The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-10
BATTLE OF CoRINTH.
The 18th Wis. Battery Takes Advantage Of Crisis.

AHc IItE WIS., DattclJ b1kSb 4ufaHtbAo VI NAiohSs
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: There is prob
ably crisis or turning point in every battle,
when very slight thing if performed in the
right way, and at just the right time, will de-
termine the result of the battle. Such a crisis
occurred at the battle of Corinth, on the 4th
day of October. 1862, and the right thing was
done at the right time, which, have no doubt
saved US from defeat.
During the latter part of 1862 was in COM
mand of the 18th Wis. battery L. A., and at the
battle of Iuka on the 18th of September, / dis
covered that the battery contained some very
magnificent young soldiers. First Serg't 5. Il.
Jones and Serg't p. III. Cody particularly dis
tingushed themselves, and were mentioned in
General Orders for gallant and meritorious con-
duct in the battle; and they, with others, were
in the subsequent battle of CoTinth.
Before going into the battle of Corinth /
placed Serg't Jones in command of section of
the battery, in place of a green Lieutenant,
whom | was afraid TO trust with the command
in an engagement.
Sullivans Brigade, to which the battery was
attached. was drawn up in the second line,
some distance in the rear of the right wing of
our army, as a reserve, supported by the 10th
Mo. and 4Sth Ind.
While the enemy was advancing on our main
line the battery kept dropping shells into the
advancing lines little to the left of our 'front.'
owing to the fact that from the conformation
of the ground we could not see the enemy IN
our immediate front, as they were concealed
by the ridge ON which the right of our main
line rested.
A shell became wedged about halfway down
in one of the guns of Sergt Joness section,
and he sent it to the rear in charge of a Ser
geaut, to draw the shell. Soon after this gun
had been sent to the rear, we saw the Union
lines in our front break in great disorder and
retreat rapidly down depression which led
around to the left of the brigade.
The fight now became quite interesting for
US, We could see the graycoats swarming over
the ridge after our retreatng friends and hear
the rebel yell as they started across the inter-
vening space for our brigade. Sergt Jones
saw them coming, and knowing that one Of his
! guns had gone to the disabled, threw off
/ his coat and sabeT and jumped to his remain
! ing gun in his shirt-sleeyes. After dropping a
| few shells in quick succession into the ranks OF
/ the enemy, which prevented them from turn
! ing one of our own guns, which they had capt
ured, on US, he called for double canister,
which he proceeded to throw into the advanc-
/ ing enemy at the rate of six shots per minute.
| On came the exultant rebels, and it looked as
! though a few minutes more would send our
line after those who had retreated around our
| left. Just at this critical moment Serg't Syl-
vester Barlow, becoming excited at the rapid
/ ity with which Serg't Jones was firing his gum
cried out: " Lord, boys, look at Jones. Three
| cheers for Jones'"
! Three cheers were given with awill not only
by the battery boys, but by the entire brigade
and in an instant the whole aspect of the situa.
tion was changed. Without knowing the
cause of the cheering our retreating troops took
courage and rallied on our left while the enc.
my appeared paralyzed at they knew not what
aud halted, wavered aud were soon in full re-
treat.
l was afterward transferred to the Army o.
the Cumberland, but was always proud of the
old battery and watched its movements will
much interest. The battery continued to d.
noble service, and followed Grant from Mill
ken's Bend to Raymond, Jackson, Champion
| Hills and at the siege of Vicksburg was under
fire As days; thence, under Sherman, to Chat
tanooga, Allatoona and TO the sea.
/ Lieut.. Amsden, Serg'ts Barlow, Hamilton anG
other gallant men fell gloriously fighting a
the terrible battle of Allatoona, Ga. Oct. 5
1864 where Serg't Jones (then Lieutenant
commanded the battery
Lieut.. Jones survived the war, and is now liv
ing at Canon City, Colo, as modest as he wa
gallant.
OF the battery Maj-Gen w. s. Rosecran
has written since the war: 81 remember vel
when l ordered you with your battery to fir,
into those fellows packed like herring on the
back porch of house at Corinth, and very sooI
only the dead and dying were left."-L. ID. I'M
NELL Inspector Artillery, Fourth Corps, Wash
ington, Mo-