The following is from an e-mail message I received from a person who has been doing research on the Sumter (Ga.) Artillery Battalion:

The Sumter Artillery Battalion held a number of positions during the Seige of Petersburg. In fact, individual batteries were even divided at times. Most notably, parts of the battalion were positioned north of the Appomattox River during the early part of the seige (near the Archer House and Dunlop's Farm), and were later deployed from the Petersburg defenses for the battle at Reams' Station.

The Sumter Artillery Battalion (11th Georgia) was commanded by Major John Lane (Colonel Allen Cutts was on furlough in Americus, GA at the end of the war due to illness). The Battalion was comprised of three batteries commanded by Captain Hugh Ross (A), Captain George Patterson (B), and Captain John Wingfield (C).

As for their positions on April 2, 1865, research seems to indicate the following:

1) Ross's battery occupied Fort Mahone.

2) Patterson's battery occupied Battery 27 and their guns were captured when the position was overrun by Hartranft's Division.

3) Wingfield's battery was divided into three sections, with two guns at Battery 38, two guns at Battery 39, and two guns positioned near the Tannehill House.

4) In October 1864, extra artillery drivers from each of these batteries (16 from Ross, 10 from Patterson, and 14 from Wingfield) were armed with muskets and assigned to defend Fort Gregg. This detachment served as infantry in defending the fort on April 2.

Hope you find this helpful.

Brad Coker
Columbia, Maryland