The National tribune., 1900-03-08
MEN BEHIND THE GUNS.
A Synopsis of the Gallant Service of the 5th
Ind. Battery.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
order TO organize the 9Th Ind. Battery was
given Sept. 16, 1861, and by Nov. %, 151
| men and five commissioned officers wer,,
mustered into the service; these, with 81
recruits afterwards enlisted, formed the
battery, with Capt. Peter Simonson COM
manding. The battery arrived at Louis
vile, KY, Nov. 20, 1861. It's armament
consisted of two 12-pound howitzers, two
six-pound smooth-bore Rodmans and two
siX-pound rified cannon. On Dec. 20 we
were assigned to Gen. O. NJ. Mitchel's Di-
vision and marched to Bacon Creek.
In the early Spring of 1862 we came
| across the enemy at Bowling Green, well
| fortified, but found the bridge burned and
| the enemy rctreatirg. We crossed the
| river on raft and fyi'owed closely upon the
| rebel retreat on Nashville. Thence we
pushed on to Murfreesboro and Huntsville,
where we first tried our skill as artllerists
on Il rushing railroad train, which We
brought to a standstill. capturing its mill
| tary passengers and munitions OF war
From Huntsville, the battery moved to
Stevenson, Ala, where it fortified and
when that place was abandoned the battery
covered the retreat, keeping up spirited
| artillery fire until the middle of the after
| noon of Aug. 81, 1862, the only loss icing
two horses and one man taken prisoner
After a forced march to Louisville, KY.
Gen. Rosecrans took command of the
our division.
At Perryville, Oct s, the battery was
holly engaged, bat maintained its position
longer than any other battery II was sup
ported by the 3Sth Ind. 33d Ohio. and 10th
Wis, and was highly complmented by the
torious conduct Here were our first casu-
alties. Two were killed and IS wounded;
| also, shell exploded one OF the caissons,
and we lost 32 horses in the engagement
The battery was on the right at Stone
River when the battle began on Dee. 81
Ii lost severely IN both men and materials
when McCook's Division was driven back.
Capt. Simonson managed his battery with
skill and courage. and with it did good
execution. The battery lost two gun
after their horses We're killed and a gun dis
abled. The loss in men killed was three
and :32 horses lost
AT Liberty Gap the battery engaged the
enemy for three days, and at Chickamauga
it did its whole duty though the casualties
were only one MORALLY wounded and nine
others wounded and two taken prisoners
After the retreat TO Chattanooga it crossed
the river on pontoons and went into Winter
quarters at Shell Mound, 10 miles below
Chattanooga. where it was thoroughly
equipped for the next march to Blue Spring
and the campaign 10 Atlanta, in which it
was engaged at Buzzard's Roost Adairs-
vile, Cassvlle, Pine Mountain. Kenesaw
Mouatain, New Hope Church, Peach Tree
Creek, in front of Atlanta and at ,JOnesboro
The most noteworthy engagement for the
battery was at Resaca, before reaching
Adairsville. The battery had a position
OH the left. where it was charged by a strong
body OF the rebels. and was being sur
rounded while hard pressed in front. but
held its position until reinforced by Hook |
ers men: This engagement being late in |
the evening, owing TO darkness there were |
but few casualties to the battery, while it |
did great service against the ranks of the |
enemy and was again highly complimented |
When Atlanta was fairly won on Sept |
20, 1864, the veterans and recruits were
transferred TO the 7th battery, ana the guns |
turned over to the Ordnance Officer at At |
lanta. The remnant ef the battery re-
turned 10 Chattanooga. .Wherc it went into |
camp before proceeding TO Indianapolis to
be mustered out, on Nov 20. 1864.
Az Plne Mountain q group of rebel off |
GERS was seen; they Were looking down upon
our position with field-glasses. well-di-
rected shot scattered them. Their signal |
corps was soon busy in all directions The
key to the rebel signals translated the mes.
sage simultaneously with their own: Gen
Polk is killed" Both armies felt the i'm
portance OF the fact The shot that killed
hum was fired from one of the guns of the
5th Ind. Battery and reverberated the
entire length and breadth of the Land
On June 16 after the battery had changed
Its position, its brave patriotic, and kind
hearted commander, Capt. Peter Smonson.
was Instantly killed by bullet from the
rebel breastworks.
The total killed WAS nine; died OfwoUnds-
3; OF disease. 20.-A. WASHBURN, Co.
luinbia City. Ind.