Statewide County WI Archives Military Records.....History Of The Battery Civilwar 3rd WI Light Artillery Battery ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 13, 2006, 11:37 pm History Of The Battery HISTORY OF THE BATTERY On the morning after the bombardment of Ft. Sumpter, Lu. H. Drury, an attache of the Madison, Wis., Argus, appeared upon the streets accompanied by a fifer and drummer, who made the air resound to patriotic music. A large crowd assembled, which was addressed by Drury and others so effectively that scores of citizens signified their desire to enroll themselves in the defense of the integrity of our Union. Drury immediately offered his services to the governor and steps were taken to give him a command. He desired artillery service, but the U. S. government was very loth through Gen. W. S. Scott's advice to employ artillery. Repeated offers were made by the governor of artillery, but were uniformly declined, apparently thinking the rebels were bluffing and could be suppressed by infantry. Matters soon assumed a more serious phase and instructions were sent to Gov. A. Randall to recruit for five light batteries. This dispatch was received the 19th of August, '61. Capt. Drury on the 26th commenced recruiting under government orders on the date of his enlistment. The orders from Washington were to send all recruits for the 3d, 4th and 5th batteries to Washington to be organized there, but later a change was made and the 3d was organized at Berlin and mustered into the U. S. service October 10th, 1861, with the following officers: Captain—Lu. H. Drury. First Lieutenant—Cortland Livingston. Jun. First Lieutenant—James T. Purdy. Second Lieutenant—Albert LeBrun. Jun. Second Lieutenant—Hiram F. Hubbard. Surgeon—Henry W. Cansdell. During the month of November the cannon, equipments and the men's uniforms came; then followed standing gun drill and field evolutions on the prairie west, with target practice there and on the ice of Lake Michigan. This business continued during the last three months of 1861, the men becoming very proficient in their duties and made a fine appearance in uniform. The cold was intense at times outside of the Sibley tents and the boys would say that the winter was a counterpart of what their forefathers endured at Valley Forge. An experienced German artillerist, Fritz Anneke, was appointed colonel of the 1st Regt. Wis. Light Artillery. John Halborn instructed the members of the battery in sword exercise in which they were soon adepts. The alacrity of the men in handling the guns is evinced when we state that they would dismount and mount their pieces in 1 minute and 30 seconds. On the 5th of November many of the men received furloughs. At this time the ladies of Waukesha presented the battery with sixty blankets, which with stoves used at the men's expense rendered their quarters quite comfortable. On the 29th of November the ladies of Racine furnished the boys a fine Thanksgiving dinner of roast turkey, etc. The entire artillery force at this time had the misfortune to lose Col. Anneke, he having been given command of the artillery of the state of Indiana. At this time the boys were restricted to five passes a day to the battery, which was located near Racine at Camp Utley. On Nov. 23d, '61, there was received at this camp what was called two complete batteries consisting of two six-pounder smooth bore guns, two rifled six-pounders and two twelve-pound howitzers, all bronze, with extra caissons, forges, battery wagons, wheels and harness, for each battery and about two and a half thousand rounds of solid shot, spherical case cannister, and six and twelve-pounder shells for target practice. This could not be done every day as the winter had come on in earnest, the mercury fell to 22° below and the winds were so terrible from the lake on one side and prairie on the other that the cold pierced to the marrow, but still the drilling progressed until the boys were assured they were competent to meet the enemy. Rumors would frequently reach the camp that the boys would soon leave for every city almost on the line of the existing conflict, and to the credit of the members of the battery everyone was eager for departure, and in January, '62, the order to move was received. The battery was full, all duly organized into sections and platoons, and on Thursday, January 23, 1862, with high hopes the Badger Battery left the state for Louisville, Ky., where they arrived the following Saturday evening and were quartered in a tobacco warehouse for the night. The journey was made without mishaps of any kind, and but one noteworthy incident occurred, which happened at Bloomington, Indiana, where the patriotic, whole-souled people of that place fairly took the train upon which the boys were riding, by storm, overwhelming them with kind and cheering words, pies, cakes, coffee, etc. It was a bright spot which still lingers in the memories of the boys of '61. The next day (Sunday) the battery went into camp on the "Fair Grounds" about three miles out of the city, and on the line of the Lexington & Frankfort railroad. This was named "Camp Irvine." There the battery remained for a considerable length of time, having to be furnished with horses, mules, wagons and other necessary equipments for service, and also to take lessons in mounted field drill and maneuvers, not having had the opportunity to do this before, for the reason that they were not furnished horses, etc., until their arrival at Louisville, and having only the guns (six of them) had up to this time been drilled in standing gun drill only. During encampment here the battery had the pleasure of firing salutes in honor of victories of the boys in blue at Mill Spring, Kentucky, and Forts Henry and Donaldson, Tennessee, and also the privilege and pleasure of going by invitation to the "Dorsey plantation," about six miles from camp, to spend the day in artillery drill and field maneuvers and target practice, and partake of a bountiful dinner provided by the liberal hosts, Messrs. Dorsey and sons, winding up with a rattling salute to their hosts. Soon after the incident above alluded to, quite a sensation, which at one time threatened serious results, was made in the battery by receipt of an order from artillery headquarters ordering the turning over of the light artillery equipment, the battery brought with them from Wisconsin, and to draw a battery of four thirty-two-pounder "Dahlgreen" guns. The feeling ran so high among the men that it proved to be almost a critical point in the history of the battery; but good feeling was eventually restored and serious results happily averted by the promise of having any wrong or injustice done the company righted as speedily as possible, which promise was kept, for some time later on when the battery arrived at Nashville, Tennessee, the four "Dahlgreen" guns were by order of General D. C. Buel (at that time commander of the department of the Ohio) turned over to the ordnance department and two bronze or large twelve-pounder howitzers and four ten-pouuder rifled "Parrot" guns, supplied in their place and the battery once more took its rightful place in the service, and its own name of the "Third Wisconsin Light Artillery." Shortly after the battle and capture of Fort Donaldson the battery was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee. The trip was made by water down the Ohio and up the Cumberland rivers on the steamboat J. W. Hindman, and was uneventful to any but the relic hunters who loaded up with fragments of shells, stands of grape shot, etc., they picked up on the battlefield of Fort Donaldson when the boat stopped there a few hours; these relics were most of them soon thrown away. The stay at Nashville was of short