The National tribune., 1885-09-17
BATTERY I, Cd ILL. L. A.
Some Interesting Anecdotes from the Bugler.

Some Interesting Anecdotes from the Bugler.
To THE EDITOR: As each weeks copy of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE appears, | eagerly scan Its
pages To see if some old comrade or some we'll
remembered regiment or battery is spoken OF or
represented by some writer, and l was very
much pleased to see an article by Capt Gardiner
of the 9th Wis battery, in which he eulogized
Battery l. % Ill. His pride in his own battery is
well placed, for there were none better in the
service, and wherever the 9th Wis. took posi-
ton for work We expected it would be well and
bravely done.
The fight at Resaca as described by him is
as / saw it, while riding with Capt Barnett
who was Captain of Battery /, but who acted
as Chief of Artillery for the Second Division,
Fourteenth Corps. Lieut.. Coe was as brave and
efficient an officer as Capt. Gardiner says; but
Battery l attained its excellence in drill and
equipment through Capt. Barnett, who was as
thorough artillery officer as ever entered
tho army. When every battery in the Army
of the Cumberland was without horses to move
their guns, during BTagg's Siege at Chatta-
nooga, Battery / went to Browns Ferry to help
open the cracker line" with its full compiI-
ment of teams-all owing to Capt. Barnetts
foresight and prudence i'll gathering and store
ing forage while there was a chance. de was
a strict disciplinarian, as your humble servant
can attest, having served extra duty number
OF times for trivial otfenses.
/ wonder if Capt. Gardiner remembers the
4th of July, 1864, in front OF Marietta, when his
timely stepping from behind a tree which had
protected him from the bullets of the rebel pick
els, saved him from being cut in two by a rebel
II pound shell that pierced the tree breast
high. / remember it from two incidents that
occurred: one from laughable scare, and the
other from being fired upon by our own bat
teries in the Twentieth Corps, and the repri-
mand given Gen. Hooker by Sherman for not
looking after his front Alter we had started
Oh the Atlanta campaign, Capt. Barnett had
presented to him dug-haif bull and half mas
tif-which become company pet, and but tor
a foolish habit he had of trying to chase every
shell fred from the guns might have lived to
have seen the end OF the war When In front OF
Atlanta, while engaged in this self-chosen duty
between the lines, a rebel bullet laid him low
and he never returned. His master had named
him " Rosy" out OF extreme regard he had Tor
Gen. RoSencrauS ard the dogs lack OF fear III
his always being active and well TO the front in
every battle. On the morning of the 4th we
moved into plain sig mt OF the rebel breastworkS
and built bastiOns Tor our guns, working very
hard till near nocn, expecting every moment
to receive a shciling from the rebel forts. But
they, from considerations OF humanity or lack
of ammunition, did not disturb us. So we, out
OF courtesy for their kindness and discretion
on our part, waited for them to send their COM
pliments After the hot mornings exercise we
ade. Lemons We're procured from a convenient
sutler, the beverage prepared, and mounting to
the top of the baston under the shade of large
oak tree officers and men and Rosy" sat en-
joying the cool breeze, watching the rebel forts.
Lieut.. Coe made the remark that we were
a magnificent target, and no sooner were the
words spoken than white puff of smoke rolled
from one OF the rebel embrasGres directly in
front and we rolled backwards without orders,
tumbling a squirming mass of dog, officers
and men around the gun below, blinking.
laughing and barking, waiting for the shell to
burst or pass over. But the moments passed
and no shell; SO, cautiously peering over the
works, we found the rebel gun had fired at a
party away TO our left and we were safe.
In the afternoon Gen Sherman, being to our
right and front, Oh the roof OF an old log house,
accommodating the rebel works. ordered our
battery TO move farther to the right and fire at
random to the right and front. We were now
directly in front of the left wing of the Twen-
tieth Corps. We could see our men plainly
across an open field which ascended to the north.
After firing number of times, to our amaze
ment, and without word of warning the ground
to our right and front was literally swept with
bursting shell and caseshot. Of course we did
not know what to do, but Gen. Sherman did, as
the log house happened to be in the line of fire.
Orderlies rapidly rode TO the batteries, also to
summons Gen. Hooker to the front, and soon
We were renewed ol the danger OF being fratrl-
cidally killed. Gen. Hooker hurried to meet
Gen. Sherman, but the meeting was not as
pleasant either might have wished. / was
told that Gen. Shermans language was en-
phatic and plentiiully supplied with euphonous
adjectives. Gen. Hooker left our army soon
after. This meeting may have had something
to do with his departure. l cannot say posi-
lively, as / was only bugler and could not see
all parts of the line of battle, and had no access
to reports or dispatches. know this, that after
being fired upon by our own men. we received
just shot from the rebels in reply to our
firing, and that one seemed to be hunting for
me, for it struck the other side of rotten
stump behind which l was meditating on the
peculiarities and liabilities of army life. and
abundantly supplied me with punk, for which
l had no immediate use.-W. q. PUTNEY,
Bugler, Battery l, I'd Iii. l.. A., Prairie Center,
Ill