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Confederate Presentation Cannon Model Given by the Palmetto Battery to Capt. J. C. Evans 23^rd SC Infantry – This rare cast brass model of what appears to be a three-banded Brooke rifled cannon, has a presentation plaque affixed to its base that reads as follows:

“Presented to

CAPT. J.C. EVANS

by the Palmetto Battery

Charleston S.C. 1864”

The famed Palmetto Battery (3^rd SC Light Artillery) was raised by Captain Hugh R. Garden, in 1862. Enlistees came from the areas of Sumter, Columbia, and Cheraw in South Carolina, initially remaining in South Carolina, then moving to Virginia to join the Army of Northern Virginia until the end of the war. This unit saw action in both South Carolina and Virginia and was in action at Gettysburg. Both the 23^rd SC and the Palmetto Battery were in Charleston in the Spring of 1864, then both units went to Virginia and became engaged during the Siege of Petersburg, in the summer of 1864; during the siege, both units were engaged in the infamous Battle of the Crater. We presume that interactions and resultant camaraderie between the 23^rd SC and the Palmetto Battery, as veterans of various combat actions, led to the presentation of this well crafted model by the Palmetto Battery to Capt. Evans.

The model barrel (9” in length) sits atop a cast brass, sloping cone, that, in turn, rests upon a circular, dark colored, turned wooden pedestal. The model stands approximately 6.5” in height. This is a rare Confederate presentation piece, given to Capt. Evans during the war, in Charleston, by the members of a renowned South Carolina artillery unit.

John C. Evans

4th SC Infantry

John C. Evans

23rd SC Infantry

The Siege of Petersburg

23rd South Carolina Infantry

Muster In: Organized on November 11, 1861.¹
Muster Out: April 9, 1865²

Commander(s):
Colonel Henry L. Benbow
Commander Image

Major Henry H. Lesesne
Commander Image

Captain Edwin R. White
Commander Image

Captain John C. Evans
Commander Image

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Elliott’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia | Confederate Army³

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Elliott’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia | Confederate Army⁴

• Commander:
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Elliott’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia | Confederate Army⁵

• Commander:
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow (went on leave July 30, 1864)⁶
  • Major Henry H. Lesesne (at least July 30, 1864)⁷
  • Captain Edwin R. White (at least July 30, 1864)(wounded on July 30, 1864)⁸
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Elliott’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia | Confederate Army⁹

• Commander:
  • Major Henry H. Lesesne (until at least August 10, 1864)¹⁰
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow (went on leave July 30, 1864 and returned some time after August 10, 1864)¹¹
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Wallace’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia | Confederate Army¹²,¹³

• Commander:
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow¹⁴
  • Major Henry H. Lesesne¹⁵
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Wallace’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Fourth Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army¹⁶

• Commander:
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow¹⁷
  • Major Henry H. Lesesne¹⁸
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Wallace’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Fourth Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army¹⁹,²⁰

• Commander:
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow (no reason given for absence in November)(took leave of absence starting December 24)(November & December 1864)²¹,²²
  • Major Henry H. Lesesne (November & December 1864)²³,²⁴
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Wallace’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Fourth Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army²⁵,²⁶,²⁷,²⁸,²⁹

• Commander:
  • Captain John C. Evans (January 1865)
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow (January & February 1865)³²,³³
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Wallace’s Brigade | Johnson’s Division | Fourth Corps | Army of Northern Virginia | Confederate Army³⁴,³⁵

• Commander:
  • None listed. (March 1865)³⁶
  • Colonel Henry L. Benbow (captured April 1)(April 1, 1865)³⁷
  • ? (after Benbow was captured)(April 1-2, 1865)³⁸
• Unit Strength:
• Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles³⁹:

• Petersburg [Company F](June 9, 1864)
• Petersburg Siege (June 1864-April 1865)
• The Crater (July 30, 1864)
• Fort Stedman (March 25, 1865)
• Five Forks (April 1, 1865)
• Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865)

