Rank Straps, Insignia and Frock Coat of Captain William M. Kirby – Battery K 3^rd New York Light Artillery – This impressive grouping has been an element of a significant collection for many years, prior to us obtaining it. All of the various aspects of the grouping were owned by Captain William M. Kirby of Battery K 3^rd New York Artillery. Kirby enlisted at the age of 21, in January, 1862, at the rank of 2^nd Lt.; two weeks later, he was commissioned, at that rank, in Battery K of the 3^rd NY Light Artillery. He remained in the 3^rd throughout his military service in the war, mustering out in Richmond, Va., in July, 1865. Kirby’s battery saw late war service in North Carolina, where Kirby was captured at Beech Grove, NC and sent to the Confederate prison facility, “Camp Sorghum”, near Columbia, SC; Kirby escaped from captivity in April, 1865 and returned to his battery. Included in the grouping are the following:

Captain Kirby’s Artillery officer’s frock coat – all Eagle A coat buttons are present; 4 Eagle A cuff buttons are missing (we will supply the buyer with replacements); the coat is in overall very good condition, with some scattered, minor moth nips; the sleeve linings are constructed of an off-white linen; the body interior is lined in the typical, period, green, quilted satinet; the bottoms of the skirts are unhemmed; the elbows are in the “balloon” style; the shoulder areas are gathered where they are joined to the body of the coat; there are brown polished cotton lined pockets in the tails; the coat is constructed of a fine, English, broadcloth wool that is indigo-dyed, deep blue; both of Kirby’s original, double bullion, Artillery Captain’s rank boards remain in place.
A signed, clipped, CDV of Captain Kirby
A significant group of Captain Kirby’s insignia: large, bullion embroidered, officer’s Hardee hat badge; 3 embroidered Officer’s Slouch or Forage cap Artillery Insignia for the 3^rd NY – one is large, one medium and one small in size
2 pairs of Artillery 2^nd rank boards; one is single bullion with red velvet field; one is double bullion with red velvet field
1 pair of Artillery 2^nd rank boards; double faux bullion; large size with red velvet fields; this pair are the early (patent dated 1861) rare, marked Smith’s Patent straps, with markings stamped into the brass clips that were to attach to brackets sewn to the wearer’s frock coat shoulders
1 single bullion, pair of rank straps for a Captain of the Artillery; red velvet fields
Captain Kirby’s MOLLUS medal; numbered on the clasp 235

After the war, Captain Kirby became active in the hardware business of Hamlin, Kirby & Goodrich, in New York. In 1876, he became the adjutant of the New York National Guard 49th Reg. In 1881, Kirby took command of the “Wheeler Rifles” (predecessor of the New York 108th Inf. N.G.). By the time of the outbreak of the Spanish American War, he was a Lt. Col. in the 3rd Reg. of the NY National Guard.

William M. Kirby

Residence was not listed; 21 years old.

Enlisted on 1/1/1862 at Auburn, NY as a 2nd Lieutenant.

On 1/17/1862 he was commissioned into “Batty K” Co. NY 3rd Light Artillery

He was Mustered Out on 7/8/1865 at Syracuse, NY

He was listed as:

* POW 2/2/1864 Beech Grove, NC (Confined at Columbia, SC)

* Escaped 4/30/1865 Columbia, SC (Returned to battery)

Promotions:

* 1st Lieut 10/15/1863

* Capt 2/25/1865 (As of Battery I)

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:

* 2/25/1865 from company Batty K to company Batty I

3rd LA Batty K NY Light Artillery Battery
( 3-years )

Organized: Union Springs, NY on 12/11/61
Mustered Out: 6/30/65 at Richmond, VA

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comment
Apr ’64	May ’64	Artillery	1	18	Army of the James
Jun ’64	Jun ’64	Artillery	3	18	Army of the James
Jun ’64	Dec ’64	Artillery		18	Army of the James
Dec ’64	Jun ’65	Artillery		24	Army of the James	Mustered Out

BATTERY “K,” 3rd REGIMENT LIGHT ARTILLERY.

