Third Independent Battery, Wisconsin Volunteer Light Artillery: a Virtual Cemetery

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Third Independent Battery, Wisconsin Volunteer Light Artillery

from The Military History of Wisconsin in the War for the Union, by E. B. Quiner, Chicago, 1866; reprinted by the St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table, 2000Third Wisconsin BatteryThe Third Battery was recruited under the superintendence of Captain L. H. Drury, at Madison and Berlin, and its organization was completed at Camp Utley, Racine. It was mustered into the United States service on the 10th of October, 1861 with the following officers:Captain—L. H. DruryFirst Lieutenant—Courtland Livingston; Junior First Lieutenant—James T. Purdy;Second Lieutenant—Albert LeBrun; Junior Second Lieutenant—Hiram F. Hubbard;Surgeon—Henry W. Causdell Remaining at Camp Utley until the 23d of January, 1862, they left the State on that day, being ordered to Louisville, Ky., where they went into quarters at Camp Irvine. Here a Camp of Instruction was established, and the company engaged in drilling until the 10th of March, when, being furnished with a battery of four thirty-two pounder rifle guns, they embarked at Louisville, and proceeded up the Cumberland River, to Nashville, Tenn. Here they remained encamped until the 29th [and here the 32 pounders were replaced with two 12-pounder smooth-bore howitzers and four 10-pounder Parrot rifled guns], when they were assigned to a position with the forces of General Buell, and marched to reinforce General Grant at Pittsburg Landing. They arrived at Savannah, Tenn., on the 9th of April, and subsequently moved to Pittsburg Landing, thence to the vicinity of Corinth, where they remained until after the evacuation. On the 11th of June, being attached to General Crittenden's division, the battery took up its line of march with Buell's forces, and moved by way of Iuka, to Tuscumbia, Ala. They remained on duty in Northern Alabama and Southern Tennessee, until the general movement of Buell's forces to the northward, in which they took part. Junior First Lieutenant Purdy resigned on the 18th of August, 1862, and Junior Second Lieutenant H. F. Hubbard was promoted to fill the vacancy, and Walter J. Coburn was appointed Junior Second Lieutenant, vice Hubbard, promoted. Second Lieutenant LeBrun deserted July 2d [roster indicates resigned Nov 16, 1862], and Henry Currier was appointed Second Lieutenant. On the 1st of October, attached to Van Cleve's division of Crittenden's corps, the Third Battery left Louisville, and on the 8th of October, were in position near the battle field of Perryville, or Chaplin Hills. Captain Drury had been appointed chief of artillery, on General Van Cleve's staff, and Lieutenant Livingston commanded the battery. The forces of General Crittenden were not permitted to reinforce General McCook's corps, who were fighting desperately on the left, and they remained idle spectators of the battle, but joined in the pursuit to Crab Orchard. On the 15th of October, the boys of the Third Battery had their first skirmish with the enemy. On that day they had the advance in the pursuit, and followed hotly after the enemy, taking advantage of every hill top to pour in the fire from their long range guns. Pursuit being relinquished at Crab Orchard, the troops returned. The battery camped for a time at Mount Vernon, thence moved to Nashville, where they remained until the 26th of December, when they moved forward with the forces of General Rosecrans, to attack the rebels at Murfreesboro. On the morning of the 31st of December, they occupied a position on the extreme left of the line of General Rosecrans, to guard a ford, but were not engaged, except in repelling a cavalry charge on one of our hospitals, in which Henry S. Utley was wounded by a rebel sharpshooter. On the 1st of January, the battery, with Beatty's brigade, crossed the river and took position overlooking the enemy's right wing, when they opened fire on the rebel skirmishers and cavalry. During the forenoon of the 2d of January, 1863, they were assailed by the enemy's fire from two or three directions, but by lying close to the ground, only one man, Leonard J. Uline, was wounded. The enemy having failed in his efforts against the position of Rosecrans' center and right, massed a large force on his right, and moved to the attack of our left, which consisted of a few regiments of Van Cleve's division. About two o'clock, the enemy, under Breckenridge and Cheatham, about 30,000 strong, advanced in three lines. The troops on that side of the river were too feeble to resist their furious charge, and the Third Battery was ordered to retire across the river at the lower ford, which was accomplished with the loss of several horses and two men wounded, Sergeant Hollenbeck and Daniel Robin. On reaching the opposite side of the river, General Rosecrans massed his artillery, and brought it to bear so effectively on the enemy, that they were unable to withstand it, and broke and ran, closely followed by Negley's and Davis' divisions, who drove them into their intrenchments. The battery remained in its position on Saturday, without further casualty, and the enemy evacuated Murfreesboro next day. The battery encamped near the Lebanon road, and remained in the vicinity of Murfreesboro until the 5th of