USA > Wisconsin > History of the First Wisconsin Battery Light Artillery > Part 7
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The next Surgeon to be detailed to the Battery was slight and thin. He seemed to believe the medical stores his own pri- vate property and doled them out grudgingly. Him we dubbed "Peknuckle Jack." He was lost in the shuffle at Milliken's Bend.
The next was his antithesis. Bluff. stout, liberal, hearty. Him we called "Old Bi-God," or "Mild Cathartic." from his formula while handing over powders to a patient: "Here's something that's good. I know it's good. for I've tried it myself. It'll purify your blood, open your bowels and act as a mild cathartic. bi-god."
Like the wine at the feast of Cana, the best came last, Dr. Dinwiddie. He was comrade, healer, friend, and deserves a chapter all to himself.
Heard about the mule that strayed from that Tennessee Granger and got to the Battery ? So to protect him from the cold blasts that were wont to play through the Gap, the boys found
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him a cozy place in a nice ravine and fed him well, making sun- dry changes in his appearance, such as trimming his mane, mak- ing a paint brush tail, and some spots on different parts of his body. In due course of time the boys found out that Mr. Gran- ger was in need of a mule and it was not long before the mule was in the Granger's possession, who turned him loose in the barn yard to become familiar with the surroundings, but he preferred to go to the stable and his stall as of old, and the Granger 'lowed it looked like the mule had been there before, and the boys had no reason to dispute his word.
CHAPTER VII.
"The rattling roll of the musketeers, The ruffled drums and the rallying cheers."
W E now come to our first fight, and the statements of the affair are so conflicting we must e'en let the boys "tell us just how it was." In the original as published in the Hokah Sun appears excellent articles telling just how they saw it, from Johnnie Davidson, Dan Webster, Jabez Spaulding, Joe Bowker, Sam Blake, Jim Davidson, Billy McKeith, Carl Cameron, and Enos Pierson of the 16th Ohio. Amid all this wealth a selection must be made, a mosaic formed from bits here and there. All is good and every line interesting, but there is not room for all. If any fellow thinks he is playing a minor part, let him look pleasant and "act like Martin."
On the morning of August 3, 1862, De Courcey's brigade, 16th and 42d Ohio, 19th and 22d Kentucky, and the 1st Wis- consin Battery, convoying about two hundred wagons, left the Gap and marched to Tazewell, Tenn., where we camped that night just north of the town. The next morning, Sunday, we marched through the village and formed line of battle in the fields. It was a fine brigade drill, with, at present, no enemy in sight. Soon a regiment and two pieces were sent on a recon- noissance and wagons loaded with forage. This work was con- tinued until the 6th, the loaded wagons being daily returned to the Gap. The enemy soon began to come into collision with our different parties, pressing us closer until we of the four guns, on the ridge to the north of the town, saw a line of battle coming over the ridge south of the town, about a mile away. It was the advance of Kirby Smith, who eventually penetrated as far as Frankfort, Ky. We broke this line and scattered it in fragments. They then ran a couple of guns over the ridge and opened upon us, but, like the Indian's venison, they lasted mighty quick under our killing fire. They troubled us no more, and in the darkness we fell back to the shelter of the Gap.
To go back and pick up the tale, quoting from some of the boys:
"A few citizens were also seized as prisoners, one of whom was detected in signaling the enemy. At Big Springs, or Syca- more P. O., some two miles south from Tazewell, our troops drove the enemy back and captured some cattle, sheep and horses. They also found a country store from which most of the goods had been removed. Those that were left were seized and hurriedly distributed by our soldiers. When the soldiers returned to camp that night it was a novel sight to see how
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they were equipped. One man would have a violin, one a cof- fee mill, while others would have looking glasses, books, paper, canes, pillows, bed quilts, blankets, poultry, etc .; some of them were wearing ladies' hats trimmed with gay colored ribbons and others were wearing peacock feathers a yard or more in length in their hats. On Monday another party went out via Big Springs and had a bit of a skirmish with the enemy, but succeeded in loading the wagons. One piece of the Battery, under charge of Sergeant Sawyer, came very near running into a rebel ambush, but they discovered their danger just in time to retire and shell the enemy out of that `timber.'
