McQueen Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers, April 15th, 1862, to April 10th, 1865

McQueen Light Artillery
South Carolina Volunteers, April 15th, 1862, to April 10th, 1865

The following historical information is about the service of both the battery, and the men, of the McQueen Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers, (also known as Stanley's Battery & Gregg's Battery) which served in the American Civil War from April 1862 to April 1865. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or additional information, photographs, artifacts, etc., that you wish to contribute, feel free to submit the information to the Webmaster.

BATTERY TIMELINE

April 15th, 1862: The Battery is organized with volunteers from Marion District, South Carolina, by Captain Matthew B. Stanley.

May 1st, 1862: The battery is mustered into Confederate States service as the McQueen Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers, at Charleston, South Carolina, for the duration of the war.

May 1862: The company is designated as Company B of Alston's Battalion of South Carolina Artillery.

May to July 1862: Served on duty in the defenses of James Island, South Carolina.

July 26th, 1862: The battery moves from James Island to Camp Hempstead in Charleston, South Carolina.

July 1862 to April 1863: In camp, and in the defenses of the City of Charleston, South Carolina.

December 10th, 1862

January 30th, 1863

December 4th, 1862: The battalion is reorganized as the Siege Train Artillery Battalion.

April 15th, 1863: The battery moves from Charleston to Geddis Farm in St. Andrews Parish, South Carolina.

April 21st, 1863: The battery moves from Geddis Farm to Provost's Farm, South Carolina.

May 1863 to May 1864: The battery is in camp and served in the defenses of James Island, South Carolina.

May 1863 to April 1864: In camp, and on duty, at the James Island Creek Bridge.

July 20th to August 1st, 1863

August 15th to 21st, 1863

April 11th, 1864

June 8th, 1863: The company is designated as Company C of the 18th South Carolina Volunteer Artillery Battalion (Siege Train).

May 1st, 1864: The battery is detached from the 18th South Carolina Volunteer Artillery Battalion and designated as an Independent Battery of Light Artillery; its place in the battalion is taken by the Pee Dee Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers.

May 16th, 1864: The battery moves from James Island to Charleston, where the men are furloughed for four-days.

May 20th, 1864: The battery, reassembled, moves from South Carolina to Richmond, Virginia.

June 1864 to April 1865: Served in the defense of Richmond & Petersburg, Virginia; during this time the battery was armed with four 12-pnd. Napoleons.

September 30th, 1864

October 1st, 1864

October 2nd, 1864

April 1st, 1865

April 2nd, 1865: The battery is overrun and the members captured or dispersed in the fighting at Petersburg, Virginia, and ceases functioning as a coherent organization at that point.

ASSIGNMENTS

May 1862 to June 1862 - 2nd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

July 1863 to July 1863 - 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

July to September 1863 - 1st Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

September to October 1863 - Unattached, 1st Sub-Division, 1st Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

October 1863 to January 1864 - Western Division, 7th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

January to February 1864 - Hagood's Brigade, 7th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

April to June 1864 - 7th Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina, Georgia & Florida

June 1864 to April 1865 - Pegram's Artillery Battalion, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

ROSTER

CAPTAIN

Gregg, Thomas Edwards: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enrolled on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as Senior First Lieutenant of the battery on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; absent, on detached service, in October 1862; promoted to Captain on May 24th, 1863, to rank from May 14th, 1863, vice Captain Stanley had resigned; absent, sick, in August 1863; no further record after March 1865. [Born on January 23rd, 1836, in Darlington District, South Carolina, the son of John Eli (1805-1873) & Sarah Elizabeth Edwards (1812-1847); married Miss Mary Stevens Porcher (1841-1863) on June 15th, 1861; re-married to Miss Claude de Cherigny Porcher (1848-1919) in 1866; died on June 17th, 1911, in Florence County, South Carolina; buried at the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery near Florence, Florence County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR (MB & MLA), GS

Stanley, Matthew Brunson: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enrolled on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as Captain of the McQueen Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers, on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; absent, on furlough, in July 1862; suspended from duty by order of General P.G.T. Beauregard from February 20th, 1863, and ordered to present himself before an Examination Board; tendered his resignation on April 30th, 1863, stating that "...having been ordered before a board of examination or resigning, I have preferred the latter;" his resignation was accepted and he was honorably discharged from the service on May 14th, 1863. [Born on March 24th, 1824, in Darlington District, South Carolina, the son of Thomas & Mary Annis Brunson Stanley; married Miss Mary Jane Godbold (1830-1902) in 1852; died on July 13th, 1913, at Centenary, South Carolina; buried at the Centenary United Methodist Church Cemetery in Marion, Marion County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR, GS

SENIOR FIRST LIEUTENANT

Edwards, David W.: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enrolled on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as Senior Second Lieutenant of the battery on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; suspended from duty by order of General P.G.T. Beauregard from February 20th, 1863, and ordered to present himself before an Examination Board; promoted to Senior First Lieutenant on May 24th, 1863, to rank from May 14th, 1863, vice Lieutenant Gregg was promoted; absent, on sick furlough, in October 1863; admitted to the Receiving & Wayside Hospital (General Hospital No. 9) in Richmond, Virginia, on September 25th, 1864; transferred to the Jackson Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, on September 26th, 1864; furloughed for thirty days from October 4th, 1864; tendered his resignation on September 23rd, 1864, stating that "...I am unable to do duty in the field and do not wish to tax the Government without being capable of performing the duties of my office. I have only performed four months duty in the last fourteen months on account of sickness;" his resignation was accepted, and he was honorably discharged from the service on October 31st, 1864. Re-enlisted as a Private in the battery on November 1st, 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia, for the duration of the war; absent, without leave, in December 1864; no further record after December 1864. [Born on March 1st, 1833, in Marion District, South Carolina, the son of David S. (1800-1864) & Martha Rogers Edwards (1803-1869); married Miss Margaret Carmichael (1828-1884), no date; died on March 30th, 1908; buried at the Miller's United Methodist Church Cemetery in Mullins, Marion County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR (MB & MLA), GS

