The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-05-15
BATTERY NJ, LIST ILL. ARTILLERY.

Apropos of..the army reunion this week IN
Chicago, the Tribune of Wednesday gives the
following sketch of Battery NJ, 1st III, Artil-
lery The Tribune is mistaken, however, in
saying that this battery was wholly made up
IN Chicago. Full half OF it least, we should
say, was made up Of La Sale county boys. 1t
was raised by Capt. Miller, of Ottawa, who,
however, had command oft but short time,
when Capt. Geo. W. Spencer succeeded to its
command and held the position to the close
OF the war, SO that it was known through the
war as "Spencer's Battery" Otherwise the
subjoined sketch is correct
This battery was largely made up in this
city, IT was scarcely known within our Dor
derS, having departed without any courish of
trumpets to take its position in the very front
OF our Western army, and when after three
years OF campaigning, its survivors returned
TO be mustered out, their return was as un-
heralded as their departure; and yet the fol.
lowing record of their achievements speaks
in tones as loud as their own shOtted guns
when striking those blows on the anvil of bat
tie. At the battle of Chickamauga the bat
terry was attached to Gen. Changers reserve
corps, OF which Gen. Rosecranz In his official
report says: "To Gen. Changers reserve
corps is due the credit Of saving the day. but
at fearful sacrifice, losing twO-thirds of Its
members in killed and wounded" Further
on in his report he says ofthis battery, THE
ridge and gap was held the whole Of Sunday
afternoon by battery Of six rified guns
which, with double shotted canister, poured
death into the rebel ranks Of Longstreet." At
the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Gen George
| War, tlan r.,f
rebels having struck the right of our line
with tremendous force, threatening for few
minutes to turn the whole right wing of our
army back upon itself and take it in front,
flank, and rear, at one and the same time)
established his headquarters alongside this
battery, and was the first man to discover the
advancing rebels as they swung aronnd on
the double quick from the Federal right flank
to the front, endeavorins. by sudden rush
and crash TO envelope the whole right wing
but Thomas, firm as wall of granite, qui-
city pointed across the open fields In front Of
the battery, and in his own unfiurried way
said, There they are, boys; give them cannis
ter" The battery Immediately after its or
ganization in 1862 was ordered to Kentucky,
where 1t took part in the campaign against
Gen John Morgan. then raiding through
Kentucky and Tennessee At the close of the
IL WAS OIucIcd 10 NdSUF1llc 10 ION
Gen Rosecrans army, then organizing for
the campaign which ultimately gave US Chat.
tanooga. At the close Of that campaign, and
after nearly starving while besleged with
Rosecrans army in Chattanooga, and while
doing picket duty on what the boys truthfully
named "Starve Ridge" the battery was at
tached 10 Gen Phil Sherdan's memorable and
ever-giorlous Second Division, Fourth Corps,
Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the
winter of 1854 campaign into East Tenn.
essee and the relief of Knoxville Returning
from East Tennessee IN the spring of 1854 il
Joined Gen. Sherman, taking part in the cam.
raign which resulted in the capture of Allan.
tn and eliminated in the overthrow of the re.
belhon.
The following is a lis: of the engagements
in which the battery participates Green
River Bridge, Campbellsvlle, Columbia
Franklin, Triune, Ringgold, Pea Vine Creek,
Chickamauga, Ringgold Gap, Chattanooga,
Mission Ridge, Cattassa Springs, Rocky Face
Ridge, Rocky Face Gap, Buzzard Roost, Dal-
ton, Resaca, Jackson's, Etowah River, Adairs.
VILE, Euhalle River, New Hope Church,
Ackworth, Lost Mountain, Pine Mountain,
Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Bald Knob,
kenesaw June 81 and 2S) Marietta, Cnatta
hoochee River, Buck Head, Peach Tree
Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Stone
Mountain.