3rd US Colored Heavy Artillery

OVERVIEW: Organized from 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery (African Descent). Designated 2nd United States Colored Heavy Artillery March 11, 1864, and 3rd Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864. Attached to District of Memphis, Tenn., Dept. of Tennessee, to June, 1864. Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to July, 1865. 2nd Infantry Brigade, District of West Tennessee, to September, 1865. District of West Tennessee to April, 1866.

Predecessor unit: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS. 1st REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY (AFRICAN DESCENT). Organized at Memphis, Tenn., June, 1863. Attached to 1st Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to April, 1864. Post and garrison duty at Memphis, and at Fort Pickering, Defences of Memphis, June, 1863, to April, 1864. Designation changed to 3rd United States Colored Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864

SERVICE: Served as garrison at Fort Pickering, and in Defences of Memphis, Tenn., and in District of West Tennessee till April, 1866. Mustered out April 30, 1866.

Thirteen Williamson County men served in the 3rd US Colored Heavy Artillery:

• • • • Company A

        • Pvt. Samuel Allen was born around 1842 in Williamson County. He enlisted when he was 21 years old on September 10, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis, Tennessee.  He was detailed to the Quartermaster’s Department in West Tennessee. On January 28, 1865, while he was still in the Army he married Sylvia Allen in a ceremony performed by the Freedmen's Bureau in Memphis.  He mustered out April 30, 1866 in Memphis.  His paver was sponsored by Roger Jones.

      • Company B

        • Cpl. USA (Asa) Harris was born around 1832 in Williamson County. He enlisted when he was 31 years old  when he enlisted on June 5, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis. He was a carpenter. He was detailed in the ordinance department. Later, he was on daily duty as the company cook. From Oct 1865 to Feb. 1866 he was on daily duty as a carpenter building barracks. On April 30, 1866 he mustered out in Memphis. His paver was sponsored by Greg Walker.

        • Pvt. Ellick Pillard (Alex Pollard?) was born around 1845 in Williamson County. He was 18 years old when he enlisted on June 5, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis. On April 30, 1866 he mustered out in Memphis.

      • Company D

        • Pvt. Samuel Horton was born around 1839 in Williamson County. He was 26 years old when he enlisted on January 1, 1865 in Memphis. On April 30, 1866 he mustered out in Memphis.

        • Pvt. Burns McLemore was born around 1821 in Williamson County. He was 44 years old when he enlisted in the 88th US Colored Infantry (New). He was then transferreed to the 3rd US Colored Heavy Artillery on January 30, 1865 in Memphis. On April 30, 1866 he mustered out in Memphis.

      • Company E 

        • Pvt. Thomas Buford (spelled Beauford) was born around 1845 in Williamson County. He was 18 years old when he enlisted on July 31, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis. He was a farmer. On August 28, 1864 he was detailed as orderly at Ft. Pickering. On Jan. 22, 1866 on detached duty in escort and orderly duty; April 30, 1866 mustered out in Memphis. He settled in Memphis and married. He opened a Freedmen's Bank Account there in 1868 (see below). His parents and siblings remained in Williamson County.

      • Company G 

        • Cpl. John Barnes was born around 1839 near Franklin in Williamson County. Billy Barnes and his brother John enslaved him and his mother Minerva. His father was Arch Hunter. When he was 24, Barnes enlisted on July 25, 1863, in Corinth, Mississippi. He was a farmer. On September 6, 1865 he was married to his long-time wife Betsy Wilson "under the flag" by a military chaplain. In January 1866 he was on duty as a guard of the post hospital. In February 1866, he was on detached duty in Memphis. On April 30, 1866, he was mustered out in Memphis. He later received a pension for his service.  Following the death of his wife, he moved to a Soldiers Home in Vermillion, Illinois. He died there on November 15, 1916 and was buried in the National Cemetery.

        • Pvt. Osmond Barnes was born around 1839 in Williamson County. He was 24 years old when he enlisted on July 25, 1863 in Jackson, Tennessee. He was a farmer. April 30, 1866 mustered out Memphis. After the war he lived in Memphis.

      • Company I 

        • Pvt. Abram Dickinson was born around 1832 in Williamson County. He was 33 years old when he enlisted on July 25, 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee. Transferred from 88th USCI (New), Co E; Jan. 82, 1866 discharged for disability at Ft. Pickering, Memphis; cause of disability – phthisis pulmonalis (tuberculosis) contracted in line of duty – not fit for disability corp – degree of disability was total. Pvt. Dickinson's paver was sponsored by an anonymous donor. 

      • Company K

        • Littleton Dodson (Dolson?) was born around 1817 in Williamson County. He was 46 years old when he enlisted on November 18, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis, Tennessee.  Deserted Feb. 11, 1864 at Ft. Pickering

        • Pvt. John Jordan was born around 1825 in Williamson County. He was 38 years old when he enlisted on November 18, 1863 at Ft. Pickering in Memphis, Tennessee. Died Nov. 7, 1864 in Regimental Hospital at Ft. Pickering in Memphis of disease. His name appears upon the Roll of Honor at the Mississippi River National Cemetery in Memphis.

        • Pvt. Moses Prophet was born around 1846 in Williamson County. He was 17 years old when he enlisted on Apr 6, 1864, at Ft. Pickering in Memphis, Tennessee.  Jan. 21, 1864 deserted Ft. Pickering; returned July 7, 1864; In a letter Captain Baker states that Moses Prophet was enticed away by his former employer, “them telling him that he could get much better pay as a laborer in the City than as a Soldier and that the authorities would not try to have him arrested.” As a result he was allowed to return with loss of all pay. However, he deserted again Sept. 29, 1865.

      • Company M 

        • Pierson Crockett was born around 1817 in Williamson County. He was 46 years old when he enlisted on December 22, 1863, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Feb. 15, 1864 a letter from the surgeon to Col. Kappner stating that he thought Pierson should be allowed to stay in Memphis with his friends for a few days since he would not be fit for duty for several days. "He seems to be a man upon whose word could be relied upon."  Evidently this request was not granted because he subsequently deserted March 12, 1864 from Ft. Pickering; dropped from Company rolls April 1, 1864.

Resources:

• Battle Unit Details

• Approved Pension Applications For Men From This Regiment

  • Approved Pension File for Sallie Hendricks, Widow of Private Andrew Hendricks, Company H, 3rd U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-411840)

  • Approved Pension File for Mary J. Queen, Widow of Corporal Lewis Queen, Company C, 5th U.S. Colored Troops Cavalry Regiment (WC-409215)

  • Approved Pension File for Bettie Broomer, Widow of Private Dabney Broomer, Company H, 3rd U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-953959)

  • Approved Pension File for Eva Lewis, Widow of Private Simon Lewis, Company H, 3rd U.S. Colored Troops Heavy Artillery Regiment (WC-747839)

  • Approved Pension Application File for Viney Gregsby, Widow of Enoch Gregsby, Company B, 3rd Tennessee USC Heavy Artillery Regiment (Application No. WC83058)

  • Approved Pension Application File for Dependents of Frank Picket, Company G, 3rd USCT Heavy Artillery Regiment (Application No. WC107092)

  • Approved Pension Application File for Dependents of James Stricklin, Company I, 3rd USCT Heavy Artillery Regiment (Application No. WC109827)

  • Approved Pension Application File for Martha Suratt, Widow of Lovelace Suratt, Company I, 3rd USCT Heavy Artillery Regiment (Application No. WC112057)