duration, when the march towards Savannah, Tennessee, was commenced. On reaching Columbia, situated on Duck river, a halt of three days was made, ostensibly to repair bridges, etc., which in the immediate vicinity of the battery were not repaired, and after waiting on the bank of the river near by a partially burned bridge the length of time alluded to, the crossing was made by taking off the horses and running the guns carefully over the bridge by hand, the horses being taken across the river at a fording place at another point on river. Nothing occurred to make this march eventful until Sunday morning, the 6th of April, on nearing Savannah it became evident that a battle was in progress somewhere ahead, and the battery being at that time in what was called a brigade of reserve artillery under command of Gen. Barnett, had to take the side of the road to allow the infantry to go forward as fast as possible. Such was the state of the roads by reason of the heavy rain following the battle of Pittsburg Landing and the passage of heavily ladened wagons, etc., that before the battery arrived at Savannah (which was not for several days after the battle) they had to build many miles of corduroy road in order to make any advance at all. After a short tarry at Savannah the battery went up the river to Pittsburg Landing, camping on the battlefield for some time, then advancing with the army and taking part in the siege and capture of Corinth, Miss.—and here the battery met with great loss of men by reason of the swampy nature of the country breeding fevers and other fatal diseases. After the evacuation of Corinth by the rebels, the immense army congregated for the subjection of the place, was scattered in various directions, the part of the army the battery was attached to going by way of Iuka, Tuscumbia, Florence, Athens and Huntsville, where a short tarry was made, to Battle Creek, Tenn., which is about twenty-five miles below Chattanooga, on the Tennessee river. Nothing of a very warlike nature occurred during this march, which was for reasons best known to the commanding general, D. 0. Buel. conducted in a very strange if not novel manner, viz: by having the troops all routed out at one o'clock in the morning and being prepared to begin their march for the day at three o'clock and ending the same at any time ranging from eight to ten o'clock in the forenoon. This manner of conducting the march really proved disastrous to the health of the men, as records fully show, and in the light of the experience of the writer of this sketch during the Atlanta campaign, which was conducted mostly on the day marching, it was an experiment on the part of the general commanding. It was just before reaching Battle Creek that Gen. McCook was assasinated by bushwhackers, and the members of the battery will remember seeing seven of-the bushwhacking fraternity hanging by the necks to some trees near where the battery camped for the night. It seemed to be necessary to use very harsh methods towards this class of men. Arrived at Battle Creek camping ground on or about the 15th of July, 1862; remained there doing camp duty, drilling, etc., and subject to occasional alarms of an expected advance of the rebels, until about the 30th of August, when they were ordered to evacuate the place—and did so by moving out very quietly in the early hours of the evening, going the first night up river in the direction of Chattanooga, to and beyond the village of Jasper, forming a battle line when reaching the place selected, and remaining there until nearly evening of the following day, when the march was resumed back in the direction whence they had come the night before; but soon after passing Jasper a turn was made up the Sequatchie valley and over the Cumberland mountains towards Winchester, where a junction was formed with the main army. The march continued right along in a rather irregular fashion, partly by day and partlv by night, and some of the time a good deal of both, through Winchester, Tullahoma, Murfreesboro and Nashville, where a brief halt was made, and on towards Louisville, Ky. As by this time nearly all in General Buel's army knew it was a race between the rebel army under Gen. Bragg and the union army under Gen. Buel, which should reach Louisville first, the men accepted the situation (with its privations and discomforts, not the least of which was a great scarcity of provisions) with the proper spirit and were eager to meet the enemy, and while still more than one hundred miles from Louisville had a severe brush with a portion of the rebel army. The march was a very wearisome and trying one as part of the way the enemy had gone over the road a short time before and destroyed very much stuff, and such was the uncertainty of time of rest that frequently the horses were not unharnessed for many days at a time, and the men took cat-naps as occasion offered. It being fruit season helped the men out in the matter of short rations and with an occasional shoat, steer or sheep, or mayhap a fat goose, they did not fare as bad as they did later on at Chattanooga. Although some sharp skirmishing was had with the enemy, no general engagement took place, and Louisville was finally reached about the 25th of September, the battery getting to the city in the night and camping until morning in the street. Here while the battery was encamped in the street the first recruits, who had been waiting several days in the city, joined it, some 24 in number. Later on in the day the battery went on through the city and camped just outside on the Bardstown pike. At the reorganization of the array at Louisville the 3d Battery was attached to Gen. H. P. VanCleve's division of Crittenden's corps. Only a few days' tarry was made here to give the boys an opportunity to draw very much needed supplies of clothing and other necessaries, when the march was commenced in the direction of Bragg's army, and the enemy were soon encountered, when the battery had an opportunity of exchanging shots with a rebel battery, when they (the rebels) drew back towards the main army. When near the village of Perryville it seemed that a general engagement would certainly occur; but for some unexplained reason that portion of the army (Crittenden's corps) the battery was attached to, although in plain sight and hearing of the battle going on, and drawn up in line in readiness to move at a moment's notice, was compelled to remain idle and see and hear without taking any active part in the struggle, which was very much against the grain of the boys. Night put an end to the fight and the next day was spent in searching for the enemy and skirmishing with some of the remnants of Bragg's army. A few days subsequent to the battle of Perryville, the battery being in the advance that day, struck the rear guard of Gen. Bragg's army at Crab Orchard, Ky., just after sunrise and put in some good time, engaging the rebel battery every time they made a stand and successfully driving him from eleven of his own well-chosen positions and a distance of over twenty miles to and beyond Mt. Vernon. Night and darkness put an end to this most appropriately named running artillery duel. In a short time the battery resumed its march, going by way of Glasgow —where a short tarry was made—to Nashville, Tenn., where it remained in camp near the insane asylum until the 26th of December, '62. Some days previous to leaving this camp the center section of two gun platoons received orders to accompany our infantry brigade toward Laurel Hill, where all went into camp to be suddenly aroused the next morning by the sharp blast of a horn and the advance of a troop of rebel cavalry under a Captain White. Fortunately the 8th Kentucky infantry had joined us in the night unknown to the rebels who charging upon their front received an unexpected volley. One lad of 14 years named Johnny Clem, placed a rifle upon a rail fence and pierced the captain in a vital part, causing much confusion to the advancing foes. Our guns were put into action immediately, succeeding in completely demoralizing the force with a few shots. On the 25th of December they received orders to be ready to move next morning. On the 26th we advanced slowly on the main pike towards Murfreesboro. The enemy was immediately encountered under Gen. Bragg, who made a stubborn resistance and the fighting continued over a front of several miles, our forces constantly pressing the rebels south. Very soon after our advance the rain began to fall. The outpour of shot and shell and the downpour of rain were incessant. Reaching a point two miles north of Murfreesboro we found the rebels in force. 0We being of the left of Crittenden's corps were ordered to guard a ford of Stone River on the extreme left; while here we could observe the fighting on several occasions on or near the army's center. On the 31st at daylight we took our positions at the ford and repelled with a few shots an advance of rebel cavalry upon a hospital and some baggage wagons around it. Here was a graveyard containing Revolutionary soldiers' graves. Henry S. Utley was wounded here, shot in the thigh by a rebel sharpshooter—the first man of the battery wounded in action. On New Year's day, 1863, we were ordered over the river and exchanged a few shots with rebel skirmishers only answered by musketry, we with the brigade re-crossing the ford at night. The river here was in the form of a letter "S" in our rear and right. Next day on the 2d of January, we crossed the river early, our battery with seven regiments under Col. Beatty of the 19th Ohio. The line of battle which soon developed, was in the form of a crescent for a time, wings on the river; our forces hugged the ground for a time to escape the shot and shell that all the morning was poured into us from three sides. L. J. Uline was here wounded in our front position and several horses were hit. At two o'clock Gen. Rosencrans and Father Coney rode in front of the line and discovered the rebels crawling up and forming in the woods near our front. He ordered our battery to move forward. We had just got into position when a roll of musketry told us our time had come. The general informed us they would be on us in fifteen minutes; in less time they came down in three lines charging and firing, 30,000 strong, under Breckenridge and Cheatem. They emerged from the timber on a run, followed by their artillery, who, getting into position, soon were making things lively for us, and to stop them with our small command was like stopping the flow of the Mississippi river with bull rushes. As an indication of the desperate charge on us we will state that one of our infantry supports (the 35th Indiana, a gallant Irish regiment) stood at our right until we, under orders from Gen. Rosencrans fell back, but they did not and out of the 300 men they took into the fight they returned with only 125. We crossed the river, which now was much swollen, with difficulty, with loss of several horses and two men wounded, viz.: Sergt. Hollenbeck and Daniel Robin. We met on the river bank Gen. Negley's troops coming gallantly to our rescue. Gen Rosencrans massed 64 cannon on the bank to meet the oncoming flood and there occurred the total defeat of the enemy. Men never could have done more than was done there, every man seemed to put forth almost superhuman efforts to check the rebel host, which they did and most disastrously it proved to the rebels, as Gen. Breckenridge in his report to Gen. Bragg stated he lost in 40 minutes 1600 men. The courage of the rebels may be imagined when we state that the shell and cannister from our battery were seen to pierce the advancing columns through and through as our gunners would take sight for the colors in the center of each command. When they broke and fled the infantry commands crossed the river, viz.: Negley's and Davis' divisions, who drove them into their trenches towards Murfreesboro. The artillery kept up a desultory fire until after dark, then our battery crossed the river for the last time and took up a position in the darkness near where we were at first. We were advanced over dead and wounded to this position. The night was a hard one as it rained incessantly, and the piteous cries of the wounded was heartrending. Those who could speak would say that it really rained cannon-balls, and from the pile of dead no one could doubt it. All that night it rained and the mud was deep. We had nothing to eat. On the 1st we had half a cracker, on the 2d a little more and our commiserat failed. However, Gen. Davis gave us each one and a half crackers from his short supply to help us out. Daring the night we were reinforced by the 7th Pennsylvania battery and we fell back to the rear to feed our famished men and horses. From the time the rebels were repulsed our pioneers began throwing up intrenchments No further engagement occurred until after dark Sunday night, when a furious on-slaughter was made upon the center lasting two hours and a half, resulting in driving the enemy from rifle pits. Sunday morning Murfreesboro was evacuated and we took possession. Our loss is mentioned above. We fired 358 rounds of ammunition during the battle, and to the great credit of our command, who for the first time engaged in a pitched battle, they acquitted themselves most commendably, performing the many arduous duties assigued them and never flinching. After we were settled in camp on the Lebanon pike in the suburbs of Murfreesboro, we received an order from headquarters that each platoon should elect one man to be of the "Roll of Honor." an organization to be formed of those that had particularly signalized themselves in the late battle. It was a very difficult choice, for all had done their best, but we complied and elected the six men: but it went no further, the secretary of war refused to take cognizance of the proposition and likewise refused to grant the medals asked for. We have the list of names and as many of our Association think it might give distinction of an invidious character we omit them. (Regarding this campaign, and the previous march to Louisville, many interesting matters occurred, such as the publication of the Badger Bulletin at Iuka, by printers of the battery, of which there were 24; in fact we have much other matter which will be found further on.) Early in January, '63, Capt. Drury was appointed chief of artillery on Gen. VanCleve's staff. While we remained in camp at Murfreesboro we had plenty of standing gun drills, and field drills and squadron evolutions, along with the numerous batteries of the army. Occasionally a section was sent to guard some fords or other needed points, sometimes accompanying a foraging party, which we all delighted in. Many details were made here to aid in erecting the formidable fortifications, termed Fortress Rosencrans. Thus we passed our days until the 5th of July, '63, when we took up our line of march for McMinnville, a weak point on our extreme left. We remember very distinctly what an extremely hot day it was; many an infantryman was sunstruck, and regardless of future needs overcoats, blankets and knapsacks even were dropped on the road as too much of a burden to carry. We camped at Woodbury at night; at four o'clock on the 6th reveille sounded and we were hustled along so rapidly that we reached McMinnville at 8 a. m. After a short halt here we proceeded to go into camp on a high ridge, a little outside of town on the bank of Barren Fork of Collins river, which almost encircles the village and washes the base of Ben Lomond mountain, named after the famous Loch Lomond of Scotland. Ben Lomond is a grand and impressive figure, and towers 1,500 feet above the level of Barron Fork. We had a fine, healthy camp, but our supply of army rations were scant, and peaches were used in abundance with purslane to eke out our diet. While here we aided in picketing the roads, keeping open communications with the main body of the army, and assisted the infantry in stragetic [sic] points by sections. Guerrillas were many and troublesome in the adjacent ranges of mountains and scouts were detailed to pursue and destroy them. Capt. Drury was appointed chief of scouts, and from time to time many of our boys would join the infantry men in scouring the valleys and mountains infested by them. It was a sanguinary warfare and both sides would kill at sight on what was equivalent report on their return from their forays that their prisoners had escaped. In one expedition by mistake they shot one of the bravest and most loyal citizens in that region. He supposed they were Morgan's guerillas in federal uniform and our boys were sure he was a rebel. The poor fellow was killed by the first union soldier he ever saw. In this camp we occasionally, saw Gen. Rosencrans on inspection business, always pleasant in his bearing he was ever welcome. After many early morning calls into line, we on the 2d of September, 1863, left our pleasant McMinnville camp, on our onward march over the historic Cumberland mountains, little thinking that it would terminate so disastrously to us and to our entire command. We marched up the valley eleven miles and back under a blazing hot sun, camping at the foot of the mountain at Collins river. The 4th we commenced the ascent of Ben Lomond at 6 a. m.; at 12 we arrived at its summit by great zigzagging, a distance of only two and a half miles through alternately deep sand and great boulders, on a new track recently opened by our pioneer corps. Ahead of us was the 35th Indiana, the boys that stood so steadfast in our support at Stone River. They cheer us on sight. We return the compliment, and they yell, "we are Rosencrans' scalawags"—a name given them by the editor of The Murfreesboro Rebel. This mountain was so difficult to surmount that an entire platoon of men and six horses were required to bring up a piece, and to enliven the effort a band would play "Bony Crossing the Alps." We found red cedar in abundance, likewise gooseberries; saw no blackberries as in the valley, found peaches in a wild state, even growing on the overhanging crags. The vegetation and foliage generally was much different and more attractive, and the atmosphere was fine. Occasionally we would pass on all the eminences of these chains of mountains a cabin built of logs, containing to us a simple, honest, but outlandish looking people, who greeted us in a friendly way. At more accessible points we found deserted homes which had been raided by rebel guerillas, the loyal inhabitants having become "refugees." Of this class some 1100 came into our camp at McMinnville for protection, very poor and destitute they were; many of the males joined our forces, the unfortunate women and children we left to the tender mercies of the none too loyal populace of mixed hues. As far as possible the motley mass was kept in existence by the bounty of our government. The illiteracy of the 1100 refugees was startling, as in their declaration of allegience, 860 made a cross to their name. Our rations were eked out by some foraging for vegetables and animal food. To add sweetness and spirit to this march, occasionally some honey flavored by tobacco flowers would be passed around, and from the secret fastnesses would be drawn forth through the irrepressible researches of well known doughty souls, a supply of the unrectified apple-jack, one of the most villianous concoctions of man. During our progress, we of the 21st corps under Crittenden, occupied the mountain ranges of the left of the advance upon Gen. Bragg, who was holding Chattanooga; the 20th corps under McCook and the 14th corps under Thomas were occupying the ranges and valleys to our right, and as will be observed the corps of the union army were widely diverged, the two wings being forty miles apart, yet in three weeks' time, regardless of the many seemingly unsurmountable barriers, without a serious disturbance of Gen. Rosencrans' plans, we became masters of the situation. Our part took us through many little hamlets like Dunlap. Here we learned that a part of the advance of our Corps had struck the camp of Bragg, in the stronghold of Chattanooga, which relinquishing, he moved south. During these movements our battery enjoyed a little rest in one of their old camping grounds of the year before, viz.: Battle Creek, on the beautiful Tennessee, which we immediately crossed at Bridgeport on pontoons. As soon as it was known to a certainty of the evacuation, all of the infantry were put in motion to cross the Lookout range at three points, but not to debouch until known that Bragg was making a bonifide retreat. Before daybreak on the 9th, finding all things clear, we descended into Chattanooga valley, over the the [sic] nose of the mighty Lookout, to which all ascended from Sequatchie valley. From our point of observation innumerable mountains of the most massive proportions, with many windings of the charming Tennessee were from time to time brought to our vision. Still higher up were grander and more comprehensive views, namely: From the head of Lookout mountain itself, as it towers in its magnificence 2600 feet above the sea, where from its summit can be discerned an outline of seven states; the range of this mountain reaches ninety miles. Many things of historic interest is attached to this great upheavel [sic] of nature. De Soto and a band of Spaniards wintered in the range, now thought without a doubt to be Selma, Ala.; they making much trouble for the aborigines were severely punished for their attrocities. [sic] We will here say that the Indian was still there, and when we were in the Sequatchie valley, a bright Cherokee boy visited our camp one evening, who seemed intelligent and was certainly the most prepossessing Indian we had ever seen of his age. Gen. Rosencrans established his headquarters in Chattanooga the 11th; after descending Lookout we passed to the right but did not enter the city. We camped in a field toward Rossville, the forces on center and right having crossed through tower gaps, were in our advance. We soon followed, passing through the Mission Ridge range, where in a few weeks was to occur (and on the mountains in the rear) the famous battles, wherein the old army of the Cumberland fought side by side with the army of the Tennessee and the corps from the Potomac. Well on we pushed through the sweltering sun and clouds of dust on the road to Lafayette and Ringold, the latter being the only place in our seventy miles march that our battery guns were used. Our position here was on a hill overlooking the place. We threw a few shells which caused a sudden scampering of the force there. We passed through after a brief tarry, during which time the poor frightened creatures crawled out of their cellars, whither they had gone for safety. A little below this place we saw two men under a bridge, who proved to be deserters from Gen. Longstreet's command from the Potomic, [sic] who were enroute to reinforce Bragg; from more deserters it was ascertained that Gen. Buckner's army, that was confronting Burnside at Knoxville and the men of Gen Johnson that Gen. Grant had paroled at Vicksburg, were joining Bragg, which seemed indicative of deep laid plans to destroy us. We passed on