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1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Mustered in as 4th Conn. Infantry on May 23, 1861. Organized at Washington, D.C., from 4th Conn. Infantry, January 2, 1862.1,2
Muster Out: Mustered out September 25, 1865.3,4

Commander(s):
Colonel Henry L. Abbot
HenryLAbbot1stCTHA5

Major George B. Cook
Commander Image

Major Albert F. Brooker
Commander Image

Major George Ager
Commander Image

Captain Henry H. Pierce (Co. F)
Commander Image

Commander 6
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army6,7

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
    • Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864) (This unit served as artillery but had infantry weapons on hand.)8
    • Company B: 4 x 4.5-inch siege guns, model 1861 (March 31, 1864)9
    • Company M: 4 x 4.5-inch siege guns, model 1861 (March 31, 1864)10

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army6,7

  • Commander: Colonel Henry L. Abbot (June 30, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength: >1264 officers and men PFD (June 30, 1864)14
  • Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army16,17

  • Commander: Colonel Henry L. Abbot (July 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
    • >817 officers and men PFD (July 20, 1864)19
    • >805 officers and men PFD (July 31, 1864)20
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army21

  • Commander: Colonel Henry L. Abbot (August 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army23

  • Commander: Colonel Henry L. Abbot24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (September 30, 1864)25
  • Note: Companies B, C, D, F, G, and H served with the Army of the James during the Fifth Offensive.  Co. B was at Broadway Landing, part of Co. C was at Dutch Gap, and the remaining 4 ½ companies were stationed at Bermuda Hundred.  Companies A, E, I, K, L, and M were on detached duty along the front of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac during this time.26

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army27

  • Commander: Colonel Henry L. Abbot (October 31, 1864)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Companies A, B, E, I, K, L, and M were serving with the Army of the Potomac at this time.29

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

(Cos. C, D, F, G, H)

Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army30

  • Commander: Major George B. Cook (December 31, 1864)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

(Cos. A, B, E, I, K, L, M)

Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army (November 1-December 24, 1864)32

Siege Artillery | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (December 24-31, 1864) 33

  • Commander: Major Albert F. Brooker (December 31, 1864)34
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: On December 24, 1864, these companies of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery were officially transferred to the Army of the Potomac.35

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle:

Co. C

Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army36

Commander: Captain Henry H. Pierce (February 28, 1865)37
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

(Cos. D, F, G, H)

Siege Artillery | Army of the James | Union Army38

  • Commander: Major George B. Cook (February 28, 1865)39
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

(Cos. A, B, E, I, K, L, M)

Siege Artillery | Army of the Potomac | Union Army40,41

  • Commander: Major Albert F. Brooker (January 31 & February 28, 1865)42,43
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: I’m not sure if all or only some of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery became permanently attached to the Army of the Potomac in late December 1864.  Either the whole unit became permanently attached organizationally and some of the companies served with the Army of the James, or some companies were organizationally attached to each army.  More research is needed.

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Siege Artillery | Army of the Potomac | Union Army44,45,46

  • Commander: Major George Ager (March 31, 1865)47
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Companies E, K, and L of this unit are listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, implying it was present during the battle.48

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles49:

  • Engaged in fatigue duty and as garrison for batteries and forts on the Bermuda front and lines before Petersburg during siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond, May, 1864, to April, 1865.
  • Occupy Fort Converse, Redoubt Dutton, Batteries Spofford, Anderson, Pruyn and Perry on the Bermuda front, and Forts Rice, Morton, Sedgwick and McGilvrey, and Batteries 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, Burpee, Drake and Sawyer, on the Petersburg front, and at Dutch Gap, north of the James River.
  • Assaults on Fort Dutton June 2 and 21, 1864 (Co. “L”).
  • Attacks on the lines May 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 27, 30, 31, June 1, 2, 5, 9, 18, 20 and 23.
  • Mine explosion July 30.
  • Attacks on the lines August 25, November 17, 18 and 28, 1864.
  • Repulse of rebel fleet at Fort Brady on James River January 23-24, 1865.
  • Expedition to Fort Fisher, N. C., January 3-15, 1865 (Cos. “B,” “G,” “L”).
  • Capture of Fort Fisher January 15 (Cos. “B,” “G,” “L”).
  • Assaults on and fall of Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865.
  • Duty in the Dept. of Va. until July 11.

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. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), p. 227 ↩
    3. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    4. Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of Connecticut, for the Year Ending March 31, 1866 (Hartford, CT: A. N. Clark & Co., State Printers, 1866), p. 227 ↩
    5. Henry L. Abbot image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Volume 118, Page L6062.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    6. 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. 237 ↩
    7. 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. 552 ↩
    8. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 13; 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 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    9. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Company B Entry, Page 91; 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. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Company M Entry, Page 91; 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. ↩
    11. 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. 237 ↩
    12. 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. 552 ↩
    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. 552 ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pp. 163-178: The unit had this number of officers and men “present for duty equipped” on June 30, 1864.  Present for Duty Equipped attempts to strip away anyone not actually going into combat.  Those non-combatants are included in PFD, the way I represent unit strengths across this web site for consistency.  So the unit had at least this number of officers and men PFD, though we know that number is higher. ↩
    15. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 13; 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 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    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 268 ↩
    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 737 ↩
    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 737 ↩
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pp. 163-178: The unit had this number of officers and men “present for duty equipped” on June 30, 1864.  Present for Duty Equipped attempts to strip away anyone not actually going into combat.  Those non-combatants are included in PFD, the way I represent unit strengths across this web site for consistency.  So the unit had at least this number of officers and men PFD, though we know that number is higher. ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pp. 163-178: The unit had this number of officers and men “present for duty equipped” on June 30, 1864.  Present for Duty Equipped attempts to strip away anyone not actually going into combat.  Those non-combatants are included in PFD, the way I represent unit strengths across this web site for consistency.  So the unit had at least this number of officers and men PFD, though we know that number is higher. ↩
    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 619: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    22. 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 619: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    23. 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. 1302. ↩
    24. 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. 1302. ↩
    25. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 12; 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 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    26. 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. 1302. ↩
    27. 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 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    28. 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 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    29. 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 468: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    30. 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 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    31. 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 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    32. 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 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    33. 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 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    34. 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 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    35. 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 1128: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    36. 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 752: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    37. 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 752: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    38. 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 752: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    39. 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 752: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    40. 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 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    41. 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 738: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    42. 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 338: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    43. 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 738: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    44. 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) ↩
    45. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    46. 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” ↩
    47. 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) ↩
    48. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 71: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    49. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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