The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-03-18
THE BOOMING CANNON
REClTALS OF CAMP AND BAT
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl.
dents Of Marches, Camp Life, ForaR.
ing Experiences and Battle ecenes.
The Celebrated Loomi. Battery.

dents of Marches, Camp Life, ForaR.
ing Experiences and Battle ecenes.
The Celebrated LoOmis Battery.
Mr.. James r. Beadle, of Detroit. is
fortunate In being able to contribute
his share 20 war history, for he kept a
diary for every day he served. Mr..
Beadle was a member of the celebrated
Loomis' Battery A from its organiza-
tion to its dissolution, and was present
In all of its engagements, including the
fierce fight at Chickamauga, when ev-
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-
mauga battlefield where the battery
was captured now stands granite
monument to mark the place where the
Michigan men SO gallantly struggled
against vastly superior fnrce. and
where the gallant Lieut.. Van Pelt then its
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
9erpetuate 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
seen the only piece of artillery, which
was i'll charge of Lieut. Bachman, that
was saved from capture that day. The
position OF the battery was in 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 Mic.liganders 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 short history of the
famous Michigan artillery organization,
Mr.. Beadle gave me the following in
forma ton: Battery A was mustered
into the service Of the United States on
May 2S, 1861, and left the State, thor
0ughly 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
outht being subjects of much praise.
July IL we were engaged in the battle
OF Rich Mountain. Here Gen. NcCIeI.
ian ordered US 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 iuickly
unlimbering and getting into .,osition
we threw shot and shell into ,Ile enc.
my's camp. The first shell feed from
gun in my section. at a distance of
about mile and half, was SO well cal
culated that 1t passed through the boil
er of locomotive, disabling it and pre-
venting several others from being
moved with their trainloads OF military
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
repelled five charges during the fore
noon. The last position was taken about
3 p. ln., and we were told to hold # at
all hazards, as it was the KEY 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 Loomis to spike his
pieces and save his men from slaurb. |
ter, but this he refused to do saying he
would remain SO long as he had a man
or gun left. He held the position. repel- |
ling every attempt of the enemy 70 |
drive him out, and finally succeeded in |
bringing off the entire battery. But our
loss was heavy-eighteen men being
killed and wounded, with thirty-three
horses slain or disabled.
Dec. %. 1862, we were encomnef |
within a mile and half of the Cor.
federate lines in front of Mrrfrees-
boro, where for four long days ara
nights the battery was actively en-
gagged. Dec. 81 we moved up in front !!
of the epem% and the battle of Stone |
River was Oh. About 10 o'clock a. M.
the firing was hot on both sides. espe |
cially so Ill cedar grove on the right.
and finally the infantry were driven
back in panic. running in every di-
rection. pursued by the Confedera .es.
But Col, Lcomis was equal to the emer
gency, and bringing up his battery he |
opened CALLING fire on the advancing
enemy, who, recognizing what was be-
fore them. made desperate attempts TO
capture the guns. Every nan of the
ba tt;,ry stood like hero st his post.
while hail of shell and shot was pour
ed into us. Then the order came TO
double shot the guns with canister AMI
to fire as rapidly as they could be load
ed. At each discharge the enemy in
front were moved down by hundreds
A flag of truce soon appeared, the fir
ing ceased. and the Confedeintrs who
had attacked us surrendered The bat
terry IN this instance, ! believe, saved
the center and perhaps the whole army
from defeat. The battery lad twenty
two men killed, wounded o.. missing