Fenner’s Louisiana
Battery Assignments
First Commander: Charles E. Fenner CPT
Formed: New Orleans, La. on April 15, 1862
The Battery was mustered into the Confederate States Service at Jackson Mississippi on May 16, 1862.
From October 1862 thru July 1863 the battery consisted of two 6-pounder smoothbores, two 6-pounder Rifles, and two 12-pounder Howitzers.
From December 1863 thru March 1864 the battery consisted of two 6-pounder smoothbores, and two 12-pounder Howitzers.
Surrendered: by Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865. (actual surrender was at Meridian, Mississippi on May 10, 1865).
Assignments
Apr/Jun 1862 Department #1
Jun/Jul 1862 Dept of Southern Mississippi & East Louisiana
Jul/Oct 1862 1st Sub-district, District of Mississippi, Department #2
Oct 1862 Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana
Oct ’63/Jan ’63 3rd Military District, Dept Mississippi & East Louisiana
Jan/May 1863 Maxey’s Brigade, 3rd Mil Dist, Dept Ms & East La
May/Jun 1863 Maxey’s Brigade, Loring’s Div, Department of the West
Jun/Jul 1863 Maxey’s Brigade, French’s Div, Department of the West
Jul/Aug 1863 Artillery Battalion, French’s Div, Dept Ms & East La
Aug/Sep 1863 Maxey’s Brigade, French’s Div, Dept Ms & East La
Sep/Nov 1863 Cantey’s Brigade, Depart of the Gulf
Dec ‘63/Feb ’64 Artillery Battalion, Stewart’s Div, 2nd Army of Tenessee
Feb ‘64/Jan ’65 Eldridge’s Battalion, Artillery 2nd Corps, AOT
Mar/Apr 1865 Hoxton’s Art Bat, Left Wing Defenses of Mobile, Art Reserve,
etc., District of the Gulf, Dept of Alabama, Mississippi, and
East Louisiana
Apr/May 1865 Hoxton’s Battalion, Fuller’s Artillery Regiment, Department
Of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana
Major Battles
July 10-17, 1863 Jackson Siege
Sep/Nov 1863 Chattanooga Siege
May/Sep 1864 Atlanta Campaign
May 8-11, 1864 Mill Creek Gap
May 9, 1864 Rocky Face Ridge
May 14-15, 1864 Resaca
May 25 –June 4, ’64 New Hope Church
Jul/Sep 1864 Atlanta Siege
Dec 15-16, 1864 Nashville
Mar 17-Apr 12, ’65 Mobile
Fenner’s Flags exists today
The First National 10 star (1862-1864), is located at the Louisiana State Museum, item number 10347-G.
The Army of Tennessee battle flag is located at the Museum of the Confederacy item number 0985.5 140. (prints may be purchased by calling 804-649-1861)
Action Reports
This battery was organized in the Confederate Service on May 16, 1862, at Jackson, Mississippi, from the disbanded 1st [Dreux’s/Rightor’s] Louisiana Infantry Battalion, Company A. The battery consisted of two 12-pounder howitzers, two 6-pounder rifled guns, and two 6-pounder smoothbores.
The first duty station was Port Hudson, Louisiana. The battery consisted of 58 officers and men and occupied part of the fortifications there and may have fired on Union naval vessels in September 1862.
In January 1863, the battery was assigned to General Samuel B. Maxey’s brigade. With that unit the battery moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in early may 1863. During the Federal campaign against Jackson, July 5-25, the battery participated in several skirmishes, losing two men.
Through the summer of 1863 the battery was in various camps in eastern Mississippi and received orders to report to Mobile, Alabama in September 1863.
From Mobile, the battery served in General John B. Hood’s corps during the Atlanta Campaign, May-July 1864, and saw action at Mill Creek Gap, Resaca, and New Hope Church. In the latter battle, the men repulsed an enemy attack that came within fifty to sixty yards of their guns.
Following the battles around Atlanta, the battery consisting of 110 officer and men went with the AOT on its invasion of Tennessee. When the army reached the vicinity of Nashville, General Hood detached the battery to operate with General Nathan B. Forrest’s cavalry against a Federal garrison at Murfreesboro. The battery was forced to bury three of its cannon during the retreat from Tennessee to them from being captured.
At Tupelo, Mississippi, the men apparently gave up their other guns to another command and reported for duty at Mobile, taking over several of the large siege cannons in the city’s defense. Mobile fell to the Federals on April 12, 1865, and the men marched to Meridian, Mississippi, armed with muskets.
The battery was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi on May 10, 1865.
Through the duration over 127 men served in the battery.
(Bergeron, La Confederate Units, 30-31)
Personnel
Lt WT Cluveruis
Miscellany
Army of Tennessee, Battle of Nashville
Campaign North Alabama and Middle Tennessee
General John Bell Hood
Lee’s Corp, Major John W Johnston
Eldridge’s Battalion
Cpt Charles E Fenner
Fenner’s Battery
Lt WT Cluveruis
Army of Vicksburg
Lt General Jon C Pemberton
Army of Relief
General Joseph E Johnston
French’s Division
Maj Gen Samuel G French
Artillery
Fenner’s (La) Battery
Cpt Charles E Fenner