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New York Light Artillery, 12th Battery

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Muster In: January 14, 18621
Muster Out: June 14, 18652

Commander(s):
Captain George F. McKnight
Commander Image

Captain Charles A. Clark
Commander Image

Lieutenant George K. Dauchy (MOLLUS IL: The Battle of Ream’s Station by George K. Dauchy)
Commander Image

Lieutenant William S. Bull
WilliamSBull12thNYBttyv094p48393

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army4,5,6

  • Commander: Captain George F. McKnight (June 13-18, 1864)7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
    • 6 x 3-inch Ordnance Rifles (March 31, 1864)8
    • 2 x 12-lb. Mountain Howitzers, 4.62″ bore (March 31, 1864)9

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11,12

  • Commander: Captain George F. McKnight (June 30, 1864)13,14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: 4 x “guns” (June 22, 1864)(captured on June 22, 1864)15

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16,17

  • Commander: Captain George F. McKnight (July 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19,20

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army23

  • Commander: Lieutenant George K. Dauchy (October 31, 1864)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25

  • Commander: Lieutenant William S. Bull (December 31, 1864)26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army27,28

  • Commander: Captain Charles A. Clark (January 31 & February 28, 1865)29
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army30,31

  • Commander: Captain Charles A. Clark (March 31, 1865)32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Temporarily attached to the Artillery Reserve during the Ninth Offensive.33

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles34:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23, 1864.35,36
  • Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 27-28.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, 1865.
  • Assault and capture of Petersburg April 2.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. William S. Bull image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 94, Page 4839.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 222 ↩
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545 ↩
    6. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 219-222 ↩
    7. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 219-222 ↩
    8. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 12th Battery New York Light Artillery Entry, Page 131; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 1); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.: Not many returns exist for June 30, 1864, and none exist past that, so I’ve made the decision to include the March 31, 1864 ordnance return data in the absence of better information.  I’ll add more immediate reports of tube numbers and types as they are found. ↩
    9. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 12th Battery New York Light Artillery Entry, Page 131; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 1); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.: Not many returns exist for June 30, 1864, and none exist past that, so I’ve made the decision to include the March 31, 1864 ordnance return data in the absence of better information.  I’ll add more immediate reports of tube numbers and types as they are found. ↩
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 222 ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545 ↩
    12. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 219-222 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545 ↩
    14. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Part I, Reports, Vol. 7, pp. 219-222 ↩
    15. “General Grant’s Army.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), June 25, 1864, p. 1, col. 1: “When near the Jerusalem Plank Road, the Second Corps was confronted by HILL’S Corps, and a smart engagement ensued. A battery of the Twelfth New York Artillery (sic, the 12th Independent Battery New York Artillery) was annoying the Rebels, who succeeded in getting round in the flank, and charged it. The infantry support being surprised, retired, leaving four guns in the hands of the enemy; but our line of battle was soon reformed.” ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 254 ↩
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731 ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 731 ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 130: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    22. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1299. ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 327: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 565: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 581: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 565: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 565: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    34. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    35. “General Grant’s Army.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), June 25, 1864, p. 1, col. 1: “When near the Jerusalem Plank Road, the Second Corps was confronted by HILL’S Corps, and a smart engagement ensued. A battery of the Twelfth New York Artillery (sic, the 12th Independent Battery New York Artillery) was annoying the Rebels, who succeeded in getting round in the flank, and charged it. The infantry support being surprised, retired, leaving four guns in the hands of the enemy; but our line of battle was soon reformed.” ↩
    36. “In Front of Petersburg.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA). June 29, 1864, p. 4 col. 1: “We lost about a brigade of men, and a battery of four guns. The troops were New England veterans, and the battery was MCKNIGHT’s.” ↩

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