"On Tuesday the rebel cavalry made a dash upon our right flank, expecting to find it open, but ran into our pickets and kicked up a fuss in which one of the 19th Kentucky men was wounded and three of the rebels killed. On Wednesday morn- ing the 16th Ohio regiment and two pieces of artillery, the lat- ter under command of Lieutenant Anderson, who was really in command of the Battery, remained just back or north of Taze- well on a ridge with the 22d Kentucky Regiment on its right and the 42d Ohio upon its left. The 14th Kentucky, which, with the 42d Ohio, had come up the day before, were in the advance on the right. The enemy were known to have re- ceived reinforcements of both infantry and artillery and were also known to be stronger than our forces.
. "This was really the first fight the Battery had ever partici- pated in, and the first time any of them had ever seen a dead rebel. We doubt if Carl Cameron was ever more horrified or disgusted than when he stood gazing at a cadaver that had been killed by a wound in the abdomen, through which the vis- cera protruded, and a lank infantryman deliberately detached a piece of the adhering fat and quietly proceeded to grease his shoes. That was more than war. - It was rank barbarism. But the aftermath of the battle is the worst of all. While the fight is on no sentiment prevails. The sense of personal danger is completely lost in the desire to whip the other fellow.
"While the Battery was shelling that charging rebel line two terrified ladies leading a child came running from town toward the Battery, when Jim McConnell gallantly stepped forward and cried, 'Run right to us, ladies: run right to us' which they did, and were passed to the rear. How many, if any, in the Battery would then have liked to have exchanged places with those ladies at that time will. perhaps, never be known.
"On Wednesday morning, while the probability of a fight was being discussed in the Battery, Jerry, Lieutenant Webster's patent leather servant, became very brave and patriotic. He hoped there would be a fight. and wanted to take the place of the first man that fell in battle. When the fight came the Lieutenant wishing to assist in the managing of a gun, handed
GEO. W. ARMSTRONG.
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his horse to Jerry to hold until called for. Not long thereafter the Lieutenant found his horse running loose and Jerry among the missing. He had taken an extra horse and departed for the Gap when the first shell from the rebel gun exploded near us, and he reported that the whole army was cut in pieces and cap- tured. Jerry had seen enough of war, and struck out for Lex- ington, where he had left a wife and slavery to 'jine' the army."
Frank Downs writes :. "In writing up the history of the 1st Wisconsin Battery, Light Artillery, there are certain incidents that happened only to a portion of the Battery, which have not found their way into the general history ; and thus it happens that an event most momentous to those engaged in it has, so far, passed unnoticed, and that is the part taken by the right of center' the day preceding the episode at Tazewell, as well as the part taken on the day of the Tazewell fight.
"The events of the march on the 2d of August, from Cum- berland Gap to Tazewell, with De Courcey's brigade, is known to us all, but some of the events of August 5th were only known to the center section. On that day it was stationed on the top of the mountain. or ridge, which separates Tazewell Valley from Clinch River. The rest of the Battery passed on with the brigade down into the valley of the Clinch. They had been gone some hours when an order came for one of our guns to go down and take position where the other four guns had been, near the river ford, and the 'right of center,' of which the writer of this was gunner, was ordered down. We went leis- urely along the road, and knowing that our forces had preceded us but a few hours, we kept no special lookout. As we neared the river we were at a loss to know where to take position, as there was not a soul to be seen who could tell us where the other four guns had been placed, and as our gun squad strag- gled along all at once we were surprised to see a body of horse- men right on our flank, who appeared somewhat surprised, while we were equally astonished. As we knew there was no cavalry in our command it flashed upon us that they were Con- federates, and in a moment we came into battery and gave them a round of canister, and, like two colts that had kicked their heels together, both were startled, the Confederates wheeling and going one way, while we limbered up and went in the op- posite direction. Our boys claimed that they saw a number of Confederates fall and some horses running off with empty sad- dles. The firing brought to us a company of our own men, who had been left to watch the road to the ford of the Clinch River. Having now an infantry support we felt more secure, but to prevent a surprise by a sudden dash from the brush or woods we fell back into an open field, as our orders were to remain
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near the ford until sundown. The day was warm and we placed our guns ready for action while the boys gathered under the grateful shade of a large tree standing nearby. Some went to sleep, others were amn-ing them lives in different ways, when, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, a 12-pound how- itzer shell passed through the top of the tree under which we were resting; it brought us to our feet with a jump; we had had some little running skirmishes prior to that time and had heard the ping of the rifle bullets, but this was the first time that a shell had passed squarely over us. We replied with a 10- pound Parrott shell, and then the fight commenced in earnest. Soon they opened on us with two 12-pound howitzers, when we sent back for the 'left of center.' which came down the mountain with a rush, and thus reinforced we soon made the enemy withdraw their howitzers, after which they opened on us with two pieces commonly known as six-pound James rifle.' The enemy's battery was placed on a little rise of ground between us and the river; the woods and bushes con- cealed from us the troops that were supporting it, and left us but little opportunity to see the effect of our shells, but we warmed it to them, so that in a short time they were silenced. We obeyed orders and remained there until sundown. None of our boys were injured; what loss, if any. the enemy sus- tained we never knew.
