A Brief History of the Washington Artillery

This is a reproduction of one of the original flags of the Washington Artillery. Fearing that the flag would be confiscated by Northern soldiers, it was split up into several pieces and spread among the members. Jackson Barracks in New Orleans was able to collect several portions and create a sketch of the orginal flag.

The Washington Artillery was organized in 1838 and fought in the Mexican War as Company A of Persifor Smith's regiment. At that time they chose to be known as the "Native American Battery". The group reorganized in 1852 and at that time came to be known as the Washington Artillery. WA was largely a civil and social organization in its peace years. It gave young men an opportunity to gain a foot up in business and society. A large share of the WA members at this time, and at the beginning of the war, were young, unmarried, clerks, and some were students. As the war progressed and recruits were sought in locations outside of New Orleans, the make-up of the organization became mixed to include all walks of life and many different professions.

One interesting fact of the WA make-up is that a large number of members originated from Northern States. Antebellum New Orleans was a boom town. Many people were migrating there from all parts of the country to make their fortunes. Undoubtedly, some of these people sought membership in the WA to both further their success and to secure a position in New Orleans society by joining a respected element of it.

Much of the original equipment of the WA, including a 6 six-pounder guns, was obtained in the seizure of the Baton Rouge Arsenal on April 11, 1861 (Two-thirds of all cannons used by the South in the Civil War were originally Federal property). The unit was comprised of five companies when they were accepted into Confederate service in May 1861. The first four companies went directly to Virginia and took part in the 1st Battle of Manassas (or 1st Bull Run). The 5th company served with the Army of the Tennesee. The WA was commanded by Col. James Burge Walton.

At first, WA was outfitted in dark blue. These were traded in for cadet grey (bluish grey) uniforms, complete with nine Louisinana State buttons, within the first few months of the war. They were sewn by the French tailors of New Orleans at an estimate cost of $20,000. The men wore red artillery kepis, with a dark blue lower band, trimmed with gold braid in the style of a 2nd Lieutenant. Shoulder boards indicated the rank of their commissioned officers. The WA motto is "Try Us" and the logo is a roaring tiger head. Pins bearing the logo were issed to the orignial unit members.

The WA fought with the Army of Northern Virginia throughout all of its major campaigns. They especially distinguished themselves in the defense of Marye's Heights during the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns. After the war, the unit was allowed to continue as the "Washington Artillery Veterans Charitable and Benevolent Association, Inc." They held secret infantry drills and continued to assemble weapons. In 1870, in protest of the carpetbagger rule, they appeared with two miniature brass cannons to drive former General James Longstreet's Metropolitan Police off the streets of New Orleans. The WA again entered the U.S. service to fight in the Spanish American War in 1898, and in both World War I and World War II.

William Miller Own wrote In Camp and in Battle with the Washington Artillery about his experiences with the unit. This book is now out of print but may be available through an interlibrary loan. Also, Napier Bartlett's Soldier's Story of the War about the WA is still in print and available as part of a larger work.

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