Preface
At the close of the war in 1865, John P. Apthorp, a member of the Company whose story is herein narrated, prepared for publication a manuscript history which he had designed to print In the autumn of that year; but when the work was complete, and his canvass of the members for subscriptions had been made, their response was so limited and inadequate to the outlay necessary for its issue that he abandoned the enterprise. That manuscript was made the basis of the present work. About thirteen years since it came into my hands by the courtesy of its author, with the object, on my part, of joining with one or two other members of the Company in assuming the expense of its publication. But a careful reading of it led us to the unanimous conclusion that thorough revision was necessary before doing so.At the first reunion of the Company, held in Boston, in January, 1879, a committee on history was appointed, consisting of William E. Endicott and myself, to be joined by such others as we might designate. For obvious reasons most of the labor necessary in its preparation was devolved upon one individual; and that one hereby releases all others from responsibility for its faults.
In proper relation to the story of the Battery it has seemed desirable to incorporate so much of the history of brigades, divisions, corps or the army as shall serve to show members of the company causes and results of movements and campaigns which, at the time of their occurrence, were little understood.
My information in relation to the detailed history of the Battery not derived from the above manuscript was taken in large measure from my personal diary, and an almost unbroken series of nearly three hundred letters written home during our term of service.
I am under obligations to Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock for ready access to his duplicate copies of official reports of operations of the Second Corps, as well as for the likeness of himself which adorns the volume; to Maj. Gen. A. A. Humphreys for duplicate copies of his official reports of operations of the Secoqld Corps; to the late Maj. Gen. William H. French for official reports of campaigns of the Third Corps during our [8] connection with it; to the Hon. William Claflin for a complete set of government maps which have enabled me to trace with accuracy our lines of march in nearly all the movements in which we participated; to Maj. J. Henry Sleeper for his many kind offices during tlhe progress of thle work; to my associates of the committee, Messrs. William E. Endicott, Charles E. Pierce, Willard Y. Gross, George M. Townsend, and G. Fred. Gould, for the information and kindly criticism they have contributed; and to many more whose assistance has been less important only in degree.
In the prosecution of my researches, I have examined a large mass of war material, and have sought information by correspondence from commanders or eye-witnesses on both sides. I am also indebted to the past officers who have contributed their portraits.
With this introduction I now submit this volume to my surviving comrades and their friends, hoping that they will find enough of interest and value in its pages to make them lenient towards its defects. If they fail to do this no one will more sincerely regret it than their friend
