The battery's first commander was John Wesley Powell who later led an exploration of the Grand Canyon.

Battery F, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery formed at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and mustered into federal service on 11 December 1861.

[1] The original officers were Captain John Wesley Powell of Hennepin, Illinois, First Lieutenants Michael Dittlenger of Cape Girardeau and Christian D. Bless of Lewistown, Illinois, and Second Lieutenants Gustavus A. Tirmenstein of Cape Girardeau and Joseph W. Mitchell of Bloomfield, Missouri.

The various batteries belonging to the regiment formed between 17 August 1861 and 6 June 1862, and enlisted for three years' service.

When each battery's term of service expired, the men were mustered out, except for soldiers who re-enlisted as veterans and new recruits.

The battery garrisoned Forts A and B at Cape Girardeau until 14 March 1862, when it was ordered to travel to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.

It first unlimbered in Duncan Field, but the position was badly exposed and the battery withdrew, abandoning one gun.

[8] By this hour, Battery F was shifted to support Stephen A. Hurlbut's division on the left flank.

[1] The battery fought at the Battle of Corinth on 3–4 October 1862 under the command of Lieutenant J. W. Mitchell, as part of Brigadier Thomas J. McKean's 6th Division.

The 2-gun section of Battery F was placed in front of the 17th Wisconsin and began taking casualties in horses as the Confederates advanced.

Brigadier General John McArthur took command of an ad hoc group of Union infantry regiments and ordered an attack.

[14] At about 3:30 pm, the two guns of Battery F supported Colonel Marcellus M. Crocker's brigade before it withdrew within the final defenses.

[1] In November–December 1862, Battery F was attached to Artillery, 3rd Division, Right Wing XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee.

During this period, the unit participated in Major General Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, including a reconnaissance from La Grange, Tennessee, on 8–9 November.

[1] For the campaign, Battery F under Captain J. W. Powell was in McArthur's 6th Division, Major General James B. McPherson's XVII Corps.

From there, the battery moved first to Clifton, Tennessee, then to Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama, and finally to Rome and Acworth, Georgia, which it reached on 8 June.

[1] Battery F was seriously engaged at the Battle of Atlanta on 22 July, suffering the loss of 1 officer and 32 men killed, wounded, or missing.

[8] The battery was involved in various actions during the siege of Atlanta, participated in the flank march of 25–30 August, and fought in the Battle of Jonesborough on 31 August–1 September.