A.K.A. Fickling’s, Rhett’s, Elliot's, Brook’s Light Artillery

HISTORICAL SKETCH:

This unit was formed during the winter of 1861 and 1862 from Co. K, "Brooks Guards", of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment, (see below). The men came from Charleston and the Pickens Districts. On October 17, 1862, 61 members of this company transferred to organize an artillery battery under Captain Andrew Burnett Rhett. He resigned his infantry commission at regimental reorganization May 13, 1862 to become captain of Rhett's Battery, later known as Fickling's Artillery. The name Brooks originally came from the name of Co. K "Brooks Guards". It was originally armed with two 6-lb. Smoothbores, one 12-lb. Napoleon, and one 12-lb. Howitzer.

It soon moved to Virginia and was assigned to Stephen Dill Lee's, Edward Porter Alexander's, and Frank Huger's Battalion of Artillery. The unit fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Gettysburg.

James Longstreet

Stephen Dill Lee

Edward Porter Alexander

At Manassas Plains they were designated Reserve Artillery, Longstreet's Command, Col. Stephen D. Lee, Commanding. The Reserve Artillery consisted of Brooks Battery along with five Virginia batteries. Brooks Battery was commanded by Capt. A. B. Rhett and armed with two 6-lb. Smoothbores and 2 12-lb. Howitzers.

At about 4:30 p.m. on the 30th Col. Lee moved the two Howitzers forward and effectively engaged them against the left flank of the Federal units attacking Jackson's line at a range of 400 yards. Under their well directed fire the Federal supporting lines were broken, and fell back in confusion.

At Sharpesburg they were designated Reserve Artillery, Longstreet's Command, Col. Stephen D. Lee, Commanding. The Reserve Artillery consisted of Brooks Battery along with five Virginia batteries and one Louisana battery. Brooks Battery was commanded by Lt. William Elliott and armed with 2 10-lb. Parrotts and 2 12-lb. Howitzers.

At about 8 a.m. of the 15th they crossed the Antietam River and took position on the high ground overlooking the creek to the east and south of Sharpsburg. One Virginia Battery (Eubank's) was posted on the bluff commanding the Burnside Bridge.

At 1 p.m. the Reserve Artillery engaged the long-range guns of the enemy along the heights on the east bank of Antietam Creek. During the night of the 15th the Reserve Artillery was moved to the left, to a position near the Dunkard Church.

   
Site Marker 1 at Antietam Battlefield National Park"
   
Site Marker 2 at Antietam Battlefield National Park"
~ Click for a larger image ~

Attached to Col. Edward Porter Alexander Artillery, Brooks (Rhett's) was deployed in defense of Marye's Heights. This artillery action proved to be the decisive factor in the Confederate victory. Gen. Longstreet had been assured by Alexander, "A chicken could not live on that field when we open on it."

Brooks Battery on Lee's Hill

July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Brooks Artillery was a part of the Army of Northern Virginia, Longstreet's Corps Artillery Reserve, E.P. Alexander's Battalion of Artillery, Brooks Battery, was commanded by Lt. S. Capers Gilbert and armed and armed with four 12-lb. Howitzers

July 2... Brooks Artillery opened fire at 4 P. M. and when the charge was made on the Peach Orchard it moved to a point near there and with other batteries supported the infantry in its further advance. It assisted in harassing the retiring Union forces causing them to abandon temporarily several guns. They continued firing until night and aided in preventing pursuit of the Confederate advanced lines when they fell back shortly before dark.    (Diary)

July 3... Brooks Artillery was in position at dawn in the artillery line on the ridge running north from the Peach Orchard and on duty there all day. They took part in the cannonade preceding Longstreet's assault and retired from the front after night.

July 4... It remained until 4 P. M. and then withdrew to Marsh Creek on the Fairfield Road. Their losses were heavy but not reported in detail. (Bradley M. Gottfried, in his book "The Artillery of Gettysburg", places them at 7 Killed and 29 wounded, 51 percent of the battery's 70 men, 25 horses, 2 cassions destroyed and 2 of the 4 howitzers dismounted.)

   
Site Marker at Gettysburg Battlefield National Park
~ Click for a larger image ~

After Gettysburg the unit was ordered to Georgia with Longstreet. It did not arrive in time to take part in the Battle of Chickamauga but was involved in the Knoxville operations. During the spring of 1864, it returned to Virginia.

WILDERNESS ~ May 5-7, 1864    (Casualties)

At The Wildeness, they were designated Reserve Artillery under Lt. Gen. Longstreet's Command, Brig. Gen. Edwarward Porter Alexander, Commanding. The Reserve Artillery consisted of Brooks Battery along with five Virginia batteries and one Louisana battery. Brooks Battery was commanded by Lt. Frank Huger and armed with 4 12-lb. Howitzers. The artillery, got orders to move about noon on May 4, 1864, being in camp near Mechanicsville, some four or five miles west of Gordonsville.

SPOTSYLVANIA ~ May 8-21, 1864    (Casualties)

At Spotsylvania Court House, they were again designated Reserve Artillery under Lt. Gen. Longstreet, Brig. Gen. Edwarward Porter Alexander, Commanding. The Reserve Artillery consisted of Brooks Battery along with four Virginia batteries and one Louisana battery. Brooks Battery was commanded by Lt. Frank Huger and Maj. Tyler C. Jordan.

COLD HARBOR ~ June 3, 1864    (Casualties)

At Cold Harbor, they were again designated Reserve Artillery under Lt. Gen. Longstreet, Brig. Gen. Edwarward Porter Alexander, Commanding. The Reserve Artillery consisted of Brooks Battery along with four Virginia batteries and one Louisana battery. Brooks Battery was commanded by Lt. Frank Huger and Maj. Tyler C. Jordan.

Later the company participated in the long Petersburg siege and the Appomattox Campaign.

Brooks Artillery was surrendered with 3 officers and 41 men at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9, 1865.

The 2nd South Carolina participated in as many, if not more, battles than any other regiment on either side. It is one of the few units that was established before the bombardment of Fort Sumter and existed until several weeks after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. It established itself as one of the elite shock troop units of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Two officers, Joseph Kershaw and John Kennedy, became generals and one man, Richard R. Kirkland became one of the most famous "common soldiers" of the war for his humanitarian efforts at Fredericksburg.

Governor Pickens, with authority granted by an Act of the South Carolina State Assembly, in late December of 1860 called for the formation of ten regiments from the state militia to serve for one year. Beginning in January of 1861, ten companies formed what was designated as the 2nd South Carolina (Palmetto) Regiment. It was mustered into state service on April 9, 1861 under Colonel Joseph Brevard Kershaw. When the men were offered the opportunity of joining the Confederate service, four of the companies along with the field and staff officers departed for Richmond on April 24, 1861. It was the first out of state one year regiment to come to Virginia's defense. Six other companies soon joined them and on May 22 and 23, 1861 the regiment was mustered into Confederate service.