Cumming's Battery

Cape Fear Light Artillery

Recruiting in Central North Carolina and Central Virginia

Tredegar Iron Works

Pos. 1 Marvin Nicholson;  Pos. 2 RK Elswick;  Pos  3 Trey Elswick;  Pos. 4  David Born

Gunner John Comeford; Powder Runner Charles Elswick; Commander Capt. John Butler

  PHOTOS

This battery, known as "Cape Fear Light Artillery," enrolled April 16, 1861 and was mustered into State service June 17, 1861 for twelve months.   Also referred to by its commander's name, the battery was originally known as "Hedrick's Company Artillery, N. C. Volunteers." When Captain John J. Hedrick was promoted on March 18, 1862, 1st Lieutenant James D. Cumming was promoted to Captain and the battery became known as "Cumming's Battery." Being the first company to serve as Company C, it was officially designated as 1st Company C.

A portion of this battery took part in the capture of Fort Johnston, Brunswick County, April 16, 1861. However, after it was officially mustered in, it was first stationed on Zeke’s Island, Cape Fear River, where it remained until transferred to Fort Fisher on December 12, 1861. On April 19, 1862 the battery left Fort Fisher for Camp Hedrick, New Hanover County, where it arrived on April 21, 1862. Reports indicate it was at Goldsboro on December 20, 1862 and moved to Weldon.  From Weldon it returned to Kinston, January 21-22, 1863, where it remained. On November 4, 1863 the entire battery was transferred out of the 36th Regiment N. C. Troops  (2^nd Regiment N. C. Artillery) and redesignated Company C, 13th Battalion N. C. Light Artillery.

  Company C, 13th Battalion N. C. Light Artillery.

This battery of light artillery was commanded by Captain James D. Cumming after the redesignation and was stationed at Kinston. In January-February 1864 it took part in Major General George E. Pickett's unsuccessful move on New Bern.   During the move it was engaged at Batchelor’s Creek on  February 1. In April it took part in the capture of Plymouth under Major General Robert F. Hoke and was engaged in Hoke's siege of New Bern when orders arrived in early May for Hoke to abandon the siege and return to Virginia.   The battery returned to Kinston.  The first section moved with General William S. Walker's column on May 3 toward New Bern.  After capturing a blockhouse three miles below that town, the column started back on the 6th.   By May 8 the first section was back in camp at Kinston.

 On May 16, 1864 the first section of the battery was ordered to Petersburg, Va. while the second section remained at Kinston.  The first section arrived at Petersburg on the 17th and encamped three miles from the city on the City Point road.  On the 19th it was ordered to join General Beauregard's forces on the Bermuda Hundred line, between Richmond and Petersburg, where it was temporarily attached to Major General Bushrod R, Johnson's Division. Later it was assigned to Major Edgar F. Moseley's Battalion of Artillery.  The battery   was   not engaged   until   May   21   when it went into position near the Howlett House.  It remained in line, engaging in artillery duel with   the enemy, until   ordered   to   Petersburg   on June 16.  Grant was making his bid to capture the city.  Marching to Petersburg, the battery was stationed at Battery No. 27 and was engaged in the defense of the city on the 17th and 18^th, after his efforts to capture the city by assault proved futile. Grant began his siege operations.  The battery was moved to a position on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. From this position it fired on the enemy infantry during the Battle of the Crater on July 30. It remained in the line until ordered to the north side of the Appomattox River to man two 30-pounder Parrott guns at Roslyn Farm.  In October Moseley's Battalion of Artillery was assigned to Lieutenant General Richard H. Anderson's Corps. On December 16, 1861 Major Moseley was killed and Major Joseph G. Blount succeeded to the command of the battalion. Manning the two 30-pounder Parrott guns, the battery remained actively engaged in the defense of Petersburg until the city was evacuated on the night of April 2-3, 1865.  Moving with the artillery of Anderson’s Corps, the battery was engaged on April 8, two miles from Appomattox Court House. After the fight a small force of artillery continued the march and arrived at Lynchburg on the 9th. Upon receipt of word that Lee had surrendered, this force was disbanded. The men of the first section at Lynchburg decided to join the second section in North Carolina, while those who did not escape to Lynchburg were surrendered and paroled at Appomattox Court House.

The second section of the battery remained at Kinston throughout 1864 and was engaged at Wise's Fork (Southwest Creek) on March 8, 1865.  Following this unsuccessful encounter, the troops were then withdrawn to Goldsboro on March 12, from there to Smithfield, and on to Bentonville, where they were actively engaged on March 19.  Unsuccessful in his effort to defeat a portion of Sherman's army before it united, General Joseph E. Johnston retired from Bentonville on the night of March 21. Retreating with the army, the second section halted near Greensboro. Here the men of the first section, who had escaped to Lynchburg, rejoined the battery. Although negotiations were in progress to surrender Johnston’s army, the question arose as to whether the men of the first section were included in Lee's surrender. If they were, they were paroled prisoners of war and could not serve on active duty until exchanged. It was felt that if the men were caught they would be subject to severe punishment. Consequently, they left the night before Johnston's army was surrendered and were accounted for on the parole list as "captured in Virginia." Johnston's army was surrendered on April 26, 1865 and the men of the second section were paroled at Greensboro on May 1, 1865.