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The Richmond Otey Battery was organized on 14 March 1862 and mustered into Confederate Service on 22 March 1862. The first commander of the battery was Captain George Gaston Otey after whom the battery was named. The reason for the addition of Richmond to the battery name is that there was another battery from Staunton commanded by Captain C. C. Otey which was called the Otey battery so the company from Richmond was officially named the Richmond Otey battery

We are fortunate that a number of images of exist, together with a number of different uniforms worn by both offiers and enlisted men of the battery. The initial uniform worn by the battery is shown in the illustration at right. The unusual points about this uniform are the eight button jacket, the red trim to collar, shoulder tabs and sleeves together with the trimmed pocket on the left fromnt of the jacket.

The same style of jacket was also worn by Captain G. G. Otey, and is today in the Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA. together with his kepi. These items are illustrated below. Captain Otey's jacket is unusual in that it also has a red trimmed pocket on the left front and the sleeve braid is red instead of the regulation gold.

Captain Otey advertised in the Richmond (VA), Daily Dispatch, on a number of occasions, mostly to recruit more men to fill up the battery, but also to recruit a bugler and to specify the items that recruits would need to bring with them. The items on the list are as follows:-

2 woolen Overshirts; 2 Overshirts, colored; 2 pair good Drawers; 2 pair woolen Socks; 1 pair Shoes or Boots - only one pair; 2 silk Hankerchiefs; 2 Towels; Tin Plate Tin Cup, (handle rivetted on); Knife and Fork; 2 Towels; Comb, Needles, Buttons etc; Piece of Oilcloth or Oilcloth Blanket;

We are fortunate that a further two jackets and a cap worn by W.S.Pilcher also exist. A photograpgh of W. S. Pilcher wearing the first jacket and cap are shown at right. The jacket is made of light blue grey material, and could almost be described as sky blue. The lack of wear to the jacket suggests that it was kept for best whereas the next jacket is well worn on the shoulder suggesting that this jacket was used for everyday use. This jacket appears to be a Richmond Type III made from dark blue grey material imported from England, the use of wooden buttons suggest that this jacket was issued in late 1864. The following images curtesy of the National Park Sevice, Appomattox.

To read about the service history of the Richmond Otey Battery goto http://oteybattery.tripod.com/id2.html

To be continued.