Battery A — Empire Battery — Capt. Thomas H. Bates, under authority from the War Department, dated July 31, 1861, recruited it principally at Utica, Edmeston, Little Falls, Phoenix, Clinton, Burlington, South Brookfield, New Berlin, Jordan, Sauquoit, Bridgewater and Sherburne. It was mustered in the United States service at Utica, September 12, 1861, and served at and near Washington, D. C, from November, 1861; in the Artillery Reserve, Army of Potomac, from February, 1862; in Casey's Division, 4th Corps, from March, 1862; the enlisted men were transferred to Batteries D and H, 1st Artillery, and to the 7th and 8th Batteries June 15, 1862, and the Captain returned to the State to reorganize the battery. The new battery was recruited principally at Utica, and served in the 22d Corps, at the Artillery Camp of Instruction near Washington, D. C., from February 1, 1863; in the Department of the Susquehanna and Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Allegheny City, etc., from June 4, 1863. It was mustered out and honorably discharged under Captain Bates, June 28, 1865, at Elmira.