USA > Wisconsin > History of the 6th Wisconsin Battery : with roster of officers and members; also proceedings of Battery reunions, speeches, &c > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00821 7835 ·
HISTORY
OF THE
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY
WITH ROSTER OF
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 3
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-ALSO- .
PROCEEDINGS OF BATTERY REUNIONS, SPEECHES, &C.
LANCASTER, WIS. HERALD BOOK AND JOB ROOMS. 1879.
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WISCONSIN ARTILLERY. 6th battery, 1861-1854. History of the 6th Wisconsin battery with roster of officers and members; also, proceedings of battery reunions, speeches, &c: Lancaster, Herald book and job rooms, 1879. · 65р .
SHELF CARD
Preface signed: H.S.Keene.
:
68956
NL 34-1281
PREFACE,
At the second annnal reunion of the 6th Wisconsin Battery, held at Avoca, it was resolved to publish a his- torical sketch of the Battery, embracing a complete roll of members, with the address of the living and burial place of the dead, so far as known ; also the proceedings of the two reunions. A committee, consisting of Jenk. L !. Jones, O. J. Burnham and myself, was appointed, to prepare and publish the same. To me was assigned the duty of preparing the MSS., which was done, and the same placed in the hands of the other members for pub- Ication. They failed to obtain estimates within the hmis prescribed by the means at our disposal, so the publication was deferred. The past Spring, I was re- arrested by the other members to publish, having secured winsfactory terms, but the manuscript was not all re- !!! nel to me until the present month. The Secretary Ho- filed to furnish full proceedings of the reunions In frepaing the historical sketch, the effort has been to c. nomize space-to epitomize rather than amplify. The
doubtless contains many inaccuracies, which it is : · ! comrades will report promptly, in order that like riters may be obviated in the future. H. S. KEENE.
LANCASTER, WIS., June 23d, 1879.
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BTH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The 6th Wisconsin Battery was principally recruited in the counties of Richland and Sauk, by Henry Dillon, of Lone Rock, afterwards elected Captain, and Samuel F. Clark, of Prairie du Sac, afterwards senior Ist Lieu- tenant; though it drew volunteers from the adjoining counties of Grant, Iowa, Dane and Columbia. It was the first to receive its full quota of men, and instead of being numbered as the 6th, it should have been the Ist; but those in charge having by some inadvertence failed to follow the prescribed line of " red tape," it failed to get its appropriate number.
The organization was perfected at Lone Rock by the election of officers, on the 25th of September, 1861. Henry Dillon was elected Captain, S. F. Clark and Thos. R. Hood Ist Lieutenants, and John W. Fancher and Daniel T. Noves 2d Lieutenants. Capt. Dillon was a veteran of the Mexican war, having been a member of the celebrated Bragg's Battery officered at the time by George H. Thomas, T. W. Sherman and John F. Rey- nolds, all of whom were.afterwards Major-Generals in the Union army. Licuts. Clark and Fancher had seen ser- vice, having been members of the. Ist Wisconsin Infantry -3 months' volunteers.
The Battery was ordered to rendesvous at Camp Utley. Racine ; and left Lone Rock on the 30th of September. At Racine it was mustered into the U. S. service on the first of October, by Capt. Trowbridge, U. S. A. Here it was expected the Battery would soon be equipped- and sent to the front ; but this hope proved to be a futile one, as weeks passed and the troops were Mot even
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
uniformed. The thought of having to spend the winter in common army tents, exposed to the rigors of a Wis- consin winter, was not a pleasant one. The troops were poorly supplied with blankets, and the approach of winter brought much suffering ; but kind friends at home were not unmindful of the comforts of the Battery boys,and from thence they were soon amply supplied , with clothing. Despite the forbidding aspect of camp life in winter, there were too many attractions in the city for time to pass heav- ily, so the winter passed pleasantly and rapidly, and the approach of spring brought marching orders.
Left Racine on the 15th of March, 1 862, for St. Louis, at which place stopped but two days, and proceeded un- der orders to New Madrid. Arrived at the ' latter place March 2Ist, and was temporarily assigned to Gen. John M. Palmer's Division of Pope's Corps. The siege of Island No. 10 was then in progress ; and the Battery being still unequipped for the field, was placed in charge of heavy guns at points along the river, to prevent reen- forcements or supplies from reaching the besieged army ; and where they were engaged in several brisk skirmishes with the rebel gun boats.
