Parsons' Batteries Heavily Engaged - Stones River National Battlefield - Murfreesboro, TN
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 52.565 W 086° 25.846
16S E 551384 N 3970353
Artillery at this site on the battlefield and their experience
Waymark Code: WMPDFN
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 08/13/2015
Views: 2
County of marker: Rutherford County
Location of marker: Park Rd. & Path, Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro
Marker erected by: national Park Service
Marker text:
Parsons' Batteries Heavily Engaged
The 200 Regular Army gunners of Batteries H and M set up their eight cannon from here all the way to the Nashville Pike. Four four solid hours at brutal, short range they fired many hundreds of rounds of munitions into the rebel ranks. Their steady, punishing barrages helped dishearten their fores and encourage their comrades.
...my instructions from General Palmer were to remain in the positionn where I then was, in order to check the advance of the enemy, should he turn our right [flank]. At about 8 a.m. our infantry came falling back from the pine woods . . . our batteries were swung around and brought at once into action. The approach of the enemy was parallel . . .to our front, and when he arrived within about 300 yards we opened upon his first line . . . [with] canister . . . the enemy fell back beyond our view. He reappeared shortly afterward to our left, but again, receiving our fire, fell back beyond our view . . . At about 12 [noon] just as I had nearly given out of ammunition, I received orders . . . to retire.
Charles Parsons, 1st Lieutenant, commanding battalion,
4th Regiment United States Artillery