6th Independent Battery Light Artillery

Nickname: First Excelsior Light Artillery

Mustered in: June 15, 1861, as Company K of the 9th militia, later 83rd regiment of infantry. Company K served with its regiment until August 25, 1861, when detached. Designated 6th battery: December 7, 1861.
Mustered out: July 8, 1865.

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.

This battery was recruited at Rahway, N. J., and organized in New York City as the Artillery Company, K, of the 9th Militia, later 83d Infantry. It was mustered in the service of the United States June 15, 1861, to serve three years, and left the State, under Capt. Thomas B. Bunting, the next day. It served with its regiment until August 25, 1861, when it was detached, and December 7, 1861, it was designated by the State the 6th Battery. At the expiration of its service, the men entitled thereto were discharged and the battery continued in the service. July 21, 1864, it was increased by the transfer to it of the enlisted men of the 10th Battery. It served at and near Washington, D. C, from June, 1861; in Stone's Division, Army of the Potomac, from July, 1861; in Banks' Division, from October, 1861; in Hooker's Division, from November 23, 1861; in the 2d Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potamac, from March, 1862; in the Artillery Reserve, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June, 1862; in the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, from December 2, 1862; in the 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, with 2d Cavalry Division, Army of Potomac, from March, 1863; in the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, from December, 1863; in the 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery, Army of the Potomac, with the 2d Cavalry Division, from March, 1864; in the defenses of Washington, D. C., 22d Corps, from June 6, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, Middle Military Department, from September, 1864; with the Army of the Shenandoah from October, 1864; and in the 22d Corps, from April, 1865. Commanded by Capt. Moses P. Clark, it was mustered out and honorably discharged July 8, 1865, at Hart's island, New York harbor, having during its service lost by death, killed in action, 6 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 9 enlisted men; total, 17.

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.

Sixth Independent Battery.—Capts., Thomas W. Bunting, Walter M. Bramhall, Joseph W. Martin, Moses P. Clark. This battery, recruited at Rahway, N. J., and organized in New York city as the artillery company (K) of the 9th militia, later 83d N. Y. infantry, was mustered into the U. S. service June 15, 1861, for a term of three years. It left the state the next day and served with its regiment until Aug. 25, when it was detached, and in December, was designated the 6th battery. In July, 1864, the men of the loth battery were transferred to it. The 6th saw a large amount of active service, participating in over 40 battles and skirmishes. In 1861 it was active at Pritchard's mill. Point of Rocks, Bolivar heights and Ball's Bluff; in 1862, with the 3d corps, it took part in the Peninsular campaign; in 1863, attached to the 1st brigade. Horse artillery, 2nd cavalry division, it took part in the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Virginia campaigns, ending with Mine Run; in 1864, with the same command, it fought through the Wilderness campaign and was then ordered into the defenses of Washington. In Oct., 1864, it was engaged with the Army of the Shenandoah at Tom's brook. Cedar creek, and near Newtown, Va. The battery continued in the service as a veteran organization after its term expired and was finally mustered out on July 8, 1865, at Hart's island, N. Y. harbor, commanded by Capt. Clark. During its term of service it lost 8 men killed and mortally wounded, and 9 men who died of disease and other causes.

Other Resources

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.

Bilby, Joseph G. New Jersey Goes to War: Biographies of 150 New Jerseyans Caught Up in the Struggle of the Civil War, Including Soldiers, Civilians, Men, Women, Heroes, Scoundrels, and a Heroic Horse. Wood-Ridge, NJ: New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association, 2010.
Thank you to Steve Glazer for pointing out this resource.

Perkins, George, and Richard N. Griffin. Three Years a Soldier: The Diary and Newspaper Correspondence of Private George Perkins, Sixth New York Independent Battery, 1861-1864. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2006.
Thank you to Steve Glazer for pointing out this resource.

 

Items the museum holds are in bold.