The Purcell Artillery, a light artillery company, was established on April 20, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia largely through the efforts of Daniel Hagerty. The battery was named for John Purcell, a wealthy Richmond merchant who financed much of its equipment. The first Captain was Reuben Lindsay Walker, a class of 1845 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In civilian life Walker was a Civil Engineer and a planter. Daniel Hagerty was elected First Lieutenant in the newly formed battery. Elected as Second Lieutenant was William Ransom Johnson Pegram who had been detailed to the battery as a drillmaster. Lieutenant Pegram would later become the commander of Purcell's Battery and considered to be one of the Confederacy's most distinguished artillerists.
Purcell's Battery served with distinction in the Army of the Northerm Virginia throughout the war and fought in numerous battles and skirmishes. Willie Pegram, who had by then become a colonel, was mortally wounded on April 1, 1865 at the Battle of Five Forks. Later that month, when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Purcell's Battery was not among the Confederate soldiers paroled. It is presumed that it reached Lynchburg, Virginia and there cut down its carriages, buried its guns, and disbanded.
The Richmond Daily Dispatch: July 24, 1862
Purcell Battery --This splendid artillery corps left its encampment at the Fair Grounds, near this city, yesterday, and took up its line of march for the army. It initiated the recent actions before Richmond, and out of 90 members carried into action, brought out 30 alive and unwounded. They have been recruiting for several weeks past. They have now, as formerly, splendid guns, and are prepared again to do good service.
If you are a descendant or family member of a soldier of Purcell's Battery and would like to be listed on the Descendants Roll Call, please send an e-mail by clicking the icon below. Please Type "Purcell's Battery" in the subject line and provide details in the message.
Purcell's Battery
Descendants Roll Call
Important Links
Two Brothers: One North, One South
by David H. Jones
The Final Battles of the Petersburg
Campaign by A. Wilson Greene
Pamplin Historical Park & National
Museum of the Civil War Soldier
Return to Petersburg Breakthrough.Org
Copyright 2009-2010. PetersburgBreakthrough.Org. Updated 22 August 2010
