The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-20
Col JOHN T. BOOTH, NJ. D.,
Station C, Cincinnati, o.
john T. BooTH, Cincinnati, o.
BATTLE OF PERRYvILLE.
The LIST Wis. Did its Share In that Action.

The LIST WIS., Did It's Share In that Action.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: OF late have
noticed several descriptions of the battle OF
Perryville in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and
one of them from Comrade l.. Il. Knowles, OF
my own regiment. / am glad to hear from one
of the members of the dear old 1st Wis, and L
do not write to criticize make any corree-
tions, but rather TO corrOborate his Elements.
The 1st Wis was fortunate in its commander,
Col. ]. c. Starkweather, now OF Washington.
He had the boys drilled to precision, and he
was a good disciplinarian, and the boys be-
lieved ia him and were proud of him, as he
was also of them. Coils. Lane and Bingham,
who succeeded Starkweather after his promo
tion to Brigadier General, were also efficient
officers, as were also all of the line officers
During the first year of our service we thought
we were some what abused, as We were III the rear
guarding railroad bridges and watching John
Morgans command, with occasionally little
skirmisb and the boys were really itching for
fight and when we were ordered from north
ern Alabama to Join the main army 10 partlci-
pate in its forced march to Louisville, KY, to
head off or intercept Bragg's rebel army, the
boys were ubilant. We participated in that
terrible march to Louisville, where We rested
for few days aud clothed ourselves anew, and
then struck out south again with but a rem
nant of our regiment, as many of them were
left behind in hospital at Louisville. On the
night of Oct. we went into camp at Maxville,
all realizing that on the morrow the hight of
our ambition would probably be realized-to
get into fight.
Early on the morning of Oct s, 1862, we took
up our line of march, and could hear in the dis
lance the booming of the artillery, which told
US the battle was on and, as we neared the
field of contest in the afternoon, about o'clock,
we could distinctly hear the roll of musketry.
We were ordered to halt and stack arms. In a
few moments we were assigned place In the
contest. We were ordered to the left to sup
port that splendid battery, the 4th Ind, Capt.
Bush commanding. We were lying right over
the brow of the hill, while the rebels occup ed
the opposite hill, with ravine between us.
While we were lying in this position Col. Stark
weather, who was then commanding our bril-
gade, and Gen. Rousseau, who commanded the
division, rode the length of the front of the
regiment with their hats swinging on the ends
| of their swords, and with their heroic fear
lessness infused the same spirit into their sol
diers
Col. Starkweather said: Now, my brave
| LIST Wis.,, do your duty" The 21st Wis, which
had only been in the service about two weeks,
occupied the rayine in front of US, and when
| the rebels made charge on the battery they
broke through our ranks in disorder, but reform
] ed their ranks in our rear and did excellent
| service, losing heavily in killed and wounded.
The rebels came in solid column to take the
battery, ana we were ordered TO rise ana Hfe.
| The old 1st would not wayer, and the fight was
hand-to-hand over those cannon. The horses
were all shot, and the boys hauled the guns of
| by hand. My company F. went into the bat
tie with AZ men, u of whom were killed on the
| field and Is wounded, two dying in few days
and some other companies of the regiment lost
about as many. believe / can safely say no
company in the war lost more in proportion
| than we did in that contest. Our colors were
| completely riddled, and | hope | may see the
dear old flag at the National Reunion at Mil
waukee. Three color bearers were shot down,
and the last time they were picked up by John
Durham, of my company, who carried them
safely from the field. We captured the list Tenn.
colors. A few months after the battle Bush's
battery presented us with handsome battle
flag, in recognition of our services in saving
! their guns.
1t was one of the hottest contests of the war
and might have resulted in the capture oil
Bragg's army if Gen. Buell. had shown patriot.
ism enough to have assisted McCook's Corps
with the many troops he had in reserve. But
examinations are of no use now. The country
was saved, and its salvation was due to the
| noble volunteer soldier, though the same is
not much appreciated. - Serg't ELIAS II
HOOVER, Co. F, LIST Wis. Wolf Creek, Wis.