The battery was organized at
Mound City,
Kansas and mustered in for a three years on July 24, 1861, under the command of
Captain Thomas Moonlight. This unit was formed from artillery companies that were raised for the 3rd Kansas Infantry and 4th Kansas Infantry. Because both regiments did not complete organization, recruits to the artillery were reassigned and consolidated by authority of Special Orders No. 42, District of Kansas, dated April 24, 1862. The 1st Kansas Battery's organization was effected about June l, 1862. A previous attempt had been made to transfer Captain Bickerton's Artillery Company of the 3rd Kansas Infantry to the
1st Kansas Infantry as an artillery organization, and to break up Captain Thomas Moonlight's Artillery Company of the 4th Kansas Infantry and distribute it among the companies of the same regiment as infantry. However, the recruits were unhappy with this idea and on advice from
Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis the order was modified and the consolidation was made in accordance with Special Orders No. 42. The battery was attached to
Department of Kansas to August 1862. 2nd Brigade, Department of Kansas, to October 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division,
Army of the Frontier,
Department of the Missouri, to February 1863. District of Rolla, Department of the Missouri, to June 1863. District of Columbus, Kentucky, 6th Division,
XVI Corps,
Department of the Tennessee, to November 1863. Defenses of the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad, District of Nashville,
Department of the Cumberland, and 2nd Brigade, 4th Division,
XX Corps, Department of the Cumberland, to November 1864. 2nd Colored Brigade, District of the Etowah, Department of the Cumberland, to January 1865. Reserve Artillery, District of Nashville, Department of the Cumberland, to July 1865. The 1st Kansas Battery mustered out of service on July 17, 1865. ==Detailed service==