HISTORY
[Source: Loyal West Virginia 1861-1865, by Theodore Lang]

Battery F was originally Company C, 6th West Virginia Infantry and was constituted, by order of the War Department, Company F, First West Virginia Light Artillery, about January 1, 1863, Capt. Thomas A. Maulsby retaining his rank in the transfer, as did also First Lieut. George W. Graham, and Second Lient. James C. Means. The battery proved to be as efficient as artillery as it had been as infantry.

The battery's first service, January 31, 1863, was in Col. B.F. Smith's brigade, stationed at Martinsburg, with one section at North Mountain. May 31, 1863, it is stationed at Berryville: June 14, 1863, the battery was in the disastrous engagement and retreat from Marinsburg, Gen'l Dan Tyler in command of brigade; in this affair Captain Maulsby had the misfortune to lose four of his guns. The battery, after 6 P.M. of the 14 of June, was divided, one section under the command of a lieutenant, facing to the west, covering some of the enemy's infantry and cavalry that were moving in that direction o Martinsburg. The other two sections, commanded by Captain Maulsby, were facing south, covering the Confederate forces that were passing either to amuse or attack the forces posted on the hill near the cemetery. The detached section was 150 yards to the rear of the sections under the immediate command of Captain Maulsby. Just before sunset, the Confederates for the first time showed that they had artillery in position, as they opened fire from six or eight guns with good range. The first shot passed over Captain Maulsby's four guns, and plunged into the detached section, killing and wounding some horses, and producing a bad effect in the infantry supports. For the next 20 minutes the two sections under Maulsby were engaged in rapid fire in order to hold the advancing Confederates in check, while Tyler's forces were in retreat. Captain Maulsby, who was severely wounded by his conduct in this battle showed that he was a gallant soldier, but we have no report from him as to the particulars of the loss of his guns. But it is believed that Gen'l Dan. Tyler was at fault in keeping the two sections of the battery so long on the field.

July 31, 1863, the battery is in Camp of Instructions at Washington, D.C., Lieut. J.S.S. Herr in command. August 31, 1863, same, Camp. Lieut. J.C. Means in command. October 13, 1863, Captain Maulsby was honorably discharged on account of wounds received in action at Martinsburg, June 14, 1863. October 24, 1863, Lieut. George W. Graham was promoted to captain. December 31, 1863, the battery is in Colonel Wilkinson's brigade, Captain Graham in command; February 1, 1864, in Thoburn's brigade at New Creek, one section at Beverly; May 31 to July 1, at Clarksburg; July 24 and 25, at Kernstown, Va.; July 31, 1864, at Maryland Heights. Mustered out of service, September 14, 1864.

SERVICE
[Source: Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick Dyer]

Organized as Company "C," 6th West Virginia Infantry. Detached as an Independent Battery April 8, 1863. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept., to June, 1863. Artillery, French's Command, 8th Army Corps, to July, 1863. Camp Barry, Washington, D.C., 22nd Army Corps, to December, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, West Virginia, to April, 1864. Kelly's Command, Reserve Division, West Virginia, to July, 1864. Artillery Brigade, West Virginia, to September, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty at Clarksburg, Cumberland, Md., and Martinsburg, W. Va., till April, 1863. Moved from Martinsburg to New Creek April 26, 1863, and to Berryville May 31. Return to Martinsburg May 31. Action at Martinsburg June 14. Retreat to Harper's Ferry, thence guard stores to Washington, D.C., July 1-4. Duty at Camp Barry, Defences of Washington, July to December. Ordered to Clarksburg, W. Va., thence to New Creek January 30, 1864, and duty there till May 31. At Clarksburg till July, and at Maryland Heights till September. Battle of Kernstown July 24. Transferred to Battery "A," West Virginia Light Artillery, September 14, 1864.

LOSSES

The 1st West Virginia Light Artillery regiment lost 33 men, killed and died of wounds; 131 men, died of disease, accident or in prison; total deaths, 164 men.

U.S. Army Military History Institute References:

Dyer, Frederick H.; A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979. Ref.
See pp. 1659-60 (2 photocopied pages) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.

Lang, Theodore F.; Loyal West Virginia from 1861 to 1865.... Baltimore: Deutsch, 1895. E536L27.
See pp. 316-17 (2 photocopied pages) for a roster of officers and brief regimental history.

Other References: