The National tribune., 1903-08-06
Iuka and Corinth.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Will re-
quest permission through the soldiers
friend. The National Tribune, to cor
rect Comrade II. Milburn, Co. II, 4Sth
Ind, who no doubt was a first-class sol
dier and of regiment of fighters; but he
is mistaken when, in his article of April
80, he says: Napoleon Buford command
ed the brigade Napoleon B. Buford, whom
we called Mary Ann') and Schuyler
Hamilton the division"
Charles S. Hamilton, Wisconsin man.
and Wes; Point graduate, commanded
our division. Schuyler Hamilton was a
descendant of the great Alexander Hamil-
ton, whom Aaron Burr killed in duel.
Hamilton came to us from the East, re-
naming with the Western Army but q
short time. 1 had the honor to command
the 18th Wis. Battery at Iuka and Cor
inth; the 4Sth Ind. We're the right infan-
try support in the latter battle, with the
10th Mo. on the left.
The 10th Iowa were our support at
Iuka. and we whipped the Johnnias up in
good shape at both places.
One of the 4Sth Ind. Captains CIV. II.
III. Millerl. an hOnored member of Ran
som Post, 131, st. Louis, Mo-, who was no
slouch in battle, was given Il detail to
bury the dead in front of one of our see
tiOns at Iuka; 4S We're put under the sod
"
of our guns.
Our fight at Iuka was on the extreme
left. Col. Perczell, of the 10th Iowa, a
white-haired Hungarian, who had seen
service in Europe, drew his saber when
| ordered my guns to the south of two lOg
cabins, saying: You are not going to re-
treat are you?' l answered.: "Wait a
moment and see." Immediately south of
the cabins was a depression just back of
the crest of the ridge of open ground, a
fine position for the guns, the recoil plac-
ing them below the crest to load, and then
"by hand to the front" On understanding
the situation the Colonel rode up to me,
and under severe fire frOIl the enemy
apOlOgiZed.
A few days prior to Iuka, Gen. Rose
Grams by official order placed ME in COM
mand of the 10Th Wis. Battery, l being
then only Second Lieutenant, there being
a Captain and two First Lieutenants pres
ent for duty. The Captain at once got n
sick furlough; the two Lieutenants were
dismissed. shortly after Corinth.
The 9th Ohio presented me with 4 cav
airy saber on account of service at Iuka
and COrinth, a sa ber with a history, cap
tured from the 9TH Ohio Cav. by Forests
Cavalry, carried by an officer six months,
then recaptured by the 9th Ohio, who
gave it to me at Corinth.
There was a Wisconsin boy in the 18th
Wis. Battery Is. III. Hamilton, now May
or of Clifton, Kan.) who by the close of
the war rose to rank of Captain, fighter
from "taw," though he was mere
boy. He is now also a brilliant lawyer.
He wrote me some years ago, saying when
the rebel brigade rose up out of the brush
on our right, only about 80 feet away,
our guns limbered on an old roadway, the
command | gave was "ActiOn right-dOu-
BILE canister - load" l unimbered one
gun. Kitty, the Bugler. caught my horse
Cater killed at Corinth), and but for the
quick work of my men supported by the
10th Iowa, our section would have been
captured, as we were in very dangerous
position, owing to the narrow road through
a dense underground and timber in our
left rear.-L. ID. IAlMELL, Inspector Artil-
lery Corps, st. Louis, Mo.