3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion)

3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Battalion)

Brief History

The 3rd Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery was also known as the Palmetto Battalion, Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, and White’s Battalion South Carolina Light Artillery). It was organized in November/December of 1861. Its members were from the counties of Allendale, Richland, Charleston, Georgetown, and Kershaw. The battalion started with with three companies and seven others were added at various times, the last about June 21, 1863. known as the Palmetto Battalion Light Artillery, and also White’s Battalion South Carolina Light Artillery. For some time the unit served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, but the companies were frequently detached to serve in other battalions. The 3rd Battalion Light Artillery was dissolved by the end of 1864.

Companies in this Battalion with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in  a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded.  However if you are unsure which company your ancestor  was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Company A – (also known as Furman Artillery and Earle’s Artillery, Campbell’s Battery) – many men from Greenville District (County)

Company B – (also known as Waites’s Light Battery, Captain John Waites’s Company and Columbia Flying Artillery) – many men from Richland District (County)

Company C – (also known as the Wilson Light Artillery, Culpepper’s Light Artilleryand Culpeper Battery) – many men from Darlington District (County); a few men from Williamsburg District (County), Sumter District (County), Marion District (County), Fairfield District (County) and Clarendon District (County)

Company D – (also known as the Wagner Light Artillery and Captain C.E. Kanapaux’s Company and Kanapaux’s Light Artillery) – many men from Charleston District (County)

Company E – (also known as the Yeadon Light Artillery) – many men from  Kershaw District (County); a few men from Darlington District (County), Sumter District (County), Williamsburg District (County) and Marion District(County) – Roster (one man)^[3]

Company F – (also known as the Chestnut Light Artillery) – many men fromCharleston District (County), Colleton District (County), Orangeburg District (County), Beaufort District (County), Newberry District (County), Lexington District (County), Laurens District (County), Abbeville District (County) and Anderson District (County)

Company G – (also known as the DeSaussure Light Artillery and the DePass Light Battery) – many men from Charlesteon District (County), Kershaw District (County), Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County); a few men came from Union District (County), Richland District (County), Lexington District (County) and Pickens District (County) – Roster^[4]

Company H – many men from Greenville District (County)

Company I  – (also known as Bowden’s Battery Light Artillery) – many men from Greenville District (County)

Company K – (also known as Richardson’s Company) – many men from Charleston District (County), Kershaw District (County), Sumter District (County) and Clarendon District (County); a few men also from Richland District (County), Lexington District (County), and Pickens District (County)

Garden’s Company, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Light Battery)

Garden’s Company, South Carolina Light Artillery (Palmetto Light Battery)

Brief History

The Palmetto Light Artillery was raised by Captain Hugh R. Garden in 1862. The men came from the areas of Sumter, Columbia, and Cheraw in South Carolina and fought in the Army of Northern Virginia for the rest of the war.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin[

Men often enlisted in  a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded.  However if you are unsure which company your ancestor  was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Palmetto (South Carolina) Artillery

Confederate Artillery Batteries

“Garden’s Battery”

The marker for the Palmetto (South Carolina) Artillery is southwest of Gettysburg on South Confederate Avenue. (Tour map: South Confederate Avenue) The battery was commanded at Gettysburg by Captain Hugh R. Garden.

From the marker:

Army of Northern Virginia 
Longstreet’s Corps Hood’s Division
Henry’s Battalion Garden’s Battery
The Palmetto Artillery
Two Napoleons Two 10 Pounder Parrotts

July 2. In reserve near here but not engaged.

July 3. In position here and actively engaged in firing upon the Union lines within range. About 5 pm. aided in repelling cavalry under Brig. Gen. Farnsworth which had charged into the valley between this point and Round Top.

July 4. Occupied position near by and west of this until 6 P. M. Then withdrew from the field.

Losses not reported in detail.