Pee Dee Light Artillery
Encyclopedia
The Pee Dee Light Artillery was a distinguished Confederate light artillery battery during the American Civil War. The origins of the battery began as the Darlington Guards, a local militia of Darlington, South Carolina. The Darlington Guards volunteered their service to South Carolina on January 4, 1861 for a period of six months. These men were the very first soldiers to volunteer to fight in Civil War. They became Company B, First South Carolina Volunteers, commanded by Captain F.F. Warley and Lieutenant David Gregg McIntosh
. After six months on the Charleston South Carolina coast and a short campaign in Virginia, the unit was released. Half the unit remained with Captain F.F. Warley and served the remainder of the war as the Darlington Guards. The other half reformed in Darlington, South Carolina under the command of David Gregg McIntosh. The unit called themselves the Pee Dee Rifles and in August 1861, rendered their service as an infantry unit to the Confederate States of America for the duration of the war. While in training in Suffolk Virginia in the winter of 1861 and 1862, the unit was reorganized as Company D, First South Carolina Regiment, a light artillery battery and became the Pee Dee Light Artillery .
In 1862, the battery was assigned to General A.P. Hill’s Light Artillery Division and fought in the Seven Days Battles
. During that battle, two horses were shot from beneath Captain McIntosh in one day. Afterwards, the battery was reorganized under General Stonewall Jackson’s famous 2nd Corp. The battery fought with General Jackson at the Battles of Cedar Mountain
, Second Manassas
, Chantilly
, Harpers Ferry
, Sharpsburg
, and the Fredericksburg
. In 1863, the battery fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville
and the Battle of Gettysburg
. In 1864, the battery did not have enough men and horses to effectively operate in battle. In June 1864, the battery exchanged service with Charles Battery serving in the Charleston Harbor. In 1864 the Pee Dee Light Artillery served around Charleston Harbor until they were utilized in an effort to slow down Sherman’s March to the Sea. In 1865, the Pee Dee Light Artillery continued as part of the Confederate forces under General Johnston. On April 26, 1865, General Johnston surrendered his forces. The battle flag of the Pee Dee Light Artillery was never surrendered. Instead, it was wrapped around the body of the battery guidon bearer, Private R.C. Nettles who returned to South Carolina. The battle flag remained in the hands of the members of the Pee Dee Light Artillery in the Darlington South Carolina area until 1905 when it was turned over to the South Carolina Legislature by veteran survivors. The flag has recently been preserved and remains today in the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.
David Gregg McIntosh
David Gregg McIntosh was a Confederate artillery officer during the American Civil War from the state of South Carolina.David McIntosh was practicing law when the Civil War broke out in 1861...
. After six months on the Charleston South Carolina coast and a short campaign in Virginia, the unit was released. Half the unit remained with Captain F.F. Warley and served the remainder of the war as the Darlington Guards. The other half reformed in Darlington, South Carolina under the command of David Gregg McIntosh. The unit called themselves the Pee Dee Rifles and in August 1861, rendered their service as an infantry unit to the Confederate States of America for the duration of the war. While in training in Suffolk Virginia in the winter of 1861 and 1862, the unit was reorganized as Company D, First South Carolina Regiment, a light artillery battery and became the Pee Dee Light Artillery .
In 1862, the battery was assigned to General A.P. Hill’s Light Artillery Division and fought in the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
. During that battle, two horses were shot from beneath Captain McIntosh in one day. Afterwards, the battery was reorganized under General Stonewall Jackson’s famous 2nd Corp. The battery fought with General Jackson at the Battles of Cedar Mountain
Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, Second Manassas
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
, Chantilly
Battle of Chantilly
The Battle of Chantilly took place on September 1, 1862, in Fairfax County, Virginia, as the concluding battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. Thomas J...
, Harpers Ferry
Battle of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought September 12–15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. As Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army invaded Maryland, a portion of his army under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, Sharpsburg
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, and the Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. In 1863, the battery fought in the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
and the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. In 1864, the battery did not have enough men and horses to effectively operate in battle. In June 1864, the battery exchanged service with Charles Battery serving in the Charleston Harbor. In 1864 the Pee Dee Light Artillery served around Charleston Harbor until they were utilized in an effort to slow down Sherman’s March to the Sea. In 1865, the Pee Dee Light Artillery continued as part of the Confederate forces under General Johnston. On April 26, 1865, General Johnston surrendered his forces. The battle flag of the Pee Dee Light Artillery was never surrendered. Instead, it was wrapped around the body of the battery guidon bearer, Private R.C. Nettles who returned to South Carolina. The battle flag remained in the hands of the members of the Pee Dee Light Artillery in the Darlington South Carolina area until 1905 when it was turned over to the South Carolina Legislature by veteran survivors. The flag has recently been preserved and remains today in the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.
Reference
- Brunson, Joseph W. Pee Dee Light Artillery of Maxcy Gregg's (Later Samuel McGowan's) Brigade, First South Carolina Volunteers (Infantry), C.S.A., A Historical Sketch and Roster.