Organized at Auburn and mustered in December 20, 1861. Attached to Defences of Washington to March, 1862. Unattached, Department of North Carolina, to December, 1862. Artillery Brigade, Dept. of North Carolina, to January, 1863. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to May, 1863. Defences of Newberne, N. C., 18th Corps, to April, 1864. U. S. Forces, Yorktown, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, April, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 18th Army Corps, Army of the James, to May, 1864. Artillery, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, to June, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps, to December, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 24th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

Service:

Duty in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till March, 1862. Sailed for New Berne, N. C., March 27, arriving there April 2. Duty at New Berne till April, 1864. Expedition from New Berne to Tarboro November 1-12. Action at Rawle’s Mills November 2. Foster’s Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20. Actions at Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Expedition to Trenton July 4-8, 1863. Quaker Bridge July 6. Expedition to Swift Creek July 17-20. and to Winton July 25-31. About New Borne February 1-4, 1864. Moved to Yorktown, Va., April, 1864. Butler’s operations on south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28. Port Walthall May 6-7. Swift Creek May 9-10. Proctor’s Creek

Camp Sorghum – Confederate Prison Camp near Columbia, SC

Camp Sorghum

Name: Rank Straps, Insignia and Frock Coat of Captain William M. Kirby – Battery K 3rd New York Light Artillery
SKU: 13186
Price: 9850 USD
Availability: InStock

Camp Sorghum, Columbia, South Carolina.

Camp Sorghum was a Confederate States Army prisoner of war camp located in Columbia, South Carolina, during the American Civil War.

Established in late 1864 as a makeshift prison for approximately 1,400 Union officers, Camp Sorghum consisted of a 5-acre (20,000 m²) tract of open field, without walls, fences, buildings, or any other facilities. A “deadline” (boundary line) was established by laying wood planks 10 feet (3.0 m) inside the camp’s boundaries.

Rations consisted of cornmeal and sorghum syrup as the main staples in the diet; thus the camp became known as “Camp Sorghum”. Due to the lack of any security features, escapes were common. Conditions were terrible, with little food, clothing, or medicine, and disease claimed a number of lives among both the prisoners and their guards.^[¹^]

The camp was the site of the imprisonment of S. H. M. Byers, as well as the location in which Byers created his two most famous works: the poem that lent its name to Sherman’s March to the Sea, and The Song of Iowa. During his imprisonment at Camp Sorghum, Byers read a newspaper that had been smuggled into camp by a slave in a piece of bread. From that he learned of Sherman’s March to the Sea, and the taking of Atlanta, Georgia. Byers wrote a poem about the March, which was set to music by fellow prisoner W. O. Rockwell. The song was smuggled out of the prison in the wooden leg of Lt. Daniel W. Tower, and became an immediate hit in the north.

The prisoners of Camp Sorghum were eventually transferred to the property of the state mental asylum in Columbia sometime before the city was captured in February 1865.^[³^] Most of the POWs were removed from Columbia on February 12, 1865, as William Tecumseh Sherman’s Union Army approached the city. Byers however managed to hide in the attic of the asylum, and became one of the first to greet the Union Army upon its entrance to Columbia.

Located on the Lexington side of the Saluda River, the prisoner of war camp received its name from the meager rations of molasses (sorghum) and cornmeal afforded its inmates. An estimated 1,400 Union soldiers were kept on the 5-acre plot. The prison site offered no shelter or latrines. Shelter at the prison proved equally Spartan with inmates seeking refuge from the elements in shallow holes covered with twigs, leaves, and pine boughs. At least 8 men died from disease and exposure. Escapes were frequent, with 373 inmates making their way to freedom by the time the camp was moved in December 1864.

