Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-09
THE ALEXANDRIA
LIGHT ARTILLERY
Valuable Historic Data on
The Famous Kemper's
Battery
Extract From Diary of Patrick F.
German Recalls Many Incidents
Of Civil War

This is taken from the diary Of
of Patrick +. German, one Of AleXan-
dria's brave boys who was wounded
at the Battle Of Sailors Greek, which
wound he carried to his grave.
/ have often listened to some OF our
comrades giving nigh praise, that was
well earned, and Justly due the gal
liant old nth Virginia Infantry, and
rs | listened with pride at the men
ton of daring deeds done by both In
fantry and Cavalry, | lOnged 10 near
someone speak Q few words for my old
company the Alexandria Light ArtlI-
lery, better known during the war as
Kemper's Battery.
You have not heard a great deal
about this company, not because tney
did not deserve it, but partly for the
reason that most of them were men
that in their daily pursuits, used their
hands more than their brains. and OF
course there was very few good takers
among them, Kcmper's Battery was
attached to 4 Brigade OF South Caro-
lima Infantry, the first two years OF
the war. and the survivors OF the old
First Regiment Of South Carolina Vol
unteers would say something good
about them, and the 2nd, 3rd, 7th,
and Sth. South Carolina Regiments
would also speak of them in such
way, that you would be just as proud
of our old Battery as ] know you are
of that good old nth Virginia l have
often wished that ! was able to do
some good talking for my old COM
panv. If | had only taken one little
kiss at the Blarney stone, before
left that dear little isle in the sea, or
was even afflicted with a small portion
of that much abused article called the
Gift of Cab" l might then be able
to saw some of the things to do them
Justice. However, ! would like to say
a few words about the artillery now.
1 promise not TO detain you very long
After the five infantry companies
had been organized by April LIST, 1861,
il looked like this was all Alexandra
could do, in the way of raising troops
70 fight for the Southern States, so
the matter was brought up at meet
ing of the Friendship Fire Company,
and we decided TO form an Artillery
Company. 1t would take up too much
time to give all the details about our
troubles in getting up this company
We had only a few men most OF the
members were boys, but we finanly
found man that knew all about Ar
tillery prevailed on Capt Delaware
Kemper to accept the command and
then our troubles were over. re-
member one remark he made when
he looked us over for the first time
ne met US by appointment. He took
a good look at us all and said, well,
nearly all boys, but no matter very
often boys make the best soldiers.
About this time there was four
small six pOundr bronze cannon IN
the Cannon House, corner Of Column
bus & Queen SITS. The city borrowed
them from the U. s. Navy Yard to fire
0salutes on the 22nd. of Feb. and we
forgot TO return them, we took charge
forget to return them. We took
charge of the guns, put guard over
them and brought them with us when
We left Alexandria to go south. Our
first engagement with the enemy was
at Vienna, Va, June 11th, 1861.
We heard that the 9Th. Ohio Regi-
ment was coming to encamp there.
We waited for them, and after a short
engagement, we drove them back to
Alexandria, with several dead and
wounded Our next was at Bull Run,
July 18th. 1861, two of our guns only
were in this short fight, and we had
TO retreat across the Run. We were
sent out to feel the strength of the
Yankees with orders 20 come in If at
tackled by heavy force
The next was the Battle of ManaS-
saS July Dist. 1861. kemper'S Battery
made a good name for itself in this
battle, and never lost it during the
war, we were at MitchellS Ford, on
Bull Run iuSt before the heavy fight
ing began. and received orders TO hur-
ny up to the firing line. The men and
horses went Off at Il gallop, we had
4 long run for it. and when we ar
rived we found the infantry creep
ing up to the front on hands and knees
with determination depicted on every
face. They opened ranks to let the
Battery pass, | know they felt glad be
cause we we're going in the right
direction. l have told about this once
before: how two ~ Gen. Kershaw's
South Carolina Regiments were in
trouble and if no help arrived they
would all be killed or captured for
thew would not surrender.
Col. Lipscombes of General Ker-
shaw's staff was sent for helm.
He came galloping towards
us calling out at the top of his voice
"Kemper-Kemper-O where is KEN
per'S Battery" Kemner heard him
and in a few minutes he had his guns
porting canister into the Yankee and
saved the two South Carolina regi-
mentS the men were falling fast as
the Yankees had them nearly sur
rounded. We were not veterans at
this time, but | feel satisfied there
never was a battery that could have