The 2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery E was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit fought at the battles of First Bull Run in 1861 and Yorktown, the Seven Days, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, and Fredericksburg in 1862. The following year, Battery E moved to the Western Theater where it served at Vicksburg and Knoxville. In 1864, the unit transferred back to the Eastern Theater where it fought at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Totopotomoy, and Cold Harbor. For the rest of the war, it became part of the Washington D.C. garrison.
Organizations
Battery E was at Washington, D.C. in January 1861. The battery was attached to Robert C. Schenck's Brigade, Daniel Tyler's Division, Irvin McDowell's Army, Northeast Virginia in June–August 1861. The unit transferred to the Artillery Division, Army of the Potomac in August–October 1861. It served in Fitz John Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac from that date until March 1862. Battery E was assigned to the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac in March–May 1862. The battery was assigned to the 4th Brigade in Henry Jackson Hunt's Artillery Reserve at the time of the Battle of Seven Pines on 31 May–1 June, though it was not engaged in the fighting. It served in the 5th Brigade, Artillery Reserve, V Corps, Army of the Potomac through September 1862.
Battery E transferred to Artillery, 1st Division, IX Corps in September–December 1862. The battery belonged to Artillery, 3rd Division, IX Corps from then until February 1863. It switched back to Artillery, 1st Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac in February–April 1863. Battery E transferred west to the District of Central Kentucky, Department of the Ohio in April–June 1863. It became part of the Artillery Reserve, IX Corps, Dept. of the Ohio in June–August 1863. Once again it was assigned to Artillery, 1st Division, IX Corps, Dept. of the Ohio from then until March 1864. Transferring east, the unit became part of the Reserve Artillery, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac in March–June 1864. Battery E was assigned to duty at Camp Barry, Washington, D.C., XXII Corps in June–November 1864. The battery consolidated with 2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery C on 24 August 1864. The unit was part of 1st Separate Brigade, XXII Corps from November 1864 to October 1865.
History
1861–1862
Battery E advanced toward Manassas, Virginia on 16–21 July 1861, including the occupation of Fairfax Court House on 17 July. The battery fought at the First Battle of Bull Run on 21 July. Commanded by Captain J. H. Carlisle, Battery E was armed with two 14-pounder James rifles and two M1841 6-pounder field guns. Its guns were not among the 24 artillery pieces that crossed to the west bank of Bull Run with the assault brigades. The unit was part of the garrison of Washington, D.C. until March 1862 when it moved to the Virginia Peninsula. For the Peninsula campaign, the unit was equipped with six 20-pounder Parrott rifles. Battery E participated in the Siege of Yorktown on 5 April–4 May. The battery fought in the Seven Days Battles before Richmond on 25 June–1 July 1862. Specifically, it was engaged at Turkey Bridge on 30 June and at the Battle of Malvern Hill on 1 July. During the Seven Days, Captain Carlisle led both the 5th Artillery Brigade and Battery E. The battery remained at Harrison's Landing until 16 August. The unit moved to Centreville, Virginia on 16–28 August.
Battery E under the command of First Lieutenant Samuel Nicholl Benjamin fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run on 29–30 August 1862. Together with the 8th Massachusetts Light Artillery, Battery E was part of the division of Isaac Stevens in the IX Corps led by Jesse L. Reno. The unit also fought at the Battle of Chantilly on 1 September where Stevens was killed. It participated in the Maryland campaign on 6–22 September. At the Battle of Antietam on 17 September, Lieutenant Benjamin commanded four 20-pounder Parrott rifles. He recorded no casualties at Antietam and reported three officers and 97 enlisted men present for duty on 22 September. A return from 1 October listed three officers and 90 enlisted men. During the battle, the battery supported the attack on Burnside's Bridge. The battery remained on the east bank of Antietam Creek throughout the fighting. It was near Warrenton, Virginia on 15 November.
