Captain Bachman's Accoutrements-- Part 2: Paper Shortages in Confederacy in 1861

Bachman's note was written on a fragment of a document from the North Eastern  Railroad depository, and much of that has been crossed out and written over.  This shows that even at this early date the Confederacy was already having shortages.

Well, either that or possibly Captain Bachman did not have paper handy and grabbed the document.

Of Interest.  Old Secesh

Capt. Bachman Receives Accoutrements in Good Order-- Part 1

From the August 17, 2015, Cowan's Auctions site.

The note of receipt from Captain William K. Bachman for accoutrements received in 1861 from Charleston Arsenal's Captain Frederick L. Childs.

Avery short note on a scrap of paper that the auction house expected to go for between $500 and $800 but went unsold.

William K. Bachman (1830-1901), Captain and commander of the German Light Artillery dated Charleston, S.C., August 31, 1861.

"Received in good order from Captain Lee A.Q.M. at Hamstead
Captain W.K. Bachman / German Volunteer
One box  Accoutrements
Wm. K. Bachman"

--Old Secesh

Bachman's German Artillery, Gettysburg-- Part 2: Hood's Division, First Corps ANV

Captain William Bachman's Battery was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Major Mathias Winston Henry (1838-1877).  Henry's Battalion was part of Hood's Division in the First Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.

This battery was commanded by Captain William K. Bachman who was the son of the prominent pastor of Charleston's St. John's Lutheran Church, Dr. John Bachman.

The unit was formed in 1862 and was also known as the German Light Artillery  and as the Charleston Artillery Battery.  From August 1862 to July 1863 it was armed with four  12-pounder Napoleon cannons.  On May 3, 1864,  it was armed with two 3+ inch Blakely Rifles and two 12-pdr. howitzers.

It was surrendered by Confederate General Joseph Johnston at Durham Station, North Carolina (Bennett Place) on April 26, 1865.

--Old Secesh

Bachman's German Artillery, Battle of Gettysburg Marker-- Part 1

From Waymarking.

This is one of 100 tablets marking positions of batteries and brigades around the Gettysburg battlefield.  It marks the position of the battery from July 2-4 and gives what the battery did during the battle.

It reads:

Army of Northern Virginia
Longstreet's Corps, Hood's Division
Henry's Battalion Bachman's Battery
The German Artillery

Four Napoleons

July 2  In reserve near here but not engaged

July 3   In position here and actively engaged in firing upon the Union lines within range.  At about 5 p,m. aided in repulsing cavalry under Brig. Gen. Farnsworth which had charged into the valley between this point and Round Top.

July 4   Occupied position near by and west of this until 6 p.m.  Then withdrew from the field.

--Old Secesh

German Light Artillery With General Hardee 31 January 1865

As the Confederacy was desperately trying to scratch up a force to face Sherman's March Through the Carolinas, Charleston's German Light Artillery found itself with Lt. General William J. Hardee, who commanded what was left of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida on 31 January 1865.

Their posting:

Wright's Division  under Major General Ambrose R. Wright

Mercer's Brigade  under Which also had 4 units of Senior reserves

German Artillery  under Captain William K. Bachman

--Old Secesh

German Light Artillery-- Part 2: Defense of Savannad, Carolinas Campaign and Bennett Place

From the National Park Service  Battle Unit Details

BACHMAN'S COMPANY, SOUTH CAROLINA ARTILLERY (GERMAN LIGHT ARTILLERY)

I also imagine this unit was made up of a lot of men of German descent.

The German Light Artillery (also called the Charleston German Artillery) completed its organization in the spring of 1862.  The unit moved to Virginia, served  in B.W. Frobel's and M.W. Henry's Battalion of Artillery, and fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Gettysburg, except when it was with Longstreet at Suffolk.

During October 1863 it was ordered to to South Carolina and later participated in the defense of Savannah before returning to South Carolina.

It reported seven casualties during the Seven Days' Battles, had two killed and two wounded in the Maryland Campaign and took 71 men to Gettysburg.

The company had 94 men at Charleston in April 1864, was refitted after being in Georgia and during April 1865, Captain William K. Bachman was in command.  They surrendered with Johnston at Bennett Place, North Carolina.

William K. Bachman commanded the unit for the whole war.

--Old Secesh

The Confederate German Light Artillery-- Part 1: With Army of Northern Virginia Seven Days Battles to Gettysburg

In the last post I wrote about Captain Childs delivering infantry accoutrements to this outfit.

The unit was formed in early 1862 in Charleston, S.C..  Captain William K. Bachman was its commander  It was armed with four 12-pounder Napoleon cannons from August 1862 to July 1863.  On May 3, 1864, it was armed with two Blakely Rifles and two 12-pounder howitzers.

This unit served in the Seven Days Battles,  Second Manassas (Second Bull Run),  Sharpsburg (Antietam), Fredericksburg,  and Gettysburg.  It then returned to South Carolina.  It was later in the Carolinas Campaign and surrendered with General Joseph Johnston at Durham  Station in North Carolina on April 25, 1865.

Some Heavy Fighting.  --Old Secesh

Frederick L. Childs-- Part 6: A Letter from the Captain

From the Bid Square site.

It was in Lot 82 of the auction with an estimate of $500-$700.  Highest bid was $250 and it was unsold.

The letter was written by Captain Childs on September 3, 1861, while in command of the Charleston Armory and went to Captain W.K. Bachman of the Charleston Artillery Battery and the German Light Artillery.

"Charleston Arsenal SC
September 3, 1861

Captain,

I have the honor  to hand you herewith invoice of one box of containing one hundred sets of Infantry Accoutrements, turned over to Captain Hudson Lee A.Q.M.  On  the 30th alto for transmittal to your address.  Upon the delivery of the articles be good enough to send me duplicate receipts.

I am sir
Your Obdt. Servt.
F.L. Childs  Capt. Con Arty.

Capt. W.K. Bachman German Volunteers"