History Of Key's Battery

Key’s battery started out in Arkansas as Helena Light Artillery, with four 12 lb howitzers, including one from the Arkansas Military Institute.  The battery was assigned to the Army of Tennessee under Patrick Cleburne.  They fought in several notable battles including; Shiloh, Perryville,  Murfreesborough , Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Nashville, and Selma.  Several times they were cited for their bravery in battle.  On September 1, 1864 all but 12 men of the battery were captured, along with the flag shown above, at Jonesboro, GA (siege of Atlanta) by the 3rd Ohio Volunteers (1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Company E).  Following this, the remainder of Key’s Battery followed Hood into Tennessee and fought in the battle of Nashville.  After the defeat at Nashville and the retreat from Tennessee, the battery was split.  Captain Key, with half of the battery was assigned to protect the city of Macon, GA and to recruit more soldiers. They were captured when the city fell.  The remaining portion went on to fight at Selma, where they were captured.