July, when it marched to McMinnville, where it remained until the general movement of the "Army of the Cumberland," in the Chicamauga [sic] campaign. On the 13th of September, Captain Drury was severely wounded by a shot from a rebel sharpshooter, which fortunately did not prove fatal. In the battle of Chicamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September, the Third Battery was actively engaged, occupying a position on the enemy's extreme left, on the 19th. On the 20th, the battery was in position as a support to the left of General Davis' division, and with the brave Fifteenth Wisconsin, endeavored to hold the position, which was left exposed by the withdrawal of Wood's division. The whole force was driven back, as elsewhere related, by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and the Third Battery was compelled to leave five of its six guns on the field. The total loss of the battery was five guns, thirty-three horses and twenty-six men killed, wounded and missing. The casualties reported by Lieutenant Livingston, were:Died of Wounds—Privates Azro [Arza] J. Nobles and Samuel Palmer—2Wounded—Sergeant Gasherie Decker, Corporal Ira Smith, Privates T.S. Fessenden, H.H.G. Bradt, David S. Bedal, Edward Kanouse, Charles W. Hubbard, Peter Foreman, Thomas Rundle, Henry Weymarth, O.W. Martin, L.W. Lusted, Maurice Scanlan, and H.D. Stevens—14.[Cpt Lucius Drury, the battery commander, was severely wounded and PVT Hassell Stevens was mortally wounded during a skirmish on Sept 13, 1863 one week prior to the battle of Chickamauga.] After the battle of Chicamauga, the Third Battery took position in the defences around Chattanooga, where it remained during the year 1864, being attached to the First Brigade of the Second Division of the reserve artillery. A large number of the men were detached to an Illinois and a New York battery, besides two sections were acting as guard on steamers plying above and below Chattanooga. [Of these men, PVTs Thomas Rundle, Michael Scanlan, and Rasselas Stillwell were wounded and PVT Charles Sickles was killed.] Thirty-three of the men reenlisted early in 1864, and proceeded to Wisconsin on furlough, from whence they returned with a large number of recruits. The Third Battery remained at Chattanooga, Tenn., until the spring of 1865, when it moved to Murfreesboro, and remained until ordered to be discharged, arriving at Madison on the 3d of July. On the 20th, they were mustered out and disbanded. The imperfect returns made to the Adjutant General's office, give but little information relative to the operations of the batteryStatistics—Original strength, 170. Gain—by recruits in 1863, 35, in 1864, 32; reenlisted, 33; total 270. Loss—by death, 26; deserted, 3; transferred, 4; discharged, 60; mustered out, 177.

from The Military History of Wisconsin in the War for the Union, by E. B. Quiner, Chicago, 1866; reprinted by the St. Croix Valley Civil War Round Table, 2000Third Wisconsin BatteryThe Third Battery was recruited under the superintendence of Captain L. H. Drury, at Madison and Berlin, and its organization was completed at Camp Utley, Racine.  It was mustered into the United States service on the 10th of October, 1861 with the following officers:Captain—L. H. DruryFirst Lieutenant—Courtland Livingston; Junior First Lieutenant—James T. Purdy;Second Lieutenant—Albert LeBrun; Junior Second Lieutenant—Hiram F. Hubbard;Surgeon—Henry W. Causdell Remaining at Camp Utley until the 23d of January, 1862, they left the State on that day, being ordered to Louisville, Ky., where they went into quarters at Camp Irvine.  Here a Camp of Instruction was established, and the company engaged in drilling until the 10th of March, when, being furnished with a battery of four thirty-two pounder rifle guns, they embarked at Louisville, and proceeded up the Cumberland River, to Nashville, Tenn.  Here they remained encamped until the 29th [and here the 32 pounders were replaced with two 12-pounder smooth-bore howitzers and four 10-pounder Parrot rifled guns], when they were assigned to a position with the forces of General Buell, and marched to reinforce General Grant at Pittsburg Landing.  They arrived at Savannah, Tenn., on the 9th of April, and subsequently moved to Pittsburg Landing, thence to the vicinity of Corinth, where they remained until after the evacuation.  On the 11th of June, being attached to General Crittenden's division, the battery took up its line of march with Buell's forces, and moved by way of Iuka, to Tuscumbia, Ala.  They remained on duty in Northern Alabama and Southern Tennessee, until the general movement of Buell's forces to the northward, in which they took part.   Junior First Lieutenant Purdy resigned on the 18th of August, 1862, and Junior Second Lieutenant H. F. Hubbard was promoted to fill the vacancy, and Walter J. Coburn was appointed Junior Second Lieutenant, vice Hubbard, promoted.  Second Lieutenant LeBrun deserted July 2d [roster indicates resigned Nov 16, 1862], and Henry Currier was appointed Second Lieutenant. On the 1st of October, attached to Van Cleve's division of Crittenden's corps, the Third Battery left Louisville, and on the 8th of October, were in position near the battle field of Perryville, or Chaplin Hills.  Captain Drury had been appointed chief of artillery, on General Van Cleve's staff, and Lieutenant Livingston commanded the battery.  