After the surrender of Island No. 10, Capt. Dillon equipped the Battery from a park of guns that had been left by the rebels in their flight from New Madrid ; and being furnished with horses, the organization was at last equipped for the field, though it remained in New Madrid, on garrison duty, until May 17th, when it embarked on transports, under orders, and proceeded up the Tennes- see River to Hamburg Landing, at which place it arrived on the 23d. and on the 26th moved to the main line in- vesting Corinth, where, being assigned to Gen. Jeff. C. Davis's Division, took up a position with Pope's besieging forces. After the evacuation of Corinth, joined in the pursuit of the retreating forces as far as Boonville, then returned to Rienzi where it remained on garrison duty during the summer. Broke camp at Rienzi October Ist, 1 862, under orders to report to Gen. Hamilton at Corinth: Took part in the battle of Corinth October 3d and 4th,
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
going into battle with 93 effective men, and sustaining a. loss of 5 killed, including one Lieutenant, and 21 wound- ed. After the battle, had the ranks repleted by a detail of 25 men from the infantry, and joined in the pursuit of the retreating enemy, returning to Corinth on the 11th. Left Corinth November 2d, marching via Grand Junction, Davis' Mills and LaGrange to Moscow, Tenn. Partici- pating in the general southward movement of Grant's army, passed through Holly Springs and encamped at Lumpkins' Mills ; from thence followed in pursuit of the enemy, who, having been flanked by a column under Sherman, were evacuating their works on the Tallahatchie and retreating southward. Went as far as the Yocona river, south of Oxford, Miss., when the sacking of Holly Springs, cutting off the base of supplies, caused a retro- grade movement. Returned to Lumpkins' Mills, from whence one section under Lieut. Clark was sent to Mem- phis, as escort to a supply train. The remainder of the Battery returned to Holly Springs, and thence moved to LaFayette. Tenn., where it was rejoined by the section under Lieut. Clark. On the ad of January, 1863, went into winter quarters at Buntyn's Station, 5 miles east of Memphis. Embarked at Memphis March Ist, and pro- ceeded down the river to Grand Lake, Ark. but returned and encamped on a sand-bar opposite the head of the " Yazoo Pass," four miles below Helena, Ark., from whence moved as a part of the Yazoo Pass expedition, moving down the pass on transports as far as Greenwood, being nine days in the descent. Disembarked April 3d, and the next day one section under Lieut. Clark moved out and opened on the rebel fortifications. Being ordered to return, reembarked that night, and early next day set out on the return, reaching the former rendesvous on the 9th of April. Reembarking on the 13th, proceeded down the river to Milliken's Bend, La. Left the latter place on the 25th, and marched across the peninsula, arriving at the river below Grand Gulf on the 3oth. Crossed the river May Ist, taking up the line of march for Port Gibson. the advance being then engaged at Thompson's Hill.
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
The Battery was placed in a position to prevent a flank movement, but did not become actively engaged. On the 2d pursued the retreating enemy through Port Gibson as far as Bayou Pierre, where further progress was checked by a burning bridge. The pursuit was resumed the next morning, the enemy making a stand near Willow Springs, where the Battery silenced a rebel battery.
The enemy were driven across Black river, burning the bridge after them. On the 9th, resumed the march toward Jackson, participating in the battle of Raymond on the 12th and Jackson on the 14th, sustaining a loss of two wounded at the latter place.
Left Jackson next morning for Vicksburg, retracing our steps as far as Clinton, and on the 16th were again engaged on the hotly contested field of Champion Hills, sustaining a loss of two wounded. Followed the retreating forces to Black river, they destroying the bridge after them. Crossed the next day, and on the 19th reached the enemy's fortifications surrounding Vicksburg. Took up a position at once and opened fire, being actively en- gaged every day during the siege, sustaining a loss of one killed and seven wounded.
After the surrender, remained in camp at Vicksburg until the 12th of September, when embarked on transports and proceeded up the river . under orders to reenforce Gen. Steel at Little Rock, disembarking at Heiena on the 15th. Little Rock being evacuated, remained in. camp at Helena until the 26th, then embarked and proceeded up the river to Memphis. Left Memphis October 6th, under orders to report to Gen. Sherman at Glendale, Miss., from which place moved with the 15th Army Corps ora Iuka, Miss .. Florence, Ala., and Winchester, Tenn., to Chattanooga, arriving at the latter place on the 20th of November. Crossed the river above Chattanooga with Sherman's forees on the 24th, moving with the advance, and the same day one section was planted on the summit of Mission Ridge-the guns being drawn up by ropes- maintaining this position and being actively engaged throughout the battle of Mission Ridge. Joined in the
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
pursuit on the 26th, following as far as Graysville, Ga., then returned to Chattanooga, where the guns were turned over to the ordnance officer, having been condemned as worn out in service, prior to leaving Vicksburg.
