Florida Thunder

The Marion Light Artillery 1861-1865

Mike Evans

• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781639857371
• eBook ISBN: 9781639857388
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: American Civil War History
• Index: History

When people think of Florida, what comes to mind are sandy beaches, alligators, and Mickey Mouse. Few realize that Florida was the third state to secede from the Union. It was also the smallest in population, being referred to as the "smallest tadpole in the dirty pool of secession."

This work does not concern itself with the politics, issues of slavery, economics, or military strategies of the Civil War. Instead, it focuses directly on the history and service of one Florida unit: The Marion Light Artillery. Raised in North Central Florida, this unit would be the only Florida artillery battery to see active combat outside the state, beginning from Richmond, Kentucky, through most of the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee, until their surrender in May of 1865 at Meridian, Mississippi.

Addendum 1: Battery Flag

Battery Flag

Atlanta, GA. October 11, 1891

Colonel John M. Martin, Ocala, FLA.

Dear Sir: By today’s express I forward you the flag and staff of the Marion Florida Light Artillery, placed in my care at Zebulon, GA., July 1864, by my son, Lieutenant A. J. Neal, of that gallant little band, for safekeeping; stating that, by order of the general commanding, none but flags of large bodies of troops would be retained. This request was faithfully fulfilled by myself, my wife and two daughters, the only members of my family then at home.

I deeply regret the shameful manner in which the beautiful spear that ornamented the staff was lost. The value of the spear is beyond price in dollars and cents, when we remember that it was gotten up by the contributions of Florida’s noble sons and daughters, especially the latter, who so generously contributed “mantle and jewels”, as well appear by an appropriate and beautifully written article, after the Battle of Richmond, KY., 1863, a copy of which I enclose.

That little band then and ever since, have appreciated those contributions, and held them as sacred as the cause they volunteered to sustain. The loss of the spear occurred in April 1865. A large body of the Federal Army pass through Zebulon. There being only three old men besides myself in town, we were entirely unprotected.

Mrs. Neal had prepared two large pockets, in which she concealed our daughter’s jewelry and the spear.

After the main body passed, there came suddenly through our garden, four men armed and wearing Federal uniforms. Mrs. Neal fled with the jewels but was pursued by the rufflianly villains, overtaken and robbed of everything, including the spear.

They then searched my person and took a small sum of money.

The flag was saved by Miss Ella Neal now Mrs. John Keely, who concealed it beneath her overskirt while the Army was passing. The staff was concealed in the garden.

Yours Truly,

John Neal

—Excerpt from a letter from John Neal

Father of Lieutenant A. J. Neal to Colonel John M. Martin,

Dated October 11, 1891

Source: A. J. Neal Letters, File, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield

Addendum 2: Artillery Battery Organization

Artillery Battery Organization

The initial organization for the Marion Light Artillery follows the established organization of the US Army Artillery Battery at the beginning of the Civil War. That being six guns formed a battery, usually with four six-pounder and two twelve-pounder howitzers. Usually, after the first year of the war, most Confederate units were reduced over time to four guns due to casualties of men; loss of horses, which was very high; and the Confederacy’s severe supply and logistical problems.

The Florida Battery would become a four-gun battery at Tallahassee, Florida, while en route to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its two-pounder howitzers were detached and assigned to another unit.

The staffing and organization of most batteries consisted of a captain (not unusual to have a first lieutenant in command due to casualties or other demands of the service). A second lieutenant commanded a two-gun section (two sections per battery), each gun (field piece) was commanded by a sergeant with two corporals with a gun crew of nine privates. A six-horse team includes a field piece, limber, and caisson. A second ammunition caisson would carry three ammunition chests. A second lieutenant (some batteries have a third lieutenant) commanded all the battery’s ammunition caissons. The battery had a first sergeant (or orderly sergeant), a quartermaster sergeant, and four to five artificers (farrier, blacksmith, saddler, etc., basically, a technical or mechanic position, usually a skilled NCO, who would maintain, repair the guns, all related battery equipment in serviceable condition).

The battery would have assigned to it a traveling forage, a battery wagon for equipment, but again, field conditions and supply needs would dictate the amount of equipment and transportation assigned to each battery.

The Florida Battery may have had at any one time several men assigned as clerks, commissary staff as the battery’s situation required. Last staff position would be one of honor and danger, the guidon or flag bearer.

In the Army of Tennessee by early 1863, all batteries were assigned to a battalion (usually four batteries). The battalions were assigned to a division, usually two battalions per division.

Bibliography for Addendum 2

Coggins, Jack. Arms and Equipment of the Civil War. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1990.

Daniels, Larry J. Cannoneers in Gray. Revised Edition. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press, 2005.

Dickison, Mary E. Dickison and His Men. Facsimile Reproduction of the 1890 Edition. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1962.

About the Author

Florida native Michael W. Evans served twenty-six years in the US Air Force, both active and reserve. With tours in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan, where he served as the NCOIC of Intelligence for the Provincial Reconstruction Team. He graduated with a BS in parks and resource management from the University of Southern Mississippi and a BA in history from the University of North Florida. He spent twenty-six years with the Florida Park Service as a ranger, law-enforcement officer, and park manager, five and a half years with the National Park Service as a park ranger. He enjoys living history, studying southern culture and Florida history; he currently volunteers for both agencies. Michael and his wife, Ann, live in Flagler Beach, Florida.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• The Beginning
• The Battery Is Formed
• Off to War
• Into Kentucky
• Battle of Richmond, Kentucky
• East Tennessee
• Battle of Chickamauga
• Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge
• Rest and Refit
• Return to Combat
• Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta
• Outflanked Again, The Fall of Atlanta
• To Tennessee and Back
• Marion Light Artillery Roster
• Author’s Note on Bibliography
• Selected Bibliography
• Addendum 1: Battery Flag
• Addendum 2: Artillery Battery Organization
• Bibliography for Addendum 2