Madison

At the battle of Gettysburg Captain Ward was in command of two batteries, and he was subsequently promoted to Major, commanding a battalion of artillery. Captain Thomas J. Richards then commanded the Madison battery, which was reported in March 1864, as 127 men, 59 horses, and four 12-pounder Napoleon guns.

The battery served under Colonel R.L. Walker, attached to the Third Corps in the campaign of 1864. Walker's 20 batteries were put into motion, attending the divisions of Heth and Wilcox, down the Plank Road toward the Wilderness , Poague's battalion in front, early in the morning of May 5, 1864. When Heth's Division, in advance, encountered the Federal cavalry, Richard's battery was pushed forward and assisted in driving it back upon the main body. Poague's battalion was posted by the artillery cheif of the army at the only place near the front where artillery could be used, and one gun of the battalion, being further advanced, was effectively used in the blood repulse of the attack on Heth and Wilcox that afternoon. The next day, when fresh Federal troops pushed back the weary divisions of Heth and Wilcox, the guns under Poague and Ward checked the onslaught, and enabled Longstreet's troops, just arriving on the field, to take a favorable position and drive the enemy back.

In the battle of Spotsylvania they aided in in repulsing the Federal attack on another salient of the Confederate line than the "Bloody Angle." When the scene of battle was changed to the South Anna river and the enemy made a demonstration higher up the river, at Jericho Ford, Poague's battalion waas sent with Heth's Division to meet that danger. The repulse of the ederal infantry was followed by a sharp battle of artillery. "Major Ward, second in command of Poague's battalion, a devout Christian, gallant soldier, and efficient officer, was here killed by a cannon shot," General Pendleton reported. At Cold Harbor, June 3, the Madison artillery was ordered into a position over the protest of Poague, in which they were exposed to the fire of a heavy line of skirmishers. The battery was almost entirely crippled, and many live lost to very little purpose, Pendleton reported. "Richard's pieces were with much difficulty gotten back to the works occupied by the infantry. They were there, however, used with some effect, as the enemy attempted to advance, the cannoneers being to some extent protected."

In the final campaign in Virginia the battery was commanded by Lt. John W. Yeargain.