Gregg, Charles E.: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enlisted on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as a Private in the battery on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; promoted to First Sergenat prior to July 1862; discharged per orders on May 13th, 1863, to accept an appointment. Elected, enrolled and was mustered into service as Junior Second Lieutenant on May 24th, 1863, to rank from May 13th, 1863, vice Lieutenant Godbold had resigned, for the duration of the war; promoted to Junior First Lieutenant on May 15th, 1863, vice Lieutenant Brady had resigned; promoted to Senior First Lieutenant on January 13th, 1865, to rank from November 25th, 1864, vice Lieutenant Edwards had resigned; no further record after February 1865. [Born on August 16th, 1843, in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, the son of John Eli (1805-1873) & Sarah Elizabeth Edwards (1812-1847); married Miss Julia Elizabeth Adams (1852-1898) on June 22nd, 1871; died on July 7th, 1878, at Marion, South Carolina; buried at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Florence, Florence County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR (MB & MLA), GS

JUNIOR FIRST LIEUTENANT

Brady, William W.: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enrolled on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as Junior First Lieutenant of the battery on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; injured on August 1st, 1862, when thrown form his horse and breaking his ankle; absent, on sick furlough, from August 1862 to January 1863; tendered his resignation on January 7th, 1863, stating that "...on the 1st of August last I was thrown from my horse and had my ankle broken. I received lengthened furloughs that I might at home recover the use of my limb. At the expiration of five months I find myself still unable to do duty. I can neither walk nor ride without pain & danger of a second accident. Under the circumstances I have through it best to resign in order that my place may be filled by an able man...," the application being endorsed on January 15th, 1863, by Major Charles Alston with the note that "...I am intimately acquainted with all the facts of this case. I think it quite possible Lieut. Brady may ultimately recover the use of his limb; but very improbable that he will do so within any reasonable time. He is totally unfit for duty now and in my opinion likely to remain so for the rest of the year;" his resignation was accepted, and he was honorably discharged from the service on January 20th, 1863. [Born ca. 1830.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR

Gregg, Smilie Alexander: Of Darlington District, South Carolina. Enlisted and was mustered into service as a Private in the battery on November 2nd, 1863, at Charleston, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; promoted to Guidon prior to February 1864; discharged per orders on January 13th, 1865, to accept an appointment. Elected, enrolled and was mustered into service as Junior First Lieutenant on January 13th, 1865, to rank from November 25th, 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia, for the duration of the war; wounded in action (head) and captured on April 2nd, 1865, near Petersburg, Virginia; admitted as a wounded prisoner of war to the 1st Division Depot Field Hospital, 2nd Corps, at City Point, Virginia, on April 3rd, 1865, suffering from a gunshot wound of the head transferred to the post hospital at prisoner of war camp at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C., on April 4th, 1865, arriving on April 5th; transferred to the prisoner of war camp on Johnson's Island near Sandusky, Ohio, on June 1st, 1865, arriving on June 3rd; released upon taking the oath of allegiance on June 16th, 1865, at Johnson's Island, Ohio, at the time he was described as being 27 years old, was 5 ft. 9 in. tall, of a fair complexion, with blue eyes and light hair. [Born on May 1st, 1838, in Society Hill, South Carolina, the son of John Eli (1805-1873) & Sarah Elizabeth Edwards (1812-1847); married Miss Sarah Louisa McCown (1839-1879) on July 20th, 1859; re-married to Miss Eula Thomasine Howe (1855-1879) on October 12th, 1876; re-married to Miss Mary Eloise Cates (1852-1927) in 1881; died on August 27th, 1911, at Florence, South Carolina; buried at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Florence, Florence County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR (MB & MLA), GS

SENIOR SECOND LIEUTENANT

JUNIOR SECOND LIEUTENANT

Godbold, Francis Marion: Of Marion District, South Carolina. Enrolled on April 15th, 1862, at Marion, South Carolina, for the duration of the war; mustered into service as Junior Second Lieutenant of the battery on May 1st, 1862, at Charleston, South Carolina; suspended from duty by order of General P.G.T. Beauregard from February 20th, 1863, and ordered to present himself before an Examination Board; tendered his resignation on April 21st, 1863, stating that "...having received a summons ordering me before a board of officers for examination, and after a deliberate consideration of the same, I have resolved to resign..." his resignation was accepted, and he was honorably discharged from the service on May 2nd, 1863. [Born on February 25th, 1841, in Marion District, South Carolina, the son of Asa & Sarah Ann Coxe Godbold; married Miss Mary Alpha Vance (1843-1868), no date; re-married to Miss Sarah Bell Vance (1847-1921), no date; died on June 30th, 1916, in Marion County, South Carolina; buried at the Gasque Cemetery near Marion, Marion County, South Carolina.]

Sources - CRSC, CSR, GS

Marshall, David G.: Of Chesterfield District, South Carolina. Enrolled and was mustered into service as Junior Second Lieutenant of the McQueen Light Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers, on March 2nd, 1865, to rank from January 27th, 1865, for the duration of the war; no further record after March 1865.