Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-11

gia lying north Of the Chattahoochee river,
and which promises still more valuable re-
suits, has furnished scores of opportunities
for the development of the soldierly qualities
and efficiency of almost every organization
in the army, and venture the assertion that
none have given better satisfaction to com
handing generals than the 9Th Battery, and
none have been more highly complimented,
and if I NAV be allowed my opinion, none
have more justly deserved it.
We have sent our compliments TO 10 John
ston something over three thousand times
in the shape of shot, shell, case and canister,
and from the report that prisoners bring to
Us, | am disposed to believe that he appreci-
ates our efforts to be civil and courteous
With a single section Of our battery protect
ed behind frai aad hastily constructed works,
We have sometimes kept whole battery OF
the cnemv's silent for hours, even though
protected by the strongest and most elabo-
I rate works. The embrazures Of the enemy's
works, though only of sufficient width to ad
nit the muzzles Of their guns, were so inse-
/ cure that though they had six guns to our
! two, thew could not work any of them. | do
/ not write this to boast, but | record it as a
! fact, to which " cloud of witnesses" can be
! found to testify.
At the battle near Resacca the enemy suf-
! fered most severely from our fire. | rode
! over the field after they were gone, and on
that part of it which was under our fire were
the ruins of Il battery which tried to reply to
/ US, and many dead horses. Our conduct on
that day won for Us the compliments of Gen
erals Sherman and Palmer, and name out
+ side of our immediate commands. Words of
praise came from the lips OF all who witness
| ed our practice that day.
| kenesaw Mountain witnessed the best ar
| tillery practice, think, that has ever been
seen in the Southwest Trained upon it, and
| directed against it, were some fifteen bat
| teries, many of them rifed guns 1t was a
rare opportunity for testing the efficiency of
! our artillery, and the practice was witnessed
| by all who belong to that branch of the SER
vice, with much interest 1t was also an ex-
cellent time for batteries between which the
spirit of rivalry had sprung up, to test them
selves, and settle old scores" 1t was here,
where so impartial trial of skill could be
made, that the 9Th Battery competed so sue
cessfully with all, and bore off the palm from
one of its old and worthy rivals
! When so much that is complimentary may
be said of military organization, it is hard
| ly worth while to particularize by mentioning
names The character Of a battery or regi-
ment is mirror in which may be seen the
commanding officer and his subordinate off
GERS, and all that is said of the command is
said of its officers also. | predict glori-
Gus career for our battery, one that will re-
| fleet honor upon all its members, and cause
the Badger State to venerate the No 5.
There has been no time since we came into
the service when the men were in better spir-
its than at the present. The home mania,
which was really malady, and from which
many died, has ceased to afflict the soldier,
and though "home" is still the centre OF
prospective happiness, he remembers it now
only as blessing to be enjoyed when his
soldierly pride shall be gratifed in a redeem
ed country, and "Father Abraham" shall
sound the universal recall from our time hon
ored Capitol, the triumphant notes of which,
rolling down the Father Of Waters" to the
Gulf, and caught up by every mountain and
river in all this sunny land" shall be alike
the death-knell Of traitors and treason, and
the assurance of the rejuvenescence of Col
umbia's fair land. T.