Statewide County WI Archives Military Records.....Monumental Matters 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 14, 2006, 3:28 pm Monumental Matters MONUMENTAL MATTER The State of Wisconsin having appropriated $20,-000 for erecting monuments to its organizations that participated in the battles of Chickamauga and others in that section, a commission was appointed by the governor to attend to the business generally. We here append the report of Commissioner Dr. E. M. Kanouse, a member of our battery, and wounded at Chickamauga. ------------------------------- Report of State Commissioner representing the artillery service, from Wisconsin, for monuments in Chickamauga National Park: Your representative was appointed one of the commissioners by Gov. W. H. Upham in March, 1895, and went with the state commission to the Chickamauga battlefield the 22nd-29th of same month and assisted in marking and fixing locations for the Wisconsin monuments. The position chosen for the 3rd battery is where on Sept. 19th '63 the battery was placed by the road side in a small open field, (just after the battery was placed in the cornfield near the Viniard house) and where the battery did good execution by its enfilading fire into Longstreet's forces. There is also a marker placed on the ridge next to the timber line on the west edge of the Dyer field, where we lost five guns, thirty-five horses and fifty per cent of our men (26 out of 52) in killed, wounded and missing, on Sept. 20, '63. On April 21st, '95 we met in Milwaukee and made the selections of the nine monuments, and let contracts for their erection-at the time of the dedication of Chickamauga Park all but three were in position; later the chairman and secretary visited and approved them all. The state fixed its appropriation for this purpose at $20,000; Infantry and Cavalry monuments to be $1,700 each and Batteries to be $1,200 each. Your state commission did its work gratis—and turned over about $4,500 to the state, recommending its use in placing a monument on Missionary Ridge, commemorative of the deeds and valor of Wisconsin troops at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and the Siege of Chattanooga. CORPL. E. M. KANOUSE, Commissioner. ----------------------------- The dedicatory services of the Wisconsin monuments occurring Sept. 28, 1895 were atteuded by Maj. W. J. Colburn, Esau Beaumont, E. G. Eaton, R. R. Stilwell, A. Lounsbury, Thomas Rundle and Commissioner E. M. Kanouse, all members of our battery. The ceremonies proved very interesting and of an impressive character. We append Comrade Beaumont's notes on the occasion. The inscription on the tablet on the monument, which is a huge and elegant marble cannon, is: 3d Wis. Battery, 3d Brigade 3d Division 21st Army Corp Monument Showing the Position of Battery, Sept. 19th, p.m. at Battle Chickamauga, Sept. 19th and 20th, 1863. Casualties—26 men and 5 guns. The services for the state of Wisconsin, were held at the foot of the monument to the 1st Reg. Wis. Inf. Our monument is placed near the Viniard house, or rather southeast and across the road from the house, on the extreme right of the fighting line on the Lafayette road—the right or south end of the battlefield where we did such good work on the 19th, or first day of the battle. If we had picked our position to enfilade the rebel line, we could not have done better, and from all I can learn we have full credit for doing our part at this point and doing it well. The position is correct; right where the battery stood, two ten-pound parrot guns flank the monument. They are not pointed in the direction of our fire, but more to the front; our fire was to the left oblique. The ground where our battery was captured is not so plain on account of the woods being cut off and the fields cleared. The house you enquire about is the Dyer House and in his field the battery came to grief. Dyer himself is said to have acted as a rebel guide. The position is marked with a tablet as are the other batteries captured here. ESAU BEAUMONT. ----------------------- Recently Maj. W. J. Colburn writes as follows: "I visited our Battery monument on the field where we fought the battle of Chickamauga, on Saturday Sept. 19th, 1863, about two or three weeks ago, and it seems as though I enjoyed that visit more than any I have ever made to the battlefield. The position of the batteries are so accurate and the guns are so placed "in battery," that even a citizen who has never had any knowledge of a battle can go upon the battlefield and get a very good knowledge of the battle of Chickamauga." ------------------------------------- Inscription under picture of monument in Historical Rooms, Madison: "This Battery, under command of First Lieut. Cortland Livingston, was engaged in the morning of Sept. 19th, 1863, in front of the Viniard House, until forced to retire, occupying and holding this position until night, successfully aiding in the repulse of the enemy's advance from Hall's ford to the Lafayette Road, north of Viniard House, by a fire on his flank. On the morning of the 20th, changed position to the hill north and west of the Dyer House. About 11:30 a. m., was involved in the disaster from the enemy's charge through the Dyer field, losing five guns, twenty-six men killed, wounded and missing. Capt. L. H. Drury was wounded Sept. 13th, 1863, near Lee and Gordon's Mill." (The above is a copy of the inscription appearing on bronze plate on the reverse of the monument erected on the Chickamauga battlefield.) ESAU BEAUMONT. ----------------------- To H. H. G. Bradt:-Replying to your valued favor of August 25th, regarding inscription on the marker in the Dyer Field. I have found that the only inscription on that marker is as follows: "Third Wis. Battery, 11:30 a. m. Sept, 20, 1863." This is simply an inscription to show the location of the Battery at that hour which was the hour of Longstreet's charge through the Dyer Field, There is no monument or marker on the Lafayette Road, south of Lee & Gordon's Mill, designating the position of our battery when Capt. Drury was wounded. W. J. COLBURN. 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. 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