to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and returned. We camped at the celebrated Crawfish Springs, where ice cold water—as clear as crystal— boils forth in a never-ending gush, forty-three feet in breadth by the writer's measurement. We camped in this pleasant place but a short time. Near by was a vineyard of eighty acres which was devastated by the contending forces, and the contents of a commodore's wine cellar on said plantation, soon went gurgling down the throats of friend and foe, seemingly demonstrating that in one respect a congenial and sympathetic chord is ever on the qui vive between the puritan and cavalier. On the 13th of September, we had our usual reveille at 2 a. m. With a brigade of our division, we at daylight, attempted to reconnoitre the rebel's forces. We quickly found them on the Lafayette road three miles south of Lee and Gordon's Mills; Gen Polk had been concentrating a heavy force here, but our division commander anticipated his attack by the most vigorous blows. Our battery here was led by Capt. Drury, and as he had done at Crab Orchard, Ky., charged ahead of our skirmish line and getting in a very advanced position, poured out our shells as rapidly as possible into the rebel ranks. The effect of this unexpected activity on the part of the brigade, disconcerted Gen. Polk, and he withdrew three miles, under the impression of a large union advance. At this point Capt. Drury was picked off by a sharpshooter, rendering him unfit for service for several months; we had one other casualty, Hassel D. Stevens had a leg broken by being run over by a gun, from which death ensued. On the 16th and 17th, McCook had connected his corps with the army; after great errors regarding roads, crossed Lookout twice. The days of concentration had been a period of intense anxiety, unceasing vigilance, constant watchfulness, courage constant, and calculation of the finest order. Many untold brilliant and courageous acts were performed. The heads of the union army were now joined and we were once more ready for battle. Bragg's order to attack on the 18th failed on account of narrow roads, small bridges, difficult fords and dense forests, so that at nightfall the rebels were not in position to attack, many of his troops being below Lee and Gordon's Mills. His advance was of five infantry and two cavalry corps, and he really was not ready to deliver battle, under his plan, on the morning of the 19th. On Friday morning (Sept, 18th) occasional shots of musketry, with now and then a little boom from a small howitzer, on our left and front, in the direction of "Reed's" bridge, intimated to us that Gen. Wilder, who had command of the mounted troops in that direction, was being attacked by the enemy, and as the sounds grew plainer, we knew he (Wilder) was being pressed back slowly, indicating that Bragg had changed his tactics and instead of retreating, as he Had been doing, was now advancing to give us battle or compel us to give up possession of Chattanooga. About the middle of the afternoon of the same day we were ordered to move to a position on the bank of the Chickamauga Creek, where we could, if necessary, support Gen. Wilder in his efforts to retard the advance of the enemy. We were really fighting for time and it was a serious question in the minds of those thinking of the really critical situation of the army of the Cumberland, not knowing that the scattered corps were concentrated, thinking Bragg could get his forces in such a position that he might attack each corps separately and thus defeat the whole army in detail. However, subsequent events show that he did not do this. Gen. Wilder stubbornly contested the advance of the enemy until darkness put an end to the conflict for that day, and our battery was not called upon to take active part in the affray for that time. During the night we were moved from our position to another one still farther to the left, and while occupying this position, the troops of Gen. Thomas' corps marched past in the rear of our line and formed a line on our extreme left connecting with us, and in this position we awaited the coming of morning. Quite early in the morning (Saturday, the 19th) the rattle of musketry and booming of cannons to the left of our position, told us that the enemy were on the move and "feeling," and had found Gen. Thomas, and it was not long until the storm of war rolled down the line and we were all engaged in the work. Some of the time our troops would get a little the advantage and again losing it, and it did seem a part of the time, as if we should compel the enemy to give up the conflict, but several times during the day we were compelled to change our positions, not always on account of the pressure of the enemy, for on account of the dry state of the woods they caught fire from burning cartridges, fuses, and in some parts of the field it was quite a conflagration, and was exceedingly dangerous to limber chests that had to be open during engagement, as a spark might blow up a lot of ammunition [sic] if it did no other damage. At one time during the day we were ordered to assist a four-gun Minnesota battery in a peach orchard, which we did by ranging alongside of them, and probably the ten guns rendered the situation of the enemy in our front quite an uncomfortable one, for they made tremendous efforts to dislodge us and finally, notwithstanding the most heroic efforts of our infantry, we had to give up our little peach orchard to the enemy. On the whole I feel justified in writing that we had successfully held our own through the day's struggle, and before the day was quite gone it became certain that the next day's fight would be with Bragg's entire army and Gen. LOngstreet's corps in addition; during the afternoon said they had just come. Night ended the battle for the day, and during the night we moved a considerable distance farther to the left and were given to understand that Gen. McCook's corps had got near enough to our right flank to make a connection with our line. Our first position this morning (Sunday Sept. 20) was near what is called the "Widow Glenn" house; we did not remain in this position very long however, before we were ordered to a position, in a sort of opening, near a considerable body of small saplings or underbrush, where we came into line and threw quite a number of shells over into the woods in our front, eliciting some reply from the enemy's batteries, but nothing of a serious character took place. It appeared however to the general commanding our line that our position was too advanced or something else, so we were ordered rather more to the rear of this place and now we took what was our last position on this hotly contested battle field, which was in a large clearing with heavy woods in our rear, our front overlooking the place in the openings where we were stationed before coming to this position. While we were making this movement and after we had taken our position, the infantry of our division kept steadily moving to the left by an oblique march until there seemed to be no infantry at all in our front, and subsequent events showed that in fact there was none there. Just after the infantry in our front had disappeared from our view, a battery of the enemy came dashing gallantly out into the opening in our front, and endeavored to get into position, but ere they could come into line and unlimber, our battery was trained on them so speedily and severely that part of the battery did not unlimber their guns, but rushed back to cover of the woods, and one gun that was unlimbered was left on the field, the limber going back without it. We continued firing into the woods in the direction the battery had gone, and while we were doing this Gen. Crittenden rode up