The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-09-02
FROM THE 7th WIS. BATTERY.
The Raid into Memphis.
MEMPHIS, Aug. 26, 1864.

edy heard, ere this reaches you, through
the newspapers, of the late raid on the city
of Memphis. Much has been said of The
different commands that we're in the en-.
gagement, of which the 7th Wis. Battery
receives but a small share. l have seen
articles in The journals Of :his city, stating
that We had sufficient warning to get to
our guns and give the raiders warm re-
ception. l will tell you the warning we
received, and you can judge how ample
our time was in which to make prepara>
tions. ,a. a y, 70 .1t~- aoa
About four o'clock Sunday morning l
was awakened from my slumber BY the
corporal of the guard shouting that "the
pickets were firing like the devil" | i'm
mediately arose, put on a portion OF my
clothing, and woke up my men. In the
meantime the enemy had arrived at our
camp, and all Of our men supposing it was
our own cavalry that had been driven back
by an overwhelming force of the rebels,
were in no hurry. I paid 10 attention to
them, but went back to my tent to finish
dressing, when heard the command CIV
en- to Charge on the ID Yankee quar-
,ers v' They did not Immediately COM
ply with the order, fearing that we were
holding back in the tents with revoIyers to
receive them, but soon opened on US with
carbines and revolvers. After firing a vol
ley and receiving no response, they imme-
diatelv charged our quarters and took
about thirty prisoners, including the SUBJ
scriber, the balance of the men making
their escape by running.
The prisoners were marched to the rear
ON the double-quick for about three
fourths of mi!e-when, to our surprise,
We heard, "Hait who comes there? p
Our captors replied, "Forresrs command
with battery of prisoners" Said the
first spokesman, " You rebel sons Of b
release those men, at the same time fl
ring bis revolver ut one Of them, killing
him instantly and wounding the horse on
which he rode. The rebels then made
tracks y for their reserve, which was in
plain sight.
After they !ef, us We jumped over the
fence and lay down in the cotton a short
time, when we heard voice from the op
poste side of the road telling US to come
over that we were all right. OF course
we obeyed the summons, and went imme-
diately to the other sioe of the road, ano
to our astonishment, found the 1877 tn ILL.,,
one hundred day men, drawn up in line of
battle, awaiting the arrival of the rebels
on their way lack from town, to give
them warm reception.
reflected a few moments in order TO
select a road that could safely take to
reach the city, concluding that by the time
| arrived there, our forces would be driv.
ing the enemy out. l was not long max
ing up my mini as to which route to pur-
sue, for they opened a six-pounder, filled
with canister, on US. | struck out for the
city, where arrived in safety, and pur,
sued my search for the battery boys, but
unsuccessfulv. walked around on some
Of the streets, and saw dead rebels and
horses to my hearts content, and then
started for the camp of the battery, hoping
to ascertain something about them
When within one fourth Of mile of our
camp, l found some Of the men, who told
me that the guns were being worked by a
few of the members, under command Of
Sergt. James J. Mosher. When l arrived
there, they had received orders from Gen.
Buckland to move nearer to town. We
Immediately iimbered up and started, pull
ihg our pieces BY hand, our horses having
been all captured BY the rebels. ...-
l noticed an article in Yesterday mo,>
ping's Bulletin, of this city, stating that if
it had not been for certain officer of the
39th Wis. reg't of one hundred day men,
the guns of this battery would have been
taken, but by his timely aid and e1ertions
they were saved. "Honor to whom hon.
or is due" / desire to contradict that Of
icer's statement. There were no .trap-
glers had anything TO do with the guns
while in action. The first gun was loaded
BY one Of our own .men-William J.
Crocker-who was in, the act of loadirg
it the second time, when he fell by the
side of the gun from weakness, having
been sick several weeks. BY that time.
sixteen Of our boys returned TO the guns,
with the Sergeant before mentioned, and
commenced firing at,he retreating ca emv.
While in the engagement we fred 100
rounds. will also state that while 10 ac-
ton there was not commissioned officer
over US. | remain youF,. etc,
I'm BATTERY.
7. s.-Lafs Smith, Of your place, has