Ruggles' Batteries Wayside Exhibit: Shiloh National Military Park

Ruggles’ Batteries

After six hours of blood fighting here it became evident that Confederate infantry alone would not break the strong Union Defenses along the Sunken Road and the thickets beyond.  Toward late afternoon, Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles brought forward eleven batteries of artillery and placed them in a line that began here and extended to your right along the wooded edge of Duncan Field and beyond.

According to Ruggles’ official report, there were 62 cannon here – the greatest concentration of field guns seen on a North American battlefield up to that time.

For more than an hour the Confederate artillery roared, unleashing a great storm of shot, shell, and canister that kept the Union soldiers in the “Hornets’ Nest” pinned down.  Confederate infantry then encircled the Hornets’ Nest and forced its defenders to surrender.

The combined guns of Ruggles’ batteries could fire more than 180 rounds every minute – three pounds per second!  The noise was deafening.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, a West Point Graduate, was convinced that Confederate infantry needed artillery support to conquer the Hornets’ Nest.

Ruggles’ Batteries – April 6, 1862 – P.M.

The Cannon you see today mark the locations of Ruggles’ batteries.  Although not the same cannon used in the battle they comprise one of the best collections of Civil War field artillery in existence.

Colonel Joseph Jackson Woods

Colonel Joseph Jackson Woods was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 11, 1823; was appointed to West Point Military Academy in June 1843, to the place made vacant by the graduation of U. S. Grant. Woods graduated number three in his class and was [commissioned] 2d Lieutenant in the 1st U. S. Artillery, in 1847. Immediately after his graduation he was detailed on [recruiting] service in New York city and in October was ordered, with his recruits, Companies L and M., to join his regiment in Mexico. The ship upon which he embarked was wrecked off the coast of South Carolina. His command escaped to an island and was taken to Fort Moultrie where it awaited another ship and finally reached Vera Cruz January 5, 1848, where the command was assigned to garrison duty. The following October Lieutenant Woods was promoted 1st Lieutenant and ordered back to New York. Soon after he was ordered with same companies — L and M — to Oregon where he arrived May 9, 1849, after a sea voyage of six month from New York. In April, 1851, he was sent in command of a detachment to "The Dalles," on the Columbia river east of the Cascade range, where he [commanded] the post for eighteen month[s]. This was then the only post and he the only commissioned officer between the Cascade range and Fort Laramie. In September, 1852, he returned to Fort Vancouver, and the next February was ordered to New York as Superintendent of recruiting service. In June, 1853, he received leave of absence and visited Iowa, buying land in Jackson County. He married Miss Kezia Hight in September and soon after resigned his commission and removed to his lands in Iowa, where he made his home until the rebellion broke out when he tendered his service to the Governor and was commissioned Colonel of the 12th Iowa, October 23, 1861. From the organization of the regiment to December, 1864, he was constantly with the regiment as its commander or the commander of the brigade or division with which the 12th was serving. At Shiloh he was twice wounded and taken prisoner, but was left on the field and recaptured the second day. Recovering from his wounds he was detailed on recruiting service until his regiment was exchanged when he assumed command. April 14, 1863, he was assigned to the command of 3d brigade, 3d division, 15th Army corps. From that time to the end of his term of his service he was almost constantly in command of a brigade or a division. He served during the Vicksburg campaign including the battle and siege of Jackson. On July 15, 1863, General Tuttle reported sick and Colonel Woods was assigned to command the 3d division and retained that command until October. He commanded the brigade at Tupelo and Oxford, and during the Price raid, until October 16, 1864, when he was again in command of the division until relieved by General McArthur. November 22, 1864, he mustered out of service on expiration of term and returned to Iowa where he engaged in business until 1869 when he removed to Kansas. He was a member of Kansas Legislature; Receiver of the General Land Office; Regent of State University and held several other important offices, he died at his home at Montana, Kas., September 27, 1889. A more complete sketch may be found in proceedings of the reunion of 12th Iowa, held at Sioux City, Iowa in 1892.

SOURCE: David W. Reed, Campaigns and battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 244-5