Historical Sketch and Roster of the Kentucky Light Artillery Independent Battery B

The men of Battery or Hewitt’s Battery were recruited by Capt. Hewitt for infantry service, but as an artillery company was needed, it was drilled for that service, and was mustered as such by Gen. Thomas October 8, 1861. At that early period of the war it was under Gen. Thomas, and was used in the parts of the state about Somerset, Columbia and toward Cumberland river. Technically this unit was the Kentucky 3rd Artillery Regiment, Company B, but it was generally known as an independent Battery. The career of this battery was most useful and honorable, beginning with Gen. Thomas, when he was contending with Zollicoffer’s forces in Eastern Kentucky, it faithfully obeyed every order and bravely discharged every duty it was called upon to perform for full three years of active field service. While the Battery was at Murfeesboro, the place was attacked by Forrest, and a part of the Federal forces, was captured. At this time Battery B lost two guns. The battery fired four hundred and ninety three rounds.