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6th Battery
Massachusetts Light Artillery
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Sixth Battery, Light Artillery. — Capts., Charles Everett, William
W. Carruth, John F. Phelps, Edward K. Russell. The total number of members was 12 officers
and 350 men, of whom 6 men were killed or died of wounds, and 1 officer and 47 men met
death by accident or disease. The 6th battery recruited at Lowell, was mustered into the
U. S. service during Dec, 1861, and Jan., 1862, for three years. It embarked at Boston
harbor Feb. 8 for Ship island, Miss., where it went into camp on March 8. It took part in
the expedition against New Orleans; was divided for duty near the city; reunited at Baton
Rouge; and engaged in the Vicksburg expedition, leaving a detail to garrison Baton Rouge.
The men suffered a great deal from malarial diseases, yet they defended the city of Baton
Rouge heroically against the attack of Aug. 5, when the battery's losses were so heavy
that volunteers from the infantry were required to man the guns. After this battle the
battery moved to Carrollton. It joined in the expeditions to Donaldsonville and Bayou La
Fourche under Gen. Weitzel and its winter quarters during 1862-63 were at Thibodeaux. On
April 12, 1863, it was attached to the 1st division, 10th corps, with which it was active
at Fort Bisland, and in May it moved to Port Hudson, where it participated in the
operations of the siege. After the surrender it was ordered to Donaldsonville; was engaged
at Bayou La Fourche, and moved to Thibodeaux, where it encamped until Sept. 25. In October
it was sent to Berwick bay, and in November, to New Iberia, where it spent the winter. On
Jan. 5, 1864, 56 members reenlisted, but were not allowed their veteran furlough until
April. On their return they arrived at New Orleans on June 8, and remained there the rest
of the year. By order of the war department, Jan. 20, 1865, the original members were sent
to Boston and mustered out, but with the addition of 46 transferred men and 75 recruits
the organization was maintained, and remained in New Orleans. Against the desire of Gen.
Canby, the war department ordered that all the volunteer light artillery in the department
of the Gulf should be mustered out, and the 6th was discharged at Readville, Aug. 10,
1865. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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