New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-08-31
SHAFT IN "HORNET'S NEST"
Artillery Veterans Want Monu-
ment at Shiloh.
Will Petition Legislature For an
Appropriation.
First Minnesota Battery's Part in
Famous Struggle.

veterans OF the First Minnesota
Battery of Light Artillery are de-
sirious of having a monument erected
on the battlefield of Shiloh, where the
command received its baptism of fire.
Although the battery participated in a
number of the pitched battles and
sleges of the west, the state has never
rewarded its services with testi-
monial of this kind and the survivors
now purpose petitioning the legislature
for an appropriation. At their annual
reunion in ST. Paul today they will
take up the matter and adopt a reso-
luton making known their wants.
When the battery was organized
nineteen New Ulm enlisted but only
nine survive and but four, Col. VIM.
Pfaender, Louis Schilling, F. Gerboth
and A. Peterson, now reside in the
city. The frst-named gentleman was
in command of the battery at Pitts
burg Landing and his comrades are
looking to him to secure an appropri-
alton. With this end in view he has
drafted the following resolution, which
he will read at today's reunion:
/ Whereas, The United States Govern
ment has established the site of the
battlefield of Shiloh, in the State of
Tennessee, as a National Park, in
which number of states have caused
monuments to be erected to commemor-
ate the services of their volunteers.
and
/ Whereas, The First Minnesota
Battery was the only Minnesota or
ganization engaged in that memorable
battle and occupied one of the most
important positions in the first days
fight, only leaving the field after
General Prentiss had been made
prisoner and General w. FL. L. Wal
lace had been mortally wounded on
leaving the battery to direct the re-
treat;
/ Be It Resolved, That we the under
I signed, surviving members of the First
Minnesota Battery, respectfully re-
quest the members of the legislature of
the State Of Minnesota to use their best
efforts to secure the erection, by the
State, of suitable monument marking
the position of said battery in the So
called "Hornet's Nest'' on said battle
field of Shiloh.
| The part played by the First Min
nesota at the battle of Shiloh was
most noteworthy. Recruited in 1861
it was assigned to Gen. Sherman S
4 division and with him marched to
Pittsburg Landing. On the day before
the battle it was transferred to the di-
vision of Gen. Prentiss and joined its
new command Saturday morning,
| April 5, 1862. Gen. Prentiss and his
men formed the left of the Union line
and upon them fell the brunt of the
first attack.
/ For the First Minnesota Battery,
the only Minnesota troops engaged, il
was, as indeed was the case with the
greater portion of Grants army, the
first experience in actual warfare.
Aroused by the loud firing along their
front before Cookbook Sunday morn
ing, they were ordered to the firing
line and within ten minutes were
p1oASCo 1IIUO O11O VI ullO 1ACo'lCOU GIL
Igagements of the war.
| A galloping aide brought their or
ders to prepare for the struggle and
behind the Fifth Ohio Battery, the re-
naming artillery of their division,
they made their way to the front.
Their advance was made through a
perfect maize of retreating infantry
men and little time was lost in going
into action, for the rebels were liter.
ally upon them-so close, indeed, thai
the Ohio battery was routed and com.
PEELED to flee before it could fire a
shot. Two guns belonging to the Ohio
men were captured and an attempt
{ was made to turn them upon theil
former owners, but this was frustrated
by the quick and accurate firing of the
Minnesota soldiers.
4 Capt. Emil Munich was wounded in.
side of four minutes and the command
devolved upon William Pfaender, sen.
, Tor first lieutenant. That officer main
, tanned his position for about twenty
minutes, sweeping the field in front OF