The 1st Rhode Island Battery was organized by Colonel
Samuel G. Arnold at the
Benefit Street Arsenal in Providence for three months' service in April 1861. It was organized from the
Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, a unit of the Rhode Island Militia. It was commanded by Captain
Charles Henry Tompkins (and later Colonel and Brevet General). The Battery left Rhode Island for
Jersey City, New Jersey on April 18, 1861, then moved to
Easton, Pennsylvania on April 19, and to
Washington, D.C., on April 27. It performed duty in the defense of that city until June 9. It was mustered into Federal service May 2, and attached to Hunter's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia. It moved to
Williamsport, Maryland, June 9–15, and returned to Washington June 17–20, and then marched to Williamsport July 9–13, and to
Martinsburg, WV. It was then attached to Thomes' Brigade, Patterson's Army and marched to Bunker Hill, VA, and saw action there on July 15. The Battery moved to Charlestown July 17, and to Harper's Ferry July 22 and then moved to
Sandy Hook, New Jersey and then to
Providence, RI, July 29–31. It was mustered out of service on August 2, 1861. ==See also==