27th Independent Battery Light Artillery

Nickname: Buffalo Light Artillery; Eaton's Battery

Mustered in: December 17,1862. 
Mustered out: June 22,1865.

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 27th ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

This battery was recruited and organized at Buffalo, and there mustered m the service of the United States for three years December 17, 1862. Commanded by Capt. John B. Eaton, it left the State December 22, 1862; served in the defenses of Washington, D. C., and the Artillery Camp of Instruction, 22d Corps, from December, 1862; at Philadelphia, Pa., and in the Department of Susquehanna, from July, 1863; at and near Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, from January, 1864; with the Artillery Reserve, 9th Corps, from April, 1864; at Washington, D. C, from May 16, 1864; in 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June 5, 1864; and in the Artillery Brigade, 9th Corps, from July 30, 1864. The battery, commanded by Captain Eaton, was honorably discharged and mustered out June 22, 1865, at Fort Porter, Buffalo, having, during its service, lost by death of wounds received in action, 2 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 17 enlisted men; total, 19.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers, Volume II: New York, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908.

Twenty-seventh Independent Battery.—Capt., John B. Eaton. This battery, the "Buffalo Light Artillery," was raised and organized at Buffalo, where it was mustered into the U. S. service for three years on Dec. 17, 1862. It performed garrison duty at Washington until the spring of 1864, save for a period in 1863 when it was ordered to Philadelphia at the time of Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. In 1864 it fought with the 9th corps, at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, first assault on the works of Petersburg, and at the mine explosion. It was again active at Fort Stedman in March, 1865, and in the final assault on Petersburg. Commanded by Capt. Eaton, it was mustered out at Fort Porter, Buffalo, June 22, 1865, having lost during service 2 men mortally wounded, 5 men wounded, 2 missing, and 17 who died of disease, etc.

27thIndBatGuidon2004.0044.jpg

27th Independent Battery, NY Volunteers | Guidon | Civil War

The NYS Battle Flag Collection includes two flags carried by the 27th Independent Battery including this silk, swallowtail guidon in the “stars and…

27thBatteryGuidon2005.0116.jpg

27th Independent Battery, NY Volunteers | Guidon | Civil War

The 27th Independent Battery, New York Volunteers reportedly received this silk guidon at Camp Morgan, Buffalo, New York, on December 21, 1862. The…

NYSMM Online Resources

Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)

Muster Roll

Unit Roster

Civil War Newspaper Clippings

Other Resources

Further Reading
This is meant to be a comprehensive list. If, however, you know of a resource that is not listed below, please send an email to ng.ny.nyarng.list.historians@army.mil with the name of the resource and where it is located. This can include photographs, letters, articles and other non-book materials. Also, if you have any materials in your possession that you would like to donate, the museum is always looking for items specific to New York's military heritage. Thank you.

Samuel Wilkeson; Carl Matteson; John B Eaton; Elizabeth Knowles; George N Stoddard; John A Hayward; Charles E Johnson; James Malcolm Brown; Warren Granger; L L Barney; Madison Buell; William Warren Potter. Civil War collection, (bulk 1861-1865).
Thesis/dissertation/manuscript Archival Material Archival Material 5 boxes. (2.5 linear ft.)
Abstract: Muster rolls, histories, diaries and other official and personal papers concerning various New York regiments and naval operations, including the 3rd, 20th, 21st, 49th, 94th, 100th, 116th and 179th Infantry; 11th and 12th Cavalry; 1st Light Artillery (Wiedrich's Battery), 12th Light Artillery, 27th Light Artillery (Eaton's Battery), and 16th Heavy Artillery, as well as some non-New York military units. Also included are passes used by Samuel Wilkeson for reporting for the New York Tribune, 1861; personal letters, 1840-1882; Confederate muster rolls and other records; documentation of war dead, particularly from Orleans County, N.Y.; muster and descriptive rolls of Erie County; W.T. Anderson collection of Civil War autographs, communications and maps; reminiscences by Madison Buell and W.W. Potter, M.D.; and other materials, including autographs, emblems, soldiers' ballots and excerpts from diaries and letters of Elizabeth Knowles.
Located at the Buffalo and Eric County Historical Library.

 

Items the museum owns are in bold.