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New York Light Artillery, 17th Battery

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: Organized at Lockport, N.Y., and mustered in August 26, 1862.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 12, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Captain George T. Anthony
George T. Anthony 17th New York Light Artillery3

Lieutenant Hiram D. Smith
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | DeRussy’s Division | XXII Corps | Defenses of Washington | Union Army4

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | DeRussy’s Division | XXII Corps | Defenses of Washington | Union Army6

  • Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.7

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army8,9

  • Commander: Captain George T. Anthony (July 31, 1864)10
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: 6 x 12-lb. Napoleons (March 31, 1864)11

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army12

  • Commander: Captain George T. Anthony (August 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army14,15

  • Commander:
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 17th New York Battery was stationed at Deep Bottom during the Fifth Offensive.16

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army17

  • Commander: Captain George T. Anthony (October 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit did not join the Eighteenth Corps in the field during the Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road on October 27-28, 1864.19

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

Artillery Brigade | XVIII Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (November 1-December 3, 1864)20

Artillery Brigade | XXIV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army (December 3-31, 1864)21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Hiram D. Smith (December 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: On December 3, 1864, the X Corps and XVIII Corps of the Army of the James were reorganized into the XXIV Corps and the XXV Corps.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XXIV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army23,24

  • Commander: Captain George T. Anthony (January 31 & February 28, 1865)25,26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Artillery Brigade | XXIV Corps | Army of the James | Union Army27,28

  • Commander: Captain George T. Anthony (March 31, 1865)29
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles30:

  • Duty at Artillery Camp of Instruction and in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., September, 1862, to July, 1864.
  • Ordered to Join Army of the James in the field at Petersburg, Va. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond July 6, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Battle of Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30, 1864.
  • Duty on north side of the James River before Richmond until March, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Rice’s Station April 6.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

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. Image of Captain Anthony appears courtesy of Tom Taber, author of The Orleans Battery: A History of the 17th New York Light Artillery in the War of Rebellion and Hard Breathing Days – The Civil War Letters of Cora Beach Benton. He has spent tie producing colored versions of black and white images, including this one. It is used here with his express written consent and may not be reproduced without his permission. All rights reserved. ↩
    4. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    5. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    6. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    7. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    8. 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 267 ↩
    9. 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 740 ↩
    10. 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 740 ↩
    11. Volume 3 (Ordnance Returns for the First Quarter, January-March, 1864); 17th 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. ↩
    12. 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 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    13. 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 622: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    14. 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. 1304. ↩
    15. 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 136: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    16. 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. 1304. ↩
    17. 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 467: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    18. 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 467: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    19. 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 152: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    20.  A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    21. 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 1125: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    22. 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 1125: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    23. 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 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    24. 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 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    25. 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 336: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    26. 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 750: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    27. 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 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    28. 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 595: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    29. 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 579: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    30. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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    { 5 comments… add one }
    • Tom Taber January 8, 2017, 8:08 am

      My book “The Orleans Battery” details the 17th NYLA’s involvement in the Petersburg siege. I have photos of Capt. Anthony, if you’d like to add one.

      ∞
    • Brett Schulte January 8, 2017, 10:38 am

      Tom, I’m definitely interested! An email is on its way to you now.

      Brett

      ∞
    • Jean Joyce July 27, 2018, 10:51 am

      Hi Tom, I’d like to get a copy of your book — where can I get one?

      Jean

      ∞
    • tom taber July 27, 2018, 12:29 pm

      $33 to me at 3746 Tuthill Rd. Albion, NY 14411. Thanksl

      ∞
    • Jean Joyce July 27, 2018, 2:10 pm

      Great, I’m sending today—thank you!

      ∞

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