The 14th Mississippi Light Artillery Battalion was formed in late 1862 and consisted of three batteries. The battalion was commanded by Major Matthew Ward and quickly became part of the forces defending Vicksburg. Companies A and C are known to have participated in the Battle of Chickasaw Bluff in December 1862, January 1863. Company C, commanded by Captain Jacob Culbertson, moved up to and took part in the fighting near the Yazoo Pass and Fort Pemberton, March to April 1863. The other two companies moved into the defences of Vicksburg and became part of the garrison of Fort Hill, a key confederate position. These two companies continued as field artillery as they still had Bronze field guns assigned to them. Captain Culbertson's Company C moved back down and took part in the Battle of Champion's Hill where , as part of Loring's division became separated from Pemberton's field forces. Loring moved his division to link up with Johnston's relief army and Culbertson's company took part in the fighting (such as it was) to relieve the Vicksburg forces. Culbertson's battery was now down to two guns. As part of the garrison of Vicksburg, the battalion was surrendered by General John Pemberton. Paroled in July, the battalion was exchanged in September 1863, with only one of the batteries continuing service. This probably was Culbertson's, to be known as Smith's Mississippi battery (Captain James T. Smith)since it was not included in the surrender of the Vicksburg garrison. It was equipped with four 12 pound napoleons and two 12 pound howitzers. The other batteries were exchanged at Enterprise MS and never reformed. The men served in other Mississippi batteries. Captain Culbertson had earlier served in close connection with General Lloyd Tilghman at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson and later, as the Chief of Artillery of Tilghman's division, took part in the engagement at Coffeeville, December 5th, 1862. Major Matthew Ward later (in 1864) became the post commander of Enterprise, Mississippi. It is not known what type of guns equipped the batteries before Vicksburg, except that they were bronze field guns.