New York
THIRD REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY (LIGHT; VETERAN).
Seward Artillery; Cayuga Regiment.
(Three Years)

This regiment was accepted by the State for a service of

two years as a regiment of infantry, and designated the 19th

Regiment, May 17, 1861. It was organized at Elmira, and there

mustered in the service of the United States, by an error, for

three months only. August 2, 1861, it was ordered, however, at

the request of the War Department, by the Governor of the

State, to be mustered in the service of the United States for

the unexpired portion of its State service. The 49th Militia

formed the nucleus of the regiment, and the men were recruited

principally in the counties of Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne; the

counties of Cattaraugus, Chenango, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego,

Madison, Tioga and Tompkins also furnished some of the men.

The regiment left the State, under Col. John S. Clark, June 6,

1861. December 11, 1861, under Col. James H. Ledlie, it was

converted into an artillery regiment. At the expiration of its

term of service, those entitled to be discharged left the

field, May 22, 1863, and were mustered out in the State; the

regiment, however, was continued in the service, receiving new

companies and recruits. It served as infantry at and near

Washington, D. C., from June, 1861; in Sanford’s Division,

Patterson’s Army, from July, 1861; in Butterfield’s Brigade,

same command, from July 11, 1861; in the 1st Brigade, Bank’s

Division, from July 29, 1861; in the 3d Brigade from September

25, 1861, and in Williams’ Brigade from December, 1861; as

artillery in North and South Carolina, 18th and 10th Corps, and

Batteries E, H, K and M in the Army of the James, from March,

1862. It was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col.

Charles H. Stewart, between June 23 and July 24, 1865, having

lost by death during its service, killed in action, 1 officer,

13 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 8 enlisted men;

of disease and other causes, 4 officers, 283 enlisted men;

total, 5 officers, 304 enlisted men; aggregate, 309; of whom 25

enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

Battery A, originally organized at Auburn, was mustered in

at Elmira, May 22, 1861, under Capt. John T. Baker. September

28, 1861, the enlisted men of Company F were transferred to it,

and June 2, 1863, it was mustered out at Auburn, under Capt.

Charles White, its three years’ men having been transferred to

Companies E, I and K. It served as an artillery company at or

near Washington, D. C., from December, 1861; in North Carolina,

18th Corps, from March, 1862; in South Carolina, 10th Corps,

from January, 1863. A new Company A, recruited principally at

Auburn, Moravia, Sennett, Venice, Cato, Mentz, Brutus, Ira,

Lafayette, Elbridge, Rochester, Throup, Conquest, Owasco and

Niles, was mustered in the United States service for one year

September 23, 1864, under Capt. Samuel P. Russell. This

company served in the 18th Corps and Department of Virginia,

and from March 2 to April 17, 1865, in Carter’s Division,

Provisional Corps, in North Carolina, and was mustered out at

Syracuse, July 3, 1865.

Battery B, originally organized at Auburn, was mustered in

the United States service at Elmira, May 22, 1861, under Capt.

Terrence J. Kennedy. September 28, 1861, it received by

transfer some of the men of Company H, and February 22, 1862,

it was consolidated with Companies C and E. A new company,

under Capt. Joseph J. Morrison, recruited principally in New

York city and Penn Yan, and mustered in the United States

service for three years at New York city, December 19, 1861,

took its place. This company was converted into a light

battery in May, 1862, and served in the 18th Corps in North

Carolina from March, 1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th

Corps, from December, 1862, and in South Carolina, 10th Corps,

from January, 1863. It was mustered out July 13, 1865, at

Syracuse, under Capt. Thomas J. Mersereau.

Battery C, originally organized at Seneca Falls, was

mustered in the United States service at Elmira, May 22, 1861,

under Capt. James E. Ashcroft. February 28, 1862, some of the

enlisted men of Company B were transferred to it. May 22,

1863, its three years’ men were transferred to Companies I and

K, and the company was mustered out under Lieut. Charles B.

