We started on the last post working down this long list of Indiana batteries:
In that last post, we discussed the first dozen independent batteries. Picking up there, we have independent batteries 13 through 26:
Yes, a baker’s dozen plus one. But with those fourteen batteries, we actually have less numbers to consider as only half provided returns. So a lot of administrative holes to resolve:
- 13th Battery: No return. Captain Benjamin S. Nicklin’s battery remained at Gallatin, Tennessee, garrisoning Fort Thomas, in the Army of the Cumberland.
- 14th Battery: No return. Lieutenant Francis W. Morse remained in command. The battery started the summer in Jackson, Tennessee. In June, the battery transferred to the railroad town of LaGrange and remained there for the remainder of the summer. Presumably still with three 6-pdr field guns and one 3-inch Ordnance Rifle, the battery was part of the Sixteenth Corps’ many garrison commands.
- 15th Battery: At Oak Springs, Tennessee with six 3-inch rifles. Captain John C. H. von Sehlen commanded this battery, assigned to Fourth Division, Twenty-Third Corps and part of the campaign moving on Knoxville. The report location is likely related to the November reporting date.
- 16th Battery: A return of Fort Washington, Maryland without any guns listed. There is a faint note “Infy Stores” under the regiment column. Lieutenant Charles R. Deming’s battery were part of the Washington Defenses.
- 17th Battery: No return. At the end of the Gettysburg Campaign, Captain Milton L. Miner’s battery became part of the Maryland Heights Division, Department of West Virginia. The battery reported six 3-inch Ordnance Rifles in previous quarters.
- 18th Battery: No Return. Captain Eli Lilly’s battery supported Wilder’s Brigade, Fourth Division, Fourteenth Corps. The battery brought six 3-inch rifles and four 12-pdr mountain howitzers to Chickamauga. The mountain howitzers supported the 72nd Indiana on September 20, and one of those was lost in the fighting. Lilly reported the lost of two men killed and eight wounded; six horses (plus one wounded); and expending 778 rounds. A shame we don’t have a return from this… unique… and storied battery.
- 19th Battery: Reporting at Chattanooga, Tennessee with three 12-pdr Napoleons and one 3-inch Rifles (not under the usual Ordnance Rifle column). This was a return dated January 1864. But the location is valid. Captain Samuel J. Harris’s battery was also part of Fourth Division, Fourteenth Corps and went into action at Chickamuaga with four 12-pdr Napoleons and two 3-inch Ordnance Rifles. On September 19, Harris was “disabled by a contusion” to his right side and turned command over to Lieutenant Robert S. Lackey. During the fighting that disabled Harris, the battery lost a Napoleon and limber. On the 20th, Lackey kept the battery in the fight, but would have one surviving Napoleon (axle straps) and a 3-inch rifle disabled. While the Napoleon was brought off the field, the rifle’s axle came completely off and was had to be left behind. Harris provided a very detailed statement of lost men, equipment and material after the battle. In addition to the guns, the battery suffered two killed, 16 wounded, and two missing men. The battery had fifteen horses lost or killed and six wounded. Harris accounted for four lost pistols, three sabers, seven sponges, four sponge buckets, two prolongs, among other items. The battery expended 350 3-inch rifle rounds and 750 12-pdr in the battle. Harris recovered and remained in command of the battery.
- 20th Battery: At Nashville, Tennessee with two 6-pdr field guns and four 3.80-inch James rifles. Captain Milton A. Osborne’s battery was assigned to the artillery reserve posted to Nashville, under the Army of the Cumberland. In October, the battery was among the forces pushed out to secure the railroad lines out of Nashville.
- 21st Battery: No return. Captain William W. Andrew’s battery was the third Indiana battery assigned to Fourth Division, Fourteenth Corps. However, Lieutenant William E. Chess field the battery’s report from the battle and appears to have lead the battery in the action. They took six 12-pdr Napoleons into action, but lost one (and limber). Chess recorded firing 10 shot, 168 case, 104 shell, and 160 canister – giving us some indication of the range at which this battery was engaged, and what targets they fired upon, during their part of the battle.
