The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-21
BEFORE PETERSBURG.
BATTERY No. 20.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of May 3 two COM
-rades tell of the loss of life and Of tho in
competence of officers duo to the effects of
whisky. Comrade Hogle, Co. ii, 97th Ohio,
tells Of an attempt TO straigliten line at Ken
eSaw Mountain, with loss of ll9 killed and
wounded, and failure Of the movement. WHISKY
was issued that morning Did that have
anything 10 DO with it?" ComTade WILDER FL.
Weber, Go. ii, 9th Mich tells of deadly Port
Hudson, and also of the men who were placed
in command over them, Gen. Dwight IN par
ticular; only saw him twice." and then =" so
drunk that his tongue refused to enunciate
words correctly; continually coming in con-
tact with some General or field officer who
was so Enthusiastically under the influence of IL
quOr thatit could not be disguised y; the COM
missary could not keep whisky enough for the
higher officers" And later on in the story,
their lives were just as much sacrificed TO
the god of war as the Pagan offerings of
5000 years ago." / wonder how many comrades
who were not the higher officers" can
tell similar stories? Reading the above in
teresting matter puts me in mind of an
affair that occurred in front Of Petersburg
in November, 1864, where lives were lost under
the same influence. The company of which
was member &C., 4th n. Y. II. A. was given
battery Of CoehOTn mortars, which was placed
in position in what was known as Battery No.
~ WHICH Was just 10 the Elgnb Vi Iolb ISil'
When we received the battery mortars were
new implements of war to the majority of the
Army of the Potomac, and they were con-
slant source of wonder and amusement to the
infantry, who visited US in numbers every day
to see them. At the time of which | write
the forts and batteries along the lines were
fully garrisoned and a strong picket-line was
IN front, but the infantry was withdrawn from
the breastwoTks and consequently they were
deserted We called unite often to
use the mortars, aud as we were always ready,
we did the best we could, and always tried TO
have the last shot. The rebels invariably re-
turned the fire, aud with but very few excep-
tions fred over us, SO that cur losses were linn
tied 10 very few men, wounded. A battery OF
the 1st Conn. II. A. with S-inch mortars were
beside Us at our left, and | never heard Of any
casualties among them. After some weeks it
was noticed the rebels fred into Fort He'll, in
stead Of at Us, ia time Of action. At this time
the fort contained two or three regiments OF
infantry besides tho artillery, and the mortar
shells exploding In the fort were more likely
10 main and destroy than elsewhere. Some
times two or three days would pass and we
would not fire shot. At such times there
was 10 picket friug, aud everything would be as
quiet and as peaceable rs we could wish. Many
a Sunday the church bells of Petersburg were
heard calling the people to church, the sun was
shining warmly, and not shot was heard any
where. Oftentimes the piclIet-line would begin
a mnss at the right OF left of u.s. the artillery or
mortars join in, then the pickets would cease
firing, and We would have a regular duel for
some time. Several times flock Of wild geese
| passing over has drawn the fire of both picket
| lines, and the usual artillery and mortar firing
! followed It was one Of those still, quiet days,
/ with all firing ceased, and we were amusing
ourselves and trying to kill tins, when three
4 drunken infantry officers came to visit our
/ Captain. They brought with them canteen
/ OF something, a quantity Of which made him
IS drunk as they were. Then they easily per-
suaded him TO FIRE by battery, just to let them
/ see what we could do When we fired the
report was like clap of thunder in clear
/ sky. After firing few rounds they went over
/ TO Fort He'll 10 take observations, az they could
/ have better view there than from our battery.
As usual the rebels replied, and as usual their
reply went into Fort Hell. The guns of the
+! fort joined IN, and the infantry sought their
/ bomb proofs, but one mortar shell broke into
/ one Of the shelters where there were 12 or IA
men, burst and killed three men and wounded
/ four others Shortly afterwaTd orders come
70 cease firing, and our officers returned, sobered
by the sight Of dead and mangled men, which
they were responsible for. 1t was my duty
4 while the battery was in action to put The
proper fuse into each shell, and to keep account
Of the ammunition used. That afternoon ne
fred EOS shells, which was by far the largest
number we ever used at one time-WILLIAM
ID. ROBINSON, 81. D., Co. G, 4th n. Y. II. A.
| East Orange n. j.