"This was the first artillery duel our section, or at least our platoon, had been engaged in. The 'center' fell back that night and stood picket on the top of Waldron's Ridge, between the Clinch and the Tazewell; our gun, right of center,' was placed on the point of the ridge, where the road turned down into the valley of the Clinch, the other gun. left of center,' was placed on the top of a little spur of the mountain that put out towards the Clinch, and off from the main road leading down the mountain; the other four guns, together with the brigade, had made a circuit, and by another road had returned to the west of Tazewell.
"A portion (I think) of the 33d Indiana was on picket that night, and in the morning had been relieved by two companies of the 16th Ohio. Suddenly we heard infantry firing all around us. The Confederates during the night had spread out like a letter V, and had passed beyond us, on each flank. We heard 'left of center' fire a shot of canister, but from where we were not a soul was to be seen, and in a moment it dawned upon us that we were surrounded. We limbered up, and then commenced one of the most exciting races that I was ever in or saw. Down the mountain we went. on a full gallop, not a wheel locked, and every cannoneer doing the finest sprint- ing that he ever did in his life. As we reached the foot of the mountain we looked back, and saw the Confederate lines
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drawing together like the lower point of a V. The 'left of center' was still behind us, and as we crossed the bridge over the Tazewell we could see our four other guns in battery on the ridge above town, with the balance of the brigade support- ing them. We looked back, and the two lines of the Confed- erates were just closing together, when, like a shot from a cannon, the left of center' burst through the closing ranks, while rifles rang and bullets whizzed on every side; but on sped horse and rider, cannon and cannoneers, through, as it were, the very jaws of hell; bullets were bedded in blankets and knapsacks, harness was cut with flying missiles, but neither horse, rider, or cannoneer fell, and like the cannon's bolt the 'left of center' crossed the bridge and was safe. As we reached the position where the other guns were, their can- noneers had to place our guns in position for us, as we had no breath or strength left to do so.
"What happened after that we all saw. The Confederates closed together, formed lines of battle, and began to sweep across the little valley of the Tazewell; there stood our bat- tery, every gun loaded and ready; nearer and nearer drew the hostile line, when out rang the order, 'Ready !- Fire!' and six 10-pound shells went plunging plumb square into the moving human mass; the line quivered; again out roared the six cannon; the line again quivered and staggered; the third time the six pieces roared in unison; the line staggered, fell. broke to pieces, and did not form again that day, except in isolated groups.
"The two companies of the 16th Ohio on picket fared badly that morning, being nearly all captured. Two of the Ohio sol- diers distinguished themselves that day when, finding that the Confederates had swept by them, they started to the enemy's rear and captured Lieut .- Col. Gordon, of the 11th Tenn. (Con- federate). within sight and hearing, almost, of his own regi- ment. What the Confederate loss was that day we do not know, but it appears from the 'War Records' that the Knox- ville Register admitted that 'Vaughn's Regiments alone lost 109 men in the fight.'
