Throughout 1862 and early 1863, the battalion saw action in the Eastern Theater before it was reorganized into four independent batteries of the New York Light Artillery, which fought separately for the remainder of the war.

The unit's companies were raised in New York between August and September 1861 for three-year enlistments and were initially under the command of German-born Lieutenant Colonel Andreas "Andrew" Brickel, a native of Baden in the German Confederation and a former artillery officer of the Baden Revolution of 1848 who had served under Franz Sigel before emigrating to the United States in 1850.

[3] The battalion spent most of its career in a support role, attached to the Army of the Potomac and comprising the Third Brigade of the Artillery Reserve under Major Albert Arndt.

Joined Major General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in Virginia: present at the Siege of Yorktown, April 5 – May 4, 1862; Major Albert Arndt, commanding battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Brickel resigned May 12, 1862[6]); at the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, Virginia, June 25 – July 1, 1862; in camp at Harrison's Landing on the James River until August 16, 1862.

Retreated across the Virginia Peninsula and present with Army of the Potomac during the Maryland Campaign; at the Battle of Antietam, September 16–17, 1862 (battalion commander Major Arndt, mortally wounded[6]).