Left Chattanooga December 2d, and returned to Bridge- port where remained in camp until the 22d; then moved to Larkinsville, Ala., remaining there from the 26th of December to the 7th of January, 1864 ; then marched for Huntsville, where on the 9th went. into winter quarters, being here equipped with a new battery of 12-pound Na- poleon guns. Remained in Huntsville, on garrison duty, until June, one section being in the meantime sent to Whitesboro, on the Tennessee river, where they occasion- ally exchanged a few shells with the rebel forces on the other side. Left Huntsville on the 22d of June for the front, where active operations were in progress for the reduction of Atlanta; moving by rapid marches to Ste- venson. Left Stevenson by railroad on the 30th of June, reaching Kingston, Ga., on the 2d of July, and went into camp. Left Kingston July LIth, and next day took up a position in the fortifications on the Etowah river, near Cartersville, where it remained during the summer.
Those of the original organization who had not reen- listed under the call for veteran reenlistments, left Carters- ville on the 26th of September, under orders to proceed to Madison, Wis., to be mustered out for expiration of service. Reached Chattanooga and found the railroad track was torn up and in possession of a rebel force, so remained in the cars at Chattanooga a week; leaving on the night of October 3d, and reached Madison on the 10th. Here on the 10th day of October, 1864, the old organization was mustered out of service.
After the departure of the " boys of '61 " the company was reorganized as a four gun battery by Lieut Simpson, the rolls indicating 2 commissoned officers and 96 mem- bers, 40 of whom were reenlisted veterans. But the force in camp numbered but 34 men. For the next month the Battery continued to garrison Ft. Etawah subject to all . the activities, dangers and uncertainties incident to an
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
outpost in front of manœvering armies. Their railroad connections were continually being broken, their com- missary supplies being very limited, both horses and men subsisted largely on the country, which was infested with guerillas and rebel cavalry.
The terrible battle of Altoona Pass fought on the 5th. of October was within sight and hearing of Ft. Etawah, · the Battery was held in readiness but was not called into action. Immediately after the battle Lieut Simpson was despatched to Nashville for fresh horses and such other supplies as would put the Battery in moving condition. Failing in this mission, on the Ist of November, their re- maining 23 horses fit for service were turned over to the 12th Battery, and on the toth of November the Battery proceeded by rail to Nashville, arriving in time to take an active part in the defense of that town against Hood. who invested the city soon after their arrival. Without horses and guns of their own. the men were ordered from point to point manning guns that were stationed by mule teams. Superintending the construction of artillery de- fences, bearing muskets, handling ammunition, &c., &c. This campaign exposed the men to much suffering and many privations. Not until after the decisive battle of December irth and 18th did they go into permanent quarters near Ft. Gillem. Cant. Hood assumed com- mand of the company, Nov. 20. On the 17th of Feb .. ISG5. the company was ordered to Chattanooga and went into permanent quarters with the artillery reserve corps of that department. The company was filled up with a transfer of about 50 men, mostly from the 3d and Sth Wisconsin Batteries and were fully equipped as a mounted battery, and were kept busy with camp and drill duties until the 24th day of June, when they were ordered to the State to be mustered out -- wherce they immediately pro- ceeded under Capt. Simpson, who assumed command on the resign: tion of Capt. Hood, May 21st. The company arrived in Madison, at 6. r. M., July grd, whereupon the entire command "broke ran !: s" without orders. Very many of the boys were able to reach their homes in time
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
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to celebrate "Independence Day." On the 18th day of July the company re-assembled at Madison, and were formally mustered out of the service.
REUNIDAS,
IST REUNION, AT SPRING GREEN, 1876.
