The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-03
UNITED ART|L..L|...'E|:. q |
KEV|LL' s Bate: RY
One OF the Crack Companies OF
the 10Th Virginia Battalion,
Heavy Artillery.
UNDER EYE OF PROVIDENCE.
History From Its Organization.
i'll '6l, to the Surrender at
Appomatto,i

. Il w { L : & T.. Is
Appomatto.S
This orgnnization served from the 10Th
of April 1861. to April 3, 1865, when u
surrendered with Lees army at Apo
mattox The summary OF It's history,
herewith given. is from the pen OF hcYlt. 4
Glennan. ESD, OF Norfolk. The son OF 4
Mtrhae, C;lennnn. ESQ. who was so long
md fayorably known MS the accomplished
editor of the Norfolk Virginian. He m
forms mo that 1t was complied lor tne
most part from the valuable anu slher-
csting book Of Hon. John w. H. Portc,,5
of Portsmouth, on Norfolk county W ,' /
which has worthy collated many I'M
portan, details OF the military Annals "
/ his section Mr. Glennhn has nuaeu SUN ,
we'll attcstcd facts us came to MS kho"l-
odpa "a the account given by Mr.. Porter.
JOHN w. DANIEL
UNITED ARTILLERY d<EVlLL,s BAT
TERY). III NINETEENTH VIRGINIA
BATTALION, HEAVY ARTII.LERY.4 i.s
..Thc United Artillery was :, coihP'. ,S
composed of most excellent lShtlhs may ,
rial 1t was commanded by as cool ana
determined a. soldier as there was IN Cen
eral Lees army Although 1t was always
rcody to respond to the call of duty, ana
was exposed to danger and ucath on ~
1nerous occasions, an oVerruiins prov
dence seemed to watch over It, and us
casualties were Insignificant. one man
was killed in battle. one died IN hosp'tai
from sickness. Five were WOUNDED.
ORGANIZATION.
rha companv was organized in Norfolk
several DAYS before the burning OF the
navy ward nv the Federal forces IN APRIL
1861. but at the beginning Of hostilities
was not uniformed or armed. II was
called into service on tho l9th OF April
to take part In the capture or the noWae!
in Fort Norfolk. A detail was made TO
capture the gunner Mr., Oliver IN ofupr
To prevent him from signalling to the
navy yard what was going on. This de-
tail was In command Of Lieutenant w.
Garter williams, and the rest OF the
company was landed at the wharf OF the
tort in barges. Tho officers of the COM
pany at that time We're:
Captain Thomas KcVill.
First Lieutenant, James u. harry.
second Lieutenant, William Carter WILL
liams. 80;
Third Lieutenant, Thaddeus Il. Eisen-
bless. ~.
The company took its name from Inc
old United Volunteer Fire Company, OF
which Captnin. Kevlll was the CHIEF. Cap
tain Kevill Vas nt.that time engaged u
the ship I,iltirfting business, ana from M
own stock donated tho cloth Tor me UNI
forms Of Inc command, A long habit Of
contcnding with flames had lnurea tt''
men 10 dangers. Upon being mustered
into service the company was stationed
Mt Fort Norfolk and was furnished WITT
.nuskets and was also placed III cnhrs'
~ four light guns. and was drilled bot
as infantry aud artillery. I'hey also MAJ
charge of battery of heavy guns, q
tlN.1.f mn 1 n
Mt Fort Norfolk the men became experts
an al branches OF tho service except tn
cavalry.
In July 1861, Lieutenant Williams wa
elected captain Of a company from Pfin
cess Anne county. which WAS attache
to the Sixth Regiment, as COMPANY !
I.ieu1cnant Eisenbeiss was pronlo!ed !
second lieutenant and Edward Laki
was elected third lieutenant TO IN N
vacancy, Upon the reorganization 81 ~
forty first Virginia Regiment OF lniah'r'
the United Artillery was atlacheu 10 IL
Company r.
WITH THE MERRIatAC,
When the ironclnd Virginia i.ds!V''''a'
was ready for service, II was lEu'id ~
lacked thlrly-one men of haWrG q ~
crew. Captain Kevll was app1'tn 70 i'
volunteers to make up the deficiency ht
anyone but their own commander, an
declined to volunteer unless CAPITA.
"a Kcv!il was placed In charS of men
&,This was reported to the So 'retary
3 War, and by him reported 10 the Sacr'
I tary OF the Navy. The result Mas m
The services OF the company ~ere a
cepted, with Captain keylll rs con
mander The captain then a,iiea #
thirty-one Volunteers ana Inc enti
command stepped To the front selectif
thrty-onc men whom he lholbnt re
qualified, by physical strength % 90 II
heavy work which was required OF ne
hereported TO the comlnAndant OF the ma
yard, March 18th, lS2, and was assign
40 one of the nine-nch Droadslde gun
with sixteen of his men, During 9
enlargement the fifteen other men we
assigned among the other guns, whl
were short Of crews. In the sSeoAn taN
engagement the gun manned ny !
United Artillery had us lnh2E!s hHot
by smell from The enemy NV
continued in action. The next ume !
Virginia wenl down HAMPTON hoRhs
fight the Federal fleet, captain heN
Was on board with bis mon pul on
4Nl.htrd mn when rhe monte. retatcf
enter battle. he Was away on olileI W.
and the command was under lAeuleH'
I.akin Two men belonging 70 me fu
rany, A. J. Dalton and john Gapts' "
@ wounaed by nluskct balls coming thiol
the port holes during the tirsl ehga
p,ept. Mr.. Dalton is now justice
tine peace ID Norfolk, and is one o.
4 few survivors of the gallant cominan'
Ar NORFOLK AND PETERSBURG
..F g 4