The History of Battery H First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the War to Preserve the Union 1861-1865

In Short

This volume serves as a meticulous, firsthand record of Battery H of the First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. Compiled by a veteran, it documents the battery’s formation, their grueling marches through Virginia, their participation in pivotal engagements like the Wilderness and the capture of Petersburg, and their eventual return home. By combining personal memoranda with official reports and biographical sketches of the men, the book preserves the daily reality of volunteer artillery service. It has lasted as a vital primary source, offering a human-scale view of the national struggle for union.

The Story

The narrative begins with the formation of Battery H in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1861, setting the stage for a long and arduous service. From their initial training at Camp Mauran and Camp Barry, the men quickly transition from raw recruits to a disciplined artillery unit. The early chapters establish a pattern of camp life defined by rigorous drilling, the anticipation of combat, and the quiet, heavy toll of disease—a constant adversary that claimed lives long before the battery faced the enemy on the battlefield.

As the battery is assigned to the Ninth Corps and later the Twenty-second Corps, their arc widens to include the broader movements of the Army of the Potomac. The narrative meticulously tracks their march toward Fairfax Station and their involvement in the intense combat of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. The text does not shy away from the sheer physical exhaustion of these campaigns, describing mud-choked roads and the harrowing sight of wounded soldiers streaming toward the rear. Throughout these movements, the battery remains a vital cog in the Union machine, shifting between picket duty, support roles, and active participation in the artillery reserves.

The story reaches a crescendo during the final, decisive months of the war. The battery finds itself in the thick of the Siege of Petersburg, witnessing the grand, sweeping movements of Union forces as they tighten the noose around Lee’s army. The prose captures the tension of these final days—the constant readiness, the anticipation of the end, and the eventual relief when news of the surrender of the Confederate armies arrives. After the fall of Richmond, the battery’s journey ends with a retrograde movement toward Washington and the eventual dissolution of the unit.

The final section of the book shifts from the chronological history of the campaign to the lives of the soldiers themselves. Through detailed biographical sketches, the author provides a sense of closure for the individuals who comprised the unit. These accounts describe the men’s origins, their postwar lives, and their enduring ties to one another through veteran associations. By recording the deaths, the promotions, and the humble occupations these soldiers returned to, the narrative frames the war not just as a sequence of battles, but as a defining epoch in the lives of the men who fought it. It concludes with lists of survivors and those who passed away, cementing the book’s role as a memorial to a collective experience that shaped the rest of their lives.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The battery is formed in Providence, Rhode Island, and quickly moves to Washington, D.C., to begin training at Camp Barry. Here, the men undergo the foundational discipline of artillery drill, adjusting to the stark reality of life in the field.

The toll of service The narrative documents the harsh conditions of camp life, noting that the first casualties are due to illness rather than combat. The loss of comrades like Bugler Thomas J. Goff and Private William G. Manter provides a sobering introduction to the sacrifices required of the unit.

Deepening involvement The battery is integrated into the larger Union strategy, moving with the Vermont brigade and participating in picket duty at key defensive points. These sections emphasize the strategic importance of the artillery in protecting supply lines and river crossings.

Into the fire The scope expands to include major engagements such as the battle of the Wilderness, where the battery is positioned near the front lines. The account captures the chaos of combat and the relentless pace of the infantry’s maneuvers.

The final push During the campaign against Petersburg and the final pursuit of Lee, the narrative focuses on the tightening grip of the Union forces. The descriptions of the surrender and the subsequent issuance of a news sheet by the troops reflect the growing certainty of victory.

Return to civilian life The concluding chapters detail the long journey home and the formal mustering out of the battery. The focus shifts to the personal histories of the soldiers, documenting their postwar contributions and their transition back to civilian roles.

The People

The book focuses on the common soldier, yet highlights several individuals who defined the character of Battery H. Captain Hazard is presented as an essential figure, credited with training the unit to a "high state of proficiency" before his resignation. His leadership is contrasted with the quiet endurance of soldiers like Corporal Earl Fenner, who transitioned from his role as a bugler to keeping the meticulous daily records that eventually formed this history.

The biographical sketches reveal a diverse group of men with varying backgrounds. Soldiers like Esek S. Owen and Emulous A. Cheever are remembered for their "manly and upright character" and coolness under fire, traits that earned them the respect of their peers. Others, like John Taft and William H. Tasker, brought different experiences—Taft as an immigrant and Tasker as a former sailor—to the unit, yet both proved their worth in the final battles before Petersburg. The author also includes figures like Lieutenant Crawford Allen, Jr., whose extensive travels and later service as a police chief in Providence offer a glimpse into the varied lives led by these men before and after the conflict. The cumulative effect of these portraits is a picture of a unit bound together not by homogeneity, but by a shared commitment to the "War to Preserve the Union."

In Its Own Voice

On the 20th we marched into Washington in a terrific rain-storm. When we arrived on Arlington Heights the wheels of the battery sank into the mud nearly to the hubs.

Describing the physical hardships of the early marches in Virginia.

“I see by your petition that it has been through all the departments, and I find that your claim is right and just, and you should be discharged. But the government has 50,000 men just the same as you are.”

President Lincoln responds to a committee of soldiers seeking their timely release.

“The signal gun broke the prevailing stillness, and immediately 150 Confederate cannon burst into a deafening roar, which was answered by a thunder almost as great from the Federal side.”

The author quotes Longstreet’s account of the intensity of the fighting at Cemetery Hill.

What It's Really About

At its core, this history explores the tension between the administrative demands of a massive government machine and the individual experiences of the citizen-soldier. The narrative frequently highlights the frustration soldiers felt regarding their terms of service, as evidenced by their direct appeal to President Lincoln, which serves as a poignant reminder that these men were not professional soldiers, but civilians temporarily tasked with a national duty. Beneath the logistical details and battle accounts lies a profound reflection on duty, the camaraderie forged in the face of death, and the quiet dignity of those who returned to labor in mills and on farms after the great struggle for national existence was concluded.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the granular, day-to-day realities of Civil War military life will find this account invaluable. It avoids the broad, sweeping generalizations of later histories, focusing instead on the specific, local experience of a Rhode Island battery. The writing is direct and unadorned, reflecting the author’s intent to create a "faithful record" rather than a dramatic narrative.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the book's structure, which functions as much like a report or a memorial as a traditional story. The inclusion of extensive lists, rosters, and errata reflects the period’s penchant for detailed record-keeping, which can feel repetitive to those seeking a fast-paced plot. Additionally, the text carries the period-specific attitudes of 19th-century veterans, who viewed the conflict through a lens of patriotic duty and personal sacrifice. It is a slow, methodical read, best suited for those who appreciate the patience required to piece together the past from primary sources. What stays with the reader is not just the tactical maneuvers, but the stark lists of the fallen and the humble details of the survivors' postwar lives, serving as a reminder that the Civil War was, above all, a human experience that left an indelible mark on those who lived through it.