Guide to Missouri Confederate Units 1861-1865
By James E. McGhee

1st Field Battery (Roberts’/Ruffner’s)

CAPTAINS: Westley F. Roberts, resigned January 6, 1863; Samuel T. Ruffner
This battery organized near Van Buren, Arkansas, about September 7, 1862, under the command of Captain Westley F. Roberts. In October the battery acquired two 12-pounder James rifles captured from the enemy at Lone Jack, Missouri, the previous August, and two bronze 6-pounder smoothbores for its armament. The battery members, largely untrained in artillery matters, had limited time to drill before experiencing their first engagement at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on December 7. Assigned to Colonel Robert G. Shaver’s Arkansas infantry brigade at the battle, the battery initially deployed with the reserve to defend against attacks on the flank or rear.
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