and ordered us to "cease firing" saying at the same time we might hit some of our own men, as he was of the opinion that he had some infantry men in the woods in our front, but after our officers had related to him the affair we had just gone through with a battery of the enemy, he gave us permission to fire again, at the same time cautioning us to use good judgment, and look out for blue coats: While we were engaged in this work the sputtering of musketry, increasing to crashes and volleys, and the booming of cannons and bursting of shells to the left of us, told that Gen. Thomas was again engaged with the enemy, and it soon rolled down the line in our direction until we were all busy at it. While still engaged in firing in our direct front, we were suddenly assailed by a terrific musketry fire on our right flank from the direction of the "Widow Glenn" house, which was very disastrous to our battery, and killed and crippled so many men and horses, and it seemed that nothing short of a miracle could save the battery, especially as the nature of the ground was such that no part of the battery could change front to meet this new danger, and when the bugle sounded "limber up and retire," I (Wm. Plackett) mounted my horse, and as we whirled the limber to the gun trail for the cannoneers to limber up, I gave a rapid glance towards the right of the battery, and then saw how very destructive had been that terrible musketry fire,—horses rearing and plunging seemingly trying to extricate themselves from their fallen mates, and men using herculean efforts to save their guns; 'twas but a glance, as I had no time to linger. I also looked the other way, and saw that No. 6 was also limbering up, and in an incredibly short time came rushing past our horses' heads just as we had started, and with such a rush did they come, that our team was swung sharply to the left with such force that we got a lock on the gun trail that was hard to break, and just at this critical moment my off horse got a couple of musket balls in his head, one high up near his ear, the other lower down, more properly on his nose, the blood streaming from both wounds freely. We tried hard to get the horses to swing off so as to break the lock and get straightened out, but as we had lost our swing driver, and had only the lead driver and myself left, it was too much for us; the wounded horse would do nothing but rear up and fall down, and despite the efforts of the lieutenant commanding our section who stuck right by us until he was satisfied it was a hopeless case, and the enemy fast coming over the ground intervening between us and them, he then said "boys you cannot get the gun off, you had better try now and save yourselves, I cannot help you any more," saluted us with his saber and said "good bye boys" and galloped rapidly away. My lead driver (Joel Bates) and myself lost no time in trying to follow his, the lieutenant's, advice to save ourselves, and quickly dismounting struck out for the woods in our rear, paying no attention to the enemy's cries of halt you ____ Yankees, halt! We did not propose to halt unless compelled to by being shot and disabled, so kept on until we reached a slight depression where the musket balls would go over our heads, and here we found part of our officers and quite a number of our men, some of whom were severely wounded. We stopped here a few minutes to get breath, as we had made pretty fast time; were told by our officers we had better find the road and get to Chattanooga if we could, so went on in that direction soon coming to a long line of infantry men drawn up across the road with orders to stop everybody, but after the colonel commanding the line had made inquiries concerning our battery, told us to go on to Chattanooga and report to our officers if we found them, and if not, then to report to Gen. Rosencrans, who he said had just gone in that direction. A few reached Chattanooga about four o'clock in the afternoon tired and hungry, having had nothing to eat since before daybreak in the morning. This disastrous affair resulted in our losing twenty-six men, about thirty-three horses, and five guns, breaking us up pretty badly, too much so to permit a reorganization of the battery. Streams of demoralized men separated from their commands by the disastrous break to our battery's right, fled toward the rear. This break, as all students of the battle know, was temporarily caused by the shifting of divisions, and Bushrod Johnson's command poured like a torrent into the gap, overwhelming our right. After that fearful break our lines of battle were not reformed that day; this occurred about noon the 20th; at night our boys that remained had reached Chattanooga. Gen. Thomas, of the center, held his ground and fought his noble fight until after dark. Our individual losses will appear in the Roster and in a communication from Lieutenant Hubbard to the Madison Journal. The official reports of the officers of our part in the battle of Chickamauga is appended with that of Stone River, etc. We will here note that we went into action with 52 men on our six pieces and that we lost 26 men—or fifty per cent. In the immediate vicinity of our misfortune thirteen more pieces of other batteries were lost. Report of Lieut. Cortland Livingston, Third Wisconsin Battery. Hdqrs. Third Wisconsin Battery ) Near Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 27,1863.) Captain: I have the honor to transmit a report of the operations of the battery under my command during the two day's battle of the 19th and 20th September. I occupied the position taken with the First Brigade on the afternoon of the 19th, until about 12 m., when I was ordered to report to Colonel Barnes, commanding Third Brigade, who moved me to a position in an orchard about 300 yards to the left, and on the right of the road. Remained in battery for about one-half hour, when I was ordered forward with the brigade. We moved to the left about a quarter of a mile and took commanding position in an open field. Major Mendenhall then rode up and ordered me still farther to the left. I took position in a cornfield on right of another battery. The brigade, which had gone into the woods from their last position, was driven back, when I opened my battery on the advancing line of rebels. They came in front and on the left flank. I continued to fire until the battery on my left was captured by the enemy, when I limbered up and got back to my position in the field on the right, when I opened fire on the woods, filled with the enemy, with great effect, stopping their advance. This position gave me an enfilading fire The Third Brigade rallied and took position on my flanks. From this position I opened a very effective enfilade fire on the enemy, did them much injury during several successful charges they were making to their front, in the corn field. They (the enemy) brought up their artillery which was soon silenced by our guns. This position was retained, with slight variation of the line, for the night. About 3 a. m. of the 20th, word came that the enemy had been cutting roads through the woods all night that they might be able to bring their artillery to bear upon our position, and we were ordered to follow the brigade to another position, which we did, joining our division about three miles to the left. After daybreak I filled up my amunition [sic] chests and moved forward into line with Third Brigade, when we were ordered to report to Gen. Wood, who immediately ordered me out of the woods. I then returned to the open field in the rear and took position in battery. I was soon ordered by Major Mendenhall, to take position on a hill, about one-fourth of a mile to the left, with the batteries of Capt. Stevens, Capt. Swallow