Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-10

captain r., X. L. ShurleY,' said the
Sergeant, used TO tell the story of
battery of artillery that was never at
the front, and yet was ON active and
important duty from the day the men
were enlisted TO the day they were
mustered out. This was the Twenty
fourth Ohio battery. organized in Au-
gust 1864, and sent Immediately TO
JohnSon's island in anticipation of an
attempt to release the rebel prisoners
at that point. The attempt was not
made, and on the 9th of August the
battery was ordered to Camp Douglcs.
Chicago. where it remained until June
10, 1865. 1t was one of the best drilled
and best disciplined batteries in the
service, and yet it never fired a shot
in battle"
The Twenty-fifth Ohio battery"
said the Captain, had no such luck.
The Second Ohio cavalry was on the
frontier in September 1862, when Gen.
Blunt decided he wanted battery.
lie detailed thirteen men from each
company of the Second cavalry and
formed what was afterward known as
Fhe Twenty-iifth Independent Ohio bat,
terry. The men, receiving guns ana
equipment, went to active service at
once, and the adventures of the caval-
rymen transformed into artillerymen
came thick and fast
For example. Private James A.
Russell, armed only with revolver
dropped ont one day to look for water.
In going through corn field he was
halted by two rebel scouts. who. with
rifles at ready. demanded l,E our
render. Russell raised his revolver
and all fred at once. The rebels miss.
ed their mark. while Russell hlazed
away until he had disabled both his
antagonists and received their surren-
der. Then he procured conveyance
and took his two prisoners into camp.
In ono of its long marches in the
Southwest the battery crossed the
Ozark mountains in midwiuter and
was water bound at the crossing G
White river. The river was seventy
five feet wide, fifteen feet deep. and
The current was very rapid. There was
no boat large enough 10 carry even one
gun across and ii was decided 10 make
raft or boat. The wagon boxes were
dashed together. covered with tarpau-
Inns. and rails We're used for decking
When the raft was completed and load
ed, the problem was how TO get line
across.
Several plans were suggested and
tried. First a man started across in
/ dug out. The boat was swamped and
the man was rescued with difficulty. A
man tried TO ride horse across and
failed. Then line was tied TO
mules tail and an attempt was made
to drive the mule. ridcrlesS. across to
the other side The mule landed on
our side OF the river and. being driven
back. went off down stream. line and
all. At last Lieut.. ]. l.. Hadley attach
ed line to an empty case Shot and
fired il from one of the guns
The shot finding Judgment on the
other side, man swan across. aided
by the line. made it secure and the
whole battery was ferried across with
out the loss Of a single article of equip
ment. Officers and iacm were so elated
over the achievement that when all
were safely across they fired salute.
The battery had many ups and downs,
but was finally recognized as one OF
the regular Ohio organizations. al
though there was a row over our not
returning to the Second cavalry
The Tenth Ohio battery" said the
Major. had a very different expert
ence. Organized and drilled for the
artillery service. 1t was on one occa-
sion detailed to act as cavalry This
was in May. 1868. when the la ttely
was stationed at Grand Gulf Gen.
Dwight OF Gen. Banks army came to
raud Gulf Oh his way TO Gen. Grant
on Black river and Capt. H. b. White
and thirty men of the battery were de-
tailed to ride as escort They left
Grand Gulf at 9 =. IT., May IL. rode
all that night and the next day. and
as the battle Of Champion Hills was
in progress remained in the saddle I'M
til . Il. II. on the 18th.
when they finally reached Mo
Phorsons headquarters they were CON
pletely exhausted and their horses
were unfit FOR further service. After "A
few hours rest. however, Capt White |
and his men were given fresh horses
AID Were started back to Grand Gulf |
with important messages 4 short dis
lance out they rode up squarcly against |
q full brigade Of Pembcit0n's men. /
which had become separated from the |
main rebel army. The meeting was
entirely unexpected on both sides and
Capt. White, pretending to maneuyer a
large force Of cavalry prepared to at.
tack.
lie actually did attack the rebel
columa and captured thlrty-four prls-
oners. Then retiring quickly. he took !
MP the march to Grand Gulf, riding |
through without rest When he ar
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