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Conference smurf::civil_war

Title:	The American Civil War
Notice:	Please read all replies 1.* before writing here.
Moderator:	SMURF::BINDER

Created:	Mon Jul 15 1991
Last Modified:	Tue Apr 08 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	141
Total number of notes:	2129

96.0. "Looking for info on Heavy Artillery" by STOWOA::HICKCOX () Mon May 17 1993 17:52

    I am doing some research on my the units my Great-great-grandfather
    served with during the war.  He enlisted in Company H, New York 7th
    Heavy Artillery in 1862, and served with it until the end of July 1864,
    when he was discharged to be commissioned int Company I, 12th US
    Colored Troops Heavy Artillery.  I have his records from the National
    Archives, but I am now seeking more information on his units.  The only
    references I have found so far are:
    
    	- the 7th New York Heavy Artillery was a "garrison" unit that
    defended Washington from safe inside a fort until General Grant came
    east in the spring of 1864.  The 7th then went into the field without
    their guns, as a part of Hancock's 2nd Corps.  They were held in
    reserve in Spotsylvannia, and got their first taste of fire in the
    deadly 20 minutes of Cold Harbor. The unit was raised from Troy, New
    York, and the special census of Civil War Veterans and Widows shows
    many men killed or captured and imprisoned in Andersonville from
    Company H.
    
    	- the 12th USCT Heavy was a part of Gen. George Henry Thomas's Army
    (the Rock of Chickamauga) during the battle of Nashville in December of
    1864.
    
    Does anyone know of any Regimental histories or diaries from members of
    these units?

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
96.1	You Might Try...	NEMAIL::RASKOB	Mike Raskob at OFO	`Wed May 19 1993 12:17`	27
	RE .0: I think virtually all Civil War regiments had at least one regimental history written - but whether it will be easy to find is another matter! You might try: The New York State Historical Society (or Commission) - I assume they have one, since most states seem to. Libraries in Troy; it is likely, since the unit was raised there, that some library has a copy of such a history. If you know of any Civil War reenactors, especially in the New York area, you might ask them for help or leads. The Library of Congress would be a good place to check, but I have no idea whether a "subject" search is possible, or how to go about it. I have a book at home that is a history of the USCT. I'll look to see if the bibliography includes anything on the 12th USCT Heavy Artillery. MikeR
96.2	Possibilities...	NEMAIL::RASKOB	Mike Raskob at OFO	`Thu May 20 1993 15:20`	32
	RE .0: Well, my source wasn't necessarily much help. In case you have a more general interest in the USCT, the book is "Forged In Battle", by Joseph T. Glatthaar (Meridian, 1991). It has an _extensive_ bibliography, of published and unpublished sources. While it has no specific reference to the 12th USC Heavy Artillery (it does mention the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 11th), here are a couple of possible sources that might have some info: You have some National Archives records, but Record Group 94 supposedly also includes regimental letterbooks and regimental order books, which might be of interest. Freeman, Henry; "A Colored Brigade In The Campaign And Battle Of Nashville", Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States - Illinois. Morgan, Thomas J.; "Reminiscences Of Service With Colored Troops In The Army Of The Cumberland", Personal Narratives, Rhode Island Soldiers And Sailors Historical Society. Several of the bibliography items in Forged In Battle were personal diaries, reminiscences, etc. If you knew the names of any other members of the 12th, you might find a source that way. Happy hunting! MikeR
96.3	Also...	BSS::LAIDLAW		`Fri May 21 1993 12:03`	5
	You might also want to check out "Embrace an Angry Wind" by Wiley Sword. This is an excellent history of the Nashville campaign including the battles of Spring Hill and Franklin. rml
96.4	Some misc. information.	REMACP::RICHARDSON		`Fri May 21 1993 16:00`	62
	(In brief, from "Regimental Losses in the American Civil War, 1881-Fox". There is too much to type for the page I copied this from, so I'm sending you a photo copy of the page.) The 7th NY. H.A. was organized and recruited in Albany, NY as the 113th NY Inf. Washington, Aug.19, 1862: Assigned to duty in the forts near the city. December, 1862- changed to a heavy artillery command, two additional companies were addded to meet regulations. (Co's. L & M ) Remained on garrison duty in various forts in the Washington area until May 15th, 1864, when it was ordered to the front to serve as infantry. 7th NY HA Brookes Brigade Barlows Division Second Corps. Total enrollment = 2,667 Killed = 201 ( 10.9 % ) Missing & captured = 542 Died in Confederate prisons = 204 Total killed & wounded = 806 - Broadfoot does not list any titles for either regiment. (Inf. or Arty) (Broadfoot Publishing produces a book that lists published Civil War regimental histories old/new. It is no where complete, I even have books it does not list, but it is a decent reference guide to give you an authors name/date published.) - I called NYS Library, Albany (518-474-5355) neither title located. - NY State Armory, Military Supervisor (212-337-4401) Officer recomended I try State Natl. Guard Office (Latham, NY. 518-786-4500) - The officer there gave me the name of the NY State Military Historian Tom Duclose 518-436-0218. He is located at the State Military Museum. I tried several times, but his phone is busy. You should try him yourself, you can ask him the right questions about your GGGrandfather. Regarding the 12th USCT-HA. Many of the 'state' colored regiments were later renamed to 'USC (Cav.,Inf.,Arty.). The book I have lists this to some detail. If nothing exists on the 113th Inf/7th HA, perhaps you could extend your research into writting a book about them. I myself am doing this for one 'forgotten' Mass. regiment. -JR
96.5	Thanks	STOWOA::HICKCOX		`Fri May 21 1993 16:12`	11
	Thanks to all for the help - I have some great leads. I have started through the OR (Official Records of the Army in the War of Rebellion) at the Lancaster Public Library - Interesting details on Cold Harbor - the 7th NY was in the first line of the attack on the morning of 3 June most of the killed and captured met their fate in those 20 minutes - their commander, Col. Morris was killed in the first volley. Re .4 - the more I research, the more I see a book forming - thanks fo the encouragement.