- 22nd Battery: At Bowling Green, Kentucky with four 12-pdr Napoleons. Under Captain Benjamin F. Denning, this battery was assigned to the Second Division, Twenty-Third Corps, Army of the Ohio. Through the fall, the battery served at both Bowling Green and Russellsville, Department of Southwestern Kentucky.
- 23rd Battery: Reporting at Jonesboro (?), Tennessee with six 3.80-inch James Rifles. Captain James H. Myers’ battery came across the Ohio River in September and was assigned to the “Left Wing” of Twenty-Third Corps. Moving by way of the Cumberland Gap, the battery was among the forces operating around Morristown at the start of October.
- 24th Battery: No return. Under Captain Joseph A. Sims, this battery moved from the Third Division to the Fourth Division in Twenty-Third Corps in August. Though that move was basically part of the alignment of forces for the campaign on Knoxville.
- 25th Battery: No return. The 25th would not organize until the late summer of 1864. So this is simply a placeholder line.
- 26th Battery or Wilder’s: At Concord, Tennessee (just west of Knoxville) with six 3-inch Ordnance Rifles, with a report date of March, 1864. Recall this battery was first organized by (then) Captain John T. Wilder, later colonel of the famous “Lightning Brigade.” The battery was captured at Harpers Ferry in 1862 and then reorganized. Though given the 26th as a designation, throughout its service the battery was better known as Wilder’s. Captain Hubbard T. Thomas commanded the battery, assigned to the Twenty-Third Corps. The battery participated in the Knoxville Campaign in East Tennessee. The location given in the return, however, likely reflects its winter garrison assignment.
As with the first batch of batteries, we see the “mark” of Chickamauga here reflected with lost cannon and in some cases missing reports.
Making what we can of the small number of returns, we start with the smoothbore ammunition:
Three to consider:
- 19th Battery: 20 shot, 8 shell, 72 case, and 52 canister for 12-pdr Napoleons.
- 20th Battery: 189 shot, 150 case, and 35 canister for 6-pdr field guns.
- 22nd Battery: 98 shot, 119 shell, 144 case, and 121 canister for 12-pdr Napoleons.
Note, the 19th Battery had but 152 rounds for their three Napoleons in the aftermath of Chickamauga. That is if we take the report as precise for the moment in time.
Moving to the Hotchkiss columns:
Four reporting:
- 15th Battery: 460 canister, 402 fuse shell, and 1246 bullet shell for 3-inch rifles.
- 20th Battery: 145 percussion shell and 392 bullet shell for 3.80-inch James.
- 23rd Battery: 365 percussion shell, 315 fuse shell, and 95 bullet shell for 3.80-inch James.
- 26th Battery (Wilder’s): 520 canister, 260 percussion shell, 574 fuse shell, and 426 bullet shell for 3-inch rifles.
So we see those batteries sent into eastern Tennessee had ample ammunition on hand.
A couple more Hotchkiss entries on the next page:
Two reporting:
- 20th Battery: 150 canister for 3.80-inch rifles.
- 23rd Battery: 210 canister for 3.80-inch rifles.
But none of these fourteen batteries had Schenkl projectiles or Tatham’s canister on hand:
So we move on to the small arms:
Looking at these by battery:
- 15th Battery: Twenty-eight Army revolvers and twenty horse artillery sabers.
- 19th Battery: Fourteen percussion pistols and fourteen horse artillery sabers. I think the pistols are a transcription error, as the battery reported nineteen Army revolvers in the previous quarter.
- 20th Battery: Twenty-two Army revolvers.
- 22nd Battery: Thirty-two horse artillery sabers.
- 23rd Battery: Thirty Navy revolvers and twenty horse artillery sabers.
- 26th Battery (Wilder’s): Nineteen horse artillery sabers.
Moving from the independent batteries from Indiana for this quarter, we still have five entries “below the line” to consider. We’ll pick those up in the next installment.
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