| Dement's Battery |
~ The First Maryland Artillery ~
In June of 1861, a group of young men from the Eastern Shore, Baltimore City and Southern Maryland, formed a
volunteer company of Cavalry, furnishing their own horses. The commanding officer was to be Lieutenant Walter
Hanson Jenifer of Charles County, a West Point graduate, who like many resigned his commission in the U.S.
Army to join the fight against Northern Aggression. While waiting in Fredericksburg for Jenifer to arrive, R.
Snowden Andrews and a group of Marylanders arrived and suggested forming an artillery battery. This was
accepted and Andrews became the Captain and William F. Dement the First Lieutenant. They enlisted 145 men
into what was called the First Maryland Flying Artillery. The battery was mustered into service in Richmond,
Virginia, on July 10, 1861 as the First Maryland Artillery.
In June of 1862 after the Battle of Mechanicsville, Dement was promoted to Captain. He assumed command of the
battery and was later to command a reputation that put him second to no other artillery command in service. On
April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse, the First Maryland Artillery surrendered.
volunteer company of Cavalry, furnishing their own horses. The commanding officer was to be Lieutenant Walter
Hanson Jenifer of Charles County, a West Point graduate, who like many resigned his commission in the U.S.
Army to join the fight against Northern Aggression. While waiting in Fredericksburg for Jenifer to arrive, R.
Snowden Andrews and a group of Marylanders arrived and suggested forming an artillery battery. This was
accepted and Andrews became the Captain and William F. Dement the First Lieutenant. They enlisted 145 men
into what was called the First Maryland Flying Artillery. The battery was mustered into service in Richmond,
Virginia, on July 10, 1861 as the First Maryland Artillery.
In June of 1862 after the Battle of Mechanicsville, Dement was promoted to Captain. He assumed command of the
battery and was later to command a reputation that put him second to no other artillery command in service. On
April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse, the First Maryland Artillery surrendered.
To honor Captain Dement and his Artillery Battery, several members of the Company H, 1st Maryland Infantry have
resurrected the artillery unit. Under the direction of our own Leo Scillia, Dement's Battery appears when the
occasion dictates. The Battery often appears at many of the school Living History presentations and patriotic
celebrations that the 1st Maryland participates in. The firing of the cannon is often the highlight of any appearance
made by the company.
resurrected the artillery unit. Under the direction of our own Leo Scillia, Dement's Battery appears when the
occasion dictates. The Battery often appears at many of the school Living History presentations and patriotic
celebrations that the 1st Maryland participates in. The firing of the cannon is often the highlight of any appearance
made by the company.
The cannon, owned by Mr. Scillia is a 3/4 scale James Gun. The gun has been affectionately named "Barker",
after one of our esteemed 1st Maryland reenactors; Charles Barker.
after one of our esteemed 1st Maryland reenactors; Charles Barker.
| Dement's Battery Thomaston, CT 2002 |