The forces of General Crittenden were not permitted to reinforce General McCook's corps, who were fighting desperately on the left, and they remained idle spectators of the battle, but joined in the pursuit to Crab Orchard.  On the 15th of October, the boys of the Third Battery had their first skirmish with the enemy.  On that day they had the advance in the pursuit, and followed hotly after the enemy, taking advantage of every hill top to pour in the fire from their long range guns.  Pursuit being relinquished at Crab Orchard, the troops returned.  The battery camped for a time at Mount Vernon, thence moved to Nashville, where they remained until the 26th of December, when they moved forward with the forces of General Rosecrans, to attack the rebels at Murfreesboro. On the morning of the 31st of December, they occupied a position on the extreme left of the line of General Rosecrans, to guard a ford, but were not engaged, except in repelling a cavalry charge on one of our hospitals, in which Henry S. Utley was wounded by a rebel sharpshooter.  On the 1st of January, the battery, with Beatty's brigade, crossed the river and took position overlooking the enemy's right wing, when they opened fire on the rebel skirmishers and cavalry.  During the forenoon of the 2d of January, 1863, they were assailed by the enemy's fire from two or three directions, but by lying close to the ground, only one man, Leonard J. Uline, was wounded. The enemy having failed in his efforts against the position of Rosecrans' center and right, massed a large force on his right, and moved to the attack of our left, which consisted of a few regiments of Van Cleve's division.  About two o'clock, the enemy, under Breckenridge and Cheatham, about 30,000 strong, advanced in three lines.  The troops on that side of the river were too feeble to resist their furious charge, and the Third Battery was ordered to retire across the river at the lower ford, which was accomplished with the loss of several horses and two men wounded, Sergeant Hollenbeck and Daniel Robin.  On reaching the opposite side of the river, General Rosecrans massed his artillery, and brought it to bear so effectively on the enemy, that they were unable to withstand it, and broke and ran, closely followed by Negley's and Davis' divisions, who drove them into their intrenchments.  The battery remained in its position on Saturday, without further casualty, and the enemy evacuated Murfreesboro next day. The battery encamped near the Lebanon road, and remained in the vicinity of Murfreesboro until the 5th of July, when it marched to McMinnville, where it remained until the general movement of the "Army of the Cumberland," in the Chicamauga [sic] campaign. On the 13th of September, Captain Drury was severely wounded by a shot from a rebel sharpshooter, which fortunately did not prove fatal.  In the battle of Chicamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September, the Third Battery was actively engaged, occupying a position on the enemy's extreme left, on the 19th.  On the 20th, the battery was in position as a support to the left of General Davis' division, and with the brave Fifteenth Wisconsin, endeavored to hold the position, which was left exposed by the withdrawal of Wood's division.  The whole force was driven back, as elsewhere related, by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and the Third Battery was compelled to leave five of its six guns on the field.  The total loss of the battery was five guns, thirty-three horses and twenty-six men killed, wounded and missing. The casualties reported by Lieutenant Livingston, were:Died of Wounds—Privates Azro [Arza] J. Nobles and Samuel Palmer—2Wounded—Sergeant Gasherie Decker, Corporal Ira Smith, Privates T.S. Fessenden, H.H.G. Bradt, David S. Bedal, Edward Kanouse, Charles W. Hubbard, Peter Foreman, Thomas Rundle, Henry Weymarth, O.W. Martin, L.W. Lusted, Maurice Scanlan, and H.D. Stevens—14.[Cpt Lucius Drury, the battery commander,  was severely wounded and PVT Hassell Stevens was mortally wounded during a skirmish on Sept 13, 1863 one week prior to the battle of Chickamauga.] After the battle of Chicamauga, the Third Battery took position in the defences around Chattanooga, where it remained during the year 1864, being attached to the First Brigade of the Second Division of the reserve artillery.  A large number of the men were detached to an Illinois and a New York battery, besides two sections were acting as guard on steamers plying above and below Chattanooga.  [Of these men, PVTs Thomas Rundle, Michael Scanlan, and Rasselas Stillwell were wounded and PVT Charles Sickles was killed.] Thirty-three of the men reenlisted early in 1864, and proceeded to Wisconsin on furlough, from whence they returned with a large number of recruits.   The Third Battery remained at Chattanooga, Tenn., until the spring of 1865, when it moved to Murfreesboro, and remained until ordered to be discharged, arriving at Madison on the 3d of July.  On the 20th, they were mustered out and disbanded. The imperfect returns made to the Adjutant General's office, give but little information relative to the operations of the batteryStatistics—Original strength, 170.  Gain—by recruits in 1863, 35, in 1864, 32; reenlisted, 33; total 270.  Loss—by death, 26; deserted, 3; transferred, 4; discharged, 60; mustered out, 177.