2nd Maryland Artillery, CSA
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| 2nd Maryland Artillery | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | Fall 1861–April 14, 1865 |
| Country | Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | CSA  |
| Branch | Volunteer Army, American Civil War |
| Type | Artillery |
| Nickname | Baltimore Light Artillery |
| Engagements | American Civil War Shenandoah Campaign Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Antietam Battle of Yellow Tavern Battle of Cold Harbor Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Catoctin Mountain |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Captain J.B. Brockenborough |
The 2nd Maryland Artillery[1], was a Confederate unit in the American Civil War. The unit was also known as the Baltimore Light Artillery and as Brockenborough's Artillery.
[edit] History
The unit was organized in Richmond, Virginia in the Fall of 1861, under the command of Captain J.B. Brockenborough. The unit is sometimes as Brockenborough's Artillery by Confederate historians. Brockenborough was a young Virginian who had recently graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. The Baltimore Light Artillery was the 1st Maryland Infantry. It was posted to Centerville, Virginia until March of 1862.
The unit took part in several battles in the Shenandoah Campaign, and was later part of the "Maryland Line". It was also part of the Confederate invasion force into Pennsylvania at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Prior to Gettysburg, the battery supported the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA in their engagement with the Pennsylvania Bucktails at Harrisonburg, Virginia. The battery was given two captured Napoleon cannons by General Dick Taylor. Taylor had captured the guns from Union forces at Port Republic, Maryland.
The Baltimore Light Artilley often found itself engaged in battles against superior Union artillery. Union artillery generally had the advantage over the antiquated Blakely and Napoleon guns that the Confederates used.
After the 1st Maryland was disbanded, due to their terms of enlistment being up, the Baltimore Light Artillery joined Stonewall Jackson on the Rappahanock River, and was assigned to General Starke's Louisiana Brigade.
After the Battle of Antietam, the Baltimore Light was attached to the "Maryland Line" and went into winter quarters near Newmarket, Virginia.
At Gettysburg, the battery was placed on Lee's far left.
The battery was in position on Lee's left when on May 10, 1864, General JEB Stuart, requested that the Maryland Line detach the batttery to his command. The battery moved to Yellow Tavern and on May 11th was engaged in a battle. Union General Sheridan brought up three batteries to battle the Baltimore Light, and for several hours they dueled one another at a range of approximately 800 yards. Union cavalry charged the postion several times and was greeted each time by grape and canister shot. After the unit could no longer hold its position, Stuart (according to Goldsborough) took his standard in his hands and ordered "Charge Virginians, and save those brave Marylanders!"
The Battle of Yellow Tavern took a heavy toll on the battery, as two guns were barely saved, and many of the men and horses were dead, wounded or captured. The battery limped back to Hanover Junction, where it was then moved to Cold Harbor, and attached to General Bradley Johnson's 1st Maryland Cavalry, the battery particpated in Johnson's advance on Fredricksburg, Virginia and the battle on Catoctin Mountain that preceded it. It then accompanied Johnson on his raid through Maryland and participated in the reduction and burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 30th.
After Chambersburg, the Confederate column moved to Moorefield, West Virginia, where they were surprised by Union cavalry. The battery lost thirteen men. The Baltimore Light Artillery nearly ceased to exist. The survivors went to Newmarket, where the battery was refitted with guns and horses, and Marylanders who had served three years at Fort Sumter, South Carolina joined the battery.
After reforming, the battery took part in several more battles, where four guns and 23 men were captured. The remnants of the command moved to Fishersville, Virginia where they hoped to re-equip during the winter, but were ordered to Lynchburg, Virginia and then to Petersburg, Virginia where they fought as infantry.
The Baltimore Light continued as infantry with Lee's army as it moved to link up with Johnston in North Carolina. What was left of the command surrendered at Appomattox Court House.
