8th New York Heavy Artillery

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Note: The 8th New York Heavy Artillery served as an infantry unit throughout the Siege of Petersburg.

Muster In: August 22, 1862¹
Muster Out: June 5, 1865²

Commander(s):
Colonel Joel B. Baker
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel Willard W. Bates
Commander Image

Major Erastus M. Spaulding
Commander Image

Major Joseph W. Holmes
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Fourth Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army³,⁴

Commander:
- Lieutenant Colonel Willard W. Bates (June 15-22?) (wounded June 22, 1864)⁵,⁶
Unit Strength:
Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)⁷

Second Offensive Order of Battle:

Fourth Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (June 19-26, 1864)⁸

Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (June 26-30, 1864)⁹

Commander:
- Lieutenant Colonel Willard W. Bates (June 15-22?) (wounded June 22, 1864)(later died of his wounds, prior to July 4, 1864)¹⁰,¹¹,¹²
- Major Erastus M. Spaulding (June 22-29, 1864)¹³,¹⁴,¹⁵
Unit Strength: 604 officers and men PFD (June 23, 1864)¹⁶
Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)¹⁷

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army¹⁸,¹⁹

Commander: Major Erastus M. Spaulding (July 31, 1864)²⁰,²¹
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army²²,²³

Commander:
- Major Erastus M. Spaulding (August 10, 1864)²⁴
- Captain Joseph W. Holmes (August 31, 1864)²⁵
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army²⁶

Commander:
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army²⁷,²⁸

Commander: Major Joseph W. Holmes (October 31, 1864)²⁹
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army³⁰

Commander: Major Joel B. Baker (December 31, 1864)³¹
Unit Strength:
Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army³²,³³,³⁴

Commander: Lieutenant Colonel (Colonel) Joel B. Baker (January 31 & February 28, 1865)³⁵,³⁶
Unit Strength:
Weapons:
Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.³⁷

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army³⁸,³⁹

Commander: Colonel Joel B. Baker (March 31, 1865)⁴⁰
Unit Strength:
Weapons:
Note: Company G of the 8^th New York Heavy Artillery under an unknown commander was in the Artillery Brigade, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac in late March 1865 and participated in the Battle of Fort Stedman per casualty returns for that battle.⁴¹

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles⁴²:

Before Petersburg June 16-18.
Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
Demonstration north of the James July 27-29.
Deep Bottom July 27-28.
Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve).
Demonstration north of the James August 13-20.
Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
Ream’s Station August 25.
Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
Watkin’s House March 25, 1865.
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
Crow’s House March 31.
Fall of Petersburg April 2.
Sailor’s Creek April 6.
High Bridge and Farmville April 7.
Appomattox Court House April 9.
Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

Sources:

A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 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,. 221: However, after the old Second Brigade, Second Division, II Corps was broken up on June 26, 1864, the Fourth Brigade became the new Second Brigade. ↩
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. 544: On June 30, 1864, the date used for the organization of the Army of the Potomac in this document, the Fourth Brigade had become the Second Brigade already. ↩
Sgt. T. J. Dean Letter June 23, 1864 in possession of Kathryn W. Lerch and part of manuscript history of Eighth New York Heavy Artillery 1862-1865 ↩
Private James J. Sherman, Company G, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery Letter June 24, 1864. Part of collection of letters for Kathryn W. Lerch’s manuscript history of Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, with permission from the Genesee County History Department, Batavia, New York ↩
Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 8th New York Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 11; 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. ↩
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,. 221: However, after the old Second Brigade, Second Division, II Corps was broken up on June 26, 1864, the Fourth Brigade became the new Second Brigade. ↩
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. 544 ↩
Sgt. T. J. Dean Letter June 23, 1864 in possession of Kathryn W. Lerch and part of manuscript history of Eighth New York Heavy Artillery 1862-1865 ↩
Private James J. Sherman, Company G, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery Letter June 24, 1864. Part of collection of letters for Kathryn W. Lerch’s manuscript history of Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, with permission from the Genesee County History Department, Batavia, New York ↩
“Death of Col. Bates.” Brockport (NY) Republic. July 7, 1864, p. 3 col. 2: “Col. W. W. Bates, of Kendall, an officer of the 8^th N. Y. Artillery, (a regiment raised in Orleans and Niagara counties,) was killed in the fight at Petersburg. His body was brought home, and his funeral services were held at the residence of his father, in Kendall, on Monday last (July 4, 1864).” ↩
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. 544 ↩
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. 381-382 ↩
The dates in command are from 8th NYHA historian Kathryn Lerch ↩
“From the 8th N.Y. Artillery,” Batavia (NY) Republican Advocate, July 12, 1864, p. ? col. ? ↩
Volume 14 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 8th New York Heavy Artillery Entry, Page 11; 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. ↩
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 252 ↩
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 730 ↩
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 730 ↩
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. 381-382 ↩
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 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 118, 130: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
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. 381-382 ↩
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 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
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. 1298. ↩
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 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
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 154: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
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 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
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 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
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 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
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 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
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 740: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
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 64: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
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 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
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 740: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
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 64: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
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 567: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
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 583: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
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 567: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
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)” ↩
A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

Tagged as: 8th new york heavy artillery, eighth new york heavy artillery, erastus m. spaulding 8th ny ha, joel b. baker 8th ny ha, joseph w. holmes 8th ny ha, willard w. bates 8th ny ha

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8th New York Heavy Artillery

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