There have been held four annual reunions of the Bat- tery, in addition to the one held in September succeeding the disbandment. The first annual reunion was held. at Spring -Green on the 3d of October, 1876. There was a faif attendance of citizens, and forty-six of the Battery boys responded to the roll-call. A picnic dinner was provided under the auspices of Miss Dora Hayes and Miss Ida Hood, and a pleasant, sociable and agreeable day was passed. Capt. H. Dillon was in command, Sergt. A. J. Hood, Chaplain, and Jenk Ll. Jones the orator of the day, who delivered the following address :
Comrades of the 6th Wisconsin Battery: Upon re- turning to my post of duty some ten days ago I found amid the accumulated pile of letters upon my table a mes- sage from comrade Clayton, bidding me meet the "Old Boys" here to-day and asking me to put in words some fitting thought for the occasion. The first part of the message, like an invitation to a Christmas dinner, came with glad welcome. My blood went bounding through my veins as I anticipated the joy of once more touching elbows with even a few of those to whom the heart was knit with the associations of the camp, the march, the
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
hospital and the bloody field. My feelings did not stop to ask permission of my judgment to give,an emphatic- yes ! "Of course I'll come to renew in some measure the recollections of those swift years, of brotherly life filled with incidents now gay and jolly, now heroic and terrific. Some, alas ! too coarse, many, oh so many tear- fully sad."
But the second part of the invitation found a different welcome. I, to be the spokesman on an occasion like this, where if words are to be spoken at all they must be golden words. I, to attempt to put in fitting words, the congratulations, the recollections and the significance of those four years into which were crowded the discipline and the experience of a lifetime! Four years, as I be- lieve, that wrought for God and man the growth and pro- gress of a generation. The more pressing but perhaps, minor claims were upon me, they would not be put off, but even this request I could not refuse. During these ten days crowded with other duties I have had no time to "search our records, to compile our statistics or to select my words. But, boys, I am here to thank you for this compliment-the choicest compliment I have received since I was released from the honor of carrying the pouch of No.6, on the third piece of the old 6th Battery. I am here, boys, to do for you what I tried to do when I drove the swing-team-hold a steady rein, do the best I can with- out too much personal exertion. If I don't keep my place as well now as then it will be because I have not the Impetuous "Tom" (Hungerford I mean) to jerk me up with his lead team if I go too slow, or the steady hand of "Wat" ( Hayes is his surname), to hold me down with his well groomed wheel-team if I go too fast. If I don't know enough to stop, just let Dick (Corporeal Dickson, I mean) sing out his characteristic "Ha-a-ult" and then if I don't let him put in one of those explanatory words of Saxon origin, not in the tactics, that we used to be famil- iar with, then I'll inind, leastwise I remember I always used to, i. e. after this last kind of command was given.
Yes, fellow soldiers, I rejoice to be with you to-day
II
ADDRESS BY JENK LL. JONES.
though I've scarcely disturbed the sleeping notes in the pocket-worn diaries I carried in those days and from which and other available sources I would have been glad and very proud to write up something like an accu- rate and in some small way an adequate story of the toils, trials, and triumphs of the Buena Vista Battery. This has never yet been done. I would ere we part that some steps might be taken to secure this end-that their chil- dren and ours may not fail to know of the 6th Battery, who-
"Right in the van On the red rampart's slippery swell, With hearts that beat a charge they fell, Forward as fits a man."
And how others denied the easy honor of being trans- ported to the silent shores of glory in the fiery chariots of battle still endured loyally; and murmured not while the candle of life flickered, grew pale and died in the malarial atmosphere of disease; and in the record let there be some mention of those who were not released by death's promotion, but were left on duty ; were called back to wait and work in other ways for the dawn of the nobler day. If such a record would serve in any way to cause the fires of patriotism to burn brighter in the breasts of our children we ought to leave it them.
But after all, comrades, to-diy we need no wordy record of the past, for to each of us I dare say there has come in these last expectant days, now glimpses, now flashes and now long dreams of the old times.
Memory has been turning the leaves of the mind's pho- tograph album and on pages '61, '62, '63, '64 and '65 we find pictures that were supposed to be lost, there still. How it all comes back to us now !
