Who was the Washington Artillery? The Confederates Elite Artillery "Try Us!"

Описание: The Washington Artillery of New Orleans stands as one of the most storied and enduring military units in American history. Founded on September 7, 1838, as the Washington Artillery Company, the unit began as a local militia in Louisiana, formed to provide artillery support for civic and ceremonial duties. Its early years were marked by discipline, community prestige, and a growing reputation for military professionalism.

During the Mexican–American War, the Washington Artillery served under General Zachary Taylor, earning its regimental flag in August 1846 in recognition of its service. This marked its transition from a ceremonial militia to a combat-tested unit.

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Washington Artillery was mustered into Confederate service on May 26, 1861, becoming the first regular unit of the Confederate Army. It was organized into five companies: four were assigned to the Army of Northern Virginia, and the fifth to the Army of Tennessee.

The battalion saw its first major action at the First Battle of Bull Run, where it fought as a unified artillery force—a tactical innovation that influenced future deployments of artillery in battalion strength.

Throughout the war, the Washington Artillery participated in over sixty major engagements, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shiloh, and Perryville. The 5th Company, under Captain W. Irving Hodgson, fought in the western theater, notably at Shiloh, where it helped capture Union camps and received praise from Confederate generals. In the eastern theater, the unit played a decisive role at Fredericksburg, where its batteries on Marye’s Heights inflicted devastating losses on Union forces.

Despite its battlefield successes, the unit suffered significant casualties. Of the 808 men who served in its ranks, 139 were killed or died of wounds. By the war’s end, only a handful of officers and men remained in the original companies, reflecting the toll of sustained combat.

In the final year of the war, the Washington Artillery was converted to siege artillery, manning heavy guns such as 8-inch Columbiads at Grand Ecore and Alexandria, Louisiana. This shift reflected the changing nature of the conflict and the Confederacy’s increasing reliance on fortified positions and heavy ordnance.

The Washington Artillery’s motto, “Try Us!,” encapsulated its spirit of resilience, professionalism, and battlefield excellence. From its origins as a New Orleans militia to its transformation into a cornerstone of Confederate artillery, the unit left a legacy of tactical innovation, courage, and sacrifice. Its history is preserved in archives, museums, and memorials, including the Louisiana National Guard Museum at Jackson Barracks, which houses extensive records and artifacts from the unit’s service