John C Rigdon

Historical Sketch And Roster Of The South Carolina Fickling's Company Artillery John C Rigdon

Capt. Fickling's Co. Artillery (Brooks Light Artillery) was formed during the winter of 1861 and 1862 from Co. K, "Brooks Guards", of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment. The men came from Charleston and the Pickens Districts. On October 17, 1862, 61 members of this company transferred to organize an artillery battery under Captain Andrew Burnett Rhett. He resigned his infantry commission at regimental reorganization May 13, 1862 to become captain of Rhett's Battery, later known as Fickling's Artillery. The name Brooks originally came from the name of Co. K "Brooks Guards". It was originally armed with two 6-lb. Smoothbores, one 12-lb. Napoleon, and one 12-lb. Howitzer.

It soon moved to Virginia and was assigned to Stephen Dill Lee's, Edward Porter Alexander's, and Frank Huger's Battalion of Artillery. The unit fought with the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, it was armed with four 12-lb. Howitzers. It was surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9, 1865.