X Marks the Spot: The Fate of Two Confederate Artillerymen in the Second Richmond Howitzers

X Marks the Spot and courageous and rose steadily in rank. Put in charge of the First Virginia Artillery battalion, he led it with distinction in the battles of Antietam (Sharpsburg) and Fredericksburg. At Chancellorsville, Brown served as acting chief of artillery in Stonewall Jackson’s corps. When the army was reorganized just prior to the Gettysburg campaign, Colonel Brown was chosen as chief of artillery for the Second Corps. As such he reported directly to the army’s overall artillery chief, Brig. Gen. William N. Pendleton. Brown’s old battalion was assigned to Capt. Willis Dance.2 Willis Jeff erson Dance was born on June 21, 1821, in Powhatan County, Virginia. Educated at HampdenSydney College, as well as the University of Virginia (1837– 39), he established a law practice near Powhatan Courthouse, where his father had served as clerk. With the war’s arrival, Dance raised a company known as the Powhatan Light Artillery, which was attached to Brown’s battalion.3 When Captain Dance was assigned command of the battalion in the spring of 1863, some grumbling arose in the ranks. In a private letter home, Quartermaster Sgt. William Y. Mordecai referred to him as an “old nanny.”4 Yet Dance apparently met the expectations of his superiors— although he aft erward reverted back to command of his battery, he was entrusted to lead the battalion on future occasions when the need arose.