OHIO FOURTH INDEPENDENT BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY ("HOFFMAN'S") (Three Years)

Fourth Independent Battery Light Artillery. Capts., Louis Hoffman, George Froehlich; First Lieuts., Louis Piderit, Louis Zimmerer; Second Lieuts., Max Frank, George H. Haug, George Hust. This battery was mustered into service on Aug, 17, 1861, at Cincinnati, by Capt. J. D. O'Connell, 14th U. S. infantry, to serve for three years. It left Cincinnati under orders the following day and reported at St. Louis, Mo., on Aug. 21. Its first encounter with the enemy was at Bentonville, Ark., in March, 1862, where it performed its duty so efficiently as to compel the enemy to abandon his design. During the terrible fight at Pea Ridge the battery was in an exposed position and received the fire of all the enemy's batteries, losing 4 men and 1 caisson by capture, 3 men wounded, and 1 horse killed. In November it was taken from Helena to Camp Steele, Miss., and remained there until Dec. 19, when it joined Gen. Sherman's expedition against Vicksburg and took a prominent part in the assault on the enemy's works at Chickasaw bluffs. The battery was also engaged in the attack on and capture of Arkansas Post, where it occupied a very exposed position and had 1 of its guns disabled by a solid shot from 1 of the enemy's siege guns. It was also very efficient in the siege of Vicksburg and remained in its position until the surrender of that place. Then it took position before Jackson, Miss., 850 yards from the enemy's rifle-pits, and fired 451 rounds at the doomed place. In November the division to which the battery belonged was ordered to join Gen. Hooker in his operations against Lookout mountain and m that affair performed efficient service. In the fight at Resaca in May, 1864, 2 men were wounded, 1 of them mortally. At Dallas the enemy made a desperate charge, coming within 50 yards of the battery and within 15 yards of the Federal rifle-pits, but the battery repulsed the Confederates with heavy loss. In June it was at New Hope Church, where during the night it fired 136 rounds. Passing through Acworth and over Lost mountain it took position before Kennesaw mountain and for some days bombarded the enemy's works. At Decatur, after the guns of an Illinois battery had fallen into the hands of the enemy, the 4th Ohio battery changed position, killed the horses of the battery captured by the Confederates, compelling the latter to abandon the guns of the Illinois battery and fall back in disorder, leaving many of their number dead upon the field. During the memorable battle on July 28, near Atlanta, in which the Confederate army made a charge in mass, the battery was for some time in a critical position, but by determined fighting was extricated without loss. Fighting was continued up to Aug. 12, the battery being under fire for the most part of the time. On the expiration of its term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustered out and the organization composed of veterans and recruits was retained in the service until March 29, 1865, when it was consolidated with the 10th independent Ohio battery.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 4th Volunteer Independent Light Artillery (Union)

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