OVERVIEW OF COMPANY:

The German Light Artillery (SC) traces its heritage back to 1841, when a group of young Germans of Charleston, SC organized a battery of light artillery to join General Sam Houston in Texas. By the time Sam Houston was elected president on December 21, 1841 and hostilities with Mexico ended, the German Artillery Company (name at the time) had not completed its organization.

The German Artillery Company then completed its organization, was officially incorporated by the South Carolina General Assembly on December 16, 1852 for fourteen (14) years, and by the late 1850s was part of the 1st SC Regiment of Artillery (Militia). In 1859, the German Artillery expanded into a two-company battalion. A group of volunteers from the German Artillery mustered into Confederate service on August 22, 1861, for five (5) years. This group became known as the German Artillery Volunteers of Charleston and was assigned as Company H in the Hampton Legion-Infantry Battalion. On November 1, 1861, the unit was provided two (2) Blakely cannons and re-designated as Company B in the newly-created Hampton Legion-Artillery Battalion, led by newly-promoted Maj. Stephen D. Lee. On June 22, 1862, the company was removed from Hampton Legion and assigned to Brig. Gen. William D. Pender's (NC) Brigade for a short duration. On July 28, 1862, the company was re-assigned to Brig. Gen. John B. Hood's (TX) Brigade as the German Light Artillery (SC) (aka Capt. W.K. Bachman's Company, Artillery (SC)); this unit.

The remainder of the original two-company battalion was called the German Artillery Battalion (SC). These three (3) units all started from the earlier Militia unit, but never served together. However, all three (3) units served separately during the last few months of the Carolinas Campaign, each assigned to a different battalion.

The German Light Artillery (SC), aka Capt. W.K. Bachman's Company, Artillery (SC) [this Company] was removed from Hampton Legion during the middle of the Seven Days' Battles (VA), on June 22, 1862, in Henrico County, VA. The men were mostly from Charleston, SC, however, by the time the Company became an Independent Artillery Company, it attracted conscripts from Anderson, Barnwell, Beaufort, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Edgefield, Greenville, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, Marion, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, and Union Districts. Even though the men had originally enlisted for the duration of the war, the German Light Artillery (SC) re-enlisted "for the war" in February of 1864.

The Company was engaged at Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm (most likely), Warrenton Springs, and at 2nd Manassas, all in in Virginia. It was in the Maryland Campaign and involved at Boonsboro Gap (aka South Mountain), Sharpsburg, then Gettysburg, PA. At Gettysburg, the Company accompanied the infantrymen from Maj. Gen. John B. Hood's (TX) Division as they charged Round Top, and it fought again the next day when it repulsed Capt. Elon J. Farnsworth's charge. As shown above, the Company was given a special marker for their actions at Gettysburg, PA. Since the Company lost so many men at Gettysburg, PA, commanders decided it should return to South Carolina to restore its numbers and to re-equip.

The Charleston Mercury, dated October 10, 1863, reported that the Company had recently returned to Charleston, SC. Later that same month, it was stationed at Pocotaligo, SC, and by November 1, 1863, it was in Greenville, SC, where it remained until November 20th, when it left for Branchville, in Orangeburg District, for the rest of the month. The Company was ordered back to Charleston on December 2nd, and immediately to Pocotaligo on December 3rd. It was involved in the Skirmish at Port Royal Ferry on March 11, 1864.

The German Light Artillery (SC) remained in the vicinity of Pocotaligo and McPhersonville in Beaufort District until it was ordered back to Charleston in late October of 1864. In November and December of 1864 it assisted in the defense of Savannah, GA, and was engaged at the Battle of Tullifinny, SC on December 7-8, 1864. It soon moved back closer to Charleston, SC—on December 20, 1864.

In late February of 1865, this Company was temporarily attached to Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton, III's (SC) Cavalry Corps, which the Company followed from South Carolina into North Carolina during the latter part of the Carolinas Campaign.

The German Light Infantry (SC) was officially surrendered with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's (VA) Army of Tennessee on April 26, 1865 at Bennett's Place, near Durham, NC. However, the unit was ordered to escort Brig. Gen. James Conner (SC), who was attempting to rejoin his command in Camden, SC. The Battery's ultimate goal was to keep marching westward to join the Trans-Mississippi Department and continue the struggle from there, however, the men soon realized that the war was lost. The Battery was disbanded and furloughed at Camden, SC, and the men were paroled at Augusta, GA in May of 1865. This is why there are no muster rolls provided to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (VA) at Bennett's Place, NC.

COMMANDING OFFICER:

William Kunhardt Bachman (1830-1901) enlisted on August 22, 1861 as the Company was assigned to Hampton Legion. He was the Company's only Captain, but on December 28, 1864 he was given command of a three-battery battalion—there is no mention that he was ever promoted from Captain. 1st Lt. James Simons, Jr. led the company when Capt. Bachman was absent. As described above, Capt. Bachman and his Company were included in the official surrender with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (VA) on April 26, 1865, while they were heading to Camden, SC.

BRIGADE AFFILIATIONS:

The German Light Artillery (SC) initially served in Walker's Artillery Battalion in June of 1862, but was almost immediately re-assigned to Brig. Gen. William D. Pender's (NC) Brigade around June 22, 1862. A month later, on July 28, 1862, the Company was re-assigned to Brig. Gen. John. B. Hood's (TX) Brigade. Until after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Company, along with the Palmetto Light Battery (SC), served in Brig. Gen. Robert A. Toombs's (GA) Brigade within (now) Maj. Gen. John B. Hood's (TX) Division. The Company was successively attached to Artillery Battalions commanded by B.W. Frobel, M.W. Henry, and J.C. Haskell.

From October of 1863 to the end of the war, the Company served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

From November 20 to December 28, 1864, the Company was assigned to Maj. Gen. LaFayette McLaws's (GA) Division, under Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee's (GA) Corps.

On December 28, 1864, this Company, with Kanapaux's Battery and DePass's Battery were placed into a newly-created Artillery Battalion, with Capt. William K. Bachman named as the Battalion Commander.

By January 31, 1865, this Company and DePass's Battery was part of Brig. Gen. Hugh W. Mercer's (GA) Brigade, who was soon captured at Savannah, GA.

In late February of 1865, this Company was temporarily attached to Lt. Gen. Wade Hampton, III's (SC) Cavalry Corps, which the Company followed from South Carolina into North Carolina during the latter part of the Carolinas Campaign.

KEY ENGAGEMENTS:

See below.

Lieutenants' names come from https://batsonsm.tripod.com/b/arba1.html.