1st Pennsylvania Reserve Light Artillery

Although initially formed with the intention of forming one cohesive regiment of Artillery, it was broken up by Battery and spread throughout various armies in the Eastern Theater of the War. The original idea was to keep this regiment associated with the Division of the Reserve Corps but the Federal Government saw fit to divi it up. It’s regimental officers were discharged, leaving each battery officered by a Captain and multiple Lieutenants. One source reported on the status of the Regiment in January 1862: “The Artillery Regiment raised by Colonel Charles Campbell has lost its identity as a regiment, it having been found impracticable to keep it together. The different batteries composing it have been assigned to different commands, and the field officers discharged, for the reason that the artillery cannot act unsupported by infantry, and the field officers of the infantry would necessarily have command for the time being.”1Read More

Battery A

Also known as Easton’s, and Simpson’s Battery
(Credited to Franklin County, Pa.)

Battery B

Also known as the Mount Jackson Guards, Cooper’s, and McClelland’s Battery
(Credited to Lawrence County, Pa.)

Battery C

Also known as the Flying Artillery, and Simpson’s Battery
(Credited to Philadelphia County, Pa.)

Battery D

Also known as the Richmond Artillerists, and Flood’s Battery
(Credited to Port Richmond area of Philadelphia, Pa.)

Battery E

Also known as the York Artillery, Lewis’s, Barr’s and Orwig’s Battery
(Credited to York County, Pa.)

Battery F

Also known as Matthew’s, Rickett’s and Campbell’s Battery
(Composed of men from Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Montour County, Pa.)

Battery G

Also known as West’s, Kern’s, and Amsden’s Battery
(Credited to Philadelphia and Indiana County, Pa.)

Battery H

Also known as Brady’s, and Fagan’s Battery
(Credited to Philadelphia and Luzerne County, Pa.)

Battery I

(Added in 1864, made up of men from all
over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)


  1. The Raftsman’s Journal, January 22, 1862.