The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-01
WHEN HE WON HIS MEDAL.
Incident of Nashville Battle Recalled after
Many

Many Years
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Samuel
j. Churchill, of Lawrence, Kan, Corporal,
Battery G, I'd Ill. J.. A., who has just been
awarded medal OF honor for gallantry at
the battle of Nashville, Tenn, Dec. Is. 1864,
was born in Rutland County, Vt, in 1912.
When the war broke out, and when Presi-
dent Lincoln made his call of 100000, he
enlisted under Capt. Stolbrand in Battery
G, Cd Ill. L. A., Aug 6, 1861. In Camp
Butler the company was thoroughly drilled,
not receiving their equipments until just
before the battle of Fort Donels0n, which
was the first battle participated in by the
battery. 1t took an active part in the great
campaigns eliminating in the capture Of
Vicksburg, July 4, 1853
Soon after this the battery was attached
TO Gen. A. J. Smiths Sixteenth Corps, where
it remained until the close of the war. In
January, 1864, Corpl Churchill, with most
of his company, re-enlisted, retaining the
same organization.
On July IA, 1864, at the battle of Tupelo,
Miss, CorpI Churchill sighted the gun and
exploded shell that killed rebel Gen.
Faulkner and his gray stallion as he was
leading the rebel charge. This caused dis
may and defeat to the rebels. 1t was after
the raid through Missouri that the Sixteenth
Corps was ordered to Nashville, Tenn, to
join Gen. Thomas, which place was reached
in time for the Franklin fight.
The army under Gen. Thomas was ordered
forward on Dec. Is, 1864, to attack the rebel
army under Gen. Hood. Capt. Lowell's
battery, of which Corp'l Churchill had COM
mand OF the right gun, a 12-pOund Ma
poleon, and gun detachment of eight men,
advanced through valley to the left and
across the Granny White pike to high
ground, where they were ordered in position
directly in front and about 200 yards of the
rebel battery.
Corp1 Churchill's gun was placed in
| position eight feet to the right Of large
brick house and in plain view of the rebel
battery, which opened deadly fire on his
gun as soon as it came in sight, making it
too hot for his men to stand, and they sought
refuge behind the brick house and left Corpl
Churchill alone.
1t was here that Corpl Churchill won his
medal. He held his position, loading and
firing his gun alone IL times before relief
came. Special mention of this was made in
the official reports. Comrade Churchill is
always glad 10 speak Of another boy in blue
in this connection. He said to the writer
There was a private soldier in my COM
| pany tDaC deserved mcual Vi HOuOr as
| much or more than | did. 1t was at the
battle of Nashville, Dec. Is, 1864. He was
| the wheel driver of the caisson, and his po-
sition at the time was comparatively out of
danger He saw my situation as I was
manning the gun alone and asked permits
sion Of the Lieutenant to come and help me,
which was given. and he came boldly up
where the missiles of death were flying
thick and fast, and said to me: Let me
help you; the Lieutenant says l can
never was so glad to see q man as / was to
see him. He took the sponge-staff and went
to work like an old warrior, and he was
ever after that my No. l of the gun detach-
ment, and the No. ! who left me had to take
his place as driver. That was true gal
| lantry. His name was j. A. Thorp, private
Battery G, I'd III. L. A."
C0rpl Churchill served 40 months, and
participated in 10 battles. Alter Nashville
he was promoted to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
but whenever fight was on hand he took
his old place as gunner. He could sight a
cannon as true as O rife, and had the salts
faction Of dismounting several rebel cannon
VETERAN.