My great-great grandfather Adelbert Thompson (1845/46-1919) served in this regiment during the Civil War. Here are some of the facts I have uncovered: It is also known (in a more military parlance) as the 19th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery (Edward W. Rogers' Battery). Rogers recruited men in Genesee County in early 1864, including Batavia and Lockport. Here is where it fit in the G.A.R. command structure: 9th Army Corps, Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside 2d Div., Brig. Gen. Robert B. Potter 1st Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss 45th Pennsylvania Unit, Col. John I. Curtin Artillery: NY Light, 19th Batt., Capt. Rogers Co. Mass. Light, 11th Batt., Capt. Jones Co. On May 24, 1864 the 9th Corps was transferred to the Army of the Potomac for engagement of Confederate foes in the Overland Campaign of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, May-June, 1864. One of the battles that Grandpa Adel would have been involved in was the bloody mess known as Cold Harbor, in Hanover Co., VA.--May 31-June 12, 1864. US casualties were over 13,000 compared to 2,500 for the CS. Grant and Meade launched the offensive against well-entrenched Rebel forces under the direction of Robert E. Lee. It was a Confederate victory, the last major offensive won by Lee in the war. The 9th Corps was concentrated along the east flank of the Totopotomoy, nose to nose with fanatical Rebels. They held one mile of ground, supporting Warren's 2d Army Corps. The 9th and the 2d were fixed in one place, afraid to move in case the Confederates broke through a "gap" in the lines. Locked in, they engaged in an endless dueling of cannons and ambushes. Rebs tried to break out with bayonet charges... They were repulsed every time. (I own Adelbert's bayonet--I will hold it now with special awe, respect. Did he ever, I wonder, have to beat off Rebels as they tried to overrun his cannon?) >From a letter wriiten by Gen. Meade to his wife, June 1, 1864, at 6:00 p.m.: "Whilst I am writing the cannon and musketry are rattling all along our lines, over five miles in extent, but we have become so accustomed to these sounds that we hardly notice them." Adel Thompson and comrades were giving 'em endless hell! :) You can read Gen. Burnside's account of his troops, including the 19th Light Artillery, at the following URL: http://civilwarhome.com/burnsidecoldharbor.htm In his "Memoirs" Grant notes how much he regretted ordering the attack. But he adds proudly that after this brutal engagement there was a heightened respect by the CS troops for their Union counterparts. Never again did he hear Rebel mockery that boasted "5 Yanks for one Confederate!" After Cold Harbor, the 19th carried on with Grant into his Richmond Campaign... But that is another story. Best, John F. Crossen ===== "One more shot for the honour of Down!" -Rollicking Rollo (1766-1814) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs http://www.hotjobs.com