"One of the stories told of that famous race is that Billy MeKeith, gunner, after firing a load of canister, had ordered a shell with a short fuse, but seeing that to run was the better part of valor, limbered his gun and made the rush down the mountain. Nick Hitchcock, who was No. 5, had the shell and cartridge in his hands as the gun was limbered, and did not drop either of them, but with the 10-pound shell in one hand and the cartridge in the other he started in the race; part way down the mountain his suspenders gave way; there was no time to make repairs, so he freed one hand by throwing away the' cartridge, and grasping his slipping
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breeches, he kept in the race, and brought the 10-pound shell safely through.
"The memory of that beautiful August day will never be forgotten by any one witnessing its stirring scenes. That lonely little valley of the Tazewell, and the town that lay so snugly at the foot of the hill, the terror of its people, when they suddenly found themselves between the hostile forces, the hurrying to and fro, and the pale faces of fleeing women and children seeking safety, will haunt my memory while life lasts."
Sam Blake, chief of piece, left of center, writes:
"Presently we could hear the rebels in our front coming toward us through the timber, and could distinguish their orders to 'close up,' 'guide on center.' etc. We knew by their manner of giving orders they were rebels. although they were dressed in blue uniforms, like our own men. We had a shell in the gun, which we turned out and replaced with a charge of canister, on top of which another bag of canister shot, remnants of some broken cartridges, was put, making a double charge. The gun was depressed so the line of sight would strike the ground about two-thirds of the distance to the tim- ber. As they came out of the timber in our front they halted to dress their line, when Billy McKeith. who was my gun- ner, fired, then loaded again and fired to the right. About this time they opened upon us. I told Billy to 'git,' and they 'got.' Part of the cannoneers mounted the off horses and others the limber chests, but Charles Withee, Mike Trafts and Nick Hitchcock tried to outrun the horses. They left mne be- hind, as my horse refused to move until he was unhitched from the tree to which he was tethered by a strong halter."
"There were some amusing incidents happened. Jim Crocker was ordered to go and tell Sergeant Norm. Webster to retreat, and Sergeant Aylmer was sent to call my gun in. Webster's gun was having some fun with a rebel howitzer, and horses unharnessed and men taking it easy, when they heard our two shots to their right. They hitched up double quick, just as Jim came in sight, swinging his hat and shouting 'Get out of here - quick, as you are surrounded," and they did get, but not a moment too soon, for 47 of the 16th boys were captured. A Corporal of that regiment, however, captured the rebel Lietuenant Colonel Gordon, of the famous Gaines regiment of Georgia, and conducted him into the Federal lines. We met Aylmer in a hollow waiting for us. He said he thought, under the circumstances (the bullets were flying as thick as hail), we would know enough to get out of there without being told; and we did."
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Johnnie Davidson says: "The afternoon before the fight (I forget the date) the center section was ordered over the
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hill. Since reading some of the correspondence in the paper I believe there was one left section gun with us. We went out on a reconnoissance, also to do a little foraging on the side; there was not much foraging done, however, because we had run against Gen. Bragg's advance. At the foot of the hill we went into position, but not seeing any rebs we went into battery under shelter of a large tree. While watching a group on picket in a field to our left we saw the dirt fly about their feet and heard a noise like a good-sized musket, and came to the conclusion that it was a cannon, but not being used to rebel shell could not tell for sure. In a few minutes a shell came through the tree top; then we got to work, center sec- tion only being there. After firing several shots we were ordered up the hill again. When the right of the center got on top of the hill, just where the road turned to our right, and facing town, we were ordered to go into position, not to unhitch the teams, nor men to undress. Being an outpost or picket with artillery, we did unhitch and partly undress, but we did not know what danger we were in. We were routed out early next morning, when Billy McKeith let them have a dose of canister. We were not long getting limbered up and into the road. I want to say right here, if you ever saw any one go down a hill without lock or brake, it was a part of the 1st Wisconsin Battery. The rebs were so close to us it is a wonder they did not mow us all down. I guess the only reason they did not hit any one was, we were going too fast.
"Some people reading this might think we were scared. We were not; we only wanted to get back to Tazewell."
