24th Independent Battery New York Light Artillery

 

George Birdsall, Gunner, Camp's Battery

Roster

 

Newspaper Clippings

 

 Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. by Julian W. Merrill

 

Civil War Rockets by Dr. Thomas Power Lowry

 

The following history is posted by Conrad Bush, 24th NY Independent Battery Historian for the Civil War Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society. He would certainly be interested in receiving copies of soldier's records, letters, diaries, photos or family information and grave location to create the most complete database on these soldiers. Any additions, corrections or comments concerning this homepage should be directed to Edward Boots.

History Of the Battery

The following information was taken from Phisterer's New York in The War of the Rebellion 1861-1865, Third Edition, 1909, published by J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers, 1912, Albany, NY, pgs 1612-1613:

This battery, originally Battery B, Rocket Battalion of Artillery, became the 24th Battery November 1, 1862; the order making the change was, however, not approved until February 11, 1863. It was recruited principally in the counties of Monroe and Wyoming, and at Perry; organized at Buffalo, its organization completed at Albany; and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years December 7, 1861. At the expiration of its term of service, the men entitled thereto were mustered out and the battery retained in service. It left the State December 9, 1861; under Capt. J. E. Lee, and served at Washington, D.C., from December, 1861; in North Carolina, from April 23, 1862; in the 3d Brigade, 5th Division, 18th Corps, from December, 1862; in the district of Albemarle, N.C. , from May, 1863; at Plymouth, N.C., from January, 1864; and in the district of North Carolina, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, from May, 1864; and March 8, 1865, it was transferred to the 3d Artillery as Battery L of the same, but did not join the regiment until may 28, 1865, when it war service had closed.

It lost by death, killed in action, 1 enlisted man; of wounds received in action 2 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 85 enlisted men; total 88; of whom 67 died in the hands of the enemy; and it, or portions of it, took part in the following engagements, etc.;

Dates & Casualties

1862

Near Young's Cross Roads, N.C. July 27

Expedition from New Berne to Goldsboro, N.C. Dec 11-20

Kinston 14

South West Creek 14

Whitehall Bridge 16 (1 enlisted man killed - Private Robert Turner)

Goldsboro 17

1863

New Berne, N.C. March 14

Williamston, N.C. July 27

Chowan, N.C. 28

1864

Plymouth, N.C. April 17-20 (2 enlisted men killed; 5 wounded; Missing In Action: 2 officers 113 enlisted - of this total 67 enlisted men died in Confederate prisons.)

Officers of the Battery:

Captains:

Jay E. Lee, from December 7, 1861, to June 13, 1863.

A. Lester Cady, from June 13, 1863, to January 13, 1865.

William W. Crooker, from January 28 to May 28, 1865.

First Lieutenants:

A. Lester Cady, from October 26, 1861, to June 13, 1863.

George S. Hastings, from September 4, 1862, to December 28, 1864.

Frederick E. Hastings, from June 13, 1863, to January 21, 1864.

William S. Camp, from February 6, to May 29, 1865.

Second Lieutenants:

A. Lester Cady, October 26, 1861.

George W. Graham, from December 7, 1861, to December 23, 1862.

Frederick E. Hastings, from June 2, 1862, to June 13, 1863.

Edward H. Dolbeer, from June 13, 1863, to January 21, 1864.

Lucius S. Newcomb, from January 28 to May 28, 1865.

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Where The Men Came From:

The following locations were taken from enlistment locations, as provided by the New York State Adjutant General in his Regimental Register for the 24th New York Independent Battery. The actual community the man came from may not be represented as recruits tended to migrate to a recruiting area that had the highest bounty or provided a particular regiment they were interested in joining. The bulk of the men came from the New York counties of Wyoming, Monroe & Livingston.

New York State:

Albany County: Albany

Allegany County: Angelica, Wellsville

Brooklyn: Brooklyn

Columbia County: Copake, Hillsdale

Essex County: Crown Point, Ticonderoga

Erie County: Buffalo

Fulton County: Johnstown

Genesee County: LeRoy

Livingston County: Avon, Leicester, Mount Morris, West Sparta

Monroe County: Clarkson, Hamlin, Rochester

Montgomery County: Fort Plain

New York City: New York City

Niagara County: Royalton

Ontario County: East Bloomfield, Seneca

Oneida County: New Hartford

Orleans County: Albion

Warren County: Hague

Westchester: Tarrytown

Wyoming County: Castile, Gainesville, Perry, Warsaw, China (now Arcade, NY)

Out of state recruits from:

Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina (colored cooks)

Washington, D.C.