21st. While Company A returned to Portsmouth Harbor in November 1864 and Company B did the same the following February, the remainder of the regiment stayed in the vicinity of Washington.
On 15 June 1865, the regiment was mustered out, arriving in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
on the 19th for final pay and discharge.
See also
- List of New Hampshire Civil War units
- New Hampshire in the American Civil War