"Volunteer artillery in the Mexican War?" Topic

Hello,
Did any volunteer units fight in the Mexican War as artillery? The only volunteers that I have located that identified themselves as artillery were the Louisiana Washington Artillery, but I think they served as infantry.

I have a reference to the Bataillon d'Artillerie d'Orleans, and a verbal description of the unit's colors (represented in the Mexican War Flags Collection), but I cannot guarantee this is not the same as the "Louisiana Washington Artillery." The latter was also known as "The Native American Artillery," so might have been known by the former name as well.

Nor can I state with authority if either unit (if not the same) actually had its own guns and saw action with them.

While most of the US Regular Artillery saw service as Red Leg Infantry during the war, this rare Volunteer Artillery unit might have as well.

I, too, would welcome any other information he someone has on this.

TVAG

Their re-enactment page has a brief history and it mentions that they served in 1845 for three months service, but doesn't mention if they went with their guns. They returned in 1846 and served an additional three months, but as infantry (Co A) in the Washington Regiment.

link

A volunteer artillery battalion under Major Meriwether Lewis Clark was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. It consisted of two batteries, Capt. Richard Weightman's and Capt. Woldemar Fischer's. The battalion took part in Col. Stephen W. Kearny's occupation of New Mexico. Weightman's Battery then accompanied Col. Alexander Doniphan's regiment of Missouri Mounted Riflemen in the invasion of Northern Mexico and fought at the battle of Sacramento. Fischer's Battery remained in Santa Fe and took part in the suppression of the so-called Taos Rebellion. Clark's battalion wore blue uniforms trimmed red, modeled on the regular artillery uniform.

Thanks for that tip William Warner. Is it mentioned whether they fought as artillery or as infantry. If artillery, is there any mention of their equipment? Guns?

They fought as artillery. At the Battle of Sacramento Capt. Weightman charged with his guns and unlimbered within fifty yards of the Mexican entrenchments to support the advance of Doniphan's riflemen.

Both batteries were equipped by the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, where the expedition was organized. They were given the standard compliment of four 6-pdr guns and two 12-pdr howitzers. Weightman's Battery was particularly well drilled and disciplined.

Thanks very much!