A Brief History of the Danville Artillery Battery
Formed originally in Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia under command of Captain Lindsay M. Shumaker, the Danville Artillery came into
service April 22, 1861. Receiving their baptism of fire in the unsuccessful West Virginia Campaign and dealing with an embarrassing internal
conflict of their own. Reorganized on April 21, 1862 with Captain George W. Wooding as captain, the battery trudged on to brighter days of
victory with Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. From the Valley, the battery followed Jackson through another year of battles.
Following the action at Sharpsburg, the ranks of the battery were revitalized when the men and equipment of the disbanded Eighth Star New
Market Artillery, joined the ranks. Following the reorganization, the battery was in action again at Fredericksburg, where Captain Wooding
was killed, and up to Jackson's last great tactical feat at Chancellorsville. Now under the command of Robert S. Rice, the battery continued
to suffer heavier casualties with each battle. Serving in Shumaker's and McIntosh's Battalions of Artillery, the battery closed out its days
under the command of Captain Berryman Z. Price. A few men were on the rolls of those who surrendered at Appomattox in April, 1865.
Source: "The Danville, Eigth Star New Market and Dixie Artillery" by Robert H. Moore II
Danville Light Artillery was organized at Danville, Virginia, during April, 1861, with men from Pittsylvania County. It participated in
Lee's Cheat Mountain Campaign and Jackson's Valley operations, then served with L.M. Shumaker's and D.G. McIntosh's Battalion, Army of Northern
Virginia. The battery took an active part in the campaigns of the army from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, was involved in the Petersburg
siege south of the James River, and ended the war at Appomattox. It reported 1 killed and 3 wounded at Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill, had 2
killed and 3 wounded during the Maryland Campaign, and lost 13 wounded at Fredericksburg. The unit had 3 wounded of the 114 engaged at Gettysburg
and 8 wounded during the Briscoe Campaign. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered 4 officers and 79 men. Captains Berryman Z. Price, R. Sidney Rice,
Lindsay M. Shumaker, and George W. Wooding were it's commanders.
Source: "Units of the Confederate State Army" by Joseph H. Crute, Jr.
The current Danville Artillery Battery has been in existence since 2002, with original unit members serving in another battery from 2001.