New York Rocket Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Rocket Battalion of Artillery (General Barry's), better known as the New York Rocket Battalion was an artillery
battalion
organized in the state of New York
for service in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, December 5, 1861, and there mustered in the United States service for three years, December 6 and 7, 1861. The three companies recruited originally—Ransom's, Lee's and Sauer's—were consolidated into two companies on December 5 and the battalion, commanded by Maj. Thomas W. Lion, left the state on December 9.
It served at and near Washington, D. C., from December 1861, and in North Carolina
, (2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of North Carolina), from May 1862 until February 11, 1863, when the battalion organization was discontinued. The two companies, A and B, were designated the 23d and 24th Batteries
, Light Artillery, having served provisionally as such from November 1, 1862. The loss and engagements of the battalion are included in the record of the batteries into which its two companies were converted.
During its months of service, the Rocket Battalion used eight breechloading cannon
designed to fire Hale rockets
. These were developed by Major Lions himself, and presented to President Lincoln
shortly after the Battle of Bull Run
in July 1861. They proved very unreliable during tests and in combat, so after the battalion was disbanded, each battery received regular Twelve pounders instead.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
organized in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for service in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
History
The battalion was organized at AlbanyAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, December 5, 1861, and there mustered in the United States service for three years, December 6 and 7, 1861. The three companies recruited originally—Ransom's, Lee's and Sauer's—were consolidated into two companies on December 5 and the battalion, commanded by Maj. Thomas W. Lion, left the state on December 9.
It served at and near Washington, D. C., from December 1861, and in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, (2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of North Carolina), from May 1862 until February 11, 1863, when the battalion organization was discontinued. The two companies, A and B, were designated the 23d and 24th Batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, Light Artillery, having served provisionally as such from November 1, 1862. The loss and engagements of the battalion are included in the record of the batteries into which its two companies were converted.
Rocket artillery
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
designed to fire Hale rockets
William Hale (British inventor)
William Hale , was a British inventor and rocket pioneer.- Biography :Hale was born in Colchester, England in 1797. He was self-taught although his grandfather, the educator William Cole, is believed to have tutored him...
. These were developed by Major Lions himself, and presented to President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
shortly after the Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
in July 1861. They proved very unreliable during tests and in combat, so after the battalion was disbanded, each battery received regular Twelve pounders instead.
Service
- Battle of New BernBattle of New BernThe Battle of New Bern was fought on 14 March 1862, near the city of New Bern, North Carolina, as part of the Burnside Expedition of the American Civil War. The US Army's Coast Division, led by Brigadier General Ambrose E...
, March 14, 1862. - Garrison duty at New Bern and Morehead City, North Carolina, until December, 1862.
- Reconnaissance from New Bern to Young's Cross Roads July 26-29.
- Action at Young's Cross Roads July 27.
- Battalion discontinued November 1, 1862, and Company "A" designated 23rd Independent Battery New York Light Artillery23rd Independent Battery New York Light ArtilleryThe 23rd Independent Battery New York Light Artillery was a unit of the Union Army of the American Civil War-History:Organized as Battery A, New York Rocket Battalion, and designated 23rd New York Battery February 11, 1863, having served as such provisionally from November 1, 1862. Attached to...
. Company "B" designated 24th Independent Battery New York Light Artillery24th Independent Battery New York Light Artillery-History:Organized as Battery "B", New York Rocket Battalion, and designated 24th Battery February 11, 1863, having served as such provisionally from October 19, 1862. Attached to Artillery Brigade, Dept. of North Carolina, to January 1863. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North...
.
See also
- 23rd Independent Battery New York Light Artillery23rd Independent Battery New York Light ArtilleryThe 23rd Independent Battery New York Light Artillery was a unit of the Union Army of the American Civil War-History:Organized as Battery A, New York Rocket Battalion, and designated 23rd New York Battery February 11, 1863, having served as such provisionally from November 1, 1862. Attached to...
- 24th Independent Battery New York Light Artillery24th Independent Battery New York Light Artillery-History:Organized as Battery "B", New York Rocket Battalion, and designated 24th Battery February 11, 1863, having served as such provisionally from October 19, 1862. Attached to Artillery Brigade, Dept. of North Carolina, to January 1863. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North...
- Rocket artilleryRocket artilleryRocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars.Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers.-History:...
- Field Artillery in the American Civil WarField Artillery in the American Civil WarField artillery in the American Civil War refers to the important artillery weapons, equipment, and practices used by the Artillery branch to support the infantry and cavalry forces in the field. It does not include siege artillery, use of artillery in fixed fortifications, or coastal or naval...
- William HaleWilliam Hale (British inventor)William Hale , was a British inventor and rocket pioneer.- Biography :Hale was born in Colchester, England in 1797. He was self-taught although his grandfather, the educator William Cole, is believed to have tutored him...