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==Battles==
==Battles==
Along with the other Arkansas troops gathered at Pitman's Ferry, the Jackson Light Artillery was sent east of the Mississippi River, and spent the rest of the war there, fighting in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. James C. Thrall succeeded Captain Hubbard as battery commander on May 12, 1862, and remained in command until the end.<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html</ref>
Along with the other Arkansas troops gathered at Pitman's Ferry, the Jackson Light Artillery was sent east of the Mississippi River, and spent the rest of the war there, fighting in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

During the [[Battle of Shiloh]], a.k.a, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Sunday, April 6, 1862 – Monday, April 7, 1862, the battery, Became involved in what was at that time, the largest massed artillery attack in North America. By the afternoon of Sunday, April 6, 1862, men of Prentiss's and W. H. L. Wallace's divisions had established and held a position nicknamed the ''Hornet's Nest''.<ref>Cunningham, O. Edward. Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862. Edited by Gary Joiner and Timothy Smith. New York: Savas Beatie, 2007. ISBN 978-1-932714-27-2, pp. 241–42.</ref> The Confederates assaulted the position for several hours rather than simply bypassing it, and they suffered heavy casualties during these assaults.<ref>Eicher, David J. The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 0-684-84944-5. p. 227, cites 12. See Also, Daniel, Larry J. Shiloh: The Battle That Changed the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. ISBN 0-684-80375-5 p. 214,</ref> It was not until the Confederates, led by Brig. Gen. [[Daniel Ruggles]], assembled over 50 cannons, including on section of Hubbard's Battery, commanded by Lietenant Thrall, into a position known as "Ruggles's Battery"<ref>Historians disagree on the number of artillery pieces the Confederates massed against the Hornets Nest. Cunningham, p. 290, can account for 51. Daniel, p. 229, argues for 53. Eicher, p. 228 and Sword, Wiley. Shiloh: Bloody April. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1992. ISBN 0-7006-0650-5. First published 1974 by Morrow. p. 326, report the traditional count of 62, which was originally established by battlefield historian D.W. Reed.</ref> to blast the line at close range that they were able to surround the position, and the Hornet's Nest fell after holding out for seven hours.<ref>Nevin, David, and the Editors of Time-Life Books. The Road to Shiloh: Early Battles in the West. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1983. ISBN 0-8094-4716-9. pp. 121–29, 136–39; See also Esposito, Vincent J. West Point Atlas of American Wars. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1959. OCLC 5890637, map 36; Daniel, pp. 207–14; See Also Woodworth, Steven E. Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861–1865. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 0-375-41218-2. pp. 179–85; See Also Eicher, p. 227. Sword, p. 306, lists 2,320 captured; Eicher, p. 228, 2,200; Daniel, p. 214, 2,400.</ref>


James C. Thrall succeeded Captain Hubbard as battery commander on May 12, 1862, and remained in command until the end.<ref>Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html</ref>


After fighting at [[Battle of Shiloh|Shiloh]] the unit was assigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and was active in the [[Siege of Jackson]]. Later it was attached to Forrest's Cavalry Corps, participated in the conflicts at [[Battle of Brice's Cross Roads|Brice's Cross Roads]] and Battle of Harrisburg|Harrisburg]], then saw action in Tennessee.<ref>National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, Thrall's Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery, Accessed Jan 14, 2011, http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm</ref>
After fighting at [[Battle of Shiloh|Shiloh]] the unit was assigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and was active in the [[Siege of Jackson]]. Later it was attached to Forrest's Cavalry Corps, participated in the conflicts at [[Battle of Brice's Cross Roads|Brice's Cross Roads]] and Battle of Harrisburg|Harrisburg]], then saw action in Tennessee.<ref>National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, Thrall's Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery, Accessed Jan 14, 2011, http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm</ref>

Revision as of 22:34, 10 February 2013

3rd Arkansas Light Artillery (Confederate)
Arkansas state flag
Active1861–1865
CountryConfederate States of America
AllegianceDixie CSA
BranchArtillery
EngagementsAmerican Civil War

Template:Infobox Arkansas Confederate Artillery Batteries

The 3rd Arkansas Light Artillery, also known as the Jackson Light Artillery (1861–1865), was a Confederate Army artillery battery during the American Civil War. The battery spent the majority of the war serving in Confederate forces east of the Mississippi River. The battery is also known as McCown's Battery, Hubbard's Battery, and Thrall's Battery in official reports.

