SEVENTH BATTERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHTARTILLERY THREE YEARS (Re-enlisted)

The 7th Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. was originally recruited by Phineas A. Davis of Lowell, Mass., as an infantry organization. It was first known as the Richardson Light Guard' being named in honor of Hon. George F. Richardson who had done much to encourage its recruitment. It was raised in April, 1861, in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops, and its officers were commissioned April 20. The company was mustered into the service May 21, to serve three years, and on the following day embarked for Fortress Monroe, where it was expected that it would be attached to the 3d Regiment. On its arrival, however, it was maintained as a separate unit, and its commander, Captain Davis, was made Provost Marshal of the fort. It was not until December 25, 1861, that the company was detailed for light artillery duty, and on March 17, 1862, by orders from the War Department, it was permanently changed to artillery, becoming the 7th Batty. Mass. Vol. Lt. Arty. Even as late as May 10, 1862, it acted as infantry in the seizure and occupation of Norfolk, returning to Fortress Monroe on the 13th. Fully equipped as a battery, it proceeded again to Norfolk, June 19, where it remained until July 25, when it was sent to Yorktown. Here it remained until September 29, when it was ordered to Suffolk, Va., arriving October 2. It did duty at the crossing of the Nansemond River until January 29, 1863, when it joined in the movement toward the Blackwater River. Encountering the enemy at Deserted House on the following morning, the battery was severely engaged, losing 13 men of whom two were killed and two mortally wounded. About the middle of March the battery accompanied an expedition under Colonel Spear to Franklin, marching 46 miles in 17 hours and engaging the enemy with loss. It formed a part of the garrison of Suffolk during the siege of that city by Gen. Longstreet from April 11 to May 3, 1863, being actively engaged April 12, 14, and 15. On the withdrawal of the enemy's force, May 3, the battery crossed the Nansemond River in pursuit and engaged the Confederates at Providence Church road. On May 13 it joined Gen. R. S. Foster's expedition to Carrsville, and was on the march eight days, one section being engaged May 15 at Holland's House with slight loss. It marched back to Portsmouth, June 27, and was transferred by water to White House, Va. During the first two weeks in July it was on an expedition made to threaten Richmond, and advanced as far as the crossing of the Virginia Central Railroad and the South Anna River, returning to Fortress Monroe via Williamsburg and Yorktown. On July 15 it was re-transferred to Portsmouth. Remaining here until July 20, it was sent to Washington, being stationed at Camp Marshall until August 18 when it was sent on the transport DE MOLAY to New York City to assist in suppressing the draft riots. Here it was encamped at Madison Square until September 11 when it embarked for Washington on the transport SALVOR. Here it was stationed at Camp Barry until January, 1864. While at Camp Barry 24 members of the battery reenlisted, and these, together with a considerable number of recruits and men transferred from other units, insured the preservation of its identity as a veteran organization. Captain Davis having been promoted and other officers having died or resigned, 2d Lieut. Newman W. Storer now became captain and the entire officers' list was reconstructed. On January 24, 1864, in response to orders from the War Department it started for the Department of the Gulf. Proceeding to Baltimore, on the 26th it embarked on the steamer ARAGO for New Orleans, reaching its destination February 5, and going into camp at Apollo Stables. From February 5 to March 27 it remained at New Orleans and Algiers, being attached to Grover's (2d) Division, l9th Corps. It proceeded by water to Alexandria, La., about the last of March, and remained in that vicinity until May 11, when it started for the Mississippi River, marching via Simsport to Morganzia Bend and arriving May 27. From this point expeditions were made southward to the Atchafalaya River in June and northward to White River and St. Charles, Ark., in July and in September. The close of the year found one section of the battery posted at St. Charles, Ark., and two at Duval's Bluff. About the middle of January, 1865, the battery was transferred to Kennerville, La., where on the 9th of the following month it embarked for Dauphin Island, Ala., as a part of General Steele's expedition against Mobile. On March 17 it crossed Mobile Bay and, as a part of Veatch's (1st) Division, Granger's (13th) Corps, made a severe and exhausting march over terrible roads leading through woods and swamps and arrived, March 27, in front of Spanish Fort. It here participated in the siege suffering slight loss. Spanish Fort surrendered April 8, and the battery was immediately transferred to the front of Fort Blakely. In supporting the assault of April 9 the battery lost one man, Corporal William Cross, killed. The same day the fort surrendered. Mobile now being evacuated by the enemy, on the 15th the battery crossed on the WHITE CLOUD to that city and went into camp. About June 30 it was ordered to Galveston, Tex. Arriving July 3, six days later it moved to Houston in the interior of the State. In an expedition to Waverly, July 29, to arrest a murderer, one man, Private William Daley, was mortally wounded. On October 1 the property of the battery was turned in and the men were sent down to Galveston to be transported home. After vexatious delays at Galveston and New Orleans, on October 14, in company with the members of the 4th Battery, they took passage on the steamer GUIDING STAR for New York. After a tempestuous passage, during which they were forced to stop at Port Royal, S. C., to coal ship, they arrived at New York, November 2. Galloup's Island, Boston Harbor, was reached November 3. Here the men encamped until November 10, when they were mustered out and discharged after four and one half years of service.

Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War

Massachusetts 7th Volunteer Light Artillery (Union)

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