Historical notes and Reports:
Tenth Light Battery
WISCONSIN
(3-YEARS)
Tenth Light Battery. -- Capt., Yates V. Beebe, First Lieuts., David C. Pratt, Philip H. M. Groesbeck, Ebenezer
W. Stetson; Second Lieuts. Philip H. M. Groesbeck, Elbert W. Fowler, Henry A. Hicks, Oscar A. Clark.
This battery was organized at New Lisbon in the fall of 1861, and was mustered in Feb. IO, 1862. It rendezvoused
at Camp Utley, Racine, and left the state March 18 for St. Louis.
On April 1, Lieut. Toner and 25 men were transferred to the 8th battery, and Lieut. Hicks and 45 men to the
9th, leaving but 47 men in the 10th. These were joined in April by 25 recruits and the battery was assigned to
the reserve artillery at Pittsburg landing.
It was in action at the siege of Corinth and then encamped at Tuscumbia creek until July 21, when it moved to
Iuka and left there Aug. 12 to join the Army of the Tennessee near Nashville. One section, which had been left
at Courtland, rejoined the battery at Decatur, Ala., in September. It routed a body of Van Dorn's cavalry at Columbia,
Tenn., and upon reaching Nashville engaged in train escort service.
In November its ranks were augmented by 50 recruits and on Dec. 12 it was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 7th division,
14th corps. It escorted a train to Murfreesboro, where it was temporarily detached and participated in the battle
of Stone's River.
It was on garrison duty at Nashville until April 8; on railroad guard duty at Brentwood until June 3; in garrison
at Murfreesboro until Aug. 19; in camp at Athens, Ala., until Sept. 1; on bridge guard duty at and near Bridgeport,
Tenn., until Oct. 10; and then guarded the river at various points until Jan. 1, 1864, when one section moved to
Calhoun.
It was joined by the other sections in February, and was employed as bridge guard until April 27, when it was
ordered to Cleveland, Tenn., and assigned to the 3d cavalry division, Army of the Cumberland. It was heavily engaged
at Resaca and Calhoun ferry being praised for its ''energy, prompt maneuvering and accurate firing.''
It was on guard duty in the vicinity of Adairsville, Kingston and Cartersville until Aug. 3 and at Red Oak it
silenced the enemy's battery and destroyed 2 miles of railroad. It engaged a battery at Jonesboro with the same
result, burned the depot, rolling stock and buildings, and destroyed 3 miles of track.
It made a vigorous attack on the enemy at Lovejoy's Station and a few days later again silenced the battery
at Red Oak. It was in lively engagements at Burnt bridge Glass bridge, Salt Springs, Nose's Creek and Rome, and
then went into camp at Marietta. It participated in the march to the sea, taking part in engagements at Lovejoy's
Station, Waynesboro, Buckhead Church and other points.
It then joined in the campaign of the Carolinas and was actively engaged at Barnwell, Aiken, Gunter's bridge,
Hornsboro, Monroe's crossing and Averasboro.
The non-veterans who were entitled to discharge, were mustered out at Madison, April 26, 1865, and the balance
of the battery was temporarily attached to the 12th Wis. battery.
The original strength of the 10th was 47; recruits, 121; reenlistments 11; total, 179. Loss by death, 24; desertion,
4; discharge, 60; mustered out, 91.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 83
Report of Capt. Yates V. Beebe, Tenth Wisconsin Battery.
HDQRS. TENTH BATTERY WISCONSIN VOL. ARTILLERY, September 7, 1864.
LIEUT.: In compliance with a communication from you of September 4, 1864, I have the honor to state that the
Tenth Wisconsin Battery reported to Gen. Kilpatrick for duty May 7, 1864, Special Field Orders, No. 125, Department
of the Cumberland, May 4, 1864. On the 13th day of May, engaged the enemy about one hour at Resaca. On the 14th
engaged him all day at Calhoun Ferry. In this action had 1 gun disabled, 1 limber shot to pieces, 3 horses killed
and 1 man, Sergeant Catlin, badly wounded in the
side, two ribs broken. May 15, one section engaged at intervals all day at ------- Ford, between Calhoun Ferry
and Resaca. The company was employed in guarding railroad from Adairsville to Marietta from May 16 to August 18,
when they started with Gen. Kilpatrick on a raid. On the 19th struck the Atlanta and West Point Railroad at Red
Oak about daylight in the morning. Engaged the enemy, silenced his battery, and drove him off. Struck the Atlanta
and Macon Railroad at Jonesborough at 4 p. m. Engaged the enemy and drove him off. On the 20th struck the railroad
again at Lovejoy's Station; engaged the enemy about 2 p. m., got surrounded, charged through Gen. Ross' command
and marched through McDonough to Cotton Indian Creek. Lost in this action and charge 3 horses killed, I set wheel
harness for two horses and 1 set of lead harness for two horses, and 1 limber abandoned, 1 man, Michael O'Connor,
missing, and 4 men slightly wounded. On the 21st marched to Lithuania Station, on the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad.
