At Stone's River: "A Result most Horrible to Witness"

John Hartwell

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From Cromwell's Kansas Mirror (Kansas City), January 1, 1891:

Among the many good shots made by artillery on both sides, I think one made by the Tenth Indiana battery will rank away along up among the best. The Tenth battery, then under command of Captain Cox, was attached to Wagner's brigade of General Woods' Sixth division. At the battle of Stone River. December 3d, 1862, it was posted on the left of the railroad in the field just south of the round forest, and from fifty to one hundred feet from where now stands the Hazen monument. After doing splendid work through the heat of the battle it was reserved for them to crown their day's work with the most splendid shot ever seen.
Everything on the right of the railroad being defeated and driven back, a new line was formed along the track of the railroad from Wagner's brigade to the rear, thus leaving the Tenth Indiana battery and its infantry support at the point of the angle made by this new formation.
After the new formation the field from the railroad west, across the Nashville pike to the cedar forest that had been fought over so fiercely that morning, became the neutral ground on which either army must fight to pass.
The last attempt the confederates made on the front gave Capt. Cox an opportunity to put in a flank shot in full battery on a line of infantry not fifty yards away that he took advantage of and executed with a result most horrible to witness.
A charging column was formed by the confederates on the high ground to the southwest of the burned Craven house, and in splendid order came across that field until their right flank was opposite and some fifty yards from the battery. Cox, in the meantime, saw the direction they wore taking and thinking they might offer their flank to him, wheeled his six guns to the right, placing them to bear on a given point, then awaited the moment to fire.
Every batteryman was at his post. Six lanyards were held by six powder- besmeared men who knew that but a moment more they would send a bolt of death and destruction into the ranks of a brave but unsuspecting foe. “Steady, men; hold, for the word," said Cox, as he sat in his saddle watching tor the supreme moment. On they came! What a splendid line! Their guns glistened in the descending western sun, Oh, how beautiful the sight this moment, and oh, how horrible the next! "Ready, fire," rang out clear and distinct above the din of battle to the right of us. The smoke rose, and there in one long winrow of death lay half of that splendid line, while the others were seeking safety in flight, "we knocked the bull's-eye," said Cox. "A cheer and a tiger," said his infantry support, and then rang out a prolonged hurrah for the Tenth Indiana Volunteer battery. A Veteran.
Knowing absolutely nothing about the Battle of Stone's River, I turned to the Historynet outline of the affair. I was rather surprised to find neither the 10th Indiana battery, nor Captain Cox even mentioned as being present. Same with other online sources: Am. Battlefield Trust, Wikipedia, etc. This "most splendid shot ever seen," that had so impressed the anonymous writer of this piece, seems to have gone largely unnoticed.
 
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