Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper/Volume 18/Number 450/Col. Joseph J. Morrison, 16th New York Artillery
COL. JOSEPH J. MORRISON, 16TH NEW YORK ARTILLERY.
Col. Morrison, now at the head of a fine artillery regiment, for which he recruited so successfully as to obtain nearly double the number required, is a native of New York city, born about 1832. On reaching manhood he became connected with the 5th company of the National Guard. Removing to St. Louis, he there was equally active in military matters and raised a militia company. When the President, in 1861, called for volunteers, he raised and drilled a company in St. Louis, but seeing little chance of service there he returned to New York and was at once chosen Captain of Co. A, 9th New York State Militia, and served with it through Gen. Patterson's campaign. After this he returned to New York and organized a light battery, with which as Captain he joined the 3d New York artillery, and fought under Gen. Barnside and Gen. Hooker through the North Carolina campaigns, distinguishing himself at Kingston, Whitehall and Goldsbore. At the latter place his battery was charged upon by three South Carolina regiments, whom he repulsed with a loss of over 700 men. His regiment was next sent to South Carolina, to reinforce Gen. Huster, and while there Capt. Morrison was selected to return to New York and raise a new Artillery regiment. He was commissioned Colonel of the 16th, and is now in command of it at Gloucester point Va. He actually has 1,800 men, but his regiment is to be reduced to 1,100, the rest being assigned to other regiments.