Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-01
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECiTALS OF CAMP AND BAT
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches. Camp Life, Forag-
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
The Celebrated LOOMS Battery.


The Celebrated LOOMS Battery.
Mr.. James Z. Beadle, of Detroit, is
fortunate in being able to contribute
his share to war history, for he kept a
diary for every day he served. Mr..
Beadle was member Of the celebrated
Loomis' Battery A from it's organiza-
ton to its dissolution, and was present
in all Of it's engagements, including the
fierce fight at Chickamauga, when ey-
cry gun of the battery except one was
captured by the Confederates, although
they were afterward retaken and
brought back to Michigan.
On the identical spot on the Chicka-
manga battlefield where the battery
was captured now stands granite
monument to mark the place where the
Michigan men so CALAMITY struggled
against a vastly superior force, and
where the gallant Lieut.. Van Pelt, then it's
commander, fighting stubbornly for the
possession of his precious dogs Of war,
gave up his life. On this lasting tribute
to the brave men who fell there and TO
perpetuate forever an incident of one
of the bloodiest struggles on that ia
nous battlefield, has been placed a
bronze tablet depicting the scene at the
time the battery was taken by the Con-
federateS. The figure on horseback in
the right center foreground represents
Lieut. Van Pelt at the moment he was
struck by the bullet that laid him low
and in the middle background can be
was III charge of Lieut.. Bachman, that
was saved from capture that day. The
position of the battery was in a piece of
rather open woods, the trees in full TO-
lIage, and the enemy sWarmed in and
around with such overwhelming force
that the result was quickly determined;
but sooner than abandon the position
the Michiganders were almost annihil-
ated before being overpowered making
one of the most determined defenses in
the annals of any battery during the
war. dealing destruction to the hosts of
Confederates who pressed up to the
muzzles of the guns, and only surren-
dering the beloved pieces to superior
numbers.
Being asked for a short history of the
famous Michigan artillery organization
MI. Beadle gave me the following in
formation: Battery A was mustered
into the service of the United States on
May 2S, 1861. and left the State. thor
oughly equipped, May 81, 1861, under
command Of Capt. Cyrus O. Loomis. for
the field in West Virginia. the arma-
ment consisting of six brass siX-pound-
ers The battery attracted much atten-
ton on the journey, the fine appearance
OF the men and the completeness of the
outfit being subjects of much praise
july IL we were engaged in the battle
OF Rich Mountain. Here Gen McClel-
ian ordered rs to be supplied with six
ten-pounder Parrott guns, the old brass
pieces being laid aside and never after
ward used. Oct. 1 we crossed Cheat
Mountain and took part in an artillery
duel of four hours duration. We ar
rived at Bowling Green Feb IA. 1863.
going into position in advance of the
cavalry on Bakers Hill, and quickly
Numbering and getting into position
we threw shot and shell into the enc
my's camp. The first shell fired from
a gun in my section, at a distance of
about a mile and half. was so we'll cal
culated that it passed through the boil
er of locomotive, disabling it and pre-
venting several others from being
fIri, ;,,1o
stores.
The battery took an important part
in the battle Of Perryville on Oct. S. and
by gallant and effective service saved
the right wing from being fianked. We
repealed five charges during the fore
noon. The last position was taken about
3 p. M, and we were told to hold If at
all hazards, as it was the kew to the
field. The guns were placed on what
the kentuckians call mob and here
the Confederates charged at us and
pounded us with their artillery. Once
orders came to LOOMS to spike his
pieces and save his men from slaugh-
ter, but this he refused to do, saying he
would remain so long as he had a man
OF gun left. He held the position, repel-
ling every attempt of the enemy to
drive him out, and finally succeeded in
bringing off the entire battery. But our
loss was heayy-eighteen men being
killed and wounded, with thirty three
horses slain or disabled.
Dee. 20, 1862, we We're encaune{;
within a mile and half of the Cor
federate lines in front Of Murfreee
boro, where for four long days ard
nights the battery was actively en-
gagged. Dec. 81 we moved up in front
Of The enemy and the battle of Stone
River was on. About 10 o'clock a. III.
the firing was hot on both sides, espe-
cially SO III q cedar grove on the right,
and finally the infantry we're driven
back in a panic. running in every di-
rection, pursued by the Confedera les.
But Col. Loomis was equal to the emer-
gency, and bringing up his battery he