Photo of Madisons Battery Illinois 2nd Light Artillery after Shiloh

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This photo is that of the Illinois 2nd Light Artillery Battery B (Madison's Battery) after the battle of Shiloh.
The handwritten text reads "Madisons Battery as it appeared after the battle Shiloh"
My great grandfather, James Thomas Anson, was part of this battery. He was mustered out as Sgt. in 1865. He died 28 Jan 1926 in Denver, Colorado

I think this photo may have been given to members of the Auxiliary Association of Survivors of the Battle of Shiloh after the war.

An excerpt from a letter written by Auxiliary Association of Survivors of the Battle of Shiloh upon the death of James T Anson as an In Memoriam letter, states,
"Enlisting as a private March 21, 1862 in Battery "B" 2nd Illinois L.A.; his battery was immediately assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and accompanied General Grant's army to Pittsburg Landing just prior to the great battle of Shiloh from which this assocition (sic) derived it's name.
The battery was selected to man the four 20-pound Napoleon guns - commonly known as siege-guns, which were place by Colonel Webster as a nucleus for the last and only strong, unflankable line of defence (sic) extending from the landing west at 3 0'clock P.M. where it did effective service, turning the tide of battle, giving a Union victory to our arms."

Madisons battery resized 1500.jpg
 
This photo is that of the Illinois 2nd Light Artillery Battery B (Madison's Battery) after the battle of Shiloh.
The handwritten text reads "Madisons Battery as it appeared after the battle Shiloh"
My great grandfather, James Thomas Anson, was part of this battery. He was mustered out as Sgt. in 1865. He died 28 Jan 1926 in Denver, Colorado

I think this photo may have been given to members of the Auxiliary Association of Survivors of the Battle of Shiloh after the war.

An excerpt from a letter written by Auxiliary Association of Survivors of the Battle of Shiloh upon the death of James T Anson as an In Memoriam letter, states,
"Enlisting as a private March 21, 1862 in Battery "B" 2nd Illinois L.A.; his battery was immediately assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and accompanied General Grant's army to Pittsburg Landing just prior to the great battle of Shiloh from which this assocition (sic) derived it's name.
The battery was selected to man the four 20-pound Napoleon guns - commonly known as siege-guns, which were place by Colonel Webster as a nucleus for the last and only strong, unflankable line of defence (sic) extending from the landing west at 3 0'clock P.M. where it did effective service, turning the tide of battle, giving a Union victory to our arms."

View attachment 360695
Thanks for posting. Minor issue - technically I think those are 24 lb. smoothbores - as you indicate, siege guns, and part of what Beauregard's forces would have faced if they made a bigger effort to take on Grant's final line.

Do you have any accounts/diaries/correspondence he wrote about the battery?
 
Thanks for posting. Minor issue - technically I think those are 24 lb. smoothbores - as you indicate, siege guns, and part of what Beauregard's forces would have faced if they made a bigger effort to take on Grant's final line.

Do you have any accounts/diaries/correspondence he wrote about the battery?
Thanks. Unfortunately I don't have any correspondence from my relatives or my Great grandfather regarding the battery. I have some unrelated short letters written by James T Anson and his handwriting was terrible. I only have what the Association said and I will have to take your word for the siege guns. They seem awfully big to me for Light Artillery whether 20 lb or 24 lb but I am uninformed on the subject. I have some soldier ID photos which I am trying to identify in the period photos and examinations subforum one of which would be my relative in this battery along with a friend of his.
 
This battery did not submit an Official Report after the Battle of Shiloh but here are a couple of photos of its monument.
Regards
David
1590869432759.png


1590869451252.png


(front of monument)
ILLINOIS
SIEGE GUNS,
2d REGIMENT--ARTILLERY,
UNASSIGNED,
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
(back of monument)
BATTERY "B".
Commanded by
Capt. RELLY MADISON.
This battery of Siege guns was the nucleus around which
was rallied the line that successfully resisted the attack of Sunday evening, April 6, 1862. There were no casualties
 
Thanks. Unfortunately I don't have any correspondence from my relatives or my Great grandfather regarding the battery. I have some unrelated short letters written by James T Anson and his handwriting was terrible. I only have what the Association said and I will have to take your word for the siege guns. They seem awfully big to me for Light Artillery whether 20 lb or 24 lb but I am uninformed on the subject. I have some soldier ID photos which I am trying to identify in the period photos and examinations subforum one of which would be my relative in this battery along with a friend of his.
No question that they're 24 lb siege guns. And you're correct about the oddity of the designation. They were raised in 1861 as a field artillery battery but at some point got outfitted with these monsters (5 of them). They arrived at Pittsburg Landing on April 4 and it must have taken some effort hauling these up to the bluff. I (and I'm sure some others here) am always on the hunt for primary source material from Union artillery units, especially in the western theater. It's too bad he apparently didn't leave anything.
 
I have noticed that everyone in the photo tried to follow directions of "don't move" except the guy in the center show apparently thought "I gotta be me"
 
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