and Lieut. Gushing, Lieut, Cushing being on my right and Capt. Stevens on my left. There was great embarrassment in opening fire from this position on the woods in front, where it was well known the enemy were heavily massed, on account of the impossibility of obtaining any certain information in regard to where our troops were. We were ordered to reserve our fire until we could see the lines of the enemy. The field and a long strip of woods to our left flank had been left without any infantry support, and the enemy seeing this advanced in the woods and their musketry was soon telling with fearful effect upon our cannoneers and horses. They also brought two masked guns to bear on us. I opened my whole battery upon these woods. The enemy made rapid movement under cover of a cornfield, and completely flanked us, pouring volleys of musketry. I lost 30 horses belonging to my first five pieces, which were also lost, one piece was pulled by hand into the woods, but we could not get away with it. I lost one horse in getting away with the sixth piece, which was the only piece saved. My loss in killed, wounded, and missing is as follows: One sergeant, six corporals, and nineteen privates. My caissons being in the rear under the conduct of my stable sergeant, Edward Downey, into whose hands their care was committed, (we being short of commanding officers) and who deserves special notice for his coolness and bravery, seeing the charge made their escape. I collected my command together and moved on the ridge of the mountains until I struck the Chattanooga road. We were flanked by the enemy twice during our march, but escaped notice. We arrived in Chattanooga about daylight of the 21st. Lieutenant Hubbard commanded the left half battery and Lieutenant Currier the right. Their conduct was that of brave and efficient officers. I wish to express the greatest satisfaction in the fighting qualities of our men, for greater bravery under such severe circumstances could not be shown. If particular mention was admissable, I would notice the cool conduct of Corpl. John W. Fletcher, in command of the fifth piece, who though taken prisoner at his gun, by his coolness escaped his captors. Great praise is due to our non-commissioned officers and privates, whose terrible loss in the short space of ten minutes testifies the terrible fire under which they were while working their guns. I cannot mention an instance of cowardice during the action. For several days prior to the battle I had been suffering with neuralgia and severe headache, which continued, and I was hardly able to sustain myself in saddle, and nothing but an overpowering desire to be with my men in the struggle kept me from leaving the field. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CORTLAND LIVINGSTON, Lieutenant, Commanding Third Wis. Battery. CAPT. G. R. SWALLOW, Chief of Artillery, Third Division. ------------------------------------ Report of Lieut. Cortland Livingston, 3rd Wisconsin Battery. Camp of 3rd Wisconsin Battery ) Near Murfreesboro, Tenn., Jan. 5th, 1863) Sir: I would report as follows the part taken in the actions of Dec. 31st, and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of January, 1863, by the 3rd Wisconsin Battery: At daybreak on the morning of December 31st, we moved from camp with our division and crossed the ford at Stone River to the east, and Murfreesboro side. We took a commanding position in battery. In a short time we were ordered to recross to the west j side and take up a position commanding the ford. (All the troops that crossed were ordered, to recross.) The 3rd Brigade under C . Price supported our flanks. Very early in the action the enemy gained on our right wing and many wagons and ambulances, moved across the ford. A hospital was established in some buildings there. Inquired of an officer and was informed we had infantry pickets and a small force of cavalry on the other side. About 12 m. I saw a great stampede among the ambulance wagons and stragglers opposite, and was told some rebel cavalry were charging on them. I was fearful of making a mistake and firing on our own cavalry. We could not see the enemy until he got among the wagons and was taking them off. We then opened fire upon them and disabled two wagons which blocked the lane and obliged them to leave without their booty; I think they got off with only five wagons. They left one man killed and carried off their wounded. We shelled the woods in the direction they had taken. We expended 50 rounds of amunition [sic] that day. The only casualty was one man,— Henry S. Utley—wounded in the thigh slightly. January 1st, (Thursday) the battery was advanced across the river with the third division, under command of Colonel Beatty,—with orders to protect the left from any flank movement, but not to bring on a general engagement. After moving forward about half a mile we discovered two regiments of infantry on a hillside. We threw a few shells among them and they withdrew to the woods on their left. We fired very little that day, only when we saw evidences of their massing troops. We had one man—A. J. Uline— slightly wounded by the sharpshooters. Jan. 2nd. This morning we discovered the enemy had erected a fortification on the brow of the hill, one and one-half miles to our front. Soon they opened fire on us with their 24-pounder- brass pieces. We did not reply and they did us no injury. Soon they moved their guns nearer to us and more to their right; this gave them a flank fire and we found it very dangerous to remain there. We were ordered to withdraw and take a position one-half mile to our rear and left. About half an hour after we had done so, we saw the enemy had drawn up in line and was advancing in great force. Just then Gen. Rosencrans ordered me to change my position, so that I was a little late in opening my fire. The enemy advanced steadily driving in our pickets. Our fire was very effective but their ranks closed up immediately. Soon I saw our right had given away, that rested on the river. A heavy column had advanced under cover of the river and its skirt of woods, and had flanked the troops stationed there. I then sent my cannons across to the west side and seeing everything giving way, I sent one section at a time across, still working those that remained until the others were over. When the last section reached the ford one regiment of the enemy was within 100 yards of it and poured a galling fire into us. Many of our horses were shot dead in the river but our brave boys cleared them from the teams and everything was got across. We opened fire on them as soon as we had crossed, though many of our cannons had not yet come up. We opened fire at three different positions after we crossed and soon after the enemy gave back. We crossed to the east side to sustain Gen. Davis and took a position in advance of the one taken tne day previous, Jan. 1. We expended this day 300 rounds of ammunition. Our fire was very good, disabling two of the enemies' limbers and killing their horses; but our fire was directed mostly at their advancing lines. We lost nine horses, two sets lead harness and had two men—Sergeant Hollenbeck and David Robin —wounded, not seriously. Jan. 3rd. We had remained in our position assigned us by Gen. Davis all night and until noon this day, before we were relieved. Our horses had had nothing to eat for 48 hours and our men were wet with wading the river and without shelter from the cold, pelting rain; but when I told them it was the imperative order of Gen. Davis and of vital necessity that we should hold out a little longer, they cheerfully obeyed. Gen. Davis kindly divided what little he had to eat with our men, as did also Colonel Beatty the day before. We had no rations