The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-23
YOSTS CAPTURED BATTERY.
Sol II. Smith Answers an Inquiry Relative
to It's Loss at Bakers Creek.

TO Its Loss at Bakers Creek.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of Aug. 2, B. F. Hearford makes
reply to J. II. Bradford in regard to
the capture of rebel battery at Bakers
Creek, Miss, in 1863, in which he says
what became of the battery he does not
know. For the history of that battery
will have to 90 little back, for which
beg indulgence.
Early in 1861 Capt. B. F. Potts latter
ward Colonel of the 32d Ohio and Brigadier-
General, U. S. W recruited a company for
the artillery, but in the hurry to get troops
to the front it was attached to the 32d Ohio
as Co. F, and served with that organization
as such until July, 1862, at Winchester, Va,
where it was detached for artillery duty,
armed and equipped as a battery of light
artillery, and called Potts's Ohio Battery
On Gen. Pope's retreat from Winchester,
the battery retired to Harper's Ferry. Dur
ing the engagement there, before the sur
render by Col. Miles, the battery occupied a
very exposed position on the extreme left in
an open field, within 10 yards Of where Col.
Miles received the wound from which he
afterwards died.
At sunrise On the morning of the sur
render the rebs opened on the battery from
front, right, and left with "a guns, yet for
more than an hour it maintained its posi-
ton until the white flag was raised and the
garrison surrendered.
The company was then ordered to reioin
its regiment, and was sent TO Chicago until
exchanged. In January, 1863, being ex-
changed, the battery-company, in company
with the 32d, left for the field, and served
with Gen. Grant in his Mississippi cam
paign, at the battle of Bakers Creek The
brigade to which the 32d Ohio was attached
made charge and captured the 1st Miss
battery Of six pieces-men, guns, and horses.
Gen. John a. Logan having been informed
Of the proficiency of Co. F, commanded by
Capt. L. ID. Yost, 32d Ohio, in artillery prac-
tice, and that they had in former times served
as battery, issued an order that these guns
should be placed in their charge, and they
should have them in readiness for action the
next morning.
Notwithstanding one-half the horses had
been killed, the harness cut and torn, etc,
by the industry and pluck Of the officers and
men, the battery entered the column next
morning at daylight.
The company was now called "Yost's
Captured Battery" During the entire siege
of Vicksburg it was actively engaged. 1t
served in front of the rebel Fort Hill with
III cVO Jdluo VI llS ShcLlJ WOlks, near the
white house that Hearford speaks Of The
battery received high compliments from
Gems Mcpherson and Logan for its eff
cheney.
On the recommendation of Gen J. B. Nc
Pherson the War Department authorized
Co Todd, Of Ohio, to transfer the company
from the 32d Ohio and make il into one dis
tinct organization, which the Governor did
in December, 1863, and designated it as the
Goth Ohio battery.
After the close of the war it was attached
| to the Texas expedition, and served on the
Rio Grande until August, 1865, when it was
ordered home, and on Sept. 2, 1865, it was
mustered out at Todd's Barracks, Columbus,
O.-SOL X. SMITH, 8th Ohio battery, Lin
coin, Ill.