Enos Pierson, of the 16th Ohio, sums up with: "Having participated in the Tazewell races which came off on the 6th of August, 1862, just reading an article from Davison reminds me of the events of that memorable morning. Our regiment (the 16th Ohio) went on picket that morning, Companies B and E going on the extreme outpost with one of your guns. Companies C and G were left at the forks of the road on the top of the hill, while Companies F and D) were to our right in the blackberry patch watching the woods in their front. I think Sergeant Sam Blake had charge of the piece that was stationed at that point. The reserve had stacked arms and piled up their knapsacks near by and were enjoying themselves, when the Sergeant Major came running down the road telling us to fall in, as the outpost was getting in close quarters. We formed and started on double quick and had only got fairly started when we heard and saw the rebs swarming through the woods on our right. Lieut. Col. Kershner. who was in com- mand, about faced us and came back, filed into the field and rushed to the support of Blake's gun. Just as we got to the brow of the hill the rebel brigade was coming over the fence.
1
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Blake gave them a double charge of canister, and C and G a volley from our French rifles, which laid a good many of them out. We fell back down the hill, loading as we went; then about faced and went up and gave them another volley. The gunner had limbered up, and the way they went down that hill to the orchard was a caution. We fell back across the road into the timber, loading and firing as we went until we reached the top of the opposite hill, where we deployed along a cornfield fence. We stayed there until our ammunition was all gone and we were nearly surrounded, when we struck out for Tazewell, or rather, where the rest of the brigade was. We had to leave our knapsacks in the hands of the enemy. The 16th had only two killed-Captain Edgar, of Co. B, on the outpost, and Private Hoke, of Co. I, near the orchard at the foot of the hill. The 14th Kentucky was in the orchard. I think they had some men wounded.
"Corporal Paul Wilder, of Company B, 16th, in making his escape from the outpost, where they had been surrounded, took the rebel Col. J. B. Gordon prisoner and brought him to camp. He was promoted to Sergeant, and was killed at Chick- asaw. Gordon was exchanged for the 47 that were captured on the outpost.
"During our game of ball that day Col. De Courcey resorted to a little strategy. By marching the 22d Kentucky and 42d Ohio around a knoll, part of the troops were in sight of the rebels all the time, but on the march, thereby conveying the idea that the whole of Morgan's Division was on hand ready for them if they made any farther advance. I was in a posi- tion to witness the effective work done by the battery, after we all got back together again.
"The rebel artillery soon went out of business when the 1st Wisconsin got down to work. The 16th boys have always thought and still think that there was no better battery in the field than Foster's 1st Wisconsin.
"The ridge spoken of, the same where the rebels tried to plant a battery in the face of our fire, is called Waldron's Ridge. Now Tazewell is of about 800 or 1,000 inhabitants. About a mile south is New Tazewell, upon the railroad. Land is worth from $10 to $60 an acre, and the country prosperous. The ridge is now a burying ground for colored people and the trees back of it cut away. The town was alternately held by Federal and rebel until 64. and relies are yet plowed up. A 'man and brother' secured one of our Rodman shells, the fuse of which had failed to ignite. One day, to get the lead, he put it in the oven of his cook stove, after getting up a good heat. and soon after he peered in to see if the lead was vet melted. The agitation of the caloric, or being at the opportune moment, set the fuse spitting. Divin-
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ing results, he seized Dinah and waltzed out, quick time. I think we were cutting our fuse at three and a half seconds then -- how was it, Gabe, Riffenberg, Downs ?- and he and Dinah spent the fourth second dodging stove covers, roof boards and rafters. Who fired that shell? Come to the front, you gun- ners, and let the guilty man send a written apology to Dinah. Or was it a No. 6 in fault ?"
CHAPTER VIII.
"For those that fly may fight again, Which he can never do that's slain."
A FTER this Tazewell expedition we were completely hemmed in and besieged. Kirby Smith was in our rear and Stevenson in our front. Our supply of rations and forage was limited, and we were put upon three-fourths ra- tions.
Just south of the little valley in which was located division headquarters was a high ridge of land, known as "Poor Valley Ridge," beyond which was the valley from which it received its name.
This valley was something like, or more than, a mile in width, and beyond which the enemy was encamped. In order to enter this valley from the Gap it was necessary to go to the eastward and around the edge of said ridge.
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