Origins of Farris' Battery "Clark's Artillery"
Photograph by Søren D. Johansen ©
Farris' Battery Background
Clark Light Artillery was organized in January, 1862 as a light artillery company of the Missouri State Guard. It transferred to Confederate service in February. Later it moved east of the Mississippi River and in September had 71 men present for duty.
The unit fought at Iuka, Corinth, and Hatchie's Bridge, then was attached to the Cavalry Division, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Under this command it was involved in various conflicts in Mississippi until the spring of 1864. At that time it joined the Army of Tennessee.
After fighting in the Atlanta Campaign, the battery served in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. It was then dismounted and sent to Meridian, Mississippi, to be refitted, but it's not clear if this was accomplished.
The battery probably disbanded in the early spring of 1865. Captain Houston King was in command.
Command
1st Commanded by Capt. Samuel Churchill Clark, grandson of Gen. William Clark of Lewis & Clark expedition. This unit had earlier saw action as Clark's Artillery Battery of the 4th Division, Missouri State Guard. It had served with Gen. Price at battles of Wilson's Creek and Lexington.
After Capt. Clark's death at Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), Captains James L. Farris, Houston King and William Clark Kennerly (Capt. Churchill Clark's cousin) commanded the battery. This unit was composed primarily of St. Louis residents.
County list for Missouri State Guard divisions
The Guard's divisions were based on congressional districts and composed of the following counties:[1] (Commanders are listed in parentheses)
First District/First Division:
St Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Madison, Iron, Wayne, Stoddard, Scott, Mississippi, New Madrid, Butler, Dunklin, and Pemiscot. (Nathaniel W. Watkins, M. Jeff Thompson)
Second District/Second Division:
Scotland, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Shelby, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, Pike, Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, Lincoln, Warren, and St. Charles. (Thomas A. Harris, Martin E. Green)
Third District/Third Division:
Putnam, Schuyler,, Sullivan, Adair, Linn, Macon, Chariton, Randolph, Howard, and Boone. (John B. Clark, Sr.)
Fourth District/Fourth Division:
Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, De Kalb, Daviess, Livingston, Clinton, Caldwell, Ray, Carroll, and Worth. (William Y. Slack)
Fifth District/Fifth Division:
Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, Andrew, Buchanan, Platte, and Clay. (Alexander E. Steen, Col. James P. Saunders)
Sixth District/Sixth Division:
Saline, Pettis, Cooper, Moniteau, Cole, Osage, Gasconade, Maries, Miller, Morgan, Camden, Pulaski, and Phelps. (Mosby Parsons)
Seventh District/Seventh Division:
Dallas, Laclede, Texas, Dent, Reynolds, Shannon, Wright, Webster, Greene, Christian, Stone, Taney, Douglas, Ozark, Howell, Oregon, Carter, and Ripley. (James H. McBride)
Eighth District/Eighth Division:
Jackson, Lafayette, Cass, Johnson, Bates, Henry, Benton, Hickory, Polk, St. Calir, Vernon, Cedar, Dade, Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, Newton, McDonald, and Barry. (James S. Rains)
Ninth District/Ninth Division:
St. Louis, Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and Crawford. (Never formally organized following the Camp Jackson Affair, units served with other commands.) (Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr., Daniel M. Frost)