Randolph, at Elmira, June 2, 1863, having served as an

artillery company in the 10th and 18th Corps in North and South

Carolina. September 30, 1863, a new company, recruited

principally at Utica, Syracuse, Rome, Sangerfield, Hamilton,

Vernon, Annsville, Rochester, Bridgewater, Norwich, Albany and

Deerfield, and mustered in the United States service for three

years, August 31, 1863, commanded by Capt. W. E. Mercer, took

its place. This company served in the 18th Corps, and

Department of Virginia, in North Carolina; in Carter’s

Division, Provisional Corps, from March, 1865; in the Reserve

Artillery, 23d Corps, from April 5, 1865, and, under the

command of Captain Mercer, was mustered out July 14, 1865, at

Syracuse.

Battery D, originally organized at Auburn, was mustered in

the United States service May 22, 1861, under Capt. Owen

Gavigan, and was formed principally of Irishmen. September 28,

1861, it received by transfer some of the enlisted men of

Company K. Its three years’ men were transferred to Companies

E, I and K, May 22, 1863, and the company was mustered out at

Elmira, June 2, 1863. It served in North Carolina, in the 18th

Corps, from March, 1862, and in South Carolina, in the 10th

Corps, from January, 1863. In March, 1864, a new company,

recruited principally at Syracuse, Auburn, Fayette, Locke,

Skaneateles, Seneca Falls, Owasco and Onondaga, mustered in the

United States service at Syracuse in February, 1864, for one,

two and three years’ service, and commanded by Capt. Stephen

Van Heusen, joined the regiment, replacing the mustered-out

company. This company served in the 18th Corps, and Department

of Virginia; in Carter’s Division, Provisional Corps, from

March, 1865; in Reserve Artillery, 23d Corps, from April 5,

1865, in North Carolina; and was mustered out under Captain Van

Heusen, at Syracuse, July 5, 1865.

Battery E, originally organized at Auburn, mustered in the

United States service May 22, 1861, at Elmira, under Capt.

Theodore H. Schenck, received by transfer, February 28, 1862,

some of the enlisted men of Company B, and May 22, 1863, some

of the three years’ men of Companies A, C and D. At the

expiration of its term of service, those entitled to be

discharged were sent to Elmira and there mustered out, and the

battery itself retained in service. It was converted into a

light battery in August, 1862; served in North Carolina from

March, 1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from

December, 1862; in South Carolina, in the 10th Corps, from

January, 1863; in North Carolina, in the 18th Corps, from May,

1863; at Yorktown, Va., from April, 1864; in the Artillery, 2d

Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from May, 1864; in the

Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from June, 1864; with the 10th

Corps from August, 1864; with the 18th Corps from September,

1864; and in the Artillery Brigade, 24th Corps, from December,

1864. It was, commanded by Capt. George E. Ashby, mustered out

at Richmond, Va., June 23, 1865.

Battery F, originally organized at Moravia, mustered in

the United States service May 22, 1861, at Elmira, under Capt.

Nelson T. Stephens, was transferred to Company A September 28,

1861. February 22, 1862, a new company, original 10th Battery,

commanded by Capt. Edwin S. Jenney, took its place. This

company, recruited and organized at Syracuse, and there

mustered in the service of the United States for three years

December 18, 1861, was converted into a light battery in May,

1862. At the expiration of its term of service those entitled

thereto were discharged and the battery retained in the

service. It served in North Carolina from March, 1862; in the

Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from December, 1862; in the 10th

Corps and South Carolina from January, 1863; in the District of

Florida from September, 1864; and was mustered out, commanded

by First Lieut. Edgar H. Titus, July 24, 1865, at Syracuse.