issued since the 30th and our provision and forage wagons had been sent back by order of some one. At 11 a. m. we were relieved by the 26th Penn. Battery and fell back a little to feed. At 11 p. m. recrossed the river by order of Capt. Mendenhall and took up our old position on the west side, commanding the ford. Jan. 4th. Remained at the ford until 5 p. m. when we were ordered, to this camp. We have expended in all 358 rounds of ammunition; lost nine horses, two sets of harness and have four men wounded. Present for duty, three commissioned officers and 107 men. Yours, etc., CORTLAND LIVINGSTON. CAPT. SWALLOW, Chief of Art. Brig., 3rd Div., Left Wing, Army of the Cumberland. ------------------------------------- Extract from report of Colonel S. W. Price, 21st Ky. Inf. commanding 3rd Brig., 3rd Div. Left Wing, Army of the Cumberland: "On the morning of Dec. 31st, my brigade was ordered from the position it held, on the north of the N. & M. railroad, across and on the east side of Stone River—crossing the river at a ford about one mile below where the railroad crosses it. At the top of the hill and about one-half mile distant from the river, on the east side, I formed my brigade on the left of the 1st brigade. No sooner had I thus formed my brigade than an order came from Brig. Gen. H. P. Van Cleve, commanding the 3rd division, to cross the river at the same ford, and for me to arrange it so as to overlook and command the ford. I accordingly recrossed and stationed the brigade on the crest of the hill; the 8th Ky. Inf. on the right of the front line, the 3rd Wis. Battery (Lieut. Livingston) on the left of the 8th Ky. * * * * About 2 p. m., .300 or 400 rebel cavalry appeared on the east and opposite side of the river, and made a dash at a number of government wagons containing camp equipage. Before they reached the wagons, Lieut. Livingston, ever viligant and prompt in the performance of his duties, opened a sharp fire of artillery on them, killing three of them and somewhat confusing the remainder. Notwithstanding they succeeded in starting off a number of the wagons, but during their hasty retreat the artillery disabled one of the wagons thereby blockading the road and saving the wagons in the rear. ---------------------------- Extracts from report of Capt. Jno. Mendenhall, chief of artillery: Dec. 31, 1862, the left wing started to cross Stone River at about 8 a. m.; but before a division had crossed, intelligence was received that the right was falling back. Lieut. Livingston, having recrossed the river with the brigade, took a position commanding the ford, and about 12 m. opened upon the enemy's cavalry, while attempting to drive off some of our wagons which had crossed the river and were near a hospital we had established on the other side. They were driven away with little booty. During the night (Dec. 31) the batteries were re-supplied with ammunition, and I directed them to take positions as follows before daylight, viz: Lieut. Livingston (3rd Wis.) commanding ford on extreme left. During the morning (Jan. 1st) Lieut. Livingston was directed to cross the river. He was assigned a position by Col. Beatty, and Capt. Swallow took his place commanding the ford. Jan. 2nd, 1863. During the afternoon Col. Beatty changed the position of Lieut. Livingston's (3rd Wis.) battery to near the hospital, across the river. At 4 p. m. Lieut. Livingston's (3d Wis.) battery, which was across the river, opened upon the advancing enemy and continued to fire until he thought he could no longer maintain his position, when he crossed one section at a time and opened fire again; he firing ceased about dark. STATEMENT OF THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE THIRD BATTERY, WISCONSIN LIGHT ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS. As shown by the records, the 3rd Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery Vol., was organized at Racine, Wisconsin, and was mastered into the service of the United States to date, October 10, 1861, to serve three years. It was attached to the light Artillery Battalion, 3rd division, 21st Army Corps, and participated in battles as follows: Lebanon, Tennessee, November, 10,1862; Rural Hill, Tenn., November 18,1862; Stone's River, Tennessee, December 28,1862 to January 3,1863; loss, four men wounded, nine horses killed; Chickamauga, Georgia (reconnoissance toward La Fayette, Georgia,) September 13, 1863; and Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19-20, 1863; loss, Chickamauga campaign, two enlisted men killed, one officer and thirteen enlisted men wounded, eleven enlisted men missing, five guns captured and thirty-two horses killed. Brigadier General Horatio P. Van Cleve, commanding the division to which this battery belonged, in his report of the Chickamauga campaign, dated September 30, 1863, says: "The non-commissioned officers and privates of the batteries have my warmest thanks for the pertinacity with which they stood by their guns when surrounded by the enemy. I am happy to inform them that their praise is on the tongues of all who witenessed [sic] their conduct." The conduct of this battery in the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19-20,1863, is also highly praised in the report of Lieut. Cortland Livingston, commanding the battery, dated September 27, 1863, as follows: "I wish to express the greatest satisfaction in the good fighting qualities of our men, for greater bravery under such severe circumstances could not have been shown. * * * Great praise is due to our non-commissioned officers and privates, whose terrible loss in the short space of ten minutes testifies the terrible fire under which they were while working their guns. I cannot mention an instance of cowardice during the action." The battery was mustered out of service at Madison, Wisconsin, July 3,1865. Official statement respectfully furnished to Hon. John L. Mitchell, United States Senate. By authority of the Secretary of War. F. C. AINSWORTH, Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief Record and Pension Office. Record and Pension Office, War Department, March 2,1899. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of the Services of the Third Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery In the Civil War of the United States, 1861 -65 Compiled from all sources possible, but principally from members themselves COURANT PRESS, BERLIN DEDICATORY This book is reverently and affectionately dedicated to the Memory of our dead and living Comrades, and to all patriotic relatives of the 3d Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery. PREFACE This book is not expected to cover all the service of the Battery, many facts at this date are lost which will detract from its comprehensiveness. We still have a mass of information in connection with the Battery which for sufficient reasons we cannot at present use. It is of a reminiscent character and very interesting and should be preserved in book form; likewise there should be added several other illustrations, notably one of the Tablet placed upon the ground of our last battle and destruction. I will most gratefully thank in the name of the Association, those who have responded so freely and generously to the request for information. Among the contributors of incidents and essential memoranda I will mention the names of Esau Beaumont, E. D. Case, Wm. Plackett, Harlan S. Howard, E. M. Kanouse, Alf. Lounsbury, Ed. Harroune, Lew D. Williams, E. G. Jackson, Ansel Hayes, Maj. W. J. Colburn, Ira E. Smith and others. H. H. G. BRADT, Secretary. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/statewide/military/civilwar/other/u3rdwilig54nmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/wifiles/ File size: 61.8 Kb