Semple's Alabama Battery

On September 19, 1863, Semple's Alabama Battery, equipped with four Napoleons and serving in Wood's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Hill's Corps, was commanded by Captain Henry C. Semple, with 1st Lieutenant Richard W. Goldthwaite, 1st Lieutenant E. C. McLelland, and 2d Lieutenant C. M. Dowd. During the afternoon, the battery crossed the Chickamauga at Thedford's Ford with its division and soon after sunset formed a line of battle facing west near the Jay's Mill - Alexander Bridge Road. It then moved rapidly forward, passing over Liddell's Division of Walker's Corps in the advance, and attacked five brigades of the enemy occupying a position well in front of their main line, from which they had been ordered to retire at dark. The attack was delivered as that withdrawal began. Artillery and infantry fire was heavy on both sides, but because both forces were guided by the flashes of opposing guns, the action was more noisy than destructive. Under cover of darkness, the battery advanced to within 60 yards of the enemy's line and opened a rapid fire. Major Hotchkiss, the division chief of artillery, was wounded early in the action, and his duties passed to Captain Semple, who left command of the battery to Lieutenant Goldthwaite. The fighting lasted about an hour, after which the enemy withdrew and the division, including the battery, bivouacked on that ground for the night. The battery's casualties were four men wounded, with several horses killed and wounded.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States