Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-12-30
FOOLED THE JoHNNIEs.
Corporal schnidt's Clever Work with
Captured dun,

TOOGGO lTlE OOFlINNlESs
Corporal schmidts Clever Work with "A
Captured Gun.
In the siege of Vicllsburg Mai. Will
liams' Peoria battery was one of the
most effective. Illinois troops com
posed large portion of the forces in
that memorable fight and all were
proud of the Peoria battery" Time
and again had Maj Williams COM
mand earned high compliment from the
commanding general, and time and
again had they proved their desert.
But they were not well equipped.
Their best pieces were big, straight
Napoleon guns, long out of date, and
not nearly measuring up to the ability
of the men who handled them.
One day Maj. Williams Peoria bat
terry" was stationed on an eminence
and required to hold it through the
day and to direct their fire at n certain
point in the enemy's Notifications.
One hour later confederate battery
was driven to a point but few hum
dreds yards away, with the evident in
tention of planting its guns and she'll
ing the union position.
1t was unsupported. There were no
available union men to charge it. But
it was practically at the mercy of any
attacking force.
Quick us IL flash Mai Williams sum-
moned a score of men and dashed with
them across the intervening space, at
taclsing the confederate gunners and
capturing two splendid Parrott guns
Before the horses could be unhitched
the whole battery was in Williams
possession, and, to the shouts of thou
sands, he irove the prize back to the
union line.
Then he applied to the corps COM
mander and got permission to exchange
his smooth Napoleons for the two
splendid Parrott guns After that the
work of the Peoria battery" was bet
ter than ever.
One night the order came for the
artillery:
Let every gun fire one shot an hour
at extreme elevation, and try to drop a
shell in the city"
Two hundred yards in front of Will
liams' position was the confederate ad-
vance line. The Johnnies were in
no sort of danger, as every shell scared
away over their heads. But they
amused themselves yelling:
You're greatartillerymen-can't hi
us at two hundred yards" And in thC
still night the taunts could be easily
heard.
SerEt. Drake had charge of one o
the guns and Corporal Schmidt com
manded the squad.
At nine o'clock, when the usual sho
evoked the usual taunt, Schmidt asked
permission to prove he could come
great deal closer to the line il h,
wanted to.
but you know the orders" sait
Sergt Drake. However, be smiled
as he said it, and Schmidt believed h,
had the desired PERMISSION. At ter
o'clock he set the gun at less clcva
ton and cut off the time fuse. He wa
a competent gunner, and when tha
she'll went into the gun he knew h
was avenged.
1t happened these cannon had shares
the confederate taste for display
They had been painted by some artist
Vines and flowers appeared along tn
sides. The wheels were striped an,
the muzzle presented a laurel wreath
About the breech of one of them wa
painted the words Lady Davis" i,
honor of the confederate president
wife. On the other appeared the word
Lady Price" Il tribute to the wife c
Gen. Sterling Price.
AS Schmidt stood at ready his cy
fell upon the latter name encirclin
the breech of his pet cannon. At Ser gt
brakes command he pulled the Ian
yard and n mighty shock told the she
had leaped to its fight
In the night one could see tina
lighted fuse flashing through the ail
1t was not so high as formerly.
The confederates set up the begir
ming of shout of derision, then cease
inStantlu- for the hnmh eEnlndt.d d