Bankhead's Battery Co. "B" 1st Tennessee Light Artillery C.S.A.

Bankhead's Battery 

Was originally formed in May 1861 at Memphis, Tennessee, by Smith P. Bankhead, an attorney, and a group of other Memphians. It started out at Ft. Pillow, manning a battery of heavy artillery. It returned to Memphis and was reformed as a light artillery unit and equipped with four pieces and sent to New Madrid, Missouri in August 1861. In April 1862, Bankhead's Battery served at the Battle of Shiloh with the Army of Mississippi. During the battle Bankhead's Battery lost one gun but captured seven. Capt. Bankhead was promoted to Major and moved up in rank and Capt. Scott took command around July 1, 1862, and commanded Scott's Battery until November 25, 1863; at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, Scott's Battery was overrun by Union forces and as they stood to their guns, many were killed or wounded and the few that escaped were not enough to form a new battery, so they were sent to fill in other artillery units. The present Bankhead's Battery was incorporated May 1, 1075, by Memphis attorney Tarry Beasley, using an original Confederate cannon, a 12 cast iron Howitzer, manufactured in Richmond, Virginia, by the Tredegar Foundry; subsequently, a 6 pounder iron smooth bore made at the Noble Bros. Foundry in Rome Georgia, in November 1861 was acquired.

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