Hexamer´s Battery is a small Artillery Battery to fight for the union in the upcoming game "Battle Cry of Freedom".
We honor loyalty, interest in the era of the civil war and most important of all: fun in playing the game!
Until Battle Cry of Freedom goes live, we want to play the mod "North and South" from time to time, which seems to strive for a great civil war atmosphere and seems to get a lot of love from its developers.
If you want to be part of the battery, see in the contact section below on how to get in touch!
signed zerosius
Over the Course of the war, some 2,500 men enlisted for three-year terms in five New Jersey light artillery batteries. Together, the batteries were identified as a “regiment”, although they never fought together as such. Commanded by a captain and led by half dozen or so lieutenants, each battery had between 150 and 200 men at any given time. The men were responsible for six guns, about eighty horses, and an assortment of support equipment such as a forge, wagons, an ambulance and caissons and limbers, which carried ammunition. In action, eight soldiers manned each field piece, most of which were either Napoleons or Parrots. The captain´s name, a letter, or a numerical designation identified each battery.
Due to this, the history of the - 1st Battery "A" New Jersey Light Artillery - is also the history of a German immigrant called William Hexamer. Born and Koblenz and later studying in Heidelberg and Karlsruhe, he eventually joined the "Burschenschaft Neckarbund”a special type of student fraternities representing liberal and nationalistic ideas in 19th century Germany. Following from this, both he and his brother served as an aide to Franz Sigel (who should later serve as General Major for the union Army) during the 1848 revolution, where Hexamer organized the badenese “Volkswehr” (militia). After the revolution failed, he had to go into exile, which led him first to London, and eventually to New Jersey, where he settled down as an engineer and was later elected into city parliament.
At the outbreak of the civil-war, Hexamer eventually led an organized and equipped militia battery called the Hudson County Artillery as militia major. He and Governor Olden eagerly offered the services of the unit to the War Departement, but it took four months before the battery was finally accepted into federal service. It lacked horses and caissons, which the federal authorities were unable to furnish.
The Unit became variously known as Hexamer´s Battery, Battery A, or 1st New jersey Light Artillery. Its 105 members were mostly German immigrants and refugees, like Hexamer himself.
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Organized at Hoboken, N.J., and mustered in August 12, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 20, 1861. Attached to Kearney's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Franklin's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, to May, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 4th Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to October. 1863. 3rd Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to March, 1864. 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, to May, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps. to July, 1864. Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 6th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
- Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., till. March, 1862.
- Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15, 1862.
- Advance from Alexandria to Bristoe Station April 7-11.
- Embarked for the Virginia Peninsula April 17.
- Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 19-May 4 (on transports).
- West Point May 7-8.
- Battle of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks) May 31-June 1.
- Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1.
- Battles of Gaines' Mill June 27. Brackett's June 30.
- Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale June 30.
- Malvern Hill July 1.
- At Harrison's Landing till August 16.
- Movement to Manassas August 16-26.
- Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 26-September 2.
- Bull Run Bridge August 27.
- Chantilly September 1.
- Maryland Campaign September 6-22.
- Crampton's Pass, Md., September 14.
- Antietam September 16-17.
- Duty in Maryland till October 30.
| - Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19.
- Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15.
- Duty near Falmouth, Va., till April 27, 1863.
- "Mud March" January 20-24.
- Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6.
- Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2.
- Battle of Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3.
- Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4.
- Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24.
- Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4.
- Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap October 5-24.
- Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October.
- Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
- Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8.
- Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
- Payne's Farm November 27.
- Duty near Brandy Station, Va., till May, 1864.
- Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15.
- Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7.
- Spottsylvania May 8-21.
| - North Anna River May 23-26.
- On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
- Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12.
- Before Petersburg June 16-18.
- Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
- Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
- At City Point July 9-26.
- Demonstration north of the James July 27-29.
- Deep Bottom July 27-28.
- Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
- Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
- Fall of Petersburg April 2.
- Sailor's Creek April 6.
- High Bridge, Farmville, April 7.
- Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army.
- March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 18.
- March to Richmond, thence to Washington, D.C., May 18-June 3.
- Corps Review June 8. Mustered out June 22, 1865.
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The battery lost 3 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 12 enlisted men to disease.
It is honored by a series of markers at Antietam and a monument at Gettysburg.
 | Battle of AntietamThe battery was commanded throughout by Captain William (Wilhelm) Hexamer. It was armed at Antietam with six 10-pounder Parrott Rifles. From the markers: "From a position about 60 yards south of this point the battery, between 2 and 3 p.m. engaged
and silenced the Confederate Artillery around the Dunker Church."
"From 3:30 p.m. until near sunset this Battery from a point about 80 yards north of this,
engaged the enemy around the Piper Buildings."
Battle of GettysburgThe battery was commanded by Lieutenant Augustin N. Parsons. It brought onto the field 116 men serving six 10-pounder Parrott Rifles, and lost two killed and seven wounded. From the Monument: "Battery A, 1st New Jersey Artillery, from its position in reserve S.W. of Power's Hill
galloped into action at 3 p.m., July 3, 1863.
Fired 120 rounds shrapnel at Pickett's column,and then 80 rounds
shell at a battery in left front. Position in action, 45 yards E. of this stone."
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Our Tag in "North and South" will be: 1stNJArt_Rank_Name
If you are interested in joining the battery when BcoF goes live, or play some North and South with us, add me on steam or directly join our Steamgroup:
