TITLE: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Series 1 - Volume 20 (Part I) AUTHOR: United States. War Dept., John Sheldon Moody, Calvin Duvall Cowles, Frederick Caryton Ainsworth, Robert N. Scott, Henry Martyn Lazelle, George Breckenridge Davis, Leslie J. Perry, Joseph William Kirkley PUBLISHER: Govt. Print. Off., Washington, 1887 Page A Production Note Cornell University Library produced this volume to preserve the informational content of the deteriorated original. The best available copy of the original has been used to create this digital copy. It was scanned bitonally at 600 dots per inch resolution and compressed prior to storage using ITU Group 4 compression. Conversion of this material to digital files was supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Digital file copyright by Cornell University Library 1995. This volume has been scanned as part of The Making of America Project, a cooperative endeavor undertaken to preserve and enhance access to historical material from the nineteenth century. Page B Title Page Page R001 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL BECOIIRDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. PREPARED, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAIl, BY The late Lieut. Col. ROBERT N. SCOTT, Third U. S. Artillery. PUBLISRED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF Lieut. Col. HENRY iVI. LAZELLE, Twenty-third U. S. Infantry. PURSUANT TO ACTS OF CONGRESS. SERIES IVOLUME XXIN TWO PARTS. PART IREPORTS. WASIIINGTOTh GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1887 Page R002 A t4537~ (C RJELL.. IU~ ~VEPSITY ~ LIBRARY V Page R003 PREFACE. By an act approved Jane 23, 1874, Congress made an appropriation to enable the Secretary of War to begin the publicatio~ of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, both of the Union and Confed- erate Armies, and directed him to have copied for the Public Printer all reports, letters, telegrams, and general orders not heretofore copied or printed, and properly arranged in chronological order. Appropriations for continuing such preparation have been made from time to time, and the act approved June 16, 1880, has provided for the printing and binding, under direction of the Secretary of War, of 10,000 copies of a compilation of the Official Records (Union and Con- federate) of the War of the Rebellion, so far as the same may be ready for publication, during the fiscal year; and that of said number, 7,000 copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 2,000 copies for the use of the Senate, and 1,000 copies for the use of the Executive Departments. * This compilation will be the first general publication of the military records of the war, and will embrace all official documents that can be obtained by the compiler, and that appear to be of any historical value. *Volume I to V distributed under act approved June 16, 1880. The act approved August 7, 1882, provides that The volumes of the official records of the war of the rebellion shall be distribu ted as follows: One thousand copies to the executive departments, as now provided by law. One thousand copies for distribution by the Secretary of War among officers of the Army and contributors to the work. Eight thousand three hundred copies shall be sent by the Secretary of War to such libraries, organizations, and individuals as may be designated by the Senators, Representatives, and Delegates of the Forty- seventh Congress Each Senator shall designate not exceeding twenty-six, and each Representative and Delegate not exceeding twenty-one of such addresses, and the volumes shall be sent thereto from time to time as they are published, until the pub- lication is completed. Senators, Representatives, and Delegates shall inform the Secretary of War in each case how many volumes of those heretofore published they have forwarded to such addresses. The remaining copies of the eleven thousand to be published, and all sets that may not be ordered to be distributed as provided herein, shall be sold by the Secretary of War for cost of publication with ten per cent. added thereto, and the proceeds of such sale shall be covered into the Treasury. If two or more sets of said volumes are ordered to the same address the Secretary of War shall inform the Senators, Representatives or Delegates, who have designated the same, who thereupon may designate other libraries,,or~anizatiOn5, or individuals. The Secretary of War shall report to the first session of the Forty-eighth Congress what volumes of the series heretofore published have not been furnished to such libraries, organizations, and individuals. He shall also inform distributees at whose in~taace the volumes are sent Page R004 IT PREFACE. The publication will present the records in the following order of arrangement: The 1st Series will embrace the formal reports, both Union and Con- federate, of the first seizures of United States property in the Southern States, and of all military operations in the field, with the correspond- ence, orders, and returns relating specially thereto, and, as proposed, is to be accompanied by an Atlas. In this series the reports will be arranged according to the campaigns and several theaters of operations (in the chronological order of the events), and the Union reports of any event will, as a rule, be imme~ diately followed by the Confederate accounts. The correspondence, & c., not embraced in the ~~reports~~ proper will follow (first Union and next Confederate) in chronological order. The 2d Series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns, Union and Confederate, relating to prisoners of war, and (so far as the military authorities were concerned) to State or political prisoners. The 3d Series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Union authorities (embracing their correspondence with the Confederate officials) not relating specially to the subjects of the first and second series. It will set forth the annual and special reports of the Secretary of War, of the General-inChief, and of the chiefs of the several staff corps and departments; the calls for troops, and the correspondence between the National and the several State authorities. The 4th Series, will exhibit the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Confederate authorities, similar to that iudicated for the Union officials, as of the third series, but excluding the correspondence between the Union and cqnfederate authorities given in that series. ROBERT N. SCOTT, Major, Third Art., and Bvt. Lieut. Col. WAR DEPARTMENT, August 23, 1880. Approved: ALEX. RAMSEY, & cretary of War Table of Contents Page R005 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXII. Page~ Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. November 1,1862January 20, 1863 1-.9~7 (v Page R006 Additions and Corrections Page A001 rp H E WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL ZIRECOIIRDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO SERIES IVOLUME XX. (To he inserted in the volnme. ~or explanation see General Index voinme, Serial ~o. 130, page XXVIII.) PUBLISHEI) UNDER THE DIRECTION OF The Hon. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War, BY BRIG. GEN. FREP C. AII~SWORTII, CHIEF OF THE RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, AND MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY. Mr. JOHN S. MOODEY, Indexer. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1902 Page A002 2 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS~ TEXT. PART i. Page 327. Thirty-fourth line, top, for Boyle read Beyls. Page 381. Twentieth line, top, strike out the comma between Damas and Emery, and for Emery read Emerie, wherever it occurs. Page 391. Add skirmishing to sentence ending with time, eleventh line, top. Strike out skirmishing, twelfth line, top, and begin paragraph with On. Page 658. First Brigade, First Division, Carnes (Tennessee) Battery, for Lieut. L. G. Marshall read Capt. William W. Carnes. Third Brigade, First Division, 6th and 9th Tennessee, strike out Ma]. J. L. Harris. Page 659. First Division, Hardees Corps, Third Brigade, for Lient. J. W. Mebane read Lieut. J. W. Phillips; Fourth Brigade, 2d Kentucky, insert Capl. James W. Moss after Ma]. James W. Hewitt. Page 66r. Wheelers Brigade, 51st Alabama, strike out Lient. Col. J. D. Webb; also insert Ma]. before De Will C. Douglass. Page 663. Strike out * after 3, tenth line, bottom. Page 677. For G. W. Jones read G. W. fines. Page 692. Strike out foot-note and insert See Plale 32, Map z, of lhe Allas. Page 743. Vaughans report, twelfth line, erase the semicolon after sharpshooters and insert a comma; erase the comma after Creighlon and insert a semicolon. Page 986. For Baldwins (William W.) read Baldwins (William M.). Page ios5. Seventh line, top, for 1863 read 1862. PART 2. Page 94. Erase foot-note and insert See Series II, Vol. ~, p. 6z6. Page 97. Erase foot-note Not found and insert See Series II, Vol. 4, p. ~ Page i88. Grant to Halleck and Rosecrans, beginning at the second sentence, should read Rosecrans ou~rht to push them, and, ~f possible, gunboats be sent up Ike Tennessee. In the address, strike out, after Halleck, and Ma]or-Gcneral Rosecrans. Page 460. In t foot-note, for Vol. 22, Part z, read SeHes I, Vol. 17, Part 2, p. 8ro. Page 482. Polk to Jack, eleventh line, for Shaufners [?] read Shofers. Page 505. Add to * foot-note: Also authentic list published in Series I, Vol. 52, Part i, pp. 323-327. Under Field and Staff, insert t after James L. Anderson and add foot- note, t Name not borne on official list, Series I, Vol. 52, Part 1, ~b. 323, although the muster-roll of the Field and Staiffor Dec. 31,1862, shows him present. Seventeenth line, bottom, insert ~ after James A. Rothermel and add foot-note, ~ Muster-roll of Company B, i5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, for November and December, 1862, reports James A. Rothermel Mutinied and refused to march with regiment from Nashville, Dec. 26, but ]oined it in battle Dec. 35, 1862. See also Series I, Vol. 52, Part i, P. 327. Page ~o6. Twenty-second line, top, insert * after David Shaeffer and add foot-note, *Name not borne on official list, Series I. Vol. 52, Part z, p. 323, although the muster-roll of Company E, z5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, forNovember and December, 5862, reports David Shaefferas present Page A003 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 3 Page 506. Twenty-first line, bottom, insert t after Coleman H. Watts and add foot-note, t Name not borne on oflicial list, Series I, Vol. 52, Part z, p. 323, although it appears from Vezins report, Vol. 20, Part 2, p. 357, that he was on duty with the regiment at the front. Fifteenth line, bottom, insert t after Bruce Lambert, and add foot-note, tName not borne on official list, Series I, Vol. 52, Part z, p. 323, although it appears from Vezins report, Vol. 20, Part 2, p. ~ that he was on duty with the regiment at the front. Page 507. Twenty-second line, top, insert * after James N. Rae and add foot-note, * Name not borne on official list, Series I, Vol. 52, Part I, ~. 323, although it appears from Vezins report, Vol. 20, Part 2, p. 357, that he was on duty with the regiment at the front. Page 510. For Boyds (William) read Boyds ( Wier). Page ~ For Ruteshausers read Rutishausers. Page 577. Transpose eleventh line to follow Welles, Gideon. INDEX. Insert all words and figures in italics and strike out all in [brackets]. An asterisk (*) following a correction indicates that Additions and Corrections to the text should be consulted. References are to parts of volume. Part. Adams, Frank T [F.] 2 Alabama Troops. InfantryRegiments: 26th (Coltart) 22 Anderson, James I~., 505* 2 Arkansas Troops. InfantryRegiments: 25th(Tnrnbuff) I 3oth (Turubull) 3ist (AlcCray) 2 naidwin, William M. EW.] Barrow, Bartholomezo [Batt.] Beard,James [Joseph .1 Becker, Howard U7 2 Blackmar, Wi/mon W. [Blackmor, Wilmor W.] 2 Boies, James F. [S.] 2 Boyd, Wier [William] 2 Bradley, Emory [Captain] 2 Brady, William W 2 Buckner, Henry C. [Mr.] Burroughs [Burrough], Samuel G 2 Buttorf [Buttarf], John W 2 Carnes, W. W., 6~8; Marshall, L. G., [6~8] *.. I Carney, Patrick H Carson, Thomas H. [Lieutenant] 2 Carters Raid. Dec. 20, 1862Jan. ~, 1863. Communications from Baldwin, William M. [W.] Reports of Baldwin, William M. [W.] Sketches, zoo Casey, Daniel [Captain] 2 Cavenagh [Cavanaugh], W. C 12 Cheatham, Mnnroe [Monroe] 2 Cherokee Station, Ala. [Tenn.] Clark [Clarke], David 2 Clark, George F. [Frank] Clark, John S Cliffe [Clift], P. P., Mrs 2 Part. Comfort, Aaron I. [J.1 Conard [Conrad], William 2 Conaway, James F 2 Cook, Ed. C., 807 [Cook, E. C., 807].... Cook, Virgil A. [Orderly] Comes [Corns], Edward 2 Corput, Max Van Den [Van Den. Corput, Max] Daily [Dailey], Thomas H Den is~ Geoffrey P. [Dennis, Goifrey P.] Develbiss [Deveibliss], Andrew Drane, Joseph S. [T.] Fdye [Edge], Robert Eblers, Thomas H. [E.] Fifert, Sebastian [Erfut, Colonel] Emerie, Damas [Emery, Orderly] [Damns, Orderly, 381] * Fleishl [Fleish], M. I~ Frankenberry [Frankenbury], Allen D Garner, A 8mm [Abraham] B Gholson, William Y. [G.] Glass, P. T. [F.] Glenn, W. G. Correspondence with W. M. [W.] Baldwin. Gold [Gould], Samuel C Grant, U. S. Correspondence with Rosecrans, W. S., [iSS] * 2 Guffey, Wesley S. [William] S Hastings, J. H., 887 [87] Headley [Headly], George F 2 Hendrickson [Hendrixson], H. A Hergesheimer [HergeshimerJ, William H 2 Hewitt, Jacob R., 351 [Hewitt, J. Randolph, 352] 2 Hurson [Huerson], Edward fines, George W. [Jones, G. W.] I Imhoff, Edward B., .l5~ [Imhoff, Edward H., 357] 2 Isett, 3. Henry, ~o6 [Isett, I. XI., 506] 2 2 2 2 2 Page A004 4 Part. Jamison, John A 2 Jamison [Jameson], Wilbur F 2 Johesen, C. G. [Johnson, C. J.] Johnston, Beverly R. [Johnson, Bev.] 2 Jordan [Jordon], Robert H 2 Kelly, Reynold L. [12.] 2 Kentucky Troops (C.). Artillery, T,ightBatteries: Byrnes NOTENew battery organized subse- quent to May 2, 1862. Kerchival, R. K. [Private] 2 Kibler [Kibbler], Francis F I,ambert, Bruce, 506~ 2 I,angdon, LE.] Bassett Lees [I,ease], William J Leedom [I,eedum], Isaac 2 Lindsley [T,indsly], Webster Lodor [I,oder], K I,ongwell, William H I,ord, Simeon [Simon], jr 2 T,usb, William H. [N.] 2 McA i/ester [McAllister], Henry, jr 2 McCarter, Courtland [Corton] T 2 McConnico, W. L. [Major] 2 McDanald [McDonald], Bedan B McMahan [McMahon], Arnold McMaster [MeMasters], Charles McNeish [McNish], T McReynolds, J. [James] T Manigault, A. M. [Report of operations, Dec. 26, 1862Jan 5, 1863, during Stones River Campaign, 274] Marshall, Humphrey. Correspondence with Baldwin, W. AL [W.] I Meeker, E. I. [3.] 2 Meeker, Edwin I. [3.] Megee, AndrewJ 2 Milligan, James, 361 2 Mississippi, Army of the, Western Depart meet (C.). Merged into the Army of Tennessee, 411 .... 2 [Monger, Captain, 222] Montgomery, J. T., ~i [~] 2 Montgomery, James H. M., 303 [301] 2 Moseley, 3. F., 677 [67] Moss, James W., 639* I Murdock, William M., go~, Murdock, Wil- liam B., [507] 2 Nashville, Tenn. Attacks ~n forage train near, Dec. 14, 1862. Reports of Stevens, Sylvanus H., [jr.] OConnor [OConner], John Patteson [Pattison], Edward, jr 2 Pattison [Patterson], William P 2 Phillips, J. W., 659, Mebane, John W., Men- tioned, [6591 * ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Part. Prosser, William F., 505 [Proser, William F., ~o~] 2 Raymond,SamnelB.[ ] 2 Rea, Jalnes N., 307 [Rae, James N., 507] * 2 Remont [Renlout], Frank E 2 Rendlebrock [Rendeibrook], Joseph Reqna [Regna], James E 2 Reynolds, J. K [K.] 2 Richards [Richards], Job W 2 Riehle [Riehls], Henry B 2 Rogers, Canada H I Rogers, Canada H., Mrs Rosecrans, W. S. Correspondence with Grant, U. 5., [188] * 2 Rothermel, James A., 505* 2 Rutishanser [Ruteshauser], Isaac 2 Schanfeld [Shonfield], John 2 Sedgewick, Thomas D. Report of operations, etc., 536 [y~] Sellers, Charles B. [P.] 2 Shaeffer, David, ~o6* 2 Shaffer [Schaeffer], William G 2 Sketches, Diagrams, etc. Carters Raid, etc., coo I Smith, James M. [A. (I,ieut. ~8th md. Inf.)]. Stewart [Stuart], William H. B 2 Strahi, Otho [Oscar] F Swan, W.J I Tawney, David H 2 Temple, James R. [J. B.] Tennessee, Army of (C.). Re-enforcements for. Communications from [Army Headquarters, 4, 10, 310] 2 Tennessee, Army of the (U.). Re-enforcements for. Communications from Army Headquarters, 4, 10, 310 2 Tennessee Troops (C.). InfantryRegiments: [31st, 414, 418] 2 3ist (Bradford, A. H.), 414 2 315/ (Bradford, W. M.), 418 . 2 Texas Troops. CavalryRegiments: i5thfysd) 1,2 Trecy, J. [Tracy, ] 2 Tuttle, Herman [Heman] B Wadsworth, Dewitt [D. W.] C Warg [Ward], Josiah 2 Watts, Coleman H., 506* 2 Webb, James D., [661] * Weigle [Wigle], Nicholas F 2 Welty, James S 2 Wilson, Se/den [Seldon] I., 2 Withers, K. W., Jr I Wright, John A. (25th Ark.) Wright, John A.(zstKy.andA.A.G.) Zantzinger, Barton [Mr.) Special Index Page R007 CONTENTS OF PRECEDING VOLUMES. VOLUME I. CHAPTER I Page. Operations In Charleston harbor, South Carolina. December 20, 1860April 14, 1861 1317 CHAPTER II. The secession of Georgia. January 326, 1861 318325 CHAPTER III. The secession of Alabama and Mississippi. January 420, 1861... 326330 CHAPTER IV. Operations in Florida. January 6-August 31, 1861 331473 CHAPTER V Page. The secession of North Carolina. Janu. ary 9-May 20, 1861 474483 CHAPTER VI. The secession of Louisiana. January 10 February 19, 1861 489-501 CHAPTER VII. Operations in Texas and New Mexico. February 1June 11, 1861 502636 CHAPTER VIII. Operations in Arkansas, the Indian Tern. tory, and Missouri. February 7-May 9, 1861 637691 VOLUME II. CHAPTER lX. Page. Operations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. April 10-July 31, 1861. 11012 VOLUME III. CHAPTER L Page. Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Indian Territory. May 16-November 19, 1801. 1749 VOLUME IV. CHAPTER XI. Page. CHAPTER XLII. Page. Operations In Texas, New Mexico, and Operations in North Carolina and South. Arizona. June11, 1861February 1,1862. 1174 eastern Virginia. August 1, 1861Janu- CHAPTER XII. ary 11, 1862 ... 566-721 Operations In Kentucky and Tennessee. July 1November 19, 1861 ... 175565 VOLUME V.. CHAPTER XIV. Page Operationsin Maryland, Z~orthern Virginia, and West Virginia. August 1,1861-March 17,1862. 11106 VOLUME VI. CHAPTER XV. Operations onthe coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Middle and East Florida. August 21, 1861April 11, 1862..... Page. CHAPTER XVI. Page. Operations In West Florida, Southern Al. abama, Southern Mississippi, and Lou. 1435 Isiana. September 1,1861May 12, 1862. 416-804 VOLUME VII. CHAPTER XVII. Page. Operations In Kentucky, Tennessee, N. Alabama, siad S. W. VirginIa. Nov. 19,1861-Mar. 4,1882. 1-946 (VI Page R008 Tm CO~iTP~NT8 OP PRECEDING VOLUME8. VOLUME VIII. CHAPTER XVIII. Page. Operations In Missouri, Arkunsas, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Nov. 19,1881April 10,1882. 1834 VOLUME IX. CHAPTER XIX Page. CHAPTER XXL Page. Operations in SoutbeasteruVirginia. Jan. OperatIons In Texas, New Mexico, and nary 11March 17,1882 171 Arizona. February 1September 20, 1802 481738 CHAPTER XX. Operations In North Carolina. January 11August 20, 1802 72480 VOLUME XDW TWO PARTS. CHAPTER XXIL Operations In Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4June 10, 1802. Page. Part KReports 1-927 Part IlCorrespondence, etc 1-642 VOLUME XIIN THREE PARTS. CHAPTER XXIII. The Peninsular Campaign, VirginIa. March 17-September 2, 1802. Page. Part IReports, March 17.Iune 24 ..~ 11073 Part IlReports, June 25-September 2 1-994 Part IllCorrespondence, etc 1-091 VOLUME XIIIN THREE PARTS. CHAPTER XXIV. Operations In Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. March 17September 2, 1862. Page. 1818 1-820 1966 Part IReports, March i~-.~nne ~n Part lIReports, June 26-September 2...... Part IllCorrespondence, etc VOLUME XIII. CHAPTER XXV. Page. Operations In Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, the Indian Territory, and the Department of the Northwest. April 10November 20, 1862 1981 VOLUME XIV. CHAPTER XXVL Page. Operations on the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Middle and Eaet Florida. April 12, 1862Jnne 11, 1863 -. 11025 VOLUME XV. CHAPTER XXVII. Page. Operations in West Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi (embracing all operations against Vicksburg, May 18-July 27, 1862), and Louisiana, May 12, 1862May 14, 1803; and oper. ations in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, September 20, 1802-May 14, 1863... 1113 Page R009 Ix CONTENTS OF PRECEDING VOLUMES. VOLUME XVL CHAPTER XXVIII. Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, North Alabama) and Southwest Virginia. June 10October 31, 1862. rage. Part IReports 1-1168 Part IlCorrespondence, etc 14017 VOLUME XVII. CHAPTER XXIX. Operations in West Tennessee and Northern MissIssippi. June 10, 1862-January 20, 1863. Page. Part IReports 1-807 Part IlCorrespondence, etc 1ole VOLUME XVIII. CHAPTER XXX. Page. Operations in North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia. August 20, 1862-June 3, 1863 11104 VOLUME XIX. CHAPTER XXXL Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. September 3-Novem. ber 14, 1862. Page. Part IReports, September 3-20 1-1108 Part IlReports, September 20-November 14; Correspondence. etc., September 3-Novem. berl4 178 Page R010 Page 1 CHAPTER XXXII. OPERATIONS iN KENTUCKY, MIDDLE AND EAST TENNESSEE, NORTH ALABAMA, AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. November 1, 1862January 20, 1863. StTMMAR~ 013 TIlE PRINCIPAI.i EVENTS.* Nov. 1, 1862.The command of General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, extended over troops in Department of East Tennessee. Skirmish in Henderson County, Ky. 3, 1862.General Bragg resumes command of Departmen~ No. 2.t 5, P362.Action at Nashville, Tenn. Affair near Piketon, Ky. 6, 1862.Skirmish at Garrettsbarg, Ky. 7, 1862.General Bragg resumes immediate command of the Army of the Mississippi, which is divided juto two army corps, the First under Lient. Gen. Leonidas Polk, and the Second nader Lieut. Gen. William J. Hardee. Skirmish at Gallatin, Tenn. Skirmish at Tyree Springs, Tenn. Skirmish at White Range, Tenn. 8, 1862.Skirmish at Bnrkesville, Ky. Skirmish on the Cumberland River, near Gallatin, Teun. 9, 1862.Skirmish at Silver Springs, Tenn. Skirmish at Lebanon, Tena. 12, 1862.Capture of courier station on Stones River, Tenn. 13, 1862.Lieutenant-General Hardee assumes command of the Second Corps, Army of the Mississippi. Skirmish near Nashville, Tenn. 1520, 1862.Reconnaissance from Edgeflild Junction toward Clarksville, Tean. 1729, 1862.Expedition from Sparta, Tenn., into Kentacky. 18, 1862.Skirmish at Rural Hill, Teun. 19, 1862.Skirmish at Tunnel Hill, Ky. Reconnaissance toward La Vergue, Tena. Skirmish near Tompkinsville, Ky. 20, 1862.The Confederate Army of Tennessee constitated, to consist of E. Kirby Smiths, Polks, and Hardees army corps. 24, 1862.General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Ar[ny, assigned to a command embracing Western North Carolina, Tennessee, Northera Geor~ gia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana. Skirmish near Tompkinsville, Ky. 25, 1862.Skirmish at Calhoun, Ky. * Of some of the minor conflicts noted in this Summary, no circumstantial reports are on file. t Ga October 24, 1862, the command had been temporarily transferred to Lieutenant- General Polk. 1 R RVOL XX, PT I Page 2 2 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND ~W. Vi. (~fl& ?. IXflL Nov. 25, 1862.Skirmish at Clarksville, Teun. 26, 1862.Lieutenant-General Polk assumes command of Polks Corps, Army of Tennessee. 2627, 1862.Reconnaissance to La Vergne, Teun., and skirmish. 2630, 1862.Operations about Springfield, Tenn. 26Dec. 1, 1862.Expedition from Edge field to Harpeth Shoals, Clarksville, & c., Tenn. 27, 1862.Skirmish at Mill Creek, Tenn. 28, 1862.Skirmishes on the Carthage road, near Harteville and Rome, Tenn. 29Dec. 1, 1862.Reconnaissance from Stewarts Ferry, Stones River, to Bairds Mills, Tenn., and skirmishes en route. Dee. 1, 1862.Skirmish near No]ensville, Teun. 3, 1862.Attack on Union forage train on the Hardin pike, near Nashville, Tenn. 4, 1862.General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, assumes the command to which he was assigned November 24. Skirmish in Floyd County, Ky. Skirmish on the Franklin pike, near Holly Tree Gap, Tenn. Capture of outpost near Stewarts Ferry (or Ford), Stones River, Tenn. 4 5, 18C2.Capture of transports, and skirmishes near Prestonburg, Ky. 6, 1862.Skirmish near Kimbroughs Mill, Mill Creek, Tean. 7, 1862.Action at Hartsville, Teun. 9, 1862.Skirmish at Dobbins Ferry, near La Vergne, Teun. Reconnaissance toward Franklin, and skirmish near Brentwood, Tenn. 11, 1862.Skirmish at La Vergue, Tenn. Skirmish near Nashville, Tenn. 1112, 1862.Reconnaissance from Nashville to Franklin, Teun., and skirmishes on the Wilson Creek pike and at Franklin. 12, 1862.Skirmishes at Cherokee Station and Little Bear Creek, Ala.* 14, 1862~Attack on forage train and skirmish on the Franklin pike, near Nashville, Tenn. 1516, 1862.Violation of fla, of truce. 20, 1862Jan. 5, 1863.Carters raid into East Tennessee and Sonthwest Vir- ginia. 21, 1862.Skirmish on the Wilson Creek pike, Tenn. 22, 1862Jan. 2, 1863.Morgans second Kentucky raid. 23, 1862.Lient. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, resumes command of the Department of East Tennessee. Skirmish near Nashville, Tenn. 24, 1862.Skirmish near Nashville, Tenn. 24, 1862Jan. 1, 1863.Expedition into East Tennessee, and skirmish at Perkins Mill, on Elk Fork, December 28. 25, 1862.Skirmish on the Wilson Creek pike, between Brentwood and Petersburg, Tenn. Skirmish at Prims blacksmith shop, Edmondson pike, Tenn. 26, 1862Capture of guerrilla camp in Powell County, Ky. Mutiuy of the Anderson Cavalry.t 26, 1862Jan. 5, 1863.The Stones River, or Murfreeshorough, Tenn., Cam- paign. * See reconnaissance from Corinth, Miss., toward Tuscumbia, Ala., & c., December 914, Series I, Vol. XVII, Part 1, p. 541. t See report of Maj. Nelson H. Davis, February 4, 1863, in Correspondence, etc., Part II, of this yolume Page 3 CHAr. Xliii.] ACTION AT NA~HYILLE, TENK. 3 Jan. 814, 1863.Wheelers raid, including affairs at Mill Creek, Harpeth Shoals, and Ashland, Tenn. 9, 1863.The Army of the Cumberland divided into three army corps, the Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first, under Maj. Gens. George H. Thomas, Alexander McD. McCook, and Thomas L. Crittenden. 10, 1863.Skirmish at Clifton, Tean. 1315, 1863.Reconnaissance from Murfreesborough to Nolensville and Ver- sailles, Tenn. 1319, 1863.Reconnaissance from Nashville to Harpeth River and Cumberland River Shoals, Tenn. 17, 1863.Brig. Gen. D. S. Donelson, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of East Tennessee, vice Brigadier-General Heth, ordered to Virginia. 19, 1863.Skirmish near Woodhury, Tenn. NOVEMBER 6, 1862.Action at Nashville, Tenn. RIEPOI~TS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. James S. Negley, U. S. Army. No. 2.Col. Robert F. Smith, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. No. 3.General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commauding Army of Tennes~ea. No. 4.Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen: James S. Negley, U. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, Nashville, Tenn., Novem ber 5, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to inclose you an official report of a small affair with the enemy to-day. I do not apprehend an attack upon Nashville in force before the arrival of re.enforcements. The enemy continue to concentrate troops at Murfreesborough and toward Nashville. Their force positively exceeds 25,000, of which at least 5,000 are cavalry. They have about forty pieces of artillery, and it is now certain that a portion of Braggs army is at Murireesborough; but whether they will maintain a l)osition at Murfreesborough o~ this side is not plainly indi- cated by their present operations. Their cavalry approach our lines daily, and are engaged in driving off stock and negroes. My command is in fine spirits and the transportation in excellent condition. With assurances of high personal esteem, I am, yours, very truly, JAS. S. EGLEY, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Lieutenant-Colonel IDUCAT, Chief of Staff.. [Inclosure.] HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, ]Vashville, lena., Nocember 5, 1862. SIR: This morning at 2 oclock Forrests (iebel) cavalry, numbering about 3,000, with four pieces of artillery, opened a sharp fire on ou Page 4 4 KY., MID. AND E. TERN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [C~r. XXXIL picket line, on the south, between the Franklin and Lebanon pikes. The picket line on the Murfrcesboroiigh road gradually withdrew, for the purpose of bringing the enemy under the guns of Fort Negley, two of which were opened upon the enemy and drove him speedily beyond the range. Almost simultaneously with the attack on the aouth, John Morgans forces (2,500 strong, with one piece of artillery) made a dash on Colonel Smiths command, on the norrh side of the river, with the evident in- tention of destroying the railroad and pontoon bridges. After a sharp contest, in which several companies of Illinois troops behaved with great gallantry, Morgan was repulsed, leaving a stand of regimental colors in our hands, 5 killed, and 19 wounded. He then burned an old railroad building in Edgefield and retreated to Gallatin. Finding the enemy on the south taking a position beyond our picket lines, Colonel Roberts, with two regiments of infantry and one section of artillery, was ordered to advance on the Murfreesborongh road, while I took the Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, with a portion of the Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania, Fourteenth Michigan, and Colonels Stokes and Wynkoops cavalry, with two sections of artillery, numbering, in all, about 1,400 men, and pursued that portion of the enemy on the Frank- lin l)ike. They were speedily driven from every position by our artillery until we reached a distance of 7 miles from the city. Colonel Stokes cavalry was here directed to charge upon the enemys rear and then re- treat, with a view of bringing him to a stand; but the main body of the enemy. with their artillery, had suddenly turned into a -lane to the left, while our cavalry, in the excitement of the chase, pursued a small por- tion of the enemy within 5 ruiles of Franklin, capturing some prisoners, killing several, arid taking a drove of cattle. Previous to the return of Stokes cavalry, the enemy appeared in considerable force upon our left, front, and rear, with the evident intentiQn of nutting off the cavalry and our retreat. The infantry and artillery were immediately moved for- ward a mile, to the sul)l)ort of our cavalry, which was ordered to rejoin the column immediately. Upon receiving intelligence from my vedettes that the enemy was in force a mile to our rear, masking a battery close to the road, the head of the column was immediately placed to the rear and hastened forward to the position occul)ied by the enemy, fortunately getting our artillery into poSition and action, forcing the enemy to retire, which he did in great confusion and with considerable loss, after which he succeeded in getting his artillery into position, and a brisk firing ensued for about half an hour, during which time our forces had to be frequently shifted, to avoid their range. A s~ertaining that the enemy greatly outnum bered our force and were aiming to make a charge on both of our flanks, the troops were slowly retired, upon favorable ground, toward the city. At the same time the cavalry was so disposed as to diver-t the coming charge of the enemy on our rear, an(I lead them upon the Fourteenth Michigan Infintry. The object succeeded admirably, an entire regiment of cavalry making the charge receiving a fire so destructive as to drive them back in great disorder. The enemy then planted several guns on the turnpike, which were driven off before they could charge their pieces. Our forces then retired in good order toward the city, the enemy making one more at- tempt to get in our rear, nearer the city, but were immediately driven off by a regiment of hfantry and a section of artillery, which had been ordered forward as a reserve. The concerted plans of the enemy, wh Page 5 CHAr. XXXII] 5 ACTION AT NASHVILLE, TENN. had Hansons brigade of four Kentucky regiments and two Tennessee regiments of infantry, with five batteries of artillery, were defeated, and enabled our troops to give an additional proof of their efficiency and valor. As we did not reoccupy the field of action, the enemys total loss is unknown, but is represepted by prisoners to have been large. Twenty- three prisoners were captured, including 2 captains of Morgans artil- lery. Our casualties of the day were 26 wounded and 19 missing. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. S. KEGLEY, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Lieutenant-Colonel IDUCAT, Chief of Staff. No. 2. R~port of Col. Robert F. Smith, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Edgefteld, Teun., November 5, 1862. SIR: In compliance with orders received from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to report, for the information of the geucral corn inand- ing, that this morning, about daylight, the rebel force, under General Morgan, numbering not less than 2,000, attacked my pickets at the rail- road station, and succeeded in surrounding the company stationed there (Company Ii), Sixteenth illinois, Captaiu Wilson). The outposts were immediately called in by Captain Wilson, and, after a severe skirmish, the company succeeded in cutting its way through the enemy and reach- ing camp. Company K, Sixteenth Illinois, under command of First Lieutenant Woodall, with 19 men of Company 1), under Lieutenant Sommerville, who were stationed on the Whites Creek pike, were no~v completely cut off from camp, but all succeeded in returuing safely by reaching the river and marching under the shelter of its bank to the intrenchments. Company C, Captain Rowe, which was stationed on the Gallatin pike, had by this time attacked and driven back the enemys left, when the right also fell back, leaving 5 of their wounded in our hands. We took from the enemy, besides the wounded, 2 prisoners, 2 horses, bridles, saddles, & c., and one regimental hag. The officers and men engaged all behaved with unusual coolness and bravery, especially Companies E and C. I cannot close my report without mentioning the excellent conduct of the mounted scouts belonging to Captain Twymans independent com- mand. 1 have rarely seen their equal for bravery and efficiency. The casualties in my command are as follows: Wounded, 5; missing, and probably taken prisoners, 6. I am, with much respect, your obedient servant, B. F. SMITH, Colonel, Commanding Sixteenth Illinois Volunteers and Post. ACTING ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Second Brigade, First Division, Army of the Mississippi Page 6 6 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. IXXIL No. 3. Report of General J3raxton Bragg, C. A3. Army, commanding Army of Tennes8ee. KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 9, 1862. We had a brisk skirmish with the enemy near Nashville on the 5th killing and wounding about 100. Our loss very slight. Destroyed a larg~ number of ears, engines, water-tanks, and bridges on Nashville and Louis- ville road. Briga(licr-General Forrest was in command. Enemy is re- enforcing. Our forces are moving up. I leave to-morrow for the front. General S. COOPER, BRAXTON BRAGG. Adjutant and Inspector General. No. 4. Report of Brig. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry. BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, La Vergne, Tenn., November 6, 1862. GENERAL: Agreeably to orders received, I moved my commands on the night of the 4th instant in the direction of Nashville, distributing them as follows: Col. John T. Morgans regiment [Fifty-first Alabamal, of Pai tis~n Rangers, and Capt. W. C. Bacots battalion, Forrests regiment, to the right of the Mnrfreesborough pike, with insti-uctions to move for- ward on the Lebanon, Stones River, and Chicken l)ikes, and to drive in the Abolitionists l)ickets at daylight, which was done agreeably to orders an(l in gallant style, killing and woundiiig several, with the loss of 1 man killed and 2 horses wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel [A. A.] Russell Parti- san Rangers, on Murfreesborougb pike, followed by Colonels [J. B.] Pal- mers and [11. W.] flansons brigades, with four batteries of artillery, commanded by Major [11. E.] Graves, after proceeding to Dogtown, 3~- miles from Nashville, encountered the Abolitionists l)ickets, at which place he (Colonel Russell) was ordered to dismount his command, press forward, and drive in the pickets. He succeeded in driving them to their first line of fortifications with considerable firing for l~ miles. I here found them in some force behind a brush and log fortification around a high hill on right of Pike. Here they made a stand, but after a short resistance [I] drove them from their l)Osition and gained the hill, at which l)lace I planted my rifle, battery of four pieces and opened fire on Jones Hill, 1~ miles distant. At this time the firing was heard from Colonel [John T.] Morgan, at Edgefield. About the same time Colonel [James XV.] Starnes opene(l fire on the Nolensville pike, he having been ordered, with Colonel [G. G.J Dibrells regiment, Major [D. C.] Douglass battalion, Captains [S. L.j Freemans aiid [Franklin] Roberts batteries, to the left of Murfreesborough pike, down the Nolensville, Mill Creek, and Franklin l)ikes. Time engagement now became general, Captains Freemans amid Roberts batteries having opened from Nolensville I)ike a vigorous fire on Saint Clouds Hill. The firing was kept up until 10 oclock, when I withdrew my forces. Our loss in this action was 3 killed, 10 wounded, and 5 missing. Loss of Abolitionists, 15 killed, 20 prisoners, and sul)posed 20 wounded, one shell from Nolensville l)ike killing 5 in fortifications. I then moved Colonels Starnes and Dibrells regiments and Captai Page 7 CHAP. XXXII.] It AFFAIR NEAR PIKETON, KY. Freemans and Roberts batteries out on the Franklin pike 5 miles. The Abolitionists were in ambush with four regiments of infantry, twelve pieces of artillery, and a battalion of [William B.] Stokes cavalry, com- manded by Brigadier-General [James S.] Negley. They opened fire upon us from their l)osition. I Placed Freemans and Roberts batteries (tour pieces each) on left of Franklin pike, between the Nolensville and Frank- lin pike, and returned their fire. After a spirited contest of an hour, they gave way, falling back down the Franklin pike toward Nashville. At this time I ordered my cavalry to charge, which order was quickly obeyed, their infantry and cavalry retreating dowii the pike toward Nashville. From this position my guns commanded the l)ike and ~)layed upon the Abolitionists with good effect, killing and wounding some 20 at one fire, which caused them to break and flee in disorder. I followed them up for a mile, when my artillery ammunition gave out and Iwith- drew my forces. My loss in this action was 1 killed and 3 wounded. Loss of Aboli- tionists, 40 killed, 20 prisoners, and reported 60 wounded. After this engagement I moved back to La Yergne. Great credit is due Captain Freeman, of Freemans battery, and Lieu- tenant [J. II.] Wiggins, commanding Roberts battery, and their officers and men, for their coolness and discretion during this engagement. My officers and men acted well during the day, obeying with promptness each command. All of which is respectfully submitted. N. B. FORREST, Brigadier- General. Lient. Col. J. A. BUCKNER, Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 5, 1862.Affair near Piketon, Ky. Reports of Col. John Dils, Jr., Thirty-ninth Kentucky Infantry, with con gratulatory letter from Maj. Gen. II. U. Wright. HEADQUARTERS CAMP FIM~ELL, November 10, 1862. SIR: I took possession of this post on the 5th instant. The Confed- erates were camped 8 miles below this place, at Coal Grove (force 500 or 600, cavalry and infantry), but got notice of my approach in the night, when I was within 4 miles of them. The panic, I learn, was great. My little force entered their camp not more than one hour after the train left, but we pursued them, and in their camp and flight we captured about 75 prisoners, 150 guns, 3 wagons, a lot of tents, horses, and mules. I pursued within 20 miles of the Pound Gap, but my men were marched down, marching 30 miles the last day, and eating nothing but a little beef at night. This post is 100 mIles from Catlettsburg, on the Ohio River, and the nearest force (Federal) is Ashland, 100 miles from here. The nearest Confederate force is 50 miles, Logan Court-House, Va. That force is 1,500 or 2,000, under Floyd and Witcher. My force that is armed, about 400. .1 will do the best I can, but there ought to be more force in this valley. Your obedient servant, JOHN DILS, JR., Golonel Thirty-ninth Kentucky Regiment. General HORATIO G. WRIGUT Page 8 8 KY., ~im. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CRAP. XXXII. HEADQUARTERS CAMP FINNELL, November 17, 1862. GENERAL: I sent you a dispatch a few days ago of my whereabouts and success, so far as then able to report. The number of J)risoners I have taken so far is 95, most of them rel)el soldiers; J)aroled 60; some refused parole; preferred taking the oath or joining the Union Army. Some few bad rebel citizens I will have to send to Camp Chase. Cap. tured 4 of Marshalls wagons, about 40 head of cattle, driving out of the State about 50 mules and horses, a large lot of tents, but the most of them worthless; about 200 guns of various make, but the most of them, as the rebels say, were captured of General Cox, at Princeton, in Mercer County, Virginia. Among the prisoners are 1 captain and 4 lieutenants. I have visited in the vicinity of Pound Gal), on the Virginia line. The enemy have nearly all left for Abingdon, Va. Marshalls entire force, I learn, has been ordered to Richmond, Va.; also all the available force they can spare are ordered that way, as I can learn from reliable source. I think I can hold this l)olnt at present, if J am only supl)lied with the right sort of arms. I must have Springfield or Entield rifles. The guns at the mouth of Sandy for my men I cannot use in this service. I think I am a judge of this matter, and I cannot see any good reason why my wants in this particular are not sul)plied. I have some of the best men in the service, and best marksmen the Government can boast of; think nothing of marching 30 or 40 miles over the roads iu these rough mountains, if necessity requires it, in twenty-four hours. Such men ought to be sustained. They have already routed and captured more men and property than all tIme forces ever sent up the Sandy Val- ley. We challenge investigation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN DILS, JR., Golonet Thirty-ninth Kentucky Regiment. General HORATIO G. WRIGHT. P. S...The Pound Gap of Cumberland is within 45 miles of Abing- don, Va. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Gino, Col. J. DILS, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, November 19, 1862. Gomdg. 39th Regt. Kentucky Vols., Piketon, Pike County, Ky.: COLONEL: Your report, dated Camp Finnell, November 10, 1862, of your pursuit of the enemy, in which your command captured 75 of the enemy, 150 guns, 3 wagons, & c., has been received. TIme commanding general [H. 0-. Wmightj directs me to express to you his lively satisfaction with the gallantry and endurance exhibited by yourself and your command; also with the general result of your opera- tion, which, though accomplished without loss on your part, does you no less credit. 1 am also instructed by the general commanding the department to inform you that Colonel Cranor, with a considerable force, is on the way up the Big Sandy Valley. You should, at once, put yourself in com- munication with Colonel Cranor aud co-operate with him. I am, colonel, very respedfully, your obedient servant, C. W. FOSTER, A~-istant Adjutant.Gemwral Page 9 9 CHAP. XXXII.] RECONNAISSANCE TOWARD CLARKSVILLE, TENN. NOVEMBER 6, 1862.-.--Skirmisli at Garrettsburg, Ky. Report of Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Davies, U. S. Army, commanding District ~I Columbus, Ky. LA. GRANGE, TENN., November 11, 18629.20 p. m. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief: The following dispatch just received from General Davies, at Colum- bus: The expedition commanded by Brigadier-General Ransom has provd a great suc- cess. It came up with Colonel Wood wards rebel force, 800 strong, near Garrettsburg had a short engagement; killed 16 of his men, among them 1 captain and a lieuten- ant; wounded 40, including 1 captain and 2 lieutenants; took 25 prisoners, all their horses and 50 mules, and a large number of arms and equipments, half the camps of Colonel Woodwards men, including his own, routing the whole concern, and driv- ing them out of the State of Kentucky. Our loss, 3 killed and 7 wounded. U. S. GRANT, Major- General. NOVEMBER 12, 1862.Capture of courier station, on Stones River, Tenn. Report of Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, U. S. Army. STONES RIVER, November 12, 18622 p. m. Twenty of the courier line were captured at this place at daylight this morning. The country between here and Nashville is reported in- fested by gangs of guerrillas. Two companies of cavalry arc all I can spare for this service, and they are insufficient. Unless protected, they will all be captured. I respectfully su~gest that a line of couriers be established from here to ~ashville, and I can then withdraw my cou- riers from that line and place them on the line to Silver Springs, and I would also suggest that the brigade qnder command of Morgan be left here until some arrangement can be made for the safety of the line. By order of Major-General Crittenden: G. C. KNIFFIN, Captain and Commissary of Subsistence. Lient. Col. ARTHUR C. DUCAT, Chief of Staff. NOVEMBER 1520, 1862.Reconnaissance from Edgefield Junction toward Clarksville, Tenn. RJIIPOI~TS. No. 1.Col. William P. Carlin, Thirty-eighih Illinois Infantry, commanding brigade. No. 2.Lient. Col. David McKee, Fifteenth Wisconsin lufantry. No. 1. Reports of Col. William P. Carlin, Thirty.eighth Illinois Infantry, corn manding brigade. HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-F ER5T BRIGADE, .Nove?nber 20, 1862. CAFTAlN: As the long delay in obeying the telegraphic instructions of Major.General McCook to march to Nashville may occasion surprise Page 10 10 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXII I must inform him that on the night of the 14th I received orders by telegraph from Major-General Rosecrans to send two regiments toward Clarksville, and then south to (Jumberland River, to co-operate with General Negley in capturing or dispersing guerrillas. The command starte(l at 3 oclock a. m. on the 15th, and has not yet returned. When last heard from, it was about 2 miles from Cumberlaud River and 40 miles from this point. During the whole time they have been without tents or baggage and in the rain day and night, but in good spirits. Lieutenant4joloijel McKee, Fifteenth Wisconsin, corn m andin g, had cap. tured a consi(leral)le number of l)risoners and provisions collected for the rebel army. I hope the command will be here to-day, and I shall march for Nash villo to-morrow. floping that the delay has occasioned no detriment to the public service, Your obedient servant, W. P. CARLIK, Colonel Thirty-eighth Illinois l~olunteer8, Commanding. Capt. JoUN A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant-General. EDGEFIELD JUNCTION, November 20, 1862. CoLONi~L: The expedition ordered out to co-operate With General Negley has just returned, having been out five days. Lieutenant Colo- nel McKee, commanding, captured 46 guerrillas, about 100 small-arms, 18 horses, 20 mules. Nothing was seen or heard of General Negh~ys expedition. The expedition has marched 100 miles without tents, in the rain every day and night but one. W. P. CARLIN, Lient. Col. J. P. GARESCH~. Colonel, Commanding. No. 2. Report of Lieut. Col. David McKee, IAjfteenth Wisconsin Infantry. CAMP OF TUE FIFTEENTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS, Edgefteld Juncidon, Tenn., November 21, 1862. COLONEL: In obedience to your order of November [14], 1 left the camp of your brigade, at Edgefield Junction, on Sunday morning at 3.3() oclock, with the command assigned to me, to wit: Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, Major Gilmer commanding; Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, Major Johnson corn manding, and Lieutenant Reynolds, of Company B (cavalry), of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, with 10 men, and proceeded to reconnoiter the country in the direction of Clarks- ville. I proceeded from Edgefield Junction, by way of Goodlettsville, to the junction of the Louisville and Springfield turnpikes, and thence up Mansers Creek, by way of Johnsons Mill and pikes, on the ridge lea(ling to the 01(1 Nashville and Clarksville road, at a point near the junction of the roads leading to Clarksville and Springfield, fro Page 11 CRAP. XXXTL] RECONNAISSANCE TOWARD CLARKSVILLE, TENTh 11 Nashville, by way of Whites Creek; thence, on the old Clarksville road, down Creek, past the residence of Dr. Bainbridge, to the Foun- taiii settlement, and encamped the first night out at the Wells Creek Meeting-house, within 2 miles of Coopertown. At daylight on the following morning I resumed th~ march, by way of Coopertown, and thence, turning to the left, I proceeded, on the Springfield and Charlotte road, a distance of about 12 miles, to the cross- ing of the Nashville and Turnersville road with that road, when the command was encamped for the night near the residence of Mr. James Bradley. The next morning, at 6.30 oclock, the march was resumed on the Springfield and Charlotte road, crossing the Nashville and Clarksville turnpike (it is not macadainized at this point) at the house of Mr. Williamson Gatewood, and thence to the ch~ossing of the Cumberland River at Harpeth Shoals, a distance of about 13 miles by the route traveled. The road traveled on this route for a greater portion of the way is extremely bad, and, in some places, almost impassable, and en- tirely impracticable for the passage of artillery, except in cases of great emergency. The country through which we passed is tolerably well supplied with forage of all kinds. The command returned from ilarpeth Shoals, by way of the Char- lotte and Springfield road, to Mr. Gatewoo~s, and thence, on the Nash- ville and Clarksville turnpike, to within sight of Nashville. The latter is a good road, and passable for all kinds of transportation and artil- lery. On this expedition the command captnred 47 prisoners, 18 horses, 20 mules, 3 wagons, and about 100 small-arms. The arms captured were principally of a worthless character, and, for want of transportation, were mostly broken up apd destroyed, the best of them only being re- tained and brought into camp. I caused to be destroyed by fire one distillery and two dwelling-houses, and the outbuildings connected therewith, which were notoriously used as refuges for guerrilla parties. I also destroyed at and in the neighborhood of ilarpeth Shoals several barrels of spirituous liquors and about 50 barrels of salt. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and men of my command. They marched and encamped under almost incessant rains and in deep mud without murmur or complaint, and were always ready and anxious for effective service. Special notice is due to Major Gilmer, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers; Major Johnson, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, and Lieutenant L~eynolds, of Company B (cav- alry), Thirtysixth Illinois Volunteers, for the splendid manner in which their separate commands were managed and cared for. To Lieutenant Reynolds and the cavalrymen under his command I am particularly in- debted for their untiring activity in scouting the country, and for the capture of the greater number of prisoners. Lieutenant Ferriman, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, acting quartermaster for the com- mand, and Adjutant Hauff, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, performed their respective duties excellently, and deserve credit. I attach hereto a list of prisoners taken, together with a statement of charges against them. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID McKEE, Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding Expedition. Col. W. P. CARUN, Commanding Thirty-first Brigade Page 12 12 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL SPECIAL GLIDERs, IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 22. Nashville, Tenn., November 21, 1862. * * * * * * * XXII. The commanding general notices with much pleasure the suc- cessful expedition sent out by Col. W. P. Carlin, commanding Thirty. first Brigade, in the direction of Clarksville, two infantry regiments, under Lieutenaiit-Colonel Mckee, having marched 100 miles, over muddy roads, in five days, through constant rains, without tents, having re- turned with 46 prisoners, 100 small-arms, 18 horses, and 20 mules, taken from the guerrillas, who infest the country. This handsome little suc- cess, which shows what good infantry can do under au enterprising leader, reflects much credit on all who were engaged in it. * * * * * * * By command of Major-General iRosecrans: W. II. SIDELL, ]Jilajor Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 19, 1862.Reconnaissance toward La Vergne, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U. S. Army, commanding division. No. 2.Col. Edward N. Kirk, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, commanding brigade. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. Joshua W~ Sill, U. S. Army, commanding division. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVIsION, November 19, 1862. GENERAL: I inclose herewith the report of Colonel Kirk, Thirty- fourth Illinois, commanding Fifth Brigade. He went considerably far- ther thau I had intended and directed, but the provocation probably justified it. The movements of this officer can never be reproached with lack of activity or daring. The First Tennessee Cavalry has been report- ing in small squads all (lay long. The total present may have amounted to 200, of which 120 are still out, making a scout around my camp. I would prefer that the whole regiment should encamp here, so as to be ready for au emergency. As it is, they come irregularly, and usually without rations or blankets. Your obedient servant, J. W. SILL Maj. Gen. A. McD. MoCoo~, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Qommanding Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps. No. 2. Report of 6~ol. Edward N. Kirk, Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, com manding brigade. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH BRIGADE, November 19, 1862. S~: I have the honor to report that I have made a reconnaissanc Page 13 13 C!AP. XXIII.] RECONNAISSANCE TOWARD LA YERGNE, TENN. to the front and left, as you ordered last night. One of my regiments, Thirtieth Indiana, being out on picket duty, I took the other fur, i. e., Thirty-fourth Illinois, Seventy-ninth Illinois, Seventy-seventh Pennsyl- vania, and Twenty-ninth Indiana, and Edgartons battery, which were, as you ordered, disposed of as follows: The Seventy-ninth Illinois and one section of artillery were left as a general reserve, at a point about 1~ miles to the front, where the picket line crosses the Murfreesborough pike. The Twenty-ninth Indiana and one section of artillery were placed in position at a point on the Stones River pike, concealed from view about the same distance to the front. With the other two regiments and section of artillery I moved out the dirt road, which diverges from the Murfreesborough pike, where the Seventy-ninth Illinois was left in reserve. We marched with the most perfect silence, hoping to surprise some of the rebel parties which have been annoying your camp. Having gone about 3~ miles on the dirt road, and finding no enemy, I sent fi~ e companies of the Thirty-fourth Illinois,with a citizen guide that I pressed in, to a point on the Stones River pike directly opposite, with orders to move down the pike quietly until they formed a junction with the Twenty-ninth Indiana, with a view of picking up any of the rebels that might be prowling around that neighborhood. With the remaining forces, now reduced to about 700 infantry and one section of artillery, I moved across to the MurfreesborOugh pike at a point about 4 miles from our picket line. All along this part of our march 1 noticed evidences of the recent presence of the enemypicket fires still burning, & c., but saw no enemy. I had reached the pike, and was about to return to camp, ~vhen three shots were fired from a rebel ])icket near my left flank. I then started down the pike toward La Vergue. My advance soon came up with a small squad of some 20 cavalry, who fell back upon a reserve of two or three companies, who took l)ositiou at a toll-gate about 4 miles from La Vergue; several of them dismounted and went - into the toll-gate house. I dropped a few shells amoiig them, two shells passing through the house, when the whole party hastily fled. - About this point we also found infantry pickets, but they also fell back with- out firing a gun. The rebel force seemed to be disposed as follows: First, sin all ye- dettes of cavalry; second, cavalry reserves; third, main body of cavalry and infantry, say, in all, a regiment or two of each; but they seemed frightened, and so I pursued them until I reached the top of the hill which overlooks the town of La \Tergne. Mv position was a beautiful one. The road is nearly straight fbr about 1~ miles down to and be- yond the town. Here the rebels had rallied, and we had a fine view of their column of cavalry in front and infantry in their rear. After firing a dozen shells among them, they seemed to scatter, but rallied twice and started toward us, but the well-directed fire of the artillery was too much for them. They finally retreated through the town and over the hill beyond. I pursued them no farther; your orders required me to return by 10 a. in.; it was now 8, and I was 8 miles from camp. I captured a few suspicious characters, which I will send up to you under guard I did not go down to La Yergne to ascertain the effect of our shells; many of them burst in the street close to the. troops, and must have done considerable execution. Here, as at (JlaysVille, the rebel~ must have overestimated our force as we dashed down upon them; otherwise I am sure they would have stood their ground and given us fight Page 14 14 KY., MID. AND E. TENN,, N. ALA., AND SW. VA~ (CH~. ~XXIL I am entirely satisfied with the conduct of every officer and man I had with me. This report is so hastily written that I fear it will be un- intelligible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. N. KIRK, Capt J. E. STEARNS, Commanding Ejfth Brigade. Assistant Adjutant- General, Second Division. NOVEMBER 19, 1862.Skirmish near Tompkinsville, Ky. Report of Cot. James R. Howard, Alabama cavalry. CAMP KIRBY, N 20, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit to you a report of a scout made by me into Kentucky. On the 17th instant a l)ortion of my command took up their line of march from camp near Sparta for the Kentucky line. When about 75 miles over the Kentucky and Tennessee line, we encountered a large force of the enemys cavalry, gave them fight, and, after a brisk engage- ment of about half an hour, with the assistance of Divine Providence, we completel~y routed them, killing 27, and wounding a large number. Our loss, 4 men killed and 3 wounded. My command behaved gallantly, especially the officers, and too much praise cannot be given to my adju- tant, Noah D. Itothrock, for his valuable assistance and gallantry on the occasion. We followed up the enemy and had a short hand-to-hand engagement, and again cut them up badly, bringing out from them nearly 5,000 head of hogs. While accomplishing this, the enemy rallied twice, and on both occasions we repulsed them, bringing the hogs safely through, and turning them over to Major [John J.] Murphy, commissary of subsistence. Another portion of my command made a scout with a train of wagons, and succeeded in bringing them out safely, loaded with flour and bacon. They encountered no regular forces, but were much annoyed by bush- whackers. None of our men were hurt, but we gave them a Southern lesson. I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES R. HOWARD Lient. Gen. E. KIRBY SMITH Colonel, tJommanding~ tiavairy. Commanding Department of East Tennessee. NOVEMBER 24, 1862.Skirmish near Tompkinsville, Ky. Report of 61o1. Joseph R. Scott, Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. 39TH BRIG., 12TH DIV. (CENTER), 14TH CORPS DARM]~E, Hartsville, Tenn., November 28, 1862 SIR: I respectfully report the arrival of my comma ndat this point at 2 p. m. to-day; also the arrival of my train from Cave City, via Gallatin, with five days rations and ammunition Page 15 XXXTh] RECONNAISSANCE TO LA VERGNE, AND SKIRMISH. 15 On the afternoon of the 24th instant the enemy made a slight demon- stration Ul)Oll Tompkinsville with cavalry and artillery. My pickets, aided by cavalry, repulsed them, capturing one, a private of Hamiltons comI)any, who reports the attacking party to have been a detachment of Scotts cavalry, 700 strong, with thin ee mountain howitzers. They came from Sparta, by way of Bennetts Ferry, crossing the (Jumberland at Celina. Hamiltons company has been enforcing the conscript law and guarding stock between Celina and Gainsborough. Being induced to believe that the enemy was crossing the Scottsville road, ~)re~)aratory to attackiiig me from that quarter in the morning, I, in obedience to marching orders, received the iiight previous, left Tomp- kinsville by that road af 9 p. m. on the evening of the 24th instant. I failed to meet the enemy; took the branch road to La Fayette, and from thence to flartsville. it is reported that the enemy occupied Tomp- kinsvmlle oim my departure. I met with no interruption in my march until within 3 miles of llartsville, when I came upon a body of rebel cavalry, of whom I took 2 prisoners. They report themselves as belonging to Bennetts cavalry, 200 of whom, under the command of Colonel Bennett himself, left their camp at Stones River, 6 miles from Murfreesborough, on a scout this side of the Cumberland yester(Iay evening, having rid- den all night. They report Morgan and Duke encamped in similar l)Osi- tions around Murfreesborongli, where there is also a large force of infantry. The rebel cavalry fled, at my approach, in the direction of Dickinsons Springs, 8 miles from here. Upon nearing the town, 1 in net a detachment of the Second Indiana Cavalry, attached to the troops at this point, who rel)orted the cal)ture, by this Party of rebels, of a forage traiii and one company of cavalry. I immediately sent one regiment of infantry after them, directing the cavalry to make a detour, in order to intercept them on the road. The infaiitry has returned, and report the cavalry as having missed the enenmy, and gone forward in l)ursnit. I received dispatches by courier to-night, and will immediately follow your instructions in regard to scOuts. I relieve the troops of the Second Brigade, First Division, who march from here to-morrow morning. 1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOS. H. SCOTT, Colonel, Commanding Thirty-ninth Brigade. Capt D. BRADEN, Assistant Adjutant- General. NOVEMBER 2627, 1862.Reconnaissance to La Vergne, Teun., and skir mish. REPORTS, ETC. No. 1.Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U. S. Army, commanding division. No. 2.Licut. Ccl. Peter B. Housum, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. No. 3.Capt. Thomas E. Rose, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania infantry. No. 4.Congratulatory letter from General Braxton Bragg to Brig. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U 5. Army, commanding division. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, November 27, 1802. GE~RAI1: Hearing some vague rumors yesterday concerning a lieav Page 16 16 KY,, MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CRAP. XXXII. force of the enemy, reported to be at La Vergne, I dispatched Col. B. N. Kirk, Thirty-fourth Illinois, commanding Fifth Brigade, to. make a reconnaissance in that direction. His report is herewith inclosed.* Quite a heavy firing was kept up on both sides. There was also heavy firing on the Nolensville road, which occurred during a reconnaissance, made by a portion of Sheridans command. Being averse to unneces- sary expenditure of ammunition, and feeling sure that it might create alarm in the city, I particularly enjoined on Colonel Kirk not to fire at all if he could avoid it. I think there was entirely too great a waste of ammunition. The reconnaissance developed the presence of cavalry at La Vergue, probably the same which has occupied that place for some time under Wheeler. One of the prisoners statEs that on Stewarts Creek, some S miles beyQnd La Vergue, there has been an encampment of infantry; what force he does not know; thinks a brigade. Another prisoner states that, while the skirmish was going on, he saw a cavalry- man of his company, who had just come from Stewarts Creek, and re- ported that their infantry was moving, and was within 2 miles of La Vergne. This is all I know of the approach of the enemy rumored in the city. The 3 prisoners will be sent you early in the morning. One of the prisoners states that Wheeler commands six regiments, viz, the First and Third Alabama, Robertsons battalion, Faulkners battalion, Douglass battalion, ilagans battalion. In my letter of yesterday I referred to the great length of my picket line. It requires the best part of a day to make the circuit. My left is picketed quite close to camp; the front line extends to join Sheridans line. Behind me, 1~ miles, I understand that Crittendens three divis- iops are l)osted, on Mill Creek, with another picket line. The total length of it does not, I suppose, equal that of my single division. I re- spectfully urge the location of this division to the right of the present position, nearer to Sheridans; unless it be expected that we should. meet the enemy on this road, when I would advise the selection of other ground farther to the front. I am not sufficiently conversant with the ground in front to venture an opinion as to where we could go with more advantage. It seems to me, however, that, in view of a certain contingency, some change ought to be made. Before closing, I desire to be acquainted with the construction which I should place on that l)art of General Orders, No. 21, Headquarters Fourteenth Corps, limiting the supply train of a division to 50 wagons. My quartermaster seems to think that the 50 wagons include the am- munition train. Now, as my ammunition train numbers 35 wagons, I should have 15 wagons left br supply train. Is there not a mistake on his part~ In case a change of location is to be made, I would like to know it early, so that the movement can be commenced by sunrise. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. SILL Brigadier-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. A. MoD. MCCooK Commanding .Righ~ Wing. * Not found Page 17 CHAP. XXXTLI RECONNAISSANCE TO LA VERGM~, AND SKIRMISh. 17 No.2. Report of Lieut. Cot. Peter B. ifousum, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. IIDQRS. SEVENTY-SEVENTH REcfT. PENNSYLVANIA VOLS., In Camp, November 27, 1862. CAPTAIN: In reply to Special Orders, No. , of this date, asking why the detachments sent out on the left of La Vergue did not move ~p rapidly and charge the rebel battery, as ordered, I give you a state- ment of the operations of the Twenty-ninth Indiana Regiment, Major Collins, and Seventy-seventh Regiment, both under my command, until the detachment under Colonel Dodge, Thirtieth Indiana, joined me. After receiving orders to join the Seventy-seventh to the Twenty- - ninth and assume command, I proceeded, as ordered, to take and hold the grove on the left of the Mnrfreesborongh road, and keep the right - a specified distance from the road. When in the grove, and in line of battle, the skirmishers thrown in advance from the Twenty-ninth In- diana Regiment became engaged in fr-out and on the left. I at once ordered Company B, of Seventy-seventh, Captain Rose, forward on the left of the line already deployed, with orders to advance as rapidly as circumstances would permit. A~ soon as deployed, he became engaged with the enemy, when I ordered the whole line forward to the bed of the stream, and immediately crossed, when it became necessary to march the line by the left flank to get under cover of the woods, and also to cross a ravine which was in front. As soon as a sufficient dis- t~nce had been taken to the left to cover the troops, I ordered an ad- vance, with the injunction from Captain Wagner not to advance too rapidly on the woods, or too close on the line of skirmishers. After advancing some distance, I was ordered to again move by the left flank to what I thought would be a point opposite the battery, and advance on it. After marching by the flank what I supposed a sufficient dis- tance, I again resumed the march by the front, and advanced steadily, under a severe fire, when I observed the, enemy moving to our left, and snpposing the object might be to outflank us on our left, their line in front already exceeding our line in length or front, I ordered a halt, and sent Lieutenant Walker, of the staff, to the left, to notify the cav- alry to keep a strict watch to prevent any attempt to flank us on the left, at the same time notifying Colonel Kirk that probably an attempt would be made to outflank us. Lieutenant Walker returning, I imme diately ordered the men forward, when, from the maneuvering of the enemy in front, I ordered two additional companies forward on the line of skirmishers. At this moment Colonel Dodge joined me on the right, when he also threw one company forward on the line of skirmishers; thus re-enforced, and the skirmish line strengthened, I ordered a rapid ad- vance, clearing the woods of the enemy. Colonel Dodge now came to me, and, as my superior officer, he assumed command and ordered me to change front forward on the left company. When the whole line was thrown forward in the new direction, he ordered an advance to the edge of the woods. At this point he ordered the Twenty-ninth Regiment forward, supported by the Seventy-seventh and Thirtieth, to charge the battery, while moving forward as rapidly as the ground would admit of and obstructed, as it was, by a number of fences, which had to be torn down as they advanced, and also under a severe fire from the rebel battery on the hill in front. About the time the advance was tearing 2 n HVOL XX, PT Page 18 18 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL down a heavy fence, the firing of the battery ceased.* We advanced to the top of a hill in the rear of La Vergne, when Colonel Dodge re- ceived orders to return to town. I thought at the time, and think so still, that our advance through the woods was as rapid as circumstances would admit of. The only time lost was when I directed the cavalry to reconnoiter on our left. Halting at that time was thought to be a necessity. Hoping the above will fully explain the matter referred to in Orders, No. , I remain, respectfully, yours, P. B. HOUSUM. Capt. D. C. WAGNER, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 3. Report of Capt. Thomas .E. Rose, & 3venty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. CAMP NEAR INSANE ASYLUM, November 29, 1862. Sin: In compliance with the request of Lieutenant-Colonel Housum, commanding Seventy-seventh Regiment, I have the honor to make the following report of the part that I took in the skirmish near La Vergue, Teun.: When the Seventy-seventh had formed on the left of the Twenty.ninth indiana, I was ordered to take one company and deploy it forward as skirmishers, and join on the left of the skirmishers of the Twenty-ninth, which I did, and which post I had the honor to hold throughout the skirmish. After I had got my company into position, we were ordered to advance across the woods, and over a ditch, which was the bed of a small creek; thence across an open space to the edge of the grove on the left of the town. From the time I first deployed the company, the enemy had kept firing on us, and in a short time after we entered the latter grove the firing became quite heavy upon my position of the line. At this time the whole line of skirmishers was ordered to halt, and my little band sust~dned the concentrated fire of the rebels for a considera- ble, length of time, when the rebels advanced toward us with a loud cheering, which cheering we as lustily returned. My portion of the com- mand being at this time re-enforced, we charged upon them, and drove them back through the woods into and across an open space to the next grove beyond, their officers using their utmost endeavors to rally them, which they partially succeeded in doing behind a fence on the Opl)osite edge oC the grove. They did not stay our progress, however, and one portion of the rebels returned. pell-mell down the road toward the Leb- anon pike, and the other in tolerable order toward the railroad. We were here ordered to move by the right flank, which we (lid for about 150 or 200 yar(is, and then advanced directly across the railroad at an angle of about 20 degrees, our right thrown forward, striking the rail- road first, and, when the left of my line had passed over the railroad about 100 yards, I discovered a section of artillery belonging to the enemy a little to the front, but almost upon my right flank. I immedi. NOTE ON ORLGINAL.ThO line of skirmishers passed through a field on our left, and advanced thi-ough the woods in the direction of the hill on which the rebel bat- tery was placed Page 19 CHAP. XXXII.] OPERATIONS ABOUT SPRINGFIELD, TENN. 19 ately signaled my skirmishers to change direction to the right, to gab the rear of the battery, which they did until we had wheeled about 30 degrees, when we encountered about 300 dismounted cavalry, which at first I took to 4e a regiment of infantry. We attacked them with a loud cheer, and they immediately began to give way, but disputed the ground for probably 100 yards, when they fled precipitately to their horses, which were posted in the rear of the battery. We pushed at doubl& . quick toward the battery, but, as soon as the cavalry reached their horses, both cavalry and artillery commenced a thundering retreat, and we continued in full pursuit, although we were a quarter of a mile in advance of our main reserve, until an orderly came np, stating that he was the bearer of an order from the brigade commander directing us to fall back, which we did until we neared the town, where I assembled my skirmishers and returned to the regiment. Your obedient servant, THOS. E. ROSE, Gaptain, Gomdg. Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. S. T. DAVIS, Adjutant Seventy-seventh Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers. No. 4. Congratulatory letter from General Braxton Bragg to Brig. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Murfreesborough, November 27, 1862. General WHEELER, Chief of Cavalry: GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to thank you for your successful engagt~ment with the enemy to-day. He also desires you will express to the First Alabama Regiment (one of his old corps) his appreciation of their gallant conduct, not unexpected, which you refer to in your report.* He further directs me to state that you expose yourself too recklessly in affairs of this character. I am, general, your obedient servant, GEORGE WM. BRENT, Assistant Adjutant- General. NOVEMBER 2630, 1862.Operations about Springfield, Teun. Report of Licut. Col. Daniel F. Griffin, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry. HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-EIGHTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Edgefield Junction, Tenn., December 2, 1862. SIR: In pursuance of your orders, of date November 23, I proceeded with my command and 22 wagons, leaving camp at 7.30 oclock on * Not fouiid Page 20 20 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXTh the morning of the 26th ultimo, arriving at Springfield, Robertson County, Tennessee, at 3.30 p. m. of the same date. Immediately on ar- rival, pickets were thrown out on all avenues of approach to the town, and C6mpany E, Capt. William L. Carter commanding, placed on duty as provost guards. Immediate search was made for subsistence stores, as contemplated by yonr orders, and flour, to the nnmber of 1,143 bar- rels, found stored. Of this I immediately had loaded 249 barrels on the wagons then at hand, and parked them for the night close to my com- mand, sending at the same time a courier forward for further supply of wagons. Examinations maae on the 27th resulted in the finding of one lot of 106 barrels of flour, another of 40 barrels, and three lots of baconsay something more than 3 tonsfor correct statement of which I would refer to reports of Lieutenant ilollister, acting brigade commissary. On the evening of November 27, Lieutenant-Colonel Kell, command- ing Second Ohio Volunteers, arrived with his regiment and wagon-train, and assumed command of the post. From that date two companies of my command were doing provost guard duty, two on picket duty, and the others escorting trains, or such other duties as were required by the demands of the expedition. On Saturday, November 29, I proceeded, with four companies of my command, under Lieutenant-Colonel Kell, Second Ohio Volunteers, to the Logan Mills, situated 011 Red River, Kentucky, 13 miles north of Spring- field, on the old Russellville road, returning from there after dark, and, when about one-half mile from Springfield, the rear, or rather the strag- gling portion of the command (the march having been a very severe one), was fired upon by bushwhackers, wounding in the leg severely Joseph Candiere, Company B, of my regiment. Three shots were fired, and the wound inflicted with buckshot, evidently fired from a shot-gun. These facts coming to my knowledge, I immediately sent out a detachment of two companies, under Maj. JohuB. Glover, with orders to arrest all men found in the immediate vicinity of the firing, and to bring them and all arms found in their possession to camp. This duty was promptly per- formed and 10 of the citizens living in the immediate neighborhood brought to camp and turned over to the provost-marshal, together with 3 shot-guns and 5 rifles. The citizens were held in custody until the next evening, when a court of inquiry, consisting of Maj. J. B. Glover, Capt. William L. Carter, Lieut. James V. Kelso, and myself~ after a thorough investigation, being satisfied of their innocence, dis- charged them, retaining, however, their guns, which were brought to this camp, and now await your order as to what disposition shall be made of them. Monday, December 1, a. in., my command was relieved by the Thirty- third Ohio Volunteers, and, as soon as the companies then on picket could be called in, started for this camp, arriving here at 6 p. in., bring- ing with us 3 prisoners, who were turned over to us by the citizens of Springfield, together with 1 horse and 3 guns, which I have brought with me to this camp. Prisoners are members of Morgans and Wood- wards guerrilla bands. \Tery respectfully, your obedient servant, D. F. GRIFFIN, Lieut. Gol., Gomdg. Thirty-eighth Beg~ment Indiana Volunteers. G~nGE II. VANDEGRIFT, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, Ninth Brigade Page 21 21 CHAP. XXXII.] EXPEDITION TO HARPETH SHOALS, ETC. NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 1,1862.Expedition from Edgefield to Har- peth Shoals, Clarksville, & c., Tenn. Report of Lieut. Col. James ~. JJfcC1elland~ Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Camp near lidgefteld, Tenn., December 2, 1862. GENERAL: In pursuance of your order, received the night of No- vember 26, I left camp at 11 oclock with the Twenty-fifth Illinois, Major Kodine; Thirty-fifth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, and one com- pany of the Thirty.sixth Illinois Cavalry, Captain Sherer. My instruc- tions from General Davis were to march to ilarpeth Shoals, to intercept 1,200 cavalry (said to have crossed there), and, if possible, cut them up. I moved my command 16 miles, and halted for breakfast; rested two hours, and moved on near to Harpeth Shoals; encamped and sent ont scouts. Having received such~ information as convinced me that no enemy in any force was near, I moved at 8 oclock next morning, 28th, to a camp 1 mile east of Coopertown, on the Nashville and Clarksville road. At 12 oclock at night I received orders to march to Harpeth Shoals or Clarksville, to intercept a force said to be at Trenton, Todd County. In obedience to this order, I separated my teams, and sent those already loaded, with the prisoners, under a strong escort, to a camp at Edgefield, and, with the balance of my command, left camp at 3 a. in., 29th, and arrived at Port It~oyal at 11 a. in., where I learned, that no force was then near Trenton, but that Woodwards command had crossed the Cumberland below and at Clarksville some time during the 28th. I therefore went into camp with my infantry force, and sent the cavalry on to Clarksville. They reported to me before daylight on the morning of the 30th that, on their arrival at Clarksville, they found the advance of Colonel Bruces command occupying the town and that the enemy, 700 strong, was in camp 10 miles south of Clarksville, and they expected to make an attack on the camp at daybreak of the 30th. On hearing this, I left my camp at & 30 a. in., and marched to ~ycamore Creek and encamped. December 1, marched at 8.30 oclock and arrived in camp, near Edge- field, at 4.30 p. m. My march in a direct line was 97 miles in some less than five days, besides the scouting done by parties sent out for the purpose of obtaining information. The cavalry command labored faith- fully, and I cannot speak in too high tetms of their promptness and efficiency, as well as good conduct, on the march. Great credit is due Capt. S. B. Sherer for the discipline he enforced. During the march I captured on the road going south 3 wagons, loaded with 20 barrels of whisky, with the owner and his teamsters, and found on his person $3,080 of Confederate bills, in sheets. I brought in near 500 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of corn, 16 barrels of flour, and 5 barrels of salt. I captured over 20 prisoners, 11 of whom I had turned over; 2 I paroled (they being sick and wounded), and the bal- ance I released unconditionally for want of sufficient evidence against them. I also brought in ~0 head of horses, 10 head of mules, and 6 guns. All of the above property was taken from persons known to be disloyal, and receipts were given by my quartermaster and approved by a commissioned officer in all cases where any owner could be found, or family of owner to give them to. Most of the property taken belongs to men serving in the rebel army. I found the roads leading fro Page 22 22 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [OnAr. XXXII. Robertson County across the Cumberland south bore evidence of being much used, and, from information received from citizens, large supplies of i)rovisions and other supplies have been sent south through these routes~. I found abundance of almost all kinds of supplies through the southern portion of Robertson and northwest part of Cheatham Coun- ties, while the mass of the citizens are avowedly disloyal. Great care was taken by myself; in which I was aided effectually by the command- ing officers under my command, to prevent any pillaging. A few mules and horses were taken by unauthorized parties. All such were promptly sent back to their owners, and the parties taking them punished. I have to report the loss of Capt. Charles A. Clark, Company A, Twenty-fifth Illinois. He was division officer of the day, and while in discharge of his duty was shot by a private of Company E, Twenty- fifth Illinois, said private having beeii placed under guard for disorderly conduct. The shooting occurred while on the march and in the rear of the command, and was not brought to my notice for several hours after- ward, or I should have had the criminal shot on the spot. I reported him, with two others implicated, under a strong guard. They are now in prison in Nashville. Captain Clark was my mdst efficient line offi- cer, and his death has created a vacuum that cannot be filled. The shot entered the brain, and death was instantaneous. He fell as he had ever lived during his term of service, promptly discharging his duties as an officer. I took provisions for three days of all except meat, and for the sup- plies needed and used by the command I gave receipts. Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. S. McCLELLAND, Lieutenant-Colonel Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. Brigadier-General WOODRUFF, Commanding Thirty-second Brigade, Ninth Division. NOVEMBER 27, 1862.Skirmish at Mill Creek, Tenn. Report of Brig. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army. HDQRS. ELEVENTH Div., FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Camp on Mill Creek, November 27, 1862. MAJOR: This morning I directed a reconnaissance in force in the di- rection ofNolensville, under the direction of Colonel Schaefer, suppoi~ted by two regiments and a section of artillery, under Colonel Greusel. I inclos~ herewith their instructions. Colonel Schaefer found the enemys pickets 2 miles in my front - drove them in until they were supported, a short distance beyond Mill Creek, by a section of artillery, and about 2,000 cavalry. These he drove without difficulty to Nolensville, and then turned to the right to the Edmondson pike, leaving Colonel Gren- sel to cover his rear. These commands have returned to camp. Colonel Schaefer reports having killed several of the enemy; the body of only one was recovered. There were no indications of infantry, nor any determined resistance of cavalry. The colonel captured some rebel flour at iXtill Creek. I know of no engagement at La Vergnc. I learn by a note from General Sill that he sent a i)arty there, and Colonel Schaefer reports about twelve artillery shots in that direction Page 23 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISHES NEAR HARTSYILLE AND ROME, TENN. 23 The crossing of Mill Creek, on the Xolensville road, is not bad; the bridges have been burned; 3 prisoners were captured. The cavalry was Texas IRangers, commanded by Wharton. I have the honor to be, major, yonr obedient servant, P. H. SHE L~IDAN, Brigadier- General, Commanding. [Inclosure.] HDQES. ELEVENTH Div., FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Camp on Mill Creek, November 26, 1862. Col. NICHOLAS GRETJSEL, Commanding Third Brigade: COLONEL: The general commanding directs that yon take the Thirty- sixth and Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and follow in the rear of the command of Colonel Schaefer, on the Nolensville pike, to-morrow morn- ing at 4 oclock. On arriving at Concord Church, or at the crossing of Mill Creek, you will take np a position to assist and cover the move- nn~nts of Colonel Schaefer. One section of Barnetts battery without caissons will be directed to accompany you. You will take your posi- tion on Mill Creek, if possible, watching the La Yergne road; also the Nolensville road and the valley on the opposite side of the creek till 12 oclock in., and threaten the enemy who are encamped at or near No- lensville, so as to prevent them from attacking with their full force the command of Colonel Schaefer. You mnst maintain your position, if possible, at that point until the hour indicated, when you will slowly return toward camp. The general does not consider it prudent to cross Mill Creek, unless it would be as a feint to relieve Colonel Schaefer from any attack which might be made in force against him; then it would be best to cross over a portion of your infantry only, as the crossing is very bad. In case Colonel Schaefer should meet with a large force of the enemy, he is directed to fall back; in which case you will fall back also. The general commanding trusts to your good judgment in the execu- tion of the foregoing instructions. I have the honor to be, colonel, your obedient servant, GEORGE LEE, First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. NOVEMBER 28, 1862.Skirmishes on the Carthage road, near Hartsville and Rome, Tenn. Reports of Gol. John 111. Harlan, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade, with congratulatory orders. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIvISIoN, Camp at (astalian ASprings, Tenn., November 29, 18624.30 a. in. GENERAL: Major [Samuel] Hill has returned to Hartsville, and re- ports that he followed the rebel cavalry beyond Rome, and recaptured 7 of the wagons. The wagons were recaptured on the south side of the river, near Rome. He also reports that he took several prisoners; had some 3 or 4 men killed; drove them some 18 miles, and killed 15 or 20 of them. Major Hill reports also that there are no rebels on this side of the river. The party which attacked and captured the train yesterda Page 24 24 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXII. morning numbered 200. I inclose report of adjutant of the cavalry de- tachment, from which you will see the casualties of the cavalry. I have written to Major Hill for all the facts connected with the pursuit, which I will r~ceive at Gallatin, and will then, if desired, make a formal report. It was rather a bold act in the cavalry to go as fair as they did, and the result creditable to it. Supposing that the report of Major Hill to Colo- nel Hays, herein embodied, contains all the facts which you expected Colonel Hays to ascertain, I have ordered him to move down this morn- ing. The order will not reach him, so that he can get here before 1 oclock. If you have no objection, I will wait here until to-morrow morning, as the march from Hartsville to our camp, beyond Gallatin, will be 18~ miles, which is quite a severe one, unless necessary to be made. As to this, please answer immediately, telling the courier to bring it in haste. Respectfully, JOHN M. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. CAMP AT CASTALIAN SPRINGS, 1)ecember 4, 1862. CAPTAiN: On the night of the 28th November, I transmitted to the division commander, in a brief note, all the facts of which I was then in possession in reference to the capture, on that day, near Hartsville, by Morgans rebel cavalry, of a part of the train of the Second Indiana Cavalry, together with an officer and some of the soldiers of that regi- ment. I also advised the division commander of the recapture, on the same day, by Major Hill, commanding the Second Indiana Cavalry, of the larger portion of his train. Being uninformed at that time of all the circumstances connected with the capture and recapture of the train, I requested Lient. Col. W. H. Hays, of the Tenth Kentucky Infantry, he being in command of the detachment from this brigade then on dnty at Hartsville, composed of the Tenth Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant- Colonel Carroll, Tenth Kentucky Volunteers, and Sonthwicks battery, as well as of the Second Indiana Cavalry, then temporarily attached to my command, to obtain from Major Hill a detailed report of all the facts. Major Hill made that report to me promptly, and forwarded it to my headquarters at this place, but by some accident it was not handed to me until this morning. Although several days have elapsed, I deem it due to Major Hill and his command that I shall make known in an official form and to the proper authorities all the facts connected with the affair of Novembei- 28, as detailed by him. I do this the more readily as I learn that Aome oneI do not know whomhas made a report, which has reached de- partment headquarters, in reference to this matter. But as I am unad- - vised as to whether that report does full justice to Major Hill and his command, I owe it to them to submit the following, based upon Major Hills report to me. On the morning of the 28th, a forage train, consisting of 10 wagons, was sent from the Second Indiana Cavalry, nuder an armed escort of 40 men, in charge of Lieutenant Brush, Company H, an escort which would seem sufficient, and which, if properly handled, would have proven itself sufficient. When the train reached a point about 2 miles east of Hartsville, on the Carthage road, it was attacked both in front and rear by rebel cavalry. The train was surrendered without an Page 25 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISHES NEAR HARTSVILLE AND ROME, TENN. 25 resistance whatever on the part of the escort, nearly the whole of whom fell into the hands of the enemy. The few who then escaped returned to camp and advised Major Hill of what had occurred. Major Hill immediately ordered out his command, and proceeded with all dispatch to the point designated, where he fonnd, as he states, in- fantry and cavalry drawn up in line of battle. Major Hill states that, although he knew of the vicinity of Colonel Scotts brigade, Dumonts division, which was en route to relieve the detachment from my brigade at Hartsville, he could not reconcile Colonel Scotts presence with the capture of his train, and, hence, he was delayed for an hour in ascer- taining who he was. As soon as he ascertained that the force which he saw was Colonel Scotts command, he resumed the pursuit of the rebel cavalry, and carried it on with vigor, taking several prisoners. He met with no resistance until he reached the Cumberland River, in the vicinity of Rome. At that point his passage was disputed with con- siderable resoluteness. As soon, however, as he reached the opposite bank, the enemy who composed the rear guard fled in dismay, and were not rallied nntil they came to the camp of the rebel Colonel Bennett, where, in conjunction with his command, they were disposed to make a stand. Major Hill halted his advance, and awaited the coming up of more of his men; but, perceiving that the enemy were becoming bolder, and the fire too warm to be comfortable, he ordered a charge, having at that time only 90 men, the remainder not being able to keep np in the rapid pursuit which he had given the rebels. On sounding the charge, Bennetts men became confused, and as his (Hills) men opened fire upon them with pistols, broke ranks, totally disorganizing those who had come to their camp for protection. In crossing a bridge in rear of Ben- netts camp, the enemy crowded together so as to blockade it. Hills skirmishers, dismonnting, opened fire with capital execution. Immedi- ately on passing the bridge the force which was in camp dispersed, when Hill, pushing those who remained in the road, succeeded in recapturing 7 of his wagons and 8 of his men, who had been taken with the teams. Major Hill followed on for 12 miles south of the ford at Rome, where, the enemy having been re-enforced, he discontinued the pursuit, bring- ing off the recaptured property. He also captured a wagon belonging to Colonel Bennett. Major Hill reports the following casualties, viz: Three men of Com- pany H, names unknown, killed while prisoners; 1 lieutenant and 36 men missing at the date of the report. Major Hill reports that the capture of the train, in his opinion, is at- tributable to the gross carelessness of Lieutenant Brush, commanding the train guard. The loss of the enemy was heavy when it is considered that they had a great advantage over Major Hill, both in numbers and position, and were enabled to increase the distance between him and them by reason of the delay already referred to. As the statements are so conflicting as to the number of rebels killed, Major Hill makes no report upon that point beyond what his own personal observation authorizes him to state. He saw 12 dead rebels in the road. Major Hill concludes: I have to return my thanks to you for the very valuable services rendered me by a lieutenant of your command; I have unfortunately forgotten his name. Capt. D. A. Briggs conducted the extreme advance with great credit to himself; but, in men- tioning him, I will add that all the 138 men who followed beyond the Cumberland River deserve honorable mention for their alacrity in the pursuit. I take great pleasure in stating that the name of the officer in m Page 26 26 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. brigade to whom Major Hill refers is J~ieut. D. F. Allen, Company C, Tenth Indiana Volunteers. I learn from several sources that his conduct was most commendable. The dahng exhibited by Major Hill and hi~ gallant little band in pur- suing a superior enemy beyond the Cumberland for several miles, nearly 18 or 20 miles from their camp at Hartsville, and the desperate fierceness with which they charged the enemy, recapturing and bringing back to camp nearly their entire train during the night of the same day on which they were taken, reflect the highest credit upon them, and deserves, as it will no doubt receive, the favorable notice of the commanding general of the department. Their conduct in these respects is worthy of general emulation. Respectfully, JOHN M. HARLAN, Capt. ED. C. DENIG, Golonel, Commanding & cond Brigade. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 5. ) Kashviule, November 30, 1862. * * * * * * * VII. The general commanding has learned with much satisfaction of the good conduct and energy displayed by a detachment of the Second Indiana Cavalry, under Major Hill, in pursuing a party of 200 of the enemys cavalry, killing some 15 or 20 of them, and retaking the greater part of a Government train just captured by them through the careless- ness of one of our foraging parties. This little affair is very creditable to the cavalry, and the general commanding takes pleasure in noticing it. By command of Major-General Rosecrans: C. GODDARD, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant~General. NOVEMBER 29DECEMBER 1, 1862.Reconnaissance from Stewarts Ferry, Stones. River, to Bairds Mills, Tenn., and skirmishes en route. REPORTS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. James D. Morgan, U. S. Army. No. 2.Col. Silas C. Toler, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry. No. 1. Reports of Brig. Gen. James D. Morgan, U. S. Army. HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SEVENTH DIV., 14TH ARMY CORPS, Stones River, Tenn., December 2, 1862. CAPTAIN: The two regiments from my command ordered forward Saturday returned last evening. They went to Bairds Mills, about 17 miles to the front; had some skirmishing with the enemys pickets, bu Page 27 CHAP.- XXXII.] RECONNAISSANCE TO 1~AIRDS MILLS, TENN., ETC. 27 met with no large force. Twelve prisoners were taken, 5 horses and 1 mule, 5 reWolvers, 2 double-barreled shot-guns, 1 rifle, buggy, and har- ness. The prisoners were sent to Nashville this morning. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES D. MOliGAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Captain CONNER, Assistant Adjutant- General, & venth Division. IIDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FIRST Div., ARMY OF TIlE Miss., & ones River, Teun., November 30, 1862. MAJOR: In compliance with iustructions from the general command- ing Fourteenth Army Corps, two regiments from my brigade, the Sixtieth Illinois and Tenth Michigan, Colonel Toler, of the Sixtieth Illinois, com. manding, left camp at 2 oclock p. in., on the new pike, with orders to proceed to Bairds Mills and Rural Hill, and examine the roads and country, and, if they met the enemy, to whip them. At 4 p. in. three regiments of cavalry, under the command of Colonel Milliken. passed through my lines on the Lebanon road. I advised the colonel to send a battalion of his command out on the Statesville road, and by so doing the whole of the country to the left of the Murfrees- borough pike would be covered. The colonels instructions prevented his doing so. I inclose a rough draft Qf the roads named. A scouting party of 25 mounted infantry, under the command of Captain Powell, was sent out on the Statesrille road yesterday. They met a party of guerrillas about 7 miles out, drove in their advance, taking 2 rifles and 1 horse. The mhin body was found strongly posted on the oppo- site side of a creek, and in number three or four to one. The captain thought it advisable not to attack them, his command being poorly armed. - The work on the bridges progressing slowly; will be ready in a few days for planking. Very respectfully, JAMES D. MORGAN, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Major GARESCII~, Chief of Staff No. 2. Report of Col. Silas C. Toler, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry. IIDQRS. SIXTIETH REGT. ILLINOIS VOL. INFANTRY, Camp on Stones River, December 2, 1862. LIEUTENANT: In accordance with orders of November 29, we moved on Central or Rock River pike, and bivouacked for the night at Widow Hays spring, 5 miles froni Rock River. At daylight next morning marched on the same road to Gallatin and La Vergue road; changed direction to the right on that road to Chicken road or old Central pike, on which we moved to Bairds Mills, reaching there about 1.30 p. in., and bivouacked for the night. The Central i)ike is macadamized, but very rough country, broken and hilly, but no serious obstructions which would serve to impede or delay the march of any considerable number of troops. The Gallatin and La Vergne road is narrow and rough, and crossed frequently by neighborhood roads. We struck the Chicken road about I mile east of Rural Hill and 8 ~niles from Bairds Mills, an Page 28 28 KY., MID. AND E. TENN.,-N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXII changed direction to the left on Chicken road, passing through Glades- yule, 3 ~lies on. The Statesville road strikes off to the right from the Chicken road 3 miles from Bairds Mills. The Chicken road is a good dirt roa4, with but few neighborhood crossings. Small squads of rebel cavalry are continually crossing through the country between Rural Hill and Bairds Mills. At Bairds Mills we were joined by Colonel Millikens command of cavalry. We were menaced by small squads of rebel cavalry at different points, and at Bairds Mills they appeared in some considerable force on the Murfreesborough and Lebanon pike. After a sharp skirmish, they retired in the direction of Murfreesborough. They were Morgans men. He is encamped at Blacks Shop, 9 miles from Bairds Mills, toward Murfreesborough. His force is said to be 3,000 men, mostly mounted, and three pieces of artil- lery. We captured some of the enemys pickets. We captured 12 pris- oners, 1 mule,5 horses, 1 buggy, 4 saddles and bridles, 3 double and 1 single barrel shot-guns, 1 Yager rifle, and 5 revolvers. We left Bairds Mills at 7 oclock a. m. of December 1, and returned to camp, passing over the same route we went out. Nothing of interest occurred on our way back. Officers and men under my command be- haved well, and deserve credit for good discipline and order during the march. Yery respectfully, S. C. TOLEIR, Lient. TnEo. WISEMAN, Colonel, Commanding Expedition. Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. DECEMBER 1, 1862.Skirmish near Nolensville, Tenn. Report of Brig. Gem John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding ~Javalry Brigade. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Xolensville, Tenn., December 1, 1862.-5 p. m. GENERAL: * * * I had a skirmish with the enemy to-day, and my battery drove them from their position very quickly. * * * * * * * Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. A. WHARTON, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Lieutenant-General [L.] POLK, & c. DECEMBER 3, 1862.Attack on Union forage train on the Ilardin pike, near Nashville, Tenn. Report of Col. George XV. Roberts, Forty-second Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. ROBERTS BRIG., 11TH DIV., 14TH ARMY CoRps, Camp Sheridan, December 21, 1862. MAJOR: I have the honor to report in the cases of Brigade Quarter- master D. B. Sears, Regimental Quartermaster S. B. Hood, and Lieut. 0. A. Clark, formerly of my command, but now prisoners of war, that on the 3d day of December, 1862, they were on duty in attendance with a forage train from my brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colone Page 29 CmAi. XXXII.] SKIRMISII NEAR hOLLY TREE GAP7 TENN. 29 Waiwortli, which proceeded 10 miles on the Hardin pike, then turned to the left and loaded, about 3 miles from said pike. Before starting, I placed General Orders, No. 17, in the hands of Quartermaster Sears, and enjoined.strict obedience in regard to all points, and specified par- ticularly the receipting for property. I learn from direct testimony that Quartermaster Sears was very active to see that all the wagons were well loaded; that the exact number was ascertained, and that he then insisted that Quartermaster Hood, of the Twenty-second Illinois, Forage- master Bruce, of General Palmers division train, and Lieut. 0. A. Clark should go with him to the house of the proprietor and receipt. They went. The house was distant (as I am informed) from the guard of the rear of the train about 300 yards. Quartermaster Sears did not ask for a personal guard; in fact, as he says, did not think of it. While Quartermaster Sears was receipting, the others were invited to take dinner, which they did. Before Quar- termaster Sears had completed his receipts, a force of Texan Rangers, of about 200, began firing on the train and escort. Bruce, who was first out of the house, mounted his horse, and escaped with a ball through his coat and another in the hip of his horse. The other officers, seeing the Rangers between them and the train, remained at the house, and were taken. The Rangers charged on Sergeant iluerson, of Company E, Forty- second Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and 17 men, of same regiment, who were posted as a lookout or vedette. But the sergeant formed his men, and fired into them by volley, advanced on them, still firing, dared them~ to come on, and completely drove them back. The Rangers wounded 8 mules, and Quartermaster Sears states that they declared that if it had not been for the little major, as they called the sergeant, they would have captured part of the train. I think that Herson deserves notice. He has been with me in sev- eral close matters, and is brave beyond question. I sent forwarda rec- ommendation for his promotion, but it is returned, refused. Respectfully, your obedient servant, G. W. ROBERTS, Colonel, Commanding. Major SmELL, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. DECEMBER 4, 1862.Skirmish on the Franklin pike, near Holly Tree Gap, Tenn. Report of ~Jol. Robert H. U. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry. HEADQUARTERs FOURTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY, tJamp Rosecrans, Tenn., December 4, 1862. Sin: I have the honor to hand you the following report of my scout on the Franklin pike this day: At 7.30 a. m. I marched, with 302 officers and men. When 8 miles from Nashville, I met the enemys pickets, which were driven, by Com- panies I and L, as far a~ the junction of the Wilson Creek and Franklin pikes (9 miles from Nashville), and then some 2 miles down the Wilson Creek pike. Here I recalled the two companies, and, leaving ID company at the junction, moved forward on the Franklin pike. About 2 miles out, we again met the enemys pickets (about 70 men), and drove them before us through Holly Tree Gap (6 miles from the junction), and t Page 30 30 KY., MID. AND F. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [Ca& ~. XXXIL within about 1 mile from Franklin. No obstruction of any kind has been placed in the gap, which is naturally one of the strongest posi- tions I have ever seen. Two bridges have been destroyed on the road, one about 3 miles north of the gap, the other about 24 miles south. Wagons can pass both by taking the fields east. One of the rebels was wounded by a carbine ball in left shoulder. We met with no loss. I returned to camp at 8 oclock p. m~ having ridden about 45 miles. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, JIOBT. II. G. MJNTY, Lieutenant CHAMBERLAIN, Colonel, Gommaitdig. Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, First Gavairy Division. DECEMBER 4, l862.Capture of outpost near Stewarts Ferry (or Ford), Stones River, Tenn. IREPORTS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. James D. Morgan, U. S. Army. No. 2.Maj. D. W. Holman, C. S. Army. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. James D. Morgan, U. S. Army. HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FIRST Div., ARMY OF THE Miss., Stones River, Tenn~, Ji~ecernber 4,1862. COLONEL: This morning about 3 oclock a sergeant and 9 men of Cap- tain Powells company mounted scouts, stationed at Stewarts Ford, 24- miles on our right, were attacked by a mounted force of the enemy of about 60 men. All of our men succeeded in making their escape, with their arms and accouterments, but with the loss of their horses. Two were wounded, 1 severely. The enemy made their approach upon our right from the direction of the Murfreesborough pike. I have no cav- alry to cover my flank in that direction. I had supposed that vedettes were stationed from the Murfreeshorough pike toward my right. I sent out yesterday a fora~ing party about 4 miles to the front, on the Lebanon pike; 2 men were taken, 1 a mounted scout of Captain Powells company, and a teamster; they were, paroled and returned to camp almost as soon as the train. I returned them to duty, ignoring the paroles, and with orders that they be charged with the arms lost. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES D. MORGAN, Col. ~. ~. GARESCH~. Brigadier-General, Commanding. No. 2. Report of Maj. D. W. Holman, C. S. Army. CAMP NEAR LA VERGNE, TENN., December 4, 1862. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, with the approval of the brigadier-general commanding, I left my encampment near Stones Rive Page 31 CHAP. XXXII.] CAPTURE OF TRANSPORTS, ETC., NEAR PRESTONBURG. 31 about 12 oclock last night with 50 men, a part of Captain [J. T.] Mar- tins company, of my battalion, and proceeded in the direction of Stew- arts Ferry, on Stones River, 12 miles distant, for the purpose of cap- turing some ~f the enemys pickets. By traveling obscure roads and recrossing Stones River about 1~ miles above Stewarts Ferry, we came in between the enemys main force at McWhirtersville [Donelson] and Stewarts Ferry. When within a quarter of a mile of the pickets, I dis- mounted 20 men, and sent them 300 yards ahead, and ordered them to proceed noiselessly to the place, first ordering them to surrender, and, if they refused, to fire. A part of the mounted men under Captain Martin, and the balance under Lieutenants [T.] Banks and [A. S.] Chap- man, were sod isposed on either side of the road as to catch any who might attempt to make their way to the main force. Sergeant [J. M.] Critz, who commanded the squad of dismounted men, when within 15 steps of the reserve ordered them to surrender. They refused, and one of them fired. Immediately my 20 men fired; 1 lieutenant and 2 privates were left dead upon the spot. I think ~he whole reserve (9 men) were either killed or wounded; but the cedar undergrowth was so very thick that we did not see them, nor could not, without carefully searching, which we did not have time to do. Three horses were killed, and we ca ptnyed 6, with bridles, saddles, & c., 2 excellent Belgian guns, 1 pistol, several India- rubber coats, & c. The two vedettes, who were some distance from the reserve made their escape through the bushes, and we did not have time to pnrsue them. Being within I mile or less of a large force, I thought it but prudent to move away at once, and with as much rapidity as prac- ticable. At sunrise this morning I got back to my camp withont the loss of a man, horse, or anything else. I must be permitted to commend the coolness and gallantry of Cap- tain Martin, Lieutenants Banks and Chapman, and Sergeant Critz. 1 cannot mention the names of privates, but they all did their duty, and nobly. I am, captain, very respectfully, yonr obedient servant, D. W. HOLMAN, Major, Commanding. Capt. D. CT. REED, Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 4b, 1862.Capture of transports, and skirmishes near Preston- burg, Ky. ]E~EPORTS.~ No. 1.- CoL Jonathan Cranor, Fortieth Ohio Infantry. No. i.-Col. John N. Clarkson, Virginia State Line Cavalry. No.1. Report of Col. Jonathan Granor, Fortieth Ohio infantry. IIDQRS. IDIST. E. Kr., Louisa, December 8, 1862. MAJOR: I have the honor to snbmit to you the following report: Un the morning of the 4~d [4th] instant, an engagement took place be- tween about 200 of the Thirty-ninth Kentucky, who were guarding some push-boats which were loaded with commissary and quartermaster stores for the Thirty-ninth, and were en route for Piketon, and about * See also Floyd to Leteher, Series 1, Vol. XXI, p. 1065 Page 32 32 KY., MID. AND E. T~ENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL 800 rebels, mostly mounted, under command of Colonel Clarkson. The engagement took place about 4 miles below Prestonburg. The enemy succeeded in capturing the boats, not, however, until after 14 or 15 of them had been killed, and they had killed 2 of the Thirty. ninth. They took away and destroyed from 50 to 100 stand of arms, about 300 suits of fatigue uniforms, 7,000 rounds of ammunition, a small lot of commissaries, 1 tent, and 2 push-boats. A considerable por- tion of the articles with which the boats were loaded have since been recovered, the et~emy in his hurry not taking time to destroy them. The boats were loaded at Catlettsbnrg by the assistant quartermaster of the Thirty-ninth, by orders of Colonel Dils, without my knowledge or con- sent. I was not aware that they contained either arms or clothing until since their capture. Learning after they had started that there was a possibility that they might be captured, after they reached this point (which took seven days), I sent a guard with them from here to Peach Orchard, at which point they said Colonel Dils was to send a guard to meet them. I sent a company of cavalry, with instruction to scout the surrounding country, especially toward Logan, Va., to ascertain if there was any danger. I ordered them to guard the boats beyond Peach Orchard,.or until they should meet the guards sent by Colonel J)ils, which they did, when they returned, and reported no enemy in striking distance. Information was afterward received that an effort would be made to capture them, which was communicated to the adjutant and quartermas- ter who were in charge, and they advised to drop back to Peach Orchard, and there await Colonel Dils arrival; after which they received an order from Colonel Dils, stating to them that he was in daily communication with the country through which they would have to pass; that there was no danger, and for them to press ahead as fast as possible. Owing to the low stage of water, they were unable to make more than 4 or 5 miles per day. Colonel iDils regiment, as you are aware, is as yet unorganized. He claims that he is independent, and not subject to any authority, except the military powers of Keutucky. As soou as I heard of the capture, I started out 350 cavalry to pur- sue them, if possible to form a .junction with the forces of Colonel Dils, and drive them out or give them battle. I have not yet heard from the cavalry, but learn that Colonel IDils, with most of his command, is at Paintsville, and will fall back to Peach Orchard. Owing to the scarcity of forage and the difficulty of getting supplies, I have yet brought only a part of my force to this point. I have not cavalry sufficient to do that amount of scouting which seems to be necessary in this district. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. CRANOR, Colonel, Commanding District of Edstern Kentucky. Maj. N. II. MCLEAN, Assistant Adjutant- General, Department of the Ohio. No. 2. Report of Col. John N. Clarkson, Virginia State Line Cavalry. IIDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, VIRGINIA STATE LINE, Camp at Mouth of Pond (reck, Pike Co., Ky., December 7, 1862. SIR: In obedience to yohr instructions, I pr6ceeded with my co Page 33 CHAr. XXXII.] CAPTURE OF TRANSPORTS, ETC., NEAR PRESTONBUR~. 33 mand, composed of detachments of the First, Second, and Third Begi- inents, on the 3d ultimo, in the direction of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on the following morning reached Prestonburg. At that place I was informed that several boats were on their route up the Sandy River, loaded with large supplies of ammunition and clothing intended for the troops stationed at Piketon, and that on the previous night they had stopped a short distance below the town. Without delay, I moved the column down the banks of the river, and discovered nine boats, attended by a str~mg guard, in readiness to receive my attack. The information of our approach had been carried before us by a Union man in that vicinity. After a spirited contest of an hours duration, we succeeded in dislodging the enemy, numbering abont 300 men, and utterly routed them. In the fight we lost 2 men killed and 7 wounded. The loss of the enemy was at least 25 killed and about the same number wounded, besides 25 prisoners, which we have with us. Our capture proved exceedingly valuable, consisting of a large num- ber of Enfleld rifles (500) and ammunition, with all the accouterments necessary for 800 or 1,000 men. It gave us sufficient clothing of every description to thoroughly equip the greater portion of the force under my command. The supply of sugar, coffee, and salt was large, and was nearly all brought off~ by the men. The men having appropriated all they desired or needed of the plunder, the boats were destroyed. The value of the captured property can safely be estimated at ~250,000. I am grieved to state that Captains Kessler and Findlay were pain- fully, though not dangerously, wounded. They are able, however, to be conveyed with us, and shall not be left to fall into the hands of the enemy. Lieutenant Levi Hampton was killed on the side of the enemy. ll~aring that a regiment was stationed at Piketon, I directed my course on the evening of the same day toward that place, with the purpose of disbanding this force. Colonel IDils, the commandant of the post, had received intelligence of our presence in the country, and we encountered him during the night on the road between Prestonburg and Piketon with a heavy force. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the enemy were completely dispersed, with the reported loss of Colonel Dils. This report, though coming through his own officers, is not entirely credited. Here one of our men was killed instantly and two others wounded. At Piketon we met with no resistance, and captured there and in that vicinity about 25 prison- ers. We used and destroyed the stores left at that point, and proceeded directly to this place, the mouth of Pond Creek, which we reached yes- terday afternoon. In the space of three days we have made a tour of not less than 140 miles through the enemys country, over rugged pathways and roads; and, besides the captures above stated, we have brought off about 100 cattle, more than 150 horses, and many negroes. The population loyal to the South have been reassured of our capacity to protect them, and many have joined our standard. A feeling of uneasiness and unsafety has been diffused among our enemies and those friendly to their cause. The organization of the enemy has been for the time destroyed, and the route for our friends to come to us is left open and unimpeded by the foe. I am gratified to be able to state that the men, in spite of long and tedious marches, in spite of privation and chilling weather, have displayed a spirit and determination worthy of high commendation. 3 R RYOL xx, PT Page 34 34 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. The officers in battle and on the march have conducted themselves in a praiseworthy manner. By order of Col. John N. Clarkson, commanding First Brigade, Vir- ginia.State Line. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. WOODS, Acting Assistant Adjutant. General. Maj. Gen. J. B. FLOYD. DECEMBER 6, 1862.Skirmish near Kimbroughs Mill, Mill Creek, Tenn. HI~PORTS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U. S. Army. No. 2.Col. Harvey M. Buckley, Fifth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade. No. 3.Col. Charles Anderson, Ninety-third Ohio Infantry. No. 4.Lieut. Col. Milton Barnes, Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry. No. 5.Capt. T. R. Palmer, inspector First Division, Twenty-first Army Corps. No. 1. Report of Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill, U. S. Army. CAMP MILL CREEK, December 6, 18627 p. m. GENERAL: Our forage train was attacked by cavalry and artillery to-day. I presume it was Wheelers command. We had 1 man killed and 2 wounded. The enemy captured 8 of the wagons of ilascalls division, which were out on the same road. Will send you written report to-morrow morning. J. W. SILL, General MCCOOK. Brigadier- General. No. 2. Report ~f Col. Harvey liii. Buckley, P~fth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, December 7, 1862. CAPTAIN: The following is a brief statement of the skirmish on yes- terday, between the enemy and the guard of forage train: I left camp in command of the First Ohio, Ninety-third Ohio, an(l Fifth Kentucky, and two sections of Battery H. Arrived at the point in- dicated by forage-master to fill the train about noon of yesterday, which Place is about 7 miles from this camp. We discovered the enemy about one-half mile in front of us, numbering about 15 or 20 mounted men. Lieutenant Ludlow, of battery, brought his gun to bear upon them, ;tnd fired two shots, after which they disappeared. I theii ordered the First Ohio to the front and right to protect the wagons, which wer Page 35 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH NEAR KiMBROUGHS MILL, TENN. 35 gathering forage near Kimbrdughs Mill. The Fifth Kentucky was thrown to the front, and left to protect the wagons foraging near Hams house. The Third Indiana Cavalry, of two companies, under Captain Vanos- dol, were ordered to tli~ front, and here I would say that no men could have behaved better than those two companies, nor could any one have maneuvered them to l)etter advantage than the captain in command. We had arrived upon the groundbut a very short time before we were attacked to the front and left, for particulars of which I refer you to Colonel Barnes report, forwarded herewith. Having filled as many waoons as we could without bringing the train into camp after night, I ordered the two sections of artillery in advance of the train, and the First Ohio immediately in advance of the artillery. Hearing at this time ~)retty heavy tiring of cannon in front, the Fifth Kentucky was ordered forward in rear of the First Ohio and the artillery, the Ninety-third Ohio having been left in the rear to protect the train, as well as the Ninety- seventh Ohio and Captain Vanosdols cavalry. We had proceeded bnt a short distance toward camp before we discovered the enemy drawn lip in ~)retty strong force before us. I ordered up one piece of artillery, and opened fire upon them. We were answered by artillery, but they soon gave way, upon which we proceeded on to camp, arriving there near sundown. As to what happened in our rear about the time of our leaving for camp, I refer you to Colonel Andersons report, who had command of the rear guard. As to the part taken by the First Ohio, I would refer you to report of Major Stafford, filed herewith.* Onu of my escort is missing; another had his horse wounded. The conduct of the men and officers engaged would have ~atisfied the most exacting. I am indebted to my aide, Lieutenant ilarmami, of the Ninety-third Ohio, for his energy an(l promptness in carrying all orders. The only loss from the train of this division is one wagon of the battery~ which was destroyed by ourselves, the mules having become unruly and broken the tongue. H. N. BUCKLEY, Colonel, Commanding Fourth Brigade. Captain STEARNS. No. 3. Report of Cot. Charles Anderson, Ninety-third Ohio infantry. CAMP NEAR NASHVILLE, December 6, 1862. SIR: In obedience to your order to take charge of the defense of the rear of the forage train, 1 halted umy command this evening at about 3 oclock parallel with, and close to, its rear. Whilst waiting in this po- sition for the trains to move on, upon the top of the hill, a little west of the Franklin and Lebanon road, and southwest from the house of Mr. Ham, and above that of ,I saw a number of the enemy, on foot, and led by three horsemen, rushing down the valley which lies to the north of my position, in a westerly direction. They made great clamor by shouting, and their purpose evidently was to intercept the train in its march homeward upon the slope of the hill, and at the bend of the road as it enters into the valley. I immediately ordered my regiment to Not found Page 36 36 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL march in double-quick time through certaiu gaps and gates upon the eastern side of and close to, the road, which was then filled with our wagons. My purpose was, having slight advantage in distance as well as in the declivities of the hill, to make the same point before them, and to cut them off from any attack on my charge. In this effort Ii suc- ceeded, but not in sufficient time to prevent them spreading themselves in most favorable ground and shelter before my regiment could ensconse itself behind the fence which I desired as a cover. After a volley from Company F, Company A having been detached in support of a battery in advance, a rapid and irregular fire now ensued throughout both bodies of com1~atants. This lasted until, apparently, being satisfied that the Ninety-third Regiment could not be moved from its position, and,. consequefltly, that they could not succeed in the purpose of their am- buscade and assault, they fled precipitately and universally as far up the valley as we could see. Our loss in this action was but 1 killed and 3 wounded. Considering the closeness of the range, the deliberateness and duration of the en- emys fire, and the almost rash exposure of several of my companies, these casualties are strangely small in number. What injury was in- flicted upon the enemy I cannot undertake to say, and will not guess. Neither will J,in my inexperience in such matters, profess to estimate his numbers. They certainly seemed to be largely in excess of our own, and the whole command of the expedition was, in my opinion, surrounded on all sides by large numbers of our foes. It greatly delights me to speak in high and earnest praise of the gallantry and firmness of this new regiment in this its first fight. Every officer and man seemed re- solved to do his best, and where all have so well succeeded in that noble effort~ it might be invidious to distinguish by name particular per- sons. Notwithstanding my disposition to regard that restraint upon special praises, I feel myself compelled to specify two instances of marked courage and pertinacious bravery. The one was that of William Gosshorn, fourth corporal in Company F, and the other that of William C. Stewart, private Company C, acting color-bearer. The former, after being painfully wounded in the thigh by one of the first rounds of the engagement, deliberately went into line and loaded and fired at the enemy seven or eight times. The latter, in this his first battle, stood out in front of his company, and of the regiment, with his tall figure and ever-glorious banner elevated to their highest reach, nor could he be persuaded to bend his person, nor to lower his colors. In conclusion, perhaps overrating the merits of my regiment and the importance of its conduct, I feel free to say, in justice t~ its men and officers,that I think any less merit than that shown in this fight would have probably lost us our entire train, and it seems to me, now, that this attack, at this time and place, was preconcerted, together with vari- ous feints elsewhere, to accomplish that special object. Vanity or un- due partiality to my own men may mislead me in this opinion; if so, I can only offer the apology that the error is as natural as it is frank. All of which is respectfully submitted. CHARLES ANDERSON, Colonel Ninety-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. WILLIAM MANGAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant. General Page 37 CHAP. XXXII.) SKIRMISH NEAR KIMBROUGHS MILL, TENN. 37 No. 4. Report of Licut. Cot. Milton Barnes, Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry. finQils. NINETY-SEVENTH REOL OHIO VOL. INFANTRY, December 6, 1862. COLONEL: In compliance with your order to report the part taken by the Ninety-seventh Regiment as escort for the forage train in our en- counter with the enemy this day, and the result, I have the honor to report the following, viz: Under your instructions, I proceeded with the regiment, in charge of the Twenty-first Brigade train, to the outposts of General Sills division, where I found a train on the route from that division with an. escort of three regiments, commanded-by Colonel Buckley. He informed me that it would not be safe to venture out beyond with one regiment only, and suggested that I should accompany him, and unite our ~orces, which I did, and reported to him for orders. I proceeded, following in the rear of his train to a point about 2 miles beyond a brick church, on the rail- road. Here the whole train had halted. I had previously thrown three companies to the rear of our own brigade train, and the quartermaster in charge had reported the train all right. I then went forward, after heavy firing in the advance, and met Colonel Buckley, who immediately ordered me forward, with five companies of my command, to support the Louisville Legion, which I did, taking with me the remaining two also. I formed in order of battle in the rear of that regiment, and deployed one company (Company E, Captain Egan) to the left. This company ad- vanced as skirmishers until they reached the brow of the hill on the left, bearing to the front through a piece of woods into an open field, where they discovered the enemy in force, mounted. Several rounds were fired by them and several from the enemy, which, overreaching them, took effect in the battle-line of the regiment, resulting in the death of 1 man and the slight wounding of another. I then moved across the ravine through the woods to the support of my skirmishers, and gained a posi- tion nuder the brow of the hill, and discovered there a large body of rebel cavalry, retreating and bearing around to the right, at a distance beyond the range of musketry. Considerable firing was now heard on our right and in our rear,andlsawthe Louisville Legion retreating back the road toward the train. I awaited orders, but receiving none, I moved slowly back to where I had first left the train, which still re- mained there, but Colonel Buckley had gone back some distance toward therailroad,withaportionofhisforcesandbattery,andlsupposewas engaging a rebel battery which Ilearned had been planted in our rear, and was attempting to cut off our retreat. By this time it became evident that we were almost, if not quite, surrounded, and would have to cut our way through. The train I found was moving rapidly to the rear. In the mean time I had received no orders what to do. I agreed with Colonel Anderson, of the Ninety-third Ohio Volunteers, to take the left and he the right of the road and between us preserve the train. Here was a curve in road to the left, around a hill. I proceeded across the curve to inter- sect the road again. While doing so, a furious charge was made upon the train from the right by a regiment of rebel infantry and of cavalry from The woods on the opposite side of the hill, but Colonel Anderson coming up promptly, they gave way. I was moving rapidly in that direction, when I received an order from Colonel Buckley to form in order of battle on the right of the road, and move to the front to sup- port the battery, which I did, the train still moving on in that direction Page 38 38 KY., MID. AND l~. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. ECnAP. ~XXIT. When I came in sight of the enemy, they were retreating iii all direc- tions, and we passed safely through. My loss in men was I killed and 1 wounded. The Twenty-first Brigade train, the only one I was au- thorized to guard, came safely into camp. Several teams belonging to the Sixlh Division, variously estimated at 6, 12, and 14, were reported as having been captured while out foraging on their own account with- out ~a guard, but I know nothing of this officially. The loss to the train was only 2 mules shot. I have the honor to remain, colonel, your obedient servant, M. BARNES, liieut. Got. Ninety-seventh Regt. Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Colonel WAGNER Commanding Twenty-first Brigad No. 5. Report of Capt. T. R. Palmer, Inspector First Division, Twenty-first Army ~iJorps. IIDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, February 2, 1863. CAPTAIN: In compliance with your order, I have investigated the facts connected with the loss of certain wagons from a forage train of this division, December 6, 1862, and respectfully present the following report: At the time when the capture took place, General Orders, No. 30, had not been received, and foraging was done by brigades. This was not the result of any order, general or special, but simply a custom for the time being. It was not customary, however, for these brigade trains to be composed exclusively of wagons from a single brigade. With each brigade train were sent out foraging wagons from division headquarters, from the ammunition train, and from the general supply train. Besides this, if, as frequently occurred, especially with the batteries, either of the other brigades had not forage enough to last until its regular time for foraging should arrive, teams enough were sent from them to obtain a supply. It was not customary in such cases to send additional escort with such surplus wagons, but only sufficient men to lpad them, and all the wagons were regarded as one train under the same escort, equally entitled to the protection of the escort. So completely did all constitute one train, that the brigade quartermaster in charge of the train would generally receipt for the forage obtained by these extra wagons, and arrange accounts with the other quartermasters on his return. On December 2, four days previous to the capture, the Fifteenth Bri- gade forage train had taken with it several wagons of the Twenty.first Brigade without any additional escort and Lieutenant Sterne, quarter- master Fifteent~Brigade, had receipted for the forage obtained by those wagons. That train had also obtain~d part of its forage in the same fields where the wagons were captured December 6. What wagons, and how many, should be allowed to be attached ,to any brigade train was regulated by the division quartermaster, Capt. L. D. Myers. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, Ninety-seventh Ohio, who commanded the escort, evidently regarded himself as in charge only of the wagons of the Twenty.first Brigade. He is a man whose veracity and honor as ~ Page 39 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH NEAR KIMBROIJGII S MILL, TENN. 39 gentleman are above suSI)iciofl, but after careful examination I. ant satisfied that, according to custom and general understanding, all the wagons were equally under his protection. Neither did the size of the train make any unusual escort necessary. There were at that time five regiments in the Fifteenth and Twentieth Brigades of this division, and their forage trains usually numbered from 70 to 90 wagons. The Twenty-first Brigade had then but four regiments, and on that day had only about 60 wagons in the forage train, includ- ing those of the Fifteenth Brigade. During the advance of the train no distinction was made by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Barnes between the wagons properly belonging to the Twenty-first Brigade and others. His regiment marched in a body in ftont of the entire train. Six wagons from division headquai?ters led the train~ several ammunition wagons (not considered as belduging to ~ny brigade) were in the train. The wagons of the Fifteenth Brigade were in the rear simply because it was the most convenient place for them to file in with the train as it started. After passing the camp of General Sills division, two pieces of artillery followed the train, show- ing that the wagons of the Fifteenth Brigade were considered part of the train and under the escort. Up to this time, December 6,it was not known that any train had been attacked, nor had the enemy indicated his presence. As Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes came to General Sills division, he was told that a reconnaissance had discovered the enemy in front, and he was advised to unite his train with General Sills, just starting. This was done, General Sills train taking the advance. Upon arriving where for age could be obtained, according to custom, the forage-master estimated how many wagons could be filled, and de- tached them from the rear. These 15 wagons filed to the right and left into corn-fields~ that on the left adjoining the road, that on the right only separated from the road by Mill Creek, easily~ forded. Four wagons were loaded, started back, and arrived in camp safely. The other wagons, while loading, no one of them more than 300 yards from the road, were attacked and captured. The other 7 wagons, belonging to the Fifteenth Brigade, had passed on with the rest of the train. The train had advanced but a short distance when firing was heard at the front, perhaps 1~ miles from where these wagons Were loading. Lieuten- ant-Colonel Barnes ordered three companies to halt, wait for the train to pass, and cover the rear, while he moved to the front with the other seven companies, in obedience to Colonel Buckleys order. Not more than 100 rods in advance of where these wagons were loading, the road turns to the right and ascends a hill among cedars. At the fo9t of this hill were the three companies, while the wagons were parked on the top of the hill or scattered to the right and left for forage. The two pieces of artillery also moved to the front, leaving the rear unprotected, except by three companies. While a brisk skirmish was going on in front, a body of rebel cavalry, perhaps 300 in number, came along Mill Creek, on our right, under cover of the hill, around the point of hill that here separates the road front the creek, crossed the road, captured the wagons, and took them behind a hill, on our left, and still farther to our rear. Upon this last hill the rebels had planted artillery, which com- manded the corn-fields where the wagons had been loading and the road itself, completely cutting off retreat. Shortly after this our troops came back from the front, engaged their artillery, amid drove them back, thus securing a safe passage homeward for the train. From the best information I can obtain, these wagons were not an unusual distance front the road nor fromn the rest of the train. Th Page 40 40 KY., MID. AND F. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. whole affair was a repetition of a plan frequently adopted by the rebels, viz, to attack briskly in front while their cavalry make a dash upon an unprotected rear. The ground was admirably selected by the rebels, and I do not doubt that they would have captnred the entire train had not th~ union of the two trains rendered the escort unusually large. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. IR. PALMER, Capt. R. LODEn, Inspector First Division. Inspector Twenty-first Army Corps. DECEMBER 7, 1862.Action at Hartsville, Tenn. REPORTS, ETC. No. 1.Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Cumberland, and resulting correspondence. No. 2.Return of casualtiea in the Union forces. No. 3.Maj. William McMichael, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Army. No. 4.Col. John M. Harlan, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding Secon4 Bri- gade, First Division. No. 5.Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Cav- alry Brigade. No. f1.Maj. Samuel Hill, Second Indiana Cavalry. No. 7.CoL Absalom B. Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry, com- manding Thirty-ninth Brigade. No. 8.Capt. John Wadleigh,One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry. No. 9.Lieut. Robert V. Simpson, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry. No. 10.Lient. Col. Gustavus Tafel, One hundred and sixth Ohio Infantry. No. 11.Capt. Carlo Piepho, One hundred and eighth Ohio Infantry. No. 12.Capt. Joseph Good, One hundred and eighth Ohio Infantry. No. 13.General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commanding Army of Tennessee, with instructions to Brigadier-General Morgan, and congratulatory orders. No. 14.Return of casualties in the Confederate forces. No. 15.Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan, C. S. Army, commanding expedition. No. 16.Col. Roger W. Hanson, Second Kentucky Infantry, commanding First Bri- gade, Breckinridges division. No. 17.Col. Thomas H. Hunt, Ninth Kentucky Infantry, commanding detachment First Brigade. No. 1S.Maj. James W. Hewitt, Second Kentucky Infantry. No. 19.Capt. James T. Morehead, Ninth Kentucky Infantry. Ito. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Army, commanding Departme~n4 of the Gumberland, and resulting correspondence. NASHVILLE, TENN., December 7, 186211 p. m. General Thomas dispatches me that one of his brigades, iDumonts, l)osted at llartsville, was probably surprised by two regiments of in- fantry and three ot cavalry, and captured. I await news from the front to dispose for an attack of th. enemy at Stewarts Creek, 9 miles thi Page 41 CHAP. XXXIIJ ACTION AT flAl~T~VILLE, TENN. 41 side of Murfreesborough. The movement toward llartsville is also to be ascertained, as Polk is reported to have left Murfreesborough by the Lebanon [pike] on Friday. Thomas is yet at Gallatin with two divis- ions, minus the captured brigade, to cover that region until our railroad brings necessaries of clothing and cavalry arms. If the rebels fight us in force, it will be a great gain. If not, we can continue our forward movement. Our great difficulties will come from their numerous cav- alry harassing us and cutting off our forage parties and trains. I am arming our cavalry, who are not more than one-fourth of their effective force, and much cowed from that fact and want of arms. Before bring- in~ them in conflict with the rebel cavalry, cannot you send me those from Indianapolis ~ W. S. ROSECRANS, Maj. Gen. H. ~. HALLECK, Major- General, Commanding. General-in-Chief. GALLATIN, December 7, 1802. Major-General RoSECRANS: Lieutenant-Colonel Carroll, commanding Tenth Indiana, reports that the enemy attacked the forces under Colonel Scott at Hartsville this morning, and captured them, burning the wagons, & c. They are said to be 5,000 strong in infantry, besides their cavalry. Colonel Miller went out with his brigade from Castalian Springs; found the enemy drawn up in line of battle this side of Hartsville. Colonel Harlan has gone to the assistance of Colonel Miller, taking all of his brigade ex- cept a section of artillery. In addition, I have sent out General Fry to take command and report to me the actual state of affairs. The troops seen at Scottsville may be our own on their way to Carthage. They should be there about this time. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. AS. Volunteers. I~ASHVILLE, December 7, 1862. Major-General THOMAS, Gallatin: - Do I understand that they have captured an entire brigade of our troops without our knowing it, or a good fight? W. S. ROSECHAKS, ]Jfajor- General. P. S.Answer quick. GALLATIN, December 7, 1862. General ROSECRANS: Colonel Harlan reports that Major Hill, Second Indiana Cavalry, in- formed him that the whole force which stood was captpred; about half gave way. The fight lasted about an hour and a quarter. I will send particulars to-morrow. The enemy can be intercepted before reaching Murfreesborough. Colonel Harlan reports three regiments of cavalry and two of infantry on this side of the river, and two regiments of in- fan try on the other side, with five pieces of artillery. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major- General Page 42 42 RY., MID. ANP IX ~tENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXiI. NASHVILLE, December 7, 186211. p. iii. (Iteceived December 8, 1862.) Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS: Get the arms our fugitive troops have thrown away at llartsviLle. It seems me impossible that the entire brigade could have surrendered. Are there none left ~ W. S. ItOSEOBANS, illjijajor- General. GALLATIN, December 8, 1862: General iROSEORANS: Colonel Harlan has not yet sent me a detailed report of the affair at Hartsville, but I learn from sonie of his officers that they buried up- ward of 80 of the One hundred and fourth Illinois and only a few of the other two regiments. This fact indicates that the other two regi- inents behaved badly. They were the One hundred and sixth and One hundred and eighth Ohio Volunteers. Scouts from the other side re- port that the enemys cavalry is still hovering about the river. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major- General. - GALLATIN, December 8, 1862. General ROSECRANS: Colonel Harlan has gathered up all the arms and property left at Hartsville. He will send in a detailed report to-day, which I will for- ward by mail if received in time. The entire force, except one company and about 100 cavalry, so far as I can learn, were captured. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major- General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Major-General ROSECRANS., Washington, December 9, 1862. Nashville Tenn.: The President directs that you immediately report why an isolated brigade was at Hartsville, and by whose command- fault it was surprised and captured. , and also by whose 11. W. HALLECK General-in- Ohief. NASHVILLE, TENN., December 9, 18621.30 p. m. Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Genter, Gallatin, Tenn.: President demands explanation of Hartsville affair. Report in detail exact position, strength, and relative distances of your troops between Gallatin and Hartsville at that time, and causes of the disaster as far as known to you. By command of General IRosecrans: J. P. GARESCH1~, A ssistant Adjutant-Gener 1 and Chief of Staff Page 43 CHAP. XXXII.j 43 ACTION AT IIARTSYILLE, TENN. INASILYILLE, TENN., December 9, 186211 p. in. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in4Jhief: In reply to your telegram, inquiring why the brigade was stationed at llartsville, I r~pectfu1ly state that it was necessary to cover the cross- ing of the Cuinberland River against rebel cavalry, who would essay to attack our road and capture our trains. We have, for all our 1mmA~nse line of front communications, picket, and couriers, less than 4,000 cav- alry, and the enemy not. less than 10,000, who are much relieved by guerrilla scouts, and can concentrate for mischief with almost perfect secrecy and impunity. The subjoined copy of General Thomas report shows that it was a pretty full brigade, posted strongly, with a cavalry regiment for picket duty on the north side of the river, in a command- ing position; that it was strongly supported within 9 miles, and, but for being surprised and making feeble resistance, it would have been succored, and the enemy badly whipped. That outpost was stronger and better supported than our outpost at Rienzi, 7 miles below Corinth. last summer. The difference was in the superiority and number of rebel cavalry: HartsvilLe was garrisoned by the Thirty-ninth Brigade, Twelfth Division (Dumonts), for duty, and was commanded by Col. A. B. Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois. There was also a regiment of cavalry posted there, the Second Indiana, sent there by your order. The effective force not known. The troops were posted so as to guard the ford and the approaches from the direction of Lebanon, and the cavalry for picket duty and scouting. Col. J. M. Harlan, Second Brigade, First Division, was posted at Cas- talian Springs. This brigade reports 2,725 men present for duty. Colonel Miller, com- manding the Fortieth Brigade, was also posted at Castalian Springs, sent, there to relieve Colonel Harlan. This brigade reports 2,274 men present for duty. The last two brigades mentioned were 9 miles distant from Hartsville when the attack was made. As soon as cannonading was heard, Colonel Harlan ordered Colonel Miller to march with his command in the direction of Hartsville, aud, with a portion of his brigade, followed Colonel Miller, and orders were given to the cavalry from these headquarters to be vigilant and scour the country, so that no enemy could approach without giving timely notice to the garrison. Colonel Harlan, upon being relieved by Colonel Scott at Hartsville, informed me that the position was strong and defensi- ble; added to the information received from my officers, led to the belief that the offi- cer in command allowed himself to be surprised, which resulted in the caDture of nearly his whole force. The attack was sudden, and so quickly decided that it was impossi- ble for re-enforcenients to reach Hartsville in time to take part in the action, and the enemy have been defeated and probably cut off before crossing the river. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major- Geaerdt. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Commanding. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 10, 1862. Major-General IROSECRANS, Nashville, Te~zn.: The most important of the Presidents inquiries has not been answered. What officer or officers are chargeable with the surprise at llartsville and deserve punishment I II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief. NASHVILLE, TENN., December 10, 1862midnight. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: Additional information from Colonel Limberg and Captain Good, One hundred and eighth Ohio Yolunteer Infantry, who were present in th Page 44 44 KY., MID. AND E. TENTh, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAr. XXXII. aft~ir at Hartsville, but escaped capture, shows that there were no cav- alry vedettes out in that direction, no picket guard, and apparently no camp guard; that the first notice in camp of the presence of the enemy was given by an orderly, or servant, that the enemys cavalry was com- ing up and wheeling, by fours, into line on the opposite side of a ravine, about 400 yards distant from our camp; that they were quietly formed without a shot being fired at them; that the artillery did nothing to dis- turb them; that only two companies of skirmishers turned out; that the infantry stood in line of battle at ordered arms, and allowed the enemy to dismount and advance, as skirmishers, within 100 yards before they commenced firing. The artillery allowed the enemys mountain howitzers, and probably two other pieces, to move up into position with- out disturbing them. It was finally brought out of the woods, and fired a few shots, with little effect as the enemy advanced in line of skirmish- ers. Closing in, our troops soon fell into confusion, ran to their camp in-a crowd, where the enemys artillery played on them, and they soon hoisted a white flag and surrendered. The behavio~r of the Second In- diana Cavalry seems to have been as spiritless as their picketing. The enemy hastily exchanged their Austrian for our Springfield rifles, leav- ing many arms on the field; drove their prisoners across the river, waist-deep, and retreated so hastilythat, when our succor arrived, a light battalion of cavalry pursued them across the river and retook three wagon- loads of our arms. Probably 30 wagons lost. These facts indicate pretty clearly where the blame lies. Jt is pretty certain that the enemys force did not exceed 2,500 mentwo regiments of mounted, and, possibly, two dismounted cavalry. No official reports yet in. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Commanding. HDQRS. 14TH ARMY CoRPS, DEPT. OF THE CUMEERLAND, Nashville, T~nn., December 22, 1862. Brig. Gen. LORENzo THOMAS, Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to transmit all the official re- ports that have been received at these headquarters of the battle at llartsville, Teun., on the 7th instant. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Commanding Department. [Indor8ement8.] HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, January 13, 1863. Respectfully returned to Major-General Itosecrans, to ascertain and report who are the guilty officers concerned in the surrender of Harts- yule, Tenn. By order of Major-General ilalleck: J. C. KELTOK, Assistant Adjutant-General. The within reports and statements show that the United States forces captured at the above place. December 7, 1862, were either surprised or that great negligence was displayed in failing to prepare for th Page 45 CHAP. XXXII.] 45 ACTiON AT IIARTSYILLE, TENTh enemys attack. The rebels were in sight before any disposition for action was made of the infantry, a part of whi& h was assaulted before being fairly in line. The fight lasted less than one hour and a half. The loss was about 150 in killed and wounded. Two brigades of our troops, under Colonel Harlan, were at Castalian Springs, only 9 miles distant from the scene, but their commander had no intimation of an anticipated attack from Colonel Moore, who commanded at llartsvile, or he could have moved forward, so as to be able to co-operate immedi- ately upon the morning of the fight. Colonel Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois, the brigade commander, ~yas a prisoner at the time the within documents were submitted, and his own report does not, there- fore, appear; but, from the evidence given, the disaster seems to be at- tributable mainly to his ignorance or negligence. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Commanding Department. FEBRUARY 13, 1863. I respectfully recommend that Colonel Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois Volunteers, be dismissed the service for neglect of duty, in not properly preparing for the enemys attack on Hartsville, Tenn.* II. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Approved: M. STANTON, & cretary of War. No. 2. Retain of casualties in the Union forces engaged at lliartsvil(e, Tenn., December 7, 1862. [Compiled from nominal list of casualties, returns, & c.] Killed. Wounded. Captured oy - missing. 0 Command. 5 5 - ,~ a a W ,~ .4.~ .5 a a ,. a ~ -.3 ~ -- ~5 0 ~ -~ ~ 0 0 ~ 0 ~ 104th Illinois Infantry 25 5 126 23 545 724 2d Indiana Cavalry 11 346 357 13th Indiana Battery (section) 1 2 1 22 26 11th Kentucky Caviky, Company E 2 42 44 106th Ohio Infantry 2 20 3 35 16 413 492 108th Ohio Infantry 10 30 20 393 453 Total 2 56 0 196 73 1,761 2,096 OFFIcERs mLLED.Capts. William Y. Gholson and ]Ierniann Reintanz, One hundred and sixth Ohio. OFFICERS MORTALLY WOUNDEDLicuts. Moses M. Randolph and Milton Strawn, One hundred and fourth Illinois. * Colonel i\I~oore was not dismissed tlie service; liis resignation was accepted on account of disability, to take effect September 9, 1863, by Sjecial Field Orders, No. 244, Paragraph 1, from Headquarters Department of th~ Cnm1~er~and, of that date Page 46 46 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXX1L No. 3. Report of Maj. William AleMichael, Assi8tant Adjutant- General, U. & Army. HEADQUARTERS OF TilE ARMY. The battle at llartsville, Tenn., which resulted in the defeat and sur- render of the United States troops at that place, occurred December 7. Our forces consisted of the Thirty-ninth Brigade, Army of the Cum- berland (One hundred and sixth and One hundred and eighth Ohio Infantry, and the One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry), with the Second Indiana Cavalry and a section of Nicklins (Thirteenth Indiana) battery. The Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry is mentioned in one of the reports as having a small force in action. No official report of this fight is furnished from the officer who coin- manded. The accounts are from officers of the several commands en- gaged. Their substance is as follows: Major Hill, Second Indiana Cavalry, relates that, 011 the 6th, scouts were out, and no signs of the enemy appeared. Early on the morning of the 7th, the enemy appeared, and immediately advanced upon and attacked our force. Major Hill represents the cavalry as having be- haved with gallantry. Col. E. M. McCook, commanding cavalry brigade, in submitting this account, says the Second Indiana Cavalry and One hundred and fourth Illinois infantry fought gallantly; the other regiments of the brigade fled disgracefully, leaving their comrades to make a hopeless fight against superior numbers. Colonel McCook was not in the action, but derived his opinion from the testimony of individuals Who had par. ticipated in it. Captain Wadleigh, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry; Cap- tain Good, One hundred and eighth Ohio Infantry, and Lieut. Col. Gustavus Tafel, commanding One hundred and sixth Ohio Infantry, each present an account of the part taken by his own regiment, and all agree in stating that the commands with which they served behaved unexceptionably. All accounts agree that the enemy were in sight before any disposition to receive their attack was made. The troops assembled hurriedly. It seems to have been a surprise, but sufficient time elapsed to form our men in line. The fight lasted one hour and a quarter, having commenced between 6.30 and 7 a. m. Colonel Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois In- fantry, commanded our forces in the action. At Castalian Springs, 9 miles from llartsville, two brigades of our troops were encamped. The first intelligence they had of this action was the sound of firing. They moved forward to the assistance of the Hartsville force. The firing having ceased, and, anticipating an attack, they formed iu line of battle 1~ miles before Hartsville; but their com- mander, Colonel Harlan, having observed a column of smoke in the direction of the llartsville camp, again moved rapidly forward; found our troops had surrendered and the enemy in retreat, but succeeded in recapturing a part of our force and property. Colonel Harlan is of opinion that the enemy crossed the Cumberland on the night of the 6th, and encamped. He received no intimation of an attack from Colonel Moore, or he could have co-operated to resist it. The enemys force is said to have consisted of three regifuents of in- fantry, Ganos and Bennetts cavalry, a battalion of Texan Hangers, and eight pieces of artillery. Two regiments of infantry, one regiment o Page 47 ChAP. XXXII,] 47 ACTION AT HARTSYILLE, TENN. cavalry, and a battery were seen on the opposite side of the river. They did not participate in the action, the artillery being alone engaged in throwing shell into our camp. Onr loss inekilled and wounded was about 150, the majority of whom belonged to the One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry. From the reports submitted, it is impossible to form a reliable estimate of the conduct of the respective regiments each officer reporting being disposed to give a favorable account of the action of the command to which he was attached; but the following facts are apparent: First, the attack was unexpected, and no intelligence had been sent to, or effort made to co-operate with, the two brigades of the United States forces, stationed only 9 miles distant from the scene of action; secondly, the fight lasted only one hour and a quarter. If the troops had either retreated or made a longer resistance, they could have fallen back to or been joined by the troops above alluded to, when our forces would have outnumbered the enemy. ~. MCMJCIIAEL, Assista~it Adjutant-General. No. 4. Report of Col. John Ill. Harlan, Tenth Kentucky infantry, commanding Second Brigade, First Division. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVIsION, Camp near Galiatin, Tenn., December 12, 1862. CAPTAIN: On the morning of the 7th instant, about 7.30 oclock, I heard cannonading very distinctly in the direction of Ilartsville, at which place was stationed the Thirty-ninth Brigade ,~of General Dumonts division, the Second Indiana Cavalry, and two pieces of Nicklins bat- tery, all under the command of Colonel Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois. You will remember that at that time four regiments of my bri- gade (the Tenth Indiana, Fourth Kentucky, Tenth Kentucky, and S,ev- enty-fourth Indiana) and my battery (Southwicks), and also Colonel Millers brigade of Dumonts division, were encamped at Castalian Springs, 9 miles from llartsville, and 7~ miles from Gallatin. As soon as the cannonading commenced, I dispatched a courier to llartsville, to ascertain the cause of the firing.. At the same time I dis- patched another courier in the same direction, with orders to proceed rapidly up the road, and if he heard musketry, or could learn an~ facts which indicated that a fight was probably going on at Hartsville, to re- turn with all possible speed to my camp and report. Simultaneously with this, I directed each regiment of my brigade to be in readiness to march at a moments notice. Within a very short while after the last courier was started, I received information from Captain iludnall (Fourth Ken- tucky), commanding the picket company on the llartsville road (nearly a mile distant from camp), to the effect that he thought he could hear heavy musketry in the direction of llartsville. I communicated at once the fact to Colonel Miller, whose brigade belonged to the same division as Colonel Moores, and suggested the 1wopriety of his march- ing his brigade to llartsville as rapidly as the men could go, preceded 1)y the siniill detachment of the Seventh Kentucky Cavalry (Major Faulkner), then at Castalian Springs, and under his immediate corn- mand. This suggestion Colonel Miller promptly adopted, and in a few minutes was oii the march. I followed inimnediately and rapidly afte Page 48 48 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXII. him with the Tenth Kentucky (Lieutenant.Colonel Hays) and the Sev. enty-fourth Indiana (Colonel Chapman), and four pieces of Southwicks battery, leaving the Fourth Kentucky (Colonel Croxton) and the Tenth Indiana (Lieutenant.Colonel Carroll), with two pieces of artillery, in camp at Castalian Springs, to guard my own as well as Colonel Millers camp, and to resist any attack upon that point. My intention was to go within 3 or 4 miles of H~rtsville, and thus keep within supporting distance both of my own me , at the springs, and of Colonel Miller in his advance to llartsville. I left orders for the Fourth Kentucky and Tenth Indiana to be in constant readiness to obey any summons which I might send back to them. When I arrived within abont 3 miles of Hartsville, word was sent to me from the front that some of the enemy were seen ahead, and a re- quest from Colonel Miller that I would come forward rapidly with my men and assume command, as there were some indications of a fight. This summons was obeyed. I went in person to the front and assumed command. My regiments, already moving rapidly, increased their pace, and marched as fast as men ever marched. Believing, from the informa- tion received, that the enemy would resist us, I sent, before going to the front, an order back for the Fourth Kentucky to join me as soon as pos- sible, which order was obeyed with the utmost alacrity. Upon arriving at the front, I found that Colonel Millers brigade had formed in line of battle about 1~ miles this side of Hartsville. His bat- tery was in position, and had, previous to my arrival, fired one or two shells into the wood beyond, where some of the enemy were seen. Up to that time we had not met a single straggler on the entire route. No one could be seen to give any information as to what had happened. The firing had ceased some little while before this. Whether the enemy had been repulsed and had retired, or whether our entire force had been captured, we could not tell. Just then, however, from an eminence near by, I observed a dense smoke rising from the direction of Colonel Moores camp. I then became satisfied that all had been lost, and that my only chance was to push forward, and, if possible, catch the enemy before he crossed the river, and thereby also save some of our captured men. A rapid advance was ordered; we moved across the country directly to- ward Colonel Moores camp, which was also the shortest route to the ford, near Hartsville, where the rebels would necessarily recross the river. Upon the arrival of Faulkners cavalry at ~Jplonel Moores camp, which was about 400 yards from the ford, and in full view of it, some of the rebel cavalry were seen crossing the river, and had some of our teams with them. They were fired npon by Faulkners men, when they abandoned the wagons and fled precipitately across the river. In ad- dition to the rebel cavalry who were seen crossing the river, I observed myself several hundred rebel cavalry on the hill on the south side of the river, moving off on the Lebanon road. Each of them appeared to have a man behind him on his horse. I ordered Nicklins battery, of Millers brigade, to fire across at the retiring rebels, which order was promptly obeyed, and resulted in the killing of a few of the rebels, as 1 was afterward informed. Pursuit was utterly impracticable; it would have required at least an hour and a half to cross the river at that point and ascend the high bank on the south side. The enemy, as I learned, recrossed their infantry, as well as their prisoners, with the horses of their cavalry. In addition to all this, I did not deem it prudent to cross the river with the force then at my disposal, being elltirely unad- vised as to what strength the enemy had on the south side in reserve Page 49 CTIAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSYILLE, TENN. 49 Some of our wounded officers expressed to me the opinion (which I think is sustained by subsequent developments) that the rebels had on the south side a reserve force, which had not crossed, but were near enough in an emergency to have assisted those who made the attack upon Moore. This was the opinion of Major Hill, of the Second Indiana Cavalry. These facts, in connection with the time which would neces- sarily be occupied in crossing, induced me, upon consultation with my brother officers~ to abandon all further pursuit. I found that the enemy had succeeded before our arrival in running across the river all the wagons and mules of Colonel Moores brigade and the Second Indiana Cayalry, except 11 wagons and 13 mules, which were recaptured. A large number of the tents had been burned and a large number of the guns of our men had been taken off by the rebels. Deeming it my duty to save as much of the public property of Colo- nel Moores brigade as I could, I sent back to Castalian Springs, and ordered up 25 wagons from Colonel Millers and my brigades, with which to carry off the recaptured property. The wagons arrived about dark, and were immediately loaded, when Colonel Miller and I returned with them to our camp, at Castalian Springs. The Tenth Kentucky Regiment, of my brigade, having arms which were, in many respects, very defective, and in some respects entirely useless to them, they were allowed to take out of the lot of recaptured guns 309, as well as 36,000 rounds of cartridges to suit them. That regi- mnent turned over its old guns to the ordnance officer of the division, and will account to him for the guns retained, as above stated. This step was absolutely necessary, because there was no supply of amm?nnition on hand in the ammunition train of the division to suit the caliber of their guns (.71k), and because my brigade at the time was ordered to llartsville, at which point there were reasons to apprehend that we would be attacked by the rebels. The exchange will add, in my judg- ment, one-third to the efficiency of that regiment in battle. If this step is not approved, the regiment will return to the proper officer, if ordered, all the guns thus received, and take such others as will be given them. The balance of the ordnance stores recaptured have been turned over to the ordnance officer of the division. As to the killed. and wounded, I found upon the field 55 dead Union soldiers, a large majority of whom were identified by papers upon their lersons as belonging to the One hundred and fourth Illinois. These were buried by details fi-om Colonel Millers and my commands. Among those killed was Captain Gholson, acting assistant adjutant-general (as I learn) of Colonel Moores brigade, He was the only Union officer killed and left on the field. We found on the field 15 dead rebels, who were also buried, among whom were 3 officers. One of them was identified as Lieutenant Rogers, of Bulhitt County, Kentucky, and another, Lieutenant Thomas, of ilardin County, Kentucky. The total wounded on our side amounted to nearly 100, a majority of whom belonged to the One hundred and fourth Illinois. I have already inclosed to you a list of their names. They are all at Hartsville, except such as have been moved away. Those there now, with a few excel- tions. as I learned from the surgeon in charge, could not be moved. I left them as comfortably provided for as could be expected under thc circumstances. Quite a lot of provisions was saved, all of which I left for the use of the wounded, except 1,236 pounds of bacon, 470 pounds of rice, and a 4 R ItVOL XX, PT Page 50 50 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXII. small quantity of s~alt, beans, and hard bread, which were turned over to my brigade commissary, who will account for them. One of the cap- tured wagons, with 4 mules, was left with the surgeon in charge of the wounded, to be nsed to hanl wood for them. I found iu a house near the battle-field wounded rebels, whom I paroled, and a roll of which I have forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the United States Army. I forward also to you a list of said rebels, to be forwarded, if necessary, to department headquarters. This list includes some wounded rebels, found upon my return to llartsville on the 10th instant. I had no means of ascertaining the exact number of rebels killed and wounded, but I did ascertaiu that they removed most of their wounded and some of their killed- and from all I could gather it is quite proba- ble that the number of rebels killed and wounded, if it did not exceed, at least equaled the number of killed and wounded on our side. The rebel force engaged amounted to not less than five regiments and one battery. Two of the regiments were the Second and Ninth Kentucky (rebel) Infantry, of General Hansons brigade, and three were from Morgans cavalry brigade, and I am inclined to the opinion that there were other rebel regiments on the south side of the river, in close supporting distance. Some of our wounded officers assure me that they saw this force. If such a force was there, it was, no doubt for pose of holding the ford, while the rebel troops retired , the pur- across the river after the fight had concluded. The entire rebel force on the field was under the immediate command of Morgan. The average number of cartridges found to be missing out of the three hundred and odd cartridge-boxes saved was about six, and in a very large number there did not appear to be any cartridges missing. Fully three-fourths of the guns recaptured were loaded, and many of them capped. The rebels crossed the river during the night of the 6th, at two places, a few miles below Hartsville. The infantry crossed at a ferry. They were most of the night, as I learned, in crossing. They united a short distance from Hartsville, and formed in line of battle between the camp of Colonel Moore and the Gallatin and Hartsville pike. The fight lasted about an hourprobably an hour and a quarter, not longer. The enemy captured and took with them two pieces of Kicklins battery, which had been sent to Hartsville but a few days previous to the fight. These two pieces had evidently been well served, since I found upon the field two caissons of the rebel battery entirely disabled. From Hartsville a plain, direct road leads to the two points where the rebels crossed the river. I did not receive at any time during the night of the 6th any inti- ination from the commandant at Hartsville that the enemy was cross- ing near his camp. Had I known, or even suspected, that such was the case; or had I been advised even at daylight on the morning of the 7th, of the approach of the rebels; or had the force at Hartsville held out but a little longer, the result in either case night have been very different. In marching to liartsville I did so without any specific orders; bnt I felt it to be my duty to march to the assistance of the force statione(l there, if attacked by the enemy; and I am very sure that both Colonel Miller and myself, as well as our respective commands, did all that men ould do to reach Hartsville in time to aid our brethren. I do ~ot (lecmn it my duty to express in this official rel)ort any ol)inioll which I may have in regard to the causes which led to the unfortunate disaster at Hartsville. That opinion might do injustice to the officer Page 51 CHAr. XXX~IT.] ACTION AT HARTSYILLE, TENN. 51 and men, whose conduct may be the subject of inquiry before a proper tribunal. My sole purpose has been, in compliance with the order of the division commander, to give such facts as my visit to Hartsville elicited. Very re~pectfu1ly, your obedient servant, JOHN N. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade. Capt. EDWARD C. DENIG, Acting Assistant Adjutant- Generul. No. 5. Report of Col. Edward 111. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Brigade. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, December 14, 1862. LIEUTENANT: In compliance with the request of the colonel com- manding the division, asking for all the information I have gained con- cerning the late affair at Hartsville, I have the honor to inclose a copy of the official report of Maj. Samuel Hill, Second Indiana Cavalry. He embodies only a history of the part taken by his regiment in the en- gagement. From unofficial statements, made by various officers and men, I am satisfied that, while the One hundred and fourth Illinois and Second Indiana Cavalry fought gallantly, the other regiments of the brigade fled disgracefully, and left their comrades to make a hopeless fight against superior numbers. Paroled men tell me that many of the persons who had come within our lines at Hartsville, and claimed protection as refugee conscripts, were in the enemys ranks, and employed guarding them on their way to Mnrfreesborough. They assure me that there can be no mistake, for they recognized them distinctly. Does not this convey the lesson that none of those who come to us and claim protection as refugees, or ask privileges as citizens, are to be trusted? Clothed in the peaceful garb of the citizen, they enter our camps and pass through our lines, and the citizens dress is generally but the disguise of a spy. \Tery respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD N. McCOOK, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Lieut. N. B. CHAMBERLAIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Cavalry Division. No. 6. Report of Maj. Samuel Hill, Second Indiana Cavalry. CAMP ROSECRANS, NEAR NASHVILLE, December 13, 1862. COLONEL: In obedience to your request, I submit the following state- ment of facts in relation to the disaster at Hartsville, Teun., on the 7th instant: On the 6th, scouts were made on all the roads approaching llavtsville Page 52 52 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXJL and, at 4 oclock of that day, Lebanon, Tenn., was not occupied by the enemy, nor were there any indications of an advance of their forces. At 6.30 oclock on the morning of the 7th, the couriers announced the approach of the enemy on the old Lebanon road, and immediately after they appeared in view at a distance of three-fourths of a mile, and com- menced to form their columns for attack. The Second Indiana Cav- alry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, was ordered out, dis- mounted, to defend the camp, with the exception of Company G, which was mounted, and was ordered forward, to commence skirmishing with the enemy. The infantry was ordered to form line, their flanks resting on the heads of two ravines; and, on the line being formed, the Second In- diana was ordered to return to camp, mount, and then take position to protect the flanks of the infantry. Up to this time, from a half to three- tonrths of an hour, no attack had been made on our lines, and no fight- ing done, except by the skirmishers of Company G, Second Indiana, a portion of whom were captured by venturing too far, among them Lieu- tenant Parsley, who commanded the company. The attack was made by the enemys infantry and artillery simul- taneously, while overwhelming numbers of their cavalry showed them- selves upon the flanks and rear of our position. These we managed to hold in check during the engagement, and prevented them from mate- rially assisting their infantry in their attack on ours. I have thus stated the part the Second Indiana Cavalry took in the engagement, though they resisted the enemy between a quarter and half an hour after our main force had surrendered. The enemys force consisted of the Second and Ninth Kentucky and Eighteenth Tennessee Infantry; Colonel Dukes, Colonel Ganos, and Colonel Bennetts cavalry, and one battalion Texas Rangers. Their artillery force consisted of four rifled 6-pounders, two 12-pounder howit- zers, and two small rifled pieces, caliber unknown. On the opposite side of the river there were in view one regiment of cavalry, two of infantry, and a battery of six pieces, two of which were rifled. The artillery on the south side of the river during the engage- ment was occupied in shelling our camp and cavalry. In consequence of my hand being disabled by a gun-shot wound, I authorize Johii Schooler to affix my signature. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SAMUEL HiLL, Col. E. M. MCCodK, Major Second Indiana Uavalry. Gommanding First Cacairy Brigade. No. 7. Report of Cot. Absalom B. Moore, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry, commanding Thirty-ninth Brigade. HEADQUARTERS 104TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., February 25, 1863. GENERAL: Having been exchanged as a prisoner of war, and released from my confinement in a rebel prison, I hasten to give you my report of the battle of Hartsville, Tenn., which occurred December 7, 1862. The Thirty-ninth Brigade, consisting of the One hundred and fourth Jilinois Iufhntry. Ope hundred a~d sixth and Ox~e hundred and eight Page 53 ChAP. XXXII.l ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. 53 Ohio Infantry, the Second Indiana Cavalry, one company of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry, and a section of Captain Nicklins Indiana battery, was placed nnder my command on the 2d day of December, 1862, in consequence of, Colonel Scott of the Nineteenth Illinois, who was corn- manding the brigade, returning to his regiment. I entered upon my duties, and did all that I could to be in readiness if we should be attacked. Our l)osition on the banks of the Cumberland iRiver was the same occupied by the brigade that was there before our arrival from Tompkinsville, Ky. The vedette and picket stations were selected by Colonel Scott before he gave np the command. Upon my taking command, I increased the vedette and picket force, and every pos- sible avenue of approach to our camp was well guarded, the vedettes being about 4 miles and the pickets one-half mile from camp. The country for miles was scouted every day by the cavalry force of my com- mand, and every precaution was used to give ns timely warning of the approach of the enemy, should they attempt to attack us. On Saturday night, December 6, 1862, General John II. Morgan, of the rebel army, started from Bairds Mills, 8 miles south of Lebanon, Tenn., and 25 from Hartsvilie, for the purpose of attacking me at Harts- yule. His force consisted of six regiments of cavalry, two regiments of infantry (the Second and Ninth Kentucky), and fourteen pieces of artil- lery. Besides this overwhelming force, the citizens between Hartsville and Lebanon joined the rebel force, until they numbered between 5,000 and 6,000 men. This force, with th~ exception of about 1,000 cavalry, crossed the Cumberland River, under cover of night, between our posi- tion and that of the force stationed at Castalian Springs. The advance guard of the rebels were dressed in the Federal uniform, and succeeded in deceiving my vedettes and capturing them without firing a gun. The enemy then pushed on with their entire force toward our camp. The pickets gave the alarm, and held the rebels in check until my force was in line of battle and ready to receive them. The brigade [fell] promptly in line, and commenced the battle by attacking the enemy before he had time to form. The infantry force of the rebels were mounted on horses, behind the cavalry. The entire rebel force dismounted about 1 mile from camp and fought as infantry, with the exception of Bennetts cav- alry, which dashed into the town of llartsville to capture Company A, of the One hundred and fourth Illinois, who were acting provost guard of the town. The 1,000 cavalry before mentioned parted from the main body and crossed the river 8 miles north of the camp, but this latter force did not arrive in time to participate in the fight, but succeeded in capturing the cowards who had deserted us in the time of need. My force consisted of about 450 men of the One hundred and fourth Illinois, 250 effective men each of the One hundred and sixth and One hundred and eighth Ohio, 280 men of the Second Indiana Cavalry and the Eleventh Kentucky. Cavalry, and a section of artilleryi, 800 men. I had sent on Saturday, December 6, 1862, to Gallatin, as a guard to our provision train, three companies of infantry, one company of cav- alry, and 30 mounted infantrymen, amounting to nearly 200 men, and a great many being sick in hospital at the time of the attack, left me but the small force of about 1,200 men to contend with 5,000 of the rebels and their artillery of fourteen guns, and some of them 12-pounders. The battle commenced about 6.45 a. in., and continued until 8.30 a. in., one hour and three-quarters. The One hundred and fourth Illinois fought heroically, and maintained their position. The Second Indiana Cavalry and the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry also did nobly. The One hundred and sixth Ohio acted shamefully, and left us in the midst o Page 54 54 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. CHAr. XXXII. the fight, many of the men running for shelter in the tents of the One hundred and eighth Ohio, which were in the rear of our line of battle. All efforts of myself and Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, of the Second Jndian~ Cavalry, to rally them were unavailing. The One hundred and eighth Ohio, being entirely destitute of field officers, fought well for a short time, but were soon thrown into confusion and retreated, although Captain Piepho and other officers of the regi- ment did their utmost to keep the men in front of the enemy and to stand their ground. The section of artillery under command of Lieuten- ant Green did good execution, and all men connected with the battery did their duty nobly and bravely. After the battle had raged furiously for some time, and seeing the rebels in front commence wavering under the severe and deadly fire of my men, I gave the order to charge, feeling confident that we could cut our way through the rebel ranks. Immediately upongiving the order, the stampede of the One hundred and sixth commenced, which then brought a tremendous fire upon the One hundred. and eighth Ohio, they being the center, and were soon flanked on the right, and gave way in confusion. I withdrew the order to charge, and directed the One hundred and fourth to hold the rebels in check until I drew our guns, now entirely unsupported on the right, to another position. They did so. The guns were moved on the top of the bluff, on the edge of the river, about 200 yards from their former position. I then ordered the One hundred and sixth and One hundred and eighth to form by the guns, but they were so scattered that it was impossible to expect any further assistance from them. I then ordered the One hundred and fourth to fall back to the guns, which they did in good order, contesting every inch of the ground. After arriving at the guns, and forming in our new position, and many of the One hundred and fourth being killed and wounded, and being now completely surrounded, and one-half my force captured by deserting their position without orders, I was compelled to surrender, as fighting longer would only increase the number of killed and wounded, as we were contending against a force of ten to one after forming in our new line of battle. I am unable to give you a list of killed and wounded, but presume that during my absence as a prisoner of war you have re- ceived intelligence from other sources. The rebel loss, according to their own statement to me, was about 400 in killed and wounded, the greater part of whom were carried from the field. I have given you a correct history of the battle, and I did suppose that after fighting for one and three-quarter hours we would certainly receive re-enforcements, and had they come to us promptly from Cas- talian Springs the result would have been different. I indulged the hope, and encouraged the men to fight one hour and we would he re- enforced, but, after one and three-quarter hours hard fighting, we were compelled to surrender, and another hour passed before we were marched out of camp, and still no help. To Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart and Major Hill, of the Second Indiana Cavalry; Captain Slater, of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry; Lieutenant-Colonel ilapeman and Major Widmer, of the One hundred and fourth Illinois, and all the officers and men of the foregoing regiments and companies, who acted with great coolness and bravery upon the battle-field, and to each and to all of them, I feel indebted for aiding and assisting inc in our struggle to over- come the enemy, and had our comrades remained firm we could have held out until re-enforcements arrived. Captain Piepho, of the One hundred and eighth, also performed his duty well. Capt. W. Y. Ghol. son, my acting assistant adjutant-general, while attempting to rally th Page 55 CHAP. XXXU.) 55 ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. One hundred and sixth Ohio, was shot, and soon expired. He was a brave and noble young man. Lient. Jacob Dewald, my aide.de-camp, was very active in carrying my orders to all parts of the field. And, in conclusion of J5his part of my report, I will say I love every man that fought; I hate every dog that ran. It was the first time that any of the infantry regiments engaged in the battle were under fire. I respectfully request that, when the officers of the Second Indiana Cavalry are released as prisoners of war, and the lieutenant-colonel and major of the One hundred and fourth Illinois infantry are also re- leased, you will give me a eou~rt of inquiry in the matter; and if I have done anything wrong, or neglected any duty, I am willing to be censured, but I have a consciousness that I did my duty the best I could. I also wish to have the condrict of every officer who ran like a coward from the field fully inquired into. I took the command of the brigade on the 2d of December, and on the morning ot the 7th the fight occurred. I had never received any orders from any source to take command, nor instructions from any source whether I was to have command, or otherwise, except as the comman~i was handed over to me by Colonel Scott. I have the honor to submit this report direct to you, learning that General Dumont had resigned. I have the honor to be, your obedienA servant, A. B. MOORE, Colonel 104th Illinois Infantry, and Comdg. 39th Brigade. Major.General ROSECRANS. No. 8. Report of Capt. John Wadleigh, One hundred and fourth illinois Infantry. DEcEMBER 7, 1862. DEAR SIR: In absence of any field officer of the One hundred and fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, I have the honor to make the following report of the action, as seen by. myself. I would refer to the accompanying reports, as handed iu by the officers commanding companies, and designated A, B, C, & c., according to the letters of said commands: Early on the morning of December 7 our camp was alarmed by the report that the enemy were in sight, and approaching with the intention of attacking; soon after which the pickets were fired upon, and returned the fire smartly, contesting the ground untii the cavalry and minnte.men could be deployed as skirmishers. Company A was doing provost duty in town, and Company II was thrown forward as skirmishers on the extreme right of the cavalry. I ~rould refer to letters A and II for more full particulars of their actions. Companies B, C ~D in part), B, F, G, and I were early on the ground, and in line on the immediate right of the battery, composed of one sec- tion of the Thirteenth Indiana. Company K was thrown forward as skirmishers, but soon returned into line. The One hundred and eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was placed on the left, and to support the battery. The One hundred and sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was ordered to the right. Thus formed, we awaited the approach of the enemy. Soon the batteries of the enemy, which, until this time, had remaine Page 56 56 ICY., MID. AN!) E. TENN., N. ALA., AND ~W. VA. [OnAl. XXXII. masked, opened upon us furiously with six guns. The action then became general all along the lines. Soon the artillery complained that their support on the left had given way. It also became apparent that the right had also given way, so that the One hundred and fourth was completely flanked. The artillery then placed one gun on the right of the One hundred and fourth, and this regiment undertook to support both gnus; but, after sustaining the united fire of two regiments of Kentucky infantry (the Second and Ninth veteran troops), for something like thirty minutes, they were compelled to fall back, and did so in some little confusion, not, however, until orders had to be given to fall back by the field officers. The artillery failed for some reason to remove the gun from the right flank, and the officers of Company B, with a little help, dragged the gun from its position down the declivity, and attempted to conceal it; but the movement being discovered by the enemy, a shower of balls was poured upon them, and they were compelled to abandon the idea. The order to fall back wa~ immediately followed by an order to retire to the bill and support the remaining gun, and most of the One hundred and fourth immediately repaired to the hill and attempted to stay the storm, which was now setting so strongly against us; but it was of iio avail, for after a very severe engagement of musketry and cannonading for one hour and twenty-five minutes, the command was compelled to sur- render to the forces of John Morgan and one Duke. Total killed 23 Total wounded - -. too Total missing 12 Aggregate* - -. - . 135 I would say that Company A had a very warm fight, killing 5 and wounding 8 of -the enemy while in town, and losing 1 killed and 2 wounded. Captain Leighton (Company A) reports that he was attacked by one regiment of cavalry and two companies of mounted infantry. I also add that, during the time the One hundred and fourth were in the hands of the enemy, they were shamefully abused by the said enemy, by not being half fed, and by having their clothing stripped from them, by order of one John Morgan. Not being satisfied with taking the overcoats and blankets from the well, they stooped to the meanness of stripping the blankets from the sick, even after their own entreaty had been accompanied by that of the officers of the One hundred and fourth. All of which I would most respectfully submit. JOHN WADLEWTH, Lieutenant-Colonel GARE5CH~, Captain, Commanding Company 1. Chief of Staff, & c. No. 9. Report of Lient. Robert V. Simpson, One hundred and fourth Illinois lnfantrli. Just before sunrise, on the morning of December 7, the long-roll was beaten. Formed my company, and took my position in line of battle~ * But see revised statement, p. 45 Page 57 CHAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. 57 Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hapeman, marched from color-line, and took position in the edge of some heavy timber. The One hundred and sixth Ohio on the left, One hundred and fourth in the center, and One hundred and eighth Ohio on the right. Artillery (two guns) supported by One hundred and sixth Ohio. Skirmishers thrown out in proper order to feel for the enewy, who were engaged but a few minutes, when the engagement became general. Being at too great a distance to do any execution, we were ordered to lie down, the enemy still firing volley after volley, our artillery playing splendidly upon them. As soon as the enemy appeared, the officer commanding the artillery complained that the One hundred and sixth had fired one volley and run. The One hundred and fourth still kept firing, doing fine execution. After we had been engaged half an hour, one of my men shot down the enemys color-bearer. At this I observed the enemy fall back in good order. About this time, or rather while this was taking place, the word came along our line that the One hundred and eighth had retreated on the run and surrendered. The enemy theii closed in upon our front and flanks, and poured in upon us an unceasing shower of bullets. The artillery was ordered to the rear, and, when out of the way, the One hundred and fourth was ordered to fall back, which it did, with some confusion. We returned to the bank of the Cumberland River. We again rallied to the support of the artillery, but it was in vain; we were alone, and the enemy was upon us in numbers not less, I think, than three to one. Our men stood up bravely under the gall- ing fire, and fought like veterans instead of raw volunteers. We have been in the service but little over three months, and most of that time we have been on the march. To save the lives, which would have been a vain sacrifice, Colonel Moore. commanding the Thirty-ninth Brigade, surrendered the One hun- dred and fourth and the artillery, the remainder having surrendered themselves. The action lasted one hour and twenty-five minutes. Of our lieutenant-colonel and major I think they deserve the highest praise; they were at all times doing their utmost to encourage the men. Of Colonel Moore, I think his bravery cannot be questioned, and I am proud of being an officer in the One hundred and fourth Illinois Infantry. I heard the rebel General Morgan say that he had never fought any Federal troops who stood so determinedly as did the One hundred and fourth- and I also heard him say that had the other regiments fought as we ~lid, our re-enforcements would have arrived, and he should have had to retreat, and several of his officers said the same. Of the cavalry in our command, I can say nothing, as I did not see them during the engagement. ROBERT V. SIMPSON, First Lieut., Comdg. Co. G, One hundred and fourth Illinois Infty. No. 10. Report of Lieut. GoT. Gustavus Tafel, One hundred and sixth Ohio In fantry. NASHVILLE, TENN., December 12, 1862. Sin: I respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the battle of Hartsville, on Sunday, December 7, iiistant: The first intimation we had of any threatened attack was by some on Page 58 58 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CH~. XXXII. crying out at the top of his voice, at about 6.30 a. in., Fall in; they are coming. Some few shots followed the warning. 1 immediately formed my regiment, then consisting of six companies (one company being off on special duty to Gallatin and one more on picket and bri- gade guard-duty, in the opposite direction to the place of attack). The regiment fell in promptly, and formed in line to the left of the One hundred and fourth Illinois Regiment, as indicated by Adjutant-Gen- eral Gliolson. We then saw the enemys cavalry formed in line of battle on top of a hill, in the direction of the Gallatin road, separated by a wide gulf from our l)OsitiOn. It occurred to me that a bald hill, coin- manding both positions, which ran out on our right, ought to be taken possession of; and suggested such a movement to Colonel Moore, com- manding Thirty-ninth Brigade. He concurred, and ordered me to move in that direction. When I had marched my command past the One hundred and fourth Illinois, I noticed that a portion of the One hundred and eighth Regiment had then occupied the position in question. On reporting this, I was ordered by Colonel Moore to stay where I was, thus forming, with the One hundred and eighth Regiment, the right of our line of battle. We were not quite done taking this position when our right wing was attacked with impetuosity by the enemys infantry, which~ meantime, had deployed in our front. This attack was preceded by the firing of their artillery, which, on account of its bad aim, pro- duced no effect whatever. The men behaved very well, and our line advanced somewhat from our original position, as the nature of the ground directed. One gun of the Thirteentli Indiana Battery now arrived on the ground, and was posted right in the center, on the left of my command. Colonel Moore then ordered the whole line to fall back to the rear of the gun, and he experienced some difficulty in making my left conform to such order. Meanwhile I noticed a falling back on my right, which I found was occasioned by a part of the One hundred and eighth Regiment, in order to meet a flank movement by the enemys dismounted cavalry, which advanced on us through the wood. Thus the fight stood for some time, until our piece of artillery, after achieving fine results, and blowing up one of the enemys caissons, was forced to retire, on account of its loss of men and horsds, caused by its exposed position. The cannon was withdrawn to the top of a rocky hill in rear of the camps of all the regiments from where the other piece was playing across the river. Simultaneously Colonel Moore ordered the men to fall back upon said hill. The flanking movements of the enemy, however, necessitated me to move the greater part of my men along the edge of the wood On the right, where the enemy had long tried to effect an opening. The train of the One hundred and eighth Regiment afforded me a fine opportunity to check the enemys advance on our right flank, and there they were punished severely. When, however, the camps of the One hundred and fourth and One hundred and eighth Regiments had fallen into the hands of the enemy, my position became untenable, and I fell back with the men upon the ridge occupied by brigade head- (luarters. At that time Colonel Moore had already surrendered the battery and that part of the brigade which had rallied on the hill back of the camps. At this juncture men came riding up, wearing United States uniforms, waving their hats and telling us to surrender like the rest; bu tlcried out to the men not to listen, and that General Duinont was near with reenforcements. The men accordingly made another stand, but wer Page 59 CHAP. XXXIII ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENTh 59 quickly surrounded by the then otherwise wholly disengaged aggregate force of the enemy. A part oniy made their escape across the road, and saved the regimental colors by tearing them off the staff and hid- ing them on tIn~ir persons. With one solitary exception, all the officers performed their duty unflinchingly; and the men also, with very few exceptions; fought like veterans. Out of a force of about 250 men, I had 22 killed, 42 wounded, and 10 missing.* The Second (rebel) Kentucky Infantry, with which we had to con- tend, according to their account, shows a loss of 75 killed and wounded. The above is a true and correct statement of the fight from its begin- ning, and, as in this connection I cannot help noticing the scandalous and entirely unfounded reports which got into the papers, I would re- spectfully ask you to canse a strict investigation of the facts to be made. GUSTAVUS TAFEL, Ijeut. Col., Comdg. One hundred and sixth Ohio Vol. Jinfty. Colonel GARESCH~, A. A. U., and Chief of & aff of Maj. Gen. Rosecrans, Commanding Army of the Cumberland. No. 11. Report of Capt. Carlo Piepho, One hundred and eighth Ohia Infantry. GENERAL: Allow me to state to you the part which the One hundred and eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry took in the battle at llartsville, Tenn., on December 7, 1862. The One hundred and eighth, which formed a part of the Thirty-ninth Brigade, was en camped on the west side of the brigade, forming the right flank of the battle-line. The camp of the brigade, which was situated on a rocky hill, about 1 mile from Hartsville, rested, to its left, on a very steep and rocky bank of the Cumberland, close to a ford, which ford was protected by two pieces of artillery; in front of the camp, a dense grove of beech wood; on the right, the turnpike leading from Harts- yule to Lebanon. Another ford in the Cumberland, between the camp and town, was left without protection. The outposts were thrown out about a half mile from camp, and formed a line from the bank of the Cumberland abont one-half mile above camp to another point of the river bank, about one-half mile below. There were no outposts or vedettes posted on the opposite side of the river, where several roads connected at the above-mentioned ford, between camp and town. The road lead- ing from llartsville to Gallatin was also left without protection. Soon after reveille, on Snnday morning, December 7, a negro serv- ant of one of the officers of the One hundred and eighth ran into camp, shouting at the top of his voice, The rebels are coming. I ordered the long-roll to beat, formed my battalion in line, and went out in front with Companies A and B, which two companies I threw out as skirmish- ers. 1 found the enemy thrown up in line of battle on the summit of a low hill, ready to rush on us, in shooting range of our camp. The rest of the battalion (five companies) I left nnder command of Adjutant ~ But see revised statement, p 45 Page 60 60 KY., MID. AND K TI~NN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CUAP. XXXII. flulin, of the One hundred aiid eighth, and sent word to him to follow me as reserve, and take position on a place to the left of our regimental camp, but by mistake the order was not communicated verbally, so he took position on the extreme right, and soon was in close contact with the rebels. The position he took was good, but I could not thereby accomplish my intention of charging the enemy at the point of the bay- onet. By this time the two other regiments of infantry (One hundred and sixth Ohio and One hundred and fourth illinois) formed inline, and the action began to become very lively. The enemy opened his bat- teries, throwing a great mass of shells and canister. Our artillery took position on the left of our line, and opened on the enemy. Soon the line of skirmishers, which protected our left, fell back behind the artillery, by which movement the artillery was exposed and soon disabled. My battalion held its position firmly for about one hour, when the com - mander of the brigade waved a white handkerchief and surrendered. Our left wing broke, and I came pretty near being outflanked. I now changed front toward our right, from which direction the enemy came rushing in on the Hartsville road. Under a heavy fire, the enemy de- manded my surrender, which I denied; but soon I was compelled to fall back to a small creek, on the right of the llartsville road, where I made another stand. By this time the enemy had full possession of our camps, Colonel Moore having surrendered before I knew anything about it. The position I held on the creek above mentioned I soon found totally surrounded by the enemy. Here I was demanded the second time to surrender, and, seeing that I could not accomplish any- thing with the small force which was left to me, I finally consented to the demand. My command numbered, besides myself and my adjutant, 4 captains, 7 lieutenants, and 400 enlisted men. (The rest of the officers were dis- abled by sickness to take part in the action.) They all showed a bravery and gallantry unexpected for new troops. The arms which were used by my command were the Austrian rifle, an arm totally worthless ,~and condemned on different occasions, the locks of said guns having springs of so weak construction that many of the men had to snap the cock three or more times before the piece would discharge. The men also were provided with ammunition a good deal too large for the pieces; the caliber of the guns .58, and that of the ammunition .54. Notwith- standing these calamities, the men stood like veterans, and most of them fired 20 to 25 rounds. Our loss was 66 killed, wounded and missing.# Your most obedient servant, CARLO PIEPHO, Capt., Comdg. One hundred and eighth Regt. Ohio Vol. Infty. General ROSECRANS. No. 12. Report of Capt. Joseph Good, One hundred and eighth Ohio Infantry. The battle commenced at 6.30 a. m. The first notice I had of the enemy approaching I heard, Company, fall in. I ran to my company parade-ground; ordered my men to fall in; formed my company in * But see revised statement, p. 45 Page 61 CHAP. XXXII.1 61 ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. about two minutes ready for action; received orders from Captain Piepho, commanding the One hundred and eighth Regiment, to march my company at double-quick to the right, and join Company A. I ar- rived, deployed on the right, and formed the reserve with part of my company. I noticed on my right, on the ridge, two companies of cavalry (the Second Indiana and Eleventh Kentucky). The enemy at this time had formed line of battle in the open stubble-field. We opened fire on them; they repeated with musketry and cannon. At this time I noticed one section of our artillery firing about four or five shots. At the com- mencement of the firing, our cavalry on the ridge gave way and ran to camp; that unmasked the right wing of our skirmish line, and we had to fall back about 100 yards, in order that they could not outflank us. - At this instant I noticed one of the regiments fire one volley and re- treat iii confusion. I could not say what regiment this was, but I think the One hundred and sixth Ohio. At this time the Second Indiana Cav- alry Regiment took post on the left of the main column, awaiting orders, when the enemy brought their artillery to bear on our column in the open field. The main column gave way at this time in confusion, and retreated to the camp of the One hundred and fourth Illinois, when the rebels came over the open field and fired very rapidly, when Col. A. B. Moore, commanding the Thirty-ninth Brigade, ordered the white flag to be raised, and surrendered - I, at this time, was with our skirmishers, when I heard from one of the orderlies that the brigade had surren - dered, with the artillery. We then marched our men (about 150) to the right, about three-quar- ters of a mile, to the creek running through llartsville; found it to be frozen over, with a thin skim of ice not strong enough to bear us cross- ing it. I wanted to countermarch down the stream about a quarter of a mile to where a small bridge crossed, when the rebel cavalry came up and demanded our surrender. Among us were the major and two or three officers of the One hun- dred and sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; also Captain Piepho, commanding One hundred and eighth Regiment, and three lieutenants of the One hundred and eighth. When the major of the One hundred and sixth Regiment stepped up aiid acknowledged the surrender, and marched his men to camp, I fell to the rear of our men, and tried to escape, when I was halted by one of the cavalry, asking where I was going. I told him that I was going up to my men to surrender, and I followed the man until I came within 5 or 6 paces of the men going to camp. I met three officers of the One hundred and eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, asking me if I did not want to make my escape. I told them to come on, and we started back about 20 paces, when we met Captain Piepho, who asked where we were going; we told him that we were going to try to make our escape, when he told ns there was no use to try to make our escape, as the enemy was all around us. While we were standing there and talking over the matter, we were hailed by some 20 cavalry. They demanded our revolvers and swords, and then marched us to camp. When near camp we got scattered among the horses of the rebels, when I was asked by one of the rebel officers whether we were prisoners (myself and Lieutenant Rebel, of Company A). I told him that we were. He then told me that we nad to go to the river and cross. I then asked if I could go up to camp and get my books, & c. He told me that I could not; that he wanted us to cross immediately, as he feared the Yankees would come; so we started to go to the river. When I got pear the ri yer Istepped to the right abou Page 62 62 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. 5 paces, followed by Lieutenant Hebel. Then I told the lieutenant to stand still for a few minutes until 1 got away. Then I leaped off the bank in a by-road leading to the ford; walked quick time down the river, when I met 1 cavalryman with 2 wounded rebels on a cart, with a ne- gro driving the cart. They seemed to be in dispute about something.~-. the ioad, I think. I told them that they were on the wrong road to ford the river, and that they had to go to the upper road to ford the river, and I passed on about 10 or 15 paces, when I leaped down the bank, ran up the ravine, and got under the roots of a tree, followed by the lieutenant. Remained there until our re-enforcements came up the Second Brigade, commanded by Colonel Harlan. Just at the time the rebels had the trains over the river he ordered the artillery up. The artillery was brought to bear on the rear of the rebels, they replying twice, and then left. A company of the Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry followed and recaptured 3 wagons, loaded with muskets. Our killed numbered about 80; wounded, about 120.* About 30 or 40 of the rebels were killed, and about 100 wounded. Our men acted bravely, but the commander of the brigade not being competent to command, caused the defeat, I think. JOSEPH GOOD, Captain Company B, One hundred and eighth Regt. Ohio Vols. No. 13. Reports of General Braxton Bragg, C. ~. Army, commanding Army of Tennessee, with instructions to Brigadier- General Morgan, and con- gratulatory orders. MUEFREESBOROUGH, TENN., December 8, 1862. An expedition sent under Acting Brig. Gen. John II. Morgan attacked an outpost of the enemy at Hartsville, on the Cumberland, yesterday morning, killed and wounded 200, captured 1,800 prisoners, two pieces of artillery, and 2,000 small-arms, and all other stores at the position. On the previous day a small foraging train was captured by General Wheeler, near Nashville, with 50 prisoners, and on the 5th Colonel [P. D.] Roddey, Alabama cavalry, also captured a train near Corinth with its escorts and a number of negroes. Our loss at Hartsville was about 125 killed and wounded; none at either of the other places. BRAXTON BRAGG, General S. COOPER. General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Miurfreesborough, Tenn., December 22, 1862. Sin: Having been informed by Acting Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan, whose cavalry brigade covered my front in the direction of Hartsville, Tenn., that the enemys force at that point was somewhat isolated, I yielded to his request and organized an expedition under him for their attack. * But see revised statement, p. 45 Page 63 CHAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSYILLE, TENN. f33 On the 5th instant, Hansons brigade, of Breckinridges division, was moved forward on the road toward llartsville, and halted at Bairds Mills, a point nearly due east from Nashville, and half way to Harts- yule, where it.was joined by Morgans cavalry force. Two regiments (the Second and Ninth Kentucky Infantry), with [iRobert] Cobbs (Ken- tucky) artillery, moved from this point with the cavalry at 10 p. m. on the 6th, to attack the enemy at Hartsville. Early on the morning of the same day, Hanson, with the remainder of his brigade, moved, as directed, on the road toward Nashville for the purpose of a reconnaissance, and to cause a diversion. At the same time that the troops above named left their camps near here, Major-General [B. F.] Cheatham, with two brigades, moved out on the Nashville road, halted all night at La Yergne, 15 miles, and on the next day, in conjunction with General Wheelers cavalry, made a strong demonstration on the enemy~s front. These movements had the desired effect, and completely distracted the enemys attention from the real point of attack. Learning that a for- aging train of the enemy was on his right flank, Cheatham detached Wheeler, with a cavalry force, to attack it, which he did in his usual dashing and successful manner, capturing 11 wagons and 57 prisoners. Under cover of these feints, Morgan, by an extraordinary night march, reached the point of his destination about sunrise, and, in a short but warmly contested engagement, killed, wounded, and captured the entire command of more than 2,000 officers and men.* I inclose herewith the reports of General Morgan and the subordinate commanders, and take great pleasure in commending the fortit~ude, en- (lurance, and gallantry of all engaged in this remarkable expedition. It is a source of personal and official gratification to perceive that the De- partment has recognized the services of the gallant and meritorious soldier who led the expedition by confirming my previons nomination of him as a brigadier-general. Two sets of infantry colors and one ar- tillery guidon, taken at Hartsville, are also forwarded with this report. A third set of infantry colors was presented by its captors to the Presi- dent on his recent visit to this place. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, BRAXTON BII~AGG, General, Commanding. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Ya. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Murfreesborough, Tenn., December 1, 1862. Brig. Gen. JOHN H. MORGAN, Commanding Cavalry at Bairds [Mills]: GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to say that, when re- lieved from your present duties, you will proceed with your whole com- mand, by the most practicable route and with the least delay, to operate on the enemys lines of communications in rear of Nashville. You will assail his guards where your relative force will justify it; capture and destroy his trains; burn his bridges, depots, trestle-work, & c. In fine, harass him in every conceivable way in your power. When practicable, But see inelosure A to Braggs report of the battle of Stones River, p. 673 Page 64 64 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. YA. [ChAP. XXXfl send all prisoners to the rear, so as to conceal your operations. When it is necessary, parole them, sending lists byfirst mail to these headquarters. You are authorized to increase your command to the extent of your cap- tured arms and horses, assigning the men to your old regiments. Do everytfiing to prevent the enemy from foraging north of the Cumberland River, and especially toward Clarksville. If practicable, communicate and co-operate with Brigadier-General [N. B.] Forrest. You are not lim- ited in the extent of your operations, every confidence being reposed in your zeal, discretion, and judgment. You will make weekly reports of your operations, sending with each a return of your command. It is re- ported that the enemy is obstructing the fords of the Cumberland. Brigadier-General [J.] Wheeler has been ordered to relieve you as soon as Brigadier-General [J.] Pegram can be placed in position with a suffi- cient command. I am, general,* very res~)ectfu]ly, yours, GEORGE WM. BRENT, Assistant Adjutant- General. GENERAL ORDERS, HEAD QUARTERS DEPARTMENT No. 2, No. 155. Murfreesborough, Tenn., December 12, 1862. With pride and pleasure, mingled with gratitude to the Snpreme source of all our victories, the general commanding has the satisfaction of an- nouncing to his troops the signal triumph of our arms at llartsville, Tenn., on the 7th instant. This brilliant exploit was achieved by a portion of Morgans cavalry brigade, together with detachments from the Second and Ninth Kentucky Regiments of Infantry, under Colonel Hunt, the whole under Brigadier-General Morgan. After a remarkable march of more than 40 miles, through snow and ice, they forded the Cumberland under cover of darkness, and at daylight precipitated themselves upon the enemy. Our success was complete. With a force of not more thaii 1,200 men in action, we inflicted a loss upon the enemy of 500 killed and wounded, and captured 1,800 prisoners, with all their arms, muni- tions, and other stores. Our own loss was small compared with the result, not exceeding 125 in killed and wounded. The memory of the gallant men who fell to rise no more will be revere(l by their comrades, and forever honored by their country. To Brigadier-General Morgan and to Colonel Hunt the general tenders his thanks, and assures them of the admiration of his army. The intelligence, zeal, and gallantry displayed by them will serve as an example and an incentive to still more honorable deeds. To the other brave officers and men composing the expedition the general tenders his cordial thanks and congratula- tions. He is proud of them, and hails the success achieved by their valor as but the precursor of still greater victories. Each corps en- gaged in the action will in future bear upon its colors the name of the memorable field. I By command of General Bragg: GEO. G. GARNER, Assistant Adjutant- General. Copy to General Wheelsr same day. The U. S. colors of the One hundred and fourth illinois were captured by Private William H. Carson, Second Kentucky (Confederate) Infantry, aud the regimental Nh~+h l~~+n~l~ colors by Corp. Augustus Ileynand, ~ (Confederate) Infantry Page 65 ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. 65 No. 14. Return of casualties in the Confederate forces at lliartsvitle, Tenn., Decem ber 7, 1862. [Compiled from nominal lists.] Command. Morgans brigade: Staff Ganos regiment Clukes regiment Chenaults regiment ... Bennetts regiment . - -. Total Hansons brigade: 2d Kentucky 9th Kentucky Cobbs battery Total Killed. 0 ~ 1 1 1 1 Wounded. Missing. 0~ 1 4 1 1 20 4 2 .9 .0 1 5 1 9 H 9 as bE 2 .1 32 5 4 1 3 6 27 1 6 44 2 6 3 51 6 68 1 5 1 9 1 17 3 7 10 3 14 4 67 7 95 Grand total 4 17 101 94 1 13 139 Remarks. Lient. W. S. Kendall killed. Lients. JohnW. Rogers and Charles H. Thomas killed, and Lieut. Thomas M. Home mortally wounded. Lieut. iDandridge 5. Crockett killed. No. 15. Report of Brig. Gen. John III. Morgan, C. S. Army, commanding expedition. MoRGANs HEADQUARTERS, Cross-Roads, near lliliurfreesborough, Tenn., December 9, 18G2. SiR: I have the honor to lay before you, for the information of the general commanding, a report of the expedition against the Federal force at llartsville: I left these headquarters at 10 a. in. Qn the 6th instant, with 1,400 men of my own command, under the orders of Colonel Duke; the Sec- ond and Ninth Kentucky infantry, commanded by Colonel [T. II.] Hunt; Captain [Robert] Cobbs battery of artillery, two small howitzers, and two rifled Ellsworth guns belonging to my own colnmand. At Lebanon I received itiformation that no change had been made in the number of the Federals at HartsviHe, their number being still about 900 infantry and 400 cavalry, with two pieces of artillery. I found afterward that their force had been considerably underrated. I proceeded with the infantry and artillery to Puriers Ferry, on the Cumberland River, send- ing the cavalry, under the orders of Colonel Duke, to pass at a ford some 7 miles below the point where we were to rendezvous. I passed my troops with great difficulty, there being but one boat, and about 5.30 on the morning of the 7th I arrived at Hagers Shop, 2 miles from the Federal camp. I found that Colonel Duke, with his cavalry, had only just marched up, having crossed the ford with (lifficulty, and that one 5 H HVOL XX, PT I CHAP. XXXII. Page 66 66 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXTh Tegiment of his command, 500 strong (Colonel [R.. M.] 0-anos), had not yet reported. Major [iR. G.] Stoners battalion had been left on the other side of the Cumberland, with the two mountain howitzers, to pre- vent the escape of the enemy by the Lebanon road, and Colonel [J. D.j Bennett*s [Ninth Tennessee Cavalry] regiment had been ordered to pro- ceed to llartsville to picket the road leading to Gallatin, and to attack any of the Federals they might find in that town, to take possession of the Castalian Springs, I~afayette, and Carthage roads, so as to prevent the escape of the enemy. This reduced my force considerably, but I determined to attack, and that at once. There was no time to be lost; day was breaking, and the enemy might expect strong re-enforcements from Castalian Springs should my arrival be known. Advancing, there- fore, with the cavalry, closely followed by the artillery and infantry, I approached the enemys position. The pickets were found and shot down. The Yankee bivouac fires appeared to cover a long line of ground, and gave me to suppose that their numbers were much greater than I anticipated. On nearing their camp the alarm was sounded, and I could distinctly s~e and hear the officers ordering their men to fall in, prepar- ing for resistance. Colonel Duke then dismounted Colonels Clukes and Chenaults regiments (in all about 450 men), drawing them up in line in a large field in the front and a little to the right of the enemys line, which was then forming, and seeing that the artillery and infantry were in position, he ordered his men to advance at the double [quick], and directed Colonel Chenault, who was on the left, to oblique, so as to march on the enemys flank. His men then pressed forward, driving the Federals for nearly half a mile, without a check, before them, until their right wing w~ s forced back upon their own left wing and center. Colonel Duke then ordered a halt until the infantry had commenced their attack on the Federal le;ft wing, which eansed a retreat of the whole line. At this juncture Lieutenant-Colonel [J. M.] lluffman and Major Theophilus] Steele, of Ganos regiment, came up with about 100 men ot that regiment, who had succeeded in crossing the ford, and threw their small force into the fight. My dismounted cavalry, under Colonel Duke, had only been skirmishing previously to this for about twenty minutes; but seeing that Colonel Hunt, with the infantry, was l)ressing hard upon the Federal left, he ordered an advance upon the right wing and flank of their new line. It gave way and ceased firing, and soon after surrendered. Colonel Duke reports that his men fought with a courage and coolness which could not be surpasse(l. Colonels Cluke and Chenault led on their men with the most deter- mined bravery, encouraging them by voice and example. The timely arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Huffman and Major Steele, and the gallant manner in which they threw themselves into the fight, had a very decided effect upon the battle at the point at which they entered. The artillery under Captain Cobb did most excellent service and suf. fered severely from the enemys battery, which fired with great jrecision, blowing up one of his caissons and inflicting a severe loss on that arm. The infantry conducted themselves most gallantly, the Second Ken. tucky suffering most severely. Colonel Bennetts regiment, as I said before, was not in the fight, hay. ing been sent on a special service, which was most efficiently performed, 450 prisoners havihg been taken by them and 12 Federals killed. Thus, sir, in one hour and a half the troops under my command, con- sisting of 500 cavalry (Colonel Ganos arid Colonel Bennetts regiment Page 67 CHAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. 67 and Major Stoners command not participating in the fight), 700 infantry, with a battery of artillery (in all abont 1,300 strong), defeated and cap- tured three well-disciplined and well-formed regiments of infantry, with a regiment of eavairy, and took two rifled cannonthe whole encamped on their own ground and in a very strong positiontaking about 1,800 prisoners, 1,800 stand of arms, a qnantity of ammunition, clothing, quar- termasters stores, and 16 wagons. The battle was now won. The result exceeded my own expectation, but still I felt that my position was a most perilous one, being within 4 miles in a direct line, and only 8 by the main Gallatin road, of an enemys force of at least 8,000 men, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, who would naturally march to the aid of their comrades on hearing the report of our guns. I, therefore, with the assistance of my staff, got together all the empty wagons left by the enemy, loaded them with arms, ammunition, and stores, and directed them immediately to Harts Ferry. There was no time to be lost. The pickets placed by my assistant adjutant-general on the Castalian Springs road sent to report the advanci of a strong body of Federals, estimated at 5,000 men. I sent Colonel Clukes regiment to make a show of resistance, ordering Colonel Ganos regiment, which had arrived, in support. In the mean time I pressed the passage of the ford to the utmost. This show of force caused a delay in the advance of the enemy, who had no idea of the number of my men, and probably greatly overrated my strength, and gave me time to pass the ford with infantry, artillery, and baggage- wagons, the horses of my cavalry being sent back from the other side of the Cumberland River to carry over the infantry regiments. It was time to retreat. The enemy attacked our rear, but was kept at bay by the two regiments before specified, aided by four guns I had previously ordered to be placed in position on the south side of the Cum- berland, looking forward to what was now taking place. The banks of the river on both sides are precipitous, and the stream breast-deep, but our retreat was effected in excellent order. We lost not a man, ex- cept 3, badly wounded, that I was reluctantly forced to leave behind. Cavalry, infantry, guard, guns, and baggage-train safely crossed, with the exception of four wagons, which had been sent by anotherroute, and which are still safely hidden in the woods, according to accounts received to- day. In justice to my brave command, 1 would respectfully bring to the notice of the general commanding the names of those officers who con- tributed, by their undaunted bravery and soldier-like conduct, to the bril. liant success which crowned the efforts of the Confederate arms: To Colonel Hunt, of the Ninth Kentucky, commanding the infantry, I am deeply indebted for his valuable assistance; his conduct and that of his brave regiment was perfect; their steadiness under fire remarkable. The Second Kentucky also behaved most gallantly and suffered se- verely; 62 men killed and wounded, 3 regimental officers left dead on the field, sufficiently testified to their share in the fight and the resist- ance they had to encounter. Colonel Clukes regiment paid also a high price for its devotion. It went into the field 230 strong; had 6 officers, with 21 non-commissioned officers and privates, killed and wounded, besides 6 missing. Colonel Duke, commanding the cavalry, was, as he always has been, the right man in the right place. Wise in counsel, gallant in the field, his services have ever been invaluable to me. I was informed by my adjutant-general that Colonel Bennett, in the execution of the special service confided to him, and in which he so entirely succeeded, gave proof of great personal gallantry and con Page 68 68 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL tempt of danger. I owe much to my per~ona1 staff: Major [D. H.] Liew- ellyn, Capts. Chariton II. Morgan, [Rufus K.1 XVilliams, and Lieut. Robert Tyler~ acting as my aide-dc-camp, gave proofs of great devo- tion, being everywhere in the hottest fire. Major Liewellyn received the sword of Col. Robert iR. Stewart and the surrender of his regiment. Captain Morgans and Captain Williams horses were killed nnder ~them, and Lieutenant Tyler was severely wounded. My orderly sergeant, Craven Peyton, received a shot in his hip and had his horse killed by my side. I must crave forgiveness if I add, with a soldiers pride, that the conduct of my whole command de- served my highest gratitude and commendation. Three Federal regimental standards and five cavalry guidons fluttered over my brave column on their retnru from this expedition. With such troops, victory is enchained to our banners, and the issue of a contest with our Northern opponents, even when they are double our force, no longer doubtful! I have the honor to be, sir, with the highest respect, your most obe- dieiit servant, JOHN H. MORGAN, Brigadier- General. Colonel [GEORGE WILLIAM] BRENT, Chief of Sta~J. No. 16. Report of Col. Roger W. Hanson, Second Kentucky Infantry, command ing First Brigade, Breckinridges division. HEADQUARTERS BRECK!NRIDGES T)IVISIo~, December 11, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to forward a report from Col. R. W. Han- son, commanding First Brigade, of my division, covering the report of Col. Thomas II. Hunt, who commanded the Second and N~ith Kentucky Regiments and Cobbs battery in the recent expedition (un~Ier command of Brigadier-General Morgan) against flartsvilie; and also the reports of Major [James W.] Hewitt and Captain [James T.] Morehead, com- manding, respectively, the Second and Ninth Kentucky, and of Captain [Robert] Cobb, commanding the battery. I beg to call attention to the officers and men specially named for gallantry, and to suggest respectfully that the troops engaged in this expedition deserve mention in orders for conduct which in fortitude and daring has not been surpassed during the war. Very respectfully, YOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, Major- General, Commanding. Maj. THOMAS M. JACK, Assistant Adjutant- General. [Inclosurel HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, Camp near ]ifliurfreesborough, Tenn., December 11, 1862. In pursuance of the order of General Bragg, I proceeded with my command on the 5th instant to Bairds Mills, and remained two days Page 69 CHAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSYILLE, TENN. 69 making, as directed, Ieconnaissance toward Nashville. General Morgan designated the Second and Ninth Kentucky and Cobbs battery as the troops he desired to accompany him upon the llartsville expedition. They were detached nnder the command of Colonel Hunt. I inclose herewith his report of the battle of flartsville and the reports Qf his subordinate officers. I wish to call attention to the honorable mention that is made in Major [James W.] Hewitts and Colonel Hunts report of the gallant conduct of Sergeant Oldham, of the Second Kentucky iReg- iment, with the hope that the proper steps may be taken to procure for him the proper reward for his conduct. Sergeant Oldham was the color-bearer of the Second Kentucky Regiment at the battle of Donel- son, and acted with great gallantry upon that occasion. He is a suit- able man for a lientenancy, being well qualified as well as truly brave. H. W. HANSON, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Colonel [J. A.] BUCKINER, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 17. Report of Gol. Thomas 11. Hunt, iN~nth Kentucky Infantry, commanding detachment First Brigade. CAMP NEAR MIJRFREESBOROUGH, TENN., December 9, 1862. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that the detachment from the First Brigade, Breckinridges division, consisting of the Second Ken- tucky Regiment, Maj. James W. Hewitt commanding, 375 strong; Ninth Kentucky, Capt. James T. Morehead commanding, 320 strong, and Cobbs b~ittery, placed under my command as senior officer, with orders to re- port to General Morgan, left Bairds Mills, where the brigade was in bivouac, on Saturday, the 6th instant, about 1.30 p. m. Marching in the rear of the cavalry force until we arrived in the vicinity of Lebanon, an exchange was made, when the infantry mounted the horses and rode 5 or 6 miles. The command reached Cumberland River about 10 oclock; the infan try, artillery, and a small portion of cavalry [crossed] at Ferry, the balance of the cavalry crossing at a ford a few miles lower down the river. The two boats used for crossing were of small capacity, and in miserable condition, but, by constant bailing~ they were kept afloat, and by 5 oclock in the morning the command was safely over. The march of 5 miles to Hartsville, where the battle was fought, yet to make over had roads for artillery, was not accomplished until after sunrise, and the purpose of General Morgan to surprise the enemy was defeated. When we approached in sight of their camp, we found their infantry already formed, occupying a very strong position on the crest of a hill, with a deep ravine in front and their artillery iii battery. The troops of my command were placed in position west of tie enemy s camp while under a heavy fire from their battery and sharp- shooters thrown out from their right, but these latter were quickly driven in by the dismounted cavalry. The Second Regiment, having been formed on the left of the Ninth, was now ordered forward to sup- port and follow up the success gained by the cavalry skirmishers. Tha Page 70 70 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL they had hot work to accomplish is shown by their heavy loss in killed and wounded. In the meai~i time Captain Cobb with his battery was not idle. He was doing good execution, and the eiiemy responded with effect, one of their shells striking and blowing up a caisson. As the ground was cleared of the enemy opposite our left, he (Captain Cobb) was ordered to take a new position with his battery in that directioii, and at the same time the Ninth Kentucky Regiment was ordered forward to engage the enemys left. My whole command was now engaged. The crest of the hill was reached, and here commenced a desperate struggle, as the con- testants were only from 30 to 50 paces apart, where they fought for the space of ten minutes, when the order to charge was given, and most nobly was the command responded to. The enemy broke and were driven to the river cliff; where they were completely surrounded by my force in front and the dismounted cavalry on their fi~nk and rear, and where they surrendered at discretion. It was a continued success from the commencement of the engagement. In about an hour and a quarter from the time the first gun was fired they surrendered, and more pris- oners were brought off than we had men in the action. Large quantities of commissary and ~ stores were also secured, a section of artillery, and a large number of small-arms, with the usual supply of ammunition. General Morgan had made most skillful dispositions, which, with the good fighting qualities of the troops engaged, secured success. - I cannot speak in too high terms of praise of the troops, and I scarcely know which most to admire, their patient endurance on the iuarch or courage in battle. They marched 50 miles in cold winter weather, the ground covered with snow; crossed and recrossed the Cumberland River; fought a largely superior force strongly posted within 6 miles of their sup- ports, and brought off the prisoners, all Within the space of thirty hours. Captain Cobb with his officers and men had a most laborious time in getting their pieces and horses across the river, and it was only by the best-directed executions they succeeded at all. Where officers and men all behaved so ~ve]l, it is impossible for me to single out individual cases as peculiarly worthy of commendation. I cannot, however, refrain from mentioning Lient. Joseph Benedict [Com- pany B, Ninth Kentucky Infantry], who acted as my aide on the oc- casion. He was the right man in the right place. I inclose herewithAcopies of the reports of Major Hewitt, Captains Morehead and Cobb, and would bring to your attention the fact that the former commends Color-Sergt. John Oldham for his gallant bearing. The following is a summary of the loss sustained by my command: Command. o a 2d1{entuckyRegirnent. 8 54 3 7 10 1 cobbs battery Total 18 71 4 Included in the above are: Of the Second Kentucky Regiment Charles H. Thomas, first lieutenant, and John W. Rogers, second lieu- tenant, Company C, killed; T. M. Home, first lieutenant, Company A, mortally wounded; Second Lieut. A. J. Pryor, Company B, and Lieu Page 71 CHAP. XXXII.] ACTION AT HARTSVILLE, TENN. 71 tenant [E. B.] Harding, Company K, wounded. Of the Ninth Ken- tuckySecond Lieut. Dandridge S Crockett [Company K], killed, and First Lient. J. W. Cleaviand [Company I], wounded. I am, sjr, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. H. I~TJNT, Colonel, Commanding Detachment. Capt. JOHN S. HOPE, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 18. Report of Maj James W. Hewitt, Second Kentucky Infantry CAMP MIJRFREESBOROUGH, TENN., December 9, 1862. Sin: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of your orders, I formed my regiment on the left of the Ninth Ken tncky, opposite the ene- mys camp near Hartsville, a portion of General Morgans cavalry being at the same time on my left. When the order came for me to advaiice, I ordered my regiment forward, and, after passing the fence, the nature of the ground was such that I deemed it advisable to deploy my regi- ment, and therefore gave the order to deploy. In this way we drove the enemy from their first camp, and continued to drive them until they surrendered. The officers, without an exception, behaved in the most gallant style. They were continually in advance of their men, urging them forward, and where all behaved so well it would be impossible to particularize. Each seemed to vie with the other in deeds of gallantry. The whole command, I am pleased to say, behaved in a most unexceptionable manner. I cannot conclude my report without referring to Color-Sergt. John Gldham, whose conduct and carriage during the whole engagement elic- ited the encomiums of both officers and men. Appended is a list of killed, wounded, and missing, all of which I re- spectfully submit: Killed.. 8 Wounded 54 Missing 3 Total 65 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES W. HEWITT, Major, Commanding Second Kentucky Regiment CoL THOMAS H. HUNT. No. 19. Report of Capt. James L iViorehead, Ninth Kentucky Infantry. CAMP NEAR MURFREESBOROUO-H, TENN., December 10, 1862. SIR: At 12 oclock on Saturday, the 6th instant, I, as senior captain, was placed, by your orders, in command of the Ninth Kentucky Hegi- ment, which had the day before moved to Bairds Mills, 18 miles fro Page 72 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. MLlrfreesborough, and was at that time about to march against the en- emy, reported to be at llartsville, Teun. The weather was excessively cold, the snow having fallen the day before to some depth, and the road was vei~y rough. Notwithstanding, the men marched steadily during the day and ~ll night, and reached the immediate neighborhood of the enemys camp near llartsville at sunrise. The enemy occupied a strong position in front of hi~ encampment, his line of battle stretching along the crest of a hill, which was separated from our forces by an interven- ing hollow or ravine. Our line of battle was formed, with Cobbs bat- tery on the right, supported by the Ninth Kentucky Regiment directly in its rear. On our immediate left was the Second Kentucky Regiment, and still farther to the left a portion of two regiments of dismounted cavalry, under Colonel IDnke. The enemy occupied with his sharp- shooters the woods and ravine in front of the left wing of our line, and opened a brisk fire on us. Against them the dismounted cavalry de. ployed as skirmishers, and soon succeeded in dislodging and driving them back upon the main body of the enemy. The Second Kentucky Regiment was ordered forward, and the Ninth Kentucky left in support of the battery. In a few minutes after, I was ordered to advance, and moved the regiment in double-quick in the direction of the main body of the enemy, going over in our route very rough ground and through a deep ravine. Ascending the hill, the regiment advanced to the right of the Second Kentucky, halted, and immediately became engaged, at less than 50 paces, with the enemy. After fighting for a short time, I ordered a charge, which was made with such gallantry by the regiment that the left wing of the enemys line gave way and commenced retreat- ing in confusion. Pressed closely by the Ninth Kentucky, they passed through their camps, and took refuge under the brow of a hill on the bank of the river and in rear of their artillery. The regiment continue(1 to move rapidly on, and captured the two pieces of artillery and a stand of colors, charged the line of the enemy, and drove them to the brink of the river, compelling their immediate surrender. Here we captured Colonel Moore, commanding brigade, who, in reply to a question from Captain [N. AJ Crouch [Company B], answered that he surrendere(l himself and all the men around him, meaning the whole force. The battle was now fairly won. The firing had ceased, save a few scatterin~, shots here and there. I immediately formed the regiment again in line of battle, had order restored, stragglers collected, and the men kept in their places. I sent details from all the companies to look after the dead arid wonuded, arid detailed Company II, Captain [Chris.] Bosche,to guard the One hundred and sixth Ohio Regiment, captured by us. The pris- oners being collected, I was ordered to detail Companies A and C to guard them, and afterward Company C-. The regiment recrossed the river, and began its march toward Lebanon, Tenn. Too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men for their. spirit and patient endurance under a march of almost unexampled hardship and rapidity, and for their gallantry and good conduct in action. The regiment had in battle an aggregate of 320 men. The casualties were as follows, viz * All of which is respectfully submitted. JAS. T. MOREHEAD, Qaptain, Gommanding Ninth Kentucky Regiment. Col. THOMAS II. HuNT, Gommanding infantry. See p. 65 Page 73 CHAP. XXXII.] 73 SKIRMISH NEAR LA VERGNE, TENK. DECEMBER 9, 1862.Skirmish at Dobbins Ferry, near La Vergne, Tenn. REPOI~TS. No. 1.Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, U. S. Army. No. 2.Snrg. M. C. Woodwortli, Fifty-firet Ohio Infantry. No. 1. Report of ]IIaj. Gem. Thomas L. Grittenden, U. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, December 9, 1862. COLONEL: I am this moment in receipt of a note from your headquar- ters, asking me if General Stanley has come in yet. I presume this must refer to the foraging expedition of Col. Stanley Matthews. As soon as I arrived at camp I sent an order to General Van Cleve to re- turn to me a full report; but it has not yet been sent. As soon as it comes in it shall be forwarded. Eight wagons from my headquarters accompanied the party. They have all returned, well filled, but report that Colonel Matthews had a sharp skirmish, having quite a number killed and wounded, but that the wagons were filled and none lost. Since your orderly an ived, the inclosed note from Colonel Grose has been received through General Smith.* I declined to permit him to.at- tack, for fear it might interfere with the proposed reconnaissance5~ Should you think differently, advise me, and I will yet direct the attack to be made. A prisoner, taken by some of our troops and brought to me, reports that the attack was made by six regiments of cavalry, under Wheeler, who fought principally as infantry, being armed with Enfield rifles and navy revolvers that the regiments are, however, greatly reduced, and do not number, all together, over about 1,500 men, and that this is the only force about La Vergue; also that Bragg left last week for Rich. mond; that Johnston is in command, and is camped some 4 miles this side of Murfreesborough; that his force numbers about 35,000 men. I will send him to you in the morning. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, T. L. CRITTENDEN, Major- General, Commanding. Col. J. P. GAnESCH~, Chief of Staff P. S.Siuce writing the foregoing, Colonel Matthews report has come in, which is herein inclosed.* No. 2. Report of Surg. Al. C. Woodworth, Fifty jlrst Ohio infantry. HEADQUAUTERS TWENTY-THIRD BRIGADE, December 12, 1862. CAPTAIN: Pursuant to orders just received, I have the honor to re- port the result of my journey within the ~nemy~5 lines, under a flag of truce, to recover our wounded in the skirmish of the 9th. I left our outpost, accompanied by Drs. Russell and Mills, with an orderly and three ambulances, about 10 a. in., on the road passing from the Murfrees- borough and to the Chicken pike, about 1 mile beyond the insane asylum. *Not found Page 74 74 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXX]1 I passed about 5 miles on the Chicken pike, in the direction of Stones River, to a house where we had left one of the enemys woundedhe being too severely wounded to movewhich we left on the evening after the engagement. I found that a flag of truce had just removed his body to the enemys lines. I left the Chicken l)ike just this side of the burned bridge crossing Stones River, leaving the road to my left, and passed ~n about 14 miles, to a house where I had left 6 of our men, who were wounded when the enemy made their last attack on the rear of our train. I found that the enemy had buried one of our dead left upon the field, also one of our wounded, who had died from a wound of the abdomen. I sent the remaining five in two ambulances back to our lines. I then took the remaining ambulance and passed on about 1 mile in the direction of La Vergue, where I came to the enemys out- l)osts. I here waited one-half hour for the arrival of a proper officer to receive the flag, when Licut. Col. William S. Hawkins, of General Wheelers staff, came and escorted me to the house of Dr. Charlton, where .1 found one of our wounded, also one of the enemys wounded, fatally. They spoke of it as a battle rather than a skirmish, and admitted a loss of 8 killed upon the field. The picket at the outpost said they had carried away a large number of wounded, but would not state how many. I took our wounded man in the ambulance, and left their lines to return abont 4 p. m. Colonel Hawkins assured me they had but one of our men prisoner, a lieutenant of the Eighth Kentucky Volunteers, who was slightly wounded in the back, and that he had been well cared for by their surgeons, and would soon be sent to our lines. The wounded on the field were all from the Eighth Kentucky Volunteers, and had all been paroled the day previous. Colonel Hawkins accompanied me about 2 miles from their lines on my return. I saw no force of the enemy this side of their outposts. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. C. WOODWORTII, AS~urgeon 51st Ohio Vols., Acting Medical Director 23d Brigade. Capt. E. A. OTIs, Assistant Adjutant- General, Fifth Division. DECEMBER 9, 1862.Reconnaissance toward Franklin, and skirmish near Brentwood, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.Col. John A. Martin, Eighth Kansas Infantry. No. 2.Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade. No. 1. Report of Got. John A. Martin, Eighth Kansas Infantry. CAMP NEAR NASHVILLE, December 9, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from head- quarters Ninth Division, lordered the Twenty-fifth Regiment Illinois Vol- unteers, Lieutenant-Colonel MeClelland, and the Eighth Kansas Battal ion, Captain Block, to pro,ceed on a reconnaissance to the front, in the direction of Franklin, at 2p. m. to-day. The regiments left at the hour, and I rode with them as far as the outside pickets, which had a short time before been fired into by a small body of the enemy. Here I received a Page 75 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH NEAR BRENTWOOD, TENN. 75 order from headquarters to send out another regiment and a- section of artillery, and, in obedience, I immediately ordered the Eighty-first Indiana Regiment, Major Woodbnry, and two pieces of Captain Carpenters Eighth Wisconsin Bat$ery to join the reconnaissance, and then went forward to join the force in advance. Colonel McClelland had already deployed four companies of the Twenty-fifth and Eighth as skirmishers on each side of the road, and these had engaged in a brisk running fight with the enemy, also thrown out as skirmishers. The latter fell back rap- idly, some of them abandoning their guns and clothing in their hasty flight. I directed the battery to move up the road behind the infantry. Captain Pease, of General Davis staff, had meantime joined the com- mand, and was doing valuable service in reconnoitering to the right and front. The whole command then moved forward, the skirmishers keeping up an occasional firing, until we were about 5 miles beyond Breutwood, when a considerable body of the enemys cavalry was seen in the road about a mile ahead. I had the battery placed in position, and, fired several rounds at them. The enemy disappeared in great haste at the first shot. We remained at this point until just before sundown, when, in accordance with our orders, we returned. From the best information to be obtained along the road, the enemys force is all cavalry, and numbers 250 or 300 men. We drove them from their camp, finding their camp-fires yet burning brightly when we came np. One private of the Twenty-fifth Illinois is reported slightly wounded. What loss the enemy sustained I was unable to ascertain, although several are supposed to have been wounded. I am, very repectfully, your most obedient servant, JNO. A. MARTIN, Colonel Eighth Kansas Volunteers, Commanding. Lieut. T. W. MORRISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Division. No. 2. Report of Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding Oavalry Brigade. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, Nolensville, Tenn., December 10, 18626 p. m. GENERAL: I moved a forced reconnaissance yesterday, with a reg~- nient of cavalry and one piece of artillery, on the Owen and Wilson, or Liberty pike. Found the enemys camp near the junction of that pike with the Nolensville pike. Threw solid shot into their camp and aroused them sufficiently to induce re-enforcements to be sent to their aid. They showed no disposition to follow. The field officers and cap- tains of Howards regiment desire it to remain with me, and I am anxious for it to do so. I have never seen Colonel [James It.] Howard; the taking of it now would prevent me from picketing properly. Let me know if there is any probability of that regiment, or any other I have, being taken at any time, as I wish to know, on account of distributing cloth- ing and drawing pay. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, JI~O. A. WHARTON, Brigadier- General, Commanding Cavalry Brigade. Brig. Gen. JOSEPH WHEELER, (hief of Cavalry Page 76 76 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL DECEMBER 1112, 1862.Reconnaissance from Nashville to Franklin, Tenn., and skirmishes on the Wilson Creek pike (11th) and at Franklin (12t1~). REPOHTS. No. 1.Brig. Gen. David S. Stanley, U. S. Army, commanding cavalry. No. 2.Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry, commanding brigade. No. 3Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry brigade. No. 1. Report of Brig. (len. David S. Stanley, U. S. Army, commanding cavalry. IIDQRS. CAY., 14TH A. C., ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Near Nashville, December 13, 1862. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit an account of a scout I made from this place on Thursday. I started at daylight, moved down the Franklin pike to Brentwood. At that point I took the Wilson pike, with the design qf striking the road from Franklin to Murfreesborongh, cx- pectin~to destroy the supply trains I had learned were moving on that road. We had not, however, passed Brentwood but 2 miles when our advance guard engaged the enemy~s pickets, and soon encountered a full regiment. The enemy fled south, and, at a point on the pike due west from Triune, turned oft toward that place. I designed to pass on after driving the enemy 2 miles from the road, but they grew bold, and dis- mounted to fight our men on foot. Upon my endeavoring to close in on them,they again fled. This delay caused me to change my plan, and I took the old Liberty road to Franklin. Night came on when we had reached the Widow Waters plantation, and I bivouacked at 9 oclock. One of the enemys pickets fired upon mine, wounding, probably mor- tally, a private in Captain Juhans company, First Middle Tennessee Cavalry. At midnight they again fired upon my pickets. Leaving at4 oclock next morning, I reached Franklin a little after day- break. The enemys pickets were met 14- miles east of the place. Upon getting up to the town, I found the enemy inconsiderable force on the bank of the Harpeth, and iii the mill and houses. The Fourth Michigan~ Colo- nel Minty, and the Seventh Pennsylvania, Major Wynkoop, were dis- mounted, and were soon sharply engaged with the enemy. The latter soon fled, and before I could get Colonel McCooks brigade behind them. We killed 4 of the enemy, including 1 officer; wounded some 8 or 9, and took 11 prisoners. I intended to burn the mill, which has been turning out 100 barrels of flour daily for the rebel army, but I found that to do so would destroy part of the town; I had the machinery and burrs of the mill entirely destroyed. My loss is 1 man mortally wounded and 4 horses killed. I captured 10 horses, 4 wagons loaded with flour, and destroyed one wagon-load of brandy and whisky on its way to the rebel army. I am happy to be able to report that my men behaved well. The officers and men of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, who did the fight- ing principally, are brave and good troops. lieports from division and brigade commanders will be sent in. Respectfully submitted. D. S. STANLEY, Brigadier- (leneral, Gommanding Cavalry. Colonel GARESCH Page 77 CHAP. XXXII.] RECONNAISSANCE TO FRANKLIN, TENN, ETC. 77 No. 2. Report of Cot. Edward ilL MJbook, Second indiana Cavalry, commanding brigade. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, Camp Rosecrans, December 13, 1802. SIR: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance to orders, I moved with my command, consisting of the Third Kentucky, Seyenth Penn- sylvania, and Fourth Michigan Cavalry, at daylight on the morning of the 11th instant, taking the advance of the division and moving on the Wilson Creek pike. My advance guard, consistin~g of two companies of the Seventh Pennsylvania, found the enemys pickets about 6 or 7 miles south of Breutwood, and drove them back on to a squad of about 50 of the enemy~s cavalry. After some skirmishing, the enemy ran off over the hill. Lieut. Frederick H. Geety, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, was wounded iu the left shoulder. We turned off on a by-road and bivouacked for the night. The next morning we moved upon Franklin, my brigade still having the advance. The advance guard struck the enemys pickets 2 miles from the town and drove them in. The enemy had formed their line of battle to the left of the mill and near the creek. I was ordered by GeneralStanley to take two of my regiments and form in the field on the left of the road. I ordered Major Wynkoop to take his command and attack them, which he did, advancing to the top of the bluff and opening fire, which the enemy returned with spirit. He had but 50 men with him, the rest of his command constituling the advance, and being on the right with the artillery. The firing continued about fifteen minutes, when the enemy broke and ran. The Third Kentucky came up and formed on the right of the Seventh Pennsylvania, but had no opportunity to engage. T he Fourth Michi- gan was still farther to the right, under the immediate supervision of General Stanley or Colonel Kennett; consequently I cannot report the part taken by them in the engagement. By order of General Stanley, I moved over on to the Murfreesborough road, in order to intercept the enemys retreat after they broke. When they saw my column approaching, I)art of their force went off on some little road on the other side of the river. We had to make a circuit in order to cross, and by the time we got over they were out of the reach of pursuit. I saw 3 of the enemy dead and 1 wounded. My loss was nothing. The Seventh Pennsylvania had 4 horses killed. I saw 0 prisoners with the Fonrth Michigan. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD M. MoCOOK, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Lient. M. B. CHAMBERLAIN, A. A. A. U., First Cay. Div., Fourteenth Army Corps. No. 3. Reports of Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding eavairy brigade. HEADQUARTERS WHARTONS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Nolensville, Thin., December 12, 18623.30 p. in. GENEnAL: The enemy attacked Franklin this morning just befor Page 78 78 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. daylight. Colonel [Baxter] Smith, who was there with 400 men, en- gaged them. The enemy forced him to ref ire, with a loss of 3 men killed and 6 wounded. Colonel Smith lost one of his most valuable officers. Colon4 Smith reports the enemys force to be two regiments of cavalry and one of infantry. The colonel is still near Franklin. I had put a force of 400 men there instead of 200, as I was ordered. I had also or- dered one more regiment to his assistance, which did not reach him in time. General Cleburne is now moving on Franklin, on the Triune and Frankljn dirt road, and I have sent Colonel [Thomas] Harrison, with his rangers, and [John iR. Davis] battalion of cavalry on the Franklin and Nashville pike, to hold the enemy in check until the arrival of Gen- eral Cleburnes force. I advised General Wheeler last evening of the movements of the enemy; also this morning that I thought the enemy designed moving on that place. I have the honor to be, yours, respectfully, JNO. A. WHARTON, Brigadier- General, Commanding Cavalry Brigade. Lient. Gen. LEONIDAS POLK, Comdg. Polks Corps dArm6e, Army-of Tennessee. S HEADQUARTERS WHARTONS BRIGADE, POLKS CoRPS DAR1~IIff~E, ARMY oi TENNESSEE, Nolensville, Tenn., December 12, 18627.30 p. m. GENERAL: I dispatched you this morning, advising [you of] the occu- pation of Franklin by the enemy, who, after breaking the stones and destroying the machinery of the mill, left, via the Nashville pike, about 11 oclock. Colonel Smith has returned to Franklin and reoccupied the place. The force of the enemy engaged this morning was 2,000 cavalry and two pieces of artillery, being five times as much as Colonel Smiths force. Their loss was 3 killed and 6 wounded. General [Colonel John] Kennett was in command. The infantry sent over there has been re- called, but the cavalry are in pursuit of the enemy. I have learned that the infantry now in my rear will soon be recalled, and I beg to call your attention to the exposed condition of my left and rear which will result therefrom. For this reason I would like to recall the force from Frank- lin, so as to have my forces more concentrated. The mill being de- stroyed, the only object to be attained would be to prevent illicit com- munication with the enemy, which could be done by having my forces this side. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. A. WHARTON, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Brigade. Lieutenant-General POLK, (ommanding 6orps dArm6e, Army of Tennessee Page 79 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH ON FRANKLIN PIKE, NEAR NASHVILLE. .79 DECEMBER 14, 1862.-~.Attack on forage train and skirmish on the Franklin pike, near ~1ashville, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.Col. Joseph R. Scott, Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. No. 2.Lieut. Sylvanus H. Stevens, Stokes (Chicago Board of Trade) Illinois battery. No. 1. Report of Col. Joseph P. & ott, Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. UDQES. NINETEENTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY, Camp near Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1862. Sm: I respectfully report having taken command of the division forage train yesterday, in accordance with orders from brigade head- quarters. The Nineteenth Illinois, Sixty-ninth Ohio, and a section of artillery, Fourth Kentucky Battery, detailed as escort, proceeded on Franklin pike some 7 miles, securing the desired amount of forage. I placed the artillery in position to command forage train and the ap- proaches thereto. Being apprised of the immediate presence of the enemy, Isent the Sixty-ninth Ohio and one piece of artillery to the junc- tion of a road leading into the pike to my rear, with the intention of holding that point until my train was formed. Shortly after my com- mand had started for camp, firing was heard about half a mih to the left and rear. I immediately ordered back the Nineteenth Illinois afid one piece of artillery, and found that the firing had been caused by a party of rebel cavalry, numbering about 20, attacking a forage party, consisting of 3 wagons, with an escort, consisting of 10 men, under com- mand of Lieutenant Stevens, of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. The rebels succeeded in capturing 5 men and 4 horses from one of the teams. The lieutenant and the balance of the men escaped. Our loss was 1 man wounded, 5 taken prisoners, 2 horses killed, and 4 captured. Having no cavalry with me, I could not pursue the enemy to advan- tage. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, JOS. II. SCOTT, Colonel, Commanding Nineteenth illinois Infantry. Col. A. V. SCURADER, Chief of & aff, Eighth Division. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-NINTH BRIGADE, Camp flamilton, December 15, 1862. Respectfully forwarded. The attack mentioned was not upon any part of the train under Colonel Scotts command, but an independent party, and the loss mentioned was of that party, not of Colonel Scotts. Colonel Scott brought in his train and men all right. There was a delay iu starting, owing to wagons of Seventh Brigade and Division not reporting in time. Very ft~w of the teams had any men detailed to load, except my brigade. T. 11. STANLEY, Colonel, Commanding Page 80 80 KY, MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CuAr. XXXIL No. 2. Report of Lient. Sylvanus III. Stevens, Stokes (Chicago Board of Trade) Illinois battery. IN CAMP ON FRANKLIN PIKE Near Nashville, Tenn., December 14, 1862. (Received headquarters Eighth Division, Dec. 15,1862.) SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your orders, I proceeded with 3 wagons and a detail of 6 men to obtain forage on the Franklin pike; that before leaving the lines I had the pass from General McCook approved by General Kegley, authorizing such com- mands. While on the road I was informed by Lieutenant Wood, of General Kegleys command, commanding a party of forage wagons, that he had just obtained a quantity of forage at a place about 2~ miles outside of the pickets, and that other teams, under an escort commanded by Colonel Scott, had gone beyond this place. Before commencing the loading of the wagons, I made a thorough reconnaissance of the position, and placed my sergeant on an eminence to observe the country around. While proceeding to load, about 20 or 30 guerrillas, mounted and well armed, surrounded my men. They fought as long as there was a chance of a defense and then surrendered. Rather than be taken prisoner, I fought my way through, escaping on foot. In consequence of the gateway being blocked up by one of my wagons, the , sergeant and myself held the party at the gate with our pistols while the teams were escaping. Five privates and 1 corporal were taken prisoners; 1 private wounded in the back. This man we brought away. Five, horses were captured and 2 killed. The guard under Colonel Scott with train had passed without my knowledge, leaving my party about a half mile in the rear. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. II. STEVENS, JR., First Lieutenant. Capt. JAMES II. STOKES, Commanding Battery. The date of this report is the date of the matters therein set forth, viz, December 14, 1862. S. II. STEVENS, JR., First Lieutenant. DECE1V[BER 1516, 1862.Violation of flag of truce. T~EPOT~TS, ETC. No. l.Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Critten4en, U. S. Army, commanding Left Wing, Army of the Cumberland. No. 2.Capt. George G. Knox, aide-de-camp. No. 3.Brig. Gen. Horatio P. Van Cleve, U. S. Army, commanding Fifth Division. No. 4.Col. Robert H. G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry. No. 5.Correspondence between Major-General Rosecrans, U. S. Army, and General Bragg, C. S. Army. No. 1. Report of 3iEaj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, U. S. Ar~ny, commanding Left Wing, Army of the Cumberland. HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, December 16, 1862~ COLONEL: I spent the entire day yesterday visiting the front of ou Page 81 CHAP. XXXII.] VIOLATION OF FLAG OF TRUCE. 81 lines. Found all quiet; very orderly and exceedingly wet. Late in the evening, whilst a hag from the enemy was waiting for an answer from General ilosecrans, the forces of the enemy came in and captured the cav- alry pickets, nutnbering about 45 men, which had been placed by Gen- eral Stanley in front of the Fifth Division, it being all the cavalry iii front of my command. By 9.30 the enemy occupied the station where the cavalry had been captured, and were signaling from it. Another regiment was promptly ordered to the front, to strengthen our outposts, and the night passed quietly. The divisions all report no absentees without passes, and guard vigilant. I inclose a report from General Palmer requiring attention.* Most respectfully, your obedient servant, T. L. CRITTENDEX, llfajor- General, Commanding. Col. J. P. GARESCH]~. No. 2. Report of Capt. George C. Knox, aide-de-camp. HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, December 25, 1862. MAJOR: By permission of the general commanding, I accompanied a command on the 16th instant, nnmbering 111 men, of the Fourth Michi- gan Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickinson, who was ordered to go with his command 2 miles beyond our outpost on the Mur- freesborough pike. Arriving at our outpost, which is just at the 8- mile post, we found a party just ready to go out with a flag of truce to escort Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, of the Confederate Army, outside our lines. The command of Colonel Dickinson was ordered to dismount and remain inside our line until the flag returned. This we did, and remained there until the party bearing the flag returned and reported the way open for us. Our order required us to go as far as the 10-mile post. On our way, just this side of the 10-mile post, we came upon Lieu- tenant-Colonel Hawkins, who had stopped at a house to have his horse fed and to get his dinner. He at once got on his horse and proposed to go with us, but Colonel Dickinson not desiring a white flag, and being so near the point to which he was directed to go, refused to let the colonel accompany him, and required him to remain where he was until he had returned. To prevent any insult or injury being offered him, a commissioned officer and two privates of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry were left with him. Returning in less than half an hour to where he was, we released him, after having expressed our regrets for having found it necessary to detain him as long as we did. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEG. G. KNOX, Aide-de-~Jamp. Maj. LYNE STARLING, Assistant Adjutant-.General. *Not found. 6 U UVOL XX, PT Page 82 82 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL No. 3. Reports of Brig. Gen. Horatio P. Vafi Cleve, U. S. Army, commanding F?fth Division. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, December 16, 1862. MAJOR: The first report of the capture of our cavalry pickets yes. terday evening was from a private who was on post at the time and made his escape. He stated that while a flag of truce from the enemy was waiting to receive an answer from headquarters, a body of rebel cavalry dashed in and captured our cavalry reserve. This statement was afterward corroborated by Lieutenant Rowe, o~ the Fourth Michi. gan Cavalry, who reported, in~additiou, that he had learned from some who had escaped that Captain Abeel, who commanded the cavalry, had been very remiss in suffering his nien to dismount and leave their ranks while the rebel party with the flag of truce were there. Lieutenant Rowe belonged to the company of cavalry on daty, but was not present at the affray, having been sent to these headquarters on business. If the facts are as reported, it was a disgraceful outrage on the part of therebels. At the same time, those bearing the flag of truce may have borne no part in it, and the conduct of Captain Abeel was very cul- pable and unsoldierlike. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. P. VAN CLEVE. Major- General, Commanding Fifth Division. Maj. LYNE STARLING, Assistant Adjutant- General, Left Wing. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, Near Nashville, Tenn., December 25, 186~. MAJOR: Pursuant to directions from Major.General Rosecrans, I have the honor to report the circumstances connected with the capture of a portion of the outposts in my front on the 15th instant, and the alleged detention of Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, of the Confederate Army, while at my lines with a flag of truce. Colonel Hawkins came to my outposts about 2 ~ m. of the 15th instant with communications for the general commanding, accompanied by several civilians and ladies, who desired to go to Nashville. Word was immediately sent to 4epart- ment headquarters, but, before a messenger could return, a scouting party of the First Alabama Cavalry attacked and captured all the cavalry outposts, and immediately retreated to the rebel lines. Colonel Hawkins was at this time waiting at my outposts for the arrival of a staff officer from the general commanding, and, when the enemy retreated, went with them beyond my lines. He presented 1~imself the next morn- ing at my infantry outposts, when he was placed under guard by Colonel Knifler [Knefler ~], Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania [Indiana V] Volunteers, and the case reported to me for instructions. Colonel Kniller [Knefler0?] believed Colonel Hawkins was in some respects responsible for the attack on the pickets the day before, and proposed to guard against a repetition of the occurrence. ~oori after, Lieutenant.Colouel Hepburn, of General ~ staff, arrived, and Colonel Hawkins dispatche~s received, and he sent beyond our lines. Of his subsequent arrest by Captaiii Knox and Lieutenant-Colonel Dickinson I know nothing, no report o Page 83 CnAI. XXXII.] VIOLATION OF FLAG OF TRUCE. 83 the occurrence having been made to me. Colonel Hawkins, while at my outpost, was treated with the utmost courtesy, and was not placed under arrest until he presented himself at my infantry outposts under suspicious ci~umstances, before the position formerly occupied by my cavalry had been retaken, and was very shortly released. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. P. VAX CLEVE, Brigadier- General, Commanding Fifth Division. Maj. LYNE STARLING, Assistant Adjutant-General, Left Wing. No. 4. Col. Robert H. G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY, Camp Rosecrans, December 16, 1862. Sin: I have to report, for the information of the colonel commanding, that Companies II and M, oC my regiment, while on picket on the Nur- freesborough pike yesterday, were, under cover of a flag of truce, cap- tured by the enemys cavalry, numbering about 150 men. Company H had 38 men and Company M 20 men, but of these 22 were on duty, forming the chain of pickets. Second Lieutenant Rowe, with an or- derly, was at General Van Cleves headquarters, and one orderly had been sent to Nashville. The first sergeant of Company H and one of the pickets have escaped. I have heard of 2 of our men being wounded and 1 rebel killed. General Stanley has ordered me to send out four companies to bring in our wounded men, and to scout the road for 3 or 4 miles. I am, respectfully, your obedieht servant, ROBT. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Commanding Fourth Michigan Cavalry. Lieutenant WOOLLEY, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brigade, Cavalry Division. [Thdorsements.I Will Colonel Minty state more explicitly the circumstances of this capture; by whom and.what the flag of truce was used for; how the two companies were captured, & c. ~ If a flag has been violated while being used for a legitimate purpose, I will call the attention of higher authorities to the outrage. I desire a circumstantial report of this affair. EDWARD N. MCCOOK, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, with a flag of truce, had arrived at our outer pickets, and, while waiting for an officer of equal rank to receive the dispatches, a party of rebel cavalry dashed in from the left of the road, surprising and ovevpowering our pickets. Eight men have now returned to camp, and I have hopes of the escape of 6 more. One of my men was killed and 1 wounded. The rebels, so far as I can learn, met with the same loss, 1 killed and 1 wounded. When the scout re- turns, I may be able to give more particulars. ROBT. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Commanding Fourth Michigan Cavalry Page 84 84 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. LCIIAD. XXXIL HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, December 16, 1862. Respectfully forwarded. I wou~zl call the attention of the general commanding to this apparent violation of the usages of war. EI)WAIRD M. MoCOOK, Colonel, Gomman ding. No. 5. Gorrespondence betueen Major- General Roseerans, U. S. Army, and Gen eral Bragg, C. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CTJMBERLAND, Nashville, December 15, 1862. General BRAXTON BRAGG-: You will see by the copies of reports to me, herewith inclosed,* that another outrage of the grossest character has been perpetrated by your troops, in the presence of your own flag, commanded by a lieutenant- colonel in your service, who but yesterday was courteously received. I cannot believe you had authorized, or will permit to go unpunished or without prompt reparation, such barbarous conduct, hardly paralleled by savages. You cannot restore life to my men who have been inhu- manly murdered, but I shall leave to your own head and heart to de- vise such reparation as is demanded by your own honor and the honor of our common humanity. Yery respectfully, your obedient servant, W. S. ROSEORANS, Major- General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Mu~freesborough, Tenn., December 23, 1862. Maj. Gen. W. S. lIOSECRANS, Commanding U. S. Forces, Nashville, Tenn.: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- munication of the 15th instant, in which you complain of the capture 01 your pickets, near Nashville, pending a flag of truce, and demand their restoration to your lines. I have delayed my reply until a full and thorough investigation could be reported. As its result, I respectfully, but firmly, decline to accede to your demand. The flag was sent from my lines for a specific purpose, and was rea- sonably expeCted back within a few hours. The movements of my force in front were directed accordingly, arid there was no intention to avail themselves of the existence of the flag to cover an attack. The delay of the flag was caused by the reprehensible and criminal conduct of some of your subordinates, who placed its bearer under arrest, and kept him twenty-four hours before permitting him to return. Upon being finally permitted to leave, he was again arrested, menaced, and insulted by soldiers with drawn weapons at the command of an officer who placed him under strict arrest, notwithstanding the accompanying presence of his flag. The officers most active in perpetrating this outrage gave * Not found Page 85 OnAr. ~XXIt1 CAR~CERS RAID iNPO l~. PtNN. AND SW. VA. 85 their names as C~ pt. George [C-.] Knox and Lieutenant-Colonel Dick- inson, who represented themselves as belonging to the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, a part of which command was near by. The reason assigned for his detention was that they intended making an attack on our pickets, and ilid not wish them notified. With these facts before me, I consider myself as justly entitled to apology and reparation for this unprecedented disrespect and outrage. To claim that a truce existed while my flag was forcibly detained by you is preposterous. By parity of reasoning, it would only be neces- sary to capture a flag and hold it indefinitely in custody in order to secure immunity from attack. The detention of a flag by you is incon- testably proven. When so detained, it ceased to be my flag, and was yours by unlawful capture. It lost its sanctity by reason of your vio- lence, and you ought to be the last one to seek a refuge beneath its folds. To avoid the dander of future complications of a similar character, ~ have directed that hereafter flags shall be sent only on Mondays and Thursdays, between the hours of 12 m. and 4 p. m. They will also be received on the same days and between the same hours, unless the necessity is urgent and the urgency of the case manifest. Trusting that this arrangement will preclude the recurrence of any further misunderstanding, I am , general, very respectfully, your obedi ent servant, BRAXTON BRAGG, General, Commanding. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, Teun., December 25, 1862. Respectfully referred to Major-General Crittenden, who will have General Van Cleve investigate this, and report result of investigation to~night.* By order of General Rosecrans: GRAS. R. THOMPSON, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEbIBER 20, 1862JANUARY 5, 1863.Carters raid into East Ten nessee and Southwest Virginia. SU{ARV OF TILI~ PIRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dec. 29, 1862. ~Passage of Moccasin Gap, and capture of Confederates on the Blounts- yule road. 30, 1862Capture of Confederates at Bloirntsville. Capture of Union, Tenn., and destruction of the railroad bridge across the Hoiston River. Capture of Carters Depot, and destruction of the Watauga railroad bridge. Jan. 2, 1863. Skirmish at Jonesville, Lee County, Va. REPORTSA No. 1.Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio, with congratulatory messages. See report No. 3, p. 82. t See also Confederate correspondence, January 1 to 5, inclusIve, Part II Page 86 86 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA, [CHAP. XXXIL No. 2.Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Carter, U. S. Army, commanding expedition. No. 3.Col. Charles J. Walker, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, commanding Cavalry Bri- gade. No. 4.Jideut. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, commanding Department of East Tennessee. No. 5.Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones, C. S. Army, commanding Department of West Virginia. No. 6.Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall, C. S. Army, of operations December 30-Jan- uary 7. No. 7.Col. H. L. Giltuer, Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, of operations December 30- January 2. No. 5.Lient. Col. E. F. Clay, Third Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, of opera- tions December 30January 1. No. 9.Lieut. H. H. Duncan, Company A, Third Battalioa Kentucky Mounted Rifles, of operations December 2930. No. 10.Capt. William W. Baldwin, commanding cavalry squadron, of operations December 29January 2. No. 11.Col. Hiram Hawkins, Fifth Kentucky Infantry, of operations December 2930. No. 12.Col. Campbell Slemp, Sixty-fourth Virginia Infantry, of operations Decem- ber 29January 1. No. 13.Maj. Isaac B. Dunn, relative to operations December 29January 1. No. 1. Reports of ]ifaj. Gen. lilioratio G. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio, with congratulatory messages. CINCINNATI, OHIo, January 7, 1863, GENERAL: I have just received a dispatch from Maj. Gen. G. Granger that the cavalry force of about 1,000 men which he sent to East Tennes- see on the 21st ultimo, by my order, under the command of Brig. Gen. S. P. Carter, to destroy the East Tennessee Railroad bridges, & c., has been heard from. General Granger has just received a dispatch from Gen- eral Carter at Manchester, Ky., on his return, stating that on the 30th ultimo lie entirely destroyed the Union and Watauga Bridges, with 10 miles of railroad. Five hundred and fifty rebels were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. Seven hundred stand of arms and a large amount of flour, salt, and other rebel stores, also a locomotive and two cars, were captured and destroyed. A brisk skirmish took place at the Watauga Bridge and another at Jonesville. We lost but 10 men. This expedition, as characterized by General Granger, has been one of the most hazardous and daring of the war, attended with great hardships and privations, owing to the almost impracticable nature of the country, the length of the route (nearly 200 miles each way), and the inclement season. The important results of this expedition can hardly be overrated, severing, as it has, Virginia and the Southwest; and General Carter, his officers and men, deserve the thanks of the country. Great credit is also due to Major-General Granger, under whose immediate supervision the expedition was fitted out, and whose long cavalry experience was a guarantee that nothing tending to its success would be neglected or forgotten. II. G. WRIGHT, Major- General, Commanding. Major.General HALLECK Page 87 87 CHAP. XXXIII CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN- AND SW. VA. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Uncinnati, Ohio, January 7, 186:3. Maj. Gen. 0-. G-RANGER, Lexington, Ky.: General Carter has done well. He has severed the great rebel artery of communi& ttion between the North and South, the importance of which at this time can hardly be overestimated; has killed, wounded, and cap- ttlred more than half of his own numbers, with the loss of only 10 men; has destroyed large amounts of rebel stores, arms, & c., and has brought back his own command in safety. The result of the expedition has been telegraphed to the General-in-Chief, with an expression of my views as to the importance of the results accomplished. While waiting a reply from Washington, please present to General Carter, his officers and men, my congratulations upon the success of their efforts, and my full appre- ciation of the hardships and privations endured by them on their long and hazardous march over an almost impracticable country. H. 0-. WRIGHT, Major- General, Commanding. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 9, 1863. Major-General WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio: The daring operations and brilliant achievements of General Carter and his command are without a parallel in the history of the war,* and deserve the thanks of the country. This expedition has proved the capacity of our cavalry for bold and dashing movements, which I doubt not will be imitated by others. H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 20, 1863. GENERAL: I have to transmit herewith a letter from Maj. Gen. G. Granger, commanding Army of Kentucky, inclosing the reports of Brig. Gen. S. P. Carter and CoL C. J. Walker, relating to the late expedition into East Tennessee, which resulted in the burning of bridges on the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad at Union and Watauga, and of Majors Foley and Brown, commanding expedition into Middle [East] Tennessee.t In submitting these reports, General 0-ranger takes occasion to recom- mend Brigadier-General Carter for promotion to major-general, on the grounds of his valuable services in command of the East Tennessee ex- pedition, and also to recommend Brigadier-General Gillmore for major- general, and Col. S. A. Gilbert, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for promotion to brigadier-general. General Carters claims speak for themselves. As regards General Gillmore and Colonel Gilbert, I would say that I fully indorse all that is said in their favor. Few men can be found combining the qualifications necessary to important commands in a higher degree than these two officers. In stripping Kentucky of all available troops, and sending them to support General Itosecrans, I have retained both these officers, much against their wishes and interests, believing that the interests of the * See Maynard to Halleck, January 10, and reply, January 12, in Part II, pp. 313,319. t See December 24, 1862January 1, 1863, pp. 159163 Page 88 88 RY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. ECHAP. ~XX1L nation required officers of reliable character to command in Kentucky at this particular juncture iu the affairs of the State. General Gilimore will be assigned to the command of the Central District of the State, and Colonel Gilbert will command the most reli- able 1~rigade of his force, and neither should suffer in their prospects of advancement by being kept back from the field. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, II. G. WRIGHT, Major. General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief, Washington, D. C. No. 2. Report of Brig. Gen. Samuel P. Carter, U. S. Army, commanding expe dition. LExINGToN, Ky., January 9, 1863. G]rNERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the expeditionary force to East Tennessee, which was in- trusted to my command: Although a movement on East Tennessee was proposed as early as November 25 last, it was not until December 19 that arrangements were completed and the necessary orders given for the movement of the troops. It was hoped that the force to be sent on this hazardous, but most im- portant, expedition would have been much larger than that which the commander of the department felt could be detached for such service when the final arrang~nents were made. My original design was to have divided the force into two columns, and strike the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad at two points at the same time, distant 100 miles apart, and, by moving toward the center, have completely destroyed the road for that distance; but, on the junction of the different detach- ments, I found that the number was too small to risk a division, and I was reluctantly compelled to keep them united, or within easy support- ing distance during the whole of my operations. Having given orders for the junction of the forces, consisting of two battalions Second Michigan Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Major Russell, and First Battalion Sev- enth Ohio Cavalry, Major Reaney, near the mouth of Goose Creek, Clay County, Kentucky, I left this place with my staff on the 20th ultimo for that point. By your order, Col. Charles J. Walker, of Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, was placed in command of the cavalry brigade, and I here take occasion to tender my thanks for the appointment, and to express my commendation of the manner in which Colonel Walker discharged his arduous duties. The troops were ordered to move without baggage, with ten days rations and a hundred rounds of ammunition, but, as it was feared some difficulty would be met with in obtaining forage, a supply train was ordered to proceed some 60 miles on the route, and then transfer forage and rations to a train of pack mnles. On the 22d ultimo I came up with the two battalions Second Michigan and Ninth Pennsylvania at McKee, Jackson County, Kentucky, where we were detained a day waiting for the arrival of the supply train and pack saddles. On the 25th ultimo we effected a junction with the remainder of th Page 89 CRAI~. XXXIT.J CAt~PERS RAID INTO ]~ TENN. AND SW. VA. 89 troops (First Battalion Seventh Ohio Cavalry) at Heards, on Goose Creek. I then found, to my surprise, that the whole force amounted to only about 980 men, and of that number a considerable portiou were iu the field for ~he first time. The marches, owing to the roughness and narrowness of the roads (being mere bridle-paths along the banks of creeks and over stecp and rugged mountains), were, of necessity, slow and tedious, and their length had to be governed by the distance to the several points at which forage could be obtained. It was not until about meridian of the 28th ultimo that we reached the foot of the Cumberland Mountains (on the north side), opposite Cranks Gap, and 12 miles to the south and east of flarlan Court-House. The horses were there fed, a days forage prepared, and the pack train sent back under charge of a detachment of the Kentucky State Guard A little before sunset we reached the summit of Cumberland Mountains, and had the field of our operations, with its mountains and valleys, spread out before us. I there held a consultation with the officers of the command, and it was the unanimous opinion that the force was en- tirely too small to venture on a division, according to the original plan. This decision seemed to be the more necessary, from the news we had received through East Tennessee refugees at the foot of the mountain, relative to the disposition of the rebel force along the line of railroad. Soon after dark, the advance commenced the descent of the moiint- am, hoping to make a long march before sunrise, but, owing to the steepness, narrowness, and roughness of the way, the rear of the column did not reach the foot of the mountain until 10 p. in., having consumed four hours in the descent. Here I was told there were some 400 rebel cavalry in the vicinity of Jonesville, 5 miles distant. As it was im- portant to move through Lee County, Virginia, without exciting sus- picion, I move(l down Cove Creek, crossing through a gap in Poor Valley Ridge, and crossed Powells Valley, about 5 miles east of Jonesville. On leaving the valley road, our guides were at fault, and valuable time was lost in finding the way. The march was continued through the night, and at daylight we reached the top of Wallers Ridge, 22 miles distant from the foot of Cumberland Mountain, and halted to feed the horses. Thus far we had advanced without giving any alarm, or even exciting any suspicion as to our character. The village of Stickleyville lay immediately below us, and, but for the imprudence of some of the officers in allowing the men to visit the village, we could have passed on as rebel cavalry. A number, of rebel soldiers, belonging to Triggs bat- talion, came within our lines, supposing we were their friends, and were captured. In a short time we were again in the saddle, passed through Stickley. ville, across Powells Mountain, and through Pattonsville. Before sun- set we crossed Clinch River, 12 miles from Estillville, Scott County, Virginia, and halted for a couple of hours to feed. News of our approach had gone before us, but few of the rebels were inclined to credit it, be- lieving it impossible that a Government force would venture so far within their territory. Upon arriving at Estillville, at 10 p. in., we were told that a consid- erable rebel force was in possession of Moccasin Gap, prepared to resist our passage. I could iiot afford to lose time. The Michigan battalions were dismounted, and, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, a portion were deployed and moved through the gap. Being unac- quainted with the ground, and having to guard against an ambuscade in this strong pass, which could have been held by a small force of de- termined men against greatly superior numbers, we advanced wit Page 90 90 KY., MID. AND IX TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. great caution. It was midnight ere the rear of the column had passed through. Tlic enemy, deterred by the resolute advance of our brave men, fled toward Kingsport, East Tenn. (as I afterward learned), with- out firing a gun. A rebel lieutenant and several soldiers, with their arms, ~vere captured on the south side of the gap, on the Blountsville road. During the remainder of the night we moved forward, as rapidly as was practicable over unknown roads, picking up rebel soldiers by the way. Owing to the darkness of the night, a portion of the command lost their way and became separated from the main body. A small force of rebel cavalry, which was hovering about our rear, killed a sergeant of the Second Michigan and cap~ured two others who had wandered from the road. At daylibht on the morning of the 30th we reached the town of Blounts- ville, Sullivan County, East Tennessee, surprised and took possession of the place, captured some 30 soldiers belonging to the Fourth Regiment Kentucky (rebel) Cavalry, in hospital, and paroled them. We were in- formed that at Bristol, 8 miles distant, there was a large amount of stores, besides the meat of a considerable number of hogs, belonging to the rebel authorities, but as the place was guarded, according to the best information we could receive, by a regiment of infantry, under Colo- nel Slemp, said to be 900 strong, a cavalry force, under Colonel Giltuer, and a battery, we were reluctantly compelled to leave it to our left and move toward the railroad bridge at Union, 6 miles from Blountsville. I accordingly sent forward Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell with a portion of the Second Michigan, under the direction of Col. James P. T. Carter~ of the Second East rfennessee Infantry, toward Union, with orders to take the place and destroy the railroad bridge across the iolston River. As soon as the remainder of the troops, which got separated from us during the night, came up, I moved them rapidly forward in the same direction. When we reached Union, I found the town in our possessions and the railroad bridge, a fine structure some 600 feet in length, slowly burning. The rebel force, about 150 strong, consisting of two companies of the Sixty-second North Carolina troops, under command of Major MciDowell, had surrendered without resistance, the major himself having been first captured by our advance while endeavoring to learn if tbere was any truth of our reported approach. The prisoners were paroled, and a large number of them were that afternoon on their way to the mountains of North Carolina, swearing they would never be exchanged Their joy at being captured seemed to be unbounded. The stores, barracks, tents, a large number of arms and equipments, a considerable amount of salt, niter, a railroad car, the depot, & c., were destroyed, and also a wagon bridge across the river, a few hundred yards below the railroad brid~e. As soon as the work of destruction was fairly under way, I dispatched Colonel Walker, with detachments from the Second Michigan, Ninth Pennsylvania, and Seventh Ohio Cavalry (in all 181 men), the whole under guidance of Colonel Carter, toward the Watauga Bridge, at Carters Depot, 10 miles west of Union. On their way they captured a locomotive and tender, with Colonel Love, of Sixty-second. North Carolina troops, who, having heard of the approach of the Yankees, had started on the locomotive to Union to ascertain the truth of the rumor. On reaching the station, about sunset, they found the enemy, consist- ing of two companies Sixty-second North Carolina troops, estimated by Colonel Walker at nearly 200 men, falling into line. Colonel Walke Page 91 CHAr. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO IX TENN. AND SW. VA. 91. gallantly attacked them, and, after a brief but firm resistance, they broke and fled to the wood. The gallant Major Roper, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, with two companies of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, under Gaptain Jones, of that regiment, made a dashing charge, and captured and destroyed many of their number. Our loss was 1 killed, 1 mortally and 1 severely wounded, and 2 slightly wounded. The rebel loss was 12 to 16 killed. Dr. McMillan, of First East Tennessee Infantry, acting brigade sur- geon, reports that he dressed the wouuds of 13, several of which were ~morta1. Owing to the darkness of the. night, it was impossible to learn with certainty their entire loss. The railroad bridge across the Watauga River, some 300 feet in length, was soon in flames, and entirely destroyed; also a large number of arms and valuable stores. The captured locomotive was run into the river and completely demolished, destroying in its passage one of the piers of the bridge. The men and horses, especially the latter, wOre much worn and jaded from constant travel and loss of rest. The alarm had been given; the rebels had the road open to Knoxville, and could move up a strong force to resist us. I also learned that some 500 cavalry and four guns, under Colonel Folk, were within 3 miles of ns; that an infantry force would be concentrated at Johnsons Depot, 6 miles west of Carters Sta- tion, by daylight; and, further, that Illumphrey Marshall, who was at Abingdon, was moving his troops to occupy the passes in the mount- ains, and thus cut off our egress. It was deemed prudent, therefore, to return. We left Watauga about midnight, and, after a hard march, reached Kingsport, at the mouth of the North Fork of the llolston River, at sun- set on the 31st ultimo. After feeding and resting a short time, and issu- ing a ration of meat to the men, we were again in the saddle. We passed some 8 miles north of Rogersville, and reached Looneys Gap, in Clinch Mountain, late in the afternoon; passed through without opposition, and about Ilp. m. of January 1 reached a place in the edge of Hancock County, Tennessee, where forage could be obtained, and bivouacked for the night. This was the first nights rest we had been able to take since the night of the 27th ultimo. The command had been annoyed during the day and night by bushwhackers, but we, providentially, escaped with only 2 men slightly wounded. Soon after daylight, on the morning of the 2d instant, we resumed our march toward Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia, with the intention of reaching the foot of the Cumberland Mountains, on the Kentacky side, before we halted. Our march was much impeded during the day by bush- whackers, who constantly annoyed our front and rear. Just before we reached Jonesyille, they endeavored to check us by occupying the hills in our front with two companies (supposed to be Larmers and Staleys), but they were soon driven from their strong positions by the skirmishers of the Second Michigan. We reached Jonesville late in the afternoon, but, before the rear guard had passed, they were attacked by about 200 rebels. Colonel Walker took charge of the rear guard, re-enforced by two light compa- nies, and drove them back to the wood. Several of their number were killed; 1 in the village of Jonesville. Some 20 were captured during the day. We sustained no loss. From prisoners we learned that the passes in Clinch and Powells Mountains, through which we marched in going to Union, had been blockaded, and were occupied by three o Page 92 92 KY., MID. AND E. T~NN., N. KtJA., A~D SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXII. four companies of infantry. We reached the foot of Cumberlaud Mount- ains, passing throu~h Cranks Gap at 11 p. in., and bivouacked, men and horses completely jaded and worn, having been, in the last five days and seventeen hours, out of the saddle but thirty hours. On the 5th instant the command reached Manchester, Clay County, and rested on the day following. The march was resumed on the morn- ing of the 7th, and on the 8th I received your order directing the several detachments to be sent to their respective camps. After reaching Richmond, on the 9th instant, they separated, the First Battalion Seventh Ohio moving on to Winchester, and the two battalions Second Michigan and Ninth Pennsylvania to Nicholasville. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the severity of the in arch ~, and the scanty supply of rations for no inconsiderable portion ot the time, both officers and men bore their hardships without a single murmur or a word of complaint. They returned, after a journey of 470 miles, 170 of which were in the enemys country, in high spirits and in good condition, proud to think they had accomplished a feat which, for hazard and hardships, has no parallel in the history of war. Where all were so ready and willing to do their duty, and performed it with so much cheerfulness and alacrity, it is no easy matter to select a portion for special commendation, but the two battalions of the Sec- ond Michigan, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, deserve particular notice for their drill, discipline, and efficiency. From the suj)eriority of their arms, and their skill in their use, they seemed to feel themselves invincible, and, whenever there was an enemy to meet, they advanced against him with the coolness and steadiness of veterans. I desire to make special mention of the following officers, who were temporarily attached to my staff, and to whose zeal and faithful services I bear willing testimony. I hope that you will bring them to the favor- able notice of the proper authorities: Col. James P. T. Carter, Second Regiment East Tennessee Infantry; Col. T. T. Garrard, Third Regiment Kentucky Infantry; Maj. W. P. Roper, Sixth Regiment Kentucky Cav- alry; Capt. L. D. Watkins, Fifth U. S. Cavalry, and chief of cavalry; Capt. T. B. Brooks, New York Volunteer Engineers; Capt. T. McNish, Third Regiment East Tennessee infantry, and Capt. T. II. Easley, Third Regiment East Tennessee Cavalry. To Colonel Carters knowledge of the people and country in the vicin- ity of the railroad bridge is mainly due our success at those points, with so small a loss of life. Colonel (3-arrard, an officer of sound judgment and great di~cretion, was of invaluable service in passing through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. lie gave his whole heart to the work, and was of great service to the expedition. To the members of my staff, Capt. C. W. Cowan, assistant adjutant- general; Dr. C. W. MeMillan. acting brigade surgeon, and Lient. S. II. Lobmuson, aide-de-camp, my special thanks are due for the satisfactory manner in which they at all times performed tl~teir (under the circum- stances) difficult duties. I inclose the report of Colonel Walker, commanding cavalry brigade, and also the list of paroled prisoners. I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant, S. P. CARTER, Maj. Gen. GORDON GRANGER, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Gonnnanding Army of Kentucky Page 93 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 93 No. 3. Report of Gol. Charles J. Walker, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, commanding Cavalry Brigade. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Richmond, Ky., January 9, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that, pursuant to instructions from Headquarters Forces in the Field, dated Lexington, Ky., December 19, 1862, I proceeded to Nicholasville on the 19th ultimo and assumed command of that portion of the cavalry brigade (Ninth Pennsylvania, 430 men, two battalions Second Michigan, 320 men) stationed at that place. On the 20th this force marched from NicholasvilLe to Kirksville; on the 21st to Big Hill, and on the 22d to McKee. Here we were delayed by the non-arrival of our provision train until about 10 a. m. on the 24th. This delay I do not hesitate to attribute to the in competency and lack of energy in the officer in command of the escort. The delay was inex- cusable. I regret that I am not able at present to furnish the name of the officer. On the 24th we marched from McKee and encamped at Julius Rob- insons, about 10 miles north of Manchester, and ou the 25th to Met- calfs, on the IRed Bird. We were joined during the day by one bat- talion of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, under command of Major Reaney. On the 26th we marched to Ashers, and again encamped o~ Red Bird. On the 27th, taking the road up Philips Ford, of Red Bird, we crossed the Pine Mountains and encamped at Brittons, on the south ford of the Cumberland River, 12 miles from Cranks Gap. On the 28th we marched to the top of Cumberlaud Mountains through Cranks Gap, from which point we marched night and day until our return to this side of the mountains. Leaving the gap on the night of the 28th by a road passing about 5 miles to the north of Jonesville, we crossed Wallers Ridge, passed through Stickleyville, Pattonsville, Estillville, and arrived at Blounts- yule, Tenn., on the morning of the 30th. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, Second Michigan Cavalry, was, by order of the general com- manding, detached with his command, and ordered to march at once on Union, now called Zoflicoffer. The force at this place, about 150 strong, surrendered without firing a shot. Our entire force reached this place soon after Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell had taken possession of it, when we at once proceeded to destroy the wagon and railroad bridges over the llolston. We also destroyed the railroad depot, several cars, and a quantity of salpeter and salt found here. I then proceeded,. by General Carters order, with six companies of the command, making in all 181 men, to Carters Depot, 10 miles below this point. On the way down we captured a locomotive and tender and several rebel prisoners,. including one colonel. The credit of this capture is due entirely to Colonel Carter, Second Tennessee Infantry, who, throughout the whole expedition, rendered the most invaluable service. We arrived at Carters Depot a few minutes before sunset, and imme~ diately attacked the place. The afThir was short, but brisk. The enemy made a spirited resistance for a few minutes and then fled to the brush. Major Roper, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, in command of two companies. of the Ninth Pennsylvania, under Captain Jones, did good service, and by a well-timed charge completed the rout of the enemy Page 94 94 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. We lost 1 killed (Seventh Ohio), and 4 wounded (2 from Second Michi- gan and 2 from Ninth Pennsylvania). The enemy lost 12 killed, 15 or 20 wounded, and 138 prisoners. This force is said to have been about 200. In con~equence of the darkness and of our short stay at this place, it was impossible to ascertain the exact strength or loss of the enemy. We destroyed the railroad over the Watauga, burned their camp, to- gether with all their arms and accouterments, and at 12.30 p. m. on the 31st started on our return. We were undisturbed, except by bush- whackers, who fired on us from almost every hill until we reached Jones- ville. Here our rear guard had quite a brisk skirmish with a party of the enemy, about 150 strong. The enemy lost 2 killed in this skirmish; we were unharmed. On the night of the 2d we recrossed the mountain through Cranks Gap, and, by easy marches, reached this place to-day, when, in accord- ance with the order of the general commanding, I divided the brigade, sending the Seventh Ohio to their old camp, at Winchester, and the Second Michigan and Ninth Pennsylvania to theirs, at Nicholasville. Our loss during this expedition, I find by the reports of the regimental commanders, to bekilled, wounded, and missing, 19. Of this the Ohio battalion lost 1 killed and 8 missing; the Michigan, 1 killed and 7 miss- ing, and the Ninth Pennsylvania, 2 wounded. Total, 19. In this num- ber are included 2 men who were accidentally crippled by the falling of their horses, 1 man left sick, and 5 men who were left at different points to take care of our sick and wounded. The others missing were, no doubt, picked up by the enemy~s scouts. For my command it is but proper to say that for their patient endur- ance of hardships and cheerful submission to all the privations attend- ing this expedition, both officers and men deserve the highest com- mendation. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. J. WALKER, Colonel Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, Commanding Brigade. Capt. C. W. COWAN, Assistant Adjutant- General, Lexington1 Ky. No.4. Report of Lieut. Gen. B. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, commanding Depart ment of East Tennessee. KNOXVILLE, TENK., January 1, 1863. A large cavalry force, consisting of the Tenth Pennsylvania and Sec- ond Ohio and Seventh Ohio, from Itosecrans army, I suppose, has passed through Southern Kentucky, Russell and Scott Counties, Virginia, seized the railroad, and burned the bridges between Jonesborough and Bristol. I think they are striking at the salt-works. I have no cavalry at my disposal to meet them. On November15 I ordered the First Louisiana, the First Georgia, and Adrians battalion of cavalry to proceed, via Monticello and Somerset, across the mountain toward London and Mount Vernon, to obtain information of the enemy~s movements, and ascertain if any forces were approaching fromthese directions, and re- turn through Cumberland and Big Creek Gaps. General Bragg ordered back this cavalry. I arrested the commanding officer, and directed th Page 95 CHAP. XXXII.I CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 95 next senior officer to proceed to Montgomery and report by letter. I communicated this to General Bragg in a letter dated December 9, in- stant; requested him to enforce my order, and added that the non-com- pliance of (5oh~nel [J. J.] Morrison with my instructions, ordering him into Kentucky, may have endangered this department. I have, np to this time, had no report from these troops. E. KIRBY SMITH, Lieutenant- General, Commanding. General [S.] COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector- General. No. 5. Report of Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones, C. S. Army, commanding Department of West Virginia. DUBLIN, TENN., December 31, 1862. General [II.] Marshall reports that a brigade of the enemys cavalry, estimated from 2,000 to 4,000, passed Pendleton Gap on the 28th instant and burned the bridge over Watauga, at Union, East Tenn., yesterday. I have sent all my troops immediately available to General Marshall to protect the salt-works and the road within this department, and, if pos- sible, to intercePt the enemy. SAM. JONES, Major- General. ~L1eneral S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. No. 6. Reports of Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall, C. S. Army, of operations December 30January 7. ABINGDON, VA., January 7, 1863. DEAR SIR: You will understand my delay in writing, as I promised to do at our last interview in Richmond, when I tell you that I was much indisposed for nearly a week after my return, and then heard you had passed here going west. I[ reached here to-day after an absence in the saddle since December 30, during which time I made a pursuit of the Yankee force under General Carter, which did not prove quite a success, if catching them and thrashing them means alone success. They were 2.000 strong, and splendidly armed with Colts five-shooting rifles and army revolving pistols. I do not doubt they had twenty shots to my one. ]I had for action 750 men. I came upon their rear at Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia, at nightfall on the 2d instant, and exchanged a volley as my skirmishers passed into the town and their rear guard re- tired. They passed out at the gap called Cranks Gap by 11 oclock that night. I did not pursue past Jonesville except by a picket of 30 men, to watch that they did not encamp, for in 4 miles from Jonesville to the gap the road crosses two high ridges, and then skirts between wooded hills across two very narrow vales, all the way being a succession of th~ fines Page 96 96 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXII. places for ambuscades, to which, of course, my men would be subjected, and which I would not subject them to without some compensating reason. I could not bring the enemy to a general engagement. He was retreating as fast as he could out of the State, and did retire from it before me iu three hours after I came upon himsuperior to me by three to one in numbers and by more than ten to one in armament. I did every thing that could be done to intercept him, for, hearing of his raid for the first time on Monday night at 10 p. in., I made dispositions to meet him as rapidly as they could be made. In half an hour my orders to every corps of my command had been dispatched. The information I received was by telegraphic dispatch, which came by the way of Morristown, Tenn., from Pattsonville, Va., dated Monday, December 29, and reaching me at Abingdon at 9.30 p. in.: The enemys cavalry, 4,000 strong, passed this point to-day at 1.30 p. in., marching on Bristol, 45 miles from this place. This was signed by Captain [S. P.] Larmer, one of [11. C.] Triggs par- tisan rangers, who was gathering up deserters in the western counties. If there was anything of truth in it, my first thought was that the raid was meant not f~r Bristol, but the salt works above this place 18 miles, and Captain Lamer could not possibly tell by the march of the enemy by Pattonsville where his point of attack would be, nor could any one, until he arrived at Estillville. There he would pass Moccasin Gap, in the Clinch Mountains, and from that point he might feint upon Bristol or iloiston Bridge, in Tennessee, while, in fact, his main body might be moving on the salt works. At Estillville he could turn up the valley of Moccasin Creek or up the valley of Copper Creek, crossing at Osbornes Ford, or he might come up the Reedy Creek road or up the valley of Hol- ston River and take the Poor Valley road. To meet this l)ossible of probable move of the enemy, I ordered my battalion of Georgia artillery to move from Jeffersonville, in Tazewell County (where it was stationed), 28 miles, with dispatch, and cover Saltville. This order was executed by the evening of the 30th, the information having reached Jeffersouville by the middle of the day on the 30th. I adopted the road from Abingdon to Pound Gap as my line of defense, and in front of it, looking westward, all the roads leading to Estillville as my lines of observation. I had [H. L.] Giltuers cavalry regiment at Lebanon, in Russell County. I ordered it to hold its position, throwing strong pickets to Russell Old Court-House, and to Hansonville (10 miles on one road and 7 on another), and from these pickets to throw out vedettes along the Copper Creek, Moccasin Creek, and Poor Valley roads, leading toward Estiliville. I sent from this place a squad of 20 horses to Holston Ford, 7 miles back, with orders to communicate with the pickets at Hansonville, and at the same time to throw vedettes down the river road leading to Estillvil]e. The mounted battalion of [Maj. V. A.] Witcher [Thirty-fourth Virginia], then at Chatham Hill, in Smyth County, I ordered to move via Saltville and down the Poor Valley until it came to the Abingdon road, leading to Pound Gap, taking its station there just to the south of Little Moccasin Gap. By these arrangements I manned a line of 28 miles from Abingdon, and made reconnaissance of all the roads leading from Estillville toward that line, while I brought my mounted forces within supporting distance of each other, ready to concentrate upon whichever road the enemy might be approaching. [Col. C.] Slemps regiment of infantry (about 600 strong) was within 2 miles of Bristol. [IAeut. Col. E. F.] Clays [Third Kentucky] battalio Page 97 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 97 of mounted rifles (300) was at the Three Springs, in 5 miles of Bris- tol, on the Reedy Creek road, where the main road to Abingdon and that to Bristol fork. [Major] Johnsons battalion of mounted rifles (250) was at Kings~ort, or its vicinity, 7 miles from Big Moccasin Gap, and about 17 miles from Bristol. Johnson himself was in Abingdon on biLsi- ness that night. I telegraphed to Bristol, to Colonel Slemp, immediately what I had heard, and directed him to send a courier to Clay (3 miles from him), with orders to scout the roads leading from Estiliville to- ward Bristol, and that they should co-operate to resist the approach of the enemy toward Bristol, keeping me informed at once of all they ascer- taine(l as to his route and purposes. I directed Major Johnson to repair that night to Kingsport, and draw his force back in the direction of Bristol until he formed a junction with Clay. I hoped by this arrange- ment to have my forces disposed to meet the enemy whichever way he came, and to hold him in check until I could re-enforce at his point of assault, so as to repulse or capture him. This diagram will give you an idea of the relation of places and dispositions: I sent, by telegraph, to Wytheville for Jeifress and Davidsons bat- teries to be moved to Abingdon by rail (guns, carriages, and harness) that night. I had at Abingdon about 400 infantry, under Colonel [H.] Hawkins. All the dispositions I have written so much to describe I made before I slept, after receiving Larmers dispatch. December 30.This morning I found that the agents of the railroad had started the rolling stock of the company from Bristol about 3 oclock in the morning, with Government stores that were in Bristol, and had run them to Abingdon for, safety. I approved the proceeding, and ex- pressed my gratification that the cars were just in place should I find 7 U UVOL XX~ PT Page 98 98 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. it proper to re-enforce the troops at Bristol, which, J stated, I expected I should have to do during that day, after I could hear from the coun- try as to the direction of the enemy, and that I should, at all events desire to send ammunition to Bristol, which I at once directed my ord- nance officer to place on the cars. By 10 a. m. the scouts from the Abingdon road to Pound Gap reported that the Estiliville roads in front of their line had been scouted for some 8 or 10 miles, and no enemy appeared iu that direction. Slemp telegraphed me that Clay was observing the enemy, and that he had turned off to Blountsville, which was in 9 miles of Bristol. Johnson communicated that he had passed Clays camp, making for his own, before day, and had come upou the enemy in front of Clays pickets; had shot a sergeant and captured two prisoners with his little party, but that he was cut oft~ from Kingsport and could not get to his camp, and that the enemy at day-dawn was making for Blountsville, said by the prisoners to be from 2,600 to 3,000 strong, composed of Ohio, Pennsyl- vania, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee [troops], under General Carter, of Tennessee. I immediately ordered Hawkins to move to the railroad depot at Abkigdon his 400 infantry, and embark on the cars at once for Bristol. I telegraphed Slemp to resist the enemy, and he should be re- enforced within an hour. Hawkins reached the depot by 11 a. in., when, to my utter surprise, I learned the cars had all left Abingdon and had returned to Bristol about 9 oclock. I directed the telegraphic operator to telegraph for their im- mediate return, to transport troops to Bristol from Abingdon. An hour and a half elapsed, when the operator handed me a dispatch to him from a Mr. [W. S.] Minor, the railroad agent at Bristol: Does General Marshall order the cars to Abingdon? If so, let him say how many troops he wishes to transport. I give the substance, possibly not the exact words, of this dispatch. Answered immediately by telegraph: General Marshall orders the immediate return of cars to transport 400 men from Abingdon to Bristol. Another hour and a half passed, and then came this dispatch: If General Marshall wants the cars at Abingdon, he will have to confer with the general snperintendent at Lynchburg. This was done as soon as the telegraph could do it; and now wasthe first time I was aware that my original request had not taken that direc- tion. Mr. [T.] Dodainead telegraphed to me that the cars should be sent from Bristol immediately, and that he had not received my dispatch of the night before until 10 a. in. that day, but that cars were then (2 p. in.) loading my artillery on board at Wytheville. I repaired to the depot in person in about an hour, with my staff, to go to Bristol. Slemp telegraphed that the enemy had taken the direction of Union from Blountsville with a part of his force. I theu saw he was making for llolston Bridge. I could not arrive in time to stop him. The cars did not come from Bristol until after dark, and my men had been waiting to go since 11 a. in. We reached Bristol after 11 oclock at night, and learned that the enemy had crossed the iloiston, burned the bridge, captured the guard at Union, and had gone before sundown westward, toward the Watauga Bridge, and, doubtless, had destroyed that also, and was, when last heard from, going west. Before leaving Abingdon I had sent a conner to Colonel [H. L.] Gilt Page 99 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 99 ner, and to the officer commanding Witchers battalion, for both to move immediately to Bristol. My artillery arrived from Wytheville at Bristol as soon as I did, but not the horses, w~hich had been started on the night of the 29th4by land. The damage to the bridges was done. it could have been avoided, and would have been, had the railroad agents fur- nished the cars to send my infantry forward. It rained hard all that & vening. I learned, on arriving at Bristol, that the enemy had cut the telegraph wires leading west, on his reaching there that day (the 30th). I learned further that the telegraph operator, Mr. [J. C.].Duncan, had the night before (2~th) refused4o let Captain [T. W.W.] Davies, the commandant of the post at Bristol, communicate to General Smith, at Knoxville, the letter or substance of my dispatch to Colonel Slemp until it should be the pleasure of Colonel Slemp to make it known, as it was a rule that the contents of private dispatches should not be made known until it was done by the party to whom addressed. Slemp was 2 miles out of town. Duncan was positive. A courier was sent to Slemp to obtain his per. mission, though the moments were precious, if force was to be sent from Knoxville to the bridges to strengthen the guards. Before the courier got back from Slemps camp, Duncan had left his office and had hid his in- strument working westward, and neither he nor his instrument could be found until next morning, after the enemy had reached the telegraph wire and had cut off the connection with Knoxville. I inquired as to Mr. Duncans sentiments, and was told that he was well known as a Union man. I ordered his arrest immediately, and felt very much like arresting Minor also, but did not. General Smith, ii nndetstand, has released Duncan, which, under the circumstances, I consider a very grave mistake, for, if such a ease goes unpunished in East Tennessee, we shall have plenty of such cases. I supposed he was in this depart- ment. Major-General Jones suggested to me his release, because they said they could not work the railroad without the operator of the tele- graph at Bristol. I refused to release him, and ordered the operator at Abingdon to repair to Bristol, which he did. It was discovered that Duncan did not live in this department, and General Kirby Smith, it appears, released him after I left Bristol. It is proper you should be apprised of this whole state of facts. I [have] no interest in the result beyond the public good. I have never seen Duncan, and never heard of him before December 30. December 31 found me at Bristol; the enemys whereabouts unknown. The picket of cavalry at Union reported that at 11 a. m. he was encamped at 3 miles from Union, between the Holston and Watauga, but appeared to be preparing to move. I ordered Captain [W. W.] Baldwin, in com- mand of a squadron of Partisan Rangers, to move to Blountsville, and thence to watch the road from Carters Depot to Kingsport, and to report promptly every movement of the enemy. By 2 p. m. Giltners regiment of Kentucky cavalry entered Bristol, having come from Lebanon since midnight550 men. I should have said that I ordered [Thomas] Johnsons camp at Kingsport to be broken up, and his train to move last night to the Three Springs, so as to get behind our forces. Three companies of Johnsons men came in about 12 oclock to-day. Clays men a good deal fagged from active scouting for the past thirty-six hours. In a short time after Giltuers arrival, Cap- tain Baldwin reports from Blonntsville that the enemy has encamped, in force of about 500, at Hulls, 4 miles from Blountsville, on the Jones- borough road, and is now there, feeding. The picket from Union reports that the enemy has moved, and seems to be taking the direction o Page 100 100 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [Ciw~. XXXII. Blountsville. The road up Beaver Creek comes from Hulls directly to Bristol, without passing by Blountsville, thus: Blountsville. Hulls. Bristol. There is a country road (a by-path) leading from Hulls across the country to the Kingsport road; thence crossing T~dens Ridge, at Shea- vers Falls, into the road leading out to Estillville, by Moccasin Gap. A second and a third dispatch from Captain Baldwin informs me the enemy is encamped at finlis, though it is believed a part of his force has gone to Kingsport to destroy Johnsons camp. rfhe force of the enemy is reported everywhere at from 1,700 to 2,500. If 1 move upon Blonntsville to intercept his passage by that place, he may move from Hulls to Bristol by a different road; so while I go out to catch him, he may come in and catch me. If I move all upon him at Hulls, he clearly passes off at Moccasin Gap and escapes. I give my own reflections as to the situation. 1 determine to move my whole infantry force, with a section of artillery, to Blountsville late in the evening; to retain my mounted force until the cars come in, so as not to uncover Bristol until a force I expect from Salem shall have arrived. At 7p. m. Baldwin reports from Blouutsville that he has reconnoitered the country around that place, and the enemy is still in camp at Hulls, though some 1,500 of his force have crossed the Edens Ridge. Capt. J. G. Bedford, who was on picket at Union, reports at 7.15 oclock that he has crossed from Union to Blountsville, and the enemy has taken the direction of Kingsport without coming to Blountsville. I thought it was now plain that it was a race between ns for Moccasin Gap, and that if he had gone by Kingsportmaking a detour of some 6 miles to the west of the gap, in order to rescue the 30 East Tennessecans we had captured the day before in tr.ying to go to Kentucky, and some 8 or 10 of his cav- alry my men had picked npI could gain the gap before him with my mounted force, and check him until my infantry and artillery could come up and make the engagement definitive between us. My whole mounted force was advanced rapidly to Moccasin Gap, passing my infantry and artillery at midnight at Blonntsville, and gained Moccasin Gap (19 miles from Bristol) before daylight on the 1st. I saw the force from Salem arrive in the cars at Bristol, put Colonel [Ambrose C.] Dunn in command, and, with my mind easy about Bristol, rode on to I3lountsville, put my infantry and artillery en route for the gap5 and passed on myself to the cavalry force, which I was now informed had reached the gap before the enemy. Scouts from the (lirection of Kingsport come in early this New Years morning, who tell me the enemy entered Kingsport after night and stopped awhile, but again moved in the night, and had taken down the south side of the Clinch Range, in the direction of Rogersville, Tenn. There are several gaps practicable for cavalry to lead over within 12 miles of Kingsport; so, resting my inflintry and artillery to bold Moc- casin Gap, I took all my mounted force and took down the north side of the same range, intending to meet the enemy should he try the experi- ment of leadin.g over the mountains, and to intercept his egress, if p05- sible, by whatever route he might go. Passing Estillville, 2 miles be- hind Moccasin Gap, I took the road to Speers Ferry (where the enem Page 101 CHAP. XXXII.] CAI~TERS RAID INTO . TENN. AND SW. VA. 101 had crossed to Clinch River as he came in), and reached it, crossed, and went on to within 4 miles of Pattonsville by midnight. I learned that one road led directly up the valley of the Clinch, another from Sneeds- yule passed.up Stock Creek. I had now passed both of these, and I should feel very silly if the enemy, taking one of these, should cross my trail behind me and pass over to the road from Estiliville to Gladesville. He could cross the Clinch at Kyles Ford (some 14 miles below me), and take either of the roads I have named, or he could take up the North Fork of the Clinch and pass out at Pattonsville, a point 4 miles in front of my present position; or he could pass out by Stickleyville, 12 miles~ iu front of my then position; but where he was or where he intended to go I had not ascertained. My men had ridden all the night before; Giltuers regiment had beeu in the saddle forty-eight hours. The men had had but onc~ anything to eat, such as they could get in passing Estillville, and the poor fellows were sleeping on their horses as we rode along. I halted in the woods at midnight to let the men sleep until dawn. In a short time scouts came in, who informed me that the enemy had crossed the mountains at War Gap, and had crossed the river 12 miles below Speers Ferry, and at 8p. m. was encamped. He had crossed at Kyles Ford. It turned out the enemy did not pass the War Gap, but throngh Loo- neys Gap (lower down); that he did not cross Clinch River that night, but encamped for a time to rest 4 miles from the river. He crossed Kyles Ford before day, and reached Hunters Gap by 12 oclock on January 2. There he was fired on by some of Larmers men, and from that point was troubled by bushwhackers. I rested until dawn, sup. posing the enemy to be in camp, and, not knowing what road he would take, I ordered my infantry to move forward to Speers Ferry by rapid march, and, if the enemy did not come that way, to come on to Pattons- ville, which was 20 miles from Estillville. I moved at dawn to Pattonsville, and there I was informed that Jones- ville was occnpied by 400 infantry, with some artillery, and two companies of cavalry, which had been sent up from Cumberland Gap, only 35 miles from Jonesville. I detached my sons (John J. Marshall) company [I, Fourth Kentucky Cavalry] from Giltners regiment, and sent it down the North Fork of Clinch to find out the trail of the enemy, and, if he was coming up by Pattonsville, to dispatch to me; if he passed through Hunters Gap, to harass his rear and follow him to Jonesville, and that I would move the rest of the force on the arc to Jonesyille, now distant 20 miles. I crossed Powells Mountain (north side sleek with ice), entered Stickleyville; no news. Sent forward Lieutenant [J. N.] Gibson with 10 men to Jonesville, to let the force there know I was near and coming, should the enemy attack it. Arrived at Powell River, 8 miles from Jonesville; received a dispatch from Gibson that he heard heavy firing in the direction of Hunters Gap; put my whole force to a trot. Gibson again dispatched at lA miles from Jonesville that the firing continued heavy, and he heard artillery. I ordered our speed to increase, if pos- sible. Arrived at 1 mile from Jonesville; met Gibson, who informed me the enemy had entered the town unknown an hour since, having prisoners in charge, and now occupied the town in force. I ordered Clay to open the attack at once. Giltuer was now at least 2 to 3 miles behind, his horses so fagged that they could not make the speed, for they had marched 105 miles from Lebanon. The rifles jlismounted and formed in about 300 yards of th~ town, and opened fire at once. The enemy was in the streets and massed at the court-house, and on th Page 102 iO~2 KY., Mm. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. hill to the north of the town Giltner came up. On the hill south of the town the enemy made his appearance, occupying a thicket. I ordered a squadron to deploy as skirmishers and drive him from it; promptly done. I moved Giltners men to a height immediately south, about 250 yards from the court-house, which was done very promptly, and then 1 ordered the corps to advance into the village. The enemy sounded boots and saddles on his bugles, and left the village immediately. My skirmishers passed across the village, and over the hill to the north of it until they struck the woods, and penetrated them until they came to what is called the Harlan road, leading to Harlan County, Kentucky. I had by this time learned in the town that the enemy had passed a large part of his force west of the village, through the farms of Widow Pardoe and Mr. Mildown, and learned that the front of his column was probably by that time at the gap. The moon was now shining ~ the road was un- known tome; it lay between slopes and heavy ridges, and these heavily timbered with strong black-jack undergrowth, and I saw nothing for such a pursuit against a force far heavier than my own but the loss of valuable men withoat a single compensating consequence. They could have shot my men down from the brushy slopes without giving us any chance. I refused to order them into ambush after ambush, and there- fore gave np the chase. Next day I rode out to the gap and examined the road, and congratu- lated myself that I had not attempted the pursuit any farther. If you have been interested enough to read this, you have the detailed and distinct view of the whole affair from beginning to end. We made them abandon some 7 horses and we gathered in some 10 prisoners. They marched on the 3d in the morning from the other side of Cranks Gap in the direction of Harlan Court-House, the talk in their camp being that it would take them some seven or eight days to get back to their camp at Percyville, Ky. I left my infantry and artillery at Jonesville, for I ordered it, when I heard of firing near Hunters Gap, to move from Pattonsville, so as to get in the enemys rear, should I engage hiinnear Hunters Gap, as I supposed would be the casey and it was then moved on to Jonesville. Having no tents or camp equipage along for any part of the force, we occupied the vacant houses and stores of the old village. I ordered the mounted force to commence its return to this quarter on the 4th, and left, myself, on the evening of that day. On the 6th, at Estillville, I received a dispatch from Major-General Jones that Lieutenant-General Smith apprehended an attack on Cumber- land Gap, and desired all my available force to remain in that section. I ordered my mounted force back to Lee, and to forage, if it could~in the direction of Cumberland Gap, while I came here to make some ar- rangements to supply it with things necessary to the preservation of the men from death by starvation or from cold. It is proper to remark that my cavalry was posted near Kingsport a month since, because it could be foraged there easily, and the post was just that at which protection would be afforded to those bridges and to Bristol, but Brigadier-General [H.] Heth ordered them out of his depart- ment, threatening to arrest the officers if they procured corn from Ten- nessee, and that was the reason they were away when the enemy came and destroyed the bridges. Had they been allowed to forage where I put them, they would all have been just in the place to meet the enemy as he came in. I should be explicit that no force was there from Cumber- land Gap, and that garrison had paid no attention to their presence in the country Page 103 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAiD INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 103 I have digressed into a long detail apart from the subject in which I proposed to write, and shall reserve my views of policy for another paper, which I will write without delay. Yours,.truly, & c., H. MARSHALL. [President DAVIS.] [Indorsements.] JANUARY 12 1862. Secretary of War will please show this to Lieutenant-General Smith. The conduct of the railroad agent and of the telegraphic operator re- quires notice. J. D. General Marshalls charge that I committed a grave mistake in releas- ing Operator [J. C] Duncan is without foundation. I declined releasing Duncan until General Marshalls charges should be received. I have taken no action in the matter. In pas8ing through Bristol I found that the commander of the post had extended the limits of Duncans arrest to the town. The commanding officer (General [A.] Gracie,jr.) at Cum- berland Gap at the time of the raid reported only about 1,400 effective (infantry). A demonstration at the time being made in his front, and six regiments being reported on march to attack him, I directed him not to endanger the safety of his post by detaching too large a force from his command. E. KIRBY SMITH, Lieutenant- General. JONESYILLE, VA., January 31, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to state that your note of the 13th instant, cov- ering a letter from Maj. Isaac B. Dunn to Mr. [J. B.] Tucker, was deliv- ered to me while I was en route for this place. I required of my subaltern officers to make reports of the movements of their commands having relation to the late raid into this country by a force under General [S. P.] Carter, and I have now the satisfaction to submit them herewith. As my action in relation to the same affair has been made the subject of public criticism by persons wholly uninformed of the facts, as well as by others whose desire to pervert the facts is unmistakable, I have con- cluded, as it is in my power to do so, to lay before you all the dispatches, orders, and information which from time to time were given or received by me, so that, with these before him, the President may form his own judgment upon the points to which it has been his pleasure, through you, to direct my attention. 1 shall by the same means best answer the allegations of malevolence, and blunt the shaft of impertinent criti- cism, or enable those who seem sedulous to hold my action up to cen- sure, to justify, from my own mouth, their animadversions. On the night of December 29,1862, being at Abingdon, Va., I received, between 9 and 10 p in., the following telegraphic dispatch: PATTONSYILLE, SCoTT COUNTY, VA., December 29, 186212 m. General [HUMPHREY] MARSHALL: There are 4,000 cavalry of the enemy marching on Bristol. They were in 45 miles of Bristol at 1 p. m. to-day. S. P. LARMER, Captain. My first thought was that if the telegram was true at all, it was not possible for Captain Larmer to know wlj~ere such a force of the enem Page 104 104 KY., MID. AND IX TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. ~A. [CHAP. XXXII. intended to strike by merely seeing them pass Pattonsville going in the direction of Bristol. It was not certain if 4,000 cavalry had passed Pat- tonsville that it was the only column in the State of Virginia. I knew that from Pattonsyille the column might take any one of half a dozen roads f~hat would lead directly to the section of country in which I was then located, and that the salt works in Smyth County (18 miles above Abingdon and near the railroad) would be an interest at which such a force would be most apt to direct its efforts. It might make a feint upon Bristol (an unimportant depot) while the main body might move rapidly upon Saltville, and in an hour might there do damage that would be nearly irreparable. I felt that I owed the duty of taking care that no such effect might be produced. My command was at the time much scattered. Two of my regiments and a battalion had been detached at your own urgent request. I had left a regiment (nearly formed) in Ken- tucky beyond the Cumberland Mountains. I had only the representa- tives of two infantry regiments left. One of these (the Sixty-fourth Vir- ginia) had only been formed about one month by adding a battalion of perfectly raw recruits to a battalion which had been in service for a year past. I had never seen this regiment since it had taken a regimental formation. I had ordered it down to take post in front of Bristol, that it might be in a place to be equipped and drilled, and at the same time might be transferred rapidly by rail to any point where its services should be needed. The other infantry force consisted of six companies of mini- mum size, all recruited during my march into Kentucky last summer, and which I now had near Abingdon to drill and to afford me a chance to swell its numbers to at least the number of companies to make 4~ skeleton regiment. A battalion of Georgia artillery, under my com- mand, was at Jeffersonville, in Tazewell County, about 500 strong, with a battery of twelve pieces. I had a battery of six pieces at Wytheville, where it had been placed under directions from your predecessor in office. Another battery of four pieces was then en route for Rocky Gap, in Bland County, by agreement between the major-general and myself. The rest of my force was mounted, and had for some time past been moving about to find a scanty forage, and to draw it from unwilling owners in every part of Southwest Virginia. Still, it had been required to keep in rela- tion to the points of the country demanding defense. I had in Novem- ber stationed it to forage near Kingsport, Tenn., but the military au- thority commandingthat department had ordered the officers to withdraw from that department, and, under penalty of arrest, not to take corn or other forage or supplies from East Tennessee; and they had furnished me with a copy of this order, in the nature of a demand, that it should meet my acquiescence. In consequence of this, my mounted force had been scattered to hunt forage. The Fourth Kentucky Cavalry had from day to day fallen back to Russell County, Virginia. The First [Third] Battalion of Kentucky Mounted Rifles had encamped near the Three Springs, in Washington County, Virginia. Johnsons battalion of four companies still lingered near Kingsport, but was on the eve of starting to Kentucky to try to find forage and recruits. Witchers battalion of Virginia riflemen (mounted also) had drifted as far east as Chatham Hill, in Smyth County, a point on the road from Marion to Jefferson- ville, and above the salt works. [Capt. John A.] McFarlanes com- pany of Virginia cavalry was posted at the Richlands, in Tazewell, to observe the approaches from the valley of the Sandy. If you are conversant with the geography of this section of the State, you will observe from my statement of the facts that at the time of Captain Larmers telegram my force of less than 3,000 men was dispersed ove Page 105 CHAP. XXXII.) CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 105 about 60 miles square, the most of it principally engaged in trying to keep from starvation the horses so necessary to service in this part of the Confederacy. I felt extremely embarrassed by the condition of affairs, but s~n arranged in my own mind a theory upon which to meet the enemy, to learn his intentions and movements, and to ascer- tain the data by which to regulate my own movements. Several offi- cers of these commands were in Abingdon that night on business, and I had them aroused and summoned to my quarters to receive orders. I at once sent to Colonel Slemp, commanding the Sixty-fourth Virginia Infantry, in camp 1 mile from Bristol, the following dispatch by tele- graph: ABINGDON, VA., December 29, 186210 p. m. Colonel SLEMP: I have a dispatch from Larmer that 4,000 of the enemys cavalry are marching on Bristol, and were within 45 miles of it to-day at 1 p. m. Be on the alert. Commu- nicate immediately to Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, at the Three Springs, and direct him to throw out scouts to learn the movements of the enemy, which you will immediately communicate to me at this place. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. Also, I sent to Wytheville the following: ABINODON, VA., December 29, 186210 p. m. Captains JEFFEESS and DAvIDsON: I have just received a dispatch that 4,000 of the enemys cavalry were in 45 miles of Bristol at 1 p. m. this day, marching on that place. Your batteries must come to this place immediately. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. In fifteen minutes I received the following: WYTHEvILLE, VA., December29, [1862.] GENERAL: Your dispatch received. I shall start the horses by land, and await rail- road transportation for the battery, & c. Is this best? Let me know immediately if you can send down any cars. Reply immediately. W. C. JEFFEESS, Gaptain, Commanding Battery. I instantly returned this reply: CAPTAIN: Dispatch received. Reserve your harness to come with guns and men. Start horses immediately. Davidsons battery, if at Wytheville, to come also. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. I sent this shortly afterward, referring to same subject: ABINGDON, VA., December 29, 1862near midnight. Mr. DODAMEAD, Lynchburg, Pa.: It is very important to transport Jeifress and Davidsons batteries (ten pieces of artillery with caissons and carriages) to Abingdon to-night; also their companies, say 125 men. Can I rely on you to furnish the transportation at Wytheville? H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. I may as well say here that the reply to this dispatch was delivered to me next day about 2 p. in., as follows: LYNCHBURG, December 30, [1862.] General HUMPHREY MARSHALL: Message not received until 10 this a. m. Have trains now loadiij~atWytheville Page 106 106 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXTL The train aforesaid brought on the batteries the next night to Bristol under the following order: SPEcI~i ORDERS, ~ ABINGDON, VA., No.165. . December 30, 18626.45 p. m. Captaia Jeifress aud Captain Davidsons batteries, if they arrive at Abingdon to- night, will proceed direct to Bristol without delay. By order of Brig. Gen. H. Marshall, commanding: EDWD. 0. GUERRANT, Assistant Adjutant-General. On the night of the 29th, after sending the dispatches set forth above, I sent to Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones the following telegram: ARINGDoN, VA., December 29, 1862. Maj. Gen. SAMUEL JONES, Dublin Depot: GENERAL: Dispatches just received from Captain Larmer, of Triggs.rangers, from Pattonsville, Scott County, Virginia, announce 4,000 cavalry of the enemy in 45 miles of Bristol to-day at 1 p. in., marching on that point. I have ordered my batteries at Wytheville to Abingdon, and shall order the Georgia battalion to fall back to Salt- ville immediately. A regiment of infantry and a battalion of horse of mine 4 miles from Bristol; one battalion of infantry here; one regiment of cavalry in front of Hyters Gap, cover Saltville. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. I aroused Lieutenant-Colonel [M. ~IY.] Pryor, of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, and sent him to his camp that night (29th), distant 22 miles from Abingdon, with orders immediately to throw out heavy cavalry pickets to Russell Old Court-House, to Hansonville, and to the mouth of Dumps Creek, with flying vedettes from those pickets to move some 8 or 10 miles down the roads leading in the direction of Estillville and Osbornes Ford, on Clinch River, so as to discover, if possible by morn- ing, on what road the enemy was in fact moving, and whether his main force was threatening Saltville, Lebanon ,or Abingdon. He was instructed on his arrival at his camp immediately to dispatch a mounted courier to Major fA.] Leyden, of the Georgia artillery, at Jeffersonville, with orders to conduct his battalion without any delay to Saltville, and to take position so as to defend the salt works. At the same time I or- dered Maj. Thomas Johnson, of Kentucky, to repair without delay to his camp, at Kingsport, Teun., and to fall back upon Clays camp at the Three Springs, so as to unite with the troops near Bristol in the de. fense of the place and the railroad. Major Witchers battalion was at Chatham Hill. He was absent on account of wounds, from which he had not yet wholly recovered; his ranking captain was in Abingdon that night, but could not be found. He was found next morning and the following order was delivered to him: ABINGDON, VA., December 30, 1862. Captain Harman will move Witchers battalion with all practicable speed via Salt- ville down Poor Valley to the little Moccasin Gap. Arrived there, throw scouts out to Hansons, and open communication with Giltner. If the enemy is advancing by Boyds to Russell Old Court-House, let him proceed, but advise me of his approach. Reach your post by daybreak to-morrow at least, and inform me when you arrive. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. Thus. sir, you will perceive that, receiving the dispatch from Captain Larmer, I had at once advised every one with whom I had any military connection of the approach of the enemy before I slept, and had assigned to my troops, scattered over nearly 60 miles, the duties which woul Page 107 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTER S RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 107 (levolve upon them. To those at Abingdon I gave notice to hold them- selves in readiness, and I sent a picket of mounted men from a squad waiting at headquarters to Worleys (at the ford of Holston, 7 miles back of Abingdon), with orders to send vedettes down the river road, similar to those I have already detailed. My plan, as you will see, was to accept Abingdon as my post; ~to adopt the road to Pound Gap as my line of observation, as it ran transversely to every road leading from the direction of Pattonsville to the salt works and the upper country; to throw out my scouts upon those roads, and to learn, before I under- took to move, where the enemy was, so that I might mass my disposable force in his front. At the same time, by dispositions in the direction of Bristol, assumed to be on the other face of the parallelogram that cer- tainly embraced the enemy, I observed him. in like manner and with a similar intent to guide my own future actions. After a full opportunity to review what was done, and how it should have been done, I see no reason to regret the determinations I made, or how I could have been more prompt. On the morning of the 30th, hearing that Major-General [J. B.] Floyd, of the Virginia State Line, was in Abingdon, and had some force near Saltville, I at once addressed him the following note: ABLNGDON, VA., December 30, 1862. Major-General FLOYD: I think it proper to inform you that I have dispatches which render it more than probable the enemy is making a raid in this direction. It will be well to inform your forces near Saltville of the fact. It will afford me great pleasure to co-operate with you in movements for his arrest and chastisement, to which I think my own force is probably equal, and our united forces will be ample. Respectfully, & c., H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General, Provisional Army, Confederate States of America. Ascertaining that General Floyd had gone to Saltville, I dispatched to him the information I possessed, which he courteously acknowledged the same night. I did not telegraph to Knoxville because, my own dis- patch coming by Morristown, I did not doubt the same had already been communicated to headquarters at Knoxville. This was the case, in fact, for the dispatch was sent to both places at the same time, and was re- ceived at Knoxville as soon as I received it in another military depart- ment. Earlyin the morning I learned that the railroad cars had left Bristol in the preceding night about 3 a. in., transporting Government stores to Abingdon for safety, and that they were then at Abingdon. I ex- pressed to the men who had given me this information, and who brought the cars to Abingdon, my gratification that they were at hand, and re- quested the conductor to remain, for that during the morning I might desire their return to Bristol with ammunition and troops. I under- stood him to signify his assent, and, indeed, I did not think it probable there would be any inclination on the part of any of those concerned to return to Bristol, unless under my positive orders to do so. At a later hour that morning I had a supply of ammunition for Bristol put on those cars, and I remember that some one called at my room to say to me that the ammunition was aboard the cars, and they were ready to proceed again to Bristol, and they wanted to know if I had any other orders. I replied to this that they should wait a little and I would attend to it, for I was at the time busy with dispatches. They did not wait, but left for Bristol without my knowledge, and so caused me very serious dis- appointment, and prevented me from reaching Bristol at a time when Page 108 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL 108 the probability is, I should have saved the damage to the railroad bridges that ensued. As the ears were on hand at Abingdon, I never thought of asking any one to send them there, and, as those who had them in charg~promised to wait my orders, I never thought of asking Mr. [T.] iDodamead, at Lynchburg, to tell them to do so. I had dispatched him the night before to give me transportation for my artillery, and had re- ceived no reply. By reference to his dispatch you will see he did not receive my dispatch until a later hour on the 30th than that at which I saw the cars at Abingdon from Bristol, and if the telegraph had done no better in conveying a dispatch to order those cars to stay than it did in procuring cars for my artillery at Wytheville, I should not have attained the object in view, or have been able to avoid the loss. On the 30th, about 9 a in., the following dispatches reached me at Abingdon: DECEMBER 30, [1862]2.30 a. m. General MARSHALL: Information received at 12 oclock to-night is that the enemy were 10 miles beyond Estiliville at dark, which is 31 miles from this place. The most reliable information is that the enemy is 2,000 in number. One man direct from there counted 490; said to be a detachment. They could arrive here early in the morning, probably at day- light. We will have about 500 infantry, and Clays battalion; also Johnsons and Giltuers if they have received the information we sent them by courier. You can well see what we are in want ofmore men; but we will fight them with hat we have. There ought to be auother regiment, at least, here, and I think we could thrash them decently.. I would like that you could be here in person. More ammunition is wantedmusket-cartridges. C. SLEMP, Colonel, Commanding. Also the following: DECEMBER 30, [186217.30 a. m. General MARSHALL: Eneniy~advancing, I think, to Bristol; cannot tell which road. I caught 3 strag- glers. Sent 7 miles from camp. Part of three regiments, perhaps 1,500 or 2,000 strong. E. F. CLAY, Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding. I dispatched this reply to Colonel Slemp: ABINGDON, VA., December 30, [1862]10 a. m. Colonel SLEMP: Johnson ordered to join Clay. ,I think the enemy has divided his force, and maybe trying to get to the salt works or to this place. Throw cavalry scouts well forward. You shall have artillery so soon as it arrives from Wythevilie. Report every hour to me at this place. If attack on Bristol be certain, I will move Hawkins with 400 to join you in an hour. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. As the morning advanced, I received the following additional tele- grams: BRISTOL, TENN., December 30, 186210.30 a. m. General MARSHALL: Dispatches from Jonesborough state that courier had arrived, and stated enemy in miles of this place last night. Three of their scouts were captured last night 12 miles from here by Clays cavalry. T. W. W. DAVIES, Commanding Post. BRISTOL, TENN., December 29 (30 1), [1862]. General MARSHALL: We have 550 infantry and 300 cavalry. Can you send us two pieces of artillery, with canister and shrapnel I T. W. W. DAVIES, Commanding Poet Page 109 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 109 BRISTOL, TENN., December 30, 1862. General MARSHALL: Send ten boxes musket-cartridges. Enemy, from best information, turned in the direction of Blountsville1,200 or.1,500 strong. Our force united, 1 ~think, can take them. Be glad [te have] your company. C. SLEMP, Colonel. On receipt of these dispatches, the ammunition was ordered to the cars at Abingdon immediately. Unfortunately it afforded an excuse for them to return to Bristol without further notice to me. I received the following note from Major Johnson by courier: CLAYS CAMP, December 30, 1862. General MARShALL: I passed Clays camp about 3 oclock. I proceeded on the Kingsport road. Aboat 7 miles from his camp I met Clays pickets dashing back, and they reported the Yan- kees in pursuit. I rode to the rear; it was dark, and 3 Yankees rode up and asked me if we were the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment. I unhorsed 1; the other 2 sur- rendered. I learn from these men there are three regiments ahead of the prisoners. Of course they are near by. I am cut off from my command. I have no doubt they are marching for Bristol, and can be there by noon. THOS. JOHNSON, Major, i-c. The foregoing was received at 11 a. m. Also the following from Lieu- tenant-Colonel Clay: DEcEMBER 30, 186211 a. m. I have just received information from Lieutenant [R. T.] Jack (of Johnsons com- mand) that the enemy has gone in the direction of Union; perhaps will go t~hence to Bristol. Force about 1,500. Johnsons command is near here. Will act together in the direction of Union. His command is only about 80 men. I have scouts in all directions. B. F. CLAY, Lieutenant-Colonel. THREE SPRINGSil a. m. General MARSHALL: Reliable information. The enemy gone to Union by the Blountsville road. Will be there by 1 oclock. Major Johnsonscommand will act in that direction. B. F. CLAY, Lieutenant- Colonel. The pickets sent out to the ilolston Ford brought me now a report that the enemy was not seen on th~ roads leading from Estiliville in the direction of the salt works, and as the above telegrams indicated that his movement was really designed for Bristol or its vicinity, I ordered Colonel Hawkins to move his infantry at once to the railroad cars to embark for Bristol, intending to transfer my force to the front of the enemy. The word soon came to me, to my surprise and mortification, that the cars had returned to Bristol. I directed the colonel to wait at the depot until the cars could be ordered to return. I was in the tele- graph office, I think, at the time; if not, I was in its immediate vicinity, and requested the telegraph operator to dispatch immediately to have the cars returned from Bristol to transport my troops to that point. I waited a considerable time before I received any reply. Meanwhile the following arrived: DECEMBER 30, [1862.] General MARSHALL: Our pickets were driven in by the enemys pickets 1 mile this side of Blountsville. Our pickets just here at 12 oclock. C. SLEMP, Colonel Page 110 110 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. General MARSHALL: Enemy reported within 3 miles of this place; have moved out to meet him. Send us re-enforcements and ammunition. Detachment is reported moving on Hoiston Bridge. Johnsons command iS on the path. T. W. W. DAVIES, Commanding Post. I was now most anxious, as I had at 12.15 p. m. received the follow. ing from Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones, in reply to mine of the preceding night: DunLIx, Tmx., December 30, 1862. General MARSHALL: Your telegram this instant received. Presume you have given the officers command-. lug the troops in 4 miles of Bristol [notice I] of the movements of the enemy on that point, with the necessary directions for uniting them. If you have not done so, do it immediately. Send the battalion of infantry from Wytheville to Bristol, and go there yourself, assume command, and make the best disposition you can for the defense of the place. I will send you 500 or 600 of Jenkins men (dismounted). Telegraph promptly all the information you get. SAM. JONES, Major-General. Expecting the return of the train from Bristol every minute, I received the following from the telegraphic operator, I think: G. KELLER: BRISTOL, TENN., December 30, [1862.] Does General Marshall order trains I If so, answer at once, and say how many troops to come. W. S. MINOR. Now, for the first time in my life, did I know such a being existed as Mr. Minor. I learned he was the railroad agent at Bristol, having charge of the trains. This dispatch to Mr. Keller, who, I suppose, is the railroad agent at Abingdon, is evidently the answer to the first request I made to have the trains returned. It was of the first importance they should come at once, and then understanding that the man only wanted to know if it was my order they should come, I dispatched him as follows: W. S. MINOR, Agent, Bristol, Tenn.: AnINGDoN, VA., December 30, 1862. Send me cars immediately to transport 500 men and 8 horses. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-Geaeral. There was another long interval before a reply came, and then I re- ceived the following: BRISTOL, TENN., December 30, 1862. General MARSHALL: Please communicate with gemiral superintendent at Lynchburg in regard to the cars asked for. W. S. MINOR. And very shortly after I received this from Lynchburg: LYNCHnIJRG, VA., December 30, 1862. General MARSHALL: You will please address ordeis to me for transportation. Subordinate agents have no authority to order the movements of trains. You can at once see the propriety of this; otherwise collisions might occur. T. DODAMEAD. Obedient, of course, to the railroad regulations, but intensely anxious to get to Bristol, I requested Mr. IDodamead to have the goodness to order the trains from Bristol, to which he courteously replied: I have ordered a train at once from Bristol to take the men from Abingdon. Every- thing shall be done to aid the prompt movement of the troops. T. DODAMEAD Page 111 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 111 This dispatch was received at Abingdon at 3 p. in., which marks the time which had elapsed since I ordered Colonel Hawkins to wait for the return of the train until I obtained by regular approach consent from the proper qu~rter that one should come at once. But the promised train did not come until nearly 8p. in., and after the enemy had burned both the bridges and had gone west from the Watauga, and the scouts from Union had made the fact known at Bristol, for the scouts returned by dark (say 5p. in.), and then the trains came to aid me in the prompt movement of the troops. I had received from Colonel Slemp in the afternoon a closing dispatch, which gave me quiet upon the point as to whether the enemy had met: BRIsTol, TERN., December 30, 1862. General MARSHAt~L: Reliable information received 1.30 p. m. states that the enemy are at Union, and bridge burning. Clays and my command are here; Johnson is coming. Our strength is 900. We will not advance on them until word from you. Their strength supposed to be large (3,000). Communication stopped in that direction by telegraph. C. SLEMP, Golonel, Commanding. Thus, Mr. Secretary, you will see that to the last,when the enemy had reached the bridge and had burned it, his force was estimated as very superior to any I could command, and you will readily realize the anxiety I labored under to get forward to Bristol the limited re-enforcement I had to furnish from Abingdon. It was raining all that evening very hard indeed. I had been kept in momentary expectation of the arrival of the cars from Bristol. It never occurred to my mind that Minors dispatch to [George] Keller was in the nature of a protest against my authority to order the cars, for my mind was only bent on getting the transportation, and I supposed the agent would be as anxious as 1 to afford the protec- tion to Bristol a re-enforcement would furnish. As to collision, that was impossible, for it is only 15 miles from Bristol to Abingdon, and there is no stopping-place between. Cars might run the distance in half an hour, and one hour from Abingdon should have put the troops at Union. Had they been started by 12 oclock they could have saved the bridge, or, at least, could have contested its possession even witha superiorforce. I did all, as it seems to me, I could to get there to bring the required relief; but, as you see, I tried in vain. Before leaving Abingdon on the 30th, I addressed the following order to Colonel Giltuer by courier: ABINGDON, VA., December 30, [1862]6 p. m. Colonel Giltuer will move his cavalry regiment so as to join the main body of my command before Bristol without delay, unless his scouts inform him of the approach of a force of the enemy en the road to Lebanon. Leave all baggage behind, except a few cooking utensils and ammunition, and hurry. This order extends also to Witchers battalion, which communicate to them at or near Little Moccasin Gap H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. As my artillery had not arrived from Wytheville, I left an order for it to come (lirect to Bristol that night, which order I have already set forth in a former page of this report. I embarked on the cars with the troops about 8 p. in., and we arrived at Bristol between ii and 12 oclock. I was met at the cars by Colonel Slemp, and from him and Lieutenant- Colonel Clay I learned the existing state of the facts: The enemy had gone to Union; overcome the guard stationed there; had burned the railroad bridge and the county bridge, nearly; had marched away to the Watauga Bridge, 10 miles farther off, and had destroyed that struc Page 112 112 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. ICHAP. XXXIL ure also before nightfall, and,~ when last seen, were going west, in the direction of the railway. It was not known where he was then or what he intended to do. Pickets had been thrown out in every direction from Bristol before night, and one company was then on picket duty 10 miles from Bristol, at Union. I could learn no more, for they knew no more. I could add nothing to the arrangements they had made for the night, for they seemed complete, and were correct; nothing had been overlooked. Before I slept, I ordered a courier to be sent to Major Johnsons camp, near Kingsport, Teun., with an order to break up that camp instantly, and for that force, with the baggage and prisoners, to take the Reedy Creek road to Abingdon, and to make good their junction with Clays camp, at the Three Springs, as soon as it could be done. I impressed on Major Johnson the importance of speed. I then thought it not improbable the. enemy, hearing of that camp, which in his entry he had passed, might go from Carters Depot to destroy it, release the prisoners my men had taken, and make our people prisoners, besides destroying our arms and public property. These duties being all discharged, I retired to rest some time after midnight. I mention the fact of my retiring because that also has been made a subject of impertinent criticism upon my conduct by per- sons who, I suppose, would have had me talk the rest of the night over what had been done, and over what should be done on the morrow, with- out either they or I knowing that the enemy was then in 30 miles of us, or that he would ever be seen again. The train from Wytheville brought the ten pieces of artillery tliat night to Bristol, but the horses had not arrived with which to manage them. Being a stranger to the country in which I might at any moment be called to act, the first thing to which my attention was directed in the morning was to obtain a room in Bristol where I might see and converse with gentlemen in some degree of privacy. In this I failed, but after so long a time I secured a room in the hotel, and soou was introduced by Col. James Preston to four gentlemen, who, he said, could give me all the information I required about the roads and water-courses in that section. These were Colonel McClelland, Major Dunn, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Sullins, of Jonesborough. I very soon explained to these gentle- men what aid they could furnish me, and Messrs. Dunn and Blair re- tired, promising to make me a paper sketch of the country around Bris- tol, though they said they were not accustomed to the art of sketching. I was much obliged, and then Colonel McClelland agreed to ride to Blountsville with a mounted company and observe for me a road which was said to lead from a point lower down the llolston than Union, in the direction of Kingsport. If the enemy intended to retire by the route he came, it was considered probable he might cross the country by that road. Colonel McClelland accompanied Captain [W. W.] Baldwin, a partisan ranger, whom I found at Bristol with some of his men, to dis- charge this duty. I was soon left alone, Mr. Sullins deferring to those who had undertaken to furnish me with the topography I needed. The locomotive, with a car attached, started, after breakfast, down to the point where one of Clays companies was on picket. I received the fol- lowing dispatch (the first of that day, I think) about 12 oclock: Lieutenant [E.] Hammond, of Clays command, reports Federal camp 3 miles west of Union last night, and still there at 11 oclock to-day. Will move toward Blounts- vile and for Kentucky. Federal scouts in Union this morning. B. HAMMOND, Lieutenant. I inferred from this report that Mr. [Lieutenant] Hammond was re- porting what he had heard at Union as coming from the Federal scout Page 113 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 113 who were in Union that morning, as he could not otherwise have an idea where the enemy, who was in camp at 11 a. in., intended to march, and this information was not deemed very satisfactory as a basis for my movements. The next information I received was about 2 oclock, from Captain Baldwin, at Blonntsville. As he addressed me four during the evening, I beg to submit them here in order: BLOIJNTSvILLE, TERN., December 31, 1862. Brigadier-General MARSHALL: GENERAL: The Yankees are crossing the Blountsville road en route for Kingsport and Estiliville, and may be intercepted by way of the Reedy Creek road. In haste, W. W. BALDWIN, Commanding Cavalry, ~5c. Appended to the foregoing was the following from one of Major John- son~s captains: I will get in front of them, and check them until your men can get upon their rear. JNO. T. WILLIAMS. BLOUNTSvILLE, TERN., December 31, 1862. (Received 2.30 oclock.) The Abolitionists are (a portion of them) in camp at Hulls, 4 miles south of this place. My company has gone on the Kingsport road for further discoveries. The camp at Hulls is on the Jonesborough road. Let me know if you have any force moving on the Reedy Creek road. Respectfully, W. W. BALDWIN, Captain, 4-c. (Received about 4 p. in.) General MARSHALL: Within you find the report of one of my captains. We are pressing them. For Gods sake send all your force direct to Kingsport. W. W. BALDWIN, 4-c. Inside was the following: Major BALDWIN: SIR: They have been crossing the ridge by Sheavers, in the direction of Kingsport. W. G. GLENN. P. S.The supposition is they are about 2,000 strong, as they have been passing for two hours. AT JOHN L. SHRAvERs, ED RNS RIDGE, TERN., December 31, 18626.45 p. m. General HUMPHREY MARSHALL: After reconnoitering the country around Blountsville, I am fully convinced that a large portion of the Yankee force is now in camp at Hulls, 4 miles southwest of Blountsville; 1,200 to 1,500 are now, perhaps, in Kingsport, and it is generally be- lieved, from their own statements along the way, that this advanced party is en route for Rogersville, in view of plundering the bank at that place. I yet think we can intercept this force, if your force can reach Kingsport by midnight. Respectfully, W. W. BALDWIN, Commanding Gavairy Scouts. P. S.The force at Hulls may be moving. If 50, they must pass this point. I will watch their movements and try to keep you advised. About the same time I received this last dispatch (near 8 p. in.), I also received the following from Captain Bedford, of Clays command, who had left Bristol about noon to relieve Lieutenant [E.] ilainmond, at ~Jnion. He had passed directly from Union to Blonntsville, and as hQ 8 R RVOL XX,PT Page 114 114 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL had neither seen nor heard of the camp at Hulls, I concluded that Cap- tain Baldwin had made a mistake, possibly, as to its existence, and I issued to Colonel Giltner immediately the following order: DECEMBER 31, [186~]8 p. m. Press on to Blountsville with speed. When arrived there, direct your movements by the reports which Baldwin makes. My chief aim is to cut the enemy off from Moc. casiu Gap; but, remember, your function is only to harass him until my infantry can catch np. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. I will observe that, from the time at which Captain Baldwin made his first report, I was much at a loss how to understand the movement of the enemy by the light of these reports: The enemy is crossing the Blountsville road. I inferred from that he was making for Moccasin Gap. Had he designed going to Kingsport, he would have taken the road to Kingsport. He would only cross the Blountsville road (coming from Union) if he intended to go to Moccasin Gap, or to get upon the Reedy Creek road and to take that, by which he could go either to the one place or the other. Next came the declaration that he was in camp on the Jonesborough road to Blountsville. If so, he was as near Bristol as he would be at Blountsville, and could approach it directly by the Beaver Creek road. If that was true, it would not do for me to attempt pursuit and leave Bristol uncovered, since I was ordered to look to its defense. When the third dispatch came, announcing that the enemy had been crossing the ridge two hours, I could not tell whether the force at Hulls had gone, nor could I tell that he meant to make for Kingsport, as the road he was said to be taking was the very nighest cut he could take to Moccasin Gap. When the officer reported him still in camp at Hulls at 6.45 oclock, I should have hesitated to uncover Bristol had I not received Captain Bedfords dispatch. I had determined early in the day that if in fact, the enemy was intending to retreat, I would try to intercept him, and, with the view to a pursuit, had ordered rations for four days to be cooked, that our movement might commence at nightfall. Considering all I had heard of the sentiments of the population of East Tennessee, and the limited experience I had had, I was not disposed to let my adversary have access to information as to my movements. If he had moved and encamped again, as reported in Captain Baldwins sec- ond dispatch, he would be there that night, and, by going to Blountsville under cover of the night, I should gain his rear. I made no order to move or to cook rations until my cavalry arrived (after 2 p. in.). Until I was satisfied that the probability was strong that he had not encamped at Hulls, or had left there, I would not give marching orders to the cav- alry, though I had already started the infantry and one section of artil- lery; and, to move this, I had to press horses that eve-lung, as mine had not arrived from Wytheville. I waited after my force was in motion for several reasons: First to receive the troops promised by General Jones, and to know certai~ily whether they arrived. Second, because Captain Jeifress l~orses came in after nightfall from a days journey, and I wanted them to rest a little before they were put again on the road to draw the guns I desired to carry with me. Third, because a section of artillery under that officer, which I ordered him to prepare and move, would have no other escort to Blountsville than myself and staff; and a signal corps who were with me. Your correspondent intimates that he knows, but will not tell, the reason I delayed my departure until 1 a. in. of January 1. I was in Blountsville about the hour he fixes for my departure from Bristol, an Page 115 CHAP. XXXII.] CARTERS RAID iNTO E. TENN AND SW. VA. 115 his pretended concealment of knowledge, I assure you, but discloses to my sense the turpitude of his motives in representing as existing some- thing he affects to desire to conceal. The reasons for my delay are now plainly disclosed, and that delay was not longer than I thought my business required, of which I was the sole judge. If it was the intention of Major Dunn to intimate that I was intoxi- cated, my statement is that the assertion can be proved false, not only of that day and time, but of every other day and time since I held your commission, for there is not a more temperate man in the Southern Con- federacy than I am and have always been. In this connection, let me remark that the same writer comments upon what he calls my imbe- cility. A long personal acquaintance, both with the President and your- self, will enable you to pronounce judgment upon such a charge with more propriety than I can. I inclose you Major Dunns mapthe result of several hours labor which you will perceive places all the points of compass wrong; puts Abingdon west of Bristol, and, in a word, is suel~ a production that no art could explain it. It is possible I may have been inattentive to any explanation of a diagram so wrong as it was, though I have no recollec- tion of it, as it was my purpose, even if ennuy6d, to remain polite, and I am not in the habit of conducting myself otherwise. I leave it to the President to judge, however, if my activity in the intelligent discharge of my duty slackened. Instead of the 1,500 efficient men which it is asserted were at my dis- posal, you perceive that, up to 2.30 p. m. on the 31st, I had a force as follows: 8ixty-fourth Virginia Infantry 373 Fifth Kentucky [Infantry]... 310 683 Clays Mounted Rifles 250 Johnsons Mounted Rifles 100 350 Total 1,033 Making a total about equal to Colonel Slemps estimate of 900, though the company on picket should be subtracted, as it was 10 miles from Bristol. After 2.30 p. m. of tWe 31st, add Giltner, and we have a total of some 1,400 or 1,500 of all arms. I submit, respectfully, that in the state of my information it was my duty not to leave Bristol sooner than I did,and it was proper, after a ride of 37 miles through mud and rain, to have let my cavalry horses feed before I commenced a pursuit. How effective that cavalry was, I leave you to judge upon the plain statements of Colonel Giltuer that his men were in the saddle the night of the 30th and 31st, and in that time (forty hours) never ate, and traversed 66 miles over deep, bad roads in the winter, in a mountain land. When I was at ii3ristol, before starting on the night of the 31st, I did not know what route the enemy would take. Major Witcher had arrived in person, but not his bat- talion. I directed him to return that night to Little Moccasin Gap, and lead his battalion to the defile at Hanging Rock, 3 miles from Osbornes Ford, so that, if the enemy tried to turn to the right at Estillville and to go by the ford over to the Pound Gap road, he might check him. I (lid not know I could intercept him before he would reach that point. If the enemy did not approach the ford next morning, Major Witcher wt~s to lead his battalion down the north side of Clinch River and joi Page 116 116 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL me. At the same time I started a reliable messenger to Kentucky with orders to Col. Ben [E.] Caudill, at Whitesburg, to man Pound Gap, Stone Gap, and all the other mountain gaps along his front, and to resist the egres~of the enemy, and to say that I would be near and approaching. A.fter crossing Sheavers Ridge, the enemy kept on to Kingsport. He could have turned to the right at several places after that and have passed through Moccasin Gap. When I was in Blonntsville, everybody there supposed of course he had gone to Moccasin Gap, and lamented our inability to reach the gap before him. I knew no reason for him to go by Kingsport. If he meant to go out at the Moccasin Gap, it was only a detour of about 8 miles to go by Kingsport and then to return into the gap, for they are only 7 miles apart. His only motive to go by Kings- Port that I could imagine would be to strike at Major Johnsons camp and to release some prisoners taken by my men the day before. I took the chance if he had made this detour of reaching Moccasin Gap in advance of him. I occnpied it by 4 a. m. on January 1. He had passed Kingsport that night and had taken down the south side of the Clinch Range. Colonel Giltuer is mistaken as to the hour of my arrival at Estillville, though possibly not as to the time when he first saw me there. I was at Estiliville at dinner-time, and rode into town with his scout, returning from Kingsport, from whom 1 learned the direction the enemy had taken. Clay and Johnson had moved when I reached there, so that I infer the young officer had reported, and I came in with a squad from his party which had lagged behind. I sent word for my mounted men to halt until the rear came up, because there were bridal-gaps over the mount- ains a few miles from Estillville, and the enemy might have passed over those, and would turn successfully upon 300 or 350 men and whip them, if beyond supporting distance from the remainder of my force. Besides, I had given no authority to Colonel Giltner to direct the move- mentsofthe corps he had ordered to march. Presuming at Estillville the enemy would cross the Clinch Range below me, and might try to go out on the Lee County border somewhere, I at once dispatched Lieutenant- Colonel Pridemore, a native of Scott County, to the front, with direc. tions to rouse the country people, and to dispatch a courier from Jones. ville to Cumberland Gap, so as to let the force there know the situation and to request their co-operation, and to have word sent forward to block up the mountain passes. I urged on him to go to Jonesville that night and dispatch the courier instantly thence to Cumberland Gap. I pressed on now to the Clinch River, at Speers Ferry (the point the enemy had crossed coming in), and, finding my cavalry in bivouac, or- dered the whole forward. I passed over two roads, one leading np the Clinch from Kyles Ford (some 25 miles below), the other from Sneeds- ville. I thought the enemy might double and pass ont behind me, for now I did not know where he was, save that I was on one side of a mountain range and he on the other. Before midnight I met Lieutenant-Colonel Pridemore returning. He had advanced as far as Patton sville, and there learned that the news I wished to convey had gone already; that the movement of the enemy on the south side was known, and that the country people (it was told him at Pattonsville) had that day felled trees across the road on the north side of Powells Mountain, so as to obstruct passage in the direc- tion of Jonesville; that I was blockaded as well as the enemy. I then determined to halt until daylight. It was intensely cold, and my men were very much exhausted s the third night, , ome of them being in the saddle now fo Page 117 tThAI?. XXXILJ CARTER~S RAID INTO E. PENN. AND SW. VA. lift I waited until light. Before lights scouts came to me with the iriforma- tiou that the enemy had crossed the Clinch Mountains and the river 4 War Gap, and were encamped at 9 p. m. 15 miles below Speers Ferry. My conclusior~ was, then, that he would rest also until day, and that his course would not before be determined. It was quite plain he was at a center to travel the radius and I the arc of a circle that he had half a dozen ways to go out, and that, if I was not very watchful, I should not intercept him. I ordered my infantry and artillery forward. On the morning of January 2, I moved to Pat tonsville, where another road by which he could pass out crossed my path, and there I learned that 400 infantry and two companies of cavalry from Cumberland Gap had taken position at Jonesville, and that the forces from that quarter were co-operating to prevent his egress. I thought ~he prize was nearly sure. 1 detached Captain Marshalls cavalry company, with orders to move down the North Fork of the Clinch as low as Blackwater; thence, if the enemy had gone into Hunters Gap, to harass his rear, and so on to Jonesville. I sent forward Lieutenant Gibson with 10 men to Jones- ville (now 20 miles), to inform the force there of my approach, and to procure rations for my men, if possible (Giltners regiment had not eaten a morsel since the day before at 2 p. in.). The north side of Powells Mountain was partially obstructed by a few trees cut across the road, but more so from being very hard frozen and becoming sleek under the horses feet. We led down it, passed on, and at 8 miles from Jonesville I received a dispatch from Lieutenant Gibson that there was heavy and continuous firing in the direction of Hunters Gap, on the direct road from IRogersville to Jonesville, and some 4 or 5 miles south of Jones- ville. I ordered my force forward to Jonesville as rapidly as possible, all at a brisk trot and many in a gallop. Clay and Johnson were some 2 miles ahead of Giltner. I pressed on between them. At about 3 miles from town another dispatch from Lieutenant Gibson, written at 1 mile from town, announced the continuance of the firing, and that artillery was heard. I knew the enemy had none, and was certain it had come up from Cumberland Gap, and that a brave band from that garrison (which was only 33 miles off) were gallantly resisting the superior force of our enemy. I congratulated myself that our toil would be crowned with success at last and the insolence of our foe would be punished. At 1 mile from town I met Lieutenant Gibson with the information that the enemy had possession of Jonesville, and had a good number of prison- ers with them. I asked for the force which had engaged them, what also of the artillery, where the Cuinberland Gap men had gone to, but could get no satisfactory response. I ordered my attack on the town to opemi at once, for it was now near sundown. My Rifles (dismounted) went intQ action deployed on a hill east of the village, but within rifle range of the court-house. Giltner came up, and I deployed a part of his force on the south side of the village, at about 100 yards from the main street. The enemy was now plainly visible on the hill by the academy, on the northwest side of the village, formed in line some 400 strong. Villagers declared he was flanking me on both sides, and I made some detachments to ascertain the falsity of their apprehensions. I ordered both my lines forward, heard the enemys bugle-call to the saddle, and my men under Giltuer followed to the Harlan road. The enemy was mounted. Our horses were outside the village, some of them nearly a mile. The distance to be traversed to the gap was 4 miles. I learned that the front of the enemy had passed the village an hour or more when we arrived and commenced firing. It was now night, but moonlit par- tially. Beyond the town the clearings are small, the timber heavy, th Page 118 118 ICY., MID. AND tX TRNN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXTL undergrowth thick of black-jack, scrubby oak, and chestnut; ground broken; two or three heavy ridges to be crossed and narrow vales. I had never seen it. Deployment would be impracticable at night and the s4uation most inviting for ambuscades. The enemy would in an hour be out of Virginia. lie had the position on me, and I desisted from farther pursuit, as I am sure I should have done, and with my present knowledge of the country should, nnder the same circumstances, do again. As I was returning from Jonesville, I received a dispatch from Major- General Jones and another from Lient. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, asking me to make pursuit, the latter dated at Knoxville on the day after the enemy passed into Kentucky. Thus I have at great length submitted all I have to represent touching the raid of the enemy into our country. I think, upon a review of my ac- tion, the President will find that if success in overtaking and punishing the enemy was not achieved, it was not for the want of effort upon my part or of the troops I command. My infantry marched 70 miles in some sixty hours over bad roads, mountains, and rivers, and my cavalry pressed night and day on the track of the foe, as I think has not frequently been done before in the war. I have felt that it was better to bear in silence the shafts of impotent and ill-natured criticism, when basing its attacks on false premises, than to make our combinations, forces, and views known to a vigilant enemy by dissertations and defenses before the tri- bunal of the press, which has no jurisdiction over the subject-matter. When you call me forward, I make my report, abstaining from all that my feeling of indignation might dictate to me to say, but which your dignity and my own position alike forbid. Your own examination will find all the data here on which to form a correct opinion. If the enemy was jaded, it was before he rested after his incendiary effort. His travel daily afterward until he left Virginia proves he had full capacity to move when desiring to do so. Respectfully, H. MARSHALL, Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Brigadier-General. secretary of War. No. 7. lieport of Gol. H. L. Giltner, Fourth Kentucky cavalry, of operations December 30January 2. CAMP RICHARDSON, LEE COUNTY, VA., January 26, 1863. GENERAL: On the morning of December 30, 1862, about3 oclock, a dispatch from you was received at my camp, near Lebanon, Russell County, Virginia, informing me that a force of the enemy was reported in the neighborhood of Scott Court-House, and ordering me to throw out a picket to the Old Russell Court-House to guard the road from that place to Osbornes Ford; and also a picket to Hansonville, guarding the roads from that point to Saltville, via Poor Valley, and via Lebanon. Your order was promptly obeyed, a strong picket being sent to each of the above-named places. At 11 p. m. of the same day I received an order from you to repair Page 119 cHAP. XXXITJ OARTER~S RAID INTO Th tENN. AND SW. ~A. i1~ with my regiment to Bristol immediately. In a very short time my men were in the saddle, and, leaving the camp with the dismounted and otherwise disabled men, under command of Captain [George T.] Camp- bell [acting commissary of subsistence], I started for Bristol, via Abing- don, with 550 Thien, and accompanied by three wagons, two containing cooking utensils, the other ammunition. The road via Abingdon was not the shorlest to Bristol, but I was compelled to go to Abingdon to draw about 100 guns, which were needed; also ammunition, as that which I had was not suitable for many of the guns in the command. The ex- ceedingly rough and heavy condition of the roads, and the darkness (the night being cloudy and rainy) rendered the march most arduous, yet we arrived in Abingdon, a distance of 20 miles from my camp, before day- light. Proceeding directly to the railroad depot, I procured the needed ordnance stores and sufficient forage to feed my horses. Moviug to the outskirts of the town, I fed my horses in the road, and, after a halt of about three-quarters of an hour, I pushed on to Bristol, where I arrived and reported to you about 2.30 p. m. December 31, 1862. At 8 p. in. I received the following order: DECEMBER 31, [1862]8 p. m. Colonel [H. L.] GILTNER: Press on with speed to Blountsville. When arrived there, direct your movements by the reports which Baldwin makes. My chief aim is to cut the enemy off from Moccasin Gap; but, remember, your function is only to harass him until my infantry can catch up. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. In obedience to the above order, I proceeded with speed to Blounts- ville, arriving there at 10 p. m. From information there received, I de- termined to push on to Moccasin Gap, which point I reached at 4 a. m. January 1, and went into camp, having marched, since 8p. m. the evening before, a distance of 29 miles. At daylight I sent a scout of 20 men, under command of Lieut. B. F. Duncan, in the direction of Kingsport, with orders to gain accurate in- formation as to the enemys position and movements, and report to me as speedily as possible. At the same time I ordered Captains [John G.] Scott and [S. P.] Duncan to proceed with their squadrons to Estiliville and procure and have cooked rations for the regiment. Up to that time my men had had nothing to eat since leaving camp at Lebanon; had ridden a distance of 65 miles through the rain and mud without rest, having been in the saddle the whole of both nights since starting, and were consequently greatly in need of food and sleep. At 12 m. Lieutenant Duncan returned and reported to me at Estill- ville that the enemy had encamped the night before in the llolston Val- ley, 7 miles from Kingsport, and had moved at daylight in the direction of War Gap. My own men not having procured anything to eat at this time, I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, with his own and Major [Thomas] Johnsons battalion (they both having cooked rations for four days), to War Gap, with instructions to occupy the gap should be gain that point in advance of the enemy; but, if he should fall in his rear, to harass him un~l I could re-enforce him with my regiment. About 3 p. m. you arrived at Estillville. I reported to you the infor- mation I had received of the movements of the enemy and the order I had given to Lieutenant-Colonel Clay. You sent a courier to Colonel Clay, ordering him to halt and await further orders. About sunset, both men and horses having been fed, I moved on from Estiliville, with orders from you to halt at Speers Ferry, 11 miles distant, and awai Page 120 120 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. orders. Passing Colonel Clay, bivouacked on the road a mile from the ferry, I crossed the river and halted. In about half an hour you came up and ordered the whole command forward. We marched about 5 miles to Prideinores, where we halted and remained until sunrise the next ~uiorning. Moving on to Pattonsville, a distance of about 4 or .5 miles, we halted, fed our horses, and again moved on toward Jonesville about 9 a. m. When within about 7 miles of the latter place, being a mile or two in the rear of the other battalions, I received a message from yourself to move on to Jonesville with rapidity. I pushed on at a brisk trot until I reached the horses of Colonel Clays and Major Johnsons commands, a short distance from the town, the men having dismounted for action. Passing these horses, I halted, dismounted my men, and ordered the guns to be loaded. I then received an order from you to take the to~vn. Throwing out a company as skirmishers, I advanced upon the town, and, finding no enemy there, and being told by the citi- zens that he had formed in line at or near the academy, beyond town, I moved on through the town and past the academy until my line of skir- mishers had intersected the Harlan road. It being then after dark, we saw no enemy, though they were heard by the skirmishers as they passed out of the old field beyond the academy. Receiving information from the officer commanding the skirmishers that the enemy had taken the road and were certainly gone, I called in the skirmishers, threw out a picket upon the road the enemy had taken, and returned with my regi- ment to the town, when I was ordered into camp for the night at the academy. The distance from my camp, near Lebanon, to Jon esville, by the route we marched, is 105 miles, and we were from 11.30 p. in. of December 30 until 4 p. m. of January 2 in going that distance. H. L. GILTNEII, Golonel, Comdg. Fourth Regiment Kentucky Cavalry. Brig. Gen. HUMPHREY MARSHALL, Jonesville, Va. No. 8. Report of Lieut. Col. B. F. Clay, Third Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, of operations December 30January 1. CAMP LIVESAY, January 24, 1863. SIR: In obedience to your orders, I submit the following report: At or about 10 a. m. Tuesday, December 30, 1862, I received infor- mation from Colonel Slemp and Major [Lieut. Col. T. W. W.] Davies [Twenty-eighth Alabama Infantry], (the commandant of the post at Bristol), that some 4,000 Yankee cavalry were moving on Bristol, and at 1 p. m. on Monday were distant 45 miles; that they would probably reach that place by morning; that their direction was about west. While I was acknowledging the receipt of these dispatches, two citizens from Lee County rode up to my tent and confirmed the report, and stated by tliit time the enemy was no doubt at Estillville some 28 miles distant from Bristol. I inquired of them why they thought that the enemy was intendin~ a demonstration on Bristol. They replied, be- cause the soldiers had told it along the road, and had frequently asked the distance to that place, which at once led me to believe that he was certainly making for Bristol. Immediatelyon receiving this intelligenc Page 121 CHAP. XXXII.3 OARTER~ S RAID INTO E. TENN. Al~D SW. VA. 121 I aroused the camp, ordered horses saddled, and ammunition issued to all who had arms (there being about 75 men without arms). As soon as ammunition was issued to Company A, I ordered it out on duty, with orders to scout rapidly the three roads leading from Estiliville, by which the enemy might approach my camp, and find out his position and watch his movements, my camp being between the enemy and Bristol. The scout on the road known as the Reedy Creek road, upon which I was en camped, had not advanced more than 6 or 7 miles before they met three of the enemys cavalryone, a sergeant. Two of them were made pri~.- oners by the scout, and the other shot from his horse by Major [Thomas] Johnson, who had just overtaken my scout on his road from Abingdon to join his command. Concerning this affair I inclose the lieutenants report to me,* who was iu command of the party, and upon which you can rely. The 2 prisoners were sent to camp, accompanied by Ma.jor Johnson, who was very much excited, and yet holding his pistol in his hand. This was about daylight. 1 questioned the prisoners, and learned from the sergeant one had stopped to fix something about his saddle, and that he (sergeant) had stopped back to bring them up to their com- mand, having been placed in rear of his company by his captain for that purpose. It seems from after developments that these prisoners had fallen in rear of their command just before it had reached the forks of the road, 8 miles from my camp, and that the command had taken the right-hand road, which leads to Union, via Bloantsville; that these three men in their hurry to r~join their command 1)assed this road unnoticed, and ran up to my scout, thinking it a part of their own command. 1 im- mediately ordered tents struck and wagons loaded, ready to march at a moments warning. Thinking that the enemy would make a demonstra- tion on Bristol with his whole force, or a part, by the road npon which I was encamped, I ordered the train and sick to Bristol, and determined to hold my position, or, by skirmishing with him, detain him until you could send a sufficient force to Bristol to defend it with complete suc- cess, knowing Slemps regiment insufficient to do so, as he had reported it to me as only 400 strong. This brings us up to 7.30 a. m. About this time there rode into camp three citizens, one of whom was introduced to me as Colonel [Maj. I. B.] Dunn by Major Johnson, who gave me some information in regard to two roads leading from Blonntsville to Bristol, and suggested that the enemy would likely approach Bristol by one or both of these roads, and proposed to go as a guide with my scouts on these roads. These roads entered the main Bristol and Estiliville [road] between my camp and Bristol. I, therefore, ordered Captain [James] White to take his com- pany and scout these roads as far as Blountsville, with all speed, which was promptly obeyed. Colonel Dunn accompanied Captain White a short distance beyond his house and then returned to his domicile. At 11 a. m. I received a dispatch from Captain White, who was then 1 mile from Blountsville, stating that the enemy had left that place and gone in the direction of Union; that the greater portion had passed the point that he was then at before (laylight; that they remained only a short time at Blountsville. This information I telegraphed you at Abingdon, and sent to Colonel Slemp, at Bristol. About this time Johnsons command arrived, I think about 80 strong. Finding that the enemys whole force had passed to my left, I called in my pickets from my right and moved my command with Johnsons (which was ad- vancing) to Bristol, and covered that place with pickets and scouts in * See No. 9, p. 122 Page 122 12~ ICY., MID. AND t. T1~NN., N. ALA., AND ~W. VA. (CHAP. ~C~It. the direction of Blountsville and Union, thinking the enemy would likely attack Bristol from these positions after destroying the bridge at Union. It was about 2 p. m. when I reached Bristol. On Tuesday night I received information from my scout at Union that the enemy had burned the bridge there and gone in the direction of the Watauga Bridge, some 7 or 8 miles southwest of that place. This in- formation I gave you when you got to Bristol on Tuesday night. Colonel Dunn states in his letter to the Hon. James A. Seddon that he found my camp in a perfect state of disorganization, and that I did not know what to do; that my command was some 450 strong-.--all confidentially. These statements are infamous, false, and slanderous to the utmost. My command did not exceed 250 men. I must say, in conclusion, that it is strange, but nevertheless true, that I did not receive any information whatever from citizens except from the two alluded to in the first part of my report. Yours, very respectfully, E. F. CLAY, Lieutenant- Golonel, Commanding Battalion. Brig. Gen. HUMPHREY MARSHALL. No. 9. Report of Lient. II. H. Duncan, Company A, Third Battalion Kentucky liliounted Rifles, of operations December 2930. , 1863. Sin: By your order, I submit the following report: It was on the night of December 29, 1862, that, by your order, I was ordered to take a part of one company and scout down the Kingsport road, as it was reported the enemys cavalry was coming in the neigh- borhood. I had gone some 7 miles and stopped the main body, and sent pickets 1 mile in front, with orders to stand until relieved. This was about two hours before daylight. The pickets in the mean time, hear- ing horsemen advancing, sent one of their number back to me to know what to do, as Colonel [Major Thomas] Johnsons command was encamped in the neighborhood, and they fearing to fire for fear it was Johnsons men falling back. I was sitting in the roa2d, mounted, with my men, when three men rode up to us from the rear, who afterward proved to be Colonel Johnson and two of his men. At or about the same time three of the enemy rode up and asked if the front of the column was ahead. I asked what column. They replied the Ninth Pennsylvania. I replied that we were Confederate troops, and ordered them to surrender, which they did, as I ordered my men to prepare. At or near the same time I heard a pistol shot, which I afterward learned was Colonel Johnsons. He shot one of the prisoners. We then fell back and stationed pickets. I then delivered the prisoners over to you (Colonel~ Clay). Colonel Johnson was a prisoner himself until he let himself be known. That was about the time of taking the enemy. These are the facts, as well as I remember. Yours, respectfully, H. H. I)UNCAX, Second Licut. Co. A, First [Third] Batt. Ky. Mounted Rifles. Lieutenant-Colonel CLAY Page 123 CHAP. XXTh.] CARTtRS RAID INTO ~ WNN. AND SW. VA. 123 No. 10. Report of Capt. William W. Baldwin, commanding Cavalry AS~quadron, of operations December 29January 2. KINGSPORT, EAST TENN., January 6, 1863. GENERAL: Youwill, doubtless, have heard of the raid made upon East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia by the notorious renegade Carter and his Abolition crew before this reaches you, but as I was an eye- witness to the whole affair, I propose to give you a brief account of it that you may rely upon. On Monday night, December 29, I was informed by reliable sources that a large Yankee force was passing through Big Moccasin Gap. I immediately threw out a picket force, and found it to be true that a mounted force of about 2,000 was passing rapidly up the Bristol road. I next proceeded to dispatch to the authorities along the line of railroad. My courier to Bristol being cut off by the head of the enemys column, I failed to get the news to Bristol, but reached Jonesborough and Rog- ersville, and, by telegraph, informed General Marshall, at Abingdon, of their approach. General Marshall mustered his infantry and artillery to Bristol Tuesday night, and there lay waiting for the enemy to arrive until he had approached the railroad at Union Depot, .burned the bridge and depot; thence moved down to Carters Depot, burned the bridge at that place, rushed the cars into the river, destroying a large amount of stores, arms, & c. Tuesday evening I tendered my force to General Mar- shall, at Bristol, but was coolly informed that we would have to provide for ourselves and wait for orders. Next morning, being very impatient, I went to General M[arshall] and asked leave to follow up the enemy, harass him upon his rear, and report to the general my discoveries. His reply to me was (turning scornfully upon his heels), By God, when I have orders for you, I will let you know. Captain [B. W.] Jenkins, of his staff, and others, however, in- terfering, prevailed to induce him to send for me about 9 a. m. Wednes- day, and grant me liberty at this late hour to start after him, but with special orders to make no general attack until the word was given by him. Under this sort of orders, I proceeded in search of the enemy in the direction of Union, discovered him 4 miles southwest of Blountsville about 1 p. in., on his backward march, and reported the fact to General Marshall. While harassing him upon his rear, I kept a regular line of couriers to Marshall, advising him fully of all the enemys movements. At 8 p. m. 1 learned, by a dispatch from General Marshall, that his whole force was in motion toward the enemys front. Being encouraged by this information, I pressed close upon him, sent up an advance so close as to fire upon the general and his staff at Kingsport, who were, strangely enough, halting for refreshments in the rear, wounding his aide-de-camp in the hand, took the generals horse, saber, and baggage, saddle, & c., one of his staffs horses and baggage, the balance all mak- ing their escape. This produced no small excitement in the enemys ranks, and, to avoid hastening his retreat in advance of General Mar- shalls intercepting column, I concealed my force in a neighboring wood until he quieted and went into camp. In this way I pursued him, pluck- ing off a few from his rear every now and then until he reached Jones- ville, Va. Here I was full of hope that we should bag up the whole force. But, as might have been expected, Marshall had stationed hi Page 124 124 t~., MID. AND I~. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CRAP. XXXIL force about three-quarters of a mile from where he would pass, and re- served a fire only for the enemys rear, which, like the old mans tuft of grass, only made the youngster laugh; and, pained, disgusted, cha- grined? and disgraced, we were compelled to stand, and, feeling our abuses never so deeply and intensely, see our abusers not only flee un- hurt, but protected in their flight. Besides the great public damage done us by this raid, an almost irreparable daniage is done to private circles in the robbery of horses on the route; almost every serviceable horse on the road has been taken oft by these robbers, so that there are not horses left on this route to cultivate the fields. And now, general, 1 have a few questions to ask you, and through you to ask the War Department: First, then, why did General Marshall hold all his infantry and artil- lery in Abingdon and Bristol until the enemy had burned up the public property at Union and Carter; and why (lid lie still hold his cavalry force in Bristol eight hours after he learned they were returning toward Ken- tuckyl Second. Why did he not, by means of the railroad, throw all his in- fantry and artillery along the line of railroad upon their front, and his cavalry upon his rear, and thus not only prevent all this damage, but bag him on the road i~ Third. After failing in these, why did he hold his cavalry force at Estillville all night, and wait for infantry and artillery to come up, to intercept a retreating cavalry foe? Fourth. After being fully advised of the enemys movements across Clinch Mountain, Powells Mountain, and Waldrous Ridge, in his rapid flight toward Cumberland Mountains, why did lie halt 1,700 ~ava1ry near Pattonsville for nine hours in open daylight? Fifth. After all these strange proceedings, why did he at Jonesville select a position for attack with musketry and rifle forces at moderate range from the enemy~s pass for light artillery, and even then reserve his fire for the rear, the head of the enemys column being 3 to 5 miles iii advance of any force or route to intercept him? Sixth. And why did he, having his force dismounted, order a charge of infantry upon the enemy~s cavalry rear after all these cursed fail- ures? Seventh, and finally, what will be likely to follow such a raid as this, and what will become of the salt works and Bristol and Abingdon, and the railroad, and, in a word, the very backbone of our Confederacy, if Humphrey Marshall is continued in c6rnmand of this department? Ii am in a good place for forage, and will go to Kentucky with Col. [Major] Tom. Johnson soon. I could add to my force of cavalry fast enough here from the scattered old Fifth Kentucky, but cannot raise any infantry. General, will you consent to my raising other companies of rangei cavalry; and will you reconimend me to the War Department for ma ~ority of such command? I can do but little with this small command hut let me have 400 men, and I will make a raid upon the banks of the Ohio River. Very respectfully, and fraternally, W. W. BALDWIN, Captain Gavairy ~Squadron. Brig. Gen. J. S. WILLIAMS, Commanding Second Brigade, d~-e Page 125 CnAP. XXXIT.I CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 125 No. 11. Report of Col. Hiram flawkins, Fifth Kentucky Infantry, of operation8 December 2930. JONESYILLE, VA., January 29, 1863. SIR: At your request, I submit the following report of the operations of my command during the late raid made b~t General Carter: My regiment (310 effective men) was encamped near Abingdon, Va., when on December 30 last, at 2 a. in., i was informed by an officer from your headquarters that you had infor4lation that a large cavalry force of the enemy was in Lee County, destination not known, strength esti- mated at 4,000; that you desired me to hold my command in readiness to move at a moments warning. About 11 a. m. same day I received orders to move my command immediately to the depot and take the cars for Bristol. Moved at once to the depot and reported to you that the cars were gone. You seemed much surprised, and remarked that you had informed the conductor not to move the train without your per- mission, and directed me to remain at the depot until the train could be 6rdered back. The train arrived about dark, but was not ready for some time afterward to take my command on board. Arrived at Bristol about midnight; left the cars and bivouacked until morning (31st), when you informed me that you would not move from Bristol until you could learn something of the movements of the enemy, which you would likely do by the time the remainder of your mounted men would arrive. Late in the evening, when scouts brought information that the enemy was retreating, you informed me that it was your purpose to move under cover of the night to cut off his retreat, and without further orders I would move my command at dusk on Blountsville, accompanied .by Colonel Slemps regiment (Sixty-fourth Virginia) and a section of [George S.] Davidsomis battery, and await further orders~ that the mounted men, not yet ready, would move as soon as ready, and that you would remain at Bristol to await the arrival of more troops on the train, and assist Captain Jeffress to start his battery, which would also follow during the night. When we reached Blountsville, a distance of 9 miles, halted, quar- tered troops in houses (it being very cold). My men had rested about two hours, when you arrived and ordered the column to move at once to Big Moccasin Gap, the mounted men having passed me on the march, and were to move rapidly to that point, head the enemy, and hold him in check until the infantry and artillery could attack his rear. Leaving Bristol at dusk, we marched continuously and rapidly (except the two hours rest at Blountsville), until we arrived at Moccasin Gap, 28 miles; not finding the enemy, we moved to Estillville, and encamped for the night. When I arrived there, Colonel Giltuers regiment was feeding and preparing to move, the remainder of the mounted men hav- ing passed on. You informed me that you were expecting Colonel Dunns regiment and Captain Jeffress battery at Estillville that night; that you were going to press forward during the night with the niounted force to head the enemy, in which event he might attempt his escape by passing in your rear, in which event I must, if possible, intercept him. The next morning at 6 o~clock (January 2) I received a dispatch from you, dated en route, January 1, 10 p. in., ordering me to move my own and Colonel Slemps regiments and the two guns from Davidsons bat- tery by the quickest route to Hickory Flats, leaving Colonel Dunns regi- ment and Captain Jeifress battery to guard Moccasin Gap, in the even Page 126 1126 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL the enemy should be headed and compelled to turn back and attempt his escape through that gap, a thing thought not improbable. My column was put in motion early in the morning for Hickory Flats, moving, briskly, so as to cover the roads leading from the direction the enemy was taking, by way of Speers Ferry and Pattonsville. At 8.30 p. m. I received the following dispatch: Colonel HAWKINS: The enemy is engaged near Hunters Gap, as I hear. My force is now in 7 miles of Jonesville. You take the shortest road to Hunters Gal) with your column, so as to intercept the enemy if he attempts to pass by Pattonsyillo, and to come in his rear if he makes a stand at that point. Follow up through Hunters Gap; if he is ad- vanced beyond that point, on his rear until you reach him. H. MARSHALL, Brigadier-General. The head of my column was then near Pattonsville, at which place I halted for rest, having marched that day (January 2) 20 miles over a muddy road~ had camp fires made, as it was too cold to do without fires, and having no tents or shelter; put out camp guard and a picket on the road leading from Hunters Gap to Pattonsville and Speers Ferry, 10 miles from my command. The picket was detailed from my regiment and put under command of Lieutenant [II. Th] Pridemore, of [Company C] Sixty-fourth Virginia, who knew the country, and mounted on horses impressed for that purpose. This was done that the enemy might not only not surprise me, but to prevent him from gaining my rear and mak- ing his escape by way of Speers Ferry by taking the road 10 miles of my command, which, if he had attempted (being warned by my pickets of his purpose), I could have intercepted him by rapidly countermarch. ing my column on the road I had just passed over. I did not retire for rest that night until 2 a. m. of 3d instant, and at 5 oclock my column was stretched out on the road to Hunters Gap, animated with high hopes of engaging the enemy. In the mean time I dispatched to you that if the enemy attempted to pass by Pattonsville I would intercept hini. If he made a stand at that point, would attack his rear by 10.30 a. m. at farthest. My column con- tinued the march, passing through Huiiters Gap. On arriving at Jones~ ville, was dfrected to go into quarters, the enemy having made his escape. The men of the Fifth Kentucky and Sixty-fourth Virginia Regiments deserve the highest praise for their patient endurance on this march, having moved in three days and nights 70 miles over rough roads, hills, and mountains, and each day crossing a riverone in a small ferry-boat and two in small canoesan inclement season, and without tents or camp equipage of any kind. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. HAWKINS, Colonel Fifth Kentucky Infantry Regiment. General [HUMPHREY] MARSHALL. No. 12. Report of Cot. Campbell Slemp, Sixty-fourth Virginia Infantry, of opera tions December 29January 1. JONESYILLE, VA., January 30, 1863. According to your order [of] December 16, 1862, my regiment was ioved near Bristol, Teun., and was encamped 1 mile north of t1~ Page 127 CkIAP. XXXII.J CARTERS RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SW. VA. 127 place. On the 29th I received your dispatch dated 10.15 p. m. at 11.30 p. in., bearing information that the Federal cavalry were within 45 miles of Bristol at 10 oclock, same date, 4,000 strong, and were marching on that place. I~ communicated at once to Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, at Three Springs, 4 miles distant, according to your instructions, and or- dered scouts upon all the roads. At 2 a. m. 30th, two reliable messengers came to Lieutenant-Colonel Clays encampment and reported the enemy on the Estiliville road, 35 miles distant, at dusk the night before. This information reached me at or near 3 a. m. I rode immediately to the telegraph office at Bristol to communicate to you the information. The operator could not be found; the battery and all his instruments con- cealed, which delayed my information to you until near 8 a. m. No special engine could be had, from the fact that the commander of the post had sent them all off before my arrival, and could not have conveyed you information earlier by horseback. At 8.30 a. m. I received word from Lieutenant-Colonel Clay that the enemy had turned in a southeast di- rection from the Abingdon road in the direction of Blonntsville, Teun.; forks of the road 13 miles distant; Clay situated on Abingdon road, 4 miles distant; scouts had captured two stragglers near forks of the roads. Enemy reported at Blountsville at 10 a. m. My regiment was then 373 strong, available men, and about 100 men, consisting of citizens and a company of about 50 under Captain Troy, at the post, the latter with very common arms and but very little ammunition. This composed my infantry strength. All the cavalry present was Lieutenant-Colonel Clays battalion, consisting 6f about 250 men for duty. This makes my available force at that time but little over 600 men. When it was ob- served that the enemy had left the Abingdon road at Blountsville, Clays force was brought upon the Blountsvilie road, that our whole force might be united for the defense of Bristol, it being the point ordered to defend, and the road by Blountsville being direct to Bristol. At 11 a. m. the enemy was reported within 3 miles of Bristol; we took a position for the defense of the town. At 11.30 a. m. scouts reported the main force gone by way of Union Depot, where one of the bridges was burned, and a picket in force upon the Blountsville road, the enemy in all number- ing about 2,000 strong, partly armed with five-shooters. A special train was then ordered to move my infantry to Union, when two scouts came in and reported the bridge burning at 12.15 p. in., and enemy making threats upon Bristol from that point. Cavalry was thrown forward upon that road, and an infantry picket upon a special train to advance as far as possible without being surprised or taken, and to the bridge, if possi- ble. They did advance as far as the bridge, and found it nearly burned down and the enemy moving in the opposite direction. Bridge fell in before they left. As our force was too small to divide against a superior force like the enemy, at their approach I communicated, through the com- mander of the post at Bristol, to the commander of the post at Union upon the news of the enemys advance, to throw scouts forward upon the road from Blountsville to Union, and to be on the alert, stating the cir- cum stances. We received no information from him until late in the evening,,~tating he and his men (70 available) were surrounded before noon, captured, and paroled. My picket returned between 4 and 5 p. in., and reported Major [Thomas] Johnson arrived with 80 men for duty (mounted). I prepared the command to move in the direction of Blounts- ville, notwithstanding it would have been hazardous with my inferior force, all not amounting to 800, and two-thirds infantry; but receiving information that you were on the road to Bristol with re-enforcements, I awaited your arrival, which was between 11 and 12 p. in., being delaye Page 128 128 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXTL by cars with Colonel Hawkins regiment and some artillery, fl~wkins regiment not numbering over 300 for duty, but no cavalry, which left us in still a bad condition to pursue cavalry. Colonel Giltners regiment of cavalry was on the march for Bristol, and arrived about 2 p. m. 31st, to my recollection. In a short time afterward I received orders from yon to have my regiment in readiness and to march at dusk with three days rations. Accordingly, my regiment moved at dark in the direc- tion of Blountsville, and arrived at Blonntsville abont 1 a. m. January 1, a distance of 9 miles. Within an hour afterward you arrived, and gave orders to resume the march to Moccasin Gap immediately, distant from Blountsville 17 miles. At sunrise we were within 11 miles of the gap, and marched in quick time until within about 6 miles of the gap, when we learned the enemy had gone in the direction of Rogersville, Teun. I then gave my men a little more time, and arrived at the gap about ip. in., the enemy being on the march on the iRogersville road, and proceeded to Estiliville without halting. There I received orders to move to Speers Ferry, 10 miles farther, and all other orders on the march were received from Col. II. Hawkins, senior to myself. Very respectfully, yonr obedient servant, C. SLEMP, Colonel Sixty-fourth Virginia Regiment. Brigadier-General MARSHALL. No. 13. Report of ]J/Iaj. Isaac B. Dunn, relative to operations December 29-Jan uary 1. GOODSON, VA., January 5, 1863. DEAR Sin: After my last letter to you, in which I advised you of the disorganized and scattered condition of General Marshalls command, and reporting the doings of a portion of his command near by my resi- dence, but six days had transpired before a courier from Lee County called me out of bed at 2.30 a. m. Tuesday, informing me that a column of Yankee cavalry (variously estimated at from 1,500 to 4,000) had reached Pattonsville at 1 p. m. Monday, and were advancing upon Bris- tol, and would reach the railroad before daylight, passing my house, which is on the public road, 3 miles west of the Bristol depot. I sent runners to all my neighbors, and got them in arms, and then at daylight proceeded to the camp of [Lieutenant-jColonel Clay~ which was, as stated in a former letter, 1 mile from my house. I found them disorganized, confused, and apparently utterly at a loss to know what to do. Colonel Clay had been iiotified by General Marshall, from Abingdon, that a Yankee force was advancing upon him. He had thrown a picket down the road, for he was encamped upon the road by which they were ap- proaching Bristol. Colonel [Maj. Thomas] Johnson, of Kentucky, who had been at Abingdon, had brought intelligence from General [Marshall] to Colonel Clay of the Yankee approach; was proceeding with all pos- sible haste to his command (350 men), encamped below Kingsport, 2 miles west, at Ross Camp-Ground, fearful they would be cut off, the Yankees being then 6 miles distant from Colonel Clays camp, and be- tween Clay and Colonel Johnsons command, the latter being entirely in their rear. Six miles west of Colonel Clays camp Colonel John~n met Clays scouts returning ~t full speed, cautioning him that the eneip Page 129 ~ITAP. XXXII.] CARTER S RAID INTO E. TENN. AND SXV. VA. 129 were approaching in very heavy force close by. This was about 5 a. m. Tuesday. Colonel Johnson at once halted with two of his men, who were in company (one unarmed), and waited the advance of the Yankee column. Drawing his revolver, he ordered his armed companion to do likewise, and but a moment had elapsed before three men (the advance of Carters Abolition army) halted in his front not more than 15 feet from him, asking at the same time if they were not a part of the Ninth Penn- sylvania. Colonel Johnson made no reply, but ordered them to surren- der. One of them, a sergeant, made a motion to draw his pistol, when Colonel Johnson fired and killed him; the other two surrendered, and were turned back prisoners, and returned with horses and guns (of the dead man also) to Colonel Clays camp. The main column of the enemy was not over 100 yards in rear of this advance guard. They counter- marched immediately, entered an old field a quarter [of a mile] in rear of their turning point, deployed in line of battle, remained until sunrise, then returned by the road they had come some mile or more, and took a right.hand road to Blountsville and Union. No one doubts but their first intention was to burn Bristol and take possession of all the trains, stores, & c., and destroy them first, which could have been as easily done as to take Union and destroy the bridges at that point. The appearance of a force in front on this route deterred them. I suggested, when I reached Colonel Clays camp, that he should scout all the roads leading to Blountsville and Union, find out where the enemy was, and then act accordingly; and after giving him all the information I possessed in re- gard to the roads and country, proposed to go with his scouts and place them over all the different routes (three in number) and aid them in finding out what course the enemy had taken. This he consented to, and, after scouting all the roads in the direction of Union and Blounts- ville, by 12 or 1 p. m. found the enemy at Blonntsville; a portion having advanced to Union, burned the depot and railroad bridge and county bridge, proceeding next in the direction of Watauga Bridge, on same evening (Tuesday), and burned that. General Marshall had news, by telegraphic communication from Morristown, Tenn., of their approach at 10 p. m. Monday. He ordered Clay and Colonel Slemps infantry to take position at Bristol and defend the railroad if attacked. He never reached Bristol until Wednesday morning at 1 oclock, as he told me. Colonel McClelland and myself called on Colonel Marshall Wednesday morning, gave him an idea of the country, and proposed to map the same for him. This duty devolved upon Mr. Blair and myself while Colonel McClelland proposed to lead a party of scouts in the direction of Blountsville and Union, and find out enemys position and report. General Marshall had at Bristol and near by Clays battalion (near 450 men, cavalry) and Colonel Slemps regiment (in 1 mile) of infantry (about 750 men); besides, he had in rear of Yankees at Kingsport Colonel Johnsons command (over 300 men, cavalry); in all, 1,500 effi. cient men, on the ground, to meet this invasion of not over 1,200 to 1,500 Abolitionists, who were jaded and worn out, sleeping on their horses, and leaving their caps, coats, oil-cloths, and arms along the road. So jaded and worn out were they that the officers had to be traversing the line from one end to the other continually, pricking up the horses with their sabers and closipg np the column scattered for 2 to 3 miles along the road, four-fifths of them asleep, having been riding constantly day and night for five days; so say the prisoners taken by Colonel Johnson. On Wednesday noon Colonel Giltuers regiment of cavalry (800 8trOng) filed into Bristol and went into camp. Wednesday night Gen- 9 R 11VOL XX, PT Page 130 130 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL eral Jenkins men (1,000 strong) reached [there] by rail, two batteries (Davis [Davidsons] and Jeffress, eight guns) having reached [there] the day before. I continued with General Marshall throughout Wed- nesday,. and had provided him a map of the railroad and all the stations to Bulls Gap, and all the approaches to same, as well as Mr. Blair and myself could do, and he slept over our explanations in his chair as perfectly imbecile as you could imagine. Wednesday evening scouts reported Yankees returning from Watauga Bridge (which they had burned) to Blountsville or near by (9 miles from Bristol), where they had encamped. Not a man of the command of General Marshall was moved in the direction of the enemy until after nightfall on Wednesday. General Marshall and staff had horses before the hotel at 4 p. m. on Wednesday, and did not get mounted until 1 a. m. Thursday, as I am informed. The cause I will not make known, as it is no purpose of mine to prefer charges. Wednesday night Marshall moved Clays battalion, Slemps infantry regiment, and four pieces under Jeifress and Davis [Davidson] from Bristol in the direction of Moccasin Gap, while he had called in from Kingsport Colonel Johnsons command, and that also returned with the troops first stated. On Thursday the Yankees encamped at Kingsport, 16 miles west of Blountsville, moving perfectly at their leisure, and, retracing their course, encamped at Kingsport (near by) without even posting a picket guard. Four of Capt. W. W. Baldwins cavalry scouts went up to Pierces tavern, in the east end of Kingsport, when General [S. P.] Carter and staff were eating supper, called them out of the house and shot at them, wounding an aide of General Carter in the hand, and, report says, Carter also. The whole Yankee party retreated by the back way of the house and fled on foot, guided by one of Pierces negroes, leaving their horses hitched to the rack, which were taken by Baldwins men. Captain Bald- win had stopped to feed and rest his men 4 miles in rear of Kingsport. Such is the character of the raid upon our country; it is useless to say disgraceful. The damage is small; nothing was interrupted except to take all the horses, watches, & c., of loyal citizens, to seize and parole all the prisoners they could find, and destroy two bridges (worth prob- ably $50,000 to construct them), with small amount of stores at each place, and the injury to one ~ engine, run into the river at Watauga. The greatest injury is the confidence afforded to the Union sentiment in East Tennessee, for already they have commenced bush- whacking in Carter County, and several persons have been killed. It is no part of my purpose in this letter to find fault with any man- agement or lay blame in any quarter. My report is one of facts, known to myself and the country, and cannot be gainsaid. In conclusion, let us have at least a fighting man to lead our men and our people. No one here will fail to see then that, while nothing has been accomplished by our men for want of proper officers, much could have been effected with active and efficient generalship. General Jones, I learn, reached Abing- don, but made no move west of that point that I know of. General Floyd, of Virginia State Line, was also at Abingdon, as I hear re- ported. The Yankees were four hours destroying the trestle-bridge at Union. it had been recently constructed of green timber, was uncov- ered, and they had to cut it down piece by piece, and let it fall into the river. Please show this to the Secretary of War. You will see I had first directed it to him, but concluded it would look like anticipating Mar- shalls report, and I send it to you, that you may see how this thin Page 131 CHAP. XXXIT.] SKIRMISH ON WILSON CREEK PIKE, TENN. 131 has been butchered. Had we had such a man as Stuart or Forrest or Jones, or any leader at all, not a man of them could have escaped. Our people are disappointed, for they see, with ample force iu our midst, a Yankee army can invade us with impunity and stir up the worst feelings of those Union devils who live around and in our very midst. I have made this letter too long, and hope you will excuse the liberty I take in writing it at all. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ISAAC B. DUNN. Hon. J. H. TUCKER, Richmond, Va. DECEMBER 21, 1862.Skirmish on the Wilson Creek Pike, Tenn. Report of Capt. Prank W. Mix, Fourth Michigan Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY, Camp Rosecrans, December 21, 1862. COLONEL: In obedience to orders I received last evening, I left camp this morning at 6 oclock with 24 men of Company B and 25 of Company A, under command of Li~eutenant Anderson, to report to General Neg- ley, on the Franklin pike, as an escort for a forage train. I arrived at General Negleys headquarters at 7.30 oclock, and was informed that I was to take my command out to the fork of the Franklin and Wilson Creek pike for picket duty. I informed the general I did not come pre- pared, as my men had no rations with them. He then ordered me to go out on the road, until I found the forage train, and to scour the country on both sides of the Wilson Creek pike, and gather what information I could. I found nothing worthy of mentioning until I came up witli his train, about 4 miles out on the Wilson pike. There I found two regi- ments of infantry, one section of artillery, and 30 of the Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, under the command of Colonel Stanley. I reported to him; he informed me that the Kentucky cavalry were skirmishing with some of the enemys cavalry off at the left of the pike, and wished me to go there with my command, and also take command of the Fifth Kentucky company, and to use my own judgment what course to pursue. I went down there, and found our men in an open piece of timber, firing away, and the enemy in a narrow lane, behind a stone wall. I at first dis- mounted my men (being armed with Colts rifles, I could not use them on the horses), and went at them dismounted, but I soon found dut that I would have to resort to some other way to get them away from the wall. I accordingly ordered my men to mount, and I started for the road, or lane, which they were in, with Company B in advance, and Third Ken- tucky in the rear. I started off at a brisk gallop, and as I came up on a line of the wall, I received a volley from them, wounding Sergeant Mc- Intire, of Company B, who was in advance with me. They fired another volley at us, when they broke and ran; some going off to the left of the road~ while the main body went down the road, with our boys close to their heels, firing at them at every chance. We soon passed those on the left of us, and I had made up my mind to cut them off at my leisure, and should have done so if it had not been for a lieutenant, who is, I believe, an aide-de~camp for Colonel Stanley, who, seeing those fellow Page 132 132 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. come up, told some of Company B to go in there affer them. I did not know anything of it until I had got up to within about four rods of the enemy; had fired every round from my pistol, and was fast gaining on thei~i. I looked back to see if my men were all ready for them, and not a man was with me except Sergeant Melntire, who, although wounded in the leg, kept close to my side. I soon made up my mind I had gone far enough. I went back and found most of the men in the lot, with this lieutenant picking them up there. It was now too late to think of overtaking them, but, thinking some of them .might be in the woods, I dismounted Companies A and B, and skirmished through the woods and got 1 prisoner by the operation; in all we got 6 prisoners; killed 2, wounded 1, and came out ourselves with only 1 wounded. The men all behaved nobly, and, although the bullets fell thick and fast, not one faltered, but did his best to keep up. I cannot speak too highly of Sergeant Mclntire, who, although wounded, showed coolness and cour- age not often exhibited by older and more experienced soldiers. Had it not been for the interference of the lieutenant, I am confident that we might have captured a fine lot of them. We went back and reported to Colonel Stanley, who took the prisoners in charge, wheii we started for camp, arriving here at 5 p. m. I am your most obedient servant, F. W. MIX, Captain Fourth ]Ilichigan Cavalry. Col. B. H. G. MINTY. DECEMBER 22, 1862JANUARY 2,1863.Morgans second Kentucky raid. SUMMARY OF TELE PIRIiNCIPAL EVEINTS. Dec. 22, 1 862.Morgans command sets out from Alexandria, Teun., and crosses the Cumberland River. 24, 1862.Skirmish at Glasgow, Ky. 25,1862.Skirmish on the Burkesville road, near Greens Chapel, Ky. Skirmish at Bear Wallow, Ky. 26, 1862.Skirmish at Bacon Creek, near Munfordville, Ky. Capture of stockade at Nolin, Ky. 27, 1862.Capture of Union forces at Elizabetlitown, Ky. 28, 1862.Skirmish at Muidraughs Hill, Ky. 29, 1862.Skirmish near Johnsons Ferry (or Hamiltons Ford), RollingFork, Ky. Capture of stockade at Boston, Ky. 30, 1862.Affair at Springfield, Ky. Skirmish at New Haven, Ky. 31, 1862.Affair at Muldraughs Hill, near New Market, Ky. Jan. 2, 1863.Morgans command recrosses the Camberland River. REPORTS. No. 1.Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio. No. 2.Brig. Gen. Jeremiah T. Boyle, U,. S. Army, commanding District of Western Kentucky. No. 3.Col. John M. Harlan, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade, includ- ing skirmish near Johnsons Ferry, Ky. No. 4.Col. William A. Hoskius, Twelfth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade, including affair at Springfield, Ky Page 133 CHAP. XXXII.] MORGANS SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. 133 No. 5.Col. Edward H. Hobson, Thirteenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding at Mun- fordville, including skirmishes at Glasgow, near Greens Chapel, at Bear Wallow, aiid at Bacon Creek, Ky. No. 43.Capt. Fi~nk W. Dickey, Second Michigan Cavalry, of skirmish at Glasgow, Ky. No. 7.Col. Isaac P. Gray, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, of skirmish near Greens Chapel, Ky. No. 8.Col. William H. Benneson, Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry, of skirmish at New Haven, Ky. No. 9.Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan, C. S. Army, commanding expedition. No. 1. Report of ]Ifaj. Gem. Horatio U. Wright, U. S. Ar my, commanding Depart ment of the Ohio. HEADQUARTERS, Cincinnati, Ohio, December 31, 1862. A force of cavalry from Braggs army having crossed the Cumberland at Hartsville, and proceeding via Glasgow, have made a raid on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, occasioning considerable damage, and cutting, for a time, the commhnication with General iRosecrans. The rebels, under Morgan, first made an attack on Munfordville, but are reported to have been three times repulsed. Leaving this place, and penetrating between our forces, they fell upon and captured the smaller posts at Elizabethtown and Mnldraughs Hill, burning the tres- tle-work near latter. This is the most serious damage to the road. At Rolling Fork the rebels were also repulsed, and at last advices were moving eastward. It is hoped the dispositions made of our forces may result in their capture, though, as our mounted force is inferior, it can- not be looked upon as certain. The Cumberland is now navigable, and supplies are being sent that way to General Rosecrans, so that the result of the raid will not be very important. As soon as the reports called for are received, a full report will be made. Last reports from Nashville were that Rosecrans was in sight of Murfreesborongh Monday night, after severe skirmishing, and a battle expected Tuesday. II. G. WRIGHT, Major- General. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK. No. 2. Reparts of Brig. Gem. Jeremiah ft. Boyle, U. S. Army, commanding Dis - trict of Western Kentucky.* LOUISVILLE, Kr., December 30, 1862. Colonel Harlan fell on Morgans rear and killed and wounded a number of rebels. Among them. Col. Basil W. Duke was wounded. Captured 1 captain and 6 privates. There was brisk fighting for one hour and a half when the rebels retreated. We lost 2 killed and 3 wounded Lieutenant Pollis, of the artillery, since died. Rolling Fork Bridge not injured. Morgan retreated toward Bardstowu. My pickets 22 miles in the direction of Bardstown, at Salt River. Saw no signs of the enemy, but heard from many persons that Morgan was in Bardstown last night, and left this morning at 8 oclock, going eastward, toward Springfield. * See also Correspondence, ctc., Dcccmbcr 24, 1862January 3, 1863, Part LI Page 134 134 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [OrrAp. XXXIL Three or four hundred of Morgans men attacked the stockade at New Haven, but were twice repulsed, with some loss, not known. New Haven Bridge safe. At last accounts my men report one or two companies of Morgaj~s men going to Bloomfield. J. T. BOYLE, Major-General WRIGIIT. Brigadier-General. LOUIsVILLE, Ky., January 1, 1863..11 p. m. Rebel General Morgan crossed Cumberland River, cut off Nashville at Gainesborough, and appeared in front of Munfordyille on 25th December. Colonel Hobson, Thirteenth Kentucky, drove part of his force, killing 9 and capturing 16. Morgan crossed Green River above Munfordville, and moved in direction of Elizabethtown, burning bridge at Bacon Creek and Nolin. He destroyed trestle-work at Muidraughs Hill, and moved for Rolling Fork. Colonel Harlan, of Tenth Kentucky, commanding brigade, overtook at Rolling Fork and attacked him, kill- ing and wounding a number and capturing a captain and some privates. Colonel Duke (rebel) died of wounds, and one of our lieutenants of artil- lery. Colonel Harlan crossed, pursued, and attacked him at Rolling Fork, Salt River Bridge. This is first instance, I believe, of infantry waiting and attacking cavalry. Morgan fled before Harlan to Bardstown, and from there attempted to escape between Lebanon and Campbellsville. Colonel iloskins, Twelfth Kentucky, commanding there, attacked him this morning, killing a number and capturing 90 men, his caissons, and ammunition wagons. Morgan is flying precipitately. General Rey- nolds marched from Glasgow yesterday for Greensburg, and may inter- cept him. Colonel ilalisy, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, killed. Our cas- ualties not yet reported. Morgan has paid dearly for what he has done. I have sent boats up Green River to Bowling Green, whence railroad is in order to Nashville, with provisions for ~ army. Also sent boats up Cumberland. With control of gunboats on Cumberland, can easily supply General Rosecrans army. General Rosecrans occupies Murfreesborough. J. T. DOYLE, Brigadier- General. His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States. No. 3. - Reports of Got. John 111. Harlan, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding brigade, including skirmish near Johnsons Ferry, Ky. BOWLING GREEN, Ky., December 26, 18628.15 p. m. COLONEL: Delayed to-day by condition of road; loads too heavy for engines. One engine became entirely useless at South Tunnel, and one train delayed there until engine caine from Nashville. All the trains will be here by 9 oclock. You have been advised, as I learn by Colonel Hobson, of the success of the rebels at Bacon Creek stock- ade, and the destruction by them of 2 miles of road. Not believed her Page 135 CHAP. ~XXTh] MORGAN~S SECOND I{tNtTJCKY RAID6 135 that Morgan has any force south of Green River, and the impression is that the track is all right as far as Cave City and Munfordville, but no certain facts are known upon which to base the opinion. Shall I go on in the cars to~night, under these circumstances, or wait until daylight ~l General Manson says he has positive information that the track was right last night at Cave City, but knows nothing definite as to track beyond that point. M. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade. Col. J. P. GAREsdu~. MUNFORDVILLE, December 29, 1862. GENERAL: Came up with Morgan to-daymouth of Beech Fork, on Rolling Fork, 10 miles from Elizabethtown, on Bardstown road. I formed in line, advanced skirmishers, who engaged the enemys skir- mishers with great spirit. Part of Morgans men had crossed the river before we arrived, and were driven across with some confusion. Many had to swim; many fled up the river to Boston Ford, beyond pursuit. Think Morgan is aiming for Bardstown, and designs to destroy Shep- herdsville Bridge, if possible. He destroyed the trestle-work; he did it before I arrived, and I learn that he has destroyed Rolling Fork Bridge, but not certain; will know in a few hours. I had a lieutenant and several men wounded, 2 killed; number of rebel horses were killed by our artillery. If Rolling Fork Bridge is not destroyed, I will go there to-night and save it. I would have saved the road, I think, but for delay occasioned by engines on the road. Skirmishers behaved well. JOHN M. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding. Major-General ROSECRANS. ROLLING FORK BRIDGE, December 30, 1862. GENERAL: On the night of the 26th, I left Gallatin, with orders to come to Cave City and drive Morgan from the railroad. When I reached Bowling Green, I received additional orders to come on to Munford- ville, and drove him from that vicinity. As he followed the line of the railroad, I continued the pursuit, and came up with him yesterday morn- ing at 10 oclock, near Johnsons Ferry, about 5 miles above this point. When my artillery opened, two of his regiments and two pieces of ar- tillery were within a half mile of the bridge here, and about to make an attack. The noise of my guns induced them to move back up the river, and abandon the attempt on this bridge. My close pursuit of him saved this bridge. A part of his force crossed l~ miles higher up the river, above the month of Beech Fork. Two hundred went up the river to- ward New Haven. After driving them across the river, I rested until 12 oclock p. in., and then came to this place, reaching it at daybreak. My men were worn out and their rations exhausted, and in the swollen state of the river it would have been difficult for my infantry to cross. I feared, besides, that Morgan would whip around and make an attempt on this point. I am in doubt as to what I should do, and desire you to com- municate with me at once. I think the time has come for Morgan either to retreat in the direction of Glasgow or Somerset, or to move on into Central Kentucky Page 136 AND tL tENN~., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXIL I am satisfied that~ if I abandon this point, the bridge will be de- stroyed as soon as it is known that there are but two companies here and hence I do not feel that I ought to go beyond here without orders, under the circumstances by which I am siitrrounded. I consider myself subject to your orders. All my camp equipage is at Gallatin. Tell me what I must do. If Morgan goes into Central Kentucky, I cannot pos- sibly overtake him by my almost thoroughly exhausted infantry but it may be that some arrangement could be made to render my brigade serviceable in driving Morgan, and saving particular localities of im- portance. It is for you to determine what is to be done. I could have saved the road but for defective engines furnished at Nashville and Bowling Green LO convey my troops. The engine seemed to get out of order just at the wrong time; that delayed me thirty-six hours. The rear train, conveying the Fourth Kentucky and part of battery, did not arrive at Munfordville until 10 oclock on Sunday night. The trestle-work was destroyed Monday after dinner. I left Munfordville 3 oclock Monday morning. The road between Munfordyille and Bowl- ing Green is all right; and between Munfordville and Elizabethtown the damage is not very great, consisting mainly in the destruction of the bridges, which can be easily repaired. The telegraph is injured a good deal. Whether I am to halt here or go on, I need 1,000 pairs of shoes and 2,000 pairs of socks. My men will suffer unless supplied. If it is clear that I have complied with my orders, then I suppose that I should re- turn to Gallatin, nuless the higher authorities in Kentucky think that my remaining here is necessary to aid in keeping the army supplied with provisions. Let me hear from you fully, and I will endeavor to communicate with you to-day by telegraph (pocket instrument). May not Morgan also make a dash on the bridge at Frankfort ~ He could reach that point from Bardstown, but I fear that his main object of attack is the bridge at Shepherdsville. That is the opinion at depart- ment headquarters, as I learn. I have now out numerous scouts to ascertain, if possible, whether Morgan is crossing from Boston and Bardstown to Shepherdsville. If I find that he is on his way to Shep- herdsville, I will attack him on the way or endeavor to get in his rear. Yours, truly, JOHN M. HARLAN, colonel C Brig. Gen. ~ T. BOYLE. , ommanding & eond Brigade. LEBANON JUNCTIoN, January 1, 1863. GENERAL: A dispatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Holeman, command- ing at Lebanon, says Morgans forces encamped at Muldraughs Hill, 8 miles from here, on Columbia road, last night. Colonels Hoskins and Reid are pursuing with their commands. When last heard from, Colo- nel Hoskins was close upon his rear, near Campbellsville, at 12 oclock to-day. Colonel ilalisy, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, was murdered last night by Morgans men; his body is here. Was shot, after he had sur- rendered, by a rebel officer. We have captured about 90 of Morgans men to-day, considerable quantity of arms, ammunition, & c. I will send messenger to ilobson and Reynolds. JOHN M. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade. Brig. Gen. J. T. BOYLE Page 137 (~HAi~. XXXII.J MORGANS St~COND RENTtIOItY RAID. 137 MUNFOUDViLLE, HART COUNTY, Ky., January 5, 1863 CAPTAIN: At a late hour during the night of the 25th of December, while encamped at Gallatin, Tenn., I received through the division com- mander an order from the general commanding the department to pro- ceed with my brigade, by rail, to Bowling Green and Cave City, and drive from the line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad the rel)el cavalry of Morgan, then north of the Cumberland River, and meditating, as was supposed, the destruction of that railroad. At that time Morgan was supposed to be south of Green River, and at some point in the vicinity of Cave City or Glasgow. The cars to convey my troops were to come from Nashville, and on the morning of the 26th instant (and without unnecessary delay after the arrival of the transportation), I left Gallatin with my command, five regiments of infantry, and Southwicks battery of artillery. Simultaneously with this movement the Twelfth Division, under that accomplished and able officer, Brig. Gen. 5. 5. Rey- nolds, marched toward Scottsville and Glasgow, with a view to inter- cept Morgan, in theevent that he was driven back in the direction of either of those points. Three trains of cars, each drawn by one engine, was the amount of transportation furnished me by the railroad authori- ties at Nashville. The cars were barely sufficient to contain the men, horses, and guns of the brigade, and subsequent developments proved either that the engines furnished were very defective or that enough engines were not furnished, for when the rear train, containing the Fourth Kentucky Infantry (Colonel Croxton), three companies of the Seventy-fourth Indiana, the battery horses, and a part of the battery, reached South Tunnel, 6 miles north of Gallatin, the engine attached thereto became entirely useless, and the train was delayed until another engine could be sent from Nashville. While the rear train was halted at South Tunnel, waiting for anothor engine, the passenger train from Nashville (Conductor Taylor), arrived, but the conductor refused to per- mit his engine to be used to forward any rear train, notwithstanding Colo- nel Croxton advised him of the great importance of the expedition upon which the brigade was sent, and the imminent danger which might re- sult to the entire road from any delay. This I learn from Colonel Croxton. I have no personal knowledge of these facts, since I was in the advance train, some distance ahead of the rear train. Whether the conductor is to be blamed for refusing to permit his engine to be detached for the purpose indicated, I do not J)retend to say; that is for others to judge; my duty is simply to state the facts. It may be proper also to state that the track of the railroad was, when I left Gallatin, in bad condition, from recent rain, though that difficulty might have been obviated had more engines been furnished. rfhis unfortunate detention delayed the rear train, so that it did not reach Bowling Green until 10 oclock of the night of the 26th. For that detentionlamnotinanywiseresponsible,asthoseconcernedreceived from me full information as to the number of men, horses, and guns for which transportation would be required. After my arrival at Bowling Green, I learned that all of Morgans force was most probably north of Munfordville, beyond the points to which I had been ordered,and it was evident that I must follow him beyond that place, in order to save any part of the railroad from destruc- tion. It was not certainly known upon my arrival at Bowling Green whether the track was clear to Munfordville; but as soon as it was ascertaine Page 138 138 KY., MID.~ AND Th.. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. to be safe to proceed farther by rail (which I did in part through dis- patches from Col. E. H. Hobson, commanding at Munfordyille, to Gen. eral Manson, at Bowling Green), I determined to push forward and save as much of the railroad as it was possible to do. After supplying my command with one day~s rations at Bowling Green (which were very kindly supplied by General Manson), I started for Munfordville. When, however, the rear train had gone about 10 miles from Bowling Green, its engine got entirely out of order, and it became necessary to send back to Bowling Green for another one. This second unfortunate detention delayed the rear train, so that it did not reach Munfordville untiL 10 oclock at night of the 27th. My command was disembarked immediately. Here I should state that the battery and other horses of the brigade had been on the cars for nearly forty hours, without a drop of water or a pound of forage. They were fed as well as the supplies would permit; nothing but corn could be obtained at Munfordville to feed them. My men, wearied and fatigued by loss of sleep and the crowded con- dition of the cars, as much fatigued as if they had been marching, lay down upon the damp ground, without tents to shelter them, to rest as best they could. Though I had received from the division commander at Cave City a dispatch ordering me to proceed to Munfordville and drive Morgan from that vicinity, I conceived it to be my duty, under my orders, to go even farther, for Ii believed that Morgan, if unchecked, would destroy every bridge and structure on the entire road, thus inter- fering very materially with supplies for the main army beyond Nash- ville. He had then destroyed the Bacon Creek and Kolin Creek bridges, and had probably destroyed the bridge near Elizabethtown, and cap- tured our forces there, as he had already captured those at Bacon Creek and Noun. My only hope, then, was to save the immense trestle-work at Muldraughs Hill; and,failing in that, to save the bridges over Rolling Fork, near Lebanon Junction, and over Salt River, at Shepherdsville. These, or any one of these, results I conceived to be of vital importance tothearmy,andlappealedtotheofficersandmenof my command to bear up under any privations in order to accomplish it. After resting my men but a few hours, I left Munfordville at 3 oclock on the morning of the 28th with my brigade, and also with the Thir- teenth Kentucky Infantry, Major Hobson, and Twelfth Kentucky Cav- alry, Colonel Shanks, in all about 2,900 effective men. These last two regiments constituted a part of Colonel Hobsons command at Munford- ville, and were detached at my request to accompany me in the expedi- tion. On the route from Munfordville to Elizabethtown no enemy was seen; but upon my arrival at Elizabethtown, on the morning of the 29th, I learned that Morgan had destroyed the trestle-work on the very day upon which I left Munfordville, and had, the previous night, encamped 10 miles from Elizabethtown, on the Rolling Fork, where the Elizabeth- town and Bardstown road crosses that stream. I marched immediately in that direction, ordering the cavalry to go far in advance. When 1 had gone about 5 miles from Elizabethtown, information reached me that the rebels were, in fact, at the place sup- posed, and would probably soon cross the river. A section of South- wicks battery was ordered to join the cavalry, and, in conjunction with it, to detain the rebels at the crossing until the infantry arrived. When Colonel Shanks arrived within a mile of the crossing, he discovered, in the plain below (our road from Elizabethtowu was on a high ridge of Muldraughs Hill), a body of rebel cavalry, upon whom he ordered th Page 139 139 CHAP. XXXII.] MORGAN~S SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. artillery to open, which was promptly executed, resulting in the rapid dispersion of the rebels. The infantry were ordered up double-quick. I went to the front in person, and from a high hill I saw quite distinctly a very large body of cavalry f~ormed in line of battle near the river. Their officers were riding along their line, apparently preparing to give us battle. Knowing that Morgan had a larger force than I had, I proceeded cautiously, and yet as expeditiously as the nature of the ground and the circumstances admitted. My men were formed in two lines; skir- mishers were thrown out from both infantry and cavalry, covering our whole front, and were ordered to advance and engage the enemy, the whole line following in close supporting distance. The firing com- menced on the part of the rebels, on our left; it was promptly and vig- orously responded to by my skirmishers and the artillery. After a while the rebels were driven away, and they then made some demon- strations to occupy an eminence upon my right. To meet this movement the Tenth Indiana (Colonel Carroll) was ordered to occupy that emi- nence, from which four companies were ordered to clear the woods on the right of my line. The Fourth Kentucky, Colonel Croxton; Four- teenth Ohio, Colonel Este; Seventy-fourth Indiana, Colonel Chapman, were ordered to form on the left of the Tenth Indiana. A section of the battery was ordered to occupy the eminence, and the Tenth Ken- tucky, Lieutenant-Colonel Hays, ordered to support it. This left the Thirteenth Kentucky, Major Hobson, on my left, supporting the section of the battery stationed there. The firing now became general all along the right of our line of skirmishers; but the rebels, after an obstinate resistance, broke and fled precipitately in every direction. Some struck out into the woods; some went up the river as far as New Haven; some swam the river with their horses. Farther pursuit that evening was impracticable, and I may say impossible, in the exhausted state of my men, they having left Munfordville Sunday morning and come up with the enemy the succeeding day at 1 oclock43 miles distant. The casualties in my command were as follows, viz: Lieut.HenryW. Pollis, of Southwicks battery (Company C, First Ohio Volunteer Artil- lery), fell at his post, mortally wounded. He died the~ succeeding day. He was a promising young officer, and his loss will be severely felt. Private Louis W. Finney, Company I, Tenth Indiana Yolnnteer~, was also mortally wounded, and died the 30th. Private John C. Osborn, Company A, Tenth ludiana, slightly wounded. Thomas J. Burton, Company F, Fourth Kentucky Volunteers, was killed instantly. The number of killed and wounded among the rebels I have not had an opportunity to ascertain, because, for the most part, they fought under cover of a thick, heavy woods, and we marched away from the scene of conflict shortly after its conclusion, for reasons hereinafter stated. It is certain, however, that among the wounded was General Basil W. Duke, commanding a brigade under Morgan, and who is be- lieved to be the life and soul of all the movements of the latter; and near where he was seen during the engagement 10 dead horses were found within a space of 20 feet square, the work of the section of Southwicks battery on the left. Some of the citizens in the vicinity informed me that the rebel wounded were taken off and some of their dead thrown into the river; whether this is true or not I will not pretend to say. The rebels encamped that night near Boston, Nelson County. Their camp was equally distant with mine from the Rolling Fork Bridge, which was believed at Elizabethtown to have been destroyed; but not being satistled that such was the case, I dispatched a i~iessenger to tha Page 140 140 ItY., MID. AND E. TEWN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXIt point, who returned at 11.30 oclock in the night with the information that that bridge was still safe. My men were immediately, and at midnight I started for the bridge, reaching it before daylight of the 30th, ~nd encamped on the south side of it. Thus was this important structure saved. Its safety is, however, attributable in part to circum- stances which may appear singular, but which, nevertheless, actually transpired. On the morning of the 29th, two of Morgans regiments and a portion of his artillery marched from their camp, on Rolling Fork, to the bridge (only 44~ miles distant), to destroy it, and at the same time capture our forces there. The garrison at that place constituted only two compa- nies. The rebels reached the vicinity of the bridge, and were about to commence an attack, when the firing by my advance upon the remainder of their forces notified them that an enemy was near at hand. They immediately commenced a rapid movement back to their camp, aban- doned the attack upon our forces at the bridge, and joined the remainder of the rebel forces by the time that the infantry came up with my ad- vance. They arrived in time to participate in the scenes already de- scribed. Upon my arrival at the Rolling Fork Bridge, I reported to the general commanding the district in which I was operating (General Boyle) for orders. He ordered me to remain in camp at the bridge, rest my men, protect the bridge, and hold myself in readiness to meet an ~ittack on the long bridge over Salt River at Shepherdsville, 20 miles from Louisville. On the morning of the 31st I crossed over to the north side of the Rolling Fork, in obedience to orders from General Boyle, to resist an attack which the commandant at Shepherdsville believed would be made upon him that day. iNo attack having been made, I halted, under General Boyles orders, at Lebanon Junction until January 4, when I received orders to return to Gallatin. I am now en route with my bri- gade for that place, and will leave here as soon as transportation is afforded. I do not suppose that the engagement which my command had with Morgans forces could properly be called a battle, the main bodies of the respective fkwces not being engaged. It was simply brisk skirmish- ing, ex~hibiting the utmost willingness, even anxiety, on the part of all the officers and men under my command, though outnumbered by the enemy in every respect, to engage him at all hazards; and, on the part of the rebel chieftain and his men, an entire unwillingness to meet them upon any fair terms. Every circumstance on the occasion indicated to my command that the enemy were disposed to give us battle in force, yet nowhere, along the whole line, was there to be observed any, even the slightest, faltering by either officers or men. To Colonels Este, Chapman, Carroll, Croxton, and Shanks, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Hays, Major ilobson, Captain Southwick, of the battery, and to all their brother officers, I return my thanks for the promptness and cheerfulness with which, on the line of march, they executed all my orders. To the members of my staff, Lieutenants Lisle, McKay, and Simpson, and to Capt. Wellington Harlan, volunteer aide, I am indebted for the most valuable services rendered throughout the entire expedi- tion. More efficient and competent officers are not to be found in the service. The men under my command deserve the thanks of the country for the cheerfulness with which, with insufficient food and rest, they bore up under the severest privations, determined to do all within the power of man to perform the important duty assigned them by the general commanding the department Page 141 CHAP. XXXII.] 141 MORGANS SECOND KENTUUKY RAID. I claim, for my command, that it saved the Rolling Fork Bridge, and most probably prevented any attempt to destroy the bridge at Shep- herdsville, thus saving from destruction property of immense value, and preveutin~ the utter destruction of the line of railway, by which our army, near Nashville, was mainly supplied. And I submit whether the attack upon Morgans forces, the timely arrival of my command at Rolling Fork, did~not preveut a raid upon other important points in Kentucky. It is very certain that after my command drove the rebel chieftain across the Rolling Fork, in such a precipitate manner, he abandoned the railroad, and very soon thereafter fled from the State, hotly pursued by other forces. I cannot permit this occasion to pass without acknowledging the promptness with which that gallant officer, Col. E. H. Hobson, furnished me all the aid iu his power, in the way of men, provisions, and trans- portation. The rapidity of my marches is due iu a great measure to the aid. so cheerfully and generously rendered by him. Nor can I close this report without saying that had sufficient engines been furnished to draw the trains, the railroad would have been damaged but very little, because, without accident, I could have reached Munfordville in abundant time to have caught up with the rebels before they reached Elizabethtown; certainly before they reached the trestle-work on Mul- draughs Hill. As the operations of my brigade were entirely within the Western District of Kentucky, Brigadier-General Boyle commanding, I have deemed it my duty, in compliance with his request, to forward to him a copy of this report, so that he may be officially advised of all tihat was done by me within his department, in connection with the recent raid into Kentucky. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN M. HARLAN, Colonel, Commanding second Brigade. Capt. En. C. DENIcf, Assistant Adjutant- General, First Division. [Indorsemeilt.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, Gallatin, Tenn., January 11, 1SC3. Respectfully forwarded. Colonel Harlan, for the energy, promptness, and success in pursuing and driving rebel forces from railroad, is en- titled to the gratitude not only of the people of Kentucky, but of the whole Army of the Cumberland. He is, in my opinion, entitled to special notice from the commanding general, and anything he can say or do for him will be thankfully received. SPEED S. FRY, Brigadier- General, Commanding Pivision. No. 4. Report of Col. William A. Iloskins, Twe~fth Kentucky Infantry, com manding brigade, including affair at Springfield, Ky. HEADQUARTERS POST, Lebanon, Ky., January 6, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of opera- tions before Lebanon, commencing on December 26~ 1862, at which tim Page 142 142 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. I was notified by Brigadier-General Boyle, by telegram, that the rebel Morgan was in our State, and ending 011 January 2, 1863, at which time the pursuit of him was abandoned, by order of Brig. Gen. Speed S. Fry, 3 miles.beyond Colambia: At the time I received notice of Morgans invasion of the State, and movements in the direction of Bardstown or Lebanon, I had under my command the Seventh Tennessee, consisting of 258 men, Twelfth Ken- tacky Infantry, consisting of 425 men, and Sixteenth Kentucky In- fantry, 650. I was informed by the post quartermaster that he had at this post near 3,000 head of loose stock, mules and horses, about 300 wagons, and stock for same, some 200,000 rations, a quantity of ammu- nition, and 1,600 stand of small-arms. I did not know how soon Morgan would be upon us, and, having no fortifications, as an only means of defense, I ordered all the wagons to be l)laced in corral. I also ordered guns to be distributed to all the convalescents capable of using them, as also to the teamsters, whom I placed under competent commanders. I ordered an increase of our picket guards, and a thorough inspection of arms, ammunition, & c. Knowing that a force of some ten or eleven regiments was at IDanville, I thei~ telegraphed to Brigadier-General Baird for re-enforcements of infantry and a battery of artillery. In re- ply, he notified me on December 26 that he had ordered to my support a battery of Napoleon gui~s and two regiments of infantry. From my ob- servation, I know of no place so vulnerable as Lebanon, lying, as it were, in a basin surrounded by commanding positions, as also with approaches from almost every direction, and I was, therefore, satisfied that a fight with equal numbers could not be successfully made within or very near the town, and I accordingly determined, should he move upon the place, to meet him frQm 1 to 2 miles from4he depot. On the 2& h, I was notified by dispatch from General Boyle that re-en- forcements from Danville, which I knew were within 4 or 5 miles of me, were recalled. During the day cannonading was distinctly audible in the direction of Elizabethtown or the tunnel. I again urged upon Gen- eral Baird the necessity of sending forward re-enforcements, and was by him notified that two strong regiments of infantry had been ordered, under command of Colonel Henderson, to join me, and would be at Lebanon on the 3d. I then dispatched General Boyle, in anticipation of such re;enforcements, suggesting the propriety of halting the Thirty- fourth Brigade, which had been ordered to Lebanon, at Muldraughs Hill. Receiving no answer to this dispatch (in consequence, I presume, of an interruption in telegraphic communication between this place and Louisville), the brigade joined me on the morning of the 29th. On that morning I sent out a scouting party of 25 men, under command of Lieu- tenant Porter, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, with orders to proceed in the direction of New Haven and Bardstown until he could learn some- thing definite of Morgans force and movements. I had also sent out a single and reliable citizen-scout with similar instructions. On the morning of the 30th, the citizen returned to camp with intel- ligeimce that he had that morning breakfasted with 15 of Morgans men at Fredericksburg, distant from us 19 miles. About 3 oclock of the same day Lieutenant Porter also returned, confirming the report of the first scout, and stating that the cannon- ading heard by us was at Rolling Fork, and that at the point from which he had returned he could distinctly hear musketry. Morgans force was variously estimated at from 7,000 to 11,000. I had been notified by General Boyle that Colonel Harlan, with a brigad Page 143 CHAP. XXXII.] MORGANS SECOND KENTUCKY.RAID. 143 of infantry, a battery of artillery, and two regiments of cavalry, was pressing upon his rear from the direction of Elizabetlitown. So soon as the above information was received by scouts, I ordered strong detachu~nts from the Sixth and Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, under command of Colonel Halisy and Lieutenant-Colonel Boyle, to make a reconnaissance, with a view of ascertaining whether Morgan would pass out by iRaywick and to our right, or whether he was yet upon the Springfield and direct road to us. About nightfall this party returned, and reported that the enemy had been found encamped on the Spring- field road, distant from us 7 miles. Shortly afterward I received infor- mation that Morgan had divided his force and sent 2,000 in the direc- tion of Haysville. To ascertain the truth of this statement, I ordered out detachments from the Sixth and Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, under command of Majors Fidler and Farris, to reconnoiter in the direction of Barbers Mill, with instructions that, if the enemy had not passed that point, to take the Springfield road and reconnoiter in their rear. In the execution of this order, Major Fidler performed a feat of daring which is worthy of the highest praise, and which, as well as his subse- quent conduct, has proveii him one of the most fearless and energetic officers in the service. On arriving at Barbers Mill, and learning that the enemy had not passed np in that direction, he pursued the Springfield road until he came npon one of the enemys pickets in the streets of that town, whom he captured without attracting notice. He and his men then advanced to within a few yards of a battery planted in the streets, fired a volley into the midst of the enemy, kIlling 2 of their number, and retreated to camp with their prisoner. I have omitted to state in the proper order that, after the return of Colonels Halisy and Boyle, and following immediately on their heels, the rebels came up and captured one of our vedette pickets only a short distance from his post. After receiving information that Morgan had divided his forces, know- ing that Colonel Henderson, with his command, consisting of two strong regiments, was within 2 miles of the intersection of the road leading from Springfield to Haysville, I sent, by courier, an order to halt his com- mand near Bethel Church, ambuscade, and await the arrival of the enemy, when he should engage him. After learning, through Majors Fidler and Farris, that the enemy had sent no force npon that road, I dispatched to Colonel Henderson to join me with all Possible speed, having the evening previous sent up 50 wagons to aid in transporting his command. Judge of my surprise when the courier returned and reported that Colonel Henderson had fallen back in the direction of Danville, taking with him my wagons. All my plans were now disconcerted. With the force at my command I did not think that I would be justifiable in attacking Morgan in his chosen position, and more particularly when I had no definite idea of his real strength, which was variously estimated at from 3,000 to 11,000, and I was induced to act even more cautiously than I would otherwise have done, from the fact that I could hear nothing of Colonel Harlans command. As I knew that he had engaged Morgan at Rolling Fork, and as he did not follow up the pursuit and press him down npon either General Baird or myself, the inference drawn by me was that Morgan had sufficient force to repulse Colonel Harlan, or he would have followed up any advantage that mibht have been gained by him. Believing that Morgans command was suffering for rest, at 3 oclock in the morning, December 31,1 ordered out another rcconnoitering party Page 144 144 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. under command of Major Gratz, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, with instructions to press upon the enemy, cut off~ and capture his pickets, if possible, fire into his camp and retire, at ascertaining whether he had chang.~d position. This order was executed, and Major Gratz returned with the report that the enemy had advanced 2 miles in our direction. I have omitted to state that my chosen position for action was on the Springfield road, and J had, on the evening of December 30 selected a position for one section of the battery, which was placed and masked, supported by Company A, Sixteenth Kentucky. The position chosen was in the angle formed by the Springfield road and Cartwrights Creek. This position commanded the Springfield road for l~ miles, and was strengthened by a precipitous bluff on the right flank. At this point I felt we must meet the enemy; for, if they were permitted to pass it, and gain possessioii of a copse of timber and the commanding position on the hill, they could shell us in the town, while their riflemen could advance under cover of the timber until they would be in range of any line-of battle formed north of town, and which would of necessity Leave us fully exposed, as the ground was entirely open. These arrangements having been made, after the report of Major Gratz I ordered Colonel ilalisy to make another reconnaissance upon the Springfield road to ascertain whether the enemy was really advancing with a view of attacking us. Colonel ilalisy left camp about 7 a. m. on December 31, an d at 11 a. m. sent back a courier with the information that he had proceeded as far as their camp of the night previous, which they had abandoned. Colo- nel Halisy was then directed iii the event they should have moved, with a view of passing either to the right or left of us, to pursue, hang upon their rear, and, if possible, harass them to a stand. Finding they had left, he pressed on to Springfield, and in the direction of Muldraughs Hill. About noon citizens came rushing into town with the most extrava. gant reports regarding Morgans force, and assuring us that he was ad- vancing on the place, with his right column moving from the direction of Saint Marys Church, on the Lebanon Branch Railroad. To ascer- tain the truth of this statement, I ordered another reconnaissance to be made in that direction by Lieutenant-Colonel Boyle, of the Ninth Ken- tucky Cavalry, who set out to execute the order in command of a de- tachment of 300 men from his regiment. In anticipation of pursuing Morgan, in case he should give us the go. by, I had also ordered the commanders of different regiments to draw five days rations and be in readiness to move without camp or gar- rison equipage at a moments warning, and I also ordered all the teams at the post to be in readiness to fttove at a moments notice. In the mean time I had heard nothing from Colonel Halisy since 11 a. in., and already felt considerable anxiety in regard to his safety. At 5 p. m. I received information that Colonel ilalisy was still in pursuit of the enemy, who was moving in the direction of Muldraughs Hill, and from their rear guard he had succeeded in capturing 15 pris- oners, whom he sent into camp. About the same time Oulonel Boyle returned, bringing into camp some prisoners, with the assurance that Morgans main body had passed Saint Marys Church. I knew we had a force at Glasgow, and had been informed that we had a force at or near G-reensburg, under command of Colonel Wolford, to whom I had on the 30th started a courier, notifying him that I would pursue Morgan, should he pass west of us, and suggesting the propriety of his moving his command to Pinchiun or Muldraughs Hill. Unfortunately, how- ever, this courier was captured and paroled before he reached Colonel Wolford Page 145 ck~Ar. XXXIL3 SECOND RENTUCI~Y RAID. 145 On December 31, at 6 P. in., my command, consisting of a squadron of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, under Major Gratz; a squadron of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, under command of Major iRue; the Twelfth Kentucky Infa~itry, the Sixteenth Kentucky Infantry (which two regi- ments, together with the Seventh Tennessee, had been temporarily brigaded and placed under command of Colonel Craddock, of the Six- teenth Kentucky); the battery of artillery, and the Thii~ty-fourth Bri- gade, commanded by Colonel Reid, moved in pursuit. The order of march was as follows: First, the squadron of cavalry, under Major Gratz; second, one section of the battery; third, the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry; fourth, section of the battery, supported by Company A, of the Sixteenth Kentucky; fifth, Sixteenth Kentucky Infantry; sixth, section of the battery, supported by Company I, of the Sixteenth Ken- tucky; seventh, Twelfth Kentucky Infantry, mounted in wagons; eighth the brigade of Colonel Reid, unbroken. In the above order we moved on the Campbellsville road until we reached a point near New Market. Here we were informed by a citizen of the death of the gallant, accom- plished, and lamented Colonel Halisy, whom I could but admire for his great zeal in the cause of our Union, and the energy and prompt- ness with which he executed every order confided to him. By his death the service has lost one of its most accomplished and chivalrous officers, and the community one of its most useful aud honorable citizens. We were also informed by the same person that the rebels were then en- camped 2 miles to our right, on the IRollin g Fork. A halt of the column was ordered. Major Rue, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, was ordered eorward to guard the bridge over Rolling Fork. A strong ~avalry picket was sent back upon the road leading from Saint Marys to Leban6n, and which intersects the Campbellsville road 1~ miles in our rear. This I thought necessary to prevent their passing to our eear upon Lebanon, and thence through Bradfordsville and Somerset, in the event they should discover our movement toward Muldraughs Hill. I also ordered a reconnaissance of their position, which duty was assigned to Major Rue, his men being familiar with the locality in which they were said to be encamped. I ordered the remaining force to form in line of battle, with the artillery in position, and each section sup- ported by a select company of riflemen from the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky. In this position they were required to bivouac on their arms and -without fires. Near daylight on the morning of the 1st instant, the reconnoitering party returned, with the report that the rebels had left camp. I imme- diately ordered the column to be in yeadiuess to move, and the march was resumed in the order of the previous night, except the transporta- tion, which was turned over to the Thirty-fourth Brigade, the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky marching. On arriving at the summit of Muldraughs Hill, I learned that the ~nemy~s rear guard had passed about 12 oclock the night previous. From citizens I learned that they had passed, up the old Dug road, which intersects the Campbellsville road on the summit of Muldranghs Hill. We now forwarded with all possible celerity, in the hope that we might come upon them at Campbellsville, or at all events be in sup- porting distance, should Colonel Wolfords or any other force attack them in front or on the flank. Our cavalry was much worn down by scouting both at Lebanon and on the border. They were also in bad condition to attack a superior force, inasmuch as they were poorly armed, the Sixth Kentucky having no arms but pistols and sabers. Notwithstanding they were thus poorly armed, they manifested a dis- 10 R RYOL XX, PT 1 Page 146 146 ICY., MID. AND E. TENN,, N. ALA., AND SW. ~A. tCHAP. XXktt position to press forward, which they were allowed to do with as much speed as I deemed consistent with prudence, I endeavoring to keep the infantry within quick supporting distance. On a~riving within 2 miles of Campbellsville, I was informed by citi- zens and paroled soldiers that the rebel rear guard was still at that place, engaged in destroying commissary goods abandoned by the Thirty- fourth Brigade. The column being well closed up, I ordered the cavalry to charge upon the town, which they did in handsome style, resulting, however, in the capture of but a few prisoners, the main force having left some five hours previous. Knowing that a considerable quantity of forage had been collected at Green River Bridge, and believing that the enemy would halt there to feed and rest his stock, I ordered Majors Gratz and Rue, with one section of artillery, to press forward, hoping to prevent by rapid pursuit the destruction of forage and bridge; also directing the shelling of their rear at every available point, with the further view of attracting the attention of any force that might be to our right, and thus defining to them the route pursued by us. At 2 oclock our advance came in sight of the ruins of Green River Bridge, when, believing that farther pursuit was cut off, the section of the battery was placed in position and opened fire not so much with a view of damaging the enemy, but as signal guns to any force which might be in reach of Columbia, trusting to thus give them a cue to the route pursued by the rebels. I ordered the troops to go immediately into camp, feed stock, and make details for cooking, while the men could get that rest they so much needed, after the forty-eight hours heavy duty they had undergone. I also ordered the company of Pioneers attached to the Thirty-fourth Brigade to be immediately set to work in clearing the obstructions from a dirt road that crossed the river but a few hundred yards below the bridge. In the mean time the whole column closed up, the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky having marched 22 miles in seven consecutive hours. I had not yet abandoned the hope of overtaking the enemy at Cumberland River. I also learned that Colonel Wolford was certainly at Greensburg, in command of four regiments of cavalry. I immediately dispatched to him, notifying him of our pursuit, and suggesting that he should press on to Columbia, and, in the event that he should find Morgan in camp at the latter place, to quietly await our arrival, which would be some time during the night. By 10 p. m. of the 1st instant, the obstructions in the road were re- moved. I then directed that the whole cavalry-force under my command should move forward, accompanied by one section of the battery, with instructions to Colonel Boyle that, if he should find Morgan in camp at Columbia, not to disturb him, unless he should attempt to move off, until he was supported by myinfantry or Colonel Wolfords cavalry. Fol- lowing immediately in the rear of the cavalry was the remainder of the force under my command. As soon as I saw the principal part of the fhuty-foarth Brigade across the river, I pressed forward to the front, and, to my surprise, found the whole column halted, at 6 a m .,6 miles from the bridge, which they had left at 11 oclock the previous night. The apology for such a direct violation of orders by the cavalry was, that a citizen had told them that Morgan had left Columbia at 8 oclock the previous night, and that their horses were worn down. The infantry and artillery were moved forward, and reached Columbia about noon on the 2d instant, when, learning that the Cumberland was certainly ford- able, 1 abandoned the pursuit and ordered my men into camp Page 147 CHAP. XXXII.] MOliGANS SECOND KENTUCKy~RArn. 147 Soon after going into camp, General Fry arrived and assumed com- mand of all the troops in the vicinity of Columbia, and ordered the pur- suit to be resumed, which order was countermanded at a point 3 miles beyond Colum4Ma. The result of these operations was th& capture of about 150 prisoners, a number of horses and trappings, some arms, two caissons, and a quantity of ammunition for artillery and small-arms. It is also reported by a citizen that one of our shells exploded among the rebel rear guard at Green River, and killed 3 of their number. f regret that there could not be more concerted action between Colo- nel Harlan and myself, for, had he pressed upon and followed Morgan to Springfield, I could have attacked him in front while he engaged his rear, or we could have attacked him unitedly. I also regret that the re-enforcements from iDanville never reached me. My determination was to attack Morgan at Springfield, hal they come up. To Colonel Reid and the officers and men of his brigade I take pleas. ure in expressing my thanks for the promptness and alacrity with which they executed orders confided to them. It may be proper to state that the aggregate force of this brigade did not exceed 1,800 men, and my whole effective force did not exceed 3,300 men. To Captain Miller, of Company M, First Illinois Battery, thanks are due for his efficient services as an artillery officer. My thanks are due to Colonel Craddock for his energy and valuable suggestions, as well as to all the officers on the expedition. But, above all, the gallant soldiers composing the command deserve especial notice for the cheerfulness with which they endured the privations to which they were necessarily subjected and the alacrity with which they obeyed all orders. To my aides, Captain Letcher, of the Twelfth; Captain llilpp, of the Tenth; Lieutenant Mannen, of the Sixteenth Kentucky, and Lieutenant Nell, of the First Kentucky Battery, my thanks are due for the efficient manner in which they discharged their duties. Captain Gaubert, post quartermaster, displayed great energy and efficiency in getting up, on short notice, transportation and rations for the expedition. And while it may seem invidious to make distinctions where all deserve commendation, yet especial thanks are due to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Gault and Major Harbeson, of the Sixteenth Kentucky; Majors Farris, Rue, and Fidler, of the cavalry, and Dr. ~. M. Cartmell, medical director of the expedition; nor should I forget Capts. John S. and Carr B. White, of the Sixteenth Kentucky, and Lieutenant Crozier, of the Twelfth, who, with their companies, supported sections of bat- tery, and were always in place and ready for duty. I ought, perhaps, to state that I labored under great disadvantage, from the fact that I could get no definite information of Morgan~s force. I .had been officially notified that Morgan, at the time of his attack on Elizabethtown, had less than 3,000 men, and certainly but two pieces of artillery. I had also been officially notified that simultaneously with his attack on that place an attack was made on Munfordville, supposed to be led by Kirby Smith, whose force was unknown. When I learned that the force advancing on Lebanon certainly had ten pieces of artil- lery, I inferred that a junction of the two forces had been effected, the whole force being reported by citizens and scouts at 11,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. A. HOSKINS, Colonel, Commanding Expedition. Brig. Gen. C. C. GILBERT, Comdg. Tenth Division, Army of the Cumberland Page 148 148 KY., MID. AND 1~. ItNN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CnA1~.XXXIt No: 5. Report of Col. Edward III. Biobson, Thirteenth Kentucky Infantry, corn- rnan~ing at Miunfordville, including skirmishes at Glasgow, near Greens Chapel, at Bear Wallow, and at Bacon Creek, Ky. HEADQUARTERS, ]Jliunfordville, Ky., January 4, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to. submit a report of the disposition of the troops under my command at this point during the recent raid of Morgan on the line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. On December 17, 1862, I received information of a rebel force being in the State. I immediately put my scouts on the alert, and waited for the enemy to make some move by which I could detect his design. On the 24th I received a dispatch from General Reynolds, at Gallatin, stating that a large rebel force had crossed the Cumberland at Gaines- ville, and were making for Glasgow. I received dispatches at the same time from Generals Boyle and Gilbert, confirming what I had formerly heard. On the evening of December 24, Companies C, L, M, and II, Second Michigan Cavalry, under orders from Gallatin to Munfordvilie, captured a man belonging to Morgans command, who reported a large force in Glasgow. Company C, Lieutenant iDarrow, met the advance of the enemy in the town, and a skirmish ensued, in which our loss was 1 killed, 1 wounded, and 16 prisoners. The loss of the enemy was 1 major, I captain, 1 lieutenant, and several privates killed and wounded, and 7 prisoners. It being nearly dark, and the enemy clothed in our uniform, it was with difficulty that friends could be distinguished from foes. After re- pulsing the advance guard of Morgan, the Second Michigan fell back to Cave City, their retreat being covered by the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, Col. Q. C. Shanks, and both returned to camp, the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry to get new arms, which had just arrived, and the Second Michi- gan Cavalry to rest from a march of 60 miles in less than twenty-four hours, men and horses being completely exhausted. The siege guns, which were anxiously expected, having arrived on the morning of December 25, at 1 oclock, I immediately put a force to worktomanufacturethepropertechnicalfixtures,which Iwaspained to learn had been entirely neglected in shipping the guns, and place them in position on the north side of the river. At the same time I had the floor of the bridge planked over to render it safe in crossing, should re.enforcements be required on either side. I also telegraphed General Boyle all the information of importance, and asked him for additional ammunition for infantry, and sponges, rammers, sights, elevating screwa. & c., for the siege guns. On the 24th I had taken all pains to learn the real strength of the enemy, which ii found variously estimated at from 3,000 to 4,500, com- manded by Major-General Morgan, the regiments by Duke, Gano, Cluke, Chenault, Bennett, Stoner, and Breckinridge, with Whites battery of eight guns, the largest a 12-pounder. Whites name is supposed to be Robinson, formerly of Kentucky. At 5 a. in., December 25, I again ordered the Twelfth Kentucky Cav- alry, Colonel Shanks, to Cave City and beyond to Bear Wallow, with the First and Second Battalions, the Third, nnder Major Stout, being ordered on the Greeusburg road to Burnt Bridge Ford, north of Green River, and two companies each, Fourth and Fifth Indiana Cavalry, Col Page 149 CHAP. XXXII] MORGANS SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. 149 Isaac P. Gray, on the Burkesville road, south of Green River, with instructions to each to give battle, and, if overpowered by largely supe- rior forces, to skirmish the way back to Woodsonville, sending couriers often to niy l~adquarters. When near Greens Chapel, 6 miles from Munfordville, Colonel Gray attacked the advance guard of Morgan, and about the same time Colo- nel Shanks attacked the rear guard at Bear Wallow,12 miles from this point. The advance guard fell back on the main body, with a loss of 9 killed, 22 wounded, and 5 prisoners, ~nr loss being 1 killed, 2 prisoners, and several horses killed. The Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, in the rear, killed 1, wounded 2, and took 2 officers and 10 men prisoners, with no loss. The force and position of the enemy being ascertained by these move- ments, the cavalry was ordered back to camp, leaving vedettes to watch the movements of the enemy. I telegraphed General Granger, General Boyle, and General Gilbert everything of importance, and telegraphed General Boyle the condition of the guns and the want of ammunition. I sent dispatches frequently, but could get no answer from the operator in Louisville to the call of the operator at this point during the after- noon of the 25th, until too late to effect anything by trains from Louis- ville. I also telegraphed that it was Morgans design to attack the tunnel and the works beyond. At9 p.m. the 25th, scouts brought the information that 100 of the enemy were crossing the river at Burnt Bridge Ford. This was confirmed during the night by reports that the whole force was crossing and m9ving in the direction of Hammondsville. I immediately ordered Captain Dickey, of the Second Michigan, to proceed to Bacon Creek stockade, reporting to my headquarters by courier at 9 and 10 a. in., and oftener if neces- ~ary, and also ordered the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, Colonel Shanks, toward Hammondsville, to report often by courier. Soon after arriving at Bacon Creek and arranging his pickets, Captain iDickey was attacked by the advance of Morgan, and flanked by a large force. Captain Dickey having less than 80 men for duty, oti account of the exertions of the 23d and 24th, was compelled to fall back on Munfordville, fighting his way. Learning this by courier, I shifted Colonel Shanks, with the ex- ception of two companies, from the Greensburg road to cover the retreat of the Second Michigan, by attacking the enemy, and, gradually fall- ing back on Munfordville, to draw him in and give play for the skir- mishersthe Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, Colonel Moore, on the right; Lieutenant-Colonel Carey, Thirty-sixth Indiana, in the center, with the convalescent battalion, and Major ilobson, commanding Thir- teenth Kentucky, on the left. The officers and men of these commands acted with great promptness and ease while performing the various evolutions, but the wary foe would not engage them. A few shots were fired by the Twelfth Ken- tucky Cavalry, when the enemy fell back to Bacon Creek. During this skirmish our loss was 21 men and 2 officers taken pris- oners. Loss of the enemy not known. During the night of the 26th, believing that Morgan would make an attack on this place ~from the other side of the river, I made arrange- ments for ferrying from the south side the only two field pieces under Lieutenant Hale, Sixth Michigan Battery; also to bring over ammuni- tion by way of the bridge on a hand-car. I kept the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry in line of battle between Bacon Creek and Munfordville until after dark on the 26th; and, believing that if an attack was made in the morning the depot would be burned Page 150 150 KY., MID. AND ]~X ~TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. I doubled my line of pickets and removed the stores within the fortifica- tions. The gallant hero of inferior numbers did not attack me on the morn- ing of the 27th, and I was forced to be content with re-enforcing Colonel Harlauwith the Thirteenth Kentucky Infantry and nine companies of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, at the urgent request of Colonel Shanks, whose services he will, of course, mention in his report in a proper manner. The troops were all in readine~~s for the reception of Morgan. The brass guns (6-pounders), under command of Captain Demarest, Twenty- fifth Michigan Infantry, manned by infantry, were placed in positions commanding Bacon Creek and Greensburg roads, and the siege guns being in the fortifications near the bridge, under special charge of Cap- tain Stacey, inspector-general of the Tenth Division, whose perse- verance in overcoming the difficulties of mounting the guns without the proper equipments, deserves the highest praise. The officers and men of my command during these movements bore themselves with the most soldierly behavior. I cannot speak too highly of the cavalry commands of Colonels Gray and Shanks, Captains iDickey and Twyman, for the valuable services they rendered constantly. Flegles sharpshooters were promptly at their post, ready at any time to do their duty as becomes their commands, as also the One hundred and seventh Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel McComas. The Twenty.seventh Kentucky, Lient. Col. J. H. Ward, also rendered efficient service south of the river, not forgetting to bring to your notice Lieutenant Hales sixth section Sixth Michigan Battery, and Captain Hall, commanding battalion of the Thirty-third Kentucky. I was materially assisted in my duties of the disposition and move- ments of my command by J. S. Butler, acting assistant adjutant-gen- eral, and Captain Stacey, of General Gilberts staff; also by the energy and efficiency of volunteer aides, Lieutenant Smith, Thirteenth Ken- tucky, and Lieutenant Dawson, Thirty-third Kentucky; also Post Quartermaster and Lieutenant Cummings. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. H. HOBSON, Colonel, (Jommanding Post. GEORGE K. SPEED, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, T~nth Division. No. 6. Report of Capt. Frank W. Dickey, Second Michigan Cavalry, of skirmish at Glasgow, Ky CAVE CITY, KY., December 24, 18628.04 p. m. GENERAL: The Second Battalion of Michigan Cavalry were attacked at Glasgow at dark this evening. Two of our men killed. Two or three rebels killed. We were on the march from Gallatin to Munfordville. Rebels supposed to be stronghave two batteries. F. W. DICKEY, Captain. General ROSEORANS Page 151 9 CRAP. XXXTIJ MORGANS SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. 151 Report of Col. Isaac P. Gray, Fourth indiana Cavalry, of skirmish near Greens Chapel, Ky. MUNFORDYILLE, December 31, 1862. COLONEL: In accordance with your order, I took the forces under nzg command, consisting of two companies of the Fourth Indiana Cavalry and two companies of the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and proceeded to scout the road. I bad just reached the pike with the column when my ad- vance, which was about 1 mile ahead, was fired upon by the advance of the enemy. I immediately ordered the fences to be thrown down on each side of the road, and directed Captain Purdys company, of Fourth Indiana Cavalry, to proceed through the field on the right of the pike, and form his company in line of battle. He had just got his company formed when the enemy came on at full speed, on a charge, 300 strong, and, when within shooting distance, commenced firing. I sent Lieu- tenant Smith, in command of Company C, of Fifth Indiana~ Cavalry, through the field on the left of the pike, and ordered him to proceed downa hollow in the field out of view of the enemy, who did not dis- cover him until he commenced firing at not to exceed 50 yards range, which threw him into confusion and caused him to retreat in disorder, with a loss of 9 killed, and, as near as I can ascertain, 22 wounded and 5 prisoners. My loss was 1 killed and 2 taken prisoners, by being in- toxicated and straggling behind the command. I had also several horses shot. I had scarcely got my command reorganized before the main force of the enemy, 4,500 strong, came on at full speed, flanking at both sides for the purpose of surrounding my command, but were not fast enough to effect this object. Yours, most respectfully, ISAAC P. GRAY, Colonel, Fourth Indiana Cavalry. Colonel HOBSON. No. 8. Report of Col. William H. Benneson, & venty-ei~qhth Illinois Infantry, of skirmish at New flktven, Ky. IIDQRS. SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLS., New Haven, Ky., January 10, 1863. SIR: In obedience to the order of General Gilbert, requiring a report of the late affair between the troops of my command at this place an(l a body of the enemy, I have the honor to report as follows: The enemy appeared in the vicinity of the stockade at this place on the evening of the 29th ultimo, and displayed a force much superior to my own, but the extent of his numbers I could not ascertain. The weak- ness of my command, consisting of one company (II, Seventy-eighth Illinois Volunteers) only, numbering 80 guns, and the strict orders I was under to keep within 300 yards of the stockade, and act on the defensive alone, prevented me making any reconnaissance to ascertain his strength. In anticipation of an attack from him the next morning, the stockade and its environs were cleared for action, and every precaution taken to secure the safety of my men as far as possible under the circumstances. About 9 oclock the next morning (December 30), after a formal de- mand for the surrender of the post, and refusal, the enemy, with one piece of artillery (a 12-pounderhowitzer), but with a force smaller than h Page 152 152 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAr. XXXII. displayed the evening before, emerged from the timber on the north. west of our position, advanced along the south side of the railroad to within 1,000 yards of the stockade, and there took his first position. In lJuie mean time the forces of my command were disposed as follows: Lieutenant Beers, with one-fourth of the command, occupied the rifle- pits on the northwest side of the stockade; sentinels were placed with~ out the stockade at divers points, commanding views of all surround- ings not visible from the stockade itself. The balance of my force, under Captain Allen, were distributed within the stockade, so as to detect the advance of the enemy from any and all quarters he might see proper to attack us. The enemy bombarded us for some time from his position first thken, as above stated; then changed his position to a point some 200 yards south of his first, threw a number of shells, and changed position again to a point still farther south of his last one, and at the distance of 700 yards from the stockade. He also, at the same time, dismounted a por- tion of his forces and deployed in the corn-field, situated between the meadow in which he first planted his artillery and the stockade, and sent another portion of his forces to the north side of the railroad, and down the wagon-road leading to the ford at the railroad bridge, with the evident design of occupying if possible the north bank of the rail- road, near the ford. To prevent the accomplishment of this object by the enemy, Lieuten- ant Simmons was sent, with a few men, to the threatened point, but on reaching it found the enemy in hasty retreat, from the fire of the single sentinel who had been placed there prior to the commencement of the action. In the mean time the enemy, having thrown a number of shells from his third position, was proceeding to take a fourth, still nearer to us. His forces, deployed in the corn-field, had advanced to within 600 yards of the stockade, and opened upon us with small-arms. At this juncture we commenced a rapid fire upon the enemztiy with all our disposable force. The damaging effects of our fire were imme- diately apparent. The cannoneers abandoned their cannon, and only returned to remove it out of our range. The forces in the corn-field receded from their advanced position. In a few minutes the rout became general, and the enemy, moving at a rapid pace and in a disorderly mass, disappeared from view in the timber from, which he had emerged prior to the attack. The enemy received some punishment, but to what extent we do not certainly know, as he carried his killed and wounded from the field with him. From information obtained since the affair, we have reason to believe he lost 3 killed and 10 or 12 wounded. My command received no damage whatever. The stockade remains uninjured. The affair lasted one hour and a half. I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of my officers and men during the attack. Though not one of them had ever been under fire before, they behaved like veterans. in concluding this report, I should do injustice to my own feelings should I omit to acknowledge the very great obligations I am under to Captain Allen, Lieutenants Beers and Simmons, and my adjutant, Lieu- tenant Green, for their efficient support prior to and during the affair. Very respectfully, WILLTAM H. BENNESON, GEORcfE K. SPEED, ~ Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Louisville, Ky Page 153 CHAP. XXXII.] MORGAN S SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. 153 No. 9. Reports of Brig. Gen. John IL Morgan, C. ~. Army, commanding e~pedi. tion.* HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF KENTUCKY, Camp bellsvifle, Ky., December 31, 1862. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that thus far the success of this expedition is complete, and that eveiy object that was contemplated has been attained. My first meeting with the enemy occurred at Glasgow, Ky., on December 24. My advance guard, on entering the town shortly after dark, fell in with four companies of the Second Michigan CaValry. A slight skirmish ensued, in which I lost 3 wounded (2 mortally), and the enemy had 4 or 5 killed and wounded and some 20 taken prisoners. The enemy passed ihrough town in the direction of Munfordville. The next morning I moved forward early with my command. About 10 miles this side of Green River, a slight skirmish took place, in which none were hurt on either side, and we captured several prisoners. The next morning I sent part of my command to take the stockade at Bacon Creek, while I moved on with the main body to Upton and Noun. By 4p. m. all the places had surrendered and the stockades and trestles were on fire. That night I encamped at Nolin, having taken and paroled some 200 prisoners, with only 2 or 3 slightly wounded on my side. The next morning I moved to Elizabethtown. On arriving near the place, much to my surprise, I was met by a flag of truce, informing me that I was surrounded, and demanding an unconditional surrender of myself and command. To this proposition I declined to accede, and made a counter demand for an unconditional surrender. On its being refused, I immediately began to shell the houses in which the enemy had taken refuge. After a brisk firing of three-quarters of an hour from the batteries and skirmishers, the place was surrendered. Eight com- l)anies were taken and paroled. Three bridges were burned, and the entire track for miles set on fire. December 28 I moved toward the long trestles, about 5 and 6 miles from Elizabethtown. I sent Colonel Breckinridge and command toward one trestle, while I moved with the remainder toward the other. I sent in flags of truce, demanding a surrender, which was declined. I then opened fire, and after some shelling and skirmishing for about an hour the stockades surrendered. The stockades, trestles, and a quantity of army stores were destroyed. About 700 prisoners were taken and paroled. No one on either side killed or wounded. 1 moved on that night to the Rolling Fork and encamped. Next morning, just as the rear of my command was crossing the fork, the enemy began shelling me in the rear. I immediately threw out some six or seven companies as skirmishers, drove back their line, finished crossing the river, and moved on to Bardstown that same night. Here I turned my course and began to march southward. On the morning of the 30th I left Bardstown, and reached Springfield the same evening. Hearing at Springfield that there was a large force of the enemy at Lebanon, I determined not to attack them, but to elude them by leaving Lebanon on my left and by making a night march, which I accomplished successfully, and reached this point, leaving the * For General Braggs letter transmitting this, with Forrests report, see Series I, Vol. XVII, Part I, p. 591 Page 154 154 KY., MID. AND E. TENK., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. enemy in my rear this evening, and am now holding telegraphic com- munication with him. I have also to report that the Federal colonel, [Dennis J.] Halisy, of the S~th Kentucky Cavalry, commanding brigade, while engaged in I)icking up some stragglers of mine, was killed in a hand-to-hand eon- tlict by Lieutenant [George B.] Eastin, of my command, and a lieutenant accompanying him was captured. The Federal forces are now moving down upon me. They left Lebanon this afternoon. I leave early to- morrow morning. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN II. MORGAN, Brigadier- General. Lieut. Col. GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT, A. A. G., Army of Tennessee, and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS MORGANS DIVISION, Smithville, Tenn., January 8, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the action of the forces under my command during the late expedition into Kentucky: On the morning of December 22, 1862, I left Alexandria, Tenn., with~ an effective force of 3,100 guns and seven pieces of artillery, which I divided into two brigades, placing the first under command of Col. B. W. Duke [Second Kentucky Cavalry], and the second under com- inand of Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge [Ninth Kentucky Cavalry]. About dusk I crossed the Cumberland River, which I found easily fordable, and encamped some 3 or 4 miles on the other side. I found the people generally well disposed, and that vague rumors of my coming had pre- ceded me. On the morning of the 23d I made an early start, and succeeded (though the ~vay for the most part was extremely rough) in making Centreville that evening, a distance of some 30 miles. The following day (December 24) I marched to within 6 miles of Glasgow, where my first encounter with the enemy took place. I had encamped the main body uf my command some 6 miles from the town, and had sent two companies to take possession of it. As they entered the town, they encountered the advance guard of a battalion of the Sec- ond Michigan Cavalry. It being quite dark, some little time elapsed before either party became aware of the presence of an enemy, when a skmrmmsh took place, in which Captain [W. E.] Jones [Company A, Ninth Kentucky Cavalry], and a private of Breckinridges regiment were mortally, and Lient. Samuel 0. Peyton, of Dukes regiment, seri- ously, wounded, and some 6 or 7 of my men taken prisoners. Not know- ing in what force the enemy might be, my squadron fell back, when the enemy passed through town and took the road to Munfordville. Sev- eral of the enemy were killed and wounded, and 22 prisoners, including a captain, were captured amj paroled. The next morning (December 25) I passedthrough Glasgow and took the Bear Wallow turnpike in the direction of Munfordville. About 10 miles from Green River my scouts reported that a battalion of cavalry was drawn up in line, awaiting our approach. I threw forward two companies and a section of artillery to engage them, made my disposi- tions for an extended engagement, and advanced as rapidly as possibl Page 155 CHAP. XXXII.1 MORGANS SECOND KENTUCKY RAID. 155 The enemy, however, did not wait to receive the charge of the force I had sent forward, but, after firing a few random shots, took to flight and left the road clear. I then made the best of my way through to Green River, which I.succeeded in crossing with considerable difficulty, owing to the steep and muddy banks, and reached llammondsville with my command at midnight. 1 had ordered Colonel Breckinridge, as he passed the cross-road leading to Woodsonville, to send two companies in that direction, with instructions to drive in the enemys pickets, and immediately on my arrival at llammondsville I dispatched two compa- nies of Colonel Dukes command, with similar instructions, in the direc- tion of Munfordville. My object was to induce the enemy to believe that I intended to attack the fortifications at Green River, and, by so threatening him, to divert his attention from the combined attack which I intended to make the succeeding day on the stockades at Bacon Creek and Kolin. The next morning (December 26) I sent Dukes and [R. M.] Ganos [Seventh Kentucky Cavalry] regiments and a section of Palmers bat- tery, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel [John B.] ilutcheson [Sec- ond Kentucky Cavalry], to attack the stockade at Bacon Creek, while I moved on with the main body of the forces to Upton. A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and it was still raining hard, so that it was with the utmost difficulty that the artillery and trains made any prog- ress whatever. It was, therefore, nearly 11 oclock before I heard Colo- nel ilutchesons cannon open. On arriving at Upton, I cut the telegraph wire, and my operator was soon in communication with Louisville, Cin- cinnati, and other points. No important messages were received, how- ever, except one informing me of the arrival of a train loaded with ammunition, small-arms, and two pieces of rifled cannon, which I imme- diately took measures to intercept, but unfortunately missed. It being now nearly 3 p. in., I sent forward to Nolin, under charge of Colonel Duke, the remainder of the forces, with the exception of John- sons regiment and the other section of Palmers battery. With these troopsas I was fearful, from the duration of the firing at Bacon Creek. that the stockade had been re-enforced from MunfordvilleI moved down to Bacon Creek to assist Colonel ilutcheson. On my arrival there, I immediately sent in a flag of truce, and demanded an unconditional surrender of the place, which, after considerable hesitation on the part of the commanding officer, Captain James, was finally acceded to. Ninety-three prisoners, belonging to the Ninety-first Illinois Volunteers, were captured, including four commissioned officers. The stockade and trestle were immediately fired and destroyed, and I moved on with the command to Nolin. In this affair 3 of the enemy were slightly wounded by our shells, and some 3 or 4 men on our side were slightly wounded in attempting to fire the trestle before the stockade had sur- rendered. The force at the trestle near Nolin, amounting to 3 officers and 73 privates of the Ninety-first Illinois Volunteers, surrendered to Colonel Duke without opposition. The stockade and bridge at that l)oint were also fired and destroyed. While waiting at Upton, I had caused large fires to be built all along the track for some 3 or 4 miles, in order to warp and destroy the rails, which was most effectually ac- complished. Early the following morning (December 27), having learned the pre- vious evening that some seven or eight companies of United States troops were stationed at Elizabethtown, I moved with my command in that direction. On arriving within sight of the town, the followin Page 156 156 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. peremptory document, scrawled in pencil on the back of an envelope, was handed to me: ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., December 27, 1862. To the.COMMAND1~R OF THE CONFEDERATE FORCES: Sin: I demand an unconditional surrender of all your forces. I have you sur- rounded, and will compel you to surrender. I am, sir, your obedient servant, H. S. SMITH, A Commanding U. S. Force8. To which I replied that I thought the positions were reversed; that it was his forces, and not mine, which were surrounded, and called npon him to surrender. He answered that it was the part of a United States officer to fight, and not to surrender. Leaving one regiment and a howitzer in reserve to guard the trains, I ordered Colonel Duke to deploy his command to the right, and Colonel Breckinridge to deploy his command to the left of the town, and to throw forward skirmishers to discover the position of the enemy. It soon became apparent that he had taken possession of several brick houses on the ontskirts of the town, and expected to make a street fight of it, I therefore immediately placed my artillery in position on a hill a little to the left of the road, which completely commanded the town, and sent Capt. C. C. Corbett, with one mountain howitzer, to attack the town on the right. After about half an hours vigorous shelling, the place surrendered, and 652 prisoners, including 25 officers, fell into our hands. At this point I wish particularly to notice the excellent service done on this occasion by Capt. Baylor Palmer and his battery, to whose rapid and accurate fire (nearly every shot striking the houses occupied by the enemy) the quick reduction of the place is in a great measure due; and also the gallantry shown by Captain Corbett, who ran one of his howitzers into the town while the enemy were pouring a heavy fire from the houses, and by Lieutenant-Colonel [ft. G.J Stoner, commanding Th~eckiuridges regiment, who at the same time charged into the town at the head of his men. On the morning of the 28th I moved from Elizabethtown in the direc- tion of Bardstown. Four miles from Elizabethtown I ordered Colonel Breckinridge to turn with his command to the left and to attack the lower stockade, near Muldraughs Hill, while I moved on with Colonel Dukes brigade to attack the upper. After two or three hours shelling, both places surrendered, and at 7 oclock that evening I had the satisfac- tion of knowing that the object of the expedition was attained, and the railroad was rendered impassable for at least two months. These two trestles are the largest and finest on the whole road, being, each of them, some 60 feet in height and from 300 to 350 yards in length. Neither of them had ever before been destroyed during the war. Seven hundred prisoners, including 27 officers, were captured, and a large and valuable amount of medical, quartermasters and commissary stores were de- stoyed. I encamped that night near the Rolling Fork. The following morning (~ecember 29) I sent Colonel [R. S.] Clukes regiment, with one piece of artillery, to attack and burn the bridge over the Rolling Fork; Colonel [ID. W.J Chenaults regiment [Eleventh Ken- tucky Cavalry], and one piece of artillery in advance, to burn the stock- ade and trestle at Boston, and three companies of Breckinridges regi- ment and one mountain howitzer, to attack at New Haven. Having completed these dispositions, I set my command in motion. Just as the rear regiments were crossing Rolling Fork, a large force of the enem Page 157 ChAP. XXXII.) MOIIGKN S SECOND KENTUCKY 1~AlD. 157 consisting of cavalry, infantry, and several pieces of artillery, which had followed us from Elizabetlitowncame up and began to shell the ford at which the troops were crossing. I immediately sent orders to Colonel Duke, ~vho was in the rear, to send a courier to Colonel Cluke, ordering him to rejoin the command as rapidly as possible, and to hold the enemy in check until the entire command had crossed the ford. Colonel Duke, assisted by Colonel Breckinridge, placed seven companies from different regiments in position and held five in reserve. With this force he several times repnls~d the enemys advance, and very nearly succeeded in capturing two pieces of the enemy~s artillery, when he fell from his horse, severely wounded by a shell. Colonel Breckinridge then took command, and maintained the position until Colonel Clukes regi- ment had crossed the river, when I ordered him to fall back, which he accomplished in good order and without loss. In this affair only 3 men were hurt on our sideColonel Duke, Cap- tain [V. N.] Pendleton [Company D, Eighth Kentucky Cavalry], (who was struck by a ball while gallantly leading a charge on the enemys artillery), and a private slightly wounded. The enemy lost several offi- cers and men killed and wounded. Meanwhile Colonel Chenault had captured and burned the stockade at Boston. He rejoined me that night at Bardstown. The force sent to burn the stockade at New Haven was not successful, and did not rejoin the command until the following night at Springfield. On themorning of the30th IleftBardstown andmarchedto Springfield, a distance of some 18 miles, where I arrived at nightfall. On my~arrival I learned that the enemy had withdrawn all his forces from the south- ern portion of the State, and had concentrated them at Lebanon. Troops from Danville, Burkesville, Campbellsville, and Columbia had been col- lected there to the number of nearly 8,000, with several pieces of artil- lery. Intelligence also reached me that a column nearly 10,000 strong was moving from Glasgow to Burkesville to intercept me. My position was now sufficiently hazardous. A superior force only a few miles in my rear, a force nearly treble my own immediately in my front, and a vastly superior force, which had only about half the distance to march that I had, moving to intercept my passage of the river. ln this emer- gency, I determined to make a detour to the right of Lebanon, and, by a night march, to conceal my movements from the enemy, outstrip the column moving from Glasgow to Burkesville, and cross the Cumberland before it came within striking distance. Immediately, therefore, on my arrival at Springfield, I sent out two companies on the Lebanon road, with instructions to drive in the enemys pickets, and to hold the posi- tion. This being done, they were to build large and extended camp- fires, so as to induce the enemy to believe that my whole force was in position, and that I was only waiting for daylight to attack. Consid- erable delay was occasioned from the difficulty in obtaining guides who were sufficiently well acquainted with the country to lead me over the route I desired to march, but at length, by 11 p. in., the whole column was fairly in motion. The night was dark and stormy and the road rough and intricate, so that the morning of December 31 found the command only 8 miles from Springfield and 2A miles from Lebanon. By 1 oclock that afternoon, however, the top of Muidraughs Hill was reached, where I could see Lebanon with a glass distinctly, and the enemys skirmish- ers deployed in the valley below. Ju~st as the rear guard of the column had reached the foot of the hills, a remarkable hand-to-hand conflict took place between Colonel [D. J.] Halisy, of the Sixth Kentucky Cav- alry, commanding brigade, and two other Federal officers on the on Page 158 158 ItY., MID. AND B. TENN., N. ALA,, AND SW. VA. (ChAt. XXxU. side, and Capt. Alexander Tribble and Lieutenant Eastin, of my com- mand, on the other, in which Colonel Halisy was killed by Lieutenant Eastin, and his companions captured. Both Captain Tribble and Lieutenant Eastin displayed great gallantry on this occasion, and deserve the thanks of the civilized community for putting to rest such an exponent of the Butler and Turchin school as Colonel ilalisy. I reached Campbellsville late that evening, and found there quite an amount of commissary stores, which was most fortunate, as my command had had but little for two days. On the morning of January 1, 1863, I started for Columbia, where I arrived at 3 p. m. By a night march from this place, I reached Burkes- ville at daylight the following morning. Here I halted the command for a few hours to rest and feed, and then crossed the Cumberland with- out molestation. Traveling, then, by easy stages, I reached this point on the evening of January 5, with my command. The results of the expedition may be summed up as follows: The de- struction of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from Mnnfordville to Shepherdsville, within 18 miles of Louisville, rendering it impassable for at least two months; the capture of 1,877 prisoners, including 62 coin- missioned officers; the destruction of over ~2,OOO,OOO of United States property, and a large loss to the enemy in killed and wounded. The loss of my entire command was as follows: Killed, 2; wounded, 24; missing, 64. In closing this report, I desire to return my sincere acknowledgments to my brigade commanders (Colonels IDuke and Breckinridge) and to their subordinate officers for their able and efficient assistance rendered me by them during this expedition, without which it must have failed in effecting many of its principal objects. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN II. MORGAN, Col. GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT, Brigadier- General. A. A. G. and Chief of Staff, Army of Tennessee. DECEMBER 23, 1862.Skirmish near Nashville, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.Maj. Gen. Alexander MeD. MeCook, U. S. Army. No. 2.Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C: S. Army. No. 1. Beport of ]lfaj. Gen. AlexandeI~ MeD. llfcGook, U. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING, December 23, 1862. One of General Sheridans outposts (a sergeant and 9 men) wa~ cap- tured this eveniiig. The vedettes were driven in, and gave no alarm. The enemys cavalry were dressed in our uniform. Detailed report will be sent in the morning. A. MoD. MoCOOK, ]Ifajoi~- General, Commanding. Col. J. P. GARESOH]2 Page 159 tXIInIMTION INTO EAST TENNESSEE. eHAF. xxxrr.j 159 No. 2. Report of Brig~ Gen~ John A. Wharton, C. S. Army. - HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Nolensville, Tenn., December 24, 1862. GENERAL: A detachment of Texas Hangers and Second Georgians, nuder Lieuts. M. L. Gordon and John F. Trippe, captured the advance picket (14 in nnmber) of the enemy on this pike yesterday evening. Several were left dead and wounded on the ground. We sustained no loss. The prisoners have been sent to Murtreesborough. The enemy promise ns a visit to-morrow. Thomas corps darmJe arrived Friday evening, and is encamped on the Charlotte and Granny White pikes. We have annoyed their foraging parties sb much that they now send out a very heavy supporting force. Seward, Blair, and Chase have re- signed, and things are in a terrible state at Washington. The removal of ilalleck has become a military necessity. Banks forces are to be landed at Ship Island, for the reduction of Mobile. He will command Butler, without Lincoln sends other orders. Please return all papers that have been sent up from these headquarters. Most respectfully, general, your obedient servant, JNO. A. WIIThTON, Brigadier. General. Brig. Gen. JOSEPH WHEELER, Chief of Cavalry. DECEMBER 24, 1862JANUARY 1, 1863.Expedition into East Tennes see and skirmish at Perkins Mill, on Elk Fork, December 28. I~EPORTS. No. 1.Maj. John M. Brown, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry. No. 2.Maj. James L. Foley, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry. No. 1. Report of ]Jfaj. John lIT. Brown, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry. CA~IP FIRST BATTALION, TENTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY, Danville, K January 3, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report that, having been detached with my battalion to London, Ky., under command of Lient. Col. II. B. Wilson, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and having reached that place on the afternoon of December 25, 1862, I was intrusted by Lieutenant- Colonel Wilson with the independent command of my cavalry, acting under written orders, of which a copy is herewith inclosed. I judged it prudent to proceed as rapidly as due regard to the condi- tiou and efficiency of my hor~es would permit, and, therefore, leaving London, Ky., at 11.30 p. m. on December 25, rode 9 miles to the Burnt Church, on the Barboursville road, where I rested ui~til sunrise. 1 easily reached Barboursville by 3 p, m. of the 26th. That afternoon and night I spent in concerting plans with Capt. Dempsey King and Mr. John Lanman, both men of tried loyalt.y and ex- tensive information and influence, the former being the recognized hea Page 160 160 RY., MID. ANP E. PENN~ N. ALA., A~D SW. VA. [CT~AP. ~Xxft. of the Union Home Guards, of Knox and Whitley Counties. Captain King readily agreed to support any inroad I might make into Tennessee with 150 mountaineers, and mounted his horse to assemble them, but just as he was starting he received a dispatch from Brigadier-General Carteff (of the purport of which I am ignorant), which must have changed his plans, as I saw him no more. Mr. Lanman, then on his way to Lex- ington, fQrnished me with valuable information as to persons and roads. On the morning of the 27th I left Barboursyille, and, taking an nn- frequented road on the south bank of the Cumberland River, reached the Pine Mountain, and, crossing its main ridge by a difficult and cir- cuitous route (the former main road being obstructed by numerous trees felled by the mountaineers to impede General Kirby Smiths retreat), reached Lanmans at 4 p. m. I had been apprised by several reliable men that a rebel camp of cav- alry, numbering 250 or 300, lay near Fortuers Mill, a short distance be- yond Boston, and 9 miles from Lanmans. I, therefore, advanced cau- tiously, and having proceeded 2 miles or more toward Rogers Gap, retraced enough of my route after dark to secure a safe retreat in case the enemy should have received intelligence of my proximity. To guard against this, I posted mountaineers on every path of the road, leaving to them the choice of proper men and positions, and giving only general directions to keep the enemy ignorant of my presence. I mnst grate- fully acknowledge the promptitude and efficiency of their assistance; so completely was every by-path stopped, that, had 1 chosen to have laid concealed at Jesse Powers (where I encamped), 1 ~mile southwest of Laumans, I could have done so for a.week. I dispatched Dr. Sproule, a native of Whitley County, a refugee from the rebel troops, to approach Boston, and bring back accurate in- formation of the position and force of the enemy on Elk Fork, and availed myself of the volunteered services of Jesse Powers and iluston Collins, whom I furnished with horses to bring intelligence from Rogers~ Gap. Dr. Sproule sent me word that the enemy were careless and unsuspicious in the smaller camp; that a large force Ofq perhaps, 1,200 cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, were this side of the Big Creek Gap, and that Major Foley, with the Second Battalion, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, was at Williamsburg. Powers and Collins were unable to return, but sent me word that they had sent into Tennessee, as far as Maynardsville, Mrs. Rogers, wife of Lient. Canada Rogers, now a prisoner in Knoxville, who reported a force of rebel cavalry at Millers Woodlands, in Powells Valley, 2 miles from the crest of Rogers Gap, numbering nearly 300; also 500 cavalry at Rices Mill, on Lost Creek, near Maynardville, and rumors of halforganized parties at Jacksborough and other points to the westward. I had no time to communicate with Major Foley at Williamsburg, and it seemed to me that an incursion into Tennessee, sufficiently dangerous under the most favorable circumstances, wonld be foolhardy, with the prospect of an aroused enemy in the rear. I felt forced, therefore, to abandon, though reluctantly, the project of burning the railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains. It seemed to me that the next best thing was to assist Major Foley in the attack, which I felt certain he would make on Sunday morning, 28th.. Accordingly, I moved toward Boston at early daylight, as soon as the crossing of the Pine Mountain was practicable, and came into Boston entirely unexpected at 7 oclock. I then learned that Major Foley had already attacked, with brilliant success. The enemy were already in pursuit, perhaps 600 strong, in the direction of Williamsburg. Wit Page 161 CHAP. XXXII.] EXPEDITION INTO EAST TENNESSEE. 161 my small force I could not think of another attack on the enemy, now thoroughly on the alert, so I busied myself to cover Major Foleys re- treat and draw off the pursuit. ]i assumed the title and functions of a brigadier, and~after ordering the infantry and artillery of a fictitious brigade to advance, and giviug the enemy time to hear of the formid- able force on their flank, I retreated to Barboursville, and the next day to London, where I met Major Foley, and we lay expecthig the enemy, who, however, seemed to have been deceived, and afraid to pursue. On the 30th, at midnight, I reached Richmond, and, delaying there a day to shoe my horses, joined the brigade on the night of January 1. I cannot speak too highly of the devoted and unflinching patriotism of the citizens of Whitley and Knox Counties. Hundreds of them lead the life of wild beasts, lodging in caves and skulking through the mount- ains, seldom visiting their houses, and all having the certainty of the gallows if they fall into rebel hands. Their only defense against a pil- laging and murdering foe is their rifles and an unconquerable love for their homes and their Government. I was implored by numbers of them to represent to headquarters that bushwhacking was with them an inex- orable necessity in their present unassisted condition, which could and would cease with the presence of efficient aid. I have to report the roads to Barboursville good for the season, and practicable for army teams; also a good road, with the exception of two or three pointsin my opinion, easily remediedfrom Boston to the month of Big Poplar Creekbetter, I am inclined to think, than the road laid down on the maps, or that leading by the Pine Mountain and Lanmans. There is also a direct road, reported very good, from Boston to London, crossing the Cumberland at Evans Mill, effecting a saving of 12 to 15 miles, as compared with the route through Barbours- ville. My retreat was by Evans Mill, crossing the Cumberland at that point, recrossing at McNeils Mill, and entering the main State road 5 miles south of Barbonrsville. I have observed inaccuracies in the published maps, too tedious, and perhaps unimportant, to mention here. If considered desirable, I can point them out. My horses suffered much from fatigue and the weather; several died, and others had to be left in the hands of Union men, to be collected by authorized agents of the Government. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN MASON BROWN, Major Tenth Kentucky Gavairy, Commanding First Battalion. Col. SAMUEL A. GILBERT, Comdg. Second Brig., Second Division, Army of Kentucky. [Inclosure.] HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, London, Ky., December 25, 1862. JOHN MASON BROWN, Major Tenth Kentucky Cavalry: SIR: The detachment of cavalry from IDanville not having arrived, in pursuance of orders, I will return to Richmond, and you will assume command of the forces now here, excepting the detachment of Forty- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They will turn over their horses to you, and you will mount them with armed volunteer mountaineers that you may induce to accompany you. You will also procure of Lieuten- ant Jacobs, commanding said detachment, fifteen cauteens, and fill them 11 R RYOL XX~~T Page 162 162 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAr. XXXII. with turpentine; You will, if you find it practicable, proceed to or be- yond Boston, via Barboursville, and ascertain the force and position of the enemy at Big Creek Gap, or in the vicinity of Boston, Ky., or in Scott county, Tennessee. If, however, you find it practicable to do so with the forces you have, you may proceed to Strawberry Plains, about 15 miles from Knoxville, and destroy the big railroad bridge at that place. It is with the hope that you may find it practicable to accomplish this with safety that I have directed the turpentine to be procured. Should you reach the railroad, you will, of course, destroy the telegraph wires as soon as you get there. In my judgment, if you reach the railroad, it will be safe for you to return via Cumberland Gap, but in reference to the route you take, both going and returning, you will be governed by the best information you can obtain, and your operations throughout must necessarily be directed accordingly by your own good judgment and discretion. You will report from time to time to Col. S. A. Gilbert, at Richmond, and on your return will report direct to him. Very respectfully, & c., II. B. WILSON, Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding.. No. 2. Report of Maj. James L. Foley, Tenth Kentucky ~Javalry. IIDQRS. SECOND BATT., TENTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY, Danville, Ky., January 3,1863. I have the honor to report that, in accordance with instructions re- ceived from headquarters, I proceeded to London, Ky., on the morning of December 25, 1862, with the greater portion of my command, includ- ing the force reported to me under command of Captain Buchanan, of Mundays cavalry. Arriving atLondon, I learned that Major Brown had been ordered to Barboursville by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, who like- wise ordered that the next morning I should proceed to Williamsburg, in Whitley County, Kentucky. This point was reached at 9 p. m. the following day, where I had made arrangements by my advance guard to select a camp, procure a sufficient quantity of forage, and also to picket all roads leading out of the town until my arrival. My detachment rested here until the next evening, the 27th instant, during which time I spent in learning the location, numbers, and dis- position of the rebel forces. My command was again in motion at 8 p. in., having been informed by scouts that a rebel force, 350 strong, had encamped at a I)oint on Elk Fork, called Perkins Mill, in Campbell County, Tennessee, 19 miles from Williamsburg. Proceeding cautiously in that direction, I came upon their pickets at 4 a. m. of the 26th instant, which were captured, 16 in number, by my advance guard, under com- mand of Lieutenant Kerr, of Mundays cavalry, without the slightest noise or confusion; in fact, they were fast asleep. From them I learned the location of their camp, numbers, strength, & c., which was very ac- curate, as I afterward discovered. Forming my line, I now awaited the approach of daylight, but so in- tense and heavy was the fog as to prevent anything being seen at the distance of 20 l)a.ces. 1 determined, however, to attach theiii, and (IC- tailed 40 men of Mundays cavalry, under Lieutenant Kerr, armed wiih carbines and the captured riles. I deployed this force as skirmishers Page 163 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH ON WILSON CREEK PIKE, TENN. 163 with instructions to approach the camps as near as possible before open- ing fire. The cavalry companies (B and M, Tenth Kentucky), supported these. The order forward was now given, and after proceeding a quarter of a mfle the skirmishers opened fire. This was returned by the enemy with considerable spfrit, but they soon gave way at the approach of the cavalry, after three unsuccessful attempts to form their line. The rout now became general; the enemy, pushed one very side, refused to stand their ground; our forces, elated with the first success, manfully bore down upon them, and in less than one hour we had full possession of their camp. They lost 30 killed, 17 wounded, and 51 captured. In addition to this, 80 head of horses and mules fell into our hands, together with a large number of Enfield rifles and ammunition. What could not be brought away was destroyed. The number of rifles which fell into our hands amounted to nearly 200 stand. The camp equipage was all destroyed and burned. This, sir, was accomplished in one hours time, and with- out the loss of a man killed or wounded. The fight occurred in such close proximity to a second camp of the enemys cavalry, estimated by the prisoners at 600 strong, as to cause the assailed party to seek protection in their lines, hotly pursued by our men. I take occasion, with much pleasure, to compliment Captains Buchanan and Coffman, and Lieutenants Kerr and Taylor, of Mundays cavalry; Captains Rogers, Kute, and Gray, and Lieutenants Thompson, Caldwefl, Trumbo, Bierbower, and Taber, of the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, for their gallantry and cool bearing displayed on this occasion. Great praise is due the men for their bravery, and they deserve alike to share the glory. I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant, JAMES L. FOLEY, Major Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, Commanding Battalion. Capt. B. II. POLK, Acting Assistant Adjutant. General. DECBMBER 25, 1862.Skirmish on the Wilson Creek pike, between Brent- wood and Petersburg, Tenn. REPORTS. No. 1.CoL P. Sidney Post, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, commanding brigade. No. 2.Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry brigade. Ko. 1. Report of Col. P. Sidney Post, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, commanding brigade. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, December 25, 1862. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from Brigadier-General Davis, commanding First Division, I started at daylight this morning, with the First Brigade, First Division, and the Fifteenth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, from the Second Brigade, and the train, reported to me as consisting of more than 200 wagons. W Page 164 164 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [OHiP. XXXII. proceeded to Brentwood, and from thence on the Wilson pike, near where we drove in the enemys pickets. Two miles farther we came to a cross-road leading to Xolensville, on which the enemy were encamped about ~ mile distant, and at another point about 2 miles distant. The small cavalry force occupying t~he nearest camp abandoned it, and I sta- tioned the Fifty-ninth Regiment Illinois infantry and one section of the Fifth Wisconsin Battery in a position to command this road, and pre- vent the enemy from Nolensville, which was 5 miles distant, establishing themselves in our rear. I then proceeded 2 miles farther with the train, placing the Fifteenth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry and one section of the battery on the right, and commanding a road coming from Frank. lin, and the Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Infantry, the Seventy- fourth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and one seetion of th~ battery in front. Our advance was attended with considerable skirmishing. Two of the enemy were killed and some wounded were seen being carried off. A few shells from Captain Pinneys battery cooled the Confederate ardor until all the wagons were completely loaded. The wagons of the enemy were hurried out of the field withont being loaded, thongh, I re- gret to say, their presence was not discerned in time to effect their cap- ture. The captain of one of the skirmishing parties caused some neigh- borhood negroes to bury the enemys dead, and we returned to camp without any mishap whatever. I beg leave to observe in this report that foraging in such a country as this in our front, and so great a distance from camp, while the enemy are so near and from every hill-top estimate the number of the escort and the value of the train, is attended with considerable risk. Our train could not be made to move in a less space than 4 miles, and if it were not possible to throw a superior force in reai~ of foraging expeditions it would not be difficult to suddenly attack so long a train and destroy some portion of it, especially while threatening it in the rear, as they did much of the way in to-day, unless the escort were very large. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant7 P. SIDNEY POST, Lieut. T. W. MORRISON, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Division, Right Wing. No.2. Report of Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry brigade. HEADQUARTERS WHARTONS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Nolensvillc, Tenn., December 25, 18629.30 p. m. GENERAL: We have been fighting the enemy from sunrise until dark. The forage now lies to the left of this pike, in between this and Wilker- son pike. To-day the enemy came out in large force and a heavy sup- porting force. With what cavalry could be used without disturbing the pickets, we engaged the enemy. The country is very hilly and covered with cedar brakes, which renders it totally unfit for cavalry, and the infantry here has orders to risk nothing. I had 3 men wounded; killed 6 and wounded 14 of the enemy. They thus paid for their ftwage. I cannot get the five companies to complete Smiths and Murrays re Page 165 CHAP. XXXII.] SKIRMISH ON EDMONDSON PIKE, TENN. 165 iments, though they have long been promised me. The service that I am required to perform here is too much for my force, and it will soon be unfit for service. Other cavalry commanders are drilling daily, and I assure you ~iat every day for the past ten days I have engaged the enemy. My force in camp has to be moved forward every day to sus- tain the pickets, and never return until dark, so, whether on picket or oft; they have no rest. I ordered Colonel Smith to leave a portion of his command at Frank- lin, and to move last night on a scout on the Hilisborough pike. The result of the expedition is not yet known. I take great pride in this brigade, and do not intend that it shall be used up withbut advising you of it. I intend to write to General Wheeler, and ask him to come over and see for himself the amount of labor I have to perform. The enemy were followed beyond our lines, and our pickets are at their usual stands. The enemy will be out early in the morning, and to-morrow will be, as usual, a day for us to fight and not to rest. I have nothing new as to the several movements of the enemy. Most respectfully, general, your obedient servant, JNO. A. WHARTON, Brigadier- General. Lieutenant-General LEONIDAS POLK, Commanding, d~c. DECEMBER 25, 1862.Skirmish at Prims blacksmith shop, Edmondson pike, Tenn. Report of Brig. (len. Thomas J. Wood, U. S. Army. * [HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, LEFT WING,] December 25, 1862. The brigade (Colonel Harkers) which went out this mortting for forage is coming in. Colonel Harker reports having filled his wagons with corn, but had to fight for it. He was attacked in front and on the flanks, and lost 1 man killed outright and 2 wounded; one seriously, the other slightly. The casualties all occurred in the Fifty-first Indiana Volun- teers. Colonel Harker estimates the enemy at 600, and says he was at- tacked by mounted men and men on foot, but does not know whether the latter were infantry or dismounted troopers. If we should move to- morrow, I beg to be distinctly informed what amount of baggage it is expected we will take. If all is not taken, which, I presume, will har~dly be done, what arrangements will be made with the remainder? Will it be ordered to follow, or sent to Nashville? Please be explicit, as it will save much embarrassment. Further, is it expected any forage will be taken? I understand the forage is exhausted on the Murfreesborough road to La Vergne; and if it were there to forage for, scattering our troops so, where the enemy are, would be hazardous. On the other hand, to haul the bulky forage provided from the country will make an immense train. I beg you will furnish the necessary information at your earliest convenience. TH. J. WOOD, Brigadier- General, Commanding. * See also Whartons report, p. 164 Page 166 166 KY~, MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA, AND SW. VA. [CuAr. XXXII. DECEMBER 26, 1862.Capture of guerrilla camp in Powell County, Ken- tucky. Report of ]Iliaj. Gen. Horatio U. Wright, U. S. Army, commanding De- partment of the Ohio. CINCrNNATI, OHIO, January 2, 186312.15 p. m. I have just learned from Major-General Granger that Major Stivers, of the Fourteenth Kentucky Cavalry, with 150 men, who were ordered by him upon a scout, to ascertain the whereabouts of a large band of guerrillas in the eastern part of Powell County, Kentucky, on the 26th ultimo, after traveling all night, over obscure and dangerous bridle- paths, came upon their camp as they were preparing to move, dashed upon them, capturing their leader, a noted guerrilla, and 11 men. The rest, though outnumbering Major Stivers force, were utterly routed, and escaped into the dense brush and mountain gorges. Twenty-five horses and a large amount of clothing, blankets, guns, pistols, & c., that were being transported to Humphrey Marshalls camp, were also captured. H. G. WRIGHT, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. General-in-Chief. DECEMBER 26, 1862JANUARY 5, 1863.The Stones River or Murfrees borough, Tenn., Campaign. $UM~AR7Y OF TIlE PiRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dec. 26, 1862.Skirmish at Franklin, Tenn. Skirmish at Nolensville, Tenn. Skirmish at Knob Gap, Tenn. 2627, 1862.Skirmish at La Vergne, Tenn. 27, 1862.Skirmish on the Jefferson Pike, at Stewarts Creek Brid Skirmish at Triune, Tenn. ge, Tenn. Skirmish at Franklin, Tenn. Skirmish on the Murfreesborough pike, at Stewarts Creek Bridge, Tenn. 29, 1862.Skirmish at Lizzards, between Triune and Murfreesborough, Tena. Skirmish at Wilkinsons Cross~Roads,* Tenn. 2930, 1862.Skirmishes near Murfreesborough, Tenn. 30, 1862.Skirmish at Jefferson, Tenn. Skirmish at La Vergue, Tenn. Skirmish at Rock Spring, Tenn. - Skirmish at Nolensyille, Tenn. 31, 1862.Skirmish at Overalls Creek, Tenn. Dec. 31, 1862Jan. 3, 1863.Battle of Stones River, or Murfreesborough, Tenn. Jan. 1, 1863.Skirmishes at Stewarts Creek and La Vergne, Tenn. 3, 1863.Skirmish at the Insane Asylum, or Coxs Hill, Tenn.t 4, 1863.Skirmish on the Manchester pike, Tenn. Skirmish at Murfreesborough, Tenn. * Called also Wilkersons Cross-Roads. t Called also Bloods Page 167 CHAP. XXIII.] THE STONE~S RIVER CAMPAIGN. 167 Jan. 5, 1863. Murfreesborough occupied by Union forces. Skirmish at Lytles Creek, on the Manchester pike, Tenn. Skirmish on the Shelby~ville pike, Tenn. REPORTS. ETC. ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. No. 1.Organization of the Fourteenth Army Corps~ or Army of the Cumberland. No. 2.Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Army, commanding Army of the Cumberland, with congratulatory resolutions, orders, & c. No. 3.Return of casualties in the Union forces. No. 4.Surg. E6enezer Swift, U. S. Army, Medical Director. No. 5.Lieut. Col. Samuel Simmons, U. S. Army, Chief Commissary of Subsistepce, of stores lost and captured. No. 6.Lieut. Col. John W. Taylor, U. S. Army, Chief Quartermaster, of public animals and means of transportation captured by the enemy, & c., De- cember 26January 16. No. 7.Capt. William M. Wiles, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, Provost Marshal, of prisoners captured. No. 8.Capt. Jesse Merrill, Chief Signal Officer. No. 9.Col. James Barnett, First Ohio Light Artillery, Chief of Artillery. No. 10.~Capt. James St. C. Morton, U. S. Corps of Engineers, commanding Pioneer Brigade. No. 11.Capt. Lyman Bridges, commanding First Battalion. No. 12.Capt. Calvin Hood, commanding Second Battalion. No. 13.Capt. Robert Clements, commanding Third Battalion. No. 14.Capt. James H. Stokes, Stokes Illinois battery. No. 15.Maj. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook, U. S. Army, commanding RighV Wing. No. 16.Surg. Clarke McDermont, U. S. Army, Medical Director. No. 17.Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, U. S. Army, commanding First Division. No. 15.Lient. Charles B. Humphrey, Fifth Wisconsin Battery. No. 19.Lient. Henry E. Stiles, Eighth Wisconsin Battery. No. 20.Col. P. Sidney Post, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, commanding First Brigade. No. 21.Capt. Hendrick E. Paine, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry. No. 22.Col. Jason Marsh, Seventy-fourth illinois Infantry. No. 23.Lient. Col. John E. Bennett, Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry. No. 24.Col. Michael Gooding, Twenty~second Indiana Infantry. No. 25.Col. William P. Carlin, Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 26~Maj. Isaac M. Kirby, One hundred and first Ohio Infantry. No.27.Col. William E. Woodruff, commanding Third Brigade. No. 28.Capt. Wesford Taggart, Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry. No. 29.Lieut. Col. William P. Chandler, Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry. No. 30.Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division. No. 31.Capt. Peter Simonson, Fifth Indiana Battery. No. 32.Capt. Warren P. Edgarton, Battery E, First Ohio Light Artillery. No. 33.Lieut. Albert G. Ransom, Battery E, First Ohio Light Artillery. No. 34.Col. William H. Gibson, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, commanding First Bri- gade. No. 35.Lieut. Col. Charles T. Hotchkiss, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry. No. 36.Lieut. Col. Frank Erdelmeyer, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry. No. 37.Lient. Col. Fielder A. Jones, Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry. No. 38.Col. William Wallace, Fifteenth Ohio Infantry. No. 39.Col. Joseph B. Dodge, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, commanding S~on~ Bri- gade. No. 40.Maj. Alexander ~. D~sart, Thirty-fourth Illinois Iafantr~r Page 168 168 KY., MID. AI~D E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXIL No. 4l.Maj. Allen Bnckner, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry. No. 42.Maj. Joseph P. Collins, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. No. 43.Lient. Col. Orrin D. Hurd, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. No. 44.Capt. Thomas E. Rose, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. No. 45ACol. Philemon P. Baldwin, Sixth Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Bri- gade. No. 46.Lient. Col. Hagerman Tripp, Sixth Indiana Infantry. No. 47.IAeut. Col. William W. Berry, Fifth Kentucky Infantry. No. 48.Maj. Joab A. Stafford, First Ohio Infantry. No. 49.Col. Charles Anderson, Ninety-third Ohio Infantry. No. 50.Brig. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division. No. 51.Capt. Henry Hescock, First Missouri Light Artillery, Chief ofArtillery. No. 52.Capt. Charles Houglitaling, Battery C, First Illinois Light Artillery. No. 53.Capt. Asahel K. Bnsh, Fonrth Indiana Battery. No. 54.Col. Nicholas Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, commanding First Bri- gade. No. 55.Capt. Porter C. Olson, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry. No. 56.Col. Francis T. Sherman, Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry. No. 57.Lient. Col. William B. McCreery, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry. No. 58.Maj. Elisha C. Hibbard, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry. No. 59.Lient. Col. Bernard Laiboldt, Second Missouri Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 60.Maj. Francis Ehrler, Second Missouri Infantry. No. 6l.~Col. Lnther P. Bradley, Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 62.Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army,. commanding Center. No. 63.Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau, U. S. Army, commanding First Division. No. 64.Lient. Francis L. Gnenther, Battery H, Fifth U. S. Artillery. No. 65.Col. Benjamin F. Scribner, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, commanding First Brigade. No. 66.Lient. Col. Daniel F. Griffin, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry. No. 67.Maj. Anson G. McCook, Second Ohio Infantry. No. 68.Lient. Col. Stephen A. Bassford, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry: No. 69.Col. Alfred R. Chapin, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry. No. 70.Col. John Beatty, Third Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 71.Col. John C. Starkweather, First Wisconsin Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 72.Lient. Col. Oliver L. Shepherd, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, commanding Fourth (Regular) Brigade. No. 73.Capt. Jesse Fulmer, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry. No. 74.Capt. Robert E. A. Crofton, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry. No. 75.Maj. James N. Caldwell, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry. No. 76.Maj. Frederfck Townsend, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry. No. 77.Capt. James B. Mulligan, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry. No. 78.Brig. Gen. James S. Negley, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division. No. 79.Lient. Alban A. Ellsworth, Hewetts (Kentucky) battery. No. S0.Lieut. Alexander Marshall, Battery G, First Ohio Light Artillery. No. 81.Brig. Gen. James G. Spears, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of opera- tions January 2-9. No. 82.Col. Joseph A. Cooper, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, of skirmish at Coxs Hill. No. 83.Col. Timothy R. Stanley, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, commanding Secopd Brigade. No. 84.Lient. Col. Alexander W. Raffen, Nineteenth Illinois Infantry. No. 85.Col. William L. Stoughton, Eleventh Michigan Infantry. No. 86.Lient. Col. Josiah Given, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry Page 169 CuAr. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 169 No. 87.Lient. Col. George F. Elliott, Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry. No. 88.Col. John F. Miller, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infanfry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 89.Lient. ~ol. William D. Ward, Thirty-seventh Indiana Infantry. No. 90.Col. James M. Neibling, Twenty-first Ohio Infantry. No. 91.Col. Granville Moody, Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry. No. 92.Col. Moses B. Walker, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry, commanding First Brigade, Third Division. No. 93.Col. Daniel McCook, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, commanding brigade, Fourth Division. No. 94.Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, U. S. Army, commanding Left Wing. No. 95.Capt. John Mendenhall, Fourth U. S. Artillery, Chief of Artillery. No. 96.Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood, U. S. Army, commanding First Division. No. 97.Brig. Gem Milo S. Hascall, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade and First Division, including skirmishes at La Vergue and on the Murfrees- borough pike, at Stewarts Creek. No. 98.Maj. Seymour Race, First Ohio Light Artillery, Chief of Artillery. No. 99.Lieut. George Estep, Eighth Indiana Battery, including skirmishes at La Vergue and on the Mux freesborough pike, at Stewarts Creek Bridge. No. 100.Capt. Jerome B. Cox, TeLth Indiana Battery. No. 101.Capt. Cullen Bradley, Sixth Ohio Battery. No. 102.Col. George P. Buell, Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry, commanding regiment and First Brigade, including skirmish at La Vergne, December 27. No. 103.Col. Frederick A. Bartleson, One hundredth Illinois Infantry, including skirmishes near La Vergue and at Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27. No. 104.Lieut. Col. James T. Embree, Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry. No. 105.Col. Samuel McKee, Third Kentucky Infantry, of skirmishes near La Vergue and Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27. No. 106.Maj. Daniel R. Collier, Third Kentucky Infantry. No. 107.Capt. William H. Squires, Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, including skirmishes at La Vergue and Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27. No. 108.Col. George D. Wagner, Fifteenth Indiana Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 109.Lieut. Col. Gustavus A. Wood, Fifteenth Indiana Infantry. No. 110.Maj. Henry Leaming, Fortieth Indiana Infautry, including skirmish at La Vergne, December 27. No. 111.Col. John Q. Lane, Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry. No. 112.Col. Charles G. Harker, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 113.Col. Abel D. Streight, Fifty-first Indiana Infantry. No. 114.Col. Gilbert Hathaway, Seventy-third Indiana Infantry. No. 115.Col. Michael Shoemaker, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. No. 116.Lient. Col. Alexander Mcllvain, Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry. No. 117.Maj. Horatio N. Whitbeck, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry. No. 118.Brig. Gen. John M. Palmer, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division. No. 119.Surg. Mason G. Sherman, Ninth Indiana Infantry, Acting Medical Director. No. 120.Capt. William E. Standart, Battery B, First Ohio Light Artillery. No. 121.Lieut. Norval Osburn, Battery F, First Ohio Light Artillery. No. 122.Lient. Charles C. Parsons, Fourth U. S. Artillery, commanding Batteries H and M. No. 123.Brig. Gen. Charles Cruft, U. S. Army, commauding First Brigade, including skirmish at La Vergue, December 26. No. 124.Surg. James B. Armstrong, Thirty first Indian a Infantry, acting brigade surgeon. No. 125.Col. John Osborn, Thirty-first Jn4iana Iuf~ntry, including skir~isli ~t 14 Vergne, December 26 Page 170 170 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII No. 126.CoL David A. Enyart, First Kentucky Infantry, including skirmish at La Vergue, December 26. No. 127.Col. Thomas D. Sedgewick, Second Kentucky Infantry, including skirmish at La Vergue, December 26. No. 128Col. Isaac N. Ross, Ninetieth Ohio Infantry. No. 129.Col. William B. Hazen, Forty.first Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Bri- gade, including skirmishes on the Jefferson pike, near Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27. No. 130.Surg. Mason G. Sherman, Ninth Indiana Infantry, acting brigade surgeon. No. 131.Lient. John L. Chilton, Sixth Kentucky Infantry, acting brigade quarter- master. No. 132.Col. Thomas S. Casey, One hundred and tenth Illinois Infantry. No. 133.Col. William H. Blake, Ninth Indiana Infantry. No. 134.Col. Walter C. Whitaker, Sixth Kentucky Infantry. No. 135.Lient. Col. Aquila Wiley, Forty-first Ohio Infantry. No. 136.Col. William Grose, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 137.Surg. Silas H. Kersey, Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, acting brigade sur- geon. No. 135.Col. Louis H. Waters, Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry. No. 139.Capt. Pyrrhus Woodward, Thirty-sixth Indiana infantry. No. 140.Maj. Thomas H. Hamrick, Twenty-third Kentucky Infantry. No. 141.Col. Nicholas L. Anderson, Sixth Ohio Infantry. No. 142.Capt. Armistead T. M. Cockerill, Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry. No. 143.Brig. Gen. Horatio P. Van Cleve, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division. No. 144.Col. Samuel Beatty, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, commanding Third Division. No. 145.Capt. George R. Swallow, Seventh Indiana Battery. No. 146.Lient. Alanson J. Stevens, Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery. No. 147.Lieut. Cortland Livingston, Third Wisconsin Battery. No. 148.Col. Samuel Beatty, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, commanding First Brigade. No. 149.Col. Benjamin C. Grider, Ninth Kentucky Infantry, commanding regiment and First Brigade. No. 150.Col. Frederick Knefler, Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry. No. 151.Col. George H. Cram, Ninth Kentucky Infantry, of engagement January 2. No. 152.Maj. Erasmus L. Mottley, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry. No. 153.Maj. Charles F. Manderson, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry. No. 154.Col. James P. Fyffe, Fifty-ninth OhioInfantry, commanding Second Brigade. No. 155.Lieut. Col. Simeon C. Aldrich, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. No. 156.Lient. Col. George F. Dick, Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry. No. 157.Maj. Dwight Jarvis, jr., Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. No. 155.Lient. Col. William Howard, Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry. No. 159.Col. Samuel W. Price, Twenty-first Kentucky Infantry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 160.Col. Bernard F. Mullen, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry. No. 161.Maj. Green B. Broaddus, Eighth Kentucky Infantry, of engagement Janu- ary 2. No. 162.Lient. Col. James C. Evans, Twenty-first Kentucky Infantry, of engagement January 2. No. 163.Lient. Col. Richard W. McClain, Fifty-first Ohio Infantry. No. 164.Licut. Col. John E. Cummins, Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry, of engagement January 2. No. 165.Brig. Gen. David S. Stanley, U. S. Army, Chief of Cavalry, including skir- mishes near La Vergue, December 27, at Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, Decem- ber 29, Overalls Creek, December 31, and Lytles Creek, January 5. No. 166.Col. John Kenuett, Fotirtli Ohio Cavalry, eom~uanding Firet Vavalry Di- vision Page 171 CHAP. XXXII.] THE ;STONE~S .RIVERICAMPAIGN. 171 No. 167.Lient. Nathaniel M. Newell, Battery D, First Ohio Light Artillery, of skir- mishes near La Vergue and Stewarts Creek, December 26January 1. No. 168.Col. Robert H. G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, commanding First Bri- gade,including skirmishes at La Vergne, December 26, between Stewarts Creek and La Vergue, December 30, at Overalls Creek December 31, and on Manchester pike, January 5. No. 169.Capt. Joseph A. S. Mitchell, Second Indiana Cavalry, of operations near La Vergne, December 2931. No. 170.Col. Eli H. Murray, Third Kentucky Cavalry, including skirmishes at La Vergue, December 26, Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, December 31, and on Manchester pike, January 5. No. 171.Lient. Col. William H. Dickinson, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, including skir- mish at La Vergne, January 1. No. 172.Capt. Frank W. Mix, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, of skirmish at Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27. No. 173.Lient. Lansingh B. Eldridge, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, of operations between Nashville and La Vergne, January 13. No. 174.Maj. John E. Wynkoop, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, including skir- mishes on the Murfreesborough road, December 2627, at Overalls Creek, December 31, and on Manchester pike, January 5. No. 175.Col. Lewis Zahm, Third Ohio Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade, includ- ing skirmishes at Franklin, December 26-27, Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, December 29, Overalls Creek, December 31, La Vergne, January 1, Coxs Hill, January 3, and on Shelbyville pike, January 5. No. 176...Maj. James Laughlin, First Ohio Cavalry, of operations January 1-5. No. 177.Capt. Valentine Cupp, First Ohio Cavalry, including skirmishes at Franklin, December 26, Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, December 29, and Overalls Creek, December 31. No. 178.Lient. Col. Douglas A. Murray, Third Ohio Cavalry, including skirmishes at Franklin, December 2627, and Overalls Creek, December 31. No. 179.Maj. James W. Paramore, Third Ohio Cavalry, including skirmishes at Over- alls Creek, December 31, and at La Vergue, January 1. No. 180.Maj. John L. Pugh, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, including skirmishes at Frank- lin, December 26, Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, December 29, and Overalls Creek, December 31. No. 181.Capt. Henry B. Teeter, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, of operations December 31. No. 182.Maj. Robert Klein, Third Indiana Cavalry (unattached), including skir- mishes at Triune, December 27, and near Overalls Creek, December 31. No. 183.Lient. William S. Hall, adjutant Second Tennessee Cavalry. No. 184.Capt. Elmer Otis, Fourth U. S. Cavalry, including skirmishes at Overalls Creek, December 31, and on the Manchester pike, January 5. No. 185.Col. William P. Innes, First Michigan Engineers, of attack on wagon-train near La Vergne, January 1. No. 186.Lient. Col. John G. Parkhurst, Ninth Michigan Infantry, including skir- i~nish near Overalls Creek, December 31. No. 187.Lient. Col. JosephW. Burke, Tenth Ohio Infantry, of operations December 31January 22. ARMY OF TENNESSEE. No. 188.General Joseph E. Jo]rnston, C. S. Army, commanding the Western Depart- ment, with congratulatory orders. No. 189.Organization of the Army of Tennessee. No. 190.General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commanding Army of Tennessee, with congratulatory orders. No. 191.Return of casualties in the Confederate forces Page 172 172 KY4 ~rrn.i AND E.~ TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIII No. 192.Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Polk, C. S. Arny, commanding Army Corps, with re- sulting correspondence. No. 193.Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham, C. S. Army, commanding First Division. No. 194.Brig. Gen. Daniel S. Donelson, C. S. Army, commanding First Brigade. No. 1959.Lieut. Col. John H. Anderson, Eighth Tennessee Infantry. No. 196.Col. Joha H. Savage, Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry. No. 197.Col. John C. Carter, Thirty-eighth Tennessee Infantry. No. 195.Col. John Chester, Fifty-first Tennessee Infantry. No. 199.Col. S. S. Stanton, Eighty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. No. 200.Lieut. L. G. Marshall, Carnes Tennessee battery. No. 201.Brig. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, C. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade. No. 202.Col. Oscar F. Stralil, Fourth Tennessee Infantry, commanding Fourth and Fifth Regiments. No. 203.Col. Francis M. Walker, Nineteenth Tennessee Infantry. No. 204.Maj. S. E. Shannon, Twenty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. No. 205.Col. E. E. Tansil, Thirty-first Tennessee Infantry, commanding Thirty-first and Thirty-third Regiments. No. 206.Capt. T. J. Stanford, Mississippi battery. No. 207.Brig. Gen. George Maney, C. S. Army, commanding Third Brigade. No. 20~.Col. H. R. Feud, First Tennessee Infantry. No. 209.Col. James A. McMurry, Fourth Tennessee Infantry. No. 210.Maj. John L. Harris, Sixth Tennessee Infantry, commanding Sixth and Ninth Regiments. No. 211.Lient. William B. Turner, Smiths Mississippi battery. No. 212.Col. A. J. Vaughan, jr., Thirteenth Tennessee Infantry, commanding Fourth Brigade. No. 213.Capt. R. F. Lanier, Thirteenth Tennessee Infantry. No. 214.Maj. J. B. Johnson, Twenty-ninth Tennessee Infantry. No. 215.Lient. CoL Michael Magevney, jr., One hundred and fifty-fourth Tennessee Infantry Senior Regiment. No. 216.Col. William H. Young, Ninth Texas Infantry. No. 217.Capt. W. L. Scott, Tennessee battery. No. 215.Lient. W. M. Polk, Scotts Tennessee battery. No. 219.Maj. Gen. Jones M. Withers, C. S. Army, commanding Second Division. No. 220.Capt. Felix H. Robertson, Florida battery, Dens brigade. No. 221.Brig. Gen. J. Patton Anderson, C. S. Army, commanding Walthalls brigade. No. 222.Capt. Overton W. Barret, Missouri battery. No. 223.Capt. David D. Waters, Alabama battery, Andersons brigade. No. 224.Lient. Gen. William J. Hardee, C. S. Army, commanding Army Corps. No. 225.Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, C. S. Army, commanding First Division, with appendix by General Bragg. No. 226.Brig. Gen. Daniel XV. Adams, C. S. Army, commanding First Brigade. No. 227.Col. Randall L. Gibson, Thirteenth Louisiana Infantry, commanding Thir- teenth and Twentieth Regiments and Adams brigade. No. 228.Lieut. Col. Henry Maury, Thirty-second Alabama Infantry. No. 229.Maj. F. C. Zacharie, Twenty-fifth Louisiana Infantry, commanding Six.. teenth and Twenty-fifth Regiments. No. 230.Maj. J. E. Austin, Fourth Louisiana Battalion (sharpshooters). No. 231.Lient. W. C. D. Vai~ght, Fifth Company, Washington Light Artillery. No. 232.Col. Joseph B. Palmer, Eighteenth Tennessee Infantry, commanding regi~ ment and Second Brigade. No. 233.Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, C. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade. No. 234.Brig. Gen. William Preston, C. S. Army, commanding Third Brigade. No. 235.Col. William Miller, First Florida Infantry, commanding First and Third Regiments Page 173 CHAP. XXXIL] THK STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 173 No. 236.Col. W. L. L. Bowen, Fourth Florida Infantry. No. 237..Maj. John T. Lesley, Fourth Florida Infantry. No. 238.Col. Joseph A. McDowell, Sixtieth North Carolina Infantry. No. 239.Col. T. ~. Smith, Twentieth Tennessee Infantry. No. 240.Maj. F. Claybrooke, Twentieth Tennessee Infantry. No. 241.Lient. John W. Mebane, Wrights Tennessee battery. No. 242.Col. Robert P. Trabue, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, commanding Fourth Bri- gade. No. 243.Lient. Col. M. L. Stansel, Forty-first Alabama Infantry. No. 244.Maj. James W. Hewitt, Second Kentucky Infantry. No. 245.Col. Joseph H. Lewis, Sixth Kentucky Infantry. No. 246.Col. Thomas H. Hunt, Ninth Kentucky Infantry. No. 247.Capt. Robert Cobb, Kentucky battery. No. 248.Brig. Gen. John K. Jackson, C. S. Army, commanding brigade. No. 249.Maj. Charles P. Daniel, Fifth Georgia Infantry. No. 250.Maj. Jesse J. Cox, Second Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters. No. 251.Lient. Col. A. McNeill, Eighth Mississippi Infantry. No. 252.Lieut. Harvey H. Cribbs, Lumsdens (Alabama) battery. No. 253.Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, C. S. Army, commanding division. No. 254.Brig. Gen. Lucius E. Polk, C. S. Army, commanding First Brigade. No. 255.Lieut. Thomas J. Key, Helena Battery. No. 256.Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell, C. S. Army, commanding Second Brigade. No. 257.Col. Daniel C. Govan, Second Arkansas Infantry. No. 258.Lieut. Col. Reuben F. Harvey, Second Arkansas Infantry. No. 259.Lient. Col. John E. Murray, Fifth Arkansas Infantry. No. 260.Maj. William F. Douglass, Sixth Arkansas Infantry, commanding Sixth and Seventh Regiments. No. 261.Col. John H. Kelly, Eighth Arkansas Infanti~y. No. 262.Lient. Col. George F. Bancum, Eighth Arkansas Infantry. No. 263.Lient. H. Shannon, Warren Light Artillery. No. 26{.Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson, C. S. Army, commanding Third Brigade. No. 265.Lient. James B. Lake, , Chief Ordnance Officer. No. 266.Lient. Col. Watt W. Floyd, Seventeenth Tennessee Infantry. No. 267.Lieut. Col. R. H. Keeble, Twenty-third Tennessee~Infantry. No. 268.Col. John M. Hughs, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry. No. 269.Lient. CoL Samuel Davis, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry. No. 270.Capt. C. G. Jarnagin, Thirty-seventh Tennessee Infantry. No. 271.Col. John S. Fulton, Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry. No. 272.Capt. Putnam Darden, Jefferson Artillery. No. 273.Brig. Gen. S. A. M. Wood, C. S. Ar~, commanding Fourth Brigade, in- cluding skirmish on the Nolensville road, December 27. No, 274.Col. William B. Wood, Sixteenth Alabama Infantry, including skirmish at Triune, 1)ecember 27. No. 275.Col. Samuel Adams, Thir*y-third Alabama Infantry. No. 276.Maj. J. F. Cameron, Third Confederate Infantry. No. 277.Lieut. Col. R. Charlton, Forty-fifth Mississippi Infantry, including skir- mishes near Triune, December 27. No. 278.Capt. A. T. Hawkins, Fifteenth Battalion, Mississippi Sharpshooters. No. 279.Capt. Henry C. Semple, Alabama Battery. No. 280.Maj. Gen. John P. McCown, C. S. Army, commanding division, Smiths corps. No. 281.Capt. J. D. Allison, , Chief Ordnance Officer. No. 282.-.--Maj. George M. Mathes, , Chief of Artillery. No. 283.Brig. Gen. M.D. Ector, C. S. Army, commanding First Brigade. No. 21A.Col. M. F. Locke, C. S. Army, Tenth Texas Cavalry (dismounted). No. 285.Lieut. Col. J. M. Bounds, Eleventh Texas Cavalry (dismounted) Page 174 174 KY., MID. AND B. TIIINN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XX2IL No. 286.Col. J. L. Camp, Fourteenth Texas Cavalry (dismounted). No. 287.Col. Julius A. Andrews, Fifteenth Texas Cavalry (dismounted). No. 285.Capt. James P. Douglas, Texas Battery. No. 2S~Col. Robert B. Vance, Twenty-ninth North Carolina Infantry, commanding regiment and Second Brigade. No. 290.Lieut. Col. M. A. Stovall, Third Georgia Battalion. No. 291.Maj. Joseph T. Smith, Ninth Georgia Battalion. No. 292.Lient. Col. William Thedford, Eleventh Tennessee Infantry. No. 293.Lient. W. A~ McDuffie, Eufaula Light Artillery. No. 294.Brig. Gen. E. McNair, C. S. Army, commanding Third Brigade. No. 295.Col. Robert W. Harper, First Arkansas Mounted Rifles, commanding regi- meat and Third Brigade. No. 296.Lieut. Col. James A. Williamson, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles (dis- mounted). No. 297.Col. H. G. Buna, Fourth Arkansas Infantry. No. 298.Capt. William A. Cotter, Thirtieth Arkansas Infantry. l~o. 299.Maj. J. A. Ross, Fourth Arkansas Battalion. No. 300.Capt. John T. Humphreys, Arkansas Battery. No. 301.Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, C. S. Army, Chief of Cavalry, including skir- mishes at and near La Vergue, December 26 and 30, and January 1; at Stewarts Creek Bridge, December 27; at Stewarts Creek, December 28; at Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, December 29; at Coxs, or Bloods Hill, Jan- uary 3; at Murfreesborough, January 4; on Manchester pike, January 5; at Mill Creek Bridge, January 5; near Nashville, January 12; and cap- ture of transports, January 13, 14, and 17, and of construction train at Antioch, January 25. No. 302.Capt. T. H. Mauldin, Third Alabama Cavalry, Wheelers brigade, including skirmishes December 26January 5. No. 303.Lieut. Col. J. D. Webb, Fifty-first Alabama Partisan Rangers, including skirmishes December 26January 5. No. 304.Capt. J. H. Wiggins, Arkansas Battery, including skirmishes at La Vergue December 2627. No. 305.Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding cavaliy brigade. No. 306.Brig. Gen. Abraham Buford, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry brigade, in- cluding skirmishes December 31-January 3. No. 307.The Confederate Roll of Honor. No. 1. Organization of the Fourteenth Army (Jorp8, or Army of the Cumberland, iJfaj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Army, commanding, December 26, 1862January 5, 1863.* ARTILLERY. Col. JAMES BARNETT. PROVOST GUARD. 10th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Joseph W. Burke. GENERAL ESCORT. Anderson Troop, Pennsylvania Cavalry, Licut. Thomas S. Maple. * Arranged according to the numerical designation of the divisions and brigades as prescribed in General Orders, No. 41, Headquarters Fourteenth Army Corps, De- partment of the Cumberland, December 19, 1862 Page 175 Caip. XXXII.] THE STONES RiVER CAM?AIGN. RIGHT WING. Maj. Gen. ALEXANDER MoD. McCoou. FIRST (LATE NINTH) DIVIsION. Brig. Gen. JEFFERSON C. DAVIS. Escort. 36th Illinois Cavalry, Company B, Capt. Samuel B. Sherer. 2d Kentucky Cavalry, Company G: Capt. Miller R. MeCulloch. Lient. Harvey .S. Park. .Fjrst (late Thirtieth) Brigade. CoL P. SIDNEY POST. 59th Illinois, Capt. Hendrick E. Paine. 74th Illinois, Col. Jason Marsh. 75th Illinois, Lient. Col. John E. Bennett. 22d Indiana, Col. Michael Gooding. 175 Second (late Thirty-first) Brigade. Col. WILLIAM P. CARLIN. 21st Illinois: Col. J. W. S. Alexander. Lieut. Col. Warren B. McMackin, 38th Illinois, Lient. Col. Daniel H. Gil- mer. 101st Ohio: Col. Leander Stem. Lieut. Col. Moses F. Wooster. Maj. Isaac M. Kirby. Capt. Bedan B. McDonald. 15th Wisconsin, Col. Hans C. Heg. Third (late Thirty-second) Brigade. Col. WILLIAM B. WOODRUFF. 25th Illinois: Maj. Richard H. Nodine. Col. Thomas D. Williams. Capt. Wesford Taggart. 35th illinois, Lieut. Col. William P. Chandler. 81st Indiana, Lient. Col. John Timberlake. Artillery.* 2d Minnesota Battery, Capt. William A. Hotchkiss. 5th Wisconsin Battery: Capt. Oscar F. Pinney. Lient. Charles B. Humphrey. 8th Wisconsin Battery: Capt. Stephen J. Carpenter. Sergt. Obadiah German. Lieut. Henry B. Stiles. SECOND DIVISION. Brig. Gen. RICHARD W. JOHNSON. First (late Sixth) Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. AUGUST WILLICH. 15th Ohio: (2.) Col. WILLIAM WALLACE. Col. William Wallace. (3.) Col. WILLIAM H. GIBSON. Capt. A. R. Z Dawson. Col. William Wallace. 89th Illinois, Lieut. Col. Charles T. Hotch- 49th Ohio: kiss. Col. William H. Gibson. 32d Indiana, Lient. Col. Frank Erdel- Lient. Co). Levi Drake. meyer. Capt. Samuel F. Gray. 39th Indiana, Lieat. Col. Fielder A. Jones. * The Second Minnesota was attached to the Second Brigade, Fifth Wisconsin to the First Brigade, and Eighth Wisconsin to the Thud Brigade Page 176 176 ICY., MID. AND E. tENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHA?. XXXIL Second (late Fifth) Brigade. (1.) Brio~ Gen. ED WARD N. KIRK. 29th Indiana: (2.) Col. JOSEPH B. DODGE. Lieut Col. David M. Dunn. Maj. Joseph P. Collins. 34th Illinois: 30th Indiana: Lient. Col. Hiram W. Bristol. Col. Joseph B. Dodge. Maj. Alexander P. Dysart. Lent. Col. Orrin D. Hurd. 79th Illinois: 77th Pennsylvania: Col. Sheridan P. Read. Lient. Col. Peter B. Housum. Maj. Allen Buckner. Capt. Thomas E. Rose. Third (late Foar~h) Brigade. Col. PHILEMON P. BALDWIN. 6th Indiana, Lient. Col. Hagerman Tripp. 5th Kentucky, Lie.nt. Col. William W. Berry. 1st Ohio, Maj. Joab A. Stafford. 93d Ohio, Col. Charles Anderson. Artillery. * 5th Indiana Battery, Capt. Peter Simonson. 1st Ohio, Battery A, Lient. Edmund B. Belding. 1st Ohio, Battery E, Capt. Warren P. Edgarton. Cavalry. 3d Indiana, Companies G, H, I, and K, Maj. Robert Klein. THIRD (LATE ELEVENTH) DIVISION. Brig. Gen. PHILIP H. SHERIDAN. Escort. 2d Kentucky Cavalry, Company L, Lieut. Joseph T. Forman. Fsr8t (late Thirty-seventh) Brigade. Second (late Thirty-fifth) Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. JOSHUA W. $ILL. (1.) Col. FREDERICK SCHAEFER. (2.) Col. NICHOLAS GREUSEL. (2.) Licut. Col. BERNARD LAIBOLDT. 36th Illinois: 44th Illinois, Capt. Wallace W. Barrett. Col. Nicholas Greusel. 73d Illinois, Maj. William A. Presson. Maj. Silas Miller. 2d Missouri: Capt. Porter C. Olson. Lieut. Col. Bernard Laiholdt. 88th Illinois, Col. Francis T. Sherman. Maj. Francis Ehrler. 21st Michigan, Lieut. Col. William B. Mc- 15th Missouri, Lient. Col. John Weber. Creery. 24th Wisconsin, Maj. Elisha C. Hibbard. Third Brigade.t (1.) Col. GEORGE W. ROBERTS. (2.) Col. LUTHER P. BRADLEY. 22d Illinois: Lieut. Col. Francis Swanwick. Capt. Samuel Johnson. 27th Illinois: Col. Fazilo A. Harrington. Maj. William A. Schmitt. 42d Illinois, 2Lient. Col. Nathan H. Walworth. 51st Illinois: Col. Luther P. Bradley. Capt. Henry F. Wescott. * The Fifth Indiana was attached to the Third Brigade, Battery A to the First Bri- gade, and Battery E to the Second Bri ade. t Formerly First Brigade, Thirteenth Division Page 177 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Artillery. * Capt. HENRY HESCOCK. 1st Illinois, Battery C, Capt. Charles Iloughtaling. 4th Indiana Battery, Capt. Asahel K. Bush. 1st Missouri, Battery G, Capt. Henry Hescock. CENTER. Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS. PROVOST GUARD. 9th Michigan, Col. John G. Parkhnrst. FIRST (LATE THIRD) DIVISION. Maj. Gen. LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU. First (late Ninth) Brigade. Col. BENJAMIN F. SCRIDNER. ~Sth Indiana, Lient. Col. Daniel F. Grif fin. 2d Ohio: Lieut. Col. John Kell. Maj. Anson G. McCook. 33d Ohio, Capt. Ephraim J. Ellis. 94th Ohio: Col. Joseph W. Frizell. Lient. Col. Stephen A. Bassford. 10th Wisconsin, Col. Alfred R. Chapin. Second (late Seventeenth) Brigade. Col. JOHN BEATTY. 424 Indiana, Lieut. Col. James M. Shank- lin. 88th Indiana: Col. .George Humphrey. Lieut. Col. Cyrus E. Briant. 15th Kentucky: Col. James B. Forman. Lient. Col. Joseph R. Snider. 3d Ohio, Lient. Col. Orris A. Lawson. Th2rd (late Twenty-eighth) Brigade. Col. JOHN C. STARKWEATHER. 24th Illinois, Col. Geza Mihalotzy. 79th Pennsylvania Col hright. . Henry A. Ham- 1st Wisconsin, Lient. Col. George B. Bingham. 21st Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. Harrison C. Hobart. Fourth Brigade. Licut. Col. OLIVER L. SHEPHERD. 15th United States, 1st Battalion: Maj. John H. King. Capt. Jesse Fulmer~ 16th United States, 1st Battalion, and Company B, 2d Battalion: Maj. Adam J. Slemmer. Capt. R. E. A. Crofton. 18th United States, 1st Battalion, and Com- panies A and D, 3d Battalion, Maj. James N. Caidwell. 18th United States, 2d Battalion, and Coin- panics B, C, E, and F, 3d Battalion, Maj. Frederick Townsend. 19th United States, 1st Battalion: Maj. Stephen D. Carpenter. Capt. James B. Mulligan. Artillery.t Capt. CYRUS 0. LOOMIS. Kentucky, Battery A, Capt. David C. Stone. 1st Michigan, Battery A, Licut. George W. Van Pelt. 5th United States, Battery H, Lient. Francis L. Gnenther. Cavalry. 2d Kentucky (six companies), Maj. Thomas P. Nicholas. * Battery C was attached to the Third Brigade, Fourth Indiana to the First Brigade, and Battery G to the Second Brigade. t Battery A, Kentucky, was attached to the Third Brigade; Battery A, First Michi- gan, to the Second Brigade, and Battery H, Fifth United States, to the Fourth Bri- gade. 12 R RYOL XX, PT I CHAP. XXXII.] 17 Page 178 178 KY., MID. AND E. TENK., N. ALA., AI~D SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. SECOND (LATE EIGHTH) DIVISION. Brig. Gen. JAMES S. NEGLEY. Fir~t (late Twenty-fifth) Brigade. Second (late Twenty-ninth) Brigade. Brig. Gen. JAMES G. SPEARS. Col. TIMOTHY R. STANLEY. 1st Tennessee, Col. Robert K. Byrd. 19th Illinois: 2d Tennessee, Licut. Col. James M. Mel- Col. Joseph H. Scott. ton. Lient. Col. Alexander W. Raffen. 3d Tennessee, Col. Leonidas C. Honk. 11th Michigan1 Col.WilliamL. Stoughton. 5th Tennessee, Col. James T. Shelley. 18th Ohio, Lient. Col. Josiah Given. 6th Tennessee, Col. Joseph A. Cooper. 69th Ohio: Col. William B. Cassilly. Maj. Eli J. Hickcox. Capt. David Putnam. Capt. Joseph H. Brigham. Lient. Col. George F. Elliott. Third (late Seventh) Brigade. Col. JOHN F. MILLER. 37th Indiana: Col. James S. Hull. Lient. Col. William D. Ward. 21st Ohio, Lient. Col. James M. Neibling. 74th Ohio, Col. Grauville Moody. 78th Pennsylvania, Col. William Sirwell. Artillery. Kentucky, Battery B, Lient. Alban A. Ellsworth. 1st Ohio, Battery G, Lient. AlexanderMarshall. lBt Ohio, Battery M,4 Capt. Frederick Schultz. THIRD (LATE FIRST) DIVISIoN.t Brig. Gen. SPEED S. FRY. Escort. 2d Kentucky Cavalry, Company B, Captain Henry E. Collins. First Brigade. Second Brigade. Col. MOSES B. WALKER. Col. JOHN M. HARLAN. 82d Indiana, Col. Morton C. Hunter. 10th Indiana, Col. William B. Carroll. 12th Kentucky, Col. William A. Hoskins. 74th Indiana, Col. Charles W. Chapman. 17th Ohio, Col. John M. Connell. 4th Kentucky, Col. John T. Croxton. 31st Ohio, Lient. Col. Frederick W. Lister. 10th Kentucky, Lieut. Col. William H.. 38th Ohio, Col. Edward H. Phelps. Hays. 14th Ohio, Col. George P. Este. Third Brigade. Brig. Gen. JAMES B. STEEDMAN. 87th Indiana, Col. Kline G. Shryock. 2d Minnesota, Col. James George. 9th Ohio, Col. Gustave Kammerling. 35th Ohio, Col. Ferdinand Van Derveer. * Attached to Second Brigade. The First Brigade (except the Twelfth Kentucky) and Churchs battery were the only troops of this division engaged in the battle of Stones River. All commanders are given as they stood December 31, 1862 Page 179 CHAr. XXXII.] 179~ THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Artillery. 1st Michigan, Battery D, Capt. Josiah W. Church. 1st Ohio, Battery C, Capt. Daniel K. Sonthwick. 4th United States, Battery I, Lient. Frank G. Smith. FOURTH (LATE SEVENTH) DIVIsIoN. Brig. Gen. ROBERT B. MITCHELL. F!r8t Brigade.* Second (late Thirty-sixth) Brigade. Brig. Gen. JAMES D. MORGAN. Col. DANIEL McCoon. 10th Illinois, Lient. Col. McLain F. Wood. 85th Illinois, Col. Robert S. Moore4 16th Illinois, Lient. Col. James B. Cahill. 86th Illinois, Lient. CoL David W. Magee. 60th Illinois, Col. Silas C. Tolert 125th Illinois, Col. Oscar F. harmon. 10th Michigan, Lient. Col. C. J. Dicker- 52d Ohio, Lient. Col. D. D. T. Cowen.t son.t 14th Michigan: Lient. Col. Myndert W. Quacken- bush.t Lieut. Col. Milton L. Phillips. Cavalry. 2d Indiana, Company A, Capt. John G. Kessler. 5th Kentucky, Maj. John Q. Owsley. :3d Tennessee, Col. William C: Pickens.~ Artillery. 2d Illinois, Battery I, Capt. Charles M. Barnett. 10th Wisconsin Battery, Capt. Yates V. Beebe.jj Unattached Infantry. 8th Kansas (five companies), Col. John A. Martin. 1st Middle (10th) Tennessee, Col. Alvan C. Gillein. Artillery Reserve. 11th Indiana Battery, Capt. Arnold Sutermeister. 12th Indiana Battery, Lient. James A. Dunwoody. 1st Michigan, Battery E, Capt. John J. Ely. FIFTH (LATE TWELFTH) DIVIsIoN. Brig. Gen. JOsEPH J. REYNOLDS. First (late Thirty-third) Brigade. Second (late Fortieth) Brigade. CoL ALBERT S. HALL. j Col. ABRAM 0. MILLER. 80th Illinois, Col. Thomas G. Allen. I 98th Illinois, Col. John J. Fnnkhons~r. 123d Illinois, Col. James Monroe. I 17th IndIana, Col. John T. Wilder. 101st Indiana, Col. William Garver. 72d Indiana, Maj. Henry M. Carr. 105th Ohio, Lieut. Col. William R. Tolles. 75th Indiana, CoL Milton S. Robinson. Artillery. 18th Indiana Battery, Capt. Eli Lilly. 19th Indiana Battery, Capt. Samuel J. Harris. * Formerly Second Brigade, Thirteenth Division. Eight companies Sixtieth Illinois, two companies Tenth Michigan, and five com- panies Fifty-second Ohio, detached under command of Col. Daniel MeCook, and en- gaged in skirmish at Coxs Hill, January 3. ~ Detached under command of Brig. Gen. J. G. Spears, January 2 and 3, and, with the First Brigade, Second DivIsion, center, participated in the battle of Stones River, January 3. ~ Detachments with General Spears and Colonel McCook, January 2 and 3. II Two sections with General Spears, January 25. NoTE.The exceptions indicated in foregoing notes were the only troops of the Fourth Division taking part in the movement from Nashville to Murfreesborough. Not engaged at Stones River. Commanders given as they stood December 31, 1862 Page 180 180 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL LEFT WING. Maj. Gen. THOMAS L. CRITTENDEN. FIRST (LATE SIXTH) DIVISION. (1.) Brig. Gen. THOMAS J. WOOD. (2.) J3rig. Gen. MILO S. HASCALL. Fir8t (late Fifteenth) Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. MILO S. HASCALL. (2.) CoL GEORGE P. BUELL. 100th Illinois, Col. Frederick A. Bartleson. 58th Indiana: Col. George P. BuelL Lient. Col. James T. Embree. 3d Kentucky: Col. Samuel McKee. Maj. Daniel R. Collier. 26th Ohio, Capt. William H. Squires. Second (late Twenty-first) Brigade. Col. GEORGE D. WAGNER. 15th Indiana, Lient. Col. Gustavus A. Wood. 40th Indiana: Col. John W. Blake. Lient. Col. Elias N if. Maj. Henry Learning. 57th Indiana: Col. Cyrus C. Hines. Lient. Col. George W. Lennard~ Capt. John S. McGraw. 97th Ohio, Col. John Q. Lane. Third (late Twentieth) Brigade. Col. CHARLES G. HARKER. 51st Indiana, Col. Abel D. Streight. 73d Indiana, Col. Gilbert Hathaway. 13th Michigan, Col. Michael Shoemaker. 64th Ohio, Lient. Cob Alexander Mcllvain. 65th Ohio: Lient. Col. Alexander Cassib Maj. Horatio N. Whitbeck. Artillery. * Maj. SEYMOUR RACE. 8th Indiana Battery, Lient George Estep. 10th Indiana Battery, Capt. Jerome B. Con. 6th Ohio Battery, Capt. Cullen Bradley. SECOND (LATE FOURTH) DIVISION. Brig. Gen. JOHN M. PALMER. First (late Twenty-second) Brigade. Second (late Nineteenth) Brigade. Brig. Gen. CHARLES CRUFT. Col. WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 31st Indiana, Col. John Osborn. 110th Illinois, Col. Thomas S. Casey. 1st Kentucky, Col. David A. Enyart. 9th Indiana, Col. William H. Blake. 2d Kentucky, Col. Thomas D. Sedge- 6th Keutncky, Col. Walter C. Whita- wick. ker 90th Ohio, Col. Isaac N. Ross. 41st Ohio, Licut. Cal. Aquila Wiley. The Eighth Battery was attached to the First Brigade, the Tenth Battery to Sec- ond Brigade, and the Sixth Battery to the Third Brigade Page 181 CHAP. XXXII.] TIlE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Third (late Tenth) Brigade. Col. WILLIAM GROSE. 54th Illinois, Col. Louis H. Waters. 36th Indiana: Maj. Isaac Kinley. Capt. Pyrrhus Woodward. 23d Kentucky, Maj. Thomas H. Hamrick. 6th Ohio, Col. Nicholas L. Anderson. 24th Ohio: Col. Frederick C. Jones. Maj. Henry Terry. .Capt. Enoch Weller. Capt. A. T. M. Cockerill. Capt. WILLIAM E. STANDART. 1st Ohio, Battery B, Capt. William E. Standart. 1st Ohio, Battery F: Capt. Daniel T. Cockerill. Lient. Norval Osburn. 4th United States, Batteries H and M, Lient. Charles C. Parsons. ThIRD (LATE FIFTH) DIVISION. (1.) Brig. Gen. HORATIO P. VAN CLEVE. (2.) Col. S~tuEL BEATTY. First (late Eleventh) Brigade. (1.) Col. SAMUEL BEATTY. (2.) Col. BENJAMIN C. GRIDER. 79th Indiana, Col. Frederick Knefler. 9th Kentucky: Col. Benjamin C. Grider. Lieut. Col. George H. Cram. 11th Kentucky, Maj. Erasmus L. Mottley. 19th Ohio, Maj. Charles F. Manderson. Second (late Fourteenth) Brigade. Col. JAMES P. FYFFE. 44th Indiana: Col. William C. Williams. Lient. Col. Simeon C. Aldrich. 86th Indiana, Lient. Col. George F. Dick. 13th Ohio: Col. Joseph G. Hawkins. Maj. Dwight Jarvis, jr. 59th Ohio, Lieut. Col. William Howard. Third (late Twenty.third) Brigade. Col. SAMUEL W. PRICE. 35th Indiana, Col. Bernard F. Mullen. 8th Kentucky: Lient. Col. Reuben May. Maj. Green B. Broaddus. 21st Kentucky, Lient. Col. James C. Evans. 51st Ohio, Licut. Col. Richard W. MeClain. 99th Ohio: Col. Peter T. Swaine. Lieut. Col. John E. Cunimins. Artillery. Capt. GEORGE R. SWALLOW. 7th Indiana Battery, Capt. George R. Swallow. Pennsylvania, Battery B (26th), Lient. Alanson J. Stevens. 3d Wisconsin Battery, Lieut. Cortland Livingston. 18 Page 182 B2 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXIL CAVALRY. Bug. Gen. DAVID S. STANLEY. CAVALRY DIVISION. Col. JOHN KENNETT. First Brigade. Second Brigade. Col. ROBERT H. G. MINTY. Col. LEWIs ZARM. 2d Indiana, Company M, Capt. J. A. 5. 1st. Ohio: Mitchell. Col. Minor Milliken. 3d Kentucky, Col. Eli H. Murray. Maj. James Laughlin. 4th Michigan, Licut. Col. William H. 3d Ohio, Lient. Col. Douglas A. Murray. Dickinson. 4th Ohio, Maj. John L. Pugh. 7th Pennsylvania, Mnj. John E. Wynkoop. Artillery. 1st Ohio, Battery D (section), Lieut. Nathaniel M. Newell. RESERVE CAVALRY.* 15th Pennsylvania: Maj. Adolph G. Rosengarten. Maj. Frank B. Ward. Capt. Alfred Vezin. 1st Middle (5th) Tennessee, Col. William B. Stokes. 2d Tennessee, Col. Daniel M. Ray. UNATTACHED. 4th U. S. Cavalry, Capt. Elmer Otis. MISCELLANEOIJS. PIONEER BRIGADE. Capt. JAMES ST. C. MORTON. 1st Battalion, Capt. Lyman Bridges. 2d Battalion, Capt. Calvin Hood. 3d Battalion, Capt. Robert Clements. Illinois Light Artillery, Stokes battery, Capt. James H. Stokes. ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. 1st Michigan, Col. William P. Innes. POST OF GALLATIN, TENN.t Brig. Gen. ELEAZER A. PAINE. Wards (late Eigkth) Brigade. Brig. Gen. WILLIAM T. WARD. 102d Illinois, Lieut. Col. Frank C. Smith. 105th Illinois, Lient. Col. Henry F. Vallette. 70th Indiana, Col. Benjamin Harrison. 79th Ohio, Col. Henry G. Kennett. Indiana Light Artillery, 13th Battery, Capt. Benjamin S. Nicklin. Cavalry. 1st Kentucky, Col. Frank Wolford. 7th Kentucky, Lient. Col. John K. Faulkner. 11th Kentucky, Lieut. Col. William E. Riley. * Under the immediate command of General Stanley, Chief of Cavalry. t Not engaged at Stones River. Commanders given as they stood December 31, 1S62 Page 183 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 183 No. 2. Reports of MaJ. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, U. S. Ar7ny, commanding Army of t1~ Gumberland, with congratuUxtory resolutions, orders, & C. 0 LA VERa-NE, TENN., December 28, By messenger to Louisville, Ky., December 31, 1862.noon. Our advance was delayed one day. The right wing, under McCook, drove ilardees skirmishers 18 miles down the Nolensville pike, and ad- vanced on Triune for battle. A heavy fog delayed this advance, and gave ilardee time to escape toward Mnrfreesborough. Our left wing drove the enemy on the main Murfreesborough turnpike with heavy skirmishing, and seized all the bridges over Stewarts Creek last night, by dark. Our total loss on both lines does not exceed 20 killed, 100 wounded, and 10 missing. We have some 50 prisoners. Our center crossed from Nolensville yesterday and to-day, and now occupy the north side of Stewarts Creek, 10 miles from Murfreesboronghthe right at Triune. Pursuing division went 7 miles toward Shelbyville. We have report from Murfreesborongh to 10 oclock yesterday. All his right wing, closed in, came toward Stewarts Creek. If, under Ken- tucky and Tennessee influence or orders, they fight as they propose, I think we are in position, by Gods help, to win, and McCook will cut off their retreat. W. S. ROSECIRANS, Major- 9eneral. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Ghiej. GENERAL ORDERS, IIDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMEERLAND, No. . in front of Murfreesborough, December 31,1862. The general commanding desires to say to the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland that he was well pleased with their conduct yester- day; it is all he could have wished for; he neither saw nor heard of any skulking; they behaved with the coolness and gallantry of veterans. He now feels perfectly confident, with Gods grace and their help, of striking this day a blow for the country the most crushing, perhaps, which the rebellion has yet sustained. Soldiers, the eyes of the whole nation are upon you; the very fate of the nation may be said to hang on the issue of this days battle. Be true, then, to yourselves, true to your own manly character and soldierly reputation, true to the love of your dear ones at home, whose prayers ascend to God this day for your success. Be cool! I need not ask you to be brave. Keep ranks. Do not throw away your fire. Fire slowly, deliberately; above all, fire low, and be always sure of your aim. Close steadily in upon the enemy, and, when you get within charging distance, rush on him with the bayonet. Do this, and the victory will certainly be yours. Recollect that there are hardly any troops in the world that will stand a bayonet charge, and that those who make it, therefore, are sure to win. By command of Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans: J. P. GARESCII1~, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff Page 184 184 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. MTJRFREESBOROUGH, TENN., January 3, 1863. On December 26 we moved from Nashville in three columns. Mc- Cooks corps by Nolensville pike; Thomas from its encampment ou Franklin pike, via Wilson pike; Crittendens on main Murfreesborough pike. The left and center met with a strong resistance such as the nature of the country permitsrolling or hilly routes, skii~ted by cedar thickets, farms, and intersected by small streams, with rocky bluff banks, forming serious obstacles. McCook drove ilardees corps 1~ miles from Nolensville, and occupied the place. Crittenden reached within 1~ miles of La Yergne. Thomas reached the Wilson pike, meet- ing with no serious opposition. On the 27th, McCook drove ilardee from Nolensville, and pushed reconnoitering division 6 miles toward Shelby- yule, and found ilardee had retreated toward Murfreesborough. Crit- tenden fought and drove the enemy before him, occupying the line of Stewarts Creek, capturing some prisoners, with slight loss. Thomas occupied the vicinity of INolensyille. On the 28th, McCook completed his reconnaissance on Hardees movements. Crittenden remained, awaiting the result and bringing up trains. Thomas moved on to Stewarts Creek. On the 29th, MeCook moved into Wilkinsons Cross- Roads, 7 miles from Murfreesborough, the end of a short pike, the road rough, through rolling country, skirted by bluffs covered with dense cedar thickets, tops open timber. Crittenden pushed the enemy rap- idly, saved all the bridges, and reached a point within 3 miles of Mur- freesborough, his advance driving all their outposts to within sight of town. Thomas, with two divisions, closed up with Crittenden, and took position on the right. On the 30th, iVicCook advanced on Wilkin- son pike, having to make his way through dense woods, meeting with a determined resistance. Got into position 3 miles from Murfreesbor- ough, occupying the extreme right of onr line. The left stood fast~ the center advanced slightly, and were engaged in catting roads through an almost impenetrable growth of cedars, which separated them from our right, rendering communication with them exceedingly difficult. The combat and the roughness of the country had brought forward McCook~s right division, so as to face strongly to the southeast, instead of being refused to face south, with the reserve division, between the center and right, and sufficiently from the rear to support, and, if necessary, to extend it, the grave consequences of which were developed the next day. The 31st found our left crossilig Murfreesborough pike and rail- road, one division front, one forming crotchet on Stones River, and one in reserve. Center, Negley between left and right; Rousseau in reserve. The plan of the battle was to open on the right and engage enemy sufficiently to hold him firmly, and to cross the river with our left, consisting of three divisions, to oppose which ~ hey had but two divisions, the country being favorable to an attack from that part of the town. But the enemy attacked the whole front of our right wing, massing his forces on its right flank, which was partially surprised, thrown into confusion, and driven back. Sheridans division repulsed the enemy four times, protected the flanks of the center, which not only held its own, but advanced until this untoward event compelled me to retain the left wing to support the right, until it should be rallied and assume a new position. [January] 1, the rebels opened by an attack on us, and were again repulsed. On the 2d, skirmishing along the front, with warm threats of attack, until about 3 oclock in the afternoon. Evening, advanced one small division thrown across Stones River, to occupy commanding ground. While reconnoitering the ground occu- pied by this division, which had no artillery, I saw heavy forces emer Page 185 Cair. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 185 jug from the woods and advancing in line of battle, three lines deep. They drove our little division before them, after a sharp contest, in which we lost 70 or 80 killed, and 375 wounded; but they were repulsed by Negleys divi~ion and the remaining troops of the left wing, headed by Mortons Pioneer Brigade, and fled far over the field and beyond their intrenchments, their officers rallying them with great difficulty. They lost heavily. We occupied the ground with the ~left wing last night. The lines were completed at 4 oclock this morning. The 3d was spent in bringing up and distributing provisions and ammunition. It has been raining all day; ground very heavy. To-morrow, being Sunday, we shall probably not fight, unless attacked. This whole country is a natural fortification, and worse than Corinth. No great battle can be fought without regular approaches. Our total loss in wounded, up to this date, is 4,500; killed, 70k) or 800. Our communication with Nash- ville is open. We have provisions there to last to the 25th instant. Further report by letter as soon as I can get an opportunity. W. S. IROSECRANS, Major-General, Commanding. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief. CAMP NEAR MURFREESBOROUcfH, TENN., January 4, [1863.] Following my dispatch of last evening, I have to announce~ that the enemy is in full retreat. They left last night. IRain having raised the river, and the bridge across it, between the left wing and center, being incomplete, I deemed it prudent to withdraw that wing during the night. This occupied my time until 4 oclock, and fatigued th~ troops. The commencement of the retreat was known to me at 7 oclock this morning. Our ammunition train arrived during the night. To-day was occupied in distributing ammunition, bringing in the dead, and collecting arms from the field of battle. The pursuit was commenced by the center, the two leading brigades arriving at the west side of Stones River this even- ing. The railroad bridge was saved, but in what condition is not known. We shall occupy the town and push the pursuit to-morrow with the center. Will not, probably, be prudent to advance the army very far until communication shall be open to Nashville. We labor under great disadvantages from the inferior number of our cavalry, necessitat- ing large detachments of infantry to guard our trains. Our medical director estimates the wounded in hospital at short of 5,500 wounded, and our dead at 1,000. We have to deplore the loss of Lieutenant.Colo- nel Garesch6, whose capacity and gentlemanly deportment had already endeared him to all the officers of this command, and whose gallantry on the field of battle excited their admiration. W. S. ROSECIRANS, Major-General. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief. MURFREESBORQUG H, January 5, 18634.30 a. m. God has crowned our arms with victory. The enemy are badly beaten, and~ in full retreat. We shall press them as rapidly as our means o Page 186 186 KY.~ MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIZL traveling and subsistence will permit. Will you please ask the Presi- dent to have Captain Morton, engineer, made brigadier-general? He has distinguished himself in the fortification and defense of Nashville, after o~r army left for Kentucky. He has organized a Pioneer Corps of 1,700 picked men, which he now comnlands, with the rank of captain, and behaved like a hero during the whole battle of Stones River. He not only deserves the promotion, but it is absolutely necessary to the interest of the service that he shonld have the rank to command his brigade. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General. Hon. E. M. STANTON, AS~eeretary of War. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Via Nashville, Tenn., January 5, 1863. We have fought one of the greatest battles of the war, and are vic- torious. Our entire success on the 31st was prevented by a surprise of the right flank; but have, nevertheless, beaten the enemy, after a three- days battle. they fled with great precipitancy on Saturday night. The last of their columns of cavalry left this morning. Their loss has been very heavy. Generals Rains and Hanson killed. Chalmers, Adams, and Breckinridge are wounded. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General. H. W. -HALLECK, General-in-Chief. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, January 5, 1863. Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Teun.: Your dispatch announcing retreat of enemy has just reached here. 43-od bless you, and all with you! Please tender to all, and accept for yourself, the nations gratitude for your and their skill, endurance, and dauntless courage. A. LINCOLN. MURFREESBOROUGH, T~NN January 8, [i863.] Did not have up trains before close of battle. Bringing up subsist- ence rapidly. Will have railroad completed here in a few days. Rebels had eight divisions of infantry. Seven have gone by Manchester and one by Shelbyville. Their prisoners and doctors estimate their loss at from 13,000 to 15,000 men. The weight of testimony warrants these figures. Glad to hear of batteries coming. To secure our long lines of communication requires a large force. Tp fight and maneuver in these regions of roads, ravines, cedar thickets and mountains, against a deter- mined defensive policy, with certainty of success, demand the same. The Cumberland River is now navigable. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK General-in- Chief Page 187 IJEAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 187 WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 9, 18631.05 p. m. Maj. Gen. W.~, S. ROSECRANS, Commanding Army of the Cumberland: GENERAL: Rebel accounts fully confirm your telegrams from the battle-field. The victory was well earned and one of the most brilliant of the war. You and your brave army have won the gratitude of your i~ountry and the admiration of the world. The field of Murfreesborough is made historical, and future generations will point out the places where ~o many heroes fell, gloriously, in defense of the Constitution and the Union. All honor to the Army of the Cumberlandthanks to the living and tears for the lamented dead. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief. GENERAL ORDERS, IIDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 7. ~ Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 31, 1863. The following resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio have been received, and, in accordance with the request contained therein, are published to this army: JOINT RESOLUTIONS RELATIVE TO A VOTE OF THA~IKS TO MAJOR-GENERAL ROSE- CRANS. Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the thanks of, this Gen- eral Assembly are hereby tendered to Major-General Rosecrans, staff, officers, and the brave men under their command, for the glorious victory resulting in the capture of Mnrfreesborough and the defeat of the rebc~ forces at that place. Resolved, That the sympathies of the General Assembly are extended to the families of the brave and noble patriots that have fallen in defense of freedom and constitu- tional liberty, and that their memories will ever be cherished by a grateful people. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing reso- Intions to General Rosecrans, with the request that they be read to his command. JAMES R. HUBBELL, Speaker of the Honse of Representatives. P. HlTCHCOCK, Pro Tern. President of the Senate. By command of Major-General Rosecrans: C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant- General and Chief of & aff. MURPREESBOROUGH, TENN., February 9, 186& We have now all the reports of the subordinate commanders and staff officers. Will have my report of the battle sent forward in a few days. Some facts in it are worth stating in advance. We have pris- oners from one hundred and thirty-one regiments of infantry, twelve battalions of sharpshooters, twenty-three batteries of artillery, and fifty- three regiments of cavalry, giving their fighting force at what all our officers consider a low estimate, near 46,000 inflintry, 1,200 sharpshooters, 1,800 artillery, and 13,200 cavalry. Total, 62,000 men. We fought them with 42,000. We hit 165 to their 100. Their loss was 23k, ours 21, per cent. of the fighting force. These figures are significant. Yours, very respectfully, W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief Page 188 188 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. MURPREESBOROUGH, TENN., February 11, 186311.30 p. m. Capt. Elmer Otis, Fourth Cavalry, in the recent battle, with 400 men chargezt the enemy, recap.tured 300 prisoners, and greatly distinguished himself. By their consent, and at their request, he is commanding a brigade of three regiments, each with a colonel. I earnestly urge his appointment as brigadier-general, in order that he may continue to corn- mand, as cavalry officers are greatly needed. W. S. ROSECRANS, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. GENERAL ORDERS, IIDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND No. 20. Murfreesborough, Tenn., February 15, 1863. The following resolutions of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana having been received, are published to this army, in accord- ance with the request contained therein: Resolved by the senate (the house concurring), That the thanks of this General Assem- bly are hereby tendered to Major-General Rosecrans, and the officers and soldiers. under his command, for the well-earned victory of Murfreesborongh, Tenn. That they~ one and all, merit the lasting gratitude of the nation and the admiration of the world. Resolved, That the patriotic earnestness, skill, sleepless vigilance, and pertinacity~ displayed by the commanding general in his advance upon the enemy, his plan of battle, and especially in promptly meeting the exigencies of its varying fortunes,, prove that he was the right man in the right place; that the hearty and prompt co-operation, the gallantry and skill of his division and other commanders, the ready obedience, unyielding and hardy courage of the soldiers are worthy of the highest; commendation. Resolved, That the Army of the Cumberland, Murfreesborough, and the name of each fallen and surviving patriot soldier who took part in the perilous struggle, are for-. ever linked together in historic renown, and Indiana will preserve, and gratefully cherish, their memory to the latest generation, as amono the undivided republic. ~ brightest jewels of an~ Resolved, That the secretary of the senate be directed to forward a copy of these resolutions to Major-General Rosecrans, with the request that they be read at the head of each regiment taking part in the great battle, if consistent with the rules of mili- tary propriety and discipline. We hereby certify that the accompanying resolutions unanimously passed both branches of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. PARIS C. DUNNING, President of Senate. SAM. H. BUSKIRK, JAMES H. VAwTER, Speakir of House of Representatives. Secretary of Senate. A. T. WHITLESEY, Clerk of House of Representatives. By command of Major-General Rosecrans: C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Murfreesborough, Ienn., February 12, 1863. GENERAL: As the sub-reports are now nearly all in, I have the honor to submit, for the information of the General-in-Chief, the subjoined re- port, with accompanying sub-reports, maps, and statistical tables of th Page 189 CHAr. XXXII.] THE STONE S RIVER CAMPAiGN. 189 battle of Stones River. To a proper understanding of this battle it will be necessary to state the preliminary movements and preparations: Assuming command of the army at Louisville on October 27,it was found concentrated at Bowling Green and Glasgow, distant about 113 miles from L6uisville; from whence, after replenishing with ammuni- tion, supplies, and clothing, they moved on to Nashville, the advance corps reaching that place on the morning of November 7, a distance of 183 miles from Louisville. At this distance from my base of supplies, the first thing to be done was to provide for the subsistence of the troops and open the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The cars commenced running through on November 26, previous to which time our supplies had been brought by rail to Mitchellsville, 35 miles north of Nashville, and from thence, by constant labor, we had been able to haul enough to replenish the ~exhausted stores for the garrison at Nashville and subsist the troops of the moving army. From November 26 to December 26 every effort was bent to complete the clothing of the army; to provide it with ammunition, and replenish the depot at Nashville with needful supplies; to insure us against want from the largest possible detention likely to occur by the breaking of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and to insure this work the road -was guarded by a heavy force posted at Gallatin. The enormous supe- riority in numbers of the rebel cavalry kept our little cavalry force almost within the infantry lines, and gave the enemy control of the *~ntire country around us. It was obvious from the beginning that we should be confronted by Braggs army, recruited by an inexorable con- scription, and aided by clans of mounted men, formed into a guerrilla- like cavalry, to avoid the hardships of conscription and infantry serv- ice. The evident difficulties and labors of an advance into this country, and against such a force, and at such distance from our base of opera- tions, with which we were connected but by a single precarious thread, made it manifest that our policy was to induce the enemy to travel over as much as possible of the space that separated us, thu8 avoiding for us the wear and tear and diminution of our forces, and subjecting the ~enemy to all this inconvenience, besides increasing for him and dimin- ishing for us the (langerous consequences of a defeat. The means taken to obtain this end were eminently successful. The enemy, expecting us to go into winter quarters at Nashville, had prepared his own winter quarters at Murfreesborough, with the hope of possibly making them at Nashville, and had sent a large cavalry force into West Tennessee to annoy Grant, and another large force into Kentucky to break up the railroad. In the absence of these forces, and with adequate supplies in Nash- ville, the moment was judged opportune for an advance on the rebels. Polks and Kirby Smiths forces were at Murfreesborough, and Hardees ~corps on the Shelbyville and Nolensville pike, between Triune and lEagleville, with an advance guard at Nolensville, while our troops lay in front of Nashville, on the Franklin, Nolensville, and Murfreesborough turnpikes. The plan of the movement was as follows: MeCook, with three divis. ions, to advance by Nolensville pike to Triune. Thomas, with two divis- ions (Negleys and Rousseaus), to advance on his right, by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, threatening ilardees right, and then to fall in by the cross-roads to INolensville. Crittenden, with Woods, Palmers, and Yan Cieves divisions, to advance by the Murfreesborough pike to La Vergue Page 190 190 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. Xxxii With Thomas two divisions at Nolensville, MeCook was to attack ilardee at Triune, and, if the enemy re-enforced Hardee, Thomas was to support McCook. If McCook beat Hardee, or ilardee retreated, and the enemy met us at Stewarts Creek, 5 miles south of La Vergue, Crit- tendeif was to attack him, Thomas was to come in oii his left flank, and McCook, after detaching a division to pursue or observe Hardee, if retreating south, was to move with the remainder of his force on their rear. The movement began on the morning of December 20. McCook ad- vanced on the Nolensville pike, skirmishing his way all day, meeting with stiff resistance from cavalry and artillery, and closing the day by a brisk fight, which gave him possession of Nolensville and the hills 4 miles in front, capturing one gun by the One hundred and first Ohio and Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiments, his loss this day being about 75 killed and wounded. Thomas followed on the right, and closed Kegleys division on Nolensville, leaving the other (Rousseaus) division on the right flank. Crittenden advanced to La Vergue, skirmishing heavily on his front, over a rough country, intersected by forests and cedar brakes, with but slight loss. On the 28th [~7th] General McCook advanced on Triune, but his move- ment was retarded by a dense fog. Crittenden had orders to delay his movements until McCook had reached Triune and developed the intentions of the enemy at that point, so that it could be determined which Thomas was to support. McCook arrived at Triune, and reported that ilardee had retreated, and that he had sent a division in pursuit. Crittenden began his advance about 11 a. in., driving before him a brigade of cavalry, supported by Maneys brigad~ of rebel infantry, and reached Stewarts Creek, the Third Kentucky gallantly charging the rear guard of the enemy, and saving the bridge, on which had been placed a pile of rails that had been set on fire. This was Saturday night. McCook having settled the fact of Hardees retreat, Thomas moved Kegleys division on to join Critteuden at Stewarts Creek, and moved Rousseaus to Nolensville. On Sunday the troops rested, except Rousseaus. division, which was ordered to move on to Stewartston, and Willichs brigade, which had pursued Hardee as far as Riggs Cross-Roads, and had determined the fact that Hardee had gone to Murfreesborough, when they returned to Triune. On Monday morning, McCook was ordered to move from Triune t~ Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, 6 miles from Murfreesborough, leaving a bri- gade at Triune. Crittenden crossed Stewarts Creek by the Smyrna Bridge and the main Murfreesborough pike, and Negley by the ford ~ miles above; their whole force to advance on Murfreesborough, distant about 11 miles. Rousseau was to remain at ~ Creek until his train came up, and prepare himself to follow. McCook reached Wil- kinsons Cross-Roads by evening, with an advance brigade at Overalls Creek, saving and holding the bridge, meeting with but little resistance. C4ttendens corps advanced, Palmer leading, on the Murfreesborough pike, followed by Negley, of Thomas corps, to within 3 miles of Mur- freesborough, having had several brisk skirmishes, driving the enemy rapidly, saving two bridges on the route, and forcing the enemy back to his intrenchments. About 3 p. m. a signal message coming from the front, from General Palmer, that he was in sight of Murfreesborough, and that the enem Page 191 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RiVER CAMPAIGN. 191 were running, an order was sent to General Crittenden to send a divis- ion to occupy Murfreesborongh. This led General Crittenden, on reach- ing the enemy~s front, to order ilarkers brigade to cross the river at a ford on his left, where he surprised a regiment of Breckinridges divis- ion and drove it back on its main line, not more than 500 yards distant, in considerable confusion; and he held this position until General Crit- tenden was advised, by prisoners captured by ilarkers brigade, that Breckinridge was in force on his front, when, it being dark, he ordered the brigade back across the river, and reported the circumstances to the commanding general on his arrival, to whom he apologized for not having carried out the order to occupy Murfreesborough. The general approved of his action, of course, the order to occupy Murfreesborough having been based on the information received from General Critten- dens advance division that the enemy were retreating from Murfrees. borough. Crittendens corps, with Kegleys division, bivouacked in order of battle, distant 700 yards from the enemys intrenchments, our left ex- tending down the river some 500 yards. The Pioneer Brigade, biv- ouacking still lower down, prepared three fords, and covered one of them while Woods division covered the other two, Van Cleves division being in reserve. On the morning of the 30th, Rousseau, with two brigades, was ordered down early from Stewarts Creek, leaving one brigade there and sending another to Smyrna to cover our left and rear, and took his place in reserve, in-rear of Palmers right, while General Kegley moved on through the cedar brakes until his right rested on the Wilkinson pike, as shown by the accompanying plan.~ The Pioneer Corps cut roads through the cedars for his ambulances and ammnnitiou wagons. The commanding general remained with the left and center, exainin- ing the ground, while General MicCook moved forward from Wilkinsons Cross-Roads, slowly and steadily, meeting with heavy resistance, fight- ing his way from Overalls Creek until lie got into position, with a loss of some 135 killed and wounded. Our small division of cavalry, say 3,000 men, had been divided into three parts, of which General Stanley took two and accompanied Gen- eral McCook, fighting his way across from the Wilkinson to the Frank- lin pike, and below it, Colonel Zalims brigade leading gallantly, and meeting with such heavy resistance that McCook sent two brigades from Johnsons division, who succeeded in fighting their way into the position shown on the accompanying plan, marked A,* while the third brigade, which had been left at Triune, moved forward from that place, and ar- rived at nightfall near General NeCooks headquarters. Thus, ou the close of the 30th, the troops had all got into the position, substantially, as shown in the accompanying drawing, the rebels occupying the posi- tion marked A.* At 4 oclock in the afternoon General McCook had reported his arrival on the Wilkinson pike, ,joining Thomas; the result of the combat in the afternoon near Griscoms house, and the fact that Sheridan was in posi- tion there; that his right was advancing to support the cavalry; also that Hardees corps, with two divisions of Polks, was on his front, ex- teuding down toward the Salem pike, without any map of the ground, which was to us terra incognita. When General McCook informed the general commanding that his corps was facing strongly toward the east, the general commanding told humn that such a direction to his line did not appear to him a proper one, but that it ought, with the exception * To appear in Atlas Page 192 192 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXJL of his left, to face much more nearly south, with Johnsons division in reserve1 bat that this matter must be confided to him, who knew the ground over which he had fought. A meeting of the corps commanders was called at the headquarters of the ~ominanding general for this evening. General Thomas arrived early, received his instructions, and retired. General Crittenden, with whom the commanding general had talked freely during the afternoon, was sent for, but was excused at the request of his chief of staff, who sent word that he was very much fatigued and was asleep. Generals MeCook and Stanley arrived about 9 oclock, to whom was explained the following PLAN OF BATTLE. McCook was to occupy the most advantageous position, refusing his right as much as practicable and necessary to secure it, to receive the attack of the enemy; or, if that did not come, to attack himself, suf. ficient to hold all the force on his front; Thomas and Palmer to open with skirmishing, and engage the enemy~s center and left as far as the river; Crittenden to cross Van Cleves division at the lower ford, cow- ered and supported by the sappers and miners, and to advance on Breckinridge; Woods division to follow by brigades, crossing at the upper ford and moving on Van Cleves right, to carry everything before them into Murfreesborough. This would have given us two divisions against one, and, as soon as Breckinridge had been dislodged from his position, the batteries of Woods division, taking position on the heights east of Stones River, in advance, would see the enemys works in reverse, would dislodge them, and enable Palmers division to press them back, and drive them westward across the river or through the woods, while Thomas, sustaining the movement on the center, would advance on the right of Palmer, crushing their right, and Crittendens corps, advanc- ing, would take Murfreesborough, and then, moving westward on the Franklin road, get in their flank and rear and drive them into the coun- try toward Salem, with the prospect of cutting off their retreat and prob- ably destroying their army. It was explained to them that this combination, insuring us a vast superiority on our left, required for its success that General McCook should be able to hold his position for three hours; that, if necessary to recede at all, he should recede, as he had advanced on the preceding day, slowly and steadily, refusing his right, thereby rendering our suc- cess certain. Having thus explained the plan, the general commanding addressed General MeCook as follows: You know the ground; you have fought over it; you know its difficulties. Can you hold your present position for three hours V To which General McCook responded, Yes, I think I can. The general commanding then said, I dont like the facing so much to the east, but must confide that to you, who knox~ the ground. If you dont think your present the best position, change it. It is only necessary for you to make things ~ And the officers then returned to their commands. At daylight on the morning of the 31st the troops breakfasted and stood to their arms, and by 7 oclock were preparing for the BATTLE. The movement began on the left by Van Cleve, who crossed at the lower fords. Wood prepared to sustain and follow him. The enemy, meanwhile, had prepared to attack General MeCook, and by 0.30 ocloc Page 193 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONE~.~I~ER CAMPAIGN. 193 advanced in heavy columnsregimental fronthis left atta~k~ng ~Wil- lichs and Kirks brigades, of Johnsons division, which, being disposed, a~1i6wn in the map, thin and light, without support, were, after a sharp but fruitless contest, crumbled to pieces and driven back, leaving Ed- gartons and part of Goodspeeds battery in the hands of the enemy. The enemy following up, attacked Davis division and speedily dis- lodged Posts brigade. Carlins brigade was compelled to follow, as Woodruffs brigade, from the weight of testimony, had previously left its position on his left. Johnsons brigades, in retiring, inclined tGo far to the west, and were too much scattered to make a combined resist- ance, though they fought bravely at one or two points before reaching Wilkinsons pike. The reserve brigade of Johnsons division, advancing from its bivouac, near the Wilkinson pike, toward the right, took a good position, and made a gallant but ineffectual stand, as the whole rebel left was moving up on the ground abandoned by our troops. Within an hour from the time of the opening of the battle, a staff officer from General MeCook arrived, announcing to me that the right wing was heavily pressed and needed assistance~ but I was not advised of the rout of Willichs and Kirks brigades, nor of the rapid with- drawal of Davis division, necessitated therebymoreover, having sup- posed his wing posted more compactly, and his right more refused than it really was, the direction of the noise of battle did not indicate to me the true state of affairs. I consequently directed him to return and direct General MeCook to dispose his troops to the best advantage, and to hold his ground obstinately. Soon after, a second officer from Gen- eral MeCook arrived, and stated that the right wing was being driven a fact that was but too manifest by the rapid movement of the noise of battle toward the north. General Thomas was immediately dispatched to order Rousseau, then in reserve, into the cedar brakes to the right and rear of Sheridan. General (Jrittenden was ordered to suspend Van Cleves movement across the river, on the left, and to cover the crossing with one livrigade, and move the other two brigades westward across the fields toward the railroad for a reserve. Wood was also directed to suspend his prepara- tions for crossing, and to hold ilascall in reserve. At this moment fugi- tives and stragglers from McCooks corps began to make their appear- ance through the cedar.brakes in such numbers that I became satisfied that McCooks corps was routed. I, therefore, directed General Grit- tenden to send Van Cleve in to the right of Rousseau; Wood to send Colonel ilarkers brigade farther down the Murfreesborough pike, to go in and attack the enemy on the right of Van Cleves, the Pioneer Brigade meanwhile occupying the knoll of ground west of Murfreesbor- ough pike, and about 400 or 500 yards in rear of Palmers center, sup- porting Stokes battery (see accompanying drawing). Sheridan, after sustaining four successive attacks, gradually swung his right from a southeasterly to a northwesterly direction, repulsing the enemy four times, losing the gallant General Sill, of his right, and Colonel Roberts, of his left brigade, when, having exhausted his ammunition, Negleys division being in the same predicament, and heavily pressed, after des- perate fighting, they fell back from the position held at the commence- ment, through the cedar woods, in which Rousseaus division, with a portion of Negleys and Sheridans, met the advancing enemy and checked his movements. The ammunition train of the right wing, endangered by its sudden discomfiture, was taken charge of by Captain Thruston, of the First Ohio Regiment, ordnance officer, who, by his energy and gallantry, 13 i~ I~YOL XX, rT Page 194 194 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII aided by a charge of cavalry and such troops as he could pick up, car- ried it through the woods to the Murfreesborough I)ikC, around to the rear of the left wing, thus enabling the troops of Sheridans division to replenish their empty cartridge-boxes. During all this time Palmers front hd likewise been in action, tiiie enemy having made several at- tempts to advance upon it. At this stage it became necessary to re- adjust the line of battle to the new state of affairs. Rousseau and Van Oleves advance having relieved Sheridans division from the pressure, Negleys division and (i5rufts brigade, from Palmers division, withdrew from their original position in front of the cedars, and crossed the open field to the east of the Murfreesborough pike, about 400 yards in rear of our front line, where Negley was ordered to replenish his ammunition and form in close column in reserve. The right and center of our line now extended from Hazen, on the Murfreesborough pike, in a northwesterly direction; ilascall support- ing ilazen; Rousseau filling the interval to the Pioneer Brigade; Neg- ley in reserve; Van Cleve west of the Pioneer Brigade; McCooks corps refused on his right, and slightly to the rear, on IVlurfreesborough pike; the cavalry being still farther to the rear, on Murfreesborough pike, at and beyond Overalls Creek. The enemys infantry and cavalry attack on our extreme right was repulsed by Van Cleves divisien, with Harkers brigade and the cavalry. After several attempts of the enemy to advance on this new line, which were thoroughly repulsed, as were also their attempts on the left, the day closed, leaving us masters of the original ground on our left, and our new line advantageously posted, with open ground in front, swept at all points by our artillery. We had lost heavily in killed and wounded, and a considerable num- ber in stragglers and prisoners; also twenty-eight piect~s of artillery, the horses having been slain, and our troops being unable to with- draw them by hand over the rough ground; but the enemy had been thoroughly handled and badly damaged at all points, havin ghadno success where we had open ground and our troops were properly posted; none which did not depend on the original crushing in of our right and the superior masses which were in consequence brought to bear upon the narrow front of Sheridans and Negleys divisions, and a part of Pal- mers, coupled with the scarcity of ammunition, caused by the circuitous road which the train had taken, and the inconvenience of getting it from a remote distance through the cedars. Orders were given for the issue of all the spare ammunition, and we found that we had enough for another battle, the only question being where that battle was to be fought. It was decided, in order to complete our present lines, that the left should be retired some 250 yards to a more advantageous ground, the extreme left resting on Stones River, above the lower ford, and extend- ing to Stokes battery. Starkweathers and WalJ~ers brigades arriving near the close of the evening, the former bivouacked in close column, in reserve, in rear of McCooks left, and the latter was posted on the left of Sheridan, near the Murfreesborough pike, and next morning relieved Van Cleve, who returned to his position in the left wing. DISPOSITION FOR JANUARY 1 1863. After careful examination and free consultation with corps com- manders, followed by a personal examination of the ground in rear as far as Overalls Creek, it was determined to await the enemys attac Page 195 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. CHAP. XXXII.] 195 in that position; to send for the provision train, and order up fresh sup- plies of ammunition; on the arrival of which, should the enemy not attack, offensive operations were to be resumed. No demonstration [being made] on the morning of January 1, Crit- tenden was ordered to occupy the point opposite the ford, on his left, with a brigade. About 2 oclock in the afternoon, the enemy, who had shown signs of movement and massing on our right, appeared at the extremity of a field 1~ miles from the Murfreesborough pike, but the presence of Gib- sons brigade, with a battery, occupying the woods near Overalls Creek, and. Negleys division, and a portion of Ronsseans, on the Murfreesbor- ough pike, opposite the field, put an end to this demonstration, and the day closed with another demonstration by the enemy on Walkers bri- gade, which ended in the same manner. On Friday morning the enemy opened four heavy batteries on our center, and made a strong demonstration of attack a little farther to the right, but a well-directed fire of artillery soon silenced his bat- teries, while the guns of Walker and Sheridan put an end to his efforts there. About 3 p. in., while the commanding general was examining the position of Crittendens left across the river, which was now held by Van Cleves division, supported by a brigade from Palmers, a double line of skirmishers was seen to emerge from the woods in a southeast- erly direction, advancing across the fields, and they were soon followed by heavy columns of infantry, battalion front, with three batteries of artillery. Our only battery on that side of the river had been with- drawn from an eligible point, but the most available spot was pointed out, and it soon opened fire upon the enemy. The line, however, ad- vanced steadily to within 100 yards of the front of Van Cleves division, when a short and fierce contest ensued. Van Cleves division, giving way, retred in considerable confusion across the river, followed closely by the enemy. General Crittenden immediately directed his chief of artillery to dis- pose the batteries on the hill on the west side of the river so as to open on them, while two brigades of Kegleys division, from the reserve, and the Pioneer Brigade, were ordered up to meet the onset. The firing was terrific and the havoc terrible. The enemy retreated more rapidly than they had advanced. In forty minutes they lost 2,000 men. General Davis, seeing some stragglers from Van Cleves division, took one of his brigades and crossed at a ford below, to attack the enemy on his left flank, and, by General McCooks order, the rest of his division was permitted to follow; but, when he arrived, two brigades of Negleys division and ilazens brigade, of Palmers division, had pursued the fleeing enemy well across the fields, capturing four pieces of artillery and a stand of colors. It was now after dark, and raining, or we should have pursued the enemy into Mnrfreesborough. As it was, Crittendens corps passed over, and, with Davis, occupied the crests~ which were intrenched in a few hours. Deeming it possible that the enemy might again attack our right and center, thus weakened, I thought it advisable to make a demonstration on our right by a heavy division of camp-fires, and by laying out a line of battle with torches, which answered the purpose. Sathrday, January 3. it rained heavily from 3 oclock in the morning. The plowed ground over which our left would be obliged to advance was impassable for artillery. The ammunition trains did not arriv Page 196 196 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW~ VA. [CHAP. XkXIL until 10 oclock. It was, therefore, deemed unadvisable to advance; but batteries were put in position on the left, by which the ground could be swept, and eveu Murfreesborough reached by Parrott shells. A hoavy and con~tant picket firing had been kept up on our right and center, and extending to our left, which at last became so annoying that in the afternoon I directed the corps commanders to clear their fronts. Occupying the wood to the left of Murfreesborough pike with sharp. shooters, the enemy had annoyed Rousseau all day, and General Thomas and himself requested permission to dislodge them and their supports, which covered a ford. This was granted, and a sharp fire from four batteries was opened for ten or fifteen minutes, when Rousseau sent two of his regiments, which, with Spears Tennesseans and the Eighty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, that had come out with the wagon-train, charged upon the enemy, and, after a sharp contest, cleared the woods and drove, the enemy from his trenches, capturing from 70 to 80 prisoners. Sunday morning, January 4, it was not deemed advisable to com- mence offensive movements, and news soon reached us that the enemy had fled from Murfreesborough. Burial parties were sent out to bury the dead, and the cavalry was sent to reconnoiter. Early Monday morning General Thomas advanced, driving the rear guard of rebel cavalry before him 0 or 7 miles toward Manchester. Mc- Cooks and (Jrittendens corps following, took position in front of the town, occupying Murfreesborough. We learned that the enemys infantry had reached Sizielbyville by 12 m. on Sunday, but, owing to the impracticability of bringing up supplies, and the loss of 557 artillery horses, farther pursuit was deemed unad- visable. It may be of use to give the following general summary of the opera- tions and results of the series of skirmishes closing with the battle of Stones River and occupation of Murfreesborough: We moved on the enemy with the following forces: Infantry, 41,421; artillery, 2,223; cavalry, 3,296. Total, 40,940. We fought the battle with the following forces: Infantry, 37,977; artillery, 2,223; cavalry, ~3,200. Total, 43,400. We lost in killed: Officers, 92; enlisted men, 1,441; total, 1,533. Wounded: Officers, 384; enlisted men, 6,861; total, 7,245. Total killed and wounded, 8,778, being 20.03 per cent. of the entire force in action.* Our loss in prisoners is not fully made out, but the provost-marshal- general says, from present information, they will fall short of 2,800.* If there are many more bloody battles on record, considering the new- ness and inexperience of the troops, both officers and men, or if there has been more true fighting qualities displayed by any people, I should be pleased to know it. As to the condition of the fight, we may say that we operated over an unknown country, against a position which was 15 per cent. better than our own, every foot of ground and approaches being well known to the enemy, and that these disadvantages were fatally enhanced by the faulty rosition of our right wing. The force we fought is estimated as follows: We have prisoners from one hundred and thi~t~-two regiments of in- fantry (consolidations counted as one), averaging from those in Qeneral * But see revised statement, p. 207 Page 197 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 197 Bushrod Johnsons division 411 each, say, for certain, 350 men -each, which will give * 132 regiments of infantry, say 350 men each 46,200 12 battalions o~ sharpshooters, say 100 men each 1,200 2:3 batteries of artillery, say 80 men each 1,840 29 regiments of cavalry, say 400 men each, and 24 organizations of cavalry, say 70 men each 1~ 250 220 62,490 Their average loss, taken from the statistics of Cleburnes, Breckin- ridges, and Withers divisions, was about 2,080 each. This, for six divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, will amount to 14,560 men, or to ours nearly as 165 to 100. Of 14,560 rebels struck by our missiles, it is estimated that 20,000 rounds of artillery hit 728 men; 2,000,000 rounds of musketry hit 13,832 men, averaging 27.4 cannon-shots to hit 1 man; 145 musket-shots to hit 1 man. Our relative loss was as follows: Right wing, 15,933 musketry and artillery; loss, 20.72 per cent. Center, 10,866 musketry and artillery; loss, 18.4 per cent. Left wing, 13,288 musketry and artillery; loss, 24.6 per cent. On the whole, it is evident that we fought superior numbers on un- known ground; inflicted much more injury than we suffered; were always superior on equal ground with equal numbers, and failed of a most crushing victory on Wednesday by the extension and direction of our right wing. This closes the narrative of the movements and seven days fighting which terminated with the occupation~ of Mnrfreesborough. For a detailed history of the parts taken in the battles by the different commands, their obstinate bravery and patient endurance, in which the new regiments vied with those of more experience, I must refer to the accompanying sub-reports of the corps, division, brigade, regimental, and artillery commanders. Besides the mention which has been already made of the services of our artillery by the brigade, division, and corps commanders, I deem it a duty to say that such a marked evidence of skill in handling the batteries, and in firing low and with such good effect, appears in this battle to deserve special commendation. Among the lesser commands which deserve special mention for dis- tinguished services in the battle is the Pioneer Corps, a body of 1,700 men, composed of details from the companies of each infantry regiment, organ- ized and instructed by Capt. James St. Clair Morton, Corps of Engineers, chief engineer of this army, which marched as an infantry brigade with the left wing, making bridges at Stewarts Creek; prepared and guarded the ford at Stones River on the night of the 29th and 30th; supported Stokes battery, and fought with valor and determinatior~ on the 31st, holding its position till relieved on the morning of the 2d; advancing with the greatest promptitude and gallantry to support Van Cleves division against the attack on our left on the evening of the same day, constructing a bridge and batteries between that time and Saturday evening. The efficiency and esprit du corps suddenly developed in this command, its ga]lant behavior in action, and the eminent services it is * Se6 Union correspondence, December 16, 1862, Brig. Gen. J. T. Boyles report of Confederate prisoners received at Louisville, Ky., from October 1 to December 14, 1862, Sehes I, Vol. XVI, Part II, p. 676 Page 198 198 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. continually rendering the army, entitle both officers and men to special public notice and thanks, while they reflect the highest credit on the distinguished ability and capacity nf Captain Morton, who will do honor to his piomotion to a brigadier-general, which the President has prom- ised him. The ability, order, and method exhibited in the management of the wounded elicited the warmest commendations from all our general offi. cers, in which I most cordially join. Xotwithstanding the numbers to be cared for, through the energy of Dr. Swift, medical director, ably assisted by Dr. Weeds and the senior surgeons of the various com- mands, there was less suffering from delay than I have ever before wit- nessed. The Tenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, at Stewarts Creek, Lieut. Col. J. W. Burke commanding, deserves especial praise for the ability and spirit with which they held that post, defended our trains, succored their guards, chased away Wheelers rebel cavalry, saving a large wagon- train, and arrested and retained for service stragglers from the battle- field. The First Regiment of Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, at La Vergue, under the command of Colonel Innes, fighting behind a slight protection of wagons and brush, gallantly repulsed a charge from more than ten times their number of Wheelers cavalry. For distinguished acts of individual zeal, heroism, gallantry, and good conduct, I refer to the accompanying lists of special mentions and rec- ommendations for promotion, wherein are named some of the many noble men who have distinguished themselves and done honor to their country and the starry symbol of its unity. But those named there are by no means all whose names will be inscribed on the rolls of honor we are preparing, and hope to have held in grateful remembrance by our countrymen. To say that such men as Maj. Gen. George II. Thomas, true and prudent, distinguished in council and on many a battle-field for his courage, or Major-General MeCook, a tried, faithful, and loyal soldier, who bravely breasted the battle at Shiloh and at Perryville, and as bravely on the bloody field of Stones River, and Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, whose heart is that of a true soldier and patriot, and whose gallantry, often attested by his companions in arms on other fields, wit- nessed many times by this army long before I had the honor to com- mand it, and never more conspicuously than in this combat, maintained their high character throughout this action, but feebly expresses my feeling of obligation to them for counsel and support from the time of my arrival to the present hour. I doubly thank them, as well as the gallant and ever-ready Major-General Rousseau, for their support in this battle. Brig. Gen. ID. S. Stanley, already distinguished in four successful battlesIsland No. 10; May 27, before Corinth; Ink a, and the battle of Corinthat this time in command of our ten regiments of cavalry, fought the enemys forty regiments of cavalry~ and held them at bay, or beat them wherever he could meet them. He ought to be made a major-general for his service, and also for the good of the service. As for such brigadiers as Kegley, Jefferson C. I)avis, Johnson, Pal- mer, ilascall, Van Cleve, Wood, Mitchell, Cruft, and Sheridan, they ought to be ma.jor-generals in our service. In such brigade command- ers as Colonels, Miller, ilazen, Samuel Beatty, of the INineteenth Ohio; Gibson, Grose, Wagner, John Beatty, of the Third Ohio; ilarker, Starkweather, Stanley, and others, whose names are mentioned in th Page 199 THE STONES RIVEH CAMPAIGN. 199 accompanying reports, the Government may well confide. They are the men from whom our troops should at once be supplied with brigadier- generals; and justice to the brave men and officers of the regiments equally demand their promotion to give them and their regiments their proper leaders. Many captains and subalterns also showed great gal- lantry and capacity for superior commands. But, above all, the sturdy rank and file showed invincible fightffig courage and stamina, worthy of a great and free nation, requiring only good officers, discipline, and instructions to make them equal, if not superior, to any troops in ancient or modern times. To them I offer my most heartfelt thanks and good wishes. Words of mine cannot add to the renown of our brave and patriotic officers and soldiers who fell on the field of honor, nor in- crease respect for their memory in the hearts of our countrymen. The names of such men as Lient. Col. J. P. Garesch6, the pure and noble Christian gentleman and chivalric officer, who gave his life an early offering on the altar of his countrys freedom; the gentle, true, and accomplished General Sill; the brave, ingenuous, and able Colonels Roberts, Milliken, Schaefer, McKee,~ Read, Forman, Fred. Jones, ilaw- kins, Kell, and the gallant and faithful Major Carpenter, of the sine- teenth Regulars, and many other field officers, will live in our countrys history, as will those of many others of inferior rank, whose soldierly deeds on this memorable battle-field won for them the admiration of their companions, and will dwell in our memories in long future years, after God, in his mercy, shall have given us peace, and restored us to the bosom of our homes and families. Simple justice to the gallant officers of my staff, the noble and la- mented Lieutenant-Colonel Garesch6, chief of staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, chief quartermaster- Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons, chief commis- sary; Maj.C. Goddard, senior aide-dc-camp; Maj.Ralston Skinner,judge- advocate-general; Lient. Frank S. Bond, aide-dc-camp of General Tyler; Capt. Charles R. Thompson, my Thde-de-camp; Lieut. Byron Kirby, Sixth U. S. Infantry, aide-de-camp, who was wounded on the 31st; R. S. Thoms, esq., a member of the Cincinnati bar, who acted as volunteer ai(ie-de-camp, behaved with distinguished gallantry; Colonel Barnett, chief of artillery and ordnance; Capt. J. II. Gilman, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, inspector of artillery; Chpt. James Curtis, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, assistant inspector-general; Captain Wiles, Twenty-second Indiana, provost-marshal-general; Captain Michler, chief of Topograph- ical Engineers; Capt. Jesse Merrill, Signal Corps, whose corps behaved well; Capt. Elmer Otis, Fourth Regular Cavalry, who commanded the courier line connecting the various headquarters most successfully, and who made a most opportune and brilliant charge on Wheelers cavalry, routing a brigade and recapturing 300 of our prisoners; Lieutenant Ed- son, United States ordnance officer, who, during the battle of Wednesday, distributed ammunition under the fire of the enemys batteries, and be- haved bravely; Captain Hubbard and Lieutenant INewberry, who joined my staff on the field and acted as aides, rendered valuable service in carrying orders on the field; Lient. E. G. Roys, Fourth U. S. Cavalry, who commanded the escort of the headquarters train, and distinguished himself for gallantry and efficiencyall not only performed their appro- priate duties to my entire satisfaction, but, accompanying me every- where, carrying orders through the thickest of the fight, watching while others slept, and never weary when duty called, deserve my public thanks and the respect and gratitude of the army. With all the facts of the battle fully before me, the relative numbers and positions of our troops and those of the rebels, the gallantry an Page 200 200 KY., MiD. ANDE. TE~N., ~. ALA., ANb S ~. VA. [dRAy. XxxII. obstinacy of the contest and the final result, I say, from conviction, and as pnblic acknowledgment due to Almighty God, in closing this report, Non nobis Domine! non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriarn. W. S. ROSECJ~ANS, Major- Gene~al, Commanding. Brig. Gen. LonENzo THOMAS, Adjutant- General, U. ~9. Army. Effective force of infantry and artillery, December 31, 1862. 0 H an a 9 Command. -~ 98 8 0 ~ -~ p~ F __ __ RIGHT WIKG. FIRST DIVISION. Brigadier-General DAVIS. 1st Brigade, Colonel Post 1,418 161 11. 33 2d Brigade, Colonel Carlin 1,781 619 34. 75 3d Brigade, Colonel Woodruff 1,445 226 15. 64 Total drvlslon 4, 644 1, 006 21. 66 SECOND DIVISION. Brigadier-General JOHNSON. 1st Brigade, Colonel Gibson 1, 650 472 28. 60 2d Brigade, Colonel Dod,e 2 100 405 19. 28 3d Brigade, Colonel Baldwin 2500 291 11.64 Total diVision 6, 250 1, 168 18. 68 THIRD DIVISION. Brigadier-General SHERIDAN. 1st Brigade, Colonel Greusel 1, 839 479 26. 05 2d Brib ade, Colonel Laiboldt 1 680 206 12. 25 3d Brigade, Colonel Bradley 1, 520 443 29. 14 Total division . 5, 039 1, 128 20. 72 Total right wing 15, 933 3, 302 20. 72 CENTER.* FIHST [TRIED] DIVISION. Major-General ROUSSEAU. 1st Brigade, Colonel Scribuer 1, 588 208 13. 10 2d Brigade, Colonel Beatty 1, 534 281 18 33 3d Brigade, Colonel Starkweather 1, 548 28 1. 80 4th Brsgade, Colonel Shepherd 1, 566 561 35.82 Total di isbn 6, 236 .1, 078 17. 28 SECOND [EIGHTH] DIVISION. Brigadier-General NEGLEY. 1st Brigade, Brigadier-General Spears 812 16 2. 00 2d [29th] Brigade, Colonel Stanley 1, 822 100 27. 44 3d [7th] Brigade, Colonel Miller 1, 998 410 20. 00 Total division 4, 632 926 20.00 Total center corps 10, 868 2, 004 18.44 5Walkera brigade, First DiVision, not accounted for in original Page 201 THE STONE~S RIVER CAMPAIGN. Effective force of infantry and artillery, 4-c.Conitued. ,0 ii Command. -~ ~ ii) , 0 0 nO ~ LEFT WING. FIRST DIVISION. Brigadier-General WOOD. 1st Brigade, Brigadier-General Hascall 1, 701 343 20. 17 24 Brigade, Colonel Wagner 1,044 329 20.00 3d Brigade, Colonel Harker 1,747 454 26.00 Total division 5, 092 1, 126 22. 11 SECOND DIVISION. Bri~,adier-General PALMER. 1st Brigade, Brigadier-General Cruft 1, 207 255 21. 12 2d Brigade, Colonel Hazen 1, 385 336 24.25 3d Brigade, Colonel Grose 1, 768 516 29. 18 Total division 4, 360 1, 107 25.40 THIRD DIVISION. I Brigadier-General VAN CLEVE. 1st Brigade, Col. S. Beatty 1, 216 411 33. 80 2d Brigade, Colonel Fyffe 798 288 36. 09 3d Brigade, Colonel Matthews [Price] 1, 822 342 18. 75 Total division 3, 836~041 27.14 Total left wing 13,288 II, 274 24. 64 FIONEER BRIGADE. Captain Morton 1,700 30 1. 75 CAVALRY. Cavalry 3,200 84 2. 60 RECAPITULATION. Ri~,ht wing 15, 944 Center corps 10,868 Left wing 13, 288 Pioneer Brigade 1,700 Total infantry and artillery 41, 800 Cavalry division 3,200 Total 45, 000 Deductin,, wagon guard 1,600 Total 43, 400 Combined loss, killed and wounded, 8,778, or 20.22 per cent. of the forces engaged. Names specially mentioned for important services and particular acts, 4-c., in official reports. Name and rank. Regiment or detachment. Service performed. R. W. Jolmson, brigadier- general. P. II. Sheridan, brigadier- gjineral. Jefferson C. Davis, brigadier- generaL For gallant conduct during the battle, and Commanding divisions in foi~ prompt support and conscientious But see revised statement, p. 207. with iho right wing. the right wing. atteiition to duty during their service ChAr. ~XXfl.] 20 Page 202 202 KY., MID. AND t. TENN., N. AL A., A1~1D SW. VA. [CHAP. XZXIL Names specially mentioned for important services, 4~c.Contrnued. Name and rank. Regiment or detachment. Service performed. ID. S. Stanley, brigadier-gen- eral Hascall, brigadier-general. Craft, brigadier~general T. J. Wood, brigadier-gen- eral. H. P. Van Cleve, brigadier- general. John M. Palmer, brigadier- generaL J. S. Negley, brigadier-gen- eral. C. MeDermont, surgeon G. ID. Beebe, surgeon A. J.Phelps, surgeon Minty, colonel, commandin,,, First Brigade. Murray, colonel Chief of cavalry Commanding 1st Brigade... 1st Brigade I I- .1 1. Medical director, staff of Major-General McCook. Medical director, staff of Major-General Thomas. Medical director, on staff of Major-General Crittenden. 4th Michigan Cavalry 3d Kentucky Cavalry Zahm, colonel. - 3d Ohio Cavalry - - - W. H. Gibson, colonel Charles Anderson, coloneL - - Wallace, colonel - Dodge, colonel Baldwin, colonel G. ID. Wagner, colonel 49th Ohio Volunteers; com- manded Willichs brigade. Old Ohio Volunteers - -- - - -. - 15th Ohio Volunteers 10th Indiana Volunteers - - 6th Indiana Volutiteers - -) 15th Indiana, commanding brigade. C. G. Harker, colonel - - 65th Ohio Volunteers John W. Blake, colonel 40th Indiana Volunteers - -- - Hazen, colonel 41st Ohio Volunteers W. Grose, colonel - 16th Indiana Volunteers - - . - Sedgewick, colonel Enyart, colonel Ross, colonel Osborn, colonel Samuel Beatty, colonel 2d Kentucky Volunteer) Int~ntry. I 1st Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. I 90th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. I 31st Indiana Volunteer In- fantry. 19th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. Commanded advance of right wing during its advance from Nolensville is spe. cially mentioned for energy ami skill Deserves commendation and gratitude of his country. For holding an important position, and for extricating his command from the mass of confusion around him. Specially mentioned for distinguished gal. lantry and the skill with which they handled their commands. Generals Van Cleve and Wood were wounded, but remained with their commands until after the battle was over. Specially mentioned for the courage and skill displayed in handling his com- mand. - For gallant coiadnct in the field, and great care and considerationforthe wounded. For great zeal, energy, and efficiency. For prompt attention to the wounded; great energy and efficiency in discharge of his duties. Deserves credit for the management of his command on the march and in several engagements. Rendered important and distinguished service, gallantly charging and dispers- ing the enemys cavalry in their attack on our train on Wednesday, 31st. Contributed greatly, by his personal ex- ample, to the restoration of order and confidence in that portion of the Second Brigade stampeded by the enemys- at- tack on Wednesday. Has been several times before recom- mended for promotion, and is again recommetided by General Johnson, for meritorious conduct. Is also specially mentioned by Major-General sMcC 00k and Crittenden. Honorablementionforgallant conduct, by Major-General Rousseau. Recommended for promotion, for coolness and coura,,,e on the field of battle. Has commanded a brigade for a year; is recommended for promotion for brave and skillful conduct during the late bat- tles. Has commanded a brigade for a year; is recommended for promotion, for brave and skillful conduct. He is also spe- cially mentioned by Major-General Mc- Cook, for valuable services with the right wing. Recommended to be dishonorably dis- charged for being so di-unk as to be un- fit for duty. Before going into action on the 31st, was ordered in arrest by his immediate commander, Colonel Wag- ner, and was next heard from in Nash- ville, claiming to be wounded and a pa- roled prisoner. Commanded a brigade; is specially men- tioned for courage and skill in handling his troops, and for maintaining an im- portant position. Commanded bricade; is recommended for coolness and bravery in fighting his troops against a superior force. Displayed marked gallantry on the field, and handled their respective commands with skill and judgment. - Commanding brigade; for coolness, intre- pidity, and skill Page 203 Cliii. XXXIL] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Names specially mentioned for important services, 4-c.Continued. Name and rank. Regiment or detachment. Service performed. Fyffe, colonel 59th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. Grider, colonel C. 0. Loomis, colonel JohnC. Starkweather, colonel William Sirwell, coloneL... - Granville Moody, colonel. - - - Hull, colonel Greusel, colonel Bradley, colonel Sherman, colonel Hotchkiss, lieutenant . colo- nel. Jones, lieutenant-colonel W. W. Berry, lieutenant-col- oneL Shepherd, lieutenant-colonel. Neibling, lieutenant-colonel. - Laiboldt, lieutenant-colonel. - MeCreery, lieutenant - colo- nel. Klein, major Otis, captain 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. 1st Michigan Artillery 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 78th Pennsylvania Volun teer Infantry. I 74th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. 37th Indiana Volunteer In- I fantry. J 36th Illinois Volunteers - - 51st Illinois Volunteers - - S 88th flhinois Volunteers --- - 89th Illinois Volunteer In-) fantry. 1. 39th Indiana Volunteer In-i fantry. J Commanding Louisville Le- gion. 18th U. S. Infantry, com- manding regular brigade. Commanding 21st Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. 2d Missouri Volunteer In- fantry. 21st Michigan Volunteer In- fantry. 3d Indiana Cavalry Commanding 4th U. S. Cav- alry. Lyne Starling, major Assistant adjutant-,,,eneral John H. King, major Carpenter, major Slemmer, major Townsend, major Caidwell, major Miller, major Chandler, major Hibbard, major John Mendenhall, captain, chief of artillery, andtopo- graphical engineer, staff of Major-General Cri tten- den. Chambers, captain Gladwyn, captain Standart, captain Edgarton, captain - -. 15th U. S. Infantry 19th U. S. Infantry ....... I 16th U.S. Infantry l8thU. S. Infantry...... - I 18th 14. 5. Infantry 36th Illinois Volunteers.. -) 88th Illinois Volunteers. . - 24th Wisconsin Vols.....) 4th U. S. Artillery. 51st Indiana Volunteer In.) fantry. 73d Indiana Volunteer In- ~ fantry. ) Company B, 1st Ohio Artil- lery. Company E, 1st Ohio Artil. lery. G. P. Thruston, captain..... 1st Ohio VolunteerInfantry. Is recommended for coolness, intrepidity, and skill. Is also specially mentioned by Major-General McCook, for valuable services with the ri~bt wing. Commanded brigade, and is specially mentioned for gallantry and coolness under trying circumsrance~. Rendered most important services thron~hout the battle. Commandin~ bri ado: eapecially men- tioned for coolness, skill, and courage. For the skill and ability with which they handled tbeir respective commands. Are specially commended for skill and courage. Ho orably mentioned for distinguished service. Recommended for promotion for merito- rious conduct. Specially mentioned for gallant and mer- itorious conduct. Is aLo epecially men- tioned by Major-General Rousseau, for retreating in good order before an over- whelming force, and drawing off by hand a section of artillery he had been ordered to support. Specially mentioned by Maj Gen. L. H. Rousseau. For skill and ability during the battles. Specially commended for skill and cour- age. Honorably mentioned for distinguished 8ervices. On the 27th en~aged the enemy on the Nolensville pike and put them to flight. With his regiment rendered important and distinguished service, gallantly charging and dispersing the enemys cavalry, in their attack upon our train on Wednesday, the 31st. Specially mentioned by Major-General Crittehden, for gallantry in the battle, general efficiency, and eighteen months faithful service. Commandingtheir respective regiments; are specially mentioned for distiii- guished gallantry and ability. Major Carpenter was killed, and Majors King and Slemmer wounded. Honorably mentioned. Recommended for promotion, for general efficiency and personal bray .ry and good conduct in battle. These brave officers, with 120 men, drove a large force of the enemy from a cov- ered position and unmasked his battery. For the gallant manner in which he hand- led his guns and brought them off the field Was guilty of a grave error in taking even apartofhis battery horses to water at an unseasonable hour, and thereby losing his guns. Is specially mentioned by Major-General MeCook and othersfor particular actsof gallantry, skill, and good conduct. Men- tioned 1y Generals Sheridan, Johnson, Davis, aiid by Colonel Carlin, command- ing brigade. 20 Page 204 204 Name8 8pecia fly mentioned for important 8ervice8, 4-c.Continued. KY., MID. .AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL Name and rank. Eegiment or detachment. Service performed. Hale, captain. - 75th flhinois Volunteers... Specially mentioned for gallant conduct Litson, captain 22d Indiana Volunteers.. S in skirmishing. These three infantry captains commanded Crofton, captain 16th U. S. Infantry I their respective battalions after their Fulmer, captain 15th U. S. Infantry .j majors had been disabled, and behaved Mnlligan, captain 19th U. S. Infantry with great gallantryand skill aithonch I opposed by an overwhelming number. Guenther, captain Company H, 5th Artillery... Deserves great credit and special men- tion. Hescock, captain 1st Missouri Battery Specially mentioned for bravery and skill in the battles and for generalefficiency. Bridges, captain 19th Illinois Volunteers Continued in command of his regiment after receiving a painful wound. Belding, lieutenant Commanding Company A, Recommended for promotion thr saving 1st Ohio Artillery rhreegunsofhisbattery. (Goodspeeda.) Richard Jervis, lieutenant.. 8th Indiana Battery Behaved in a cowardly manner, by re- tiring his section at a critical moment without notifying his edupany com- mander. He is recommended for dis- missal. ILamberson, lieutenant 19th Illinois Volunteers. - - Inspectors of Pioneer Brigcde. Are spe WymanMurphy, lieutenant.. 21st Wisconsin Volunteers .~ cially mentioned in two reports for gal- lant conduct and energy. W. S. Fish, assistant surgeon. 3d Indiana Cavalry Fled during the hattie to Nashville, aud is recommended by Maior-Guneral Mc- Cook for dismissal. This man passed himself off as an assistant surgeon; pmved to be a private. Case hem,. attended to. Enlisted men recommended for gallant conduct during the battle of SYones River, Tenu. Quartermaster-Sergeant Colburn, Thirty-third Ohio Volunteers. First Sergeant German, Eighth Wisconsin Battery. Sergeant Ferguson, Company G, Fifty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Sergeant Holden, Company G, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Sergeant McKay, Company E, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Sergeant McMahon, Company H, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Sergt. R. B. Rhodes, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Sergt. Jason Hurd, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Sergt. H. A. Mills, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Sergt. A. R. Weaver, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Sergt. F. Mechling, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Sergt. P. A. Weaver, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Corpl. James T. Slater, Second Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. Corpi. J. F. Patterson, Company G, Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Corpi. W. Hughes, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Private R. J. Pindle, Company L, wagoner. (Especially recommended by Colonel Murray, colonel of Third Kentucky Cavalry.) Private A. F. Freeman, orderly, with Brigadier-General Davis. Private Abijah Lee, orderly, with Brigadier-General Davis. Private James Gray, Company E, Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Private William Hayman, Second Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. Private William Brown, Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Private Nelson Shields, Thfrteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Private S. T. Mitchell, Company B, Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. A D)JENDA. Special mention of g llantry, ~ Lieutenant-Colonel Housum, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Captain Brigham, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Captain Cox, Tenth Indiana Battery. Capt. James P. Mead, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Lient. John L. Dillon, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Lieutenant Jones, Posts brigade. 1st. Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment captured a rebel flag from the Twenty- sixth Regiment Tennessee, assisted by other regiments of General Negleys division Page 205 CaM. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 205 2d. Lieutenant Guenthers battery and the Second Ohio Volunteers captured the flag of the Thirtieth Arkansas Volunteers. 3d. Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Wood commanding, charged and captured 173 prisoners from Twentieth Louisiana Regiment. 4th. Thirteekth Michigan Volunteers gallantly recaptured two guns belonging to Captain Bradleys battery. 5th. Carlins brigade lost half its field officers in killed and wounded. 6th. Fifth Kentucky Volunteers dragged from the field by hand a section of artil- lery, through deep mud and under heavy fire. 7th. Four color-bearers of the Twenty-first Illinois were shot down, yet tb~ colors were borne safely through the fight. WASHINGTON, I). C., February 27, 1863. Colonel KELTON, Staff of the General-in- Chief, Washington: CoLoNEL .1 have the honor to forward to you the inclosed letter of Maj. Gen. W. S. iRosecrans, commanding department. The general desired me to make such verbal explanations as the General-in-Chief might require. I also inelose a statement of our available force in and about Mur- freesborough, which differs considerably from the paper army. I shall remain in the city no longer than to-morrow, as my health will not permit me to put further off that care and treatment which I can only obtain at home. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. PETERSON, (aptain Fifteenth Infantry, and Acting Assistant Inspector- G~nerat, Department of the Cumberland. [InclosuresI HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CTJMBERLAND, Miurfreesborough, Tenn., February 20, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: Captain Peterson, acting assistant inspector-general, being obliged to change climate by medical direction, I avail myself of his zeal and intelligence to send you some details of this army, showing the percentage of absentees and the wear and tear of an army in battle: 1st. I find from careful examination that the average percentage of the present and absent, now present, is: Per cent For the Fourteenth Army Corps 56.01 For the Twentieth Army Corps 50. 16 For the Twenty-first Army Corps 50.44 Presuming that each of these corps has fought but one great battle, in which they lost as follows, viz:, Per cent Fourteenth Army Corps 15.44 Twentieth Army Corps 20. uO Twenty-first Army Corps 24.64 Average loss for the entire command 20. 03 We have before the battle: Per cent. Fourteenth Army Corps 63.42, Twentieth Army Corps 64.60 Twenty-first Army Corps 66.9 Page 206 206 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. Hence, before the battle we have to pay 100 men for the above per cent., and we now have the preceding percentage for each hundred on the pay-roll. Although these are better results than I have expected, they are much worse than they ought to be. I am now endeavoring to bring ttte absentees to some rule, and reduce their numbers. The in- spection system detects the illegal absentees, but it requires in addition the paymasters with the corps to know who ought not to be paid. Captain Peterson comes to show what means we use to detect absen- tees, and what even then are our results. He is also charged to carry on a form of return, which, if adopted in the Adjutant-Generals office and throughout the army, will force the various commanders to give such data in their returns as will afford means of knowing the true condition and strength of our forces, which, with the present forms in use, is not the case. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. S. ROSECRANS, Major- General, Gommanding Department. STATEMENT OF FORCE. Fourteenth Army Corps 27,725 Twentieth Army Corps 13,031 Twenty-first Army Corps 13,061 Cavalry not included 4,295 Total - 58,112 Detached troops: Nashville 7 495 Gallatin --. 3,550 Bowling Green 1,840 Clarksville 1,674 Total - 14,559 Grand total present 72,671 Strength present and absent February 14, 1863 133, 305 Discount.~ . 60,634 Detached troops 14,559 Number that cannot be led against the enemy 75, 193 MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., March 1, 186312.23 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I see that by your permission the reports of the corps commanders of the battle of Stones River are published. They are but a partial view of the operations, and an omission in General McCooks report to state the meeting of corps commanders at my headquarters, and his final in- structions on Tuesday night, coupled with an erroneous statement in General Johnsons report, are calculated to mislead.* Mine should also be published, omitting such statistics as ought not to be made public. W. S. ROSECIRAXS. 4 See correspondence between Rosecrans and MeCook aHd letters from Stanley and Thomas in March, 1863, Part II, pp. 381383 Page 207 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Maj. Gen. II. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief: MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., March 23, 186310.38 p. m. Recent rei5orts of the senior sur~,eon of General Braggs army, left here in care of the wounded rebels, prepared to be sent to his superior, of the deaths in hospitals, carefully analyzed as to confirm the analytical report of our provost-marshal as to the number of regiments, show that Breckinridge had thirty-six infantry and five cavalry regiments, four batteries, and some minor organizations in his division. W. S. ROSECRAKS, Major- General. No.3. Return of casualties in the Union forces in, the Stones River (Tennessee) campaign, December 26, 1862January 5, 1863, inclusive.~ [Compiled from nominal list of casualties, returns, & c.] Killed. Wounded~ Captured or missing. ,8 5) Command. S S S ~Q ~Q 5) ~ a 0 5 5) .-, ~ 5 0 ~1 C C FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS. Maj. Gen. WILLIAM S. RoSECRANS. Staff and escort RIGHT WING. Maj. Gen. A. McD. McCoon. FIRST DIVISION. Brig. Gen. ~hIFFERSON C. DAVIS. Escort. 36th Illinois Cavalry, Company B 2d Kentucky Cavalry, Company G Total escort First Brigade. Col. P. SIDNEY POsT. 59th Illinois 74th Illinois 75th nllnois 22d Indiana - - Wisconsin Light Artillery, 5th Battery To 1 First Bri~ade 1 3 2 3 9 2 1 2 6 1 4 6 11 7 43 30 80 8 1 34 42 85 2 2 19 59 82 7 5 14 18 64 1 1 5 6 13 25 9135 1155 324 * luclucles losses t Nolensyille and Knob Gap, December 26; La Vergne and Frank- lin, December26 and 27; Triune, December 27; Stewarts Creek, December27; Stones River or Murfreesbor6ugh, December 29-January 4; Stewarts Creek and La Vergue, January 1; Insane Asylum or Coxs Hill, J nuary 3; Slielbyville and Manchester roads, January 5, 2 9 CHAP. XXXII.] 20 Page 208 208 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXIL Return of caseaUies in the Union forces, c$?~c.~Continued. Killed. Wounded. Captured or missing. Command. ~ ~ a ~ ~ -~ -.~ ~ .3 ~ ~ ,~ ~ ,~ ~ it is o r~ o r~ o ~ Second Brigade. CoL WILLIAM P. CARLIN. 21st Illinois 101st Ohio 11th Wisconsin Minnesota Light Artillery, 2d Battery Total Second Brigade Third Brigade. CoL WILLIAM E. WOODRUEP. Staff 25th flhlnois 35th Illinois 81st Indiana Wisconsin Light Artillery, 8th Battery Total Third Brigade Total First Division SECOND DIVISION. Brig. Gen. RICHARD W. JOHNSON. First Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. Arreus~ WILLIcH.* (2.) CoL WILLIAM WALLACE. (3.) Col. WILLIAM 11. GIBsoN. Staff 89th Illinois 32d Indiana 19th Indiana 11th Ohio 49th Ohio 1st Light Artillery, Battery A Total First Brigade Second Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. EDWARD 1~. KIai~.t (2.) Col. JOsEPH B. DoDCE. Staff 14th Illinois . 79th Illinois 29th Indiana 10th Indiana 77th Pennsylvania 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery B Total Second Brigade Third Brigade. Col. PHILEMON P. BALDWIN. 6th Thdiana 5th Kentucky 1st Ohio 2 2 1 2 55 12 19 11 3 7 5 S 5 1 180 104 121 65 5 1 59 34 66 33 1 7 122 23 475 1 193 821 I 1 1 15 3 72 5 96 10 2 49 25 86 1 4 2 46 1 15 69 1 4 1 6 3 29 8 171 1 46 258 11 176 40 785 2 400 1,414 = 1 2 9 12 30 17 18 1 3 2 6 45 40 116 68 88 4 1 1 94 115 229 127 108 24 3 87 12 161 4 697 1,164 1 1 2 19 2 98 2 72 195 1 23 3 68 3 121 219 1 14 2 60 1 ol 135 1 30 2 108 2 70 213 1 4 1 28 2 28 64 3 2 22 32 6 93 11 373 12 164 859 1 8 17 50 1 iS 7 73 1 46 - * Wounded and captured December 31. t Wounded December 31. 36 104 26 125 81 136 303 177 212 119 10 1 150 107 380 215 222 2 Page 209 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Return of casualties in the Union forces, 4~c.Continued. Killed. Command. 0 Third BrigadeContinued. 93d Ohio Indiana Light Artillery, 5th Battery Total Third Brigade 1 12 3 58 Cavalry. 3d Indiana, Companies G, II, I, and 111 4 6 15 25 Total Second Division THIRD DIVISION. Brig. Gen. PHILIP II. SHERiDAN. First Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gen. JOSHUA W. SILL.* (2.) Col. NICHOLAS GREUSEL. Staff 36th Illinois 88th Bhinois 21st Michigan 24th Wisconsin. - - Indiana Light Artillery, 4th Battery Total First Brigade Second Brigade. (1.) Col. FREDERICK SCHAEFER.~ (2.) Lient. Col. BERNARD LAIHOLDT. Staff 44th Illinois 73d Illinois 2d Mlssonrl 15th Missouri 1st Missouri Light Artillery, Battery G. Total Second Brigade Third Brigade. (1.) Col. GEORGE W. ROHERTS.* (2.) Col. LUTHER P. BRADLEY. Staff 22d Illinois 27th Illinois 42d Illinois 51st Illinois 1st Illinois Light Artillery, Battery C Total Third Brigade Total Third Division Total Right Wing CENTER. Maj. GaD. GEORGE H. THOMAS. Staff and escort 10 242 35 972 17 1,284 2,560 1 1 2 1 45 7 144 213 212 1 13 2 48 48 112 18 7 82 36 143 19 2 55 98 174 6 17 3 26 3 101 19 346 2 198 669 1 1 1 28 5 104 17 155 1 15 3 61 1 7 88 7 40 1 14 62 3 9 4 51 5 72 1 5 13 1 20 7 64 12 269 2 44 398 1 1 21 7 109 2 54 193 1 8 2 67 25 103 1 18 96 1 45 161 1 6 4 37 9 57 5 2 19 25 51 4 58 15 328 3 158 566 14 223 46 943 7 400 1, 633 35 641 121 1,700 20 2,084 5,607 1 1 2 Killed December 31. 14 H RVOL XX, PT I CHAP. XXXII.] 209 W~undcd. Captured 01 IiiiSsiu,~. a a 12 ~ 0 0 a 45 18 232 a ii 112 ii 124 23 512 3 1 12 61 1 208 1 Page 210 KY., MID. AND E. TENI~., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL Return of casualties in the Union forces, 4~c.-~-Continned. ]{med. Command. I 0 a a Wounded. Captured or missing. a 0 a a a a 0 FIRST DIVISION. Maj. Gcn. LOVELL II. ROUSSEAU. 1 1 First Brigade. Col. BENJA~IIN F. SCRInNER. Staff 38th Indiana 2d Ohio 33d Ohio Ottli Ohio: 10th Wisconsin Total First Brigade Second Brigade. Col. JOHN BEATTY. 42d Indiana 88th Indiana 15th Kentucky 3d Ohio 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery A Total Second Brigade Third Brigade. Col. JOHN C. STARKWEATHEE. 24th flhinois - 79th Pennsylvania - - - - 1st Wisconsin 21st Kentucky Light Artillery, Battery A. Total Third Brigade Fourth Brigade. Lient. Col. OLiVER L. SHEPHERD. 15th United States, 1st Battalion 16th United States, 1st Battalion, and Company B, 2d Battalion. - 18th United States, 1st Battalion, and Companies A and D, 3d Battalion. 18th United States, 2d Battalion, and Companies B, C, E, and F, 3d Battalion. 19th United States; isi Battalion 5th United States Artillery, Battery H. Total Fourth Bri~ade tJavatry. 2d Kentucky (six companies) Total First Division SECOND DIVISION. Brig. Gen. JAMES S. NEGLEY. First Brigade. Brig. Gen. JAMES G. SPEARS. 1st Tennessee 2d Tennessee 1 1 2 1 13 3 91 4 112 2 9 3 31 7 52 2 21 11 34 3 2 21 28 54 3 1 15 6 25 3 30 10 179 1 56 279 - 17 6 75 2 32 132 8 4 47 19 78 2 8 1 31 1 17 60 17 1 65 23 106 1 10 2 13 2 51 12 228 3 93 389 == 4...... 52 56 1 9 6 16 1 11 16 28 1 1 4 37 43 1 2 3 2 2 29 113 146 1 10 4 74 17 106 16 7 126 16 165 1 28 6 115 2 152 1 30 5 98 5 139 1 6 57 10 74 - 5 5 4 90 22 475 50 641 3. 3 9 173 47 915 4 312 1,460 3 16 1 6 19 7 210 Staff and escor Page 211 THE STONES R1V~R CAMPAIGN. Return of casualties in the Union forces. 4~c.Continued. Killed. Wounded. Captured or missing. Q a Command. . ~ a ~ a ~ a a w a ~ 0 ~ ,~ ~ ,~ ~ ,~ en 0 r~ 0 0 ~ First BrigadeContinued. 6th Tennessee* 85th Illinois * 14th Michigan: ~Visconsin Light Artillery, 10th Battery* Total First Brigade & eend Brigade. Col. TIMOTHY K. STANLEY. 39th Illinois 11th Michigan ihh Ohio 69th Ohio - 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery M Total Second Brigade . Third Brigade. CoL JOHN F. MILLER. Staff and escort 37th Indiana 21st Ohio 74th Ohio. 78th Pennsylvania Kentucky Light Artillery, Battery B 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery 0-. Total Third Brigade Total Second Division THIRD DIVISION. First Brigade. Col. MOSES B. WALKER. 82d Indiana 17th Ohio 31st Ohio. 38th Ohio ... 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery D* Total First Brigade Total Third Division Total Center LEFT WING. Maj. Gen. THOMAS L. CRITTENDEN. Staff FIRST DIVISION. (1.) Brig. Gen. THOMAS J. WoOD.t (2.) Brig. Gen. MILO S. HASCALL. Staff -- 2 5 5 1 27. 33 1 13 8 75 ii 108 2 28 6 78 25 139 1 25 8 107 26 167 1 4 6 47 38 96 1 1 1 3 5 71 29 307 101 513 1 3 4 2 25 5 110 8 150 24 5 104 26 159 8 6 92 19 125 15 3 130 39 188 1 1 2 2 6 4 9 3 16 3 77 21 450 97 648 8 153 51 784 198 1,194 5 5 1 4 5 6 6 1 5 6 ~ 20 ~ .~J 22 2 20 22 17 327 101 1,719 4 510 2,678 1 1 1 I No 1os~ reported, t Wounded December 31. CHAP. XXXII.] 21 Page 212 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII Return of casualties in the Union forces, ~-c.Continued. Killed. Wounded. Captured or missing. a a a Command. S S S ~u ~ ~u a ci2 a a a a ,~ +~ a a a a a C~2 5~ 0 0 . 0 .5 ~ .5 ~ C O P~ 0 ~ 0 [~ First Brigade. (1.) Brig. Gexi. MILO S. ITASCALL. (2.) CoL GEORGE P. BUELL. 100th Illinois 58th Indiana . 3d Kentucky 26th Ohio indiana Light Artillery, 8th Battery Total First Brigade Second Brigade. CoL GEORGE D. WAGNER. 15th Indiana 40th Indiana 57th Indiana 97th Ohio Indiana Light Artillery, 10th Battery Total Second Brigade Third Brigade. Col. CHARLES G. ITARKER. 51st Indiana . 73d Indiana 11th Michigan 64th Ohio 65th Ohio Ohio Light Artillery, 6th Battery Total Third Brigade Total First Division SECOND DIVISION. Brig. Gen. JOHN M. PALMER. Staff First Brigade. Brig. Gen. CHARLES CRUFT. 31st Indiana 1st Kentucky; 2d Kentucky 90th Ohio Total First Brigade. - - - 1 1 2 1 5 6 16 12 11 45 6 4 8 2 20 33 93 77 85 8 34 296 34 46 114 133 99 8 400 2 30 7 136 7 188 4 5 63 13 85 11 6 55 6 78 3 15 6 24 1: 4 5 2 55 18 273 32 380 7 2 32 9 50 .2 22 3 48 36 111 17 2 70 89 1 23 3 61 17 105 2 33 8 92 38 173 1 1 8 1 11 5 103 19 311 101 539 12 203 58 880 167 1,320 1 1 ~ 1 44 3 34 87 13 1 51 1 30 96 9 2 56 10 77 17 5 67 2 46 137 44 9 218 6 120 397 Second Brigade. CoL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. Staff and escort 110th Illinois 9th Indiana 6th Kentucky 41st Ohio Cotal Second Brigade 5 212 1 1 2 1 6 10 11 13 40 4 3 5 5 2 19 1 46 1 2 82 11 85 10 102 6 316~ 5 58 109 113 124 40 Page 213 THE STONES RIVER. CAMPAIGN~ Return of casualties in the Union forces, 4c.Continued. Wounded. Captured Killed, or missing. Command. a a U U A ,~ ~L a~ -~ a a ,, a si ~ ~i2 P~ ~ .- a a 11 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ o r~i ~ Third Brigade. Col. WILLIAM GEOSE. 84th Illinois 36th Indiana -. 23d Kentucky - 6th Ohio 24th Ohio Total Third Brigade Artiflery. 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery B let Ohio Light Artillery, Battery F 4th U. S. Artillery, Batteries Hand MI Total artillery Total Second Division THIRD DIVISION. (1.) Brig. Gen. HORATIO P. VAN CLEVE.5 (2.) CoL SAMUEL BRATTY. Staff First Brigade. (1.) CoL SAMUEL BRATTY. (2.) CoL BENJAMIN C. GanDER. 79th Indiana 9th Kentucky 11th Kentucky 19th Ohio Total First Brigade 2 2 2 4 33 23 8 23 10 5 6 3 4 4 119 85 50 134 68 8 18 22 14 12 167 134 83 177 98 10 97 22 456 74 659 5 12 3 20 2 1 13 2 18 2 14 6 22 9 1 39 11 60 15 190 52 1,029 6 234 1., 526 1. 1 10 6 68 36 121 4 18 7 80 3 112 7 4 81 10 102 3 24 3 122 34 186 8 59 20 351 83 521 Second Brigade. CoL JAMES P. FYFFE. Staff 44th Indiana 86th Indiana 11th Ohio 591k Ohio Total Second Bri~,ade Third Brigade. CoL SAMUEL W. PRICE. 5th Indiana 8th Kentucky..... - 21st Kentucky 51st Ohio 99th Ohio Total Third Brigade 1 2 10 33 29 3 1 2 5 6 2 54 55 79 35 2 99 69 43 1 91 195 185 85 3 75 16 223 4 236 557 22 5 77 33 137 2 7 6 69 27 lii 2 10 2 34 9 57 24 4 118 44 190 12~ 5 41 1 29 88 4 75 22 339 1 142 183 C Wounded December ~1, CHAP. XXIII.] 21 Page 214 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., ~. ALA., AND SW. YA. [CHAP. XXXII Return of casualties in the Union forces, 4-c.Continued. liffied. Wounded. Captured or missing. Command. a a a S S S .~ 05 ~ ni . ~ cS ~ ~, a ~ a a a ~. +~ a o .i a ~,, p~ 0 ~ ~5 5 5 15. o ~ 0 r~ 0 ~ -~ Artillery. Capt. GEORGN R. SWALLOW. Indiana Light Artillery, 7th Battery PennsylvaniaLight Artillery, Battery B (Twenty-sixth) -. Wisconsin Light Artillery, 3d Battery Total artillery Total Third Division Total Left Wing CAVALRY. Brig. Gen. DAVID S. STANLEY. CAVALRY DIVISION. Col. JoHN KENNETY. First )3rigctcte. Col. ROBERT 11. G. MINTY. 2d Indiana, Company M 3d Kentocky 4th Michigan. - -. - - - 7th Pennsylvania Total First Brigade Second Brigade. 4 2 1 7 32 7 9 4 4 6 1 18 25 15 215 60 931 5 401 1,687 42 608 171 2,840 11 862 4,514 1 1 13 15 1 1 7 1 10 1 1 6 12 20 2 9 50 61 5 2 22 1 76 106 3 2 1 10 1 14 31 6 15 13 34 7 18 31 56 3 15 1 43 1 58 121 1....~. 1 3 21 3 65 2 334 228 1 8 1 8 53 71 1 5 1 8 15 1 2 10 5 18 2 10 2 23 1 66 104 3 1 9 12 25 5 34 6 97 3 212 357 Ool. LEwIs ZARM. 1st Ohio, - - - - - - 3d Ohio 4th Ohio Total Second,Brigade Artillery. 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery D (section) Total Cavalry Division Reserve tJava~ry.0 15th Pennsylvania 1st Middle (5th) Tennessee 2d Tennessee. Total Reserve Cavalry Unattached. 4th United States - - Total Cavalry PIONEER BRIGADE. Capt JAMES Sr. C. MORTON. srBattalion 4 3 5 2d Battalion I 4 5 * Under the immediate command of General Stan]ey, chief of cavalry. 12 9 21 Page 215 215 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Return of casualties in the Union forces, 4~c.Continued. Command. PIONEER ~RIGADEC0fltIflfled. 3d Battalion-. - Illinois Light Artillery, Stokes battery Total Pioneer Brigade 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Total Engineers and Mechanics Killed. Wounded. I ______ a S - a a ~ C 4 15 10 9 Captured or missing. S a o ~12 o ~ 4j 29 14 13 48 2. 9~ .5 16 2 9 5 16 RECAPITULATION. General headquarters 1 Right Wing Left Wing 42 Center 17 Cavalry Pioneer Brig de Engir.eers and Mechanics Grand total 100 3 2 3 9 641 121 2,700 262,084 5,607 608 171 2, 840 11 862 4, 534 327 101 1, 719 4 510 2, 678 34 6 97 3 212 357 16 15 29 ::::z~~s 48 1, 630 405 7, 397 44 3, 673 l13~ 249 OFFICERS KILLED. Brig. Gen. Joshua W. Sill. Licut. Col. Julius P. Garesch6, assistant adjutant-general. ILLINOIS. Capt. Knowlton H. Chandler, 19th In- Capt. Andrew J. Hosmer, 44th Infantry. fantry. Lient. John S. Keith, 51st Infantry. Licut. Joseph C. Alvord, 21st luf ntry. Capt. Edwin Alsop, 73d Infantry. Lieut. Emanuel M. Weigle, 21st Infantry. Lient. Col. Sheridan P. Read, 79th In- Col. Thomas D. Williams, 25th Infantry. fantry. Col. Fazilo A. Harrington, 27th Infantry. Lient. Luther T. Ball, 84th Infantry. Capt. Mabry G. Greenwood, 34th In- Lieut. Henry E. Abererombie, 84th In- fantry. fantry. Licut. John M. Smith, 34th Infantry. Lient. Thomas F. W. Gullich, 88th In- Lient. Soren L. Olson, 36th Infantry. fantry. Capt. James P. Mend, 38th Infantry. Capt. Henry S. Willett, 89th Infantry. Lieut. John L. Dillon, 38th Infantry. Lient. Morris Worthin sham, 100th In- Col. George W. Roberts (commanding bri- fantry. gade), 42d Infantry. Lient. Jesse G, Payne, 110th Infantry. Lient. Julius Lettman, 42d Infantry. INDIANA. Lient. Henry Kessler, 9th Infantry. Capt. James E. Fonts, 38th Infantry. Capt. Robert J. Templeton, 15th Infantry. Lient. Francis B. Blackford, 58th In- Capt. Joel W. Foster, 15th Infantry. fautry. Capt. Frank Stebbins, 29th Infantry. Capt. Miles H. Tibbits, 73c1 Infantry. Licut. Edwin B. Stribley, 30th Infantry. Capt. Peter Doyle, 73d Infantry. Capt. Abram D. Shultz, 36th Infantry. Lient. Benjamin T. Poynter, 79th In- Capt. James H. King, 36th Infantry. fantry. Lient. Isaac N. Abernethy, 37th Infantry. Lient. William M. Morgan, 81st Infai4ry. Lient, Jesse B. Holman, 37th Infantry, Licut, George W, smith, 86th Infantry, CHAP. XXXII. Page 216 216 KY., MID. AND IL VENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. KENTUCKY. Capt. Miller II. MeCulloch, 2d Cavalry. Col. Samuel McKee, 3d Infantry. Lient. M~tthew Cullen, 3d Infantry. Capt. Alexander B. Ferguson, 5th In- fantry. Lient. Col. George T. Cotton, 6th Infantry. Capt. Charles S. Todd, 6th Infantry. Capt. Robert B. Hickman, 8th Infantry. Capt. John B. Banton, 8th Infantry. Capt. William T. Bryan, 9th Infantry. Capt. Demetrius B. Coyle, 9th Infantry. Licut. Al0ernon S. Leggett, 9th Infantry. Lient. Frederick F. Carpenter, 9th In- fantry. CoL James B. Forinan, 15th Infantry. Capt. Aaron S. Bayne, 15th Infantry. Lieut. Sebastian Stone, 21st Infantry. Lient. John H. Bevill, 21st infantry. MICHIGAN. Lieut. Joseph Wilson, 11th Infantry. Lieut. Thomas Flynn, 11th Infantry. MISSOURI. Lient. R. C. M. Taliaferro, Battery G, 1st Light Artillery. Col. Frederick Schaefer (commanding bri- gade), 2d Infantry. Capt. Melchoir Zimmerman, 15th In- fantry. Lieut. Christian Quintzius, 15th Infantry. Lieut. Charles Kelluer, 15th Infantry. OHIO. Col. Minor Milliken, 1st Cavalry. Maj. David A. B. Moore, 1st Cavalry. Lient. Timothy L. Condit, 1st Cavalry. Col. John Kell, 2d Infantry. Lieut. Richard S. Chambers, 2d Infantry. Lieut. Albert G. Williams, 6th Infantry. Lient. Charles H. Foster, 6th Infantry. Col. Joseph G. Hawkins, 13th Infantry. Lieut. James C. Whitaker, 13th Infantry. Lient. William W. Blacker, 18th Infantry. Capt. Urwin Bean, 19th Infantry. Licut. Daniel Donovan, 19th Infantry. Lieut. Job D. Bell, 19th Infantry. Col. Frederick C. Jones, 24th Infantry~ Maj. Henry Terry, 24th Infantry. Capt. Enoch Weller, 24th Infantry. Lient. Charles R. Harman, 24th Infantis. Lieut. David McClelland, 26th Infantry. Lient. Calvin C. Hart, 41st Infantry. Lient. Col. Levi. Drake; 49th Infantry. Capt. Amos Keller, 49th Infantry. Capt. Joseph B. Sweet, 64th Infantry. Capt. Jacob Christophel, 65th Infantry. Lient. Dolsen Van Kirk, 65th Infantry. Capt. Leonard Counseller, 69th Infantry. Licut. John B. Biddle 101st Infantry. rENNSYLVANIA. Maj. A. G. Rosengarten, 15th Cavalry. Lieut. M. J. Halstead, 78th Infantry. Lieut. Col. Peter B. Housum, 77th In- fantry. TENNESSEE. Capt. James H. Morris, 2d Cavalry. WISCONSIN. Capt. Stephen J. Carpenter, 8th Battery. Capt. John Ingmundson, 15th Infantry. Lieut. Col. David McKee, 15th Infantry. REGULARS. Capt. Jacob B. Bell, 15th Infantry. Lient. John F. Hitchcock, 18th Infantry. Capt. Charles L. Kneass, 18th Infantry. I Mnj. Stephen D. Carpenter, 19th Infantry. OFFI0ERS MORTALLY WO?INDED. ILLINOIS. Col. Joseph R. Scott, 19th Infantry. Licut. Peter N. Scott, 38th Infantry. Lieut. Wellington Wood, 19th Infantry. Capt. Ernst Moldenhawer, 44th Infantry Lient. John H. Hunter, 19th Infantry. Lient. Silas L. Parker, 44th Infantry. Lient. Cyrus M. Galloway, 22d Infantry. Capt. Moses W. Davis, 84th Infantry. Lient. Daniel Riley, 34th Infantry. Lieut. Charles F. Mitchell, 100th Infantry, Lient, Humphrey M. McConnell, 35th In- fantry Page 217 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. INDIANA. Lieut. Frank W. Buckmar, 7th Battery. Capt. Isaac M. Pettit, 9th Infantry. Lient. James W~ickins, 31st Infantry. Capt. Frank Baggot, 35th Infantry. Capt. Henry Prosser, 35th Infantry. Lient. William Kilroy, 35th Infantry. Lient. Thomas S. W. Hawkins, 38th In- fantry. Lient. Moses M. Neal, 39th Infantry. Lieut. Samuel Wilde, 81st Infantry. Lient. John G. Goheen, 88th Infantry. KENTUCKY. Lient. Daniel Severance, 3d Infantry. Lient. Frank Dissell, 5th Infantry. Capt. Landon C. Minter, 8th Infantry. Lient. Wade B. Cox, 8th Infantry. Lient. L. Frank Todd, 15th Infantry. MICHIGAN. Capt. Clement C. Webb, 13th Infantry. 1 Capt. Leonard 0. Fitzgerald, 21st In- I fantry. MISSOURI. Lient. Martin Schroeder, 15th Infantry. OHIO. Lieut. Lafayette Van Horn, 2d Infantry. Capt. Henry MeAlpin, 6th Infantry. Lient. John Murphy, 13th Infantry. Lient. John Fox, 13th Infantry. Capt. George StAyers, 18th Infantry. Capt. Philip E. Taylor, 18th Infantry. Capt. Ashbel Fenton, 18th Infantry. Lient. Enoch B. Wiley; 21st Infantry. Lient. Lester T. Patchin, 41st Infantry. Lient. Aaron H. Keller, 49th Infantry. Capt. Benjamin F. Heskett, 51st Infantry. Lient. William H. Massey, 65th Infantry. Lient. Joseph W. Boynton, 69th Infantry. Capt. David Steel, 94th Infantry. Capt. William C. Scott, 99th Infantry. Capt. Oliver P. Capell, 99th Inthntry. Lient. William S. Kishler, 99t1 Infantry. Col. Leander Stem, 101st Infantry. Lieut. Col. Moses F. Wooster, 101st In- fantry, Lieut. Asa R. Hillyer, 101st Infantry. PENNSYLVANIA. Maj. Frank B. Ward, 15th Cavalry. I Capt. William S. Jack, 78th Infantry. TENNESSEE. Capt. John L. Sneed, 2d Infantry. WISCONSIN. Capt. Oscar F. Pinney, 5th Battery. Licut. Christian Nix, 24th Infantry. Lient. George Bleyer, 24th Infantry. REGULARS. Capt. William W. Wise, 15th Infantry. Lieut. James Simons, 18th Infantry. Capt. Charles E. Dennlson, 18th Infantry. I Lieut. Joseph McConnell, 18th Infantry. No. 4. Report of & trg. lilbenezer Swift, U. S. Army, Medical Director. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 25, 1863. COLONEL: Herewith I have the honor to transmit a brief report of the transactiolls of the medical department of the Army of the Cumber CHAP. XXXII.] 21 Page 218 218 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., A~D SW. VA. ECHAP. XXXII. land, together with the reports of the medical directors of the right, left, and center: On the morning of December 26 last, pursuant to orders from the commanding general, the army moved forward from camp, near Kash- yule, toward Murfreesborough, the right on the Kolensville and the center on the Franklin pikes, while the left advanced direct on the Mur. freesborough road. Soon after Major-General McCook, in command of the right wing, left his camp on Mill Creek, he encountered the cavalry of the enemy and skirmished with them till he reached Kolensville. About a mile in advance of this place the enemy made a determined stand, with a battery in position, but was soon routed, with a loss of one of his guns and several prisoners. We had 3 men killed and 7 wounded in Davis division. The heavy rain of the morning had subsided, and now the country was enveloped in a fog or mist. The same day Major-General Thomas, in command of the center, moved across the country from the Franklin to the Kolensville pike; sent aid to General Davis, who, he learned, was cngaged, and on the following day marched to Stewartsville, on the Murfreesborongh pike. He remained here till the morning of the 29th, when he advanced to the support of the left wing, which had preceded him, and was now near Murfreesborough. On the 30th, General Kegleys division, of this portion of the army, joined with Sheridan, who occupied the left of General McCooks com- mand, which had moved~ up from Nolensville on the Wilkinson pike and now occupied a position nearly parallel with the enemy, the left resting on the Wilkinson pike and the right extel4ding southwesterly in a line in a direction with the river. In this movement of the right from near Kolensville, General Stanley, in command of a division of cavalry in advance, encountered the enemy in considerable force, and drove him beyond Triune. The cavalry lost 1 killed and 5 wounded, and in another affair the much-lamented Major Rosengarten was killed and Major Ward mortally wounded. Of the Anderson Cavalry, 6 pri- vates were also wounded. These were taken with the command in ambulances, and placed in hospital at the cross-roads. Major-General Crittenden, in command of the left wing, while advanc- ing along the Murfreesborough pike, met the enemy on the 27th at La Vergue and put him to flight. In this engagement we lost 2 killed and 32 wounded. These latter were left in hospital at La Vergue, in charge of medical officers, and were subsequently removed to Nashville. On the 29th, this grand division of the army moved into position on the extreme left, with General Palmer on the right, resting on the Mur- freesborough pike and joining Kegley, of the center, and General Wood occupying the ground from Palmer to the river, General Van Cleve in reserve of this, and General Rousseau in rear of the center. General IRosecrans, with his entire staff advanced from Nashville on the Murfreesborough pike, and, having reached the head of the column, turned off to the right over a heavy mud road, visited General McCooks command, and returned to his camp, in the rear of La Vergue, about 4 oclock the following morning. Here he remained, contemplating the movements of the enemy, till the following day, when he moved on to Stewartsville. The next day (the 29th), late in the evening, he visited General Crittendens headquarters, and remained in consultation all night with the chief officers of his command. On the following morning, one of our batteries, in position a little to the left and in advance of the general, opened fire upon a battery o Page 219 CHAP. XXXIur.] THE STONE~S RIVER CAMPAIGN. 219 the enemy still more to the left and on elevated ground, which, reply- ing, killed one of the escort, Private Dolan, of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, and wounded the adjutant of the Fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteers in the shoulder. At the same time a private of an infantry regiment not engaged waskilled. The general and his staff now fell back 300 or 400 yards to thesloping ground on the left of the road, where he remained all day. About 11 oclock the heavy picket firing on our left ceased, and opened generally along our right, where General McCook was being engaged. The enemy was strongly intrenched behind earthworks, ex- tending from the river on our extreme left across our front in almost a direct line; then, far along our right, but receding from the Wilkinson to the Franklin pike, through heavy timber. The left wing lost to-day 3 killed and 18 wounded; the center 14 killed and 53 wounded, and the right wing 24 killed and 105 wounded. Field hospitals were established for the left and center in houses and tents along the Nashville pike, and for the right wing in the same manner on the Wilkinson pike and neighborhood. Before leaving Nashville I had approved of full and complete requi- sitions, at the suggestion of Surgeon Murray, U. S. Army, my prede- cessor, for the three grand divisions of the army. I had also, in reserve, tents, bedding, & c., for a field hospital for more than 2,500 men, which I ordered up from the rear on the 29th, as soon as I learned the enemy had made a stand near Murfreesborough. At the same time I ordered forward 20 ambulancesall that we had on hand at Nashville. Sur- geons were detailed to perform operations, when decided ot~ sifter con- sultation, for dressing, and such other duties as the reception and dis- position of the wounded and circumstances ~required. Early on the morniug of the 31st, the enemy, during the night having massed a heavy force on our right, fiercely attacked Johnsons and Davis divisions, which he forced back; and Sheridans, being heavily pressed, was obliged to recede. The hospitals, wounded, and nearly all the medi- cal supplies of this wing of the army thus fell into the hands of the enemy. We were also called on to lament in sadness the loss of General Sill, and many noble and brave officers and men. About 9 oclock the commanding general, with his staff, dashed boldly forward to the front of the left wing, and in person directed the movements of troops and placed batteries in position. His daring presence so near the enemy~s line brought down upon him an angry and spiteful fire of musketry, round shot, and shell, almost at point- blank range. But utterly disregarding this metallic storm, our brave commander moved calmly on from left to right, cheering and inspiring our faltering troops; and throughout the day, wherever the tide of battle most fiercely raged, General Rosecrans bore his charmed life and ubiqui- tous presence. The noble Gareschd was killed by his side, and his aides, Lieutenant Kirby severely, and Lieutenant Porter slightly, wounded. Sergeant Richmond and 4 privates of his escort were also killed or wounded, the former mortally. Much the heaviest loss sustained to-day fell upon our regular battal- ions, brigaded under command of Lient. Col. 0. L. Shepherd, in hold- ing the cedar brake, on the right of the center, against the columns of the enemy sweeping down upon them, after having forced back our en- tire right wing. This loss amounted to 561 killed and wounded, more than one-third of their numbers; in fact, I might probably better say nearly one-half Page 220 220 RY., MID. ANP K PENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (OHAP. XX~fl. Our casualties in killed and wounded did not fall short of 4,000 men, including about 1,500 of the right wing, 1,200 of whom, wounded, fell into the hands of the enemy. The ambulance corps, though temporarily organized, worked admira- bly. As soon as the fire of the enemy slacked at any point along our lines and became only desultory, the ambulances dashed in at a brisk trot, and snatched our wounded from their picket lines. Injustice, I shoul4 add, the enemy did not fire on these brave men when they knew their humane mission, friend and foe, no longer combatants, being equally the objects of their care. In the early part ~of the day, Dr. Weeds, assistant medical director, went to the rear to take charge of the property pertaining to the field hospitals, and placed it in proper position. About 10 oclock Surgeon McDermont, medical director of the right wing, reported to me that his hospitals and wounded, hospital supplies and medical officers, had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and asked for instructions. I directed him to a cedar brake on the left of the road, half a mile to the rear, where I instructed him to make a temporary field hospital, constructing the shed, roof, and beds for the wounded from cedar boughs, to make his requisition on Dr. Weeds for supplies, and report to me when he could receive the wounded. Visiting his place an hour later, I found it unten- ble, or, at least, unsafe, on account of round shot and shell from the ene- my occasionally falling upon it. I then directed Surgeon McDermont to find suitable buildings on the pike to the rear. It became necessary, in order to accommodate so many wounded, to make use of tents, and my field hospitals having arrived, I was enabled to afford comfortable shelter for all. In the mean time my attention was drawn to a large number of wagons, ambulances, caissons, & c., moving from different points to the river, more to the left. I soon learned they had come in disorder from the right, and were looking for. safety, over an uneven rocky ford, on the opposite river bank. This Babel-like confusion was somewhat augmented by the approach of the enemy, who now charged upon this flank. They were, however, driven back before much property had been destroyed. I had succeeded in, drawing out many of the ambulances before crossing the ford. Three were reported to me as having been taken by the enemy and burned. The remainder subsequently did good service. During the day the enemy~s cavalry made a descent upon our hospi- tals, on the Nashville pike; but, beyond some confusion and embarrass- ment, they did little harm. Our own cavalry, commanded by Captain Otis, speedily drove them away, and recaptured all we had lost. During the night I visited the hospitals within our lines along the pike and off of it, to the rear, and was gratified to find the wounded well provided and attended. At daylight, surgeons, nurses, and attend- ants were busily engaged in the labor they had begun the morning before. As the fighting on January 1 was confined to brisk skirmishing, and but few casualties resulted therefrom, we were able to complete our organization, and finish the heavy work so suddenly thrown upon our hands the day before. Many of the slightly wounded, and those who were able to ride in empty wagons and walk, I ordered to Nashville, 25 miles to the rear. After a brisk engagement the following morning, without any marked results, the day passed much as the preceding, till 5 oclock, when the enemy came down with an overwhelming force upon our left flank, driving, for a while, everything before him; but, emerging from t~ Page 221 CHAP. XXXII.1 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 221 heavy timber upon the open ground, he was met by terrific volleys of grape, yound shot, and shell from fifty-two pieces of artillery, placed in position by Captain Mendenhall,on the opposite river bank. The enemy faltered, then 4ell back, and soon this living mass was in full retreat. Our loss, not exceeding 500 men, was comparatively small, his being estimated at nearly three times that number. Then, as on other occasions, the ambulance CO~l)5 behaved well. It was dark when the battle ceased, but while occasionally only shot fell from the baffled foe, our wounded were on the road, and less than an hour later they were all comfortably provided for in the rear. Lieu- tenant , who had charge of this branch of the medical service, deserves favorable mention for his zeal and industry; for though he could not share, from indisposition, the more bold and daring occupa- tion of his brave comrades, he contributed much to the comfort of the wounded. Saturday morning found our army bivouacked in mud, drenched with rain, without shelter, and almost without food, but still hopeful and cheerful. None were sickfew complaining. Our heavy lines of pickets on all sides were all day engaged, and at night General Rousseaus divis- ion stormed their rifi~-pits in front, carried and held them. Our loss in this affair and throughout the day was not large. This proved to be our last encounter with the enemy. On the following day we were engaged in the mournful task of bury- ing our lamented dead. I visited the hospitals on the Wilkinson pike and neighborhood, now again within our lines, and found the wounded generally well cared for. Surgeon Marlis and other medical officers, as also the attendants, left in these hospitals by direction of Surgeon Mc- Dermot, medical director of the right wing, I am happy to state, with but few exceptions, did their duty faithfully and well. Their labors were great and harassing, and not unattended with danger. On the 31st, when the ground was fiercely contested, and only yielded to an overwhelming force, some buildings were pierced by round shot and musketry, wounding attendants in the earnest discharge of their duty. During the battle of Wednesday a portion of Negleys division, of the center, fell into the hands of the enemy. These have been reported to me as having received the same care and attention as their own wounded by the medical officers of their army. In fact, they have said to me they had been well treated, and had no reason to complain. Surgeons Bogue, Johnson, Brelsford, and Wright are highly com- mended for their gallantry in maintaining their position with their wounded comrades when the hospitals of this portion of the army came within the enemys lines. In strong contrast with these, and many other brave, devoted, and self-sacrificing men, it becomes my painful duty to say that V. D. Miller, assist4nt surgeon, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, is reported to me by the medical director of his corps as having basely deserted his post. Surgeon Phelps, medical director of the left wing, is entitled to the highest praise for his zeal and untiring industry in the establishment of the largest field hospital in the rear; for professional skill and devoted attention to the wants of the wounded. Surgeon Blair also deserves credit for the comfortable provision made for those intrusted to his care, in tents, and shelters made of tent-flys. The wounded here, as else- where under canvas, did well, and most clearly established, in the opin- ion of all, the advantages derived from free ventilation thus afforde Page 222 222 KY., MID. AND E.JENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXIL over hospitals in ordinary dwellings of wood or brick, notwithstanding a liberal Provision of windows and doors. J am gratified to say my conservative views were generally adopted, and that amputations were seldom performed without consultation. Many exsections were made, which are doing well, and some cases were treated as compound fractures with marked success. Surgeon Muscroft, medical director of General Rousseaus division established a hospital in the rear, and accommodated comfortably a large number of wounded. Many of the serious cases are in an ad- vanced state of recovery. His zeal, skill, and industry are commend- able; also Surgeons James, medical director of the cavalry division, and Comfort, of the Anderson Troop, did faithful service. Assistant Surgeon Failer has been assiduous in his attentions to sick and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Northcott, unable longer to bear the fatigue and exposure incident to duty in the lines, on account of ill-health, aided me greatly in organizing parties of stragglers, with whom he policed camps, and procured wood, water, and straw. Captain Munger, with his company, was detailed to guard property and enforce discipline in and about the field hospitals, and Captain Stackpole, to provide and issue subsistence stores as required. These gentlemen did their duties well, and gave universal satisfaction. The duties of these officers, like those of the medical department, though not of the brilliant nature of their more fortunate comrades in front, were essential to the comfort of the brave wounded, and deserve well of their commanding general and country. 1 must crave your indulgence for again mentioning the ambulance corps and Lieutenant The service performed was highly creditable. The drivers and assist- antsamong the former of whom I desire to mention F. M. Figett, private, Company M, Twenty-first Kentucky Volunteerswere kind~, prompt, and zealous in the discharge of their duty. This service was often necessarily continued into the night and near the enemys lines; yet these brave men, unarmed, nutiring, and unflinching, in the face of danger, gathered their bleeding comrades from under the guns of the enemy and bore them to the rear. My orderly, Private Barrett, Fourth U. S. Cavalry, deserves credita- ble mention for his unceasing devotion to duty, and the prompt manner in which he conveyed my directions on the field. My clerk, William Domer, private in the Anderson Troop, who, I am gratified to know, has been highly recommended for a commission, also served faithfully and assiduously at the hospitals in the rear. The commissary and quartermasters departments are entitled to our thanks for timely and efficient aid in furnishing supplies and transpor- tation, and in the preparation of hospitals for the reception of sick and wounded here and at Nashville. My thanks are also due to my assist- ants, Dr.Weeds and Surgeon Phelps, whom I have previously mentioned, for their prompt and efficient co-operation, and for valuable suggestions conducive to the comfort and best treatment of the wounded~ to ~Sur- geon Thurston, assistant medical director at Nashville, also, forhis zeal, energy, and rare professional abilities displayed in providing for the wounded sent him from the battle-field. Surgeons McDermot and Beebe were untiring in their labors, and afforded me valuable aid. Their observations on treatment of wounded, & c., as shown in their re- ports, herewith appended, should receive atteiition Page 223 OnAr. XXXiII.J THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 223 From the difficulty of individualizing, where so many are distin- guished, I have mentioned but few officers as deserving of commenda- tion for faitl~Ji~ul and conscientious attention to duty. I am sorry to say, however, that there are those whose conduct has been bad, whose names at an early day will be forwarded to the commanding general for his action. Among these are two officers, who left the field to look for hospitals beyond Stewarts Creek, and did not soon return, reported to me by Colonel Burke, Tenth Ohio Volunteers. Under the present standard of professional ability among subordinate medical officers, too much stress cannot, in my opinion, be laid upon the importance of securing supervisory talent of the highest order. The rank now common to corps medical directors is most inadequate to the responsibility, extent of authority, and respect attaching to such a posi. tion, while the pay and emoluments pertaining thereto are a poor induce- ment to skillful practitioners to abandon a lucrative practice at home for the drudgery, exposure, and, at best, brief honors of service with troops in the field. While the medical officers now acting in this capac- ity are comparatively the best fitted therefor among those open to selec- tion, I am of opinion that the standard of professional administrative capacity of such officers should be elevated, and that increase of rank (it may be local), of pay and emoluments to medical directors will insure the availability to the department of a much higher order of talent than is at present accessible. It appears to me that the liberality of the Government and the people, which grants such liberal donations of money and supplies fo~ sanitary purposes, might be most advantageously applied to securing more valu- able personal attentions to the objects of these laudable efforts. I append hereto a complete return of the killed and wounded of the various subdivisions of the army, with a tabular statement of the loca- tion and nature of the wounds. Very respectfully, EBEN. SWIFT, Surgeon, U. S. Army, illfedicat Director, Department of the Gumberland Tabular atatetnent 8h0 wzng the location of 3,102 tcound8 received in the Army of the Cumber- land during the late battle of Stone8 River. Location of wound. No. Location of wonnd. No. head and face 282 Abdomen 52 Breast 134 Groin 11 ~ihonlder 259 rnp 155 Arm 347 Side 100 Forearm 21 Thigh 432 Elbow 16 Leg 626 wrist 22 Knee 94 Rand 245 Ankle 45 Neck 59 Foot 141 Back 57 The remaining wounds are unknown or too slight in their nature to be mentioned. EBEX. SWIFT, Surgeon, U. 5. Army, Medical Director Page 224 224 KY., MID. AND B. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL General summary of casualties during the battle of Stones River.* . 8 8 0 Corps and detachments. ~ .~ ~2 n C C ~ a ~ a 0 ~ 0 ~ H Right Wing. - - 30 573. 100 2, 481 3, 184 Center .. 16 308 94 1,619 2,037 Left Wing. 42 527 180 2, 663 3, 412 Staff and escort of general commanding 1 3 2 3 9 Fourth U.S. Cavalry 3 1 8 12 Chicago Board of Trade Battery 3 1 5 9 Pioneer Brigade . 7 3 21 31 Cavalry Division 3 17 3 61 84 Total 92 1, 441 384 6, 861 8, 778 No. 5. Report of Ijeut. Got. Samuel Simmons, U. S. Army, Chief Commissary of Subsistence, of stores lost and captured. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, OFFICE CHIEF COMMISSARY OF SUBSISTENCE, ]Jlurfreesborough, February 14, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit herewith a statement of stores lost and picked up by the several commissaries of the center and left wing, commanded by Major-Generals Thomas and Crittenden, on the battle-field and between Stones River and Nashville, during the late action on Stones River. No report of stores lost in the right wing has been furnished me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SAMUEL SIMMONS, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Commissary of Subsistence. Lient. Col. C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. Statement of subsistence stores lost and taken up on and near the battle-field during the battle of Sto~zes River, about January 1, 1863. (Fourteenth Army Corps, First Division.Capt. J. R. Paul, commissary of subsist ence.) LOST. Fresh beef pounds. - 8, 700 Bacon . do. - -- 3,874 Flour barrels.. 39 Hard bread pounds. - 10, 123 Beans -- . bushels. - 61~ Rice pOunds. - 225 Roasted coffee do.... 891 Tea do.... 187 Sugar do.... 1,380 Adamantine candles do.... 320 Tallow candles do.... 120 ~ut see revised statement, p. 215 Page 225 CuAP. XXXII.] TIlE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 225 Soap .~ pounds~ 1,380 Molasses gallons. - 42 Mixed vegetables pounds. - 220 TAKEN UP Fresh beef pounds. - 4,500 Bacon do~. 29,873 Flour barrels - - Hard bread pounds. - 38, 382 Beans - bushels. - Rice pounds - 2, s37-,~ Roasted coffee do 4,681 Tea do~. 91 Sugar do 6,835 Vinegar gallons. - SO Adamantine candles pounds - - 360 Soap do~. 1,532 (Fourteenth Army Corps, Second Division.Capt. W. J. Kane, commissary of sub- sistence.) LOST. Pork barrels - - 4 Fresh beef pounds. - 6, 432 Bacon do~. 500 Flour barrels - - 5 Coffee pounds. 150 Sugar do 1,400 Molasses . - - gallons. 40 (Twenty-first Army Corps, First Division.Capt. S. D. Henderson, commissary of sub sistence.) LOST. Head of cattle, estimate to weigh 600 pounds each, net, 38 (Second Division.Lieut. C. C. Peck, acting commissary of subsistence.) LOST. Bacon ponnds. 4,500 Hard bread ~ 5,000 (Third IDivision.Capt. J. 0. Stanage, actin~, commissary of subsistence.) LOST. Bacon pounds.. 1,295 Roasted coffee do - - - - 3,922 Tea do~. 46 Soap do~. 893 No. 6. Report of Licut. Cot. John W. Taylor, U. AS1. Army, Chief Quartermaster, of public animals and means of transportation captured by the enemy, & c., December 26, 1862January 16, 1863. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, OFFICE OF CHIEF QUARTERMASTER, ]Jfurfreesborough, February 1, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to report herewith a statement of the losses of animals and means of transportation during the battle of 15 R RVOL XX5 PT Page 226 226 KY., MID. AND E. TENTh, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. Stones River; also a list of the animals, means of transportation, and other property captured from the enemy and picked up on the field and at Murfreesborough, as reported by the quartermasters of the several divisiQns named. A large number of the wagons that were partially burned by the enemy have beeu recovered and turned into the repair shops. Some wagons and a large number of animals reported as lost have been picked up by the several regiments, and will be taken up and accounted for by the quartermasters in their monthly returns, so that the actual loss is much less than appears by the annexed statement. Very respectfully, JOHN W. TAYLOR, Lieutenant- Colonel and Quartermaster. Maj. 0-en. W. S. RoSEcRANS, Commanding Department of the Cumberland. Statement of public animals and means of transportation captured by the enemy, killed in battle, and lost and destroyed from December 26, 1862, until January 16, k63. Horses. I, n ~ __ 0 w a - . a Command. I .2 ~ . Cs o a a .2 -~ cI ~ S CI 5 -~ ~- -.-~ -4 a 0 0 a -~ 0 E~ ~ -4 RIGHT WIIiG-. Headquarters 10 1 60 60 FIRST DIVISION. Headquarters 3 7 1 8 5 13 Ammunition and supply train 35 - 204 4 3 7 204 211 First Brigade. Headquarters 4 3 1 4 4 22d Indinna 1 6 2 2 5 7 59th Illinois 2 1 12 2 2 ii 13 74thlllinois 2 12 12 12 75th Illinois 1 6 12 12 5th wisconsin Battery 30 21 21 12 33 Secend 7~rigade. Headquarters 24 1 1 24 25 2~st Illinois 4 13 13 13 ISthIllinois 2 14 1 1 15 16 15th Wisconsin 2 1 28 3 3 25 28 l0lstOhio 4 2 2d Minnesota Battery.. 13 13 13 Third Brigade. Headquarters 4 4 1 25thlllinois 1 6 1 1 6 ISthlllinois 1 6 4 4 6 81st Indiana 2 10 1 5 6 8th Wisconsin Battery 8 18 30th Illinois Cavalry, Company B .. - . - 3 3 2d Kentucky Cavalry, Company G. - - 7 7 SECOND DIVISION. 3(1 Indiana Cavalry 1 Supply train 3 . - .~. 30 30 Ammunition train 2 12 18 - 1 Page 227 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 227 Statement of public animals and means of transportation captured by the enemy, killed in battle, lost and destroyed, 4-c.--Continued. 0 Horses. a o W Command. 0 a ~2 o 3 a cc ,~, ~ ~1 Q H ~ First Brigade. 15th Ohio 49th Ohio 32d Indiana 39th Indiana 89th Illinois 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery A - -. Second Brigade. Headquarters 34th Illinois 79th Illinois 29th Indiana 30th Indiana 77th Pennsylvania 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery B Thir~L Brigade. Headquarters 93d Ohio 5th Kentucky (Louisville Legion) 6th Indiana 5th Indiana Battery THIRD DiVi5iON. Headquarters ammunition and supply train. First Brigade. 36th Illinois 88th Illinois. 24th Wisconsin 4th Indiana Battery Second Brigade. Headquarters 2d Missouri 15th Missouri 44th Illinois 73d Illinois. 1st Missouri Artillery, Battery G- Third Brigade. Headquarters 22d Illinois 27th Illinois 42d Illinois 51st Illinois 1st Illinois Artillery, Battery C CENTER. FIR5T DIVISION. Second Brigade. 3d Ohio 88th Indiana 1st Michigan Battery Fourth Brigade. 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 5 4 4 2 30 2 1 82 6 4 6 6 13 4 1 4 2 1 2 2 2 7 62 10 1 1 24 7 58 348 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 14 6 8 6 4 2 2 2 43 . 45 1 6 6 6 1 6 37 37 6 43 1 1 2 1 2 I 2 2 6 6 16 8 14 8 1 1 4 1 10 Headquarters 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, U. S 2 2d Battalion, 18th Infantry, U. S 1 2 5th U. S. Artillery [Battery H] 1 85 4 1 10 15 1 10 2 15 CHAP. XXXIL] 4 1 4 2 62 7 1 2 2 2 82 5 1 1 24 1 1 7 1 4 2 6 6 6 6 348 6 12 1 6 6 4 5 2 4 2 62 14 1 3 6 2 2 88 6 5 7 7 24 348 6 14 1 51 6 4 6 6 16 8 18 8 18 85 6 6 16 8 36 93 4 1 10 1 10 2 1 Page 228 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL Statement of .publie animals and means of transportation captured by the enemy, killed in battl~, lost an~ destroyed, 4-c.Continued. Horses. 4 a a ~ a Command. 0 u7 4 ~ H n ;.~ H H a H ..~ . .n 0 H H ~ Q 0 r-~ ~ .~ ~. -~ H p.~ ;~ H 0 3 0 ~ ~ 0 H ~ SECOND DIVISION. Headquarters and division train Second Brigade. 5 Headquarters 18th Ohio Third Brigade. Headquarters 74th Ohio 37th Indiana 21st Ohio 7Sth Pennsylvania 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery G Hewetts Kentucky Battery 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery M FIFTH DIVISION. Second [First] Brigade. Headquarters 105th Ohio 80th Illinois 123d Illinois 101st Indiana 19th Indiana Battery LEFT WING. FIRST DIVISION. Supply train... - -. 6th Ohio Battery 10th Indiana Battery 8th Indiana Battery 26th Ohio 58th Indiana 3d Keutneky 13th Michigan SECOND DIVISION. Supply train 90th Ohio... 110th Illinois 0th Indiana THIRD DIVISION. Supply train 3(1 Wisconsin Battery 2(ith Pennsylvania Battery 7th Indiana Battery DETACHED. Michigan Engineers andMeclianics 3d Ohio Cavalry Captain Warrens supply train 2 1 4 4 1 1 15 4 5 4 4 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 90 1 6 12 6 16 1 14 28 19 1 88 8 10 12 10 4 2 12 8 12 6 6 6 1 2 8 3 41 1 6 6. 1 2 1 6 1 5 1 4 46 18 9 10 16 22 18 1 6 2 2 1 6 10 46 18 9 5 1 16 22 21 4 1 9 .3 90 8 4 12 1 84 16 20 24 20 2 1 12 6 12 6 6 - - 12 1 2. 2. 10 6 13 6 10 46 18 10 89 16 21 24 20 10 2 16 23 33 10 12 6 6 12 1 2 7 7 Ii 11 ii: 7 7 7 5 5 5 21 . 21 20 6 41 6 Total loss 229 28 1,540 139 555 80 774 2, 108 22 Page 229 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 229 List of animals and means of transportation and other property captured from the enemy and picked up on the battle-field from January 1 to January 16, 1863, as per reports of division quartermasters. ~-, a o uS ~ w ,~ cO S 0 Command. ~8 ,~Q 0 P uS r12 ui a ,~ 0 - 01 H n 8 ~ 8 ~ P ~ ,~ P 0 0 ~ H ~ Z P~ ~ RIGHT WING. Second Division 20 50 70 -. - -. Third Division 4 4 CENTER. Fifth Division 0 18 15 33 12 LEFT WING. First Division 1 1 17 7 24 Third Division 1 2 6 8 DETACHED. lOthObjo 3 14 1 15 19 Captain Boyd, assistant quartermaster 6 6 First Brigade Pioneers 4 4 4 21 . Chief of army police 1 143 103 240 2 Capt. C. T. Wing, assistant quartermaster 8, 080 3, 500 Lieut. Col. J W. Taylor, quartermaster 5 4 9 1, 009 Total 18 2 223 196 419 54 1, 069 8, 080 3, 500 No. 7. Report of Capt. William ill. Wiles, Forty-fourth Indiana Tufantry, pro vost-marshal-general, of prisoners captured. IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, Murfreesborouyh, Tenn., February 9, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to forward a complete report of Confederate prisoners captured by the army under your command at the late battle of Stones River, showing the number of regiments and other organizations represented, the number of the same from each State, the number of officers and enlisted men captured from each regi- ment or organization, the entire number of officers and enlisted men captured, and to what arm of the service they belong. The total num- ber of prisoners captured is shown to be 3,694.* Taking into account the number and character of the organization, and using the lowest possible estimate of the strength of each, it can be shown, beyond controversy, that the enemy~s force exceeded our own by at least one-third. Complete reports of the number captured by the enemy from our own forces have not yet been received. From the best infOrmation received up to the present time, the number will not exceed 2,800, and in all probability the estimate is too large. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W~L M. WILES, Captain and Provost-~7Jfarshal- General. Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, Commanding Department of the Cumberland. * An earlier report (January 12, 1863) from this officer gave 126 officers and 3,071 men captured; total, 3,197. CHAP. XXXII. Page 230 230 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., ANI) S\V. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL [Inclosure.] OFFICE PROYOST-MARSIIAL-GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Murfreesborough, Teun., February 9, 1863. The following is a complete report of Confederate prisoners captured by the army nnder command of Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans at the battle of Stones River, January 3, 1863, showing the number of regiments and other organizations represented, the number from each State, the number of officers and enlisted men captured from each regiment or organization, the entire nnmber of officers and enlisted men captured, and to what arm of the service they belong: Confederate officers and enlisted men captured. INFANTRY. a Organization. Organization. 0 0 Lu 0 ~ 0 ALABAMA. First. Second Third. Fourth Ninth Fourteenth Sixteenth Nineteenth Twenty-second Twenty-third Twenty-fourth Twenty-fifth Twenty-sixth Twenty-eighth Thirty-second Thirty-third Thirty-fourth Thirty-seventh Thirty-ninth Forty-first. - - - - Forty-fourth Forty-fifth Fifty-first Total ARKANSAS. First Second Third. Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Thirteenth Fifteenth Nineteenth Thirtieth Total CONFEDERATE. First Third Fourth Fifth Eighth Total 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 14 5 1 1 3 1 2 22 22 1 5 1 1 1 36 22 10 2 34 16 14 30 79 22 10 14 93 1 18 10 442 50 63 3 30 33 30 6 29 3 8 1 22 278 22 1 5 1 38 23 11 2 34 17 14 31 8t 22 11 1 16 94 1 18 10 456 55 66 4, 31 35 33 6 33 3 9 24 300 FLORIDA. First and Third. Fonrth Sixth Ninth Total GEORGIA. 4 3, 7, First Second 1 Fifth Forty-third Total . 1 KENTUCKY. Second Fourth Sixth Eighth Ninth Thirteenth Total LOUISIANA. First Eleventh Thirteenth and Twentieth.. - Sixteenth and Twenty-fifth. - - Fortieth * Total MISSISSIPPI. 1 4 2 9 1 9 2 12 Third Fifth Seventh 1 Eighth 1 Ninth 3 Tenth 3 3 Twelfth 56 56 Thirteenth 1 1 Seventeenth 18 20 Twentieth 75 83 Twenty-first Twenty-fourth 1 10 153 163 Twenty-seventh 2 Twenty-ninth 2 5o record of such regiment. 2 8 69 99 1 1 170 4 2 10 1 17 54 42 32 2 23 1 154 46 3 239 119 1 408 1 9 15 28 28 27 1 1 1 1 1 33 12 23 73 102 1 1 177 4 3 10 1 18 55 46 34 2 25 1 163 47 3 248 121 1 420 1 9 16 29 31 1 1 1 1 1 14 14 2 Page 231 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. Confederate officers and enlisted men capturedContinued. INFANTRYContinued. 4- ci . SI) Sc Organization. Organization. Sc St 0 MississippiContinued. TENNESsREContiuued. Thirtieth 4 62 66 Eighteenth 1 32 33 Thirty-second 1 1 Nineteenth 27 27 Thirty-seventh 2 2 Twentieth 24 24 Forty-first 30 30 Twenty-third 45 45 Forty-fifth 5 89 94 Twenty-fourth 16 16 1 38 39 Twenty-fifth 2 35 37 Total 19 365 384 Twenty-sixth Twenty-seventh 4 4 NORTH CAROLINA. Twenty-eighth 3 24 27 Twenty-ninth 1 27 28 Sixteenth 11 11 Thirtieth 40 40 Twenty-fifth - 10 10 Thirty-first 9 9 Twenty-ninth 15 15 Thirty-second 1 4 5 Thirty-ninth 1 13 14 Thirty-third 1 17 18 Sixtieth 2 45 47 Thirty-seventh 1 12 13 Thirty-eighth 22 22 Total 3 94 97 Thirty-ninth 4 4 Forty-first 4 4 3 54 57 SOUTH CAROLINA. Forty-fourth Forty-fifth 1 27 28 Tenth 1 19 20 Forty-seventh Nineteenth 13 13 Fiftieth. 1 4 5 Fifty-first 16 16 Total 1 32 33 Eightieth 1 2 3 One hundred and fifty-fourth, 2 16 18 TRNNE55RE. senior. First 1 34 35 Total 48 1, 010 1, 058 Second 19 19 Third. 26 26 TRxAs. Fourth 1 34 35 Fifth 22 22 Fourth 1 1 Sixth 1 27 28 Ninth 28 28 Eighth 7 47 54 Tenth 19 19 Ninth. 16 16 Eleventh 18 18 Eleventh 4 53 57 Fourteenth 18 18 Twelfth 3 38 41 Fifteenth 11 11 Thirteenth 38 38 Nineteenth 1 1 Fifteenth 16 16 Twenty~sixth* 1 1 Sixteenth 3 44 47 Seventeenth 5 44 49 Total 11 961 ~ YAItIOtTS INFANTRY ORGANIZATIONS. U to Name. State. 511 Sc 0 ~ Austins sharpshooters rLoulsiana] 1 1 2 Bluff City Sharpshooters Tennessee - 2 2 Blythes sharpshooters Mississippi 1 25 26 Chalmers sharpshooters 2 2 Coxs sharpshooters [Georgia] 3 3 Coxs signal corps 1 1 Dakes [sic] regiment 1 1 Georgia Sharpshooters Hydes company, Ross regiment Georgia 1 1 Ilollemans [sic] regiment 1 1 Mississippi Sharpshooters Mississippi 4 4 Tennessee Sharpshooters Tennessee 2 2 Total 2 46 48 No record of a Twenty-sixth Texas Infantry. CHAP. XXXIL] 23 Page 232 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII Gonfed ate officers and enlisted me ca.ptured.Continued. RECAPITULATION OF INFANTRY. States. Alabama Confederate States Florida Kentucky louisiana Mississippi. North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Texas Various organizations Total Rn 342 .44) H 23 12 5 4 4 0 5 19 5 2 59 8 12 144 H 0 0~~ 14 442 22 278 10 153 7 170 1 17 9 154 12 408 19 365 3 94 1 32 48 .984 1 96 2 46 149 3, 239 STATE IIEGIMENTS.* ~4 4 cz u ,~ Q~ States. States. 4.4 ~n ~u ~ ~u ~ 0 ~ H 0 ~ H ALABAMA. KENTUCKY. First 23 23 First ~ Second 5 5 Fourth 2 2 Third 3 3 Sixth 4 4 Eighth 1 1 Fourteenth 2 2 TENNESSEE. Fifty.first 1 5 6 First 43 43 ARKANSAS. Second 2 2 Third~ 4 4 First 4 4 j~O~~l~ 14 14 Second 1 :t 2 I Fourth 1 1 TEXAS. CONFEDERATE STATES. Fourth 1 Eighth 1 19 20 First 7 7 Tenth 10 10 Third 19 19 Eleventh 5 5 Eighth 4 4 Fonrteent~ 5 5 Fifteenth 1 1 GEORGIA. Total, twenty.nine regi. 4 211 215 First 3 1 ments. Second 12 12 Third 5 5 Third Georgia Battalion 4 4 * Regiments thus classified seem to have been embraced in the preceding tables. 232 H CS 0 H 456 300 163 177 18 163 420 384 97 33 1, 032 97 48 3, 38 Page 233 THE STONE S RIVER CAMPAIGN. Confederate officers and en listed men eapturedContinned. CAVALRY. p4 4 p4 C a C ~ ~ ~ a~ a Name. 4-4. ~ iName. a a 0 0 ~ Ashbys cavalry 1 Morgans Kentucky cavalry 1 Bennetts Tennessee cavalry 2 Morris battalion 1 Breckinridges escort 1 Roddey s cavalry 1 Bufords body guard - 1 Second Mounted Infantry 1 Buckners cavalry 1 Tennessee Battalion 1 Coxs Kentucky cavalry 1 Terrys TexasRangers 1 Douglass Tennessee battalion . 9 Whartons escort - 5 Dukes Kentucky cavalry 1 Wheelers command 1 Fyffes battalion 4 Willards Legion 1 GilberLs Tennessee battalion 2 Woodwards cavalry 2 ]Iolmans cavalry - - - - -. 1 Aide to General Morgan 1 Howards cavalry 1 McCann s Tennessee cavalry 1 Thtal 1 41 ARTILLERY. 4 4 p4 C ~ C Name of battery. Name of battery. a a 0 ~ ,0 ~ Byrnes 1 McTyers 1 Calverts 1 Napiers 1 Cobbs 4 Phipps 1 Dardens 1 Redmans 1 First Kentucky 1 Robertsons 1 First Texas 1 Scotts 1 Fourteenth Georgia. 5 Semples [Marks artillery] 1 2 Jacksons Florida 4 Steuben Artillery 1 Ketchums 6 Waltons Lumsdens 1 Wasbington Artillery 3 Marks Alabama [Semples] 1 Wrights Moses 4 Total. 2 47 RECAPITULATION. 4:46 ~ Op~ a O4-~ a Ca C ~ C4- a ~a ~ ~ - ~ C n ~ a a ~ . a ~ ~-- ., p C o .4-- p4 4- ~-~-~ ~ PC~ P C ~P4 aPa a an C c~ ,o~ ,nC-~ n a--.~ ~ a ~Ca ~ 6 u po~ n cbLa ~5 a o Z ~ 0 ~ H Artillery 23 23 2 47 49 Cavalry 29 24 13 5 252 257 Infantry 112 12 144 149 3, 239 3,188 Grandtotal 161 36 23 220 156 3,538 3694 WM. M. WILES, Captai and Prevost-Mershal-6eneral. NorsxIt appears from the official records that many of the organizations enumerated in tables pp. 230233 were not with the Army of the Tennessee (Confederate) during the Stones River Campaign. COMPILER. CilAP. XXXII.] 23 Page 234 234 KY., MID. AND B. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXII. No. 8. Report of Capt. Jesse Merrill, Chief Signal Officer. HDQRS. SIGNAL Coups, FOURTEENTH ARMY Cours, Murfreesborough, January 7, 1863. MAJou: We left Nashville on Friday, December 26, in company with the advancing army, and kept well np to the front until Monday, when the troops were pushed vigorously forward, about 11 miles from where we then were, to the place which was afterward the battle-field, the west side of one fork of Stones River. We kept communication with two columns of the advancing troops, but, as they afterward merged into one, one of the lines was abandoned. The one kept up was with Gen- eral Crittenden, commanding left wing; the one abandoned, with Neg- ley~s division of center, which came in on Crittendens right, on the same road on which we were. The right wing of the army, under McCook, consisting of three divis- ions, marched on a road about 6 miles to our right. We used all our energies in trying to get communication with him, but failed, the inter- vening country being almost level, and a dense wood. On Monday night I accompanied Generals Rosecrans and Thomas to the front. Communication was kept from the front to the rear during the night. A copy of the messages sent will be forwarded as soon as the reports are received. On Tuesday we communicated between Gen- erals Rosecrans and Thomas. McCook was then about 10 miles to the right in .the woods. Crittendens headquarters were beside those of Rosecrans. The skirmishing during the afternoon was very severe. At daylight on Wed- nesday morning loud reports of artillery and musketry in rapid succes- sion were heard on the right, and at almost the same time an attack was made on the front center. Between 8 and 9 oclock McCooks line of battle was broken, and his division separated, and, straggling, rushed through the woods to the Murfreesborough pike, 2 miles from their original position. Another line was formed parallel with the pike, and here the enemy were successfully resisted, both on the right and in front. They were pressing us heavily, though, and when the sun went down, and the din of battle and the roar of artillery ceased, all seemed re- lieved. Signals could not be used to any advantage on that field ; woods and clumps of trees were all around us. Even if this had not been so, it would have, been impossible to use them, for General Rosecrans was constantly riding over the field, and other generals seemed equally act- ive. At no one time, and I rode with him during most of the day, do I remember of his having been one-half hour at the same place. The result of this days fight was, our right wing driven 2 miles, with a loss of thirty pieces of artillery, and a large number of wounded and prison- ers, and thousands of stragglers, who were rushing to the rear, and could hardly be driven back to their places in the ranks. On Thurs- day both armies lay quiet, seemingly worn out by the contest of the previous day. To us it was a day of terrible suspense. On Friday afternoon all our available force was massed on the left, to attack the enemys right. Happily for us, they attacked us just when we were about to move on them, and they were driven back with great loss and in much disorder. On Saturday evening we again attacked them, and drove them from a strong position. On Sunday morning they had with Page 235 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 235 drawn their forces across the river, and they began to evacuate this place. The officers of the corps rendered all the assistance they could; the movements of the enemy were watched closely, though but little could be seeii~ of them. Some of them were efficient as aides-de-camp to the generals to whom they were assigned. I will claim your indulgence for this report, as it has been written under very unfavorable circumstances, and in great haste. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JESSE MERRILL, Captain in Charge of Signal Corps, Fourteenth Army Corps. Maj. ALBERT J. MYER, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army. No. 9. 1i~eport of Col. James Barnett, First Ohio Light Artillery, Chief of Artil lery. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Murfreesborough, Tenn., February 8, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to snbmit, for the information of the general commanding, a summary from the reports of the batteries of this depart- ment, of their position, & c., at the late battle of Stones River. Right wing, Second Division, composed of the following batteries: Battery A, First Ohio Artillery, Lieutenant Belding commanding, attached to General Willichs brigade; Battery E, First Ohio Artillery, Captain Edgarton, attached to Colonel Kirks brigade; Fifth Indiana, Captain Simonson, attached to Colonel Buckleys brigade, having the following guns: Nine James rifles, three 6-pounder smooth-bore, two 12-pounder howitzers, two 10-pounder Parrotts, and two 12-pounder light field guns. On the evening of December 30, Battery A was placed in position in the rear of the brigade, on the extreme right of the right wing, with one section, the other two sections fronting the rear, horses unhitched, but not unharnessed. At daybreak the horses were sent to water, with the precaution to return at the least alarm; firing commenced; teams returned quickly and hitched. The brigade falling back very fast, the battery retired to a slight eminence in the rear, but the enemy having got so far to the right that the guns were under a cross-fire. Near this point three guns were taken by the enemy. Two other pieces were taken rapidly to the rear, one gun, having horses remaining, was served with effect as oppor- tunity was offered, firing about four rounds at each unlimbering. Upon reaching the Murfreesborough pike, this gun was put in position with Captain Simonsons battery, where about ten rounds were fired. Upon being ordered to return, one wheel-driver and two horses being killed while limbering up, the piece was temporarily abandoned, but was brought off by the Louisville Legion with prolonge attached. This bat- tery the next day was held in position, with two guns, near the Mur- freesborough pike, in reserve, where it remained until ordered forward across the river. Company E, First Ohio Artillery, Captain Edgarton, was posted, o Page 236 236 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW, VA. [CHAP. XXXIt the night of December 30, on the extreme right and in front of Battery A, in position to guard a country road, horses harnessed all night. At daylight of the 31st, horses were sent to water; at the firing of the pickets, horses were hitched in, or at least one-half, and others im- mediately returned. Two shells were thrown in the direction of the enemy, still inVisible, and, as they appeared, six rounds of canister were thrown with great effect. The vigorous attack of the enemy in front and flank, and the loss of many horses, rendered it necessary to abandon the battery, after, however, a determined resistance, 2 cannoneers being bayoneted at the guns. Captain Edgarton and Lieutenant Berwick were captured. The Fifth Indiana Battery, Captain Simonson, was first put in posi- tion on the morning of the 31st about one-half mile to the right of the Six-Mile pike, upon which the right wing advanced upon an open field, with the battery fronting to the west. Here the right section was tem- porarily detailed, by order of Colonel Baldwin, and ordered to the left and front about 400 yards. From this position the battery fell back with the division, and was ordered, by Brigadier-General Johnson, to take another position on the crest, about 200 yards to the right of the Murfreesborough pike and near to the right of Major-General Rous- seaus division, which position it retained until ordered to retire. The next ground taken was in the open space to the left, and about 25 yards from the railroad, where it remained until about sunset, when General Johnson ordered the battery to the left of his division, about 185 yards to the right of the Murfreesborough pike, opposite the head- quarters of Major-General Rousseau, where it remained until ordered to cross Stones River, January 5. The battery lost two guns. The artillery of the First Division is composed of the following bat- teries, and had the following guns: Fifth Wisconsin, Captain Pinney, attached to Colonel Posts brigade; Second Minnesota, Captain Hotch- kiss, attached to Colonel Carlins brigade; Eighth Wisconsin, Captain Carpenter, attached to Colonel Woodruffs brigade. Four 10-pounder Parrotts, eight 6-pounder smooth-bore, four 12-pounder howitzers. Cap- tain Pinneys battery, which, with his brigade, was on the extreme right of the army, on the 30th, after driving the enemy, to enable the skirmish- ers to advance to the open fields in front, took position, with horses in harness, for the night. After dark, two brigades of the Second Division took position on the right. On the morning of the 31st, upon the falling back of these two brigades, the battery changed front to the right, to meet the enemy rapidly ap- proaching by the right and rear, supported by the Fifty-ninth Illinois and posted in a corn-field, where they opened fire with canister, check- ing temporarily the advance of the enemy. However, being unopposed on the right, the position became untenable, and the battery was with- (1r~ wn, leaving Captain Pinney dangerously wounded, with the loss of some 18 horses and one gun. The balance of the battery was dragged to the rear by the assistance of the Fifty-ninth Illinois. Near the Nashville pike it was charged upon by cavalry, who were driven off by the Fourth Cavalry Regiment, and took position behind Overalls Creek, on a hill to the right of the pike, where they remained all night. The next morning their position was on the left of the pike, where breastworks were thrown up in a position to enfilade the enemys lines. At this point a rebel battery, opening, was soon silenced by a few Par- rott shots. In the~ afternoon of the next day the battery, with its brigade, wa Page 237 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 237 ordered to cross the Stones River, where it was put into position, throw- ing up breastworks, and where it remained until 2 oclock on the morn- ing of January 4, when it recrossed the river, taking its former position on the right, where it remained until January 6, 1863. The Second Minnesota Battery, Captain llotchkiss, moved on the 30th with its brigade to the right of the Wilkinson pike until the withdrawal of skirmishers, when the battery opened with canister and spherical case with effect. When the first line of the brigade had arrived at the point about 180 yards from the house of Mrs William Smith, two batteries, one about 100 yards west of the house and another on the east of the house, 250 yards distant, opened fire on the Twenty-first Illinois and Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers. These batteries were soon silenced, but another to the right, about 500 yards, enfilading the brigade, was driven off by a weildirected fire from this battery. Before daylight on the morning of the 31st, the battery was retired 200 yards, soon after which the brigade was vigorously attacked and obliged to fall back across the open fields, and entered a wool about 200 yards east of Griscoms house, when several rounds were fired with de- structive effect. The command was again retired about 1 mile, and went into position in the edge of a cedar grove, from whence it again retired to the railroad. The next position was near the Nashville pike, 4 miles from Murfrees- borough. On January 2, under order of Major-General Rosecrans, the brigade and battery were sent to the left, crossing Stones River at the ford, relieving Colonel ilazen, where they remained until January 4. The Eighth Wisconsin Battery, Captain Carpenter, at about 11 oclock, December 30, was posted on the edge of a cotton-field, in front of a wood running parallel with the pike, facing southeast, placed in the interval between General Sills right and the left of its (Colonel Woodruffs) bri- gade. At about 3 oclock the command was moved forward, with heavy skir- mis~hing. The right of the brigade, being well advanced, was halted, and remained until support should come up. The battery was placed at the angle of the fence, to protect the right and front, when it received a heavy fire, occasionally replying with shell, until toward night, when the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire on the right of Carhins brigade, which was silenced in handsome style in five minutes. Colonel Carlins brigade being attacked at about the same time, this battery again opened with such effect as to effectually check the attack. The enemy on the morning of the 31st made their attack in five lines, the battery opening a full fire of canister with terrific effect. After a determined resistance, being ordered back, several ineffectual attempts were made to get into position, but, owing to the general stampede, no stand could be made until they reached the Murfreesborough pike, where they remained until Friday; being then ordered to the left, crossed the ford, and went into position on the extreme left, about 2 miles from the ford. On Saturday, January 3, the battery changed position again to the right, where it remained until ordered to Murfreesborough. The batteries of the Third Division are as follows: Battery 0-, First Missouri, Captain ilescock, attached to Colonel Schaefers (Second) bri- gade; Battery C, First Illinois, Captain iloughtahing, attached to Colo- nel Roberts (Third) brigade; Fourth Indiana Battery, Captain Bush, attached to General Sills (First) brigade, with the following guns: Tw Page 238 238 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXIL 10-pounder Parrotts, four 12-pounder light field guns, two Jame.s rifles, six 6-pounder smooth-bore, and four 12-pounder howitzers. Battery G, First Missouri, Captain Hescock, moved on the morning of the 30th, at 7 a. in., with its brigade, on the right and rear of the divisioil, to the right of the Wilkinson pike, having Bushs battery on the left. Toward evening, Bush moving to the front, Captain ilescock took his place. The three batteries of the division concentrated their fire upon the enemys batteries, silencing their fire. In the morning this battery and Captain iloughtalings opened a heavy fire upon the enemy, who were engaging Generals Sills and Davis commands, until the enemy, who were pursuing General Johnsons com- mand, gained their rear, when they moved to the front, to the position first held by the enemy, and then took position on the north side of the road, sending one section to re-enforce Captain Bush, engaging the enemy hotly until their ammunition was expended, when they retired through the cedars with the division. After gaining the open field, their guns were bronght into action and fired until all the ammunition was expended. About 3 oclock, January 1, they took a position south of the Mur- freesborongh pike, and were not further engaged. Battery C, First Illinois, Captain iloughtaling, on the 30th moved on the left of Captain Bush, and next to the Wilkinson pike, south side; opened fire, in concert with other batteries of the division, at the enemy in front. On the 31st, at the falling back of General Johnson, this battery took position on the right of the pike, just in the edge of the timber, sup- ported by Colonel Roberts brigade, where he remained until all of his horses were killed and ammunition expended, when he was forced to abandon his guns, falling back and assisting at the gnus of the other batteries of the division. The Fourth Indiana Battery, Captain Bush, on the afternoomi of the 30th, being on the right of Captain iloughtaling, moved his battery to the front and opened fire on the enemy at short range, with the other batteries, driving back the enemy. During the night the captain moved to a more commanding position. the 31st, the battle opened with this division by an attempt to cap- ture this battery, which was gallantly defended by General Sill, when this brave officer fell between the guns. The battery fell back with the other batteries of the division, and took position on the north of the pike, sending one section, with Lieutenant Flansburg, to re-enforce Cap- tain Houghtaling; one Parrott section, with Lieutenant Taliaferro, was, at this time, sent to Captain iloughtaling, assisted by Captain ilescock, when, after a very warm resistance, and ammunition failing, the battery was compelled to retire, with the loss of two of its guns left in the cedars. The next position taken was on the south of the Murfreesbor- ough l)ike, with the division. Genter.The artillery of the First Division consists of the following batteries: Captain Stone, First Kentucky Battery; Lieutenant Van Pelt, First Michigan Battery; Company II, Fifth U. S. Artillery, Lieuten- ant Guenther, with the following guns: Ten 10-pounder Parrotts, two James rifles, two 6-pounder smooth-bore, and four 12-pounder light field guns. Captain Stones First Kentucky Battery was not ordered into position until January 1, when it was posted on the right of the Murfreesbor- ough pike, directly in front of the log-house, one section being statione Page 239 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 239 in the woods, about 100 yards distant. The battery afterward moved to the front edge of the woods, in rear of the center of the brigade to which it was attached. At night it relieved Lieutenant Parsons bat- tery, which was stationed outside and in front of the woods, command- ing the corif-fields and woods to the right and front, in which position it remained until January 3. At 4 p. in. relieved Captain Coxs half battery, which was about 50 yards to the left, posting a half battery in its place at night; shelled the fields and woods from both points; was not further engaged. The First Michigan Battery, Lieutenant Yan Pelt, took position on the morning of the 31st on the left of the pike, 3 miles from Murfreesborough, where they remained during the day, serving their guns with effect; were relieved on the 1st of January, and took position about half a mile in rear of front line of battle. On January 2 moved a few hundred yards to the front, and took posi- tion on the right of the pike, remaining at this point through the day. On Saturday morning the battery moved to the front, behind earth- works, immediately beyond the pike, fronting the position occupied on Wednesday, remaining there all day and night, shelling the woods at sundown. On the morning of the 31st, Company II, Fifth Artillery, Lieutenant Guenther, moved through the cedars to the left of the pike with its brigade, but was returned, owing to the impracticability of operating in the woods, and took position in the open ground in time to check a rebel advance. From the cedars it then moved to a position on the rise of gronnd on the opposite side of the pike. On the appearance of the enemy at close range, a heavy fire with canister shot was opened on them with such effect that they were driven back to the woods in dis- order. The battery held this position until the morning of January 1, when it was moved some distance to the rear, and, after several changes of front, was ordered with the brigade to a point on the Murfreesborough pike, beyond Stewarts Creek. This order being countermanded, the battery encamped near its old point. On the morning of January 3 fire was opened on a battery of the enemy which was annoying our troops, resulting in driving it from its position. During the forenoon the brigade and battery moved forward and occupied rifle-pits and anlements which had been constructed for them. At dusk the battery opened fire with shell and spherical case shot on the enemy, concealed in the woods and buildings and behind breastworks, & c,, which, being followed by infantry, drove them from their position. The battery remained in position during the following day, and on the mornin~ of the 5th removed to Murfreesborough. The batteries of the Second Division, Brigadier-General Negley, ~are as follows: Company M, First Ohio, Captain Schultz; Company G, First Ohio Artillery, Lieutenant Marshall; Company M, First Ken- tucky [Second Kentucky Battery], Lieutenant Ellsworth, with the fol- lowing guns: Two 12-pounder Wiard steel guns, two 6-pounder Wiard, four 12-pounder howitzers, two James rifles, one 6-pounder smooth- bore and two Parrotts. The three batteries of this division 16-pounder were posted with the division on a slope of the west batik of Stones River, in advance, but joining the right, of General Crittendens line, with General Sheridan on their right; Captain Schultz on the right of Battery G, First Ohio, and Battery M, First Kentucky [Second Ken- tucky Battery], on the left. The batteries opened fire on the enemy and drove them, holding the position during the day and night Page 240 240 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL On the 31st, these batteries, after holding their position under a mur- derous fire for four hours, having a large proportion of their horses killed, and being out of ammunition, were compelled to retire with the loss of six guns in getting through the cedars. On January 1, Company M was posted on the left side of the rail- road; changed position about 1 oclock to the right of Murfreesborough pike, where it remained until night. On Jarinary 2, these batteries were posted on the hill at the ford of Stones River, to resist the attack on the left, which proved successful. Left Wing.The batteries of the left wing are the following: Com- pany M, Fourth U. S. Artillery, Lieutenant Parsons; Company ll~ Fourth Artillery, Lieutenant Throckmorton; Company B, First Ohio Artillery, Captain Standart, attached to the Second Division; Tenth Indiana, Captain Cox; Eighth Indiana, Lieutenant Estep; Sixth Ohio, Captain Bradley, attached to the First Division; Seventh Indiana Bat- tery, Captain Swallow; Third Wisconsin, Lieutenant Livingston; Twen- ty-sixth Pennsylvania [Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery], Lieu- tenant Stevens, attached to the Third Division, with the following guns: Four 3-inch rifles, ten 12-pounder howitzers, six James rifles, twelve 6- pounder smooth-bores, and siVeeu 10-pounder Parrotts. The first l)osition taken by Batteries H and lvii under command of Lieutenant Parsons, was just to the right of the Murfreesborough pike, 2~ miles from Murfreesborough. During the morning they retired for ammunition, and took a second position between the railroad and pike, and, after firing away all their ammunition, they again retired. On January 2 they were moved to the front, and soon after took position at the hill near the ford, and participated in repulsing the enemy from our left. Company B, First Ohio Artillery, Captain Standart, on the 31st was posted on the right of Lieutenant Parsons. After firing away his am- munition, he retired for the day. On the 2d he was put in position on the hill on the right of the pike, commanding the corn-field occupied by Stokes battery the day before. Being under a very heavy cannonad- ing, three pieces were retired to a position under cover, in reserve, to the left of the pike. These three guns were, in the afternoon, moved to th~ left, to resist the attack of the enemy. Company F, First Ohio, Captain Cockerill. on the 31st, was placed in position on the left of Parsons battery, and on the right of the pike; but during the morning retired and took position on the left of the rail- road and about 400 yards from it, which position they held until the at- tack on the left, to which point Lieutenant Osburn moved four pieces, the captain having been wounded. Captain Bradley, on the morning of the 31st, moved, with Colonel Harkers brigade in its advance, to check the enemy on the right, and held with it its position through the day. On the 2d he held a poaition on commanding ground near to the right of the railroad. When the attack was made on the left, he changed front to fire to the left. The Seventh Indiana Battery, Captain Swallow, on the 31st, went into battery a short distance to the right of the pike, 2~ miles from Murfrees- borough, and in the afternoon moved to the left of the railroad, going into battery on the right of Cockerills battery. On the 2d this battery also was placed on the high ground to resist the enemys attack at the ford. The Eighth Indiana Battery, Lieutenant Estep, was placed on the opposite side of the pike (left) and rear of Captain Swallows battery Page 241 CHAr. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 241 On the 2d, having suffered Severely from the enemys artillery in the morning, he retired to repair damages, and, when the attack was made on the left, massed with the other batteries on the hill at the ford. The Tenth Thdiana Battery, Captain Cox, was placed in position in front and on the left of the railroad, which he maintained on the 31st and afterward. The Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Battery [Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery], Lientenant Stevens, was posted on the left and facing the pike, 3 miles from Mnrfreesborough, when the enemy appeared. As they fell back he moved forward, crossing the pike, taking position on the ridge, changing several times. On the 2d he changed front to fire to the left, and opened fire when the attack was made in that direction. The Third Wisconsin Battery, Lieutenant Livingston, was command- ing the ford on the 31st. They afterward moved across the river at the ford. When the attack was made on the 2d, they recrossed and took position on the hill in line with the other batteries of the corps. The Board of Trade Battery, Captain Stokes, attached to the Pioneer Brigade, consisting of four 6-pounders, smooth-bore, and two James rifles, moved, on the 31st, promptly to the front and right of the pike, serving canister with effect. They afterward moved still farther to the front, holding a good position, commanding a corn-field and the wood beyond. After having held the I)osition thirty-six hours, the battery was ordered to the rear. On the 2d, this battery was again l)ut in position with the batteries to resist the attack from the left, and opened, with the artillery force massed at that point, a destructive fire, causing the enemy to retire. The losses in mat6riel and personnel I had the honor to report immedi- ately after the battle. The many gallant actions of battery officers and men are named by their immediate commanders in their reports, to which I respectfully refer for the details of their action. The pra~tice of the batteries was good, and the I)recaution of the general commanding to fire low and be sparing of ammunition was heeded. Owing to the nature of the coun- try, the loss of the gnns was nnavoidable, as in falling back on the right the horses could not be under cover, and the thick cedar thickets pre: vented the guns being brought off by hand. Six guns, 3 caissons, 3 damaged forges, amid 2 battery wagons were captured from the enemy, or recaptured; also 5,451 muskets, with bayo- nets, scabbards, & c.- The whole number of men engaged in serving the batteries was 86 commissioned officers and 2,760 non-commissioned officers and privates. I remain, colonel, your obedient servant, JAMES BATINETT, Colonel and Chief of Artillery. Lient. Col. C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant- General and Chief of Staff. 16 R RVOL XX, PT Page 242 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII popw~dx~ no -rnnruatru spirnoa jo aoqmn~ ~oot-o~oeeocoo~oo t~ ~ 0 onn~cou~ c~ ~-~s ~ ,~ :~-~::::: .4 .4 p~jo~~ ~ ::::-~......,... co .4 ~.M. ::~::::::~:~::::::~ ~ :n :0~~ .O~t-c~4OC.4n ~oiq.4si~uhr :::::::::::::::::: pO.In4dnQ 0c.4n ~ ~ iirnptr.4poJfl~d~~j ~g~CQ0~n ~ ~ ~ ~: TV~~I~ . . pOIITX ~ :~~ :-~ ~ :~ 1.0 .4 ... . o p.4p~[.4o~ .41::-~.-o 100 .4 Q 0 Hi .. . .4 ~ .4 :~P~ :g .4.4 ~ ~ .~.4 o 0 H ciii .4 ~~co ~ o .4 ~ 0~...~ci~oHoi ~ .4 ,0 ~04 0 .4 0 .4 .4 cii ~00~ 14 . Q.4~ .4 ~ ~b ~ ~..4 0~ ~ ~ ~ OH ~ ~0 ~ ~ .4 0 H HI- Zo~. .4 .40 242 .4 1= oH .4 .4 0 0.4 00 0 .4 .4 .4 0 Page 243 (ThAi. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 243 No. 10. Report of Capt. James & . Clair Morton, U. ~. Engineers, commanding Pioneer Brigade. IIDQRS. PJON~ER BRIGADE, FOURTEENTH ARMY CoRPS, Camp, 3 miles north of ]iiturfreesborough, Tenn., January 5, 1863. MAJOR: According to your order, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in the late battle by my brigade, which is composed of three battalions of Pioneers and Stokes (Chicago Board of Trade) battery: On the march hither from Nashville, my brigade constructed two bridges over Stewarts Creek between the hours of 4 p. m. and 4 a. m. December 29 and 30, arriving here on the 30th On the morning of the 31st, the brigade was enraged in improving the fords of Stones River, in which the right battalion sustained the fire of some rebel cavalrST, when I was ordered to take position in the line of battle, and formed my brigade, by the orders of the commanding gen- eral in person, fronting toward the right, where the enemy appeared on a rise of ground in front of us, from which they had driven one of our batteries. I immediately opened fire with canister from Stokes battery and drove them back. I then, by order of the commanding general in person, advanced to the said rise, and held it nnder the fire of three rebel batteries. I supported the battery by the First Battalion of Pioneers on the left, posted in a thicket, and by the Third Battalion on the right. The Second Battalion was placed in a wood still farther to the right. Shortly after I had formed my line, the enemy appeared across the field, preparing to charge upon some of our troops, who were retiring, but had been rallied by the commanding general. I opened fire upon these from Stokes battery, whick played over the head of the com- manding general and our troops, and arrested their advance. My right battalion was soon after attacked, the object of the enemy being to penetrate through the line under cover of the woods. Said battaliofi changed front so as to obtain a flanking fire, and by a single volley repulsed the enemy, composed of the Eleventh and Fourteenth Texas Regiments. In this the battalion was aided by the Seventy-ninth In- diana, which had rallied on its right. Toward sundown, the enemy appearing on my left, I brought two sections of Stokes battery to the left of my First Battalion, and repulsed a brigade of the enemy which attacked that battalion in the thicket. They left their dead within 50 paces of my line. In this affair both the battalion and the battery behaved very creditably. The brigade slept on their arms the night of the 31st. Early on the 1st instant the enemy appeared on my left, apparently to advance through the gap between it and the pike. I changed my front and occupied the gap, and sustained and returned their volleys of musketry, playing upon them from the battery and preventing their advance be. yond the edge of the woods. We held this position till after nightfall, when the brigade was relieved and formed in reserve. On the morning of the 2d, part of the Pioneers were engaged in mak. in g road crossings over the railroad, when the enemy opened a cannonade, which reached our camp. I brought out Stokes battery and returned the fire. The battalions advanced, supporting it under a fire of solid shot and shell. The cannonade having ceased, I received orders to fal Page 244 244 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL back to my assigned position in reserve, and remained till late in the afternoon, when the commanding general in person ordered me to the left as re-enforcement. I then marched my command at a double-quick and arrived on the line, occupying a gap in it under the fire of a rebel battery, which was, however, soon silenced by Stokes battery, which was worked with exceeding vigor and skill. General Negley now approached me and requested me to re-enforce his troops, who, after a violent contest, had gained ground on the oppo- site side of the river. I accordingly moved my command there at a double-quick, and formed the Third Battalion in second line behind General Davis command, the First Battalion extending beyond it and throwing out its own advance, occupying the space between it and the river. The battery was posted on a knoll betweeu the First and Third Battalions, the Second Battalion being in second line on the extreme right. In this positio~we remained till after nightfall, when I received orders to recross the river and again assume a position in reserve, and to furnish the Second Battalion to construct rifle-pits in the front and near the pike, and also on the extreme right. Said battalion worked all night in the rain. On the 3d, the Third Battalion relieved the First, on duty in .the trenches, and on the 4th the Second and Third Battalions began two lunettes on the north bank of the river, and the First Battalion began a trestle bridge across it. On the 5th, the said work was continued, and the Third Battalion, with the advance of the army, in pursuit of the enemy. The loss of the brigade is as follows: First Battalion: Killed, 4; wounded, 3 commissioned officers and 5 enlisted men. Second Battal- ion: Killed, 4; wounded, 5 enlisted men. Third Battalion: Killed, 4; wounded 10 enlisted men. Stokes battery: Killed, 3; wounded, 1 commissioned officer and 9 enlisted men. Total, killed and wounded, 48. The force of the brigade actually engaged was 1,600 men, there being ten companies or 1,000 Pioneers employed on the fortifications between Gallatin and Nashville, and 200 detached guarding the implement train. Of the force above mentioned, 95 belong to Stokes battery. During the engagement, the Pioneers behaved as well as could be wished, and, when required,.worked zealously by night and day, although insufficiently provided with rations, in spite of inclement weather, and under fire. The artillerymen displayed the highest discipline, and worked their guns with extreme rapidity and accuracy. As the com- manding general was everywhere present on the field with his staff, he cannot but have remarked the good service done by Captain Stokes, who manifested the greatest zeal, and managed his battery with the utmost precision and success. I beg leave to mention to the favorable notice of the commanding general my adjutant, Lieutenant Lamberson, of the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers; my inspectors, Lieutenants Clark, of the Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, and Murphy, of the Twenty-first Wisconsin Volunteers, and my aides, Lieutenant Reeve, of the Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and Assistant Engineer Pearsall, all of whom exhibited the utmost ardor and alacrity in the performance of their duty. I beg leave also to mention Captain Hood, of the Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, commanding Second Battalion; Captain Clements, of the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, commanding Third Battalion, and Captain Bridges, of the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers, commanding First Bat- talion, who, though wounded on the first day, retained the command of his battalion throughout Page 245 CHAP. XXXII.] TilE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 245 I have the honor to unclose the sub-reports of the chiefs of batta1io~us, of the commander of the battery, and of the surgeon of the brigade. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. ST. C. MORTON, Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army, Chief Engineer Fourteenth Army Corps, Commanding Pioneer Brigade. Maj. C. GODDARD, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 11. Report of Capt. Lyman Bridges, commanding Pirst Battalion. HDQRS. FIRST BATTALION, PIONEER BRIGADE, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Stones River, near ]Uiurfreesborough, Tenn., Janu ary 5, 1863. CAPTAIN: In compliance with your order, I herewith furnish a report of the part this battalion took in the recent battle at this place. I have the honor to report that on the morning of December 30,11862, having completed the bridge at Stewarts Creek at 4 a. in., I received orders to hold my command in readiness to march at a moments notice. At 8 a. in., by your order, I moved seven companies, 600 strong, forward upon the i~Iurfreesborongh pike, throwing out an advance guard and flankers upon either side, three companies being upon special duty. At 10 a. in,, in accordance with orders received from you, I moved to the front and halted, awaiting your order. At 2 p. in. I moved my com- mand to the river, taking position upon the left of Captain Stokes Chicago Board of Trade Battery, and built an abatis from the river to- ward General Ilosecrans headquarters, as directed by you. At 4 a. in., December 31, I improved a ford across Stones River. At 7 a. m. our right wing having been overpowered, and the enemys advance being within 80 rods of my camp, I fell in with my command and followed Stokes battery, as previously ordered by iou. The battery having been ordered into position on the ridge between the pike and railroad, I forwarded my command in line of battle upon the left of Stokes bat- tery, the enemy having possession of the parallel ridge upon the opposite side of the pike, about 20 rods distant. At that crisis General ]Ilosecrans rode along our line, and ordered me to charge and take the knob upon the opposite side of the pike, he sending the same order to Captain Stokes battery. I moved one wing upon either side of the battery to the hill in good order. Soon after reaching the hill, General Rosecrans ordered me to occupy the skirt of woods upon my left. I moved my entire command upon the left of the battery, the Third Battalion of this brigade relieving my right wing, changing position to the left. The enemy continued a heavy fire of grape, canister, and musketry upon us as we advanced and they fell back. After gaining our new posi- tion, General Rosecrans rode to our front, and rallied the Twenty-first Ohio, First Kentucky, and Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, which had fallen back upon our right. At 12 in. the enemy, General McCOwns division, came down, upon the double-quick, with their standards flying, in splendid order. They were allowed to come within 300 yards, when the musketry of the entir Page 246 246 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. YA. [CHAr. XXXII. brigade and the battery opened with grape and canister a most deadly fire, which he retnrned as earnestly. The column reeled and fell back in disorder, their colors struck down and barely rescued. Lieutenant Ritchie~ Company A, of Third Ohio Detachment, was here wounded while encouraging his men. The number of killed and wounded left on the field tells how severe was his loss. Many of his wounded reached our lines during the day and night, all declaring that the 12 oclock charge was an expensive one for them. The enemy again rallied his forces at 5 p. in., advancing a brigade upon my left flank through a skirt of wood, attempting a surprise. My pickets being fired upon by the enemy, who took advantage of a train of ambulances being in the vicinity, firing upon ambulances and pickets indiscriminately, I ordered this battalion to change front and commence firing. Lieutenant Stevens, of Stokes battery, opened fire upon him simultaneously with grape and canister. Our new line fortunately rested upon the crest of the hill. Each volley b~ us thinned his ranks. He advanced, perhaps 40 paces, discharging repeated volleys of musketry, but his repulse was complete, and they PAl back to the wood, 1,000 yards in the rear, cursing their fate. Dozens of their wounded men, found within our lines of skirmishers, all corroborated each other in stating that a brigade was repulsed in attempting to take our position. He left 60 of his men upon the field. Lieutenant Smith, of Company B, in charge of my skirmishers, with his company captured 1 major, 1 cap- tain, and 30 men. I received a slight wound in my left leg, above the ankle, not so severe as to require me to leave the field. My command laid upon their arms during the night, holding the ground gained early in the morifing. Lieutenant Froelich, Twenty-second illinois, at daybreak next morn- ing, January 1, while in charge of the skirmishers of and in front of my command, reported a large force of the enemy assembling near to the left of the position to which he returned the l)revious evening. I rode to the front and left flank of my line of battle. The fog being very dense, the enemy could not be seen, but I could distinctly hear his com- mands, and being satisfied that he was advancing on my left, and there being no support between my left and the Murfreesborough pike I in- formed you of my information and. position. Receiving orders from you, I immediately changed front, my left resting upon the Murfrees- bororough pike. Captain Stokes m~ved his battery promptly upon my right. The sun had just risen, but the fog had not yet cleared. We took our position without accident. The enemy advanced within 500 yards and opened fire, as he supposed, upon our flank. A few mo- ~ return fire convinced him that we were not unaware of his move- ments. In half an hour he fell back behind his intrenchmeiit, remain- ing there during the day. No demonstration was made upon our front during the day. At 10 p. m. Colonel Buell relieved my command, and I moved, by your orders, 1 mile to the left and rear, having held the one position upon the front thirty-six hours without relief. At sunrise, January 2, the enemy charged upon our left center, cap- turing a section of a battery one-half mile in our immediate front, and were forcing our position. I moved my command, as ordered by you, to the left and front, my right resting on the Third Battalion of this brigade, and my left upon an open field near the river; remained an hour in line of battle; was then ordered to take a position at the bend of the river, 40 rods farther down; remained in position until 3 p. in., when, by your orders, I moved forward in good order to the support o Page 247 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 24? Stokes battery in the charge upon the hill, above the bend of the river, recently held by our left wing. Lieut. E. S. Dodd, acting lieutenant-colonel, was wounded in the leg with a 6-pounder ball while the battalion was taking its position. By your order, II moved forward in double-quick, forded the river, and charged up the hill; formed line of battle over the crest of the hill, my left wing occupying an oak ridge, as indicated by you. I remained in position an hour, until the several regiments that had done such gallant service rallied and formed in line of battle again. By your order I changed position, my right resting upon the river, my left occupying a front of woods, and supported by Stokes battery. Remained in position until 12 p. in., when I was ordered to move across the river. January 3, by your order, this battalion commenced building a mili. tary bridge at the lower bend of Stones River, which, I have the honor to inform you, is now completed and in use. It is with pleasure that I mention with the highest regard and praise the officers and men of this battalion, who all did their duty so promptly and nobly during the past terrible week. To Lient. George Turner, adjutant, I am under many obligations for repeated and timely assist- ance. Annexed is a list of the killed and wounded of this battalion.* I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, LYMAN BRIDGES, Captain, Commanding. Capt. JAMES ST. CLAIR MORTON, Chief IJn.qineer, Fourteenth Army Corps, Comdg. Pion~er Brig. No. 12. Report of Capt. Calvin Hood, commanding Second Battalion. IIDQRs. RIGHT BATTALION, PIONEER BRIGADE, Camp in the Field, January 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in the late battle by my battalion: On the morning of December 31 we were ordered to improve a ford of Stones River near camp. Soon after commencing work, we were fired upon by the enemys cavalry, and retired, as we were ordered not to remain under fire. At 9 a. m. we marched, and formed line of battle with the brigade between the railroad and pike, near the cedar woods. In front of us was hard fighting, when the enemy finally gave way, and our troops ad- vanced to the field beyond the cedars. We moved forward in line with the brigade, my battalion on the right, and took position about midway of the woods, and about 100 rods from the field. The troops in front of us there gave way, and regiment after regiment came through our lines entirely broken up. We here received orders from Captain Morton to fix bayonets and allow no stragglers to pass our lines, and to hold fire and give the enemy the cold steel. The retreating troops passed on our right, except the Seventy-ninth Indiana, whose commander rallied them on my right and rear. The Eleventh and Fourteenth Texas came on at * Embodied in revised statement p. 214 Page 248 248 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [ChAP. XXXII. a charge, and tried to flank our right, when my battalion changed positions by the right flank and fronted toward them. General Van Cleve here rode up from my right, and asked what troops we were, and said we must fall back. I here learned that a small part of hi~ com- mand ~s on my right and near the pike. I replied that I was ordered to hold this position at all hazards. I then ordered my men to lie down and wait until the enemy were well npon us. They then rose, gave them a volley, and charged with the Seventy.ninth Indiana, and drove them from the woods. Our loss here was 4 killed, including my orderly, Bennett Smith, Eleventh Michigan, who was shot from his horse beside me, and several wounded. Lieutenant Sherman, Twenty-fifth Illinois, was wounded in the arm, slightly, but did not leave the field. We remained nuder arms all night, with one company nuder Lieutenant Sands, Thirty-sixth Illi- nois, as advance picket, and brought from the field in front some 25 wounded men of our own and the enemys. Early in the morning of January 1, we changed position with the bri- gade to the front and center of our lines and on the brow of the hill. Here we remained all day under fire of the enemys sharpshooters, with continual fighting with their skirmishers, our skirmishers being nuder command of Lieutenant Sands. Late in the evening we were relieved by the Thirty-third Ohio, and retired beyond the brow of the hill and~ bivonacked. .1 then gave the immediate command to Lieutenant Hart- sough, Forty-ninth Ohio, acting lieutenant-colonel, as I had become so hoarse that I could not speak aloud. Early in the mornir~g of the 2d, while a part of my command were at fatigue duty, the enemy com- menced firing solid shot from the center at the battery in front of us and on the hill, but, shooting too high, their shot struck in front of us and ricochetted, and made bad work with us. Our men formed and marched forward to the snpport of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery, with shot falling among them thick and fast, and, as near as can be ascer- tained, 3 were killed and several wounded. Lieutenant Hartsough here had his horse shot nuder him, and the command fell upon Lieu- tenant Moore, Sixth Indiana, acting major, who commanded them gal- lantly. Firing soon ceased, and we remained upon the ground until late in the afternoon, when, as the enemy charged across the river upon General Kegleys division, we were ordered to his support, and my command charged across the river under Lieutenant Moore. My com- mand was ordered back, and, under the direction of General Thomas, worked all night in the rain on the rifle-pits in front, and without rations. With few exceptions, officers and men behaved gallantly, and on the 31st behaved like veterans and, taking into consideration that they are formed of detachments from forty different regiments, and have never drilled together in either company or battalion drilJs, moved in the face of the enemy splendidly. I would especially mention Lieutenant Moore Sixth Indiana acting major; Lieutenant Baker, Thirty-ninth Indianj, acting adjuta~nt, and Lieutenant Sands, Thirty-sixth Illinois, who rendered me valuable as- sistance throughout. Your obedient servant, CALVIN HOOD, Captain, Commanding Right Battalion. Capt. JAMES ST. CLAIR MORTON, Commanding Pioneer Brigade Page 249 CHAP. XXXII.] TIlE STONE~S RIVER CAMPAIGN. 249 No. 13. R~port of Capt. Robert Clements, commanding Third Battalion. HDQRS. CENTER BATTALION PIONEER BRIGADE, Near ]tfurfreesborough, Tenn., January 5, 1863. SIR: On the morning of December 30, 1862, my battalion was ordered by Capt. J. St. C. Morton to report to General iRosecrans. By 4 a. m. I reported my command to the front ready for duty, when I received orders from the commanding general to report to General Thomas, who ordered me to cut and clear several roads through the thick woods on the right of the pike and in front. We worked all day under the fire of the enemys guns, and by 5 p. m. cleared several roads for the pas- sage of artillery and infantry. At 6 p. m. I was relieved, and reported my battalion in camp some three-fourths of a mile to the rear, on the left of the Mnrfreesborough and Nashville pike. December 31, 1862, Company F, under charge of Acting Lieutenant- Colonel Lingeman, reported to General Kegley to finish the previous days work. Acting Major Stewart, with Companies A, D, I, and E, was ordered to the front of General Crittendens corps, to cut the east bank, a portion of it on Stones River, passable for troops. Reaching the river, they found it in possession of the rebels. Leaving a reserve of two companies on this side, in charge of Capt. A. K. Robinson, Major Stewart crossed with the balance of his men, and drove the enemy from the ground, and commenced work. At 8 a. m. heavy firing was heard on our right and in front of General Negleys division, immediately the left wing of our battalion was ordered to form line, and soon we were on the march toward the direction of the firing, that was becoming more terrific as we advanced. In the mean time Major Stewart was relieved by a portion of the Eleventh Brigade, General Van Cleves division, and, with the exception of Company F, our battalion moved forward under a fire from the enemys cannon, and supported Captain Stokes Chicago battery, that opened, from the top of a slight elevation on the left of the pike, a terrific shower of grape into the enemys ranks, who were at that moment driving our front line from the woods, on the right of the road, by heavy volleys of musketry. Soon the enemy were forced back, our troops advancing with the battery into an open field some 300 yards. By this time the rebels had renewed their fire, and were driving our advanced line, that had moved forward into a thick wood, panic-stricken, back upon my men, who were ordered by Captain Morton to fix bayo- nets and charge upon the first man attempting to pass the line. The order was promptly enforced, and soon ihundreds of confused stragglers were formed into line on our right, and, with the shower of shell and grape from our battery, succeeded in driving the enemy from the field. During the day my battalion ~was kept on the front, and at night threw forward Company II, as advanced pickets and skirmishers, some 400 yards. The night being very cold, and no fires allowed, the men suffered much from the want of blankets, as well as from the scarcity of rations, many of them having had nothing to eat since the previous night. At6a.m., January 1, I was ordered to change my line and support our battery, expecting an attack from the southeast, as it could be seen the enemy were advancing from the wood in that direction. My lin Page 250 250 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP; XXXII. was formed, and opened fire, together with the battery, that checked the enemys advance, and heavy skirmishing was kept np during the entire day. Benjamin L. Wagner, of Company C, woulided, was the only injury sustained by my men. At 9 p. m. my battalion was relieved and encamped, after thirty-six hours duty on the front, one-half mile toward the rear and on the left of the pike. At 7 a. in., January 2, the enemy commenced shelling our camp, hav- ing the night previous planted a battery in direct range of our camp fires. I soon deployed my men from column into line, and moved for- ward with the battery to a slight rise of ground, and ordered my bat- talion to lie down, so as to protect my line from the shot and shell that flew over us without doing much damage. Before I could get my bat- talion deployed, however, Sergt. John F. Burke, Twentieth Kentucky Volunteers, Corpl. Peter Wagonfr, One hundredth Illinois, and William Trimble, Third Kentucky Volunteers, were killed, and Samuel S. M. Blankenship, Ninth Kentucky Volunteers, John Desch, Eighty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, John C. Pelser, and Sergt. William Mason, Sixth Kentucky Volunteers, were wounded. The enemys guns being silenced, I was ordered to move my men by columns doubled in the center toward the rear, and remained under cover of wood near the river till 2.30 p. in., when a sudden attack by the enemy was made on General Van Cleves front. We were marched forward to the support of our battery. Reaching the top of a sn~all bluff I was ordered to halt my battalion. Orders were soon given, however, to advance, and we moved forward on a double-quick to the support of our front, who were obliged to fall back upon this side of the river nuder cover of our artillery, that was soon brought into position, and played with great execution upon the advancing columns of the enemy, who were repulsed by a heavy cross-fire from our guns. I was then ordered by General Negley to cross the river, and formed line just at dark on the ground occupied in the morning by the rebel skirmishers. In this position my men lay until 9 p. in., suffering much from wet feet and a rain, when we were ordered back and went into camp. January 3, an order came detailing 200 men for duty. The men, under charge of Lieut. Benjamin F. West, reported to the front, and threw up rifle-pits until 8 p. in., when relieved. January 4, after spending a cold and rainy night without tents and [on] half rations, I moved my battalion to the east 300 yards from camp, and on a bluff near Stones River, where I was ordered to throw up a heavy breastwork. While clearing the rubbish from an old building, Amos iloak, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteers, was killed by the falling of a heavy timber. At 4 p. m. I was relieved and ordered to report, January 5, to General Thomas, at Murfreesborough, the enemy having evacuated the town. I need not add that, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, to which my men were exposed during the whole engagement, having no tents, few blankets, and without half rations, they went forward to the prompt execution of every order and command with a cheerfulness and bravery commendable only to a l)rompt and efficient soldier. Respectfully, R. CLEMENTS, Capt. JAMES ST. CLAIR MORTON, Captain, Gommanding. Commanding Pioneer Brigade Page 251 CHAr. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 251 Ko. 14. Report of Capt. James lii. ,Stokes, Stokes illinois Battery. SToIs BATTERY, IN CAMP NEAR MURFREESBOROUG-H, January 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report that the battery under my command was called into action Wednesday morning, 31st ultimo, about 8 a. in., and at a time when the left of our right army corps, completely demor- alized, was under full retreat. The battery, by a terrific fire of canister, drove back the enemy, the infantry rallying under its fire. The battery then moved still farther to the front, and took a position commanding the approaches where our right had been dispersed. Under a fire, it is said, of three rebel batteries, well served, it held this key to our front during the entire day. About 4 p. m. a rebel brigade formed nuder cover of the woods to the right of the battery, and wes only known by a foolish discharge of musketry on one of our ambulances, picking up their wounded as well as ours. The battery, being charged with can- ister, opened upon this brigade, and, it is said by one of the wounded, entirely annihilated it. The killed and wounded prove the accuracy of the fire. This position was held through the night, until next evening. About 10 p. m. it was ordered to the rear to rest, having been thirty-six hours to the front. In this engagement the battery, with a strength of 98, all told, lost 3 privates killed; 1 officer, 3 non-commissioned officers, and 5 privates wounded, being 12 killed and wounded, or about one- eighth. On Friday, the 2d instant, the battery was again called into action, about 4 p. in., by the retreat and threatened destruction of our left. The battery, under the direction of the commanding general, moved to the front through the retreating infantry and artillery, and did not halt to go into battery until it had mov& d far beyond the front. The infantry again rallied nuder its fire. The battery opened a destructive fire of shell on the rebel battery, so destructive to our troops, completely silenc- ing and destroying it, so that several of its pieces were captured by our advancing infantry. The battery that night occupied the ground of this rebel battery. The commanding general, who witnessed the bearing of this gallant little band, will do justice to its discipline and bravery. All were brave; all nobly did their duty to their country. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servaiit, JAMES II. STOKES, Captain, Commanding Battery. Captain MORTON, Commanding Pioneer Corps, Army of the Cumberland. No. 15. Reports of Maj. Gen. Alexander ]~1eD. MeCook, U. S. Army, commanding Right Wing. HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING, One mile in advance of Nolensville, December 27, 1862. COLONEL: I am here with my wing in camp. There is very strong ground in front of my main camp. I have all the crests heavily de- fended. The eneuy resisted my advance all day with cavalry and arti Page 252 252 IV., MID. AND t~. rV1~NN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXIL lery. My casualties are very few. The One hundred and first Ohio charged one battery, and captured one gun and caisson, with teams. The men hi glorious spirits, and only want a chance. Kegley is here with his division. Geiieral Thomas sent a courier here; states that he is somewhere on the Wilsou pike. Hardee had a dance given him at Triune last night. A. MoD. MoCOOK, Colonel GARESCH1~. Major- General. HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING, December 27, 1862. COLONEL: The fog is so thick in these hills that I cannot see 300 yards in my fr~ont. I have ordered a halt until the fog rises. The en- emy have resisted our advance for 3 miles this morning, and have a battery posted on the hill in front to enfilade the road. One brigade of the enemy in Trinne; the other troops scattered on the Shelbyville road. A. MoD. MoCOOK, Colonel GARESCH~. Major-General. P. S.The firing you hear is the en~mys battery. I will apprise you when I move forward. Can do nothing intelligently now. HEADQUARTERS, Near Triune, December 27, 18623 p. m. GENERAL: The enemy, under ilardee, escaped me this morning in the fog; at times I could not see more than 50 yards. I had reliable infor- mation that ilardee was here in pe~on, and that his army lay in line of battle last night. I have yet to pursue them 6 miles before I can well determine whether they have retreated toward Mnrfreesborough or Slielbyville. Every prisoner I have taken has contradictory statements as to their destination. I will know to-night. Very respectfully, A. MoD. MoCOOK, Major-General THOMAS, Major- General. Commanding Center. HDQRS. RIGHT WING, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Triune, December 27, 1862-.-3 p. m. COLONEL: Hardee escaped me during the fog to-day. Some reports say he left last night; others, to-day. Our prisoners tell contradictory stories about them. They had two divisions here. I am pursuing with one division, and Stanley has started with his cavalry in pursuit. I will know and promptly inform you what road they have taken. It will be necessary for me to pursue 6 miles on the Shelbyville road to determine upon what road they have marched. From College Grove there is a dirt road running 4 miles and intersecting the Salem pike. My cavalry are all raw, but have done well to-day. General Rousseaus division did not get np until 12 m. to-day. The weather horrid. Captain Long will explain the country to you. A. MoD. MoCOOK, Major- General. Colonel GARESOH~, Chief of Staff Page 253 ChAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 253 IIDQRS. RIGHT WING, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPs, in Camp, Two and a half miles south of Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 8, 1863. MAJOR: In Compliance with telegraphic orders from the general com- manding, received at my camp, on Mill Creek, 5 miles south of Nash- ville, at 4.30 a. in., on the morning of December 26, 1862, 1 put the right wing of the Fourteenth Army Corps in motion toward Nolensville, Tenn. The First Division, Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis commanding, marched at 6 a. m. upon the Edmondson pike, with orders to move upon that road to Prims blacksmith-shop, from whence it was to march direct by a country road to Nolensville. The Third Division, Brig. Gen. Philip II. Sheridan commanding, also marched at 6 a. in., and upon the direct road to Nolensville. The Sec- ond Division, Brig. Gen. R. XV. Johnson commanding (the reserve of the right wing), followed the Third Division upon the direct road. The advance guards of Generals Davis and Sheridans columns en- countered the enemys cavalry about 2 miles beyond our picket line. There was continuous skirmishing with the enemy until the heads of these columns reached Nolensville. About 1 mile beyond the town the enemy made a determined stand, in a defile and upon a range of hills that cross the turnpike at this point, lining the slopes with skirmishers and placing a six-gun battery on a commanding position, endeavoring to repel our advance, He was at- tacked in front and his position handsomely turned by General Carlins brigade, of Davis division, capturing one piece of his artillery and sev- eral l)risoners. After-taking possession of the defile and hills, the com- mand was encamped. On the night of this day, I was visited by the general commanding, who gave me verbal orders to move forward in the morning to Triune, 7 miles distant, and attack llardee~ corps, supposed to be quartered at that place. At thia camp I was joined by Brig. Gen. D. S. Stanley, chief of cavalry, with the First and Second Tennessee Regiments, and the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Preparations were made to move forward at daylight, the cavalry under General Stanley in the advance followed by the Second Divis- ion, under General Johnson. It having rained all the day previous and the entire night, there was a dense fog, which prevented us from seeing 150 yards in any direction. The column having moved about 2 miles to the front, they again encountered the enemy, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The fog at this time being so thick that friend could not be distinguished from foe, and our cavalry having been fired upon by our infantry skirmishers, on the flanks, the enemy being conversant with the ground, my troops strangers to it, and from prisoners captured h ving learned that Hardees corps had been in line of battle since the night before, I did not deem it prudent to advance until the fog lifted, and I ordered the command to halt until the work could be done understandingly. The fog having lifted at 1 p. in., an advance was immediately ordered, driving the enemys cavalry before us. On nearing Triune, we found that the main portion of their forces had retired, leaving a battery of six pieces, supported by cavalry, to contest the crossing of Nelsons Creek, which has steep and bluff banks. The enemy having destroyed the bridge, it was with difficulty that artillery could be crossed. On the approach of our skirmishers, the battery, with the cavalry, took flight down the Bagleville road, It now being nearl Page 254 254 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL dark, and a severe and driving rain-storm blowing, they were pursued no farther. Johnsons division crossed and encamped beyond Nelsons Creek, re- pairing the destroyed bridge. On the morning of the 28th instant I ordered out a strong reconnais- sance, under Brigadier-General Willieh,to learn whether the enemy had retired to Shelbyville or Murfreesborongh. Pursuing 7 miles down the Shelbyville road, it was found that the enemy had turned to the left, having taken a dirt road which led into the Salem pike, thence to Mar- freesborough. Leaving the Third Brigade of Johnsons division at Triune, I marched, on the 29th, with my command on the Bole Jack road toward Murfrees- borough. The road being a very bad one, the command did not reach Wilkinsons Cross-Roads (5 miles from tVlurfreesborough) until late in the evening. My command was encamped in line of battle; Sheridans division on the left of Wilkinsons pike; Davis division on right of same road; Woodruffs brigade guarding the bridge over Overalls Creek; the two brigades of Johnsons division watching the right. On that evening, believing that the enemy intended giving our army battle at or near Murfreesborough, I ordered the brigade left at Triune to join the command without delay, which it did on the 30th. At 1 oclock on the morning of the 30th I received an order from General IRosecrans to report in person at his headquarters, on the Mur- freesborough pike, and arrived there at 3.30 a. m. I received my in- structions, which were that the left of my line should rest on the right of General Negleys division, and my right was to be thrown forward nntil it became parallel, or nearly so, with Stones River, the extreme right to rest on or near the Franklin road. My entire command advanced at 9.30 a. in., Sheridans division mov- ing down the Wilkinson turnpike until its advance encountered the enemys pickets. The line of battle was then formed, the left of Sher- idans division resting upon the Wilkinson pike and immediately upon General Kegleys right; the remainder of Sheridans division was de- ployed to the right, the line running in a southeasterly direction. Davis division, which had already been deployed, moved up, his left resting npon Sheridans right, Johnsons division being held in reserve. Our front was covered with a strong line of skirmishers, who soon be- came sharply en~,aged with the enemys sharpshooters and skirmishers. The line moved forward but slowly, as the enemy contested stubbornly every inch of ground gained by us. The ground was very favorable to them; they were under cover of a heavy wood and cedar thicket. At 12 m. on the 30th the house of a Mr. Harding came within our lines. From that point I ascertained where the enemys line of battle was, our skirmishers being then about 500 yards from it. The right, under General Davis, moved handsomely, but slowly, into position, as the ground over which he had to march was hotly contested by the enemys skirmishers. At 1 p. m. word was sent to General D. S. Stanley, chief of cavalry, that Colonel Zahm, commanding three regiments of cavalry on my right flank,was hard pressed by a superior force. I ordered one brigade of my reserve division to report to General Stanley, who conducted it to the Franklin road. On his approach the enemy, pressing Colonel Zahm, retired, and the brigade was ordered back to its former position. At 2 p. m. a citizen living on the Franklin road, and about one-half mile in front of the enemys line of battle, was sent me under guard b Page 255 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 255 General Stanley. He reported as follows: I was up to the enemys line of battle twice yesterday and once this morning, to get some stock, taken from me. The enemys troops are posted in the following manner: The ri~bt of Cheathams division rests on the Wilkinson pike; Withers is on Cheathams left, with his left resting on the Franklin road; Hardees corps is entirely beyond that road, and his left extending toward the Salem pike. This man was sent immediately to the general commanding, and subsequently returned to me, with the report that his information had been received. I also sent a report to the general commanding by my aide-dc-camp, Capt. Horace N. Fisher, that the right of my line rested directly in front of the enemys center. This made me anxious for my right. All my division commanders were immediately informed of this fact, and two brigades of the reserve division, commanded, respectively, by Generals Willich and Kirk, two of the best and most experienced brigadiers in the army, were ordered to the right of my line, to protect the right flank and guard against surprise there. At 6 p. m. I received an order from the general commanding to have large and extended camp-fires made on my right, to deceive the enemy, making them believe that we were massing troops there. This order was communicated to General Stanley, commanding cavalry, and car- ried into execution by Maj. B. H. Kodine, Twenty.tlfth Illinois, engineer officer of my staff. On the evening of the 30th, the order of battle was nearly parallel with that of the enemy, my right slightly refused, and my line of battle in two lines. Two brigades of the reserve re-enforced the right of the line, and the Third Brigade, of the reserve, was posted in column about 800 yards in rear of the right. On the evening of the 30th, Sheridans left rested on the Wilkinson road, on the right of Kegleys division, and the line then ran in a south- - easterly direction through an open wood; thence in front of and partly through a cedar thicket, until General Davis right rested near the Franklin road. Kirks brigade was on Davis right, Willichs brigade placed on a line nearly perpendicular t& the main line, forming a crotchet to the rear, to avoid the possibility of my right being turned by any. thing like an equal force. My line was a strong one, open ground in front for a short distance. My instructions for the following day were received at about 6.30 p. m. on the 30th, which were as follows: Take a strong position; if the enemy attacks you, fall back slowly, refusing your right, contesting the ground inch by incb. If the enemy does not attack you, you will attack him, not vigorously, but warmly; the time of attack by you (General Mc. Cook) to be Jesignated by the general commanding. I was also informed that Crittendens corps would move simulta- neously with my attack into Murfreesborough. Written instructions were sent by me to each division commander on the night of the 30th, explaining to each what would be required of them on the 31st. At about 6.30 a. in., on the 31st, a determined and heavy attack was made upon Kirks and Willichs brigades, on the extreme right. They were attacked by such an overwhelming force that they were compelled to fall back. General Kirk being seriously wounded at the first fire upon his main line, General Willich having his horse killed early in the action, and he falling into the hands of the enemy, the two brigades were deprived of their immediate commanders, and gave way in con- fusion. Colonel Posts brigade, on the right of Davis division, and, in fact, my entire line to Sheridans left, was almost simultaneousl Page 256 256 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL attacked by a heavy force of the enemy. The attack in front of Davis and Sheridan was repulsed several times, and had not the heavy turn- ing columns of the enemy on my right succeeded so well, my line could have been maintained, and the enemy driven back to his barricades, which extended from the Wilkinson pike, with but a short interval, three-fourths of a mile beyond the Franklin road. General Sheridans division was ably maneuvered by him, under my own eye. As soon as it became evident that my lines would be compelled to give way, orders were given to reform my line in the first skirt of timber in rear of my first position. The enemy advancing so rapidly upon my right, I found this impossible, and changed the l)ointof reforming my line to the high ground in rear of the Wilkinson pike. Moving to the left of my line, and in rear of ~ division, I here met General Rousseau in a cedar wood, posting his division to repel the attack. I then ordered my line to fall still farther back, and forni on the right of Rousseau. I gave General Johnson orders, in person, to form his division in rear of Rousseau. Rousseaus division having been withdrawn to the open ground in rear of the cedar woods, the last position became untenable, and my troops were retired to the Nashville pike, where my wing, ex- cept Schaefers brigade, of Sheridans division, was reassembled and replenished with ammunition. On arrival at the pike, I found Colonel Harkers brigade, of Woods division, retiring before a heavy force of the enemy. I immediately ordered Robertsi brigade, of Sheridans division, to advance into a cedar wood, and charge the enemy and drive him back. Although this brigade was much reduced in numbers, and having but two rounds of cartridges, it advanced to the charge, under the gallant Colonel Bradley, driving the enemy back with the bayonet, capturing two guns and 40 prisoners, and securing our communication en the Murfreesborough pike at this point. This brigade is composed of the Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, Forty-second, and Fifty-first Illinois Volunteers. The Twenty-seventh particularly distinguished itself. About 11 a in., Col. Moses B. Walkers brigade arrived upon the field, and reported to me for duty. They were assigned to General Sheridans command, to whose report I refer for the good conduct of his brigade. On the afternoon of the 31st, the right wing assumed a strong position, its left, composed of Walkers brigade, resting near a commanding knoll, its line running nearly northwest along the slope of a ridge, cov- ered with cedar growth, the right resting upon the Murfreesborough pike. On the slope strong barricades were erected, which could well have been defended by single lines. The second line and Gibsons bri- gade (late Willichs) was used as a reserve. The right wing, excepting Davis division and Gibsons brigade, did not participate in any general engagement after the 31st. fhere was constant skirmishing in my front until the night of the 3d. On the 4th, the enemy left his position in front of the right, and evac- uated Murfreesborough owthe night of the same day. On the 6th, the right wing marched to its present camp, 2~ miles south of Murfreesborough, on the Shelbyville pike. The reports of Generals Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan divisi manders, are herewith inclosed. on com Accompanying General Johnsons report you will find the reports of the brigade, regimental, and ba4ttery commanders, carefully prepared. I have been thus particular, on account of the commanding generals dispatch to the General-in-Chief2, and also from erroneous reports sent to the public by newspaper correspondents Page 257 CHAP. XXXILJ THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 257 The attention of the general commanding is particularly called to Colonels Gibson and Dodge; also to Lieutenant-Colonel Jones report, who commanded the pickets in front of Willichs brigade. Captain Ed~arton, commanding battery of Kirks brigade, certainly was guilty of a grave error in taking even a part of his horses to water at such an hour. He is in the hands of the enemy; therefore no report can be had from him at present. Jn strict compliance with my orders, and the knowledge I possessed of the position of the enemy, which was communicated to my superior, also to the generals under my command, I could not have made a better disposition of my troops. On subsequent examination of the field, I found the statements of the citizen, referred to in my report, correct, as the barricades exten(led fully three-fourths of a mile beyond the Franklin road. I am well satisfied that llardee~ corps, supported by McCowns divis- ion (late of Kirby Smiths corps), attacked Kirks and Willichs brigades. About the same time Withers (livision attacked Davis, and Cheat- hams division attacked Sheridan. Cheathams and Withers divisions composed General Polks corps. I was in the rear of the center of my line when this attack commenced; therefore I did not see all the column that attacked and turned my right; but it can be safely estimated that the rebel force outnumbered ours three to one. After leaving my line of battle, the gronnd in rear was, first, open fields; second, woods; then a dense cedar thicket; and over such ground it was almost impos- sible for troops to retiVe in good order, particularly when assailed by snperior numbers. My ammunition train, under the charge of my efficient ordnance officer, Capt. Gates P. Thruston, First Ohio Volunteers, was at an early hour ordered to take a position in rear of the center of my line. It was there attacked by the enemys cav lry, which was handsomely repulsed by a detachinetit of cavalry, nuder the direction of Capt. II. Pease, of General Davis staff, and Capt. G. P. Thruston, ordnance officer. The train was conducted safely to the Nashville pike, Captain Thruston cutting a road through the cedar wood for the passage of the train. To Brig. Gens. B. W. Johnson, Philip II. Sheridan, and Jefferson C. Davis I return my thanks for their gallant conduct upon the (lays of the battles, and for their prompt support and conscientious attention to duty during their service in the right wing. I commend them to my superiors and my country. To Brig. Gen. D. S. Stanley, chief of cavalry, my thanks are particu- larly due. He commauded my advance from Nolensville and directed the cavalry on my right flank. A report of the valuable services of our cavalry will be furnished by General Stanley. I commend him to my superiors and my country. For the particular instances of good conduct of individuals, I refer you to rhe reports of division commanders. I cannot remrain from again calling the attention of my superiors to the conspicuous gallantry and untiring zeal of Col. W. H. Gibson, of the Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteers. He succeeded to the command of Willichs brigade, and was ever prompt to dash upon the enemy with his gallant brigade when opportunity permitted. I have repeatedly recommended him for promotion. He has again won additional claims to his reward. Colonel Harker, commanding a brigade of Woods division, performed gallant service, under my supervision, as also did Colonel Fyffe, of the Fifty-ninth Ohio. They are commended to my superiors. 17 R RVOL XX~ PT Page 258 258 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXTh To my staff, Lieat. Col. E. Bassett Langdon, inspector-general; Maj. IR. II. Nodine, engineer officer; Maj. J. A. Campbell, assistant adjutant- general; Capt. Gates P. Thruston, ordnance officer; Capt. B. D. Will- iams, a~le-de-camp; Capt. J. F. Boyd, assistant quartermaster; Capt. Orris Blake, provost-marshal; Maj. Caleb Bates, volunteer aide-dc- camp, and Capt. horace N. Fisher, volunteer aide-de-camp and topo- graphical engineer, my thanks are due for their conspicuous gallantry and intelligence on the field. My escort, under command of Lieutenant Thickstun, Second Kentucky Cavalry, and my orderlies behaved gal- lantly. When my horse was shot, Orderly Cook, of the Second Indiana, promptly replaced him with his own. The officers of the Signal Corps were ever, ready to perform any service in their line or as aides. The report of Surg. C. McDermont, the medical director of the right wing, is also submitted. Surgeon McDermonts gallantry on the field, and his great care for the wounded, is worthy of great praise. My entire medical corps behaved nobly, except Asst. Surg. W. S. Fish, of the Third Indiana Cavalry, who fled to Nashville. He is rec- ommended for dismissal. The casualties of my wing are 542 killed and 2,334 wounded.* The nation is again called to mourn the loss of gallant spirits who fell upon this sanguinary field. First of these, Brig. Gen. J. W. Sill, com - manding First Brigade, Third Division. He was noble, conscientious in the discharge of every duty, and brave to a fault. He had no ambi- tion save to serve his country. lie died a Christian soldier, in the a~t of repulsing the enemy. Such names as Roberts, Schaefer, llarrington, Stem, Williams, Read, Housum, Drake, Wooster, and McKee, all field officers, and many other commissioned officers of the right wing, who fell vindicating their flag, will never be forgotten by a grateful country. Complete lists of the killed and wounded will be furnished from each regiment. There will be a map of the field sent forward to-morrow. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. MoD. McCOOK, Major-General of Folunteers, Commanding Right Wing. Maj. C. GODDARD, Chief of Staff, Fourteenth Army Corps. No. 16. Report of Sury. Clarke MieDermont, U. S. Army, Medical Director. MEDICAL DIRECTORS OFFICE, RIGHT WING, ]Ifurfreesborough, Tenn., January 14, 1863. SIR: I transmit, for the information of the commanding general, the accompanying report of the casualties that occurred in the right wing during the late battle of Murfreesborough: While the loss of so many brave men must be a source of profound sorrow to the general, it will afford him some satisfaction to know that the wounded were not neglected. Throughout the severe and protracted struggle our surgeons exerted their utmost energies in alleviating the sufferings and promoting the comfort of their unfortunate brethren, and * But see revised statement, pp. 207209 Page 259 CHAP. XXXIL] THE STONE S~RIVER CAMPAIGN. 259 succeeded, as far as it was possible to do so with the means at their disposal. When, on the second day of the battle, it became evident that the territory occi~pied by our hospitals would fall in possession of the enemy, I directed a sufficient number of surgeons and attendants to remain in charge, and not to desert the wounded in any event. These officers were exposed to much danger, as the contending armies swept past; but they remained faithfully at their posts, and were unceasing in their attentions to the wounded during the three days that elapsed before the recovery of this territory by our troops. The enemy took from them a large portion of the medical and hos- pital stores and instruments, and our men were compelled to seek for dressing materials, bedding, & c., among the families in the rear of the lines. Much kind assistance was received from citizens in the vicinity, and iio violence was experienced at the hands of the Confederate sol- diers. It affords me much pleasure to bear testimony to the efficiency and self denial of the medical officers of the right wing. During that long week of hardship and exposure they labored day and night, regardless of their own safety and comfort, and only anxious for the well-being of the wounded intrusted to their care. I have the honor to remain, your most obedient servant. C. McDET~MOiNT, Major iS~urg. U. ~. Vols., Medical Director, Right Wing, 14th A. C. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen., RigI~t Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps. General summary of casuatijes of Bight Wing. Regiments. C 0 -~ FIRST DIVISION. 22d Indiana. 46 5th Wisconsin Battery 1 7 8 15th Wisconsin 15 72 87 74th illinois 8 33 41 59th Illinois 35th illinois 11 53 64 25th Illinois 16 79 95 75th Illinois 2 22 24 21st illinois 47 198 245 2d Minnesota Battery 2 5 7 81st Indiana 6 48 54 101st Ohio 18 125 143 8th Wisconsin Battery 1 4 5 38th illinois 34 110 144 Total 175 838 1,013 SECOND DIVISION. 49th8hio 16 96 i12 17 96 113 93d Ohm 12 41 53 1st 8 38 46 39th Indiana 30 109 139 32d Indiana. 12 41 53 6th 15 52 67 30th Indiana 29 100 129 29th Indiana 4 22 26 89th Illinois 10 45 ~ 79th IlliDois 19 9 Page 260 260 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., IPALA~, AND SW. VA. ECHAP. XXXII. General summary of casualttes of Bight WingContinued. Q Regiments. .~ 0 SECOND DIVIsIONContinued. 34th Illinois 5th Kentucky Bail ery A, First Ohio Artillery 5th indiana Battery 77th Pennsylvania Total THIRD DIVISION. 36th Illinois 88th Illinois 24th Wisconsin 21st Michigan 42d Illinois 22d illinois 51st Illinois 27th Illinois 73d Illinois 44th Illinois 15th Missouri 2d Missouri 4th Indiana Battery 1st Missouri Artillery, Company G 1st Illinois Artillery, Company C Total Aggregate 18 18 1 3 4 216 45 15 19 18 21 25 6 8 22 6 14 2 5 6 5 217 608 Respectfully forwarded. A. MCD. McCoon, Mejor.Geslercel, Commanding. C. McDERMONT, Surgeon V. S. Volunteers, Medical Director of Right Wing. General summary of killed and wounded at the battle of Stones River, near Murfreesborough, Tenn.,from December 30,1862, to January 3, 1863, of Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, Department of the Ciemberland. FIRST DIVISION. (JOHN L. TEED, medical director.) a Regiments. 0 38th Illinois 34 22d Indiana 7 5th Wisconsin Battery 1 15th Wisconsin 15 74th Illinois 8 59th Illinois 7 35th Illinois 11 25th Illinois 16 2d Minnesota Battery 2 75th Illinois 2 81st Indiana 6 101st Ohio 18 21st Ilhinois* 8th Wisconsin Battery . . 1 Total 128 110 .39 7 72 33 43 53 79 5 22 48 125 4 640 * NQV reported~ 100 80 S 18 29 952 159 55 58 84 109 88 48 55 52 34 44 22 16 13 20 857 2,647 118 98 6 21 33 1, 168 204 70 77 102 130 113 54 63 74 40 58 24 21 19 25 1, 074 3, 255 144 46 8 87 41 50 64 95 7 24 54 143 76 Page 261 SflhI3~ STONES RIVER OAMPAIG~{. General summary of killed and wounded at the battle of Stones SECOND DIVISION. (S. MARKS, medical director.) River, 4-c.Continued. 5 9 Regiments. ~ ~ 34th Illinois 18 100 118 77th Pennsylvania 4 28 32 79th Illinois 19 80 99 30th Indiana 29 100 129 6th Indiana . 15 52 67 1st Ohio... 8 38 46 93d Ohio 12 41 53 5th Kentucky 18 80 98 32d Indiana 12 8 20 39th Indiana 30 109 139 15th Ohio 17 106 123 1st Ohio Artillery, Battery A 1 5 6 89th Illinois 10 45 55 49th Ohio 16 96 112 5th Indiana Battery 3 18 21 Total 212 906 1,118 THIRD DIVISION.* (D. J. GRIFFITHS, medical director.) 88th flllnois . 15 55 70 21st Michigan 18 84 102 36th Illinois 45 159 204 27th lllinois ~ 35 ~ 24th Wisconsin 19 58 77 51st flulnois 6 48 54 22d Illinois 25 88 113 42d Illinois 21 109 130 44th Illinois 6 34 40 73d Illinois 22 52 74 2d . Missouri 2 22 24 15th Missouri 14 44 58 Total 202 788 990 General summary of Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, Department of the Cumberland (C. McDermont, medical director). a 9 Divisions. ~ ~ First Division.. 128 640 768 Second Division 212 906 1, 118 Third Division 202 788 990 Total 542 2,334 2,876 Ko. 17. Report of Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, liT. S. Army, commanding First Division. IIDQRS. 1ST DIVIsION, J2~IGHT WING, 14TH ARMY CORPS, Jan~uary , 1863. MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the division nnder my command in the recent operations * This division reports no batteries. CiIAP. XkXII. I 26 Page 262 262 iCY., ~im AND E. PENN., N. ALA.~ AND SW. VA. V~HAP. ~Nt1. against the enemys forces in the vicinity of Triune and Murfreesbor- ough: On the morning of the 245th ultimo, in coin pliance with instructions received from the general commanding the right wing, I broke up camp at Saint James Chapel, on Mill Creek, and advanced upon Nolensville, via the Edmondsoii pike, as far as Prims blacksmith shop; from. thence my advance was over a rugged country road, rendered almost impassa- ble by the incessant rain, which had been falling in torrents during the entire morning. The enemy~s J)ickets were discovLred by my cavalry escort, composed of Company B, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, under command of Cap- tain Sherer, within a few miles of our camp. This small force of cavalry being the only mounted force under my command, I ordered them to the front, with instructions to drive in the enemys pickets, and to attack him on his flanks at every opportunity. So effectually was this done, that the infantry and artillery were enabled to move with little inter- ruption to within a mile of Nolensville. By this time I had learned, from reliable information, through citizens as well as cavalry scouts, that the enemy occupied the town in some force, both of cavalry and artillery. The First Brigade, consisting of the Twenty-second Indiana, Seventy- fourth, Seventy-fifth, and Fifty-ninth Illinois Regiments, and the Fifth Wisconsin Battery, commanded by Col. P. Sidney Post, was immedi- ately deployed for an advance upon the town. Pinneys (Fifth Wiscon- sin) battery was posted so as to command the town and all approaches from the southwest. The enemys cavalry was seen by this time taking position on a range of hills southwest of the town, and was evidently attempting to flank our position. A few shells from Pinneys battery soon caused them to fall back. A battery, which by this time they had succeeded in getting into position, opened fire, but was, after a few rounds, silenced by Pinneys guns. The Second Brigade, consisting of the Twenty-first and Thirty-eighth Illinois, Fifteenth Wisconsin, and One hundred and first Ohio Regi- ments, and the Second Minnesota Battery, commanded by Colonel Car- lin, had by this time formed a line of battle on Posts right, and, moving rapidly forward, soon engaged the enemys dismounted cavalry in a sharp skirmish. Tho Third Brigade, consisting of the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-fifth Illinois, Eighty-first Indiana Regiments, and the Eighth Wisconsin Battery, commanded by Colonel Woodruff, was deployed on the right, so as to check any effort which might be made to attack my flank from this direction. Carhin advanced in excellent order, driving everything before him, until ordered to halt, having dislodged the enemy from his position entirely. By this time I ascertained that the enemy would probably make an- other effort to resist our advance about 2 miles fartherou; and, not- withstanding it was late in the afternoon, and the men were much fatigued from a hard days march through rain and mud, I could not forego the opportunity thus offered in giving them another chance to signalize their courage and endurance. Ascertaining the enemy~s exact position as well as I could, I ordered the advance. Their lines were soon discovered, occupying a range of high, rocky hills, through which the Kolensville and Triune pike passes, known as Knob Gap. This was a favorable position to the enemy, and well guarded by artillery, which opened fire at long range upon Carlins lines. llotchkiss and Pinneys batteries were rapidly brought int Page 263 ~jI{AP. XXXIt.J THE SPONE~S R1VtI~ CANIPAIGN. 2~33 action and opened fire, while Carlins brigade charged the battery, car- ried the heights in his front, ~nd captured two guns. Posts brigade carried the heights on the left of the road with but little resistance, while Woodrijifs brigade drove in the enemys skirmishers on the ex- treme right. The day had now closed, and I ordered the troops to bivouac, in ac- cordance with instructions from the general commanding, who arrived at this time upon the ground, followed by Generals Sheridans and John- sons divisions. The steady courage and soldierly zeal displayed on this occasion by both officers and men gave ample assurances of what could be expected of them in the coming struggle at Murfreesborough. On the 27th, in accordance with the generals instructions, the divis- ion took position at the junction of the Bole Jack road with the No- lensville pike, 1 mile from Triune, where it remained in bivouac until the morning of the 29th, at which time the advance was resumed. In compliance with instructions I moved forward on the Bole Jack road as far as Stewarts Creek, a few miles beyond which it was reported by our cavalry the enemy had shown himself in considerable force. The general commanding arriving at this time in person at the head of the column, ordered a halt until the divisions in rear could be brought up. Brigadier-General Stanley, commanding the cavalry in advance, soon reported the road clear, and the march was resumed without obstruc- tion until the entii2e command reached the Wilkinson pike, 6 miles from Murfreesborongh. The division bivouacked during the night at Over- alls Creek, 34 miles from Murfreesborongh, the left brigade resting on the Wilkinson pike. On the morning of the 30th the division moved forward and took position on General Sheridans right, about 300 yards south of and par- allel to the Wilkinson pike, in which position it remained until 2 p. m. A few companies of skirmishers thrown to the front in a skirt of tim- bered land soon found those of the enemy, and for several hours a brisk skirmish was kept np with varying results. About 2 p in. the general commanding ordered a general advance of the whole line. This the enemy seemed at first disposed to resist only with his skirmishers; gradually, however, as both parties strengthened their lines of skir- mishers, the contest became more animated. Our main lines steadily advanced, occupying and holding the ground gained by the skirmish- ers until about half an hour before sunset, when the enemys position was plainly discerned, running diagonally across the old Murfreesbor- ough and Franklin road. The enemys batteries now announced our close proximity to their lines. Carpenters and Hotchkiss batteries were soon brought into position and opened fire. Woodruffs and Carlins brigades by this time felt the fire of the enemys main lines, and responded in the most gal- lant manner. Posts brigade, moving steadily forward on the right, after a most obstinate resistance on the part of the enemy, succeeded in driving his skirmishers from a strong position in our front, forcing them to retire upon his main lines. Night soon brought~ a close to the contest. Receiving directions at this time from General McCook to desist from any further offensive demonstration further than what might be neces- sary to hold my position, I ordered the troops to rest for the night on their arms. Two brigades of General Johnsons division, heretofore held in reserve, arrived and took position on my right, about sunset, thus extending our line of battle beyond the old Franklin and Mu Page 264 264 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XkXI1 freesborough road. These brigades were commanded by Generals Will- ich and Kirk. The night passed off quietly until about daylight, when the enemys forces.were observed by our pickets to be in motion. Their object could not, however, with certainty, be determined until near sunrise, when a vigorous attack was made upon Willichs and Kirks brigades. These troops seemed not to have been fully prepared for the assault, and, with little or no resistance, retreated from their position, leaving their artillery iu the hands of the enemy. This left my right brigade exposed to a flank movement, which the enemy was now rapidly exe cuting, and compelled me to order Posts brigade to fall back and par- tially change its front. Simultaneous with this movement the enemy commenced a heavy and very determined attack on both Carlins and Woodruff 5 brigades. These brigades were fully prepared for the at- tack, and received it with veteran courage. The conflict was fierce in the extreme on both sides. Our loss was heavy and that of the enemy no less. It was, according to my observations, the best contested point of the day, and would have been held, but for the overwhelming force moving so persistently against my right. Carlin, finding his right flank being so severely pressed, and threatened with being turned, ordered his troops to retire. Woodruffs brigade succeeded in repulsing the enemy and holding its position ~until the withdrawal of the troops on both its flanks com- pelled it to retire. Pinneys battery, which I had posted in an open field upon my extreme right, and ordered to be supported by a part of Posts brigade, now opened a destructive fire upon the enemys advane- ing lines. This gallant and distinguished b~ittery, supported by the Twenty-second Indiana and Fifty-ninth Illinois Regiments, together with a brigade of General Johnsons division, commanded by Colonel Baldwin, Sixth Indiana Volunteers, for a short time brought the enemy to a check on our right. llotchkiss battery had also by this time taken an excellent position near the Wilkinson pike, so as to command the enemys approach across a large cotton-field in his front, over which he was now advancing. The infantry, however, contrary to expectations, failed to support this battery, and, after firing a few rounds, was forced to retire. In accordance with instructions received during the night, announc- ing the plan of operations for the day, I desisted from any further at- tempts to engage the enemy, except by skirmishers thrown to the rear for that purpose, until my lines had reached within a few hundred yards of the Nashville and Murfreesborough pike, when I again determined to form my lines and resist his further advance. To this order but few of the regiments responded, their ranks being much thinned by killed and wounded; and not a few had availed themselves of the favorable oppor- tunity ofl~red by the dense woods, through which we were compelled to pass, to skulk like cowards from the ranks. The reserve forces here moved to the front, and relieved my command from any further partici- pation in the engagement until late in the afternoon, when, in compliance with instructions, I took position on the right. My skirmishers were im- mediately thrown out, and soon en gaged the enemys, until night brought a close to hostilities for the day. During the 1st and 2d of January the division occupied this position in skirmishing with the enemys pickets, until late in the afternoon of the 2d, when I received orders from General Rosecrans to hasten to the support of a part of General Crittendens command, who had been fo Page 265 (jHAV. XXXII.) ~C1IE ~T~NES RIVER CAi~flAI~IN. some time hotly engaged with the enemy across the river, on our ex- treme left. Moving as rapidly as possible across the river to the field of battle, I found our gallant troops forcing the enemy back on his reserves. The brigade of Colonel Woodruff, being in the advance, only arrived in time to participate in the general engagement. After relieving the troops of General Palmer and Colonel Beatty, and particularly the brigade of Colonel ilazen, which had so nobly vindi- cated their courage in the then closing conflict, I ordered a heavy line of skirmishers to be thrown out. The enemys lines were soon en- countered, and a renewal of the engagement seemed imminent. A few rounds of grape and canister from one of our batteries, however, caused them to withdraw, and night again brought a cessation of hostilities. During the night Ii disposed of my troops in snch manner as would best enable me to repel an attack, and, in compliance with instructions, I directed rifle-pits and breastworks to be thrown np. This was done, and morning found us well prepared for any emergency, either offen- sive or defensive. The following day (January 3) considerable skirmishing was kept up, without abatement, from early in the morning until dark. During the night I received orders from General Crittenden to with- draw my command from the east bank of the river, and to report with it to General McCook. This movement was executed between the hours of 1 and 4 oclock in the morning, during which time the rain fell in- cessantly. The pickets about this time reported the enemy as having been very active in their movements during the latter part of the night, and their convictions that he was evacuating his position. Farther observations, made after daylight, found this to be the case. The following list of casualties shows a loss in the division during the several engagements above described as follows: Commissioned officers: Killed 16 Wounded Missing. 2 Enlisted men: Killed 176 Wounded 784 Missing --. 399 Total killed, wounded, and missing. ~1, 411 The division lost three pieces of artillery and captured two. In the list of officers killed are the names of Colonel Stem, One hundred and first Ohio; Colonel Williams, Twenty-fifth Illinois; Lieutenant-Colonel Wooster, One hundred and first Ohio~ Lieutenant-Colonel McKee, Fif- teenth Wisconsin; Captain Carpenter, Eighth Wisconsin Battery, and Captain McCnlloch, Second Kentucky Cavalry, of my staff, whose noble deeds of valor on the field had already placed their names on the list of brave men. The history of the war will record no brighter names, and the country will mourn the loss of no more devoted patriots, than these. Among the wounded are Colonel Alexander, Twenty-first Illinois; Lieutenant-Colonel Tanner, Twenty-second Indiana; Captain Pinney, Fifth Wisconsin Battery, and Captain Austin, acting assistant adjutant- general, on the staff of Colonel Woodruff, whose names it affords me special gratification to mention. * But see revised statement, pp. 207, 208 Page 266 KY., MID. AND E. 1ENN., N. ALA., AND ~W. VA. [CHAP. X~x1t From December 26 until the close of the engagement, on the 4th of January, at Murfreesborough, no entire day elapsed that the division, or some part of it, did not engage the enemy. During a great part of the time the weather was excessively inclement, and the troops suffered muchfrom exposure. A heavy list of casualties and much suff~rin g were unavoidable, under the circumstances. It affords me pleasure, however, to be able to report the cheerful and soldierlike manner in which these hardships and privations were en- dured by the troops throughout. History will record and the country reward their (leeds. My staff, consisting of Lient. T. W. Morrison, acting assistant adju- taut-general; Capt. II. Pease, inspector-general; Captain McCulloch, aide-dc-camp (killed); Licut. Francis E. Reynolds, aide-dc-camp; Lient. Thomas II. Dailey, aide-dc-camp; Surg. J. L. Teed, medical director; Captain Shriver, ordnance officer; Lient. R. Plunket, provost-marshal, and Private Frank Clark, clerk to the assistant adjutant-general and acting aide-dc-camp, deported themselves throughout the entire cam- paign, as well as on the battle-field, with distinguished zeal and con- spicuous gallantry. While expressing my high regard and appreciation of the general commanding, I desire also to tender my thanks to yourself major, and to Colonel Langdon, Major Bates, Captains Thruston, Williams, and Fisher, of his staff, for the prompt and efficient manner in which the field duties were performed by them. During the several engagements in which the division participated the conduct of many subaltern officers attracted my admiration by theji conspicuous gallantry, and whose names, I regret, cannot be mentioned in this report. They will be remembered in future recommendations for promotion. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JEF. C. DAVIS, Brigadier- ~em~eral, Commanding Division. Maj. JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps. No. 18. Report of Lieut. Charles B. Humphrey, Fifth Wisconsin Battery. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH WISCONSIN BATTERY, January 6, 1863. COLONEL: In obedience with your commands, I would respectfully submit the following report of the part taken and casualties suffered by the Fifth Wisconsin Battery in the engagements with the enemy since December 26, 1862: The battery left Camp Andy Johnson, December 26, and marched to Nolensville, where it arrived and engaged the enemys cavalry about 2 oclock of the same day. After firing a number of rounds of shell and canister into the town, the enemy fell back about a mile, where they made a stand in a very strong position, and planted a battery. The battery followed, and were soon playing upon them from all its guns. The enemy soon retired, leaving one of their guns upon the field. Camped upon this ground at night, and the next day (December 27) marched forward about 4 mile Page 267 CHA1~. XXTZILJ TIlE STONE~S RIVER CAMPAIGN. 26~t and camped until the 29th ultimo, when we were ordered in the direc- tion of Murfreesborough. Advanced about 8 miles and camped in tne woods, without tents or fires. The next morning advanced slowly, and camped within~sight of the enemys lines; fired a few rounds from the Parrott guns, and again the men lay by their guns, without tents or fires, all night. At daylight we were up and ready for an attack. As soon as it became light the enemy could lie seen from our position, in great numbers, marching upon the right wing. We were soon ordered to its support, and in a short time took position in a corn-field, supported by the Twenty-second Indiana Regiment on the right, and the Fifty- ninth Illinois on the left. The enemy could be seen in heavy force ad- vancing upon us. We opened fire immediately from all our guns. They soon made their appearance over a knoll directly in front of our guns. A few rounds of canister caused them to move to the left, under cover of a thick clump of bushes. They were followed by another line, and they then advanced upon us. After firing upon them for about thirty minutes, the order was given to limbei~ up and fall back. This was done in good order, though we were obliged to leave one gun and two cais sons on the field, on account of the horses being killed. The battery fell back to the Murfreesborough pike in good order, when the rebel cavalry dashed in from the left and captured the whole bat- tery, with the exception of one gun. We were soon relieved by our own cavalry, and the battery was got together, and fired a few rounds at the enemys cavalry, who were in strong force about 2 miles in rear of our former position; lay by our guns that night, and the next morning (January 1) were ordered to join our brigade, near our presemit Position. We took position, and lay there until the afternoon of January 2, when we were ordered over the stream to the left of the pike, where we lay within sight of the enemys lines until the morning of the 4th, when we fell back to our present position. During the time of action the officers and men behaved with coolness and bravery, and though they were ex- posed to the weather, with uncooked rations, not a man appeared un- willing to do his duty. They were much worn out, but the two days of rest that they have had fitted them for the field. The following is a list of casualties suffered : * Killed, 1 private; wounded, 1 officer and 5 men; missing, 4; taken prisoners, 2. Total loss, 1 captain and 11 enlisted men, 2 wagons and 12 mules. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES B. HUMPHREY Lieutenant, Commanding Fifth Wisconsin Battery. Ko. 19. Report of Ijeut. Henry B. Stiles, Eighth Wisconsin Battery. HEADQUARTERS 8TH WIScoNSIN BATTERY, 3n BRIG., 1sT Div., RIGHT WING, 14TH ARMY CoRPS, January 9, 1863. GENERAL: I have to report the following as a detailed account of the part taken by the Eighth Wisconsin Battery in the recent engage- ments near Mnrfreesborough, Tenn., December, 1862, and January, 1863: December26, 1862, by order of Brigadier-General Woodruff, we formed * Nominal list omitted Page 268 Ifl~1, MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXII. in battery three different times at Nolensville, and fired 38 rounds at the enemy; effects of the shots unknown. December 30, we took up our line of march with the brigade. By order of Brigadier-General Woodruff we took position in front about noon and shelled a piece of woods in our front for two hours, when we were ordered to advance. We then came into position on the left of the Third Brigade, in the ~dge of a belt of timber, near a small corn- field, in the immediate vicinity of the enemy, from which point we shelled them until dark, the enemy only firing two shots at us while in this position, one of which struck a tree over one of our caissons, the other burst in oar front, a piece of shell striking the wheel of a gun-carriage. At dark we fell back with three of our guns, by order of General Wood- ruff, and stationed ourselves over a hill in the rear of the infantry, re- maining all night with harness on our horses; one gun on picket. December 31, as soon as it was light, we took a position to the left of the position occupied the night before, with our three guns. Immedi- ately on taking our position the enemy charged on us in force. We opened on them with canister, with good effect, checking them consid- erably. Our infantry support here gave way, and we were ordered to fall back. Capt. Stephen J. Carpenter was killed before we ceased firing, and 4 men wounded. Our battery retired in some confusion, with the loss of one 10-pounder Parrott gun, and 11 horses killed and wounded. By order, we again came into position in a large corn-field in our rear, from which point we opened on the enemy, and continued to fire until our support left us, when we were again obliged to fall back. We then moved a little to the right and rear, when we came into position and opened on the enemy as they advanced out of the woods in our front. We did some execution with canister and shell, but our support again leaving us we were obliged to fall back. By this time the con- fusion seemed to have become general; our battery fell back to the rear and left, and reported to Brigadier-General Woodruffs headquar- ters at 3 oclock in the afternoon with three gnus, 50 men, and one gun- limber. January 1, 1863, by order of General Woodruff, we drew 100 rounds of ammunition, and sent one 6-pounder gun, caisson and limber, to a 110-pounder Parrott gun to the rear, where they were captured by the enemy, with 1 man taken prisoner and 3 horses lost. Went into posi- tion with two guns, and remained till next day. January 2, were ordered to march with the brigade. Moved to the left,andtookapositionbetween our brigade and that commanded by Colonel Carlin, by order of General Davis, commanding division. Imme- diately on coming into position the enemy opened a volley of musketry on us, when we were ordered to fire. Opening on them with canister, they soon fell back. January 3, we lay in front all day, exposed to the fire of the enemys sharpshooters. January 4, at 3 oclock in the morning, we were ordered to fall back to our former position on the pike, which we did, thus ending the fight on our part. We fired about 400 rounds of ammunition during the engagements. Respectfully submitted. HENRY E. STILES, Lieut., Oorndg. Eighth Wisoonsia Battery, Volunteer Artillery. Brig. Gen. JEFFERSON C. DAVIS, comdg. First Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Arm3, Oorps Page 269 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 269 No. 20. Report of Cot. P. Sidney Post, Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, commanding First Brigade. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, RIGHT WING, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, In Camp, south of ]Jfurfreesborough, January 9, 1863. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the First Brigade in the late engagements, resulting in the taking of Murfreesborough: In compliance with the order of Brigadier-General Davis, command- ing division, we left camp, at Saint James Chapel, ~t daylight Decem- ber 26, 1862, and marched in the direction of 1olensville, this brigade being in advance. We soon came upon the enemys cavalry. Com- pany B, Thirty-sixth Illinois Cavalry, nuder direction of Captain Pease, of Brigadier-General Davis staff, occupied the road, and the Fifty- ninth Illinois Infantry was thrown out as skirmishers on each side of it. A lively skirmish was kept up until wereached Nolensville, when the enemy appeared in force and opened upon the brigade with artil- lery. -The left of our line of battle rested upon the pike, the right occupying a hill commanding the town. Captain Pinneys (Fifth Wisconsin) bat- tery opened upon the enemy and drove them from the town. A large force of cavalry was seen moving to the right and dismount- ing, with the evident intention of attacking our right and rear and dis- lodging us from the hill. The Twenty-second Regiment Indiana Infan- try was moved to the right to repel this attack, and Colonels ~ and Woodruffs brigades deployed, by order of Brigadier-General Davis, upon our right, soon came up, and the enemy were driven from their position and forced to withdraw their artillery. This brigade, on the left of the line of battle, moved forward up the pike leading to Triune, Pinneys battery being on the pike, the Twenty- second Indiana and the Seventy-fourth Illinois on its right, and the Seventy-fifth and Fifty-ninth illinois on its left. The enemy were posted in a position of great natural strength, about 2 miles from Nolens- ville, on the right and left of the pike, with one section of artillery on and the remainder near the road. Pinneys battery, from a knoll to the left of the pike, opened at short range with all his guns, and this bri- gade, on the left of Colonel Carlins, marched steadily forward, driving the enemy from the hill, where they were compelled to abandon one piece of artillery. This march had been made in a drenching rain, and the men, exhausted by their exertions upon the muddy road and the ex- citements of the day, bivouacked on the field, for the possession of which they had fought. The following day this brigade marched in rear oJ~ Colonel Carlins nearly to Triune, it raining constantly and being very cold. December 29, we marched in rear of Colonel Woodruffs brigade, on the Bole Jack road, toward Murfreesborough. About 2 miles from Overalls Creek, by order of Brigadier-General Davis, I deployed the brigade on the right of the road, and moved forward nearly to the creek, where we bivouacked in the rain, without fires. On the morning of December 30, we marched across the fields on the right of the Wilkinson pike, the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth Regi- iucnts Illinois Infantry deployed on the right of Colonel Carlins br Page 270 270 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL gade, and being the right of the entire army, the Fifty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry in reserve to support the battery, and the Twenty-sec- ond Regiment Indiana Infantry in a position to protect the right flank from ~he enemy~s cavalry, which were continually hovering about and engaging the skirmishers. I directed Captain Sherer, who, by order of Brigadier-General Davis, reported to me with Company B, Thirty-sixth Illinois Cavalry, to throw out skirmishers and march upon our right flank, where he repeatedly engaged and drove back t~ cavalry threat- ening our line. The skirmishing in front grew more brisk, and late in the afternoon the enemy were found in force, strongly posted, and opened upon ns, with artillery from our front and right, killing I and wounding several men. Captain Hale, acting as major of the Seventy-fifth Illi- nois, and Lieutenant Hall o him. , f my staff, each had a horse killed nuder General Kirks brigade at this time moved into position upon our right. Captain Pinneys battery drove back the enemy from our front, and, under cover of his fire, our skirmishers were advanced to the opei~ field, when night closed the contest. The men lay down without fires or shelter, and in the morning were awakened and standing in order of battle one hour before the first dawn of light. The battery horses stood at their pieces during the night, ready for any emergency. As soon as it became light, the enemy were discovered moving in great nnmbers toward our right, and nearly parallel with our line, with the evident design of turning the right wing of the army. I immedi- ately dispatched Lieutenant Jones, of my staff; to inform Brigadier- General Davis. The right of the brigade extended into a dense and almost impene- trable thicket of cedars, connecting there with the left of General Kirks brigade, and in that directiqn nothing could be seen on account of the thicket. For more than half an hour the enemys dark columns flowed toward our right, where the volleys of musketry and their advancing cheers from that direction assured me that they had driven the bri- gades on our right from their position, and were already in our rear, and I accordingly changed front nearly perpendicularly to the rear to meet them. The Seventy-fourth Illinois, Col. Jasbn Marsh, and the Seventy- fifth lllinois, commanded by Lieut. Col. J. E. Bennett, were stationed behind a fence in the edge of the timber. By order of Brigadier-Gen- eral Davis, several companies were added to our force of skirmishers, and, under his direction, Pinneys battery took position in a corn-field, with the Fifty-ninth Illinois Infantry, commanded by Capt. H. E. Paine, supporting it on the left. Perceiving that the enemy *ere still far be- yond our right, I deployed my reserve regiment, the Twenty-second Indiana, Colonel Gooding commanding, on the right of the battery. The Sixth Regiment Indiana Infantry, having been separated from its brigade, was placed about 400 paces in rear as a reserve. Captain Pinnev opened upon the advancing line with all his guns, and when they came within range of his canister and the fire of the supporting regiment, the execution was so great that the entire line recoiled before it, bat, after temporary confusion, they were rallied and lay down. The enemy opened a battery upon the hill and advanced a second line. Captain Pinneys guns were splendidly handled, and great credit is due to Lieutenants Humphrey, Gardner, and McKnight, and to the men of the company, for their promptness and skill. No shots were wasted Qyer the heads of the enemy. Foi~ ab~oi~it thirty minutes thi Page 271 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 271 fierce contest continued, while the enemy on our right had advanced, so as to again endanger our rear. As those in front rallied and charged upon the battery on the double- quick, the Fift~niuth Illinois Regiment fixed bayonets to receive them, but, with the large force unopposed upon our right, the position was already untenable, even though that in front was repulsed, and I ordered the battery withdrawn. Captain Pinney was dangerously, if not mortally, wounded. He fell, and was left on the spot where he executed his most gallant deeds. Lieutenant-Colonel Tanner, of the Twenty-second Indiana, and many others seriously wounded, were left upon the field. Eighteen of the battery horses were disabled, and one gun, in conse- quence, could not be brought off. One Parrott gun had but two wounded horses before it. I ordered the Fifty-ninth Regiment to drag the guns to the rear. As the battery reached the Nashville pike, it was charged upon by cavalry, and partially captured, but they were quickly driven away by the Fourth Regiment Regular Cavalry, and, crossing Overalls Creek, it took a position, under the direction of Lieutenant Hal], on a hill to the right of the Nashville pike, from which it repeatedly shelled and drove back the enemys cavalry, endeavoring to takQ possession of the road. The Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiments fell back across the cotton-field, and, under the direction of Lieutenant Jones, who also rallied a number of detachments from other regiments, made a de- termined resistance, again checking the foe. The fresh troops from the reserves here relieved the brigade, and 1 proceeded to the pike, reformed my shattered battalions, and supplied them with ammunition. I was soon ordered by Brigadier-General Davis to move up the pike and take l)OsitiOn on the right of the line, and here, exhausted, the men lay down for the night. The next morning I was ordered to occupy the open field to the left of the pike, where I caused a breastwork to be thrown up, the battery being in position to enfilade the enemys lines attempting an attack. A strong force of skirmishers was thrown out, covering our front and right. The enemy opened a battery upon us, but, after a few well-directed shells from Pinneys Parrott guns, they ceased firing. During the following day the constant skirmishing was kept up on our front, an4 a number of prisoners were taken. Late in the after- noon we were ordered to cross Stones River. The stream was swollen from the heavy rains, but the entire brigade, hearing the volleys of musketry on the other side, plunged into it with cheers and debouched upon the field, which was still being contended for, and, rapidly form- ing, hurried to the front. All that stormy night, the men who had been previously soaked in fording the river, stood by their arms without fires, the Twenty-second Indiana and Seventy-fifth Illinois busily engaged in constructing a breastwork. During the night our pickets, under charge of Major Dutcher, of the Seventy-fourth Illinois, contested for the pos- session of the fields and woods in our front, and advanced a considera- ble distance. Substantial breastworks were completed during January 3, under a constant fire of sharpshooters, and at night, in. a pouring rain, the men again lay upon their arms. At 2 oclock the next morning the battery was ordered to recross the river, and at 4 oclock, in a torrent of rain, the brigade forded the swol- len stream and took its former position on the right, where it remained until January 6, when, passing through Murfreesborough7 we enoampeci ~t this place Page 272 272 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL During the long contest, and notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the weather and the scarcity of provisions, no word of complaint was heard. Officers and men seemed alike anxious to do their full duty as patriot soldiers. In our advance they pushed forward boldly, and when greatly superior numbers were hurled against them they awaited the onset with the utmost coolness and determination. The temporary confusion which occurred when they fell back was caused, to a consid- erable extent, by the large force of skirmishers thrown out to check the enemy, having been driven toward the left, instead of directly upon their own regiments. The deliberation and order with which the Sev. enty-fourth Illinois retired is especially commended. During the series of engagements the several regimental commanders displayed great persistence and resolution, and everywhere encouraged their men. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the dauntless and skillful Captain Pinney, whose characteristic conduct elicited compliment even from his foes. I herewith transmit the reports of the regimental and battery com- manders, together with a full list of casualties. The gallant bearing of Captain Hale, of the Seventy-fifth Illinois, who had chief command of the skirmishers; of Captain Litson, of the Twen- ty-second Indiana, and of Sergt. P. 5. Ferguson, of Company G, Fifty- ninth Illinois, one of the skirmishers, is deserving of mention. Assist- ant Surgeon Corbus, of the Seventy-fifth Illinois, and Assistant Surgeon Bunce, of the Fifty-ninth Illinois. remained with and took care of our wounded while the fight was raging around them. The zeal and decision shown by Lieutenants Jones, Hall, Hatch, and Baker, members of my staff, and the intrepidity of my faithful orderly, George Fogle, demand my highest commendation. The names of the self-constituted messengers, who carried to Nash- ville, with such unparalleled celerity, the tidings of the battle of Decem- ber 31, have already been forwarded. In the hour of trial, showing themselves false as the news theymanufactured and disseminated, their infamy only makes more bright by contrast the imperishable record of those who nobly struggled or bravely fell in that unequal contest. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. SIDNEY POST, Colonel, Commanding First Brigade. Licut. T. W. MORRISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, First Division. No. 21. Report of Capt. Hendrick 13. Paine, F~fty-niuth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, In Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 10, 1863. SIR: In compliance with an order from brigade headquarters, I re- spectfully submit the following report: The regiment which I have the honor to command broke up camp, 7 miles south of Nashville, on the morning ~f the 26th of December, the men carrying three days rations in their haversacks, all of our trans- portation and camp equipage having bce~i ordered within the fortific~- lions ~t N~shvjlle Page 273 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 273 As we approached Xolensville, my whole regiment was deployed as skirmishers, where we did efficient service in feeling for the enemy, and driving in his pickets, who took refuge in the houses on the outskirts of the town until they were finally driven out and repulsed. The regi- ment was thenassembled, and formed the left of the line of battle of the First Brigade, as it moved upon the enemys batteries and cavalry, south of the town, drawing him from his position with a loss of one or more of his guns. We lay on our arms that night and next day; moved forward and went into camp near Triune, where we remained all the day following. On the morning of the 29th took up our line of march toward Murfreesborough. The continued heavy firing in front gave evidence of the near proximity of the enemy. Bivouacked for the night, and next morning (30th), at an early hour, were on the march, moving by the front in line of battle. By noon it became evident that the enemy were in force in our front. At that time I was ordered, with my regiment, to support Captain Pinneys Fifth Wisconsin Battery. During the p. m~ Captain Pinney opened on the enemys battery, when my men were exposed to the shot and shell of the enemys fire. After Cap- tain Pinney had silenced or driven his battery from the field, we moved forward and bivouacked until morning. That night was very cold, and the men suffered very much from its effects. At daylight, on the morn- ing of the 31st, we were in line of battle, in full view of the enemy, who appeared to be moving in strong force to our right. I was then ordered, together with Captain Pinney~s battery, to hold onrselves as a reserve, and were moved a short distance to the rear; at the same time the line of battle was formed in our front, and the firing became heavy both on our right and left. It soon be~ame evident that the enemy was closely pressing our right, and our lines were rapidly extended in that direction. At the same time my regiment and Captain Pinneys battery were ordered to the front to engage the enemy across an open field. I immediately faced my com- mand in the direction indicated, and moved forward in good order. At the same time the long lines of the enemy appeared on the opposite side of the field, moving directly to our front. When we approached within short mnsket range, I gave the order to fire, and lie down and load, which order was promptly responded to; at the same instant the enemys balls came whistling over ns in awful proximity to our heads. I do not know how long we remained in that position, but my men poured a deadly and destructive fire upon the enemy, who had laid down to avoid its terrible effects, until regiment after regiment on our right gave way, when I, reluctantly, received the order to fall back. At the same instant Captaiu Pinney was severely wounded, and the horses from two of his guns were either disabled or killed, when my men gallantly took hold and assisted to hanl the gnus from the field by hand, exposed all the while to a deadly fire of the enemys musketry and grape and canister shot. We continued to move to the rear i.n reasonably good order, forming twice and firing upon the pursuing enemy, until we were beyond the range of his fire, when we formed and awaited the orders of our brigade commander. When the brigade was reformed, we took our position in line of battle in the front, where we remained during the re- mainder of the day and the succeeding night. I cannot speak too highly in praise of the bravery displayed by the officers and men under my command. All nobly did their duty. To Capts. B. M. Veatch and James M. Stookey, acting field officers, I espe- cially return my thanks for the efficient aid they rendered me, and the promptness with which they executed my orders iluring the series of 18 R HVOL XX, PT Page 274 274 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA,, AND SW. VA. (CHAP. XXXII. battles and skirmishes in which we have been engaged during this cam- paign. My regiment took part in all the subsequent movements made by our brigade up to the present time. I cant but admire the patience and fortitude exhibited by the officers and me~ of my command during the present campaign, part of the time on short rations, and all the time exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, without tents or blankets, being compelled to bivouac in the presence of the enemy without fire, yet I heard no complaints uttered. All were willing and anxious to do their duty. Respectfully submitted. H. E. PAINE, Captain, Comdg. F~fty.ninth Illinois Infantry Regiment. Col. P. SIDNEY POST. No. 22. Report of Got. Jason Marsh, & venty-fourth Illinois Infantry. IIDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH REGT. ILLLNOIS VOLS., In Camp near lliliurfreesborough, January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report that the Seventy-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, under my command, left camp near Nashville on the 26th ultimo, early in the morning, for Murfreesborongh, in the advance brigade. Coming up in the afternoon, near Nolensville, with the eneniy, apparently in considerable force, mainly of cavalry and artillery, my command was immediately formed in a line of battle and advanced. A brisk cannonading was opened on both sides, the enemys shots and shell frequently reaching within our lines, occupying an exposed posi- tion within shot range, but no damage was done. The enemy soon fall- ing back, a brisk pursuit was kept up until night, when we bivouacked, without fire, keeping up constant and thorough watch against sur- prise through the night. The next day, being exceedingly rainy, we marched but about 5 miles, without special incident, and bivouacked for the night, my regiment meeting the inclemency of the weather and discomforts of the march with the fortitude and cheerfulness of veteran soldiers. Resting in the camp over the Sabbath, I resumed the march early Monday morning by a cross-road leading from the Nolensville to the Murfreesborough turnpike; bivouacked at night in a drenching rain, on short rations, after our exceedingly toilsome days march over an almost impassable road. The next morning I had my command in line at 3.30 oclock, standing at their arms until daylight, when, resuming the march in the direction of Murfreesborough, we came up with the enemy about noon, and a slight firing was kept up between skirmishers during the day, our column slowly and cautiously advancing, the enemy retreating. Just at night, near the edge of a cedar thicket, as our line was ad- vancing, the enemy opened a brisk fire from a masked battery, within short range, making it necessary for the entire line to fall back a short distance to a line of battle selected for the operations of the day follow- ing. My regiment, being directly in range of the enemys fire, M. C. Feimly, corporal, of Company K, was killed, and J. B. Caspares, cor- poral, of the same-company, was seriously wounded. A strong picket guard was thrown out about 30 rods in front, which occasionally drew fire from the enemys pickets; their camp-fires being not more than three-quarters of a mile distant, extending along the farther edge of a corn-field, a long distance beyond the extreme right of our division Page 275 OFTAP. XXXII.] TUE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 275 indicated a strong force of the enemy massed on our front and right. My command was formed in line of battle, close behind a narrow strip of cedar ,n early covering onr front, and skirting a strip of open level gronnd, ab~nt 20 rods wide, to the corn-field occupied by the en- emys pickets. Being thus satisfied of the close proximity of the enemy in strong force, and apprehending an attack at any moment, I deemed it necessary to nse the ntmost precaution against surprise, and, accord- ingly, in addition to general instructions,bivouacked withont fires, and, to maintain a cantious, qniet vigilance, I ordered my command to stack arms, each man to rest at the butt of his musket, and without using his shelter-tent, although the night was dark, chilly, and some- what rainy, and the men cold, wet, weary, and hungry. I deemed it objectionable to use their shelter-tents, not only because of the hin- drance in case of a sudden attack, but even in a dark night they would be some guide to the enemy to trace our line. At a little before 4 a. m. my men were quietly waked up and formed into line; remained standing at their arms until moved by subsequent orders. As sooii as it became sufficiently light to discern objects at a distance, I could plainly observe the enemy moving in three heavy columns across my front to the ri~ht, one column striking out of the corn-field and mov- ing defiantly along the edge of the open ground, not more than 60 to 80 rods from and about parallel with my line. It was plainly seen that the fire of my skirmishers took effect in their ranks, and in emptying saddles, to which, however, the enemy seemed to pay no attention. This move- ment continued from a half to an hour, when a brisk discharge of- mus- ketry at considerable distance to my right indicated a rapid advance of the enemy on the right flank, and at the same time their columns were advancing in overwhelming force directly in front, and extending to the left as far as could be seen. At this time my command was ordered to fall back, and to change front to the rear, or nearly so, forming behind a fence. This movement was executed in good order, without the least confusion or faltering. In the course of ten or fifteen minutes the ene- mys line approached, but, as previously instructed and ordered, my command reserved their fire until within short range, when they opened with terrible effect upon the advancing ranks, and holding them coin- pletely in check until they had delivered 10 to 15 rounds. I maintained this pQsition until the regiments on the right and left of me had fallen back 30 to 40 rods, and, the enemys line directly in front breaking and de- ploying right and left and about to flank me, I ordered a retreat, which was effected in tolerable order; at least, without the least appearance of a panic. From this point, having fallen back in a straight line be- tween half and three-quarters of a mile, I effected a stan(l with a con- siderable portion of my regiment, but could maintain it only long enough to deliver a few shots. I should here mention that early in the morning three companies of my command had been thrown out as skirmishers, who, in consequence of the first change of line, and of their ddelity and bravery in discharg- ing their duty, had been cut off from the regiment, and unable to rally upon it, until at this point. First Lieutenant Leffingwell, in command of Company A, came up with a few of his men, and rendered most efficient aid in rallying the regiment. I commend his conduct on this occasion as indicating an efficient, faithful, and brave officer. Failing back from this line a short distance, I succeeded in rallying about half of the regiment in rear of the reserve force, which was now driving the enemy back, when, being ordered to form on the brigade, my command had no further part i Page 276 276 ICY., MID AND E. TENN., N. ALA, AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXH. the fighting of the day, except that two companies of my regiment were sent out just at night as skirmishers, under command of First Lieuten- ant Blakesley, who rendered important service in a brilliant skirmish with ~ large cavalry force. The day following my regiment was put in line of battle at an early hour, and stood at their arms till near night, momentarily expecting to make or receive an attack. On Friday, just at night, my command was put in rapid march across Stones River, to the extreme left, where a fierce battle was raging, but was closed just before our arrival, by the retreat of th.~ enemy. Late in the evening we bivouacked here, without fires, in such close proximity to the enemys line as to produce frequent skirmishing between the pickets during the night, which was intensely dark and stormy. Re- maining here through the following day and night, suffering the seven- ties of an almost uninterrupted storm, without fires or shelter, until 4 oclock Sunday morning, I returned with my command to the camp J)reviously occupied. The hardships, privations, and exposures in the march from Louisville to Crab Orchard, and thence to Nashville, have been regarded nearly unendurable by new troops, and yet while they sink into utter insignifi- cance compared with those of our march and engagements during these eight days, I have the gratification of knowing that my regiment have met and endured them with the utmost promptness, fortitude, and cheer- fulness, facing the enemy in the heat of battle with the coolness, courage, and determination of experienced soldiers and true patriots, ready at every call to face new danger without faltering, undergoing the most extraordinary labor and exposure without murmuring, and evincing under all circumstances a spirit of subordination and discipline worthy of the highest commendation. I have also the pleasure to say that during all these trying hardships I he general health of the men has been better than at any time since we left Louisville. XVhile I have such occasion to commend the fidelity, bravery, and good conduct of all the officers of my command, save one, I should fail to do justice were I to omit to make special note of the cool, persistent courage of Capt. J. II. Douglass, in remaining at his post nuder the fire of the enemy, and of his promptness and efficiency in form- ing and maintaining the lines during the day. It is not to be presumed that all the meritorious acts of privates will come within the personal observation of the commander of a regiment but having been eye- witness of the fearless bravery and enthusiastic zeal of Private Charles A. Allen, of Company E, during the operations of Wednesday, as well as at other times, I commend him as worthy of promotion. I desire also to acknowledge my obligations to Major IDutcher and Adjutant Nieman, for their constant and able assistance during this eventful period. The casualties in my command, as more fully stated in the report herewith forwarded, are: Killed 8 Wouiided Missing. 42 Total - -. - - 85 I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JASON MARSH, Colonel Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers, Col. P. SIDNEY Post, Commanding First Brigade Page 277 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 277 No. 23. Report of Lieut. Cot. John B. Bennett, Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry. HDQRS. SEVENTY-FIFTH IIIEGT. ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, In the Field, January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the Seventy- fifth Illinois Volunteers since the breaking up of camp near Nashville: December 26, took up line of march and, same day, engaged in skirmish, with no loss; were ordered to support the battery, and 5OO~ drove the enemy from the town of Nolensville, and camped for the night. December 27, at 10 a. in., marched on, while it rained very hard, to Ilardees old camp. I)ecember 28, staid in camp. l)ecember 29, moved on toward Murfreesborongh, and camped near the enemy, and no fires allowed. December 30, marched in line of battle across fields. Company I was sent in advance, as skirmishers, commanded by Captain Hale. Soon came to the enemy, and fired on them. The enemy returned the fire, and wounded 2 men and killed Captain Hales horse. Company I fell back, and a general engagement commenced, but with no more loss to the Seventy-fifth I{egiinent. Camped for the night, and slept on their arms. December 31, a large number of the enemy attacked our right at daylight, and our men fell back in confusion. January 1, 1863, in camp all day, and not engaged in any fighting. January 2, 1863, men rested near their anus till about 4 p. in., when a general engagement commenced. The enemy was driven back with great loss. The Seventy-filth moved to support our men, but were not engaged iu the fight. January 3, 1863, built breastworks of rails and logs, and the men had laid by their arms for nearly two days, with no fire, arid rain most of the time. During the long battle the men behaved gallantly. The officers also performed their part well. Captain TIale, acting major, has shown himself a brave and efficient officer, bat was compelled to leave his regiment, after being wounded in the face and thigh. Captain Watson, acting lieutenant-colonel, has taken a I)rominent part, and is competent to fill any office to which he may be appointed. Nothing important has transpired since January 3, 1863. We are now camped 2 miles south of Murfreesborough. 1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN E. BENNETT, Lieute ant- Colonel, Commanding. Col. P. SIDNEY POST. No. 24. Report of Cot. Michael Gooding, Twenty-second Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Near ]lfurfreesborough, Teun., January 9, 1863. Sin: Iii compliance with orders received from brigade headquarters, I have the honor herewith to transmit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in time several late eugagements: On Friday, the 26th of December, 1, wit;h my regiment, reached Nolen Page 278 278 KY.1 MID.TAND E. TENN., N. ALA,, ~NND SW. VA. (ChAP. XXXtI. yule, where the enemy were posted in considerable force. I threw my regiment into line of battle on the right of the brigade, occupying a strong position on a high ridge reaching from our extreme right to the town on our left. The fight had already begun, and the enemy now opened on us a heavy fire of canister and grape, but, fortunately, too high, and no serious injury was done us. The enemy~s cavalry now moved to their left, with the evident intention of gaining our right flank or rear, but in this attempt they were foiled, for I now threw out a heavy body of skirmishers, who, with one section of ~Daptain Piuneys Fifth Wisconsin Battery, not only held the enemy in check, but drove them from their ground. With the brigade, my regiment pursued the fleeing enemy, driving them from every position. iNight now set in, and we bivouacked till morning, lying on our arms. - From thence we marched toward Murfreesborough. On the morning of the 30th we came in contact with the enemys pickets, and drove them for 3 miles through a dense thicket of cedar and underbrush. But our advance was now checked by a heavy fire from the enemys batteries. The cannonading lasted for some hours, but with little effect. Night now again set in, and we laid down on our arlxis, facing the foe, and only 300 yards distant. We could plainly hear the rebels converse dur- ing the night. At daylight next morning they could be seen moving to our right, by thousands, which movements were promptly reported. I now sent out five companies to the front as skirmishers, instructing them to fall back as our lines did, which they did, hotly contesting every inch of ground, and shooting down numbers of the enemy. With the remaining five companies of my regiment I took position on the right of the Fifth Wisconsin Battery. I was now on the extreme right of our lines. The euemy made their appearance in great numbers, advancing in solid column from the dense cedar thickets in our front. On and on they came, nothing daunted at the heavy charges of canister and grape the battery on our left was pouring into their ranks. When they had advanced within 30 yards, I ordered my regiment to fire, which they did, with deliberate aim. Our fire was returned by a raking fire from their extended lines of infantry, while their batteries played on us from our front and right. Our battery being hotly pressed, began to fall back, and I ordered my regiment to fall back. I rallied them again on the right of General Rousseaus command, and took position on the right of a battery, and successfully aided in supporting it. Late in the evening of the same day I was ordered to the right of the division again, where we remained until the evening of the 2d of January, at which time I was ordered, double-quick, to the support of our left across the river. I reached them just as the enemy were giving way and being hotly pur- sued by our forces. Nothing worthy of note occurred during the night and the following day. On the night of the 3d the enemy retired, leav- ing us undisputed possession of the field. I here wish to mention the names of some of the officers of my regi- ment who distinguished themselves by their courage and bearing: Capt. W. II. Taggart, Company C; Lieut. William F. Riggs, Company F; Lieut. John Gooding, Company A; Lieut. Patrick Carney, Com- pany ID. Lient. Col. T. B. Tanner was severely wounded in the hip while at his post in the performance of his duty. Major Shea and Ad- jutant Adams rendered themselves highly conspicuous in attempting to rally the regiment, and by their bravery and noble daring. Capt. WiR- iam Powers, Company II; Lieut. A. ID. Sawyer, Company B; Lieut. R. V. Marshall, Company I; Capt. W. II. Snodgrass and Sergt. A. J. Moss, commanding Company G, are brave and good officers, and di Page 279 CRAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 279 their whole duty. With few exceptions, the men of my regiment fought with a willingness and determination rarely equaled. But while I make favorable mention of the above-named officers, I cannot but censure the conduct of C~pt. N. De Versey, Company A; Lieut. James McGrayel and Lieut. A~. W. Griffith, Company C-, and Lieut. L. C. Orrill, Company K, who left the field in the early part of the engagement. On the morn- ing of the 31st of December they went to Nashville, taking with them quite a number of non-commissioned officers and privates of my com- mand, most of whom were taken prisoners and paroled at La Vergne, and who are still at Nashville. Very respectfully, yonr most obedient servant, M. GOODING-, Colonel, Commanding Regiment. Lient. S. iVI. JONES, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 25. Report of 6ol. William P. Carlin, Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, com manding Second Brigade. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIvIsION, RIGHT WING, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, J~vnuary 6, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the opera- tions of this brigade since leaving Knob Gap, near Nolensville,Decem- ber 27, 1862: The brigade took up the line of march on the morning of the 27th, in a heavy rain, in the direction of Triune, bivouacking within 1 mile of that place, where it remained during the 28th, moving on the morning of the 29th in the direction of Murfreesborough. That night we bivouacked on Blackmans farm, 4~ miles west of that town. Early on the morning of the 30th we crossed Overalls Creek, on the right of the Wilkinson pike, and took up position in a heavy wood south of Asa Griscoms house. At 2 p. m. I was ordered to advance; passed through a corn-field, entering another heavy wood, where my skirmishers first met those of the enemy. Before making this advance, Brigadier-General Davis, com- manding division, informed me that my brigade was to direct the move- ments of the 4ivision, and that Colonels Post and Woodruff, command- ing, respectively, the First and Third Brigades, were ordered to keep on a line with me. My skirmishers, nnder Lieutenant-Colonel McKee, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, continued to drive those of the enemy through the wood for about one-fourth of a mile, when [ halted and sent a request to Colonels Post and Woodruff to keep pace with my advance. At this point my skirmishers, having suffered severely, were with- drawn, and my battery (Second Minnesota, Capt. W. A. llotchkiss) opened on the enemy with canister and spherical case, inflicting serious damage. I then threw forward another line of skirmishers, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel MeMackin, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, which ad- vauced so slowly that my front line of battle soon closed upon it, drivin Page 280 280 KY., MID. AND IX TENN., N..ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAr. XXXII. in, however, the skirmishers of the enemy. My first line of battle was now within 180 yards of the enemys line, at the house of Mrs. William Smith. At ths point a battery, about 100 yards west of the house, opened with canister upon the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and another, on the e~ist of the house, 250 yards distant, on the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volun- teers, killing and wounding a number of my men. Here it was my in- tention to halt until the First and Third Brigades should come up, on my right and left, respectively; but Col. J. W. S. Alexander, command- ing Twenty-first illinois Volunteers, without instructions from me, ordered his regiment to charge on the battery in his front. His com- mand was moving, with a shout, at double-quick step, within 80 yards of the battery, already abandoned by its cannoneers, when a very heavy fire was opened upon it by infantry, which lay concealed behind fences and outhouses, on the right and left of the battery. This fire killed and wounded a large number of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and threw the left companies into some disorder, when the regiment was halted and formed on the right of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers. The fight was now fairly opened, and continued vigorously until night by the front line of my infantry and the battery which had been placed between the two regiments. The batteries in our front were soon silenced, but another was then opened on my right flank, distant about 500 yards, which completely enfiladed my lines and considerably injured us;~ but this, too, Was driven out of sight by Captain Hotchkiss, after a vigorous and well-directed fire. Again I sent a request to Colonels Post and Woodruff to come up, but they continued to remain in rear of my lines. I maintained my position during the night, having at dark relieved my front line by the Thirty-eighth Illinois and One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers. My loss during this day, in killed, wounded, and missing, was about 175 officers and men. Before daylight on the morning of December 31, perceiving indications of an advance by the enemy, I retired my battery about 200 yards. At daylight the enemy advanced. Seeing that the troops on the right and left of my line would not come up, I fell back, with my infantry on a line with my battery, and made a stand; the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers about 200 yards to the rear, and on the right of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers; the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers were posted on the rocks in front of my battery, and the Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers on the left of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers. My men were falling rapidly on the front line, and, wishing to in- crease the fire on the enemy, I sent an order to Colonel Alexander to advance and form on the right of the One hundred and first Ohio Volun- teers, and to Colonel Heg, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, to form on the left of the Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, and to my battery to retire. To my surprise, I received a reply from Colonel Alexand& ~r that he was already so hotly engaged that he could not come forward. The startling intelligence was also at this moment communicated to me, by one of my orderlies, that all our forces on our right had left the ground. ~Im mediately afterward a heavy fire of niusketry and artillery from the enemy, from my right flank and rear, unmistakably announced that I was also attacked from that direction. On my left Woodruffs brigade had left the ground. My command was thus exposed to fire from all points, except the left of my rear. When too late to retire in good order, I found that I was overpowered, and but a moment was wanting to place my brigade in the hands o Page 281 CHAP. XXXII.] TIlE gTONEs RIVER CAMPAIGN. 28~ the foe. I decided to retreat by the left flank, when my horse was shot under me and myself struck, and all my staff and orderlies dismounted or otherwise engaged, which prevented me from communicating the order to the r~gimental commanders. The rear line, then consisting of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, was the first to withdraw, by the order of Lieutenant-Colonel McMackin, then commanding, Colonel Alex- ander having been wounded. Colonel Stem and Lieutenant-Colonel Wooster, of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers, having been shot down, and the ranks of the regiment dreadfully thinned by the fire of the enemy, it gave way and retreated. The Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers held its position until the enemy was within a few steps, and then retired. This regiment would have suffered far more severely in its retreat had not a heavy fire from the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volun- teers, judiciously posted by Colonel ileg to its left and rear, kept the enemy in check until it had left the wood and partially reformed along the fence, on the right of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, where an effective fire was kept up, holding the enemy at bay. This only gave the foe on our right and left the more time to envelop us. All that now remained of my brigade crossed two open fields and entered a wood about 200 yards east of Griscoms house. The regiments were painfully reduced in numbers, but I formed a line at this point, and several volleys of musketry amid artillery were fired with destructive effect upon the ranks of the enemy; but the foe was still on our right at 0-riscoms house, with none of our forces at that point to oppose them, and being informed that General Davis had ordered a still farther withdrawal, I retired my command about half a mile to our rear, and again endeavored to rally the men, but it was evident that they were so utterly discouraged that no substantial good could result, while no supports were in sight. At another point, about half a mile farther to our rear, I rallied all who could be found, and took a strong position in the edge of a cedar grove, holding it until the enemy came up, when my men fired one vol- ley, and broke without orders. I conducted them to the rear, passing through the lines of our reserves, and halted at the railroad, where we remained during the afternoon collecting our scattered men. During the two days fight the loss of officers was so great that some companies had riot one to command them, and others not even a ser- geant. Our regimental colors were all borne off the field flying, though four color-bearers in succession, of the Twenty-first illinois Volunteers, were shot down, and two of the color-guard of the Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, three of the color-guard of the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volun- teers, and four of the color-guard of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers fell. Our artillery was all brought off in safety. I have to report the loss of many officers, who were ornaments to our army, and who will be mourned by all who knew them. Col. L. Stem, One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers; Lieut. Col. David McKee, Fif- teenth Wisconsin Volunteers, and Lieut. Col. M. F. Wooster, One hun- dred and first Ohio Volunteers, were unsurpassed in all the qualities that make up the brave soldier, the true gentleman, and the pure patriot. Capt. James P. Mead, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, fell, shot three times, while bravely fighting the enemy with his revolver after his regiment had retired. Lieut. John L. Dillon, Thirty-eight Illinois Volunteers, commanding Company E, fought with a musket until he was shot once, when he drew his sword and cheered on his men till he fell dead. Other instances of equal gallantry were observed in the other regiments but to recount all would give my report an undu Page 282 282 ICY., MID. AND K TENN., N. ALA~, AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIT. length. The long, sad list of killed and wounded forms the truest eulo- gium on the conduct of the troops composing this brigade, and it is by that list I wish it to be judged. Of the 10 field officers of the regiments, 3 were killed and 2 wounded. Seven horses were shot under the regimental, field, and staff officers. Of my orderlies, Private Pease, Company B, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, had hi~ horse shot under him while carrying my orders. Private Knox, same company, also had his horse shot nuder him, and while endeavoring to pro~ure another horse for me was wounded by a grape- shot and again by a Mini6 ball, and Corporal Hart, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, was stunned and disabled by a cannon ball. I deem it my duty to call the special attention of the general com- manding the Fourteenth Army Corps to Col. John W. S. Alexander, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, and Col. Hans