The company lost on this day's march 1 wagon burned at Cotton Indian River, and 1 man, Thomas Yargan, missing,
and 6 horses abandoned, so badly used up that they could not be moved with the battery at the rate the command
was moving. On the 22d marched to Gen. Garrard's headquarters, near Atlanta. On the 23d marched to Sandtown. On
the 27th marched to Camp Creek. On the 28th engaged the enemy at Red Oak, silenced his battery, and drove him off.
Corporal McCarty was severely wounded in the right arm. On the 30th, at 10 a. m., engaged the enemy about six miles
east of Red Oak and drove him two miles; engaged him again and drove him three miles, and engaged him again and
drove him into Jonesborough. On the 31st of August moved to burnt bridge, on Flint River, about one mile and a
half southwest of Jonesborough. At 1 p. m. commenced shelling the enemy with one section. At 3 p. m. Gen. Cleburne's
division charged us, and the whole battery was brought into action. We held the position until our ammunition was
exhausted, when the whole command fell back. In this action I piece was disabled and 2 horses killed.
On the 1st of September the battery went back to burnt bridge and shelled the enemy at intervals until 3 p.
m. On the 2d day of September moved about six miles to Glass' Bridge. About 2 p. m. engaged the enemy, silenced
his battery, and drove him off. On the 3d day of September moved about five miles and went into camp near Lovejoy's
Station on the right of the Seventeenth Army Corps. On the 5th day of September fell back to burnt bridge. On the
7th of September the enemy threatened us again at burnt bridge. We sent him eight fuse shells with our compliments,
bade him good bye, fell back to Red Oak, and on the 8th day of September we arrived at this place.
I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Y. V. BEEBE
Capt. Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery.
Lieut. E. P. STURGES,
A. A. D. C., Hdqrs. Chief of Arty., Dept. of the Cumberland.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 903-73 THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. [CHAP. L.
[Series I. Vol. 38. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 73.]
Report of Capt. Yates V. Beebe, Tenth Wisconsin Battery.
HDQRS. TENTH WISCONSIN BATTERY, December 18, 1864.
CAPT.: In compliance with a circular from your headquarters, dated December 17, 1864, I have the honor to report
that the Tenth Wisconsin Batter left Marietta, Ga., on the 14th day of November, 1864. On the 16th day of November
the battery was in action at Lovejoy's Station and at Bear Creek Station. At Lovejoy's Station the battery silenced
the enemy's guns and took possession of two of them after the cavalry had run them down. On the 19th the battery
crossed the Ocmulgee and marched thirty-two miles to Clinton. This day's march killed the horses. On the 20th the
battery was in action near Macon; had one wagon broken and destroyed. On the 23d, near Gordon, broke an axle and
destroyed a caisson. On the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th the company marched 123 miles, to Waynesborough; had 30
horses killed and abandoned. On the 28th the battery was in action at Jones' plantation near Buck Head Church,
and on the 29th arrived at Louisville, Ga.
December 1, 2, and 3, the battery marched with Gen. Baird's division to Thomas' Station, seven miles south of
Waynesborough. On the 4th the battery was in action at Waynesborough. On the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th the battery
marched seventy-three miles, to Ebenezer. On the 11th the battery went into camp within five miles of Savannah,
on the Macon and Savannah Railroad. On the 13th and 14th the battery marched thirty miles to Midway Church. On
the 16th the battery went into camp at King's Bridge, where it remains yet.
During this campaign the company has been in action seven times and marched 520 miles. They have lost 1 wagon,
50 horses, and 1 caisson. They have captured 2 horses, 10 mules, and 2 guns.
In a report of this kind there cannot be much said to dazzle the imagination; but if cheerful fighting, tedious
marching and tireless vigilance does lack excitement, it cannot fail to command the admiration of friends and foes.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Y. V. BEEBE,
Capt. Tenth Battery Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery.
Capt. H. J. SMITH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 405-92 OPERATIONS IN S. C., GA., AND FLA. [CHAP. LVI.
