Henry Jackson Hunt, the Chief of Artillery during the Civil War helped shape the results of the war. He recorded several success measures and, shockingly, his success is rarely recognized. The very first moment of fame for Hunt was during the 1861 Battle of Bull Run. In this battle, Hunt led a four-gun series which oversaw the retreat of an entire union. In addition to this, Hunt trained and organized an artillery reserve of the Army of Potomac. Hunt did more work as an artillery officer than any other officer in the war. He ensured that every soldier had a weapon that suited them and their style of fighting. Also, he ensured that there were enough weapons to last the force.
Due to his achievements and hard work, Hunt was promoted in 1862 and then became Brigadier General. This was after his success in the Battle of South Mountain. It is after this battle that he was promoted to be Chief of Artillery after McClellan recognized his skill in arranging, organizing and distributing weaponry. As chief, his first task was to deploy an artillery reserve for the battle of Antietam.
Despite getting very little recognition from history, Hunt was very successful in many other battles that took place in the Civil War. His greatest, and most recognized effort, was during the Battle of Gettysburg where he was not only allowed to organize artillery, but he was also given directing responsibilities. He directed where each weapon would go, and in so doing, he directed the troops. Additionally, his decision to demand a ceasefire during Pickett’s Charge ensured victory for his troops. His decision went against the decision of the then Major General Winfield Hancock who wanted the troops to fire.