The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22
THE 18th WIS. BATTERY



EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIII you
please print the following which may throw
some light in regard to the part taken by the
18th Wis. battery at the battle Of Iuka,;
HEADQUARTERS, 18th WIS. BATTERY,
CAMP IN THE FIELD, Sept. q, 1852.
COLONEL: In conformity with your instructions
of this inst, have the honor to report the part
taken by the 18th Wis. battery in the engagement
of sept 10, 1862, near Iuka, Miss
At p. m / ordered by Gen. J. G. Sullivan,
brigade commander, to take position with one sec
ton of the battery on the road leading TO the left
and front of the line OF battle, that then form
ed at right angles with the main road running
nOrthwaTd to Iulla, and 800 or 600 yards to the
front and left of the 18th Ohio battery, which was
" in battery" and under heavy fire, were the
9Th Iowa, 4th Mimi, 26th Mo. and 18th Iowa.
Iappealcd to Gen. Rosecraus, strongly protesting
against separating the battery that half my men
and the only two officers present Tor duty were new
20 the service, having had but one standing gun
drill" Gen. ROscCranS was chewing an unllt cigar
{as uumOyed as a stoic) while the rebel musket-
balls were clipping the leaves and branches around
him. His only reply was, Time IS too precious to
tarry here" Under the immediate direction of Col.
W. l.. Lothrop, Chief Of Artillery, and Col. Pero-
eel, 10th Iowa Int Vols, the section was moved to
the front at q trot, and coming into battery sew
eTal shells were thrown into the fields and timber
beyond TO find the position OF the enemy, who soon
advanced from our right through the thick timber,
causing change of position Of the section and the
infantry, both of which Immediately opened fire
on the Tghtianil of their advancing lines, they
were engaging the main line OF battle OF Hamil-
toms Division, thus giving opportunity to
enllade at least 800 yards of their assautag line
with guns dOublcShotted with canister. Their
right flank reached within 30 yards Of the nluz-
z!cs Of our guns, which when fired would recol
under the slope Of the hill, and upon being quickly
reloaded aud pushed by hand to the crest, and
fired repeatedly, safely to our men and with great
loss to the enemy.
The battle ragged hottest over the 18th Ohio bat
terry While we were thus engaging the rebel right,
who now advanced in great numbers again and
again. The ilth Ohio battery being taken and re-
taken three times, and the enemy having cut US
n FRFF n
ger of being captured, bat for the peril
naclty and deXtcrous manner in which
the uon-commissioucd officers and men handled
Ihelr guns, and the gallant way the I1ih Iowa used
their muskets causing the enemy to fasl back from
Immediate front thus giving rs time 10 Join the
army near the Old Church House, where the other
sections OF the battery had been left under Of
First Lieut.. VIM. Miles, and where | found them
with tic poles broken out Of the pieces and CaSSous
the officers, drivers and horses all gone, having
been stilmpeded IN the panic caused by the rebels
final assault
The guuners and caHnoneers were at their posts
while the battle was still raging In their near front
and continued until 3 OF 9 p. m. at the time the
enemy first opened fire on us. First Lieut. Edward
q, Harlow, chief of the first section, was missing
and say no more of him until the battle was over
in tie darkness that was now upon rs met Col.
John VI. Stubborn, Of the 4h MINI. carrying n box
Of ammunition on horseback to his regiment, and
VINO said, Ny boys are out Of ratOns."
The pieces and caissons were drawn off and re-
paired with extras from the battery wagon, Tequir-
ing time until almost Il. m. the morning OF the
80 yards apart that I overheard q rebel artillery
man give the command, Cd d--n it, why
don't you Timber up that piece -; also, plainly
heard their trains moving oil southeast on the Bay
Spring Road. On the morning of the Goth we fol-
lowed the enemy about nine miles before coming
IL contac. with their rear guards covering their
treat, but not III position for effective use Of art
lery.
Those most uleritorious am constrained TO men
ton are First SerR'ts 5. Z. Jones and PhaHdcr
Cody, who nobly did their duty, rs well rs every
enlisted man who belonged to the section, some
OF the recruits performing their duty like veterans
Owing to our fortunate position while engaged, the
loss was one man killed. James J. Athcrton, 60.
ID, 18th Iowa, detached service with tie battery
nine head Of horses killed The battery was under
fire from opening TO close Of battle.
Very respectfully, your Obcdieht servant,
L. d. I3IMELL,
Second Lieutenant. lst No. Art,
commanding 18th Wis. battery.
Col. ". L. IoTHROP
Chief Of Artillery, Army ofthe Mississippi.
L. ID. IIMELL, Inspector of Artillery.
Fourth Corps, Department of the Cumberland,
Washington Mo