Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-16
'If Any Battery on Earth
Can Go There, Mine Can"
THE PRIDE OF THE STATE
n Brave Hand of Portsmouth Men
who Helped TO Mako Famous the
History OF the Southern COufeder>
ncy-Skctch OF the Company From
sos 10 the Present Time.

mouth Light Artillery. 1t took an
active part in the war of 1872 and earn
cd for itself good record. The bat
terry at that time was commanded by
Captain Arthur Emmerson, and at the
battle of Craney Island did excellent
service in repulsing the English.
At the beginning of the Civil war, in
1861, Grimes Battery, or the Ports
mouth Light Artillery, as it was then
called, was the oldest battery of ar
tillery in the State of Virginia. 1t was
then equipped with four smooth bore
iron pieces and n sort of small fire.
arms called musketoons. The officers
were: Carey +. Grimes. Captain; John
II. Thompson. First Lieutenant. and
Bernard Fauth, Second Lieutenant.
On April 20, 1861 they were ordered
into service by Governor John Letcher.
and reported for duty with about forty
five men on their muster-roll. but in
n short time had recruited to one hun
dred or more.
On the night GOsport (now known as
the Norfolk navy yard) was burned and
evacuated by the United States naval
force, under command of Commodore
Charles S. McCawiey, Grimes Battery
was on duty, with their guns all
navy yard, but were without ammuni-
ton. Next day they were ordered to
duty to the Naval Hospital, and re-
manned there until May 18th, when they
We're ordered to Honers Creek to
guard the Western Shore of Hampton
Roads.
On July 81. 1861, they elected n Third
Lieutenant, Private James Webb being
selected to fill that position. and on the
same day the name of the battery was
changed from the Portsmouth Light
Artillery t o Grimes Battery, and the
camp was christened Camp Grimes"
On March 20. 1862, the term of one
year. for which the men had enlisted,
had expired. they re-enlister for three
years, or the war and elected the fol-
lowing officers: Cary Il. Grimes, Cap
tain; John II. Thompson. First Lieu
tenant; William +. Fentress, Second
Lieutenant; Thomas j. Oakham, Third
Lieutenant. There were present for
duty at the election In addition to those
who re-enlisted, ninety-nine. The next
month the size of the battery and the
number of guns having been increased
they We're allowed n Fourth Lieuten-
ant. and Francis j. Re-s was elected.
In April of that same year the
United States forces had captured Hat
tcras and Roanoke Island. and had
complete possession of the Carolina
Sounds.
y brigade OF troops. under command
of General Reno, advanced from Eliz-
abeth City N. c., towards South Mills.
General Huger ordered the Third Geor-
gia TO check his advance.
On the 23d Captain Grimes was Or
dered TO reinforce the Georeians, but
arrived too late to participate In the
battle of Sawyer's Lane. On the I'd of
May, however, they had an engage
ment with two Federal gunboats, COM
polling them to withdraw; and on May
9Th the battery was recalled to Ports
mouth, and given two more guns, max
ing it siX-gun battery
On the evacuation OF Portsmouth
| they marched with the division of
General Hugcr, and on the 9Sth they
marched to Richmond. and became a
part of the Army of Northern Virginia.
| and soon became known throughout the
entire army as Grimes Fighting Bat
| terry"
On several occasions the command
| received the praise of General Ander-
son, to whose division it was attached.
On the 25th OF June. the beginning OF
the seven days fight. it had two guns
| engaged.
At Malvern Hill. on July 1st. It be-
havcd with great gallantry, lighting Mt
close range against eighty or more
| guns. They held their position for
| '''bit IMAM Nv " iiOul NUtIl OIucIcu 10
retire. In this action their loss was
three mon killed and eight wounded.
! They had so many horses Killed that
il required three trips to get the guns
off the field. General Armistead said:
| mo man could have behaved better
! than Captain Grimes; he worked his
guns after his men were cut down, and
only retired when entirely disabled.
What l wanted never arrived-that was
more and heavier gums.
On the night of July 2Sth they We're
at City Point, in the attack on the
gunboats and transports. ON August
Goth the battery had an artillery duel
with the enemy Al Warrington Spring:
three men were wounded. one of whom,
died. on the Goth they reached Second
Manassas. ana added to the reputation
previously gained by their charge in
line with Mahone's Brigade. in the
rush and defeat OF the left wing of
General Pope's army.
The command was engaged in the
battle of Champions Gap. September
18th, and at Sharpsburg. September
18th, where Captain Grimes was shot
from his horse while directing the fire
of the guns. Captain Grimes was in
command of three batteries; Grimes
Hugers and Moorman's. the command
ant. Major Saunders. being absent. AZ
ter the death of Captain Grimes. Lieu
tenant ]. ii. Thompson was made Cap
tain.
Orders had been received by
Captain Grimes, just prior to his
death, to recommend one OF the bat
tercs for disarmament on account of
the scarcity of horses. and to divide
the men between the other two. Had
he done so. Huger's Battery would
have been the one To dsbaud as he
was the junior captain. Eu; after the
death OF Captain Grimes. Captain
Ihnmnsnn WAS the iunlnl ca n.nin ca