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Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, 13th Company

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Note: This unit was redesignated the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Company I late in 1864.  More documentation is needed.

Muster In: Organized February 10, 1864, for garrison of forts in Boston Harbor.1
Muster Out: Mustered out September 26, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Captain John Pickering, Jr.
Commander Image

Lieutenant Oliver J. Bixby
Commander Image

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army3,4

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army7,8

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army11,12

  • Commander: Captain John Pickering, Jr. (July 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army14

  • Commander: Captain John Pickering, Jr. (August 31, 1864)15
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army16

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army19

  • Commander: Captain John Pickering, Jr. (October 31, 1864)20
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Oliver J. Bixby (December 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 13th Massachusetts Company Heavy Artillery was renamed the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Company I, at some point between October 31 and December 31, 1864.  More research is needed to find the exact date.

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army23,24

  • Commander: Captain John Pickering, Jr. (January 31 & February 28, 1865)25,26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Pontoniers | Army of the James | Union Army27,28

  • Commander: Captain John Pickering, Jr. (March 31, 1865)29
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

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

  • Placed in charge of the pontoon train, Army of the James, and participated in the Campaign of Gen. Butler against Petersburg and Richmond, Va., May, 1864.
  • Built and maintained bridges across the Appomattox, connecting Army of the Potomac and Army of the James, and the bridges acres James River used in the frequent crossings of the Federal armies during the siege of Petersburg.
  • In the Appomattox Campaign built the pontoon bridge a Farmville by which the 2nd and 6th Corps crossed in pursuit of Lee, and built the bridge at Richmond, Va. by which all the Union Armies crossed the James River on their way to Washington after close of the war.

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. 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. 238 ↩
    4. 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 ↩
    5. 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. 238. ↩
    6. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 13th Company Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 90; 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. ↩
    7. 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. 238 ↩
    8. 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 ↩
    9. 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 ↩
    10. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 13th Company Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 90; 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. ↩
    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), page 268 ↩
    12. 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 738 ↩
    13. 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 738 ↩
    14. 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”: The Official Records indicate that the unit was “unattached”, but it seems obvious that they continued in their roles as pontoniers. ↩
    15. 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” ↩
    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. 1302. ↩
    17. 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. ↩
    18. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 13th Co. Unattached MA Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 85; 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. ↩
    19. 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)” ↩
    20. 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)” ↩
    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 1128: “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 1128: “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 339: “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 752: “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 339: “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 752: “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 576: “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 593: “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 576: “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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