Battery G, originally organized at Auburn, mustered in the

United States service under Capt. Chas. H. Stewart, May 22,

1861, at Elmira, received, September 28, 1861, by transfer some

of the men of Company K. Its three years’ men were transferred

to new Company K, May 22, 1863, and the battery mustered out at

Elmira, June 2, 1863, having served in North Carolina in the

18th Corps, from March, 1862. A new company took its place in

March, 1864, which, commanded by Capt. David L. Aberdeen, was

mustered in the Unite States service for three years, and

recruited principally at Syracuse, Auburn, Waterloo, Sharon,

Skaneateles, Brutus, Seneca Falls, Elbridge, Onondaga and

Cicero. It served in the 18th Corps, and Department of

Virginia; in the Provisional Corps in North Carolina from

March, 1865; in Artillery Reserve, 23d Corps, from April 5,

1865, and was mustered out under Capt. William A. Kelsey, July

7, 1865, at Syracuse.

Battery H, organized at Weedsport, mustered in the United

States service at Elmira, May 22, 1861, under Capt. Solomon

Giles, was transferred to Companies B and I September, 28,

1861. A new company, commanded by Capt. William J. Riggs, took

its place February 22, 1862. This company, formed of

organizations recruited by Captains Clark, Mercer and Tryon, at

Rome, for H. R. White’s regiment, and there mustered in the

United States service for three years, and in which the

Grinnell Light Artillery was merged, was converted into a light

battery in May, 1862. At the expiration of its term of service

those entitled thereto were discharged and the battery

continued in service. It served in North Carolina from March,

1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from December,

1862; at and near Fort Monroe, Va., from October, 1863; at

Newport News, Va., from December, 1863; in the defenses of

Portsmouth, Va., from April, 1864; in the Artillery Brigade,

18th Corps, from June, 1864, and in the 24th Corps from

December, 1864. It was mustered out, commanded by Capt. Enoch

Jones, June 24, 1865, at Richmond, Va.

Battery I, originally organized at Auburn, was mustered in

the service of the United States, May 22, 1861, at Elmira,

commanded by Capt. John H. Ammon. Some of the enlisted men of

Companies H and K were transferred to it, September 28, 1861.

May 22, 1863, it received some of the three years’ men of

Companies A, C and D, and its two years’ men were forwarded to

Elmira, where they were discharged June 2, 1863, while the

battery was continued in service. It served in North Carolina

from March, 1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from

December, 1862; in South Carolina, 10th Corps, from January,

1863, and in the 18th Corps, and Department of Virginia, from

May, 1863; in Carter’s Division, Provisional Corps, in North

Carolina, from March, 1865; in Artillery Reserve, 23d Corps,

from April 5, 1865. It was mustered out, under Capt. William

M. Kirby, at Syracuse, July 8, 1865.

Battery K, originally organized at Union Springs, was

mustered in the United States service May 22, 1861, at Elmira,

under Capt. James R. Angel, and transferred to Companies D and

G and a few of the men to Company I, September 28, 1861. A new

company, commanded by Captain Angel, recruited principally at

Auburn and Union Springs, and mustered in the United States

service for three years, took its place December 20, 1861.

This company was, in June, 1862, converted into a light

battery. May 22, 1863, it received a number of three years’

men of Batteries D and G, and at the expiration of its term of

service those entitled thereto were discharged and the battery

continued in service. It served in North Carolina from March,

1862; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from December,

1862; in the 1st Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from

April, 1864; in the 3d (Hink’s) Division, 18th Corps, from May,

1864; in the Artillery Brigade of the 18th Corps, from June,

1864; and in the Artillery Brigade of the 24th Corps, from

December, 1864. Commanded by Captain Angel, it was mustered

out June 30, 1865, at Richmond, Va.

Battery L. Capt. Terrence J. Kennedy of Company B was

ordered to recruit this battery, but received from the State

authority to organize it as an independent battery (the 1st).

For some reason this battery was reported by the regimental

commander as Battery L of this regiment; it never joined the

regiment, and was finally dropped from its returns. In March,

1865, the 24th Battery was transferred to the regiment as its

Battery L, and so reported from May 28, 1865. This battery was

mustered out, under Capt. Lewis H. Mowers, July 7, 1865, at

Syracuse. Its losses are, however, not credited to the

regiment, but to its independent organization.

Battery M, Capt. James V. White. This company was

originally organized for the 76th Infantry, as Company I.

January 24, 1862, it was transferred to the 3d Artillery, and

completed by consolidating with it Captain Hanson’s and another

company, recruited for the Cherry Valley Regiment. It was

recruited principally at Albany, Schenectady, Broadalbin,

Elmira, Cherry Valley, Bainbridge, Newfield, Ithaca, Milford,

Unadilla, Braman’s Cove, Sanford, Hartwick and Cayuta;

organized at Albany and there mustered in the service of the

United States for three years, January 18, 1862. At the

expiration of its term of service those entitled thereto were

discharged and the battery continued in service. It joined the

regiment February 22, 1862, and served in North Carolina, and

the 18th Corps, from March, 1862; at and near Fort Monroe, Va.,

from October, 1863; in Heckman’s Division, 18th Corps, from

January, 1864; in the 1st Division, 18th Corps, from March,

1864; in the 3d Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James, from

May, 1864; in the Artillery Brigade, 18th Corps, from June,

1864, and in that of the 24th Corps from December, 1864.

Commanded by Capt. John H. Howell, it was mustered out at

Richmond, Va., June 26, 1865.

Gen William M. Kirby Veteran

Birth

2 Dec 1842

Death

2 Jan 1933 (aged 90)

Burial

Fort Hill Cemetery

Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, USA

William M. Kirby died January 2, 1933, age 90 years. Born in Springport Dec. 2, 1842. He was the son of William A. Kirby, inventor of the Kirby reaper.
Brig. Gen. William M. Kirby- retired Military officer, res. 72 years at 180 Genesee St. At the time of his death, oldest living past Commander Knights Templar.
Jan. 1, 1862 commissioned Lieut. Third N.Y. Artillery, promoted to Captain. for some time before the close of the war he was imprisoned at Libby from which he escaped.
In 1870s he was in the hardware business with Hamlin, Kirby & Goodrich.
In 1876 he was adjutant 49th Reg. 1881 took command wheeler rifles (predecessor 108th Inf. N.G.)
At the outbreak of the Spanish American War he was a lieu. Col. 3rd Reg.
At the time of his death he was survived by daughters; Mrs. Louis Jenkins, Auburn- Mrs. Robert Dixon, Port Byron- Mrs. George Wittmer, Auburn.

Military Service- Age: 22 years

Transferred- Age: 22 years

Date

Feb 25, 1865

Place

New York

Info

From Company: Batty K

Military Service- Ages: 23 – 21 years

Gold Star

Officer

Yes

Prisoner of War

Yes

Wounded

Imprisonment- Age: 21 years

Date

Feb 2, 1864

Place

Beech Grove, North Carolina

Info

Confined at Columbia, SC

Promoted- Ages: 22 – 21 years

Date

Oct 15, 1863

Rank

First Lieutenant

Date

Feb 25, 1865

Info

As of Battery I

Rank

Captain

Discharge- Age: 23 years

Date

Jul 8, 1865

Place

Syracuse, New York

Captain

Death– Jan 2, 1933-Age: 90 years

Burial

Auburn, Cayuga County, New York

Plot

Fort Hill Cemetery

Rank Straps, Insignia and Frock Coat of Captain William M. Kirby – Battery K 3rd New York Light Artillery

Camp Sorghum

Military Service- Age: 22 years

Transferred- Age: 22 years

Military Service- Ages: 23 – 21 years

Imprisonment- Age: 21 years

Promoted- Ages: 22 – 21 years

Discharge- Age: 23 years

Burial

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Rank Straps, Insignia and Frock Coat of Captain William M. Kirby – Battery K 3rd New York Light Artillery

Camp Sorghum

Military Service- Age: 22 years

Transferred- Age: 22 years

Military Service- Ages: 23 – 21 years

Imprisonment- Age: 21 years

Promoted- Ages: 22 – 21 years

Discharge- Age: 23 years

Burial

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