Overview
Independent Pennsylvania Battery A (Light Artillery) was organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and mustered into United States service in early September 1861 for a three-year term. Serving as an independent battery, it was part of the Union Army’s artillery branch. Throughout its service, the battery was stationed at Fort Delaware, Delaware, where it played a key role in the defense and operation of the fort, which served as a major Union prison for Confederate prisoners of war.
Battery A was one of nine independent light batteries (A through I) raised in Pennsylvania during the Civil War. The unit remained at Fort Delaware for its entire period of service and received commendations from its commanding generals for its performance.
Organization & Service
Battery A was recruited and organized in Philadelphia and mustered into service in early September 1861. Upon organization, the battery was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Delaware, located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. The fort was a significant Union stronghold and prison facility during the war.
Throughout its service, Independent Battery A remained at Fort Delaware, performing garrison and guard duties. The battery was responsible for manning the fort’s artillery and supporting the security and operation of the prison. The original members who did not reenlist were mustered out at Philadelphia on September 19, 1864. Those who reenlisted, along with new recruits, continued service until the battery was finally mustered out at Philadelphia on June 30, 1865.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Garrison duty at Fort Delaware, Delaware (1861–1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for Independent Pennsylvania Battery A are not detailed in the primary sources. The battery served primarily in garrison and prison guard roles at Fort Delaware, and no major combat losses are recorded in official summaries.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Frank Schaffer
- Captain S. Motlowski
Regimental Roster
The full roster of Independent Pennsylvania Battery A (Light Artillery), including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the Independent Pennsylvania Battery A (Light Artillery) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (Fort Delaware garrison reports)
- Pennsylvania Adjutant General’s Report, annual issues 1861–1865
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company. The Union Army, Vol. 1 (1908), Independent Batteries section