Those early autumn days upon which I doubt not the sun shone as serenely as now, the bright colors of Octo- ber crept over these groves, up yon bluff sides and down the river bank as beautifully as to-day, but there was a great difference. Farmers did not talk so much of their crops and their cattle then as now. The boys were less boisterous and conversed in undertone, and somehow
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
when women tried to smile there were tears often in their eyes. One by one the scythes were left in unfinished swathes on vonder hay-bottom. Every day some plow- man neglected to start his plow. The hum of thethresh- ing machine seemed somehow to have less inspiration than now, and the threshers stopped to oil up whenever the mail come or a late paper appeared. At last there came a day-nay the day when Spring Green, Lone Rock and Prairie du Sac must tear off the mask and things thus far spoken of in whisper must now be spoken of out loud. You who are men and women now were boys and girls then. You recall how hard we tried to make a gala day of it, but somehow it was a poor day for fun ; there was too much in it for mirth. The roads in this valley were filled with moving wagons and car- riages. Drums and fifes made what was then very strange music. The lines gathered at Wilson Creek. Twas fifteen years ago the month just gone. Lone Rock with her squad, and Captain Dillon formed at one end of the ground. Lieut. Clarke, with the boys from Prairie du- Sac "fell in" at the other. Awkwardly approached each other and somehow, no matter how, a line was formed and then we tried to cheer but it was more husky than lusty. The girls waved their handkerchiefs but most of them seemed very limp, they had the appearance of being used a great deal. Then and there Richland and Sauk counties struck hands and the Buena Vista Battery of Flying Artillery had being. It's ranks filled rapidly. Not a few boys left their chores undone that night and went with the others to Lone Rock.
" It seems but yesterday, Yet scarce so long ago,"
When the train stopped at the depot here that carried you to Camp Utley. Fifteen years ago to-day, I think, an U. S. officer accepted the offering from Spring Green and elsewhere and you were "mustered in." Of that Winter spent in a Wisconsin camp I cannot speak from experi- ence. I only know that love and war, always the essen- tial elements of chivalry were mingled in fine proportions.
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ADDRESS BY JENK LL. JONES.
Drill during the day and a good time with the pretty Welsh girls of Racine during the evening, and as fast as you could get a military jacket on your backs, you ran home to kiss the girls you left behind you. All winter you kept accumulating the dispensable necessities of a soldier, learning to snugly reach your knapsack with so many things you did not need, things which one by one you dropped along southern waysides as bread cast upon secesh waters, so to speak, which, after many days have not come back to you.
March 15th, 1862-Marching orders at last-6th Bat- tery ordered to the front by rail via St. Louis and Sykes- town. Then the first march of 22 miles. It reports to Gen. Pope at New Madrid. Rebellion and rebels become something more than the background of a romance. The Battery bunks in quarters scarcely cold from the en- emy that vacated them. From thence to Island No. 10. where garrison duty and heavy artillery prepares them for sterner work. Things were stirring around them.
Shiloh was passing into history as a field where heroic blood flowed like water. On the 17th of May you em- barked to the scene of active operations. You arrived at Hamburgh Landing soon after the fight. Battery is im- mediately given position in the forces that besieged Cor- inth. After the evacuation it is thrown forward to occupy one of the outposts of the Union line at Rienzi. Here you spend the summer months, dividing your energies between false alarms, field drill, becoming accomplished in the fine art of foraging, and making the acquaintance of the secesh beauties.
Meantime, comrades, my imagination lags behind. My memory still hangs over scenes in Wisconsin. While your ranks were being silently but savagely decimated by the hands of disease, other boys, who the fall before. in view of their beardless faces had not dared whisper aloud their purposes ; had not forgotten you. Lieut. Fancher was home recruiting. The severest bat- tle of the war, the one which some of you fought and won in September, '61, remained for some of us to fight
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6TH WISCONSIN BATTERY.
in August, 1862. On the Ist of September we '62 boys joined you, some eighteen of us, I think. You gave us cordial welcome, and by this time have, I think, quite forgiven us that we did not go in with the first. Hence- forth my memory and experience runs parallel with that of the 6th Battery to its close. Details have a fascina- tion for me which I dare not at this place indulge in, the time is too short. Long, vigilant nights and anxious days in that September at Rienzi. . No day was exempt from alarm at the picket post. "Boots and saddles" was a more familiar call from bugle than the stable call. The harnessing, saddling, mounting in hot haste-the moving out for battle-the long waiting in the sultry road, then returning to something harder to bear than battle, waiting and watching became monotonous. The battle of Iuka was fought and won with the echoes of guns in our ears. All day we stood harnessed in the road, at night the story of the carnage that fell like a whirlwind upon our comrades of the 12th Wis. Battery, came to us, and each one wondered and inwardly doubted if he were equal to such demands. The enemy close in on us, the outposts are gradually withdrawn, Rienzi is abandoned, the Ist of October. The 6th Battery among the last to leave, turns its face towards Corinth, some in vigorous health, ready for duty's call, others of us pros- trate, carted like limp sacks of wool in mule wagons and on flat cars.
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