1st Heavy Artillery Regiment was organized at Galveston, Texas, during the winter of 1861-1862
using the 3rd Texas Artillery Battalion as its nucleus. The unit served in the Trans-Mississippi
Department primarily at Galveston and along the upper Texas coast. Company F was stationed at
Sabine Pass during
September, 1863, and was prominent in the surrender of two Federal gunboats, the
Sachem and Clifton. In April, 1864, it was stationed at Galveston Island with 23
officers and 462 men, and in April, 1865, there were 430 present for duty. The regiment was
included in the surrender on June 2. Its commanders were Colonel Joseph J. Cook, Lieutenant
Colonel John H. Manly, and Major Edward Von Harten.