The National tribune., 1884-05-15
The 9Th Wisconsin Battery at Jackson, Miss.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

In late Issue of THE TRIBUNE read with
interest the letters of Comrade A. L. Brown, of
the 4th Minnesota infantry, and Comrade l..
3. Heald of the 59th Indiana, in regard to
who raised the colors on the State House at
Jackson, Miss. Twenty years ago the whole
18th army corps would have given the credit
and honor to those brave boys of the 59th In
diana, who were the first to place the regi-
mental colors, not on the courthouse, but the
State House, at Jackson, Miss. Permit me, in
this connection, to make extract from the
speech of Captain Dillon, of the 9th Wisconsin
battery, delivered at Wilson Creek Wis, Sep
TENDER 81, 1881, at Reunion of the battery,
and about three months before his (Dill0n's)
death. Dillon said :" at the battle of jack
son, Miss, received an order from General
Mcpherson to go into position on prominence
some thirty rods in the rear of our first line of
battle. Our lines had advanced to within
three or four hundred yards of the enemy, be-
hind elevated ground. When we reached the
! position to which had been ordered found
that our advance-line was on higher ground
than had been assigned for us to occupy, and
| hid entirely from our view the enemy's line of
| battle, and, without further ORDERS | made
an advance to get into position with the guns.
| 1t was necessary for me to break through
| our first line of battle, which ] did, while the
men along our lines cheered us for our rashness.
| was well aware that breaking line of battle
at that particular period, and when our troops
| had advanced so near the enemy's line, was
/ contrary TO all military tactics and | knew
/ the general in command would eensure me
| for SO doing, yet our battery opened its fire
with good execution, and put to silence Con-
/ federate battery that had been doing execution
among our troops. / did not know at that
time that our division contemplated charge (;
but such proved to be the fact, and just then
| General Croker appeared on the scene and
| ordered the line forward a charge. / sup
] pose that it would have been prudent for me
| as commander of a battery, then in a good po-
/ sition to have remained, and when the troops
| moved down the slope to have opened our FIRE
over them and await the result; but not wish
ing to be left behind, / mounted the men,
straddled the guns, and moved with the charge,
| leaving ours cumbersome caiSSonS behind us.
Had our division met with repulse, in all
probability that would have been the last of the
| old 9th Wisconsin battery; but our charge
proved success, aud when the enemy yielded
their ground the 9th battery was ON hand to
forward its compliments in the shape of can.
lister. History tells you that MesIurray's and
| Dillon's batteries followed up the charging
lines This is not SO. When billions battery
moved with the charge, the McMurray battery
was quarter of a mile to the rear. We moved
and took possession of Jackson and while we
were almost under the shadow of the capitol
building of Mississippi, and while the flag Of
the lon-hearted veterans of the 18th Indiana
was being raised over its dome, General Mo.
Pherson halted US, and while sitting on his
horse presented the 9th Wisconsin battery with
a Confederate captured cannon as a token o
his appreciation of our services in the fight
General Logan said to me that he would peti
ton Congress to have our guns bayoneted, as il
was the first artillery charge he ever saw
Like Comrade Head, would like to heal
General John A. I.ogan's opinion of the charge
made by the 9Th Wisconsin battery at Jackson
Miss. n. B. HOOD,
9th Wis. Battery.