CONFEDERATE VIRGINIA TROOPS
38th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery (Read's)
- Overview:
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38th Artillery Battalion contained four companies and was organized in June, 1863. The
unit did not serve as one command but did participate in many campaigns of the Army of
Northern Virginia. Its companies were the Fauquier Light Artillery, the Richmond Fayette Light
Artillery, the Hampden Light Artillery, and Latham's-Blount's Battery. See history of each unit
for details. The field officers were Majors Joseph G. Blount, James Dearing, John P.W. Read,
and Robert M. Stribling.
Associated units:
Hampden Light Artillery was organized at Richmond, Virginia, in May, 1861, with men from Richmond. After serving in Jackson's Valley Campaign, it was assigned to R.S. Andrews', J.Dearing's, H.P. Jones', J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia. The unit was active from the Seven Days' Battles to Gettysburg, moved to North Carolina, and later was involved in the Plymouth expedition. Returning to Virginia, it fought on the Bermuda Hundred line and at Cold Harbor, participated in the defense of Petersburg, and ended the war at Appomattox. The battery was commanded by Captains William H. Caskie, Lawrence S. Marye, and John E. Sullivan.
Latham's-Blount's Battery completed its organization at Lynchburg, Virginia, in April, 1861. After taking an active part in the Battle of First Manassas, the unit was assigned to J. Dearing's, H.P. Jones', J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery. It fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from Williamsburg to Gettysburg, moved to North Carolina, and later was involved in the Plymouth expedition. Returning to Virginia, it was active on the Bermuda Hundred line and saw action at Cold Harbor and in front of Petersburg. It sustained 10 casualties of the 96 engaged at Gettysburg, and many were captured at Rice’s Station on April 6, 1865. It surrendered at Appomattox with only 3 men. Captains Joseph G. Blount, James Dearing, James W. Dickerson, and J.Grey Latham were in command.
Fauquier Light Artillery was organized as infantry in June, 1861, and assigned to the 49th Regiment Virginia Infantry as Company G (1st). In September or October it transferred to the artillery. Attached to the Army of Northern Virginia the unit served in J. Dearing's, J.P.W. Read's (38th Battalion), and R.M. Stribling's Battalion of Artillery. It participated in various conflicts from Williamsburg to Gettysburg, moved to North Carolina, and later saw action in the Plymouth expedition. Returning to Virginia, it was on the Bermuda Hundred line, fought at Cold Harbor, then took part in the defense of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign. This battery reported 5 men disabled of the 134 engaged at Gettysburg, sustained 9 casualties at Kelly’s Ford, and surrendered with only 3 men. Its commanders were Captains William C. Marshall and Robert M. Stribling.
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