Histories

Amherst Artillery

The Amherst Artillery was officially organized on July 24, 1861 in Amherst County, Virginia. They were sworn in on Sept. 11th under Captain Thomas Jellis Kirkpatrick. The unit was ordered to Centreville where it joined the Artillery Reserve under Col. W. Pendleton. In April 1862 they moved back to Richmond and thence to Yorktown. Prior to the Seven Days battles, Pendleton reorganized the Reserve Artillery and placed Captain Kirkpatrick’s Battery in William Nelson’s Battalion. In 1863 it was placed in the Second Corps under Lee. At the end of May 1864, Kirkpatrick’s men had not had a single death due to enemy action. However on June 2 at Cold Harbor the battery was caught in fire that left six men dead or mortally wounded and nineteen wounded. The battery was refitted and moved via Lynchburg to the Shenandoah Valley. Nelson’s units took part in the battles of Monacacy Junction, Third Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. On March 2 the army was overrun and most of its members were captured at Waynesboro.

Thomas Jellis Kirkpatrick
Enlisted as a Captain on 24 July 1861 at the age of 31. Commission in Amherst Light Artillery Regiment Virginia on 24 July 1861. Absent, sick on 25 December 1861 (for 10 days). Assigned on 20 October 1863 (To courtmartial duty). Assigned on 02 February 1864 (To courtmartial duty) Commanding on 22 June 1864 at Fisher's Hill, VA (Commanding Nelson's Battalion). Wounded on 17 August 1864 at Winchester, VA (Slightly). Commanding on 30 August 1864 at Bunker Hill, VA (Commanding Nelson's Battalion). Absent, leave on 31 December 1864. Promoted to Full Major on 18 February 1865 (As Nelson's Battalion). Paroled on 22 May 1865 at Lynchburg, VA.

reserve duty

Seven Days
Garnett's Farm, Va. (June 13, 1862)
Harrison’s Landing (July 62)
South Mountain (Sept. 62)
Guarded retreat from
Antietum (Sept, 62)
Fredericksburg (Dec, 1862)
2nd Winchester (June, 1863)
Waterloo, Pa. (July 4, 1863)

active duty

Gettysburg (July, 1863)
Mine Run (Nov., 1863)
Wilderness (May, 1864)
Spotsylvania Court House (May,1864)
Mule Shoe (May, 1864)
Cold Harbor (June 2, 1864)
Monacacy Junction, Md.(July 9, 1864)
Stephenson's Depot, Va (July 20, 1864)
Third Winchester (Aug. Sept., 1864)
Fisher’s Hill (Sept. 22, 1864)
Harrisonburg, Va (Sept 25, 1864)
Cedar Creek (Oct. 19, 1864)
Strasburg, Va. (Oct. 19-20, 1864)
Burgess' Mill, Va. (Oct. 27, 1864)
Waynesboro (March 2, 1865)
Frederick's Hall, Va. (March 13, 1865)
Bermuda Hundred, Va. (April 3, 1865)

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