Organization

The Jackson Light Artillery was organized at Jacksonport, Jackson County, Arkansas, on June 15, 1861.[1] Most of the original members of the battery were from Jackson County, but there were men from neighboring Craighead, Independence, Lawrence, White and present-day Woodruff counties who also joined the battery at Jacksonport. Although officially named the Jackson Light Artillery, it was the practice in the Confederate Army to refer to a battery by the name of its current commander; thus, it is variously identified in most contemporary records as McCown's Battery, Hubbard's Battery, and Thrall's Battery. In the "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Arkansas," the service records of these men are carried under the heading "Thrall's Battery" on Roll 42.[2]

At the battery's organization, George W. McCown was elected captain, James C. Thrall was elected first lieutenant, George T. Hubbard was elected second lieutenant, and Robert S. Anderson was elected third lieutenant.[3] The battery marched to Pitman's Ferry, near Pocahontas in Randolph County, where it enlisted in the Confederate service on July 25, 1861. A week earlier, on July 17, Captain McCown had resigned and returned to Jacksonport. Lieutenant Hubbard was elected captain in his place.[4]

A total of 165 men served in this unit from June 15, 1861, to May 11, 1865. A remarkable number of original members served with the battery through the entire conflict. The battery had one of the lowest desertion rates in the Confederate Army. Even among the large number of conscripts who joined the battery in 1863 there were relatively few deserters. From all contemporary accounts, it seems that the Jackson Light Artillery enjoyed competent leadership and high morale throughout the war.[5]

Battles

Along with the other Arkansas troops gathered at Pitman's Ferry, the Jackson Light Artillery was sent east of the Mississippi River, and spent the rest of the war there, fighting in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

During the Battle of Shiloh, a.k.a, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Sunday, April 6, 1862 – Monday, April 7, 1862, the battery, Became involved in what was at that time, the largest massed artillery attack in North America. By the afternoon of Sunday, April 6, 1862, men of Prentiss's and W. H. L. Wallace's divisions had established and held a position nicknamed the Hornet's Nest.[6] The Confederates assaulted the position for several hours rather than simply bypassing it, and they suffered heavy casualties during these assaults.[7] It was not until the Confederates, led by Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, assembled over 50 cannons, including on section of Hubbard's Battery, commanded by Lietenant Thrall, into a position known as "Ruggles's Battery"[8] to blast the line at close range that they were able to surround the position, and the Hornet's Nest fell after holding out for seven hours.[9]


James C. Thrall succeeded Captain Hubbard as battery commander on May 12, 1862, and remained in command until the end.[10]

After fighting at Shiloh the unit was assigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana and was active in the Siege of Jackson. Later it was attached to Forrest's Cavalry Corps, participated in the conflicts at Brice's Cross Roads and Battle of Harrisburg|Harrisburg]], then saw action in Tennessee.[11]

Thrall's Battery accompinied Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest on a 23-day raid through western Tennessee which culminated in an attack on the Union supply base at Johnsonville. On the evening of November 3, 1864, Forrest positioned his guns across the river from the Federal supply base at Johnsonville. On the morning of November 4, the Confederate batteries were attacked by three Union gunboats from Johnsonville and by six Paducah gunboats The Confederate artillery was completely effective in neutralizing the threat of the Federal fleets. One of the vessels was hit 19 times, and returned to Johnsonville. Thrall's battery assisted in bombarding the Union supply depot and the 28 steamboats and barges positioned at the wharf. All three of the Union gunboats—Key West, Tawah, and Elfin—were disabled or destroyed. The Union garrison commander ordered that the supply vessels be burned to prevent their capture by the Confederates. Forrest observed, "By night the wharf for nearly one mile up and down the river presented one solid sheet of flame. ... Having completed the work designed for the expedition, I moved my command six miles during the night by the light of the enemy's burning property"[12]

