1st Artillery Regiment was organized in September, 1861 and was accepted into Confederate service with only six companies. Rarely did the regiment have the normal number (ten) of companies assigned to it, and on September 2, 1864, the unit was reduced to a battalion and its designation changed to the 1st Battalion Virginia Artillery. Nor did all the companies assigned serve together as a field organization. Therefore, the history of each company is given under its own designation. They are: Company A - Smith's Battery; Company B - James City Light Artillery; Company C - Young's Battery; Company D - Richmond Howitzers - 3rd Company; Company E - Brandon Light Artillery; Company F - Williamsburg Light Artillery; Company G - Peninsula Light Artillery; Company H - Albemarle Light Artillery; Company I - Richmond Fayette Light Artillery; Company K - Richmond Howitzers - 2nd Company; Company L - Pulaski Georgia Light Artillery. The field officers were Colonel George W. Randolph; Lieutenant Colonel Henry C. Cabell; and Majors J. Thompson Brown, Lewis M. Coleman, Robert A. Hardaway, Edgar F. Hardaway, Edgar F. Moseley, Robert M. Scribling, and David Watson.
Associated Units:
Smith's Battery [also called Hampton Artillery] was organized in May, 1861, with men from Elizabeth City County. It was assigned to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery, but served as an independent company. The battery was stationed at Ship Point on the Poquosin River, then at Yorktown. During June, 1862, it was ordered to disband and the men transferred to other Virginia units. Captain Charles L. Smith was in command.
Richmond Fayette Light Artillery was organized during the spring of 1861 with men from Richmond. It was attached to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery, then became an independent command. The unit was assigned to J. Dearing's, H.P. Jones', J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia. It was active from Williamsburg to Gettysburg, then moved to North Carolina and took part in the Plymouth expedition. Returning to Virginia the battery saw action on the Bermuda Hundred line, fought at Cold Harbor, and participated in the defense of Petersburg. It contained 90 effectives at Gettysburg but lost many during the Appomattox Campaign. None were present at the surrender. Its commanders were Captains Henry C. Cabell and Miles C. Macon.
Peninsula Light Artillery was organized during May, 1861, with men from York County. The unit served at Yorktown, was assigned to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery, the in June, 1862, disbanded. Its members were transferred to other Virginia artillery commands. Captains Joseph B. Cosnahan and William B. Jones were its commanders.
Williamsburg Light Artillery was formed in May, 1861, with men from James City County. It served at Yorktown with 50 men, and for a time was assigned to the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery. The battery was active from Williamsburg to Sharpsburg, then in October, 1862, disbanded. Its members were transferred to other Virginia artillery companies. The unit was under the command of Captains John A. Coke and William R. Garrett.