[Series I. Vol. 44. Serial No. 92.]
Report of Lieut. Elbert W. Fowler, Tenth Wisconsin Battery, of operations January 27-March 24.
HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SEC. TENTH WISCONSIN BATTERY, In the Field, Mount Olive, N. C., March 27, 1865.
CAPT.: Agreeable to orders I respectfully submit the following report of the operations of my command during
the campaign commencing at Savannah, Ca., January 27, and ending at Mount Olive, N. C., March 24, 1865:
By easy marches, with the brigade, I reached Sister's Ferry, Ga., February 1, and rested till the p. m. of the
3d instant; then crossed the Savannah River, wading swamps and fording mud holes six miles to Robertsville, S.
C., my first bivouac, and the commencement of operations in the Carolinas. From Robertsville, via Lawtonville,
Allendale, Barnwell Court-House, Blackville, Williston, Windsor, to Johnson's Turnout, on the South Carolina Railroad,
twenty-two miles from Augusta, was without special incident to the battery.
March 11 [February], in position on the pike at Johnson's Turnout, facing toward Aiken; open level ground to
my left, front, and right, bounded by pine woods about 1,000 yards distant. By order of Gen. Kilpatrick I opened
fire upon the enemy's charging line of cavalry as they emerged from the woods in front with both guns, while Second
Brigade was forming in the barricades on the right, and fired slowly till the enemy opened fire on my left, when
I, by order of Capt. Beebe, chief of artillery, cavalry division, moved quickly to the left to the rail barricade,
600 yards distant, and had time to fire but two rounds of canister before the enemy, already whipped by the Eighth
Indiana Cavalry (my support on the left), got out of range. Fired this day from the two guns fifty-nine rounds,
of which two were canister, the rest fuse-shells. What execution my fire did I was unable to learn, as I had no
opportunity to visit the field after the fight.
From the time I left Johnson's Turnout, February 13, to the time the command reached the North Carolina line
north of Chesterfield, March 4, was hard marching for artillery, and told severely on my horses.
Near Hornsborough Post-Office, S. C., March 4, there was considerable skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry,
which had followed us closely for some time. In the evening, by order of Col. Jordan, commanding brigade, one gun
was run by hand to the crest of a hill about 100 yards to the right of my park, and fired one shell at the enemy's
cavalry picket-post, distant about 1,000 yards, which had the effect of dispersing the force. About one hour later
the brigade was moved rapidly about two miles southeast, and the battery, by order of Gen. Kilpatrick, put in position
enfilading the road to the rear. The rest of the division passed, leaving the First Brigade to protect the rear.
I was very much dissatisfied with my position, but owing to the quicksand around me could not better it--on a rise
of ground, woods in rear, devoid of protection for limbers or caissons, in rear of and above the rail barricades,
with woods to the front and left, distant but about 500 yards, with the dismounted cavalry in the barricades in
front of the guns in my way, so that I could not fire without firing over their heads, impracticable for canister
and dangerous for shell, especially after dark. Two regiments formed my support on the left, facing to the front
and left flank; the balance of the brigade was on the right. I did not know their positions. At dusk the enemy's
cavalry charged, mounted, from the woods on the left of the road (I was on the right) and I commenced firing by
order of Col. Jordan, commanding brigade; seven shells in connection with the fire of the other troops drove the
enemy back and they troubled us no more. Via Morven, N. C., pontoon bridge at Rocky Mount Post-Office, S. C., Rockingham,
N. C., to Fayetteville, N. C., which the command reached March 11, was severe marching for artillery, killing several
horses by overwork on rough, muddy roads, and in swamps so near impassable that the carriages had to be hauled
through by hand, the horses not being able to stand up in the road.
March 15, from Fayetteville across pontoon bridge to the vicinity of Averasborough I marched in the rain and
mud at a trot. The road was rough and muddy and tried my horses as much as any march in the campaign. The next
morning the First Brigade advanced a mile or more toward Averasborough, and were skirmishing heavily before I was
ordered on the field. By order of Gen. Kilpatrick I came in battery on a rise of ground in an open field on the
left of the road, and distant about 1,500 yards from the enemy's earth-works, behind which was a battery of four
guns, 12-pounder brass, which opened fire upon me while I was coming up the road and getting into position. The
enemy's battery was on about the same plane as my guns, level open ground between, except a wooded ravine about
200 yards in my front, which partially screened my guns from the enemy's fire. I commenced firing with singularly
good effect as reported by prisoners taken. The first five shots fired (fuse-shell) took effect, each killing a
man or horse. The third shot fired exploded a limber. During the time I was in action, and before any other guns
opened on the enemy I received notice that I had dismounted one of their guns-hit it on the face. The position
of our lines I knew nothing of, except the heaviest musketry was in the woods to my right. I attracted and kept
the fire of the enemy's battery directed upon me, so that as far as I could learn not a man of the cavalry division
was injured by their fire. I was ordered to cease firing by Capt. Beebe, chief of artillery of the cavalry division,
and was immediately after relieved by the artillery of the Twentieth Army Corps. Ammunition expended, 150 rounds,
about equal parts fuseshell and case-shot.
That evening the command moved to Black River and bivouacked. From Black River to Mount Olive the battery was
not engaged. The fuses provided for 3-inch rifled guns I have found very defective, not over half of the shells
exploding. The superiority of the 3-inch rifle over the 12-pounder Napoleon at 1,500 yards was very marked. I had
no casualties of men or horses, while my fire was very destructive to the enemy. The caissons for field artillery
are ill-adapted for cavalry service. My experience has been that one-third more horsed are killed by overwork on
the caissons than on the pieces. Taking off the spare wheel and rear ammunition chest would equalize the draughts.
Where all men did their duty it is hard to distinguish. Sergeants Alonzo Priest and Henry L. Childs, chiefs
of pieces, for coolness and general efficiency; Corporals Reuben Bixler, detailed from Company K, Ninth Pennsylvania
Cavalry, and J. W. Ratliff, detailed from Company D, Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, for accuracy of fire; John W. Pratt,
Tenth Wisconsin Battery, and Jacob McKinley, detailed from Company C, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, acting at post
No. 6; George Farbar, detailed from Company B, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Philip I. Whitman, Company H, Ninth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, acting at post No. 1, for good conduct and efficiency deserve mention.
Respectfully submitted.
E. W. FOWLER,
Second Lieut., Cmdg. Section Tenth Wisconsin Battery.
Capt. WARD,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Report of Lieut. Oscar A. Clark, Tenth Wisconsin Battery, of operations January 28-March 24/
HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE ARTILLERY, In the Field, March 29, 1865.
CAPT.: In compliance with circular from Second Brigade, Cavalry Command, I have the honor to report that this
section of Tenth Wisconsin Battery on the 17th day of January, 1865, reported to Second Brigade, Third Cavalry
Division, for duty. It left camp near Savannah, Ga., on the 28th day of January, 1865, then marched to Sister's
Ferry, on the Savannah River.
February 3, crossed the Savannah River. February 6, in action near Barnwell, S. C., shelling the enemy and driving
him from his intrenchments. February 7, struck the Augusta and Charleston Railroad at Blackville. February 11,
in action at Aiken; retired to Johnson's Station; here this section was posted behind barricades, where it shelled
and checked the enemy's advance and drove them back through the woods. February 14, in action at the North Edisto
River, shelling the enemy; crossed the river, and drove him from his barricade. February 17, crossed the Saluda
River at Train's Ferry. February 20, crossed Broad River. February 22, were at Black Stocks, on the Columbia and
Charlotte Railroad. February 23, crossed the Catawba River at Rocky Mount. February 25, camped at Lancaster Court-House.
March 4, in action near Hornsborough, S. C. March 6, crossed the Great Pedee River near Rockingham. March 12, lost
one man captured, Joseph Unselt, private. March 13, crossed Cape Fear River at Fayetteville. March 15, in action
at Moore's Cross-Roads. March 20, were in line of battle in rear of our infantry at Bentonville. March 22, the
enemy left our infantry's front; campaign ended.
This section of the Tenth Wisconsin Battery, since breaking camp near Savannah, has marched nearly 500 miles.
It has drawn but five days' rations of hard bread and eight of coffee, subsisting almost entirely on the country.
This plain, unvarnished report has not much in it do dazzle the imagination, but if ceaseless energy and cheerfully
performing our duties throughout a long and tedious campaign should meet with the approbation of our commander,
we shall feel proud of the humble part which we were permitted to take in the great and glorious campaign which
has just ended so successfully to our arms and our cause and with such disaster to the arms and cause of the enemies
of our common country.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
O. A. CLARK,
Second Lieut., Tenth Wisconsin Battery.
Capt. H. J. SMITH,
A. A. A. G., 2d Brig., 3d Cav. Div., Mil. Div. of the Miss.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 906-98 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
[Series I. Vol. 47. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 98.]