The Jackson Light Artillery was involved in the following battles:[13]

Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6–7, 1862.
Siege of Corinth, April to June 1862.
Meridian Campaign, February–March 1864.
Battle of Yazoo City, March 5, 1864.
Battle of Tupelo, July 14, 1864.
A. J. Smith's 2nd Mississippi Invasion, August 1864.
Forrest's West Tennessee Raid, October 16 – November 10, 1864.
Battle of Johnsonville, November 4, 1864.
Battle of Mobile, March 17 – April 12, 1865.

Surrender

The Jackson Light Artillery was among the last of the Confederate troops east of the Mississippi to surrender. The Jackson Light Artillery aided in the defense of Mobile and surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The battery spiked their guns and surrendered at Meridian, Mississippi, May 11, 1865.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Watson, Lady Elizabeth, Fight and Survive!: a history of Jackson County, Arkansas, in the Civil War, Jackson County Historical Society, 1996, Page 9
  2. ^ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, Thrall's Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery, Accessed Jan 14, 2011, http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
  3. ^ Watson, Lady Elizabeth, Fight and Survive!: a history of Jackson County, Arkansas, in the Civil War, Jackson County Historical Society, 1996, Page 9
  4. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html
  5. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html
  6. ^ Cunningham, O. Edward. Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862. Edited by Gary Joiner and Timothy Smith. New York: Savas Beatie, 2007. ISBN 978-1-932714-27-2, pp. 241–42.
  7. ^ Eicher, David J. The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. ISBN 0-684-84944-5. p. 227, cites 12. See Also, Daniel, Larry J. Shiloh: The Battle That Changed the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. ISBN 0-684-80375-5 p. 214,
  8. ^ Historians disagree on the number of artillery pieces the Confederates massed against the Hornets Nest. Cunningham, p. 290, can account for 51. Daniel, p. 229, argues for 53. Eicher, p. 228 and Sword, Wiley. Shiloh: Bloody April. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1992. ISBN 0-7006-0650-5. First published 1974 by Morrow. p. 326, report the traditional count of 62, which was originally established by battlefield historian D.W. Reed.
  9. ^ Nevin, David, and the Editors of Time-Life Books. The Road to Shiloh: Early Battles in the West. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1983. ISBN 0-8094-4716-9. pp. 121–29, 136–39; See also Esposito, Vincent J. West Point Atlas of American Wars. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1959. OCLC 5890637, map 36; Daniel, pp. 207–14; See Also Woodworth, Steven E. Nothing but Victory: The Army of the Tennessee, 1861–1865. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 0-375-41218-2. pp. 179–85; See Also Eicher, p. 227. Sword, p. 306, lists 2,320 captured; Eicher, p. 228, 2,200; Daniel, p. 214, 2,400.
  10. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html
  11. ^ National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Confederate Arkansas Troops, Thrall's Battery, Arkansas Light Artillery, Accessed Jan 14, 2011, http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/regiments.cfm
  12. ^ Wills, Brian Steel. The Confederacy's Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forrest. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1992. ISBN 0-7006-0885-0, p.270-73.
  13. ^ Sikakis, Stewart, Compendium of the Confederate Armies, Florida and Arkansas, Facts on File, Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-8160-2288-7, page 118.
  14. ^ Howerton, Bryan R., "Jackson Light Artillery (Thrall's Battery)", Edward G. Gerdes Civil War Page, Accessed 30 January 2011, http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/jackson.html

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service

Bibliography

  • Daniels, Larry. Cannoneers in Gray: The Field Artillery of the Army of Tennessee, 1861-1865. (Tuscaloosa, AL: Fire Ant Books, 2005).
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