The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-12-14

in February, 1862. Gen Halleck stated
that he considered Boutous Battery
the finest battery he mac ever seen IL
any service either in Europe or Amer
ca. A. a review Of troops at College
Hill, Miss IN December. 1862. Gen
Sherman stated that. AZ the com
mencement Of the war he had felt
great concern regarding what we
should DO for field artillery. as IL had
always been considered in the old
regular army that the three years
service was necessary 10 make good
and Efficient artiilerymen. but ia Eu-
rope i've 10 seven years. but that BOu-
tons Battery, though hardly yet a
year In the service. he considered
equal In efficiency n any battery In
any service.
Although Boutou's Battery vas or
Eanized IN Chicago. Il had men from
several Of the Northwestern states.
quite a number from Ohio and from
the sawmills and lumber regions Of
Wisconsin, and il is likely that a
finer body Of men from an athletic
and physical point OF view were eve
embraced In an orssnfzation Of the
same number.
Capt Edward Bouton recruited this
battery largely Al ais y expense.
so that ~ when & was mustered
into the United states service It had
cost the state Of Illinois but 1883
per man. al a time when il was cost
ing the state an average Of sl54 per
capita 10 put soldiers in the field The
battery consisting of an aggregate Of
l54 men. proceeded 10 St Louis In
January. 1861, where Il procured six
fine new James rifles. caiiber 3S9.
throwing proiectiles weighing four
teen pounds.
At this time the government was
purchasing from SEQ 10 1900 horses
per day. az 81. Louis and was getting
splendid animals frou. Missouri Kan
sas. Iowa. Illinois ass Indiana Bou-
ton obtained permission from Capt
Parsons the purchasing Quartermas
ter. 10 take his pick from these horses
as they we're Inspected and accepted.
and be selected frum thnee 90 ten g
day. until he had Procured I2s ami
mails. Four guns aa3 their caissons.
requiring eight teams Of six horses
each. were supplied with bright bays.
and the remaining two guns and their
caissons with JET blsck horses. These
teams were perfectiv matched, and
any pair Of them would be likely 10
attract attention q driven through
any city attached 20 a carriage The
battery wagon. forge amhulanoes
and baggage wasons were furnished
with equally fne animals
From the FIRST orLEniEatinn OF the
battery. the oancers. under Capt Bon-
toa's direction. apphed themselves
diligently 10 drilling The men. SO TIA.
when the battery was brought into &C.
tive service In the fo.d. the men had
acquired 8 great degree OF perfection
in drill and discipline. and were sell
prepared 10 attain tire high reputation
for efficiency for VT ch they became
noted. In over fonl years service.
this battery never faded 10 win favor
able mention on many a ~hard-fought
neld. particularly dis inEuishtsg itself
az shiloh, Nashville Ead Frankiin
Az the battle % Nashville Bouts9s
battery was Attached 10 HateA's
division OF cavalry, which consutrtea
the extreme riEht OF the Uaion
forces In the nighc some coo men
holsted one OF The suns up the almost
I perpendicular face OF a hish hili well
IN the rear OF The len Of the rebel
army. and al daylight nred the signal
shp for the commencement % the
atnek on the rebel POSITION.
This battery participated In seveu-
teen great battles ard foFg-siN im-
portani skirmishcs thai were omciaIy
( reported and probably q hundred
minor skiFmishes that were never re-
ported They were With the extreme
advance Ia the pagsuiJ Of Ho0s's
army. after Nashville and Ga hat pur.
suit went into actlon On an average
OF six times a dsy for ten DAYS
Among which was . very hard fEbt
at Duck river. lasting several hours
There was a food rise Of f~onri1eh
feet Ia this river ant Hood had 70
abandon nearly al az his WsEoas and
artillery. ana supposed he was cissr
Of the Uuion batteries IS well but
BoutOn's Battery took their annual.
fion chests across the river On RATS
hastily constructed Trluclpany from
the beds % abandoned rebel army
wagons. wan their horses across
and. splicing their puoionsS traEEc3
the guns huopsh iogr;een 20 eighteen
feet az water. aud Ia two hours aere
pounding away az HoNts forCos aEaiR
Thls battery net only never losi a
Gun but With IN exccPuoa ~ SAiioA