Overview
The 24th New York Independent Battery was an artillery unit organized for Union service during the American Civil War. Originally designated as Battery B of the Rocket Battalion, it was organized at Albany, New York, with recruitment primarily from Monroe and Wyoming counties. The battery was mustered into United States service on December 7, 1861, for a three-year term. It served in the Eastern Theater, with significant operations in North Carolina throughout the war.
This battery is distinct from other New York artillery units and was later transferred to the 3rd New York Artillery as Battery L, though it did not join the regiment until after the war’s conclusion.
Organization & Service
The 24th New York Independent Battery was organized at Albany and mustered in on December 7, 1861. After mustering, the battery departed New York on December 9, 1861, and was stationed in Washington, D.C., until April 1862. In April, it was ordered to North Carolina, where it remained in active service for the duration of the war.
The battery participated in several expeditions and engagements in North Carolina, including actions at Young’s Cross Roads, the expedition from New Berne to Goldsboro, New Berne, Williamston, Chowan River, and Plymouth. During the engagement at Plymouth, the battery suffered significant losses, with 2 killed, 5 wounded, and 115 captured. Upon the expiration of the original three-year term, many members reenlisted, and the battery continued as a veteran organization. Near the end of its service, the battery was transferred to the 3rd New York Artillery as Battery L, though it did not formally join the regiment until after the war ended.
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
- Stationed at Washington, D.C. (December 1861 – April 1862)
- Young’s Cross Roads, North Carolina
- Expedition from New Berne to Goldsboro
- New Berne, North Carolina
- Williamston, North Carolina
- Chowan River, North Carolina
- Plymouth, North Carolina
Casualties
- Killed and mortally wounded: 3 enlisted men
- Died of disease and other causes: 85 enlisted men
- Total losses: 88 enlisted men
- Of the total, 67 died in Confederate prisons
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Jay E. Lee
- Captain A. Lester Cady
- Captain William W. Crooker
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 24th New York Independent Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 24th New York Independent Battery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
- New York State Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War