Heavy Artillery Regiments

[Unionrep]

Does anyone know a general source about the heavy artillery regiments? Who was responsible for their creation? Why were they so huge? Everyone reads about their fighting and dying in Virginia in 1864, but all accounts seem to focus on individual regiments, and no one seems to have explained much about their collective history or why they were created (e.g., why wouldn't standard-sized regiments do the job of defending Washington?).

[RichardTaylor]

I can't recall any single source dedicated to heavy artillery regiments, although that would certainly be an interesting topic for someone to explore.
My guess would be that the 15 company composition of heavy artillery regiments stemmed from the fact that they were designed to be broken up into smaller detachments in various fortifications. The larger company count made it easier to parcel out detachments still of considerable size. Just a guess.

Respectfully
_________________
Zachary Ford

Knowing I loved my books, He furnished me from mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

[shenandoah]

Here is an online regimental history of the 9th NYHA which might help you.

Scott

http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books#q=%22heavy%20artillery%22&bookid=69dca0413f382d5e&p=9

[EJN]

My reenacting unit:

http://www.firstmdus.net/8th%20New%20York.htm


As far as I know there wasn't a centralized or single person responsible. It seems to be more a matter of need and availability. The regiment I re-enact was an infantry unit that happened to be in Baltimore. The military wanted to get Fort McHenry and Federal Hill's battery up to full manpower, so the infantry unit converted.

As far as size, it is also a matter of tradition in the artillery service. The 4 prewar US regular artillery regiments had 12 rather than the 10 companies of the infantry regiments. 2 of those traditional companies/batteries in each regiment were horse artillery (called "light" batteries). So, by nature a artillery regiment should be bigger. In addition, the Heavies were also stationed during the war in barracks near cities. Recruitment was easy as everyone knew the heavies (until 64) weren't going to the front. Not unlike the NG during the Vietnam war. Finally, since they were rear units that weren't sleeping in tents they were not experiencing the natural sick rate/ poor nutrition attrition every other unit suffered.

[RickAllen]

Yankee Marylanders.?..........I'll be damned.

I almost forgot you guys were out there.

Regards,

Rick
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" Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"

[MarylandReb]

[EJN]

Hey we thought Hicks was your guy We don't claim him. What a 2 faced scum politician. We pick on our modern politicians. However, they are rank amateurs compared to this guy.

Our guy is Maj Gen John Reese Kenly, hero of Monterey and 1st commander of the Maryland Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.

I am also a descendant of some troopers in Cole's Maryland cavalry.

[RickAllen]

That cool man, I think it neat. Kenly was a brave man.

My birthday is his worstday........5-23............ :P

Been a long time since I studied that, I might be wrong.......but you Yankee Marylanders are rare.

More power to ya, honor your ancestors. You'll get no gripe from me about it.

Rock On

Regards,

Rick
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" Do you like French fries, Wyatt Earp?"

[MarylandReb]

[EJN]

Definitely not a good day. The Reb leadership intentional put their Marylanders up against any Maryland Yankees they saw on the field since they knew it would enrage them.

The funny thing about Front Royal though was how it was played up in the Maryland papers. Instead of being a horrible rout, the papers talked constantly about the great bravery of Kenly and how Maryland stood alone against overwhelming odds. So, in the end, the capture of the 1st MD US marked the turning of the majority of Maryland public opinion against the south. It played heavily on why Marylanders didn't rise up and join the ANV during the Antietam campaign a few months later.

Strategically the battle actual bought Banks enough time to fall back toward Winchester. He could have easily been captured as well.

After the war Kenly befriended his Maryland confederate adversary, Gen Bradley T Johnson. Interesting in that Bradley was told not to come back to his native Frederick after The ANV ransomed the town and Johnson carried out the burning of Chambersburg, PA. He didn't return to Maryland for about 5 years, then moving to Baltimore instead of his hometown. Kenly was a pallbearer at Johnson's funeral.

[EJN]