FOURTH BATTERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY THREE YEARS (Re-enlisted)

The 4th Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. was raised by Capt. Charles H. Manning of Salem, Mass., whose militia unit, the Salem Light Artillery, formed its nucleus. It was one of the Butler organizations, the others being the 30th and 31st Massachusetts Infantry the 6th Massachusetts Battery, and the three unattached companies of Massachusetts Cavalry. It assembled at Camp Chase, Lowell, Sept. 23, 1861, and remained there until Nov. 20, when it sailed on the transport CONSTITUTION for Ship Island, Miss., arriving Dec. 3. On Apr. 15 it embarked on the transport NORTH AMERICA, entered the Mississippi River, occupied Forts Jackson and St. Philip after their surrender, and arrived at New Orleans May 2. Proceeding on to Carrollton, on the 6th it landed at Camp Parapet. The guns of the battery were four rifled 12 pounders and two howitzers. On June 15 two 12 pounders under Lieutenant Taylor were sent by steamer with an expedition to Pass Manchac which connects Lake Maurepas with Lake Ponchartrain. Dispersing a Confederate force at this point, the men next tore up the New Orleans and Jackson Railroad for some distance, then ascended the Tangipahoa River on a reconnaissance, later visited several points on Lake Ponchartrain, and finally returned to camp June 20. On July 10 the battery embarked for Baton Rouge, arriving two days later, and being attached to Gen. Thomas Williams' command. Here on Aug. 5 it was heavily engaged in repelling the attack of Gen. John C. Breckenridge, losing one man killed and five wounded. Leaving Baton Rouge, Aug. 21, it was transferred to Carrollton where it occupied Camp Williams, named for the gallant officer who lost his life at Baton Rouge. Here the battery suffered much from sickness. One section of rifled guns under Lieutenant Biggs was sent, Oct. 4, to Algiers, and on the 29th the rest of the battery was sent to Fort Pike on the eastern end of Lake Ponchartrain. Captain Manning resigned Oct. 20, and was succeeded by Capt. George G. Trull, formerly a lieutenant in the 2d Mass. Battery. From Fort Pike it went on several expeditions to points on Lake Ponchartrain, being engaged in several small combats. On Jany. 24, 1863, it was transferred to Foster's Cotton Press, New Orleans. Meanwhile the section at Algiers under Lieutenant Biggs accompanied General Weitzel's expedition up the lower Teche country clearing that entire section of Confederate forces as far as Fort Bisland, then returned to Brashear City. On Jan. 28, it rejoined the rest of the battery at New Orleans. Ordered again to Baton Rouge, the battery arrived Mar. 1, and from the 13th to the 20th took part in the demonstration against Port Hudson in cooperation with Farragut's Fleet. Breaking camp again May 21, it proceeded via Plains Store to the front of Port Hudson, arriving the 24th. It was now attached to the 3d Division of the l9th Corps, General Emory commanding the Division. It supported with its fire the assaults of May 27 and June 14, being temporarily with General Augur's Division. On July 10, after the surrender of Port Hudson, the battery returned to its old camp at Baton Rouge. About the middle of the month it was sent to Donaldsonville. Here Aug. 4 it took steamer for Port Hudson, remaining in that vicinity until the 22d when it was again sent to Baton Rouge, and from there on the 20th of September back to Donaldsonville. From here it marched up La Fourche River via Labadieville and Thibodeau to the New Orleans and Opelaousas Railroad, thence proceeding westward along the railroad through Bayou Boeuf to Brashear City, arriving on the evening of the 23d. Here it was again attached to the 3d Division of the l9th Corps. Leaving this place the battery advanced to Fort Bisland whence, on Oct. 3, it proceeded on through Franklin, New Iberia, and Vermillionville to Opelousas, engaging in much skirmishing along the way. After a ten days stay at Opelousas, on Nov. 1 the expedition started on its return trip. At or near Vermillion Bayou the battery was engaged with the enemy Nov. 11, without loss, and on the 17th arrived at New Iberia. While at New Iberia near the close of the year 1863 practically all the members of the 4th Battery reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers and on January 4, 1864, were re-mustered for three years. On January 7, the return march was continued, Franklin being reached on the 9th. Here the battery remained in camp until the 25th when it continued on toward New Orleans arriving at that city on the 28th. Here it remained until February 11 when the re-enlisted men embarked on the steamer KARNACK for home to enjoy their veteran furlough. Arriving in Boston, Mass., February 21, the men remained on furlough until the 25th of March when the return trip by train and boat began. New Orleans was reached April 6 and the battery was given quarters in the Tobacco Warehouse and the men drilled as infantry until June 30 when they were transferred to the Apollo Stables, their old camping ground, and re-equipped as light artillery. Here the battery remained until September 5 when it proceeded to Morganzia, La., making several expeditions in the two months which followed into the country north of Port Hudson. On November 10 it received orders to proceed to White River, Ark., whence it was sent to Memphis, Tenn., where it arrived November 28. In this vicinity it remained until January 1, 1865, when it again embarked for New Orleans, reaching that city January 4. Proceeding thence to Kennersville, La., it remained at that place until February 9 when it embarked for Dauphin's Island, Ala. Here it was attached to Veatch's (1st) Division, Granger's (13th) Corps, becoming a part of General Steele's expedition against Mobile, Ala. After a very trying march through woods and swamps and over bottomless roads, it reached the vicinity of Mobile and participated in the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. Spanish Fort surrendered April 8, and Fort Blakely fell after an assault on April 9. Two days after the surrender of the latter fort the battery proceeded to Belle Rose, whence on the 15th it was transported to Mobile which had now been evacuated by the enemy. Remaining in this city until June 30, it was ordered to Galveston, Tex. Arriving July 5, it was sent thence to Houston in the interior of the State. This was its headquarters until October 1 when it returned to Galveston and embarked for New Orleans, its equipment having been turned in preparatory to returning home. After delays at Galveston and New Orleans, on October 14, in company with the members of the 7th Battery, the men took passage on the steamer GUIDING STAR for New York. The early part of the voyage was very tempestuous, and the ship was forced to stop at Port Royal, S. C., for coal. New York was reached November 2, and on the following day the men arrived at Galloup's Island, Boston Harbor. Here they remained until November 10 when they were mustered out after over four years of service.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War

Massachusetts 4th Light Artillery (Union)

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