Near Fort Oglethorpe in Catoosa County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Semple's Alabama Battery

Wood's Brigade

— Cleburne's Division —

Semple's Alabama Battery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 22, 2016

1. Semple's Alabama Battery Marker

Inscription. Semple's Alabama Battery.
4 Napoleons.
Wood's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Hill's Corps.
September 19, 1863.

Captain Henry C. Semple, Commanding.
1st Lieutenant Richard W. Goldthwaite.
1st Lieutenant E. C. McLelland.
2d Lieutenant C. M. Dowd.
During the afternoon the Battery with its Division crossed the Chickamauga at Thedford's Ford and soon after sunset formed line of battle, facing west, near the Jay's Mill - Alexander Bridge Road. Moved rapidly forward, passing over Liddell's Division of Walker's Corps in the advance, and attacked five brigades of the enemy who were occupying a position much in front of his main line, from which they were under orders to retire at dark. The attack was delivered about the time this withdrawal began. The firing was heavy from both artillery and infantry, but being guided on both sides by the flash of the guns of the opposing forces, it was more noisy than destructive. Under cover of the darkness the Battery was 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, his duties devolving upon Captain Semple, who left the command of the Battery to Lieutenant Goldthwaite.
The fighting lasted about an hour, after which the

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enemy withdrew and the Division including the Battery bivouacked on this ground for the night.
Casualties: 4 men wounded; several horses killed and wounded.

Erected 1890 by the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Commission. (Marker Number MT-1248.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 19, 1863.

Location. 34° 55.525′ N, 85° 14.434′ W. Marker is near Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Catoosa County. Marker is on Brotherton Road east of Alexander Bridge Road, on the right when traveling east. This tablet is located within the Chickamauga Battlefield, along the south side of the Brotherton Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Oglethorpe GA 30742, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Calvert's Arkansas Battery (here, next to this marker); 38th Indiana Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 93rd Ohio Infantry (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wood’s Brigade. (about 400 feet away); 1st Ohio Infantry (about 400 feet away); Philemon P. Baldwin Memorial Shell Monument (about 500 feet away); Baldwin's Brigade (about 500 feet away); 33rd Ohio Infantry Regiment (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Oglethorpe.

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Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 22, 2016

2. Semple's Alabama Battery Marker

View, looking east along the Brotherton Road, with the cannons situated by the NPS to represent the position of Semple's Alabama Battery seen to the right of the picture.

this marker. I used the "Chickamauga Battlefield" map, that I purchased at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Visitor Center, to determine both the marker number for this tablet and the tablet's location in relation to the rest of the park's monuments, markers, and tablets. According to the map it provides the, "numerical listing of all monuments, markers, and tablets on the Chickamauga Battlefield (using the Chick-Chatt NMP Monument Numbering System).”

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 22, 2016

3. Semple's Alabama Battery Marker

View of the cannons situated by the NPS to represent the position of Semple's Alabama Battery, along with the featured tablet (on the left), looking north.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 22, 2016

4. Semple's Alabama Battery Marker

View, taken from the park roadway, of the cannons situated by the NPS to represent the position of Semple's Alabama Battery, along with a backside view of the featured tablet (on the right), while looking south.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 22, 2016

5. Semple's Alabama Battery Marker

View, looking west along the Brotherton Road, with the cannons situated by the NPS to represent the position of Semple's Alabama Battery seen to the left of the picture.

6-pounder bronze field gun, Model of 1841, Register #203 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Byron Hooks, March 16, 2011

6. 6-pounder bronze field gun, Model of 1841, Register #203

Note the two bird eggs in the muzzle. The second cannon located next to this one is register #84.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2016, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 508 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 28, 2016, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 6. submitted on December 28, 2016, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia.