STAHL’S BATTERY
By Ken Regester,and B. Conrad Bush
“Battery-Forward - Guide Right - March” was the last order of the day
at Camp Church, Lockport, New York for the wide-eyed, unsuspecting group
of 144 men and officers who left encampment for the train depot that would
sever them from lifetime friends, relatives and loved ones for three years
- and, for some, forever.
“Stahl’s Battery”, 19th Independent Battery, Light Artillery, New York
Volunteers, was on its way towards muster-in at Elmira, New York on October
27, 1862, and departure two days later for Camp Barry, located on the Bladensburg
Pike, near Washington, D.C., which served as the Artillery Camp of
Instruction. They were to spend the next five months at Camp Barry. The
Battery received their equipment, consisting of six bronze twelve- pound
Napoleon cannons, 110 horses and other battery equipment in December. The
19th gallantly defended their flags and guns until they were
turned in at the end of the war.
Captain William H. Stahl had a fine lot of farm lads from the towns
of Lockport, Wilson and Porter whose good sense of horseflesh and resourcefulness
ultimately caused the unit to be one of the best liveried organizations
in the War. After passing winter months at Camp Barry with 16 other batteries,
the boys of the 19th, upon learning that the 3rd Delaware was leaving for
the Department of the Gulf at New Orleans, began judiciously exchanging
their horses for the fine ones of the other outfit - in secrecy, of course!
The horses to be turned in were slated for a new outfit which accidentally
learned of the trading; complaints were heard and the newly acquired horseflesh
ordered back.
Stahl’s New Yorkers returned exactly the number they had received.
But they picked out the remaining tired horses in their lot and under the
watchful eye of the complaining unit, accomplished exactly what they had
started!
They drilled at Camp Barry until April when they were sent by
boat to Fortress Monroe and then overland by rail to Suffolk, Va. They
were sent to help defend Suffolk from Longstreet’s force which had invested
it. They remained there until July. It was at Suffolk that the 19th’s guns
were first tested against the enemy. Capt. Stahl said that they had learned
a valuable lesson, it was not how many shots you fired but how well they
were aimed. Our first loss in the field occurred when a corporal attempting
to mount a moving caisson was crushed under the wheels of the cannon. The
ironic part was that he was not supposed to going out with the section.
He had been promoted and assigned to another section but asked to go along
as he did not want to be away from his buddies.
The 19th was then sent back to Camp Barry and spent the remainder of
1863 in drilling and the defense of Washington. The unit was very well
drilled and received high praise from the Commander of the post, General
Barry. The Battery was chosen to fire the salute at the raising of the
Liberty Statue over the Capital in December.
The year 1864 brought the Battery, commanded by Capt. Edward W. Rogers,
who replaced the late Capt. Stahl ( died Sept. 15, 1863 from Typhoid Fever),
out of the defenses of Washington and into the Army of the Potomac. There
it was assigned to the second division of the Ninth Corps, where it served
for the rest of the war.
The Battery fought gallantly with its six twelve-pound Napoleons. On
one occasion, at the battle of Bethesda Church, when about to be relieved
by a fresh unit, they were sent the relief’s ammunition instead as a show
of confidence and honor to the 19th’s abilities. At this same battle the
Battery received its firing commands from a forward observer who, by sending
messages through a string of men placed in front of their redoubt, relayed
their accuracy of fire back to the Battery. Through this information the
batteries fire did considerable damage to the confederate artillery.
The war took these lads to many skirmishes and campaigns too numerous
to list here. Among the major engagements were: Spotsylvania, including
assault on the Salient, May 12, 1864 when they lost their most men in a
battle,16 enlisted men of whom 10 were killed or latter died of wounds;
North Anna, May 23-26, 1864; Bethesda Church at Cold Harbor, June 1-2,
1864; Siege of Petersburg, including the Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864;
Weldon Road, Aug. 18-21, 1864; Poplar Grove Church, Sept. 30- Oct. 2, 1864;
Hatcher’s Run, Oct. 27 -28, 1864; Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865, (where
four of the 19th’s guns and 14 men captured, the guns being retaken the
same day); Fall of Petersburg, Va. April 2, 1865.
Stahl’s Battery was transferred to Washington following termination
of hostilities, took part in the grand Review and was mustered from Federal
service June, 13, 1865 at Elmira, New York. During its tour of service,
the Battery lost 14 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded with one officer
and 16 enlisted men dying of disease for a total of 31.
In December 1972 the 19th was reactivated , known as the “Commander’s
Body Guard.” It was recruited from the same general area as the original
unit. The nucleus of the men came from the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery.
The Battery was helped in its infancy by the guidance of James Buncy, the
northeast regional commander, and Jerry Cory of the 44th NY who gave us
all a sound education in how to shoot, mold bullets and skirmish etiquette.
The new men of the 19th also have possessed the same “can do” attitude
of their forerunners and have been well noted for their ability to scrounge
targets, materials and anything else needed to put on skirmishes.
Since the N-SSA unit was formed 27 years ago Stahl’s Battery has engaged
in all northeast regional and national skirmishes, and has helped in putting
on two National Skirmishes. Two of our men have had the honor of holding
the title of National Skirmish Director. The 19th has taken part
in many civic functions and our men have performed living history talks
for various schools and organizations. The Battery has hosted over
20 regional skirmishes at various locations from the first ones held at
Folsom Downs to the most recent at Hartsville.
The first National Skirmish that the unit stood inspection was in May
1973. Of the eleven men who stood inspection that day only two are
still with the unit. We have lost by death two of the original eleven,
Ted Hull and Tom Slaght. These men have been replaced by new recruits and
the unit at this time consists of over twenty men and women.
Tom Slaght was our first commander and held that position for many years.
Under his guidance the Battery learned how to shoot; first a three quarter
scale six-pound Napoleon and latter a full scale six-pound Napoleon with
limber. These cannons were fired in many of the regional and national skirmishes
and the Battery always did themselves proud finding their standing at or
near the top.
The 19th Battery now shoots competitively in mortar, revolver,
rifle, carbine, smoothbore, and repeater rifle matches. The future visions of our Battery are many good skirmishes and the
furthering of the ideals of the N-SSA through good sportsmanship and civic
responsibility.
Additional
history of the 19th
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