Ezra Taylor to Light Battery B, February 18, 1862

COLONEL:

I have the honor respectfully to submit the following report of the part taken by the battery under my command in the series of actions which resulted in the reduction of Fort Donelson:

My force consisted ‘of 120 men, rank and file, four 6-pounder field gun$, two 12-pounder howitzers, and 92 horses, with 1,730 rounds of fixed ammunition. My guns were first brought into action opposite the strong redoubt in the center of the enemy’s works at 9.30 o’clock on Thursday morning, at a range of 800 yards. The enemy responded from a field battery, but only at intervals. We continued to advance up the road, and at about 12 o’clock the right and left sections of my battery took up a position within 200 yards of the enemy’s left wing. Four secession flags were flying at this point. Before my guns were unlimbered the enemy had opened a fierce fire of artillery and musketry, killing 1 of my men and severely wounding 2 others. The guns were got into action as soon as possible, and in half an hour I had succeeded in silencing the enemy’s batteries opposite, but the enemy’s sharpshooters kept up a continuous fire from the rifle pits just outside of their breastworks.

During the night the enemy changed the position of all his guns which bore on my position, as, with the experience of the day, I had secured a perfect range on all his batteries which I had been able to discover. At daylight Friday morning, discovering the change in the enemy’s position and he not opening fire, I removed my battery some

14 R R—VOL VII firing as rapidly as the guns could be worked. By a judicious disposition

of my guns I was enabled to hold six of the enemy’s batteries, consisting –

of thirty-six guns, as I have since learned, in check during the day. The rebel infantry repeatedly charged upon our position, but by a generous distribution of canister shot they were driven back in confusion.

At 11 o’elock I found that the whole of the right wing of our forces had given way and that we were exposed to an attack on the flank, and, in compliance with your order, I retired to the top of the next hill, where a large body of infantry were placed in position to support the battery. Only two of my guns were placed in action here, as the supply of ammunition was nearly exhausted, but Company A, Chicago Light Artillery, of General Wallace’s division, coming up just at that time, I was enabled to borrow a supply of canister, and on the rebels making a last desperate charge it was administered with a very good effect, and their forces were soon on the full retreat.

Thus terminated the action so far as my battery was concerned. My loss in killed and wounded was as follows: Private Oscar E. Beckers, killed. Wounded severely, Sergt. James F. Whittle, Corp. B. Franklin Lilly, Privates Tyler A. Mason and Charles H. Machin; slightly wounded, Corp. William H. Prince, Privates William W. Lowrie, Francis N. Marion, and Charles W. Pierce. One thousand and seven hundred rounds of fixed ammunition were fired during the action. It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to report that all my command behaved with as much coolness as if on parade. When all conducted themselves so gallantly it would be invidious to discriminate. To : Company D, of the Eleventh Illinois Regiment, which you detached to support my command, I am under great obligations, and under the exhausted condition of my horses and some of my men it is certain that my battery would have been much less effective were it not for their valuable services, which were always promptly rendered. To the Seventeenth Illinois Regiment Infantry, who supported me during the morning and were always on the alert, ready for action, I also wish to ox my thanks. j

I beg leave to call your attention to» the annexed list of losses sustained during the siege.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, l