As part of the Missouri State Guard, the unit was engaged in the Engagement near Carthage and the Battle of Wilson's Creek during mid-1861, before fighting at the Battle of Dry Wood Creek and the Siege of Lexington later that year when Major General Sterling Price led the Guard northwards towards the Missouri River.

After the Missouri State Guard retreated into Arkansas in early 1862, Bledsoe's Battery served during the Confederate defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge in March.

In early 1863, the unit became part of Brigadier General John Gregg's brigade, and was briefly stationed at Port Hudson, Louisiana.

In September, the battery was part of the Confederate Army of Tennessee when it repulsed Major General William Rosecrans' offensive into Georgia at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Beginning in May 1864, Bledsoe's Battery resisted Major General William T. Sherman's drive south during the Atlanta campaign, seeing action at the battles of Resaca and Kennesaw Mountain.

While the rest of Hood's army transferred to North Carolina after Nashville, Bledsoe's Battery remained in Georgia, where it surrendered on May 1, 1865, ending the unit's combat career.

On May 12, Jackson formed the Missouri State Guard as another pro-secession militia unit, and selected Major General Sterling Price to head the organization.

[5] After ammunition began to run low, Bledsoe's and Guibor's batteries were forced to fire rocks, bits of scrap iron, and fragments of chains instead of actual projectiles.

[6] Around 1:00 pm, Bledsoe's Battery moved forward to prepare for a Confederate attack; it was then exposed to heavy Union return fire.

[7] As the Union force retreated later in the fight, the battery advanced across a ford to provide artillery support for the Confederate pursuit.

[11] As part of the Battle of Wilson's Creek, a Union column commanded by Colonel Franz Sigel attacked the Confederate position from the rear.

Separately, Bledsoe's Battery and two Missouri State Guard infantry regiments commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Rosser and O'Kane formed a line to McCulloch's right to counter the threat posed by Sigel.

[14] After Sigel's retreat, Confederate and Missouri State Guard forces were able to concentrate against Lyon's main attacking column.

[2] On September 2, the Missouri State Guard encountered Union troops commanded by Brigadier General James H. Lane near Dry Wood Creek.

[19] At this point, Bledsoe was temporarily out of action with a wound from Dry Wood Creek, and the battery was commanded by Captain Emmett MacDonald.

[21] Bledsoe returned to the unit; he ordered the battery to fire hot shot at the Masonic College building, which suffered heavy damage.

On March 2, Price combined his forces with those of McCulloch and Major General Earl Van Dorn to form the Army of the West.

[24] During the ensuing Battle of Pea Ridge, Bledsoe's Battery, which was still part of the Missouri State Guard, was commanded by Lieutenant Charles W.

[28] As the Army of the West fled in retreat, Bledsoe's Battery was one of the last Confederate or Missouri State Guard units to leave the field.

[2] The Army of the West, under the command of Price, began preparing for an offensive movement and occupied Iuka, Mississippi in September.

After defeating Brigadier General John S. Bowen's division at the Battle of Port Gibson, Grant began moving his army towards Jackson, Mississippi.

[39] On May 12, contact was made between Gregg's men and those of Union Major General James B. McPherson, bringing on the Battle of Raymond.

[49] By this point, Bledsoe's Battery had been rearmed with four 12-pounder Napoleons[36] and was part of the artillery of Lieutenant General William J. Hardee's corps.

[50] Hardee's corps held the center of the Confederate line, which was attacked by Union troops commanded by Major General John M. Schofield during the inconclusive Battle of Resaca, which lasted from May 13 to 15.

[36] On May 15, part of Sherman's army crossed the Oostanaula River beyond Johnston's left flank, and the Confederates again fell back.

[53] The Confederates eventually made a stand at Kennesaw Mountain, where they built strong defensive positions strengthened by abatis.

[54] Bledsoe's Battery saw heavy combat during the successful defense at Kennesaw Mountain;[36] it had previously received a resolution of thanks from the Confederate States Congress on May 23.

[55] On July 17, Johnston was relieved of command by Confederate President Jefferson Davis and replaced by General John Bell Hood.

During late July, Hood made failed attacks against Sherman at the battles of Peachtree Creek and Ezra Church.

[60] On the next day, Cheatham held the Confederate left, which was harassed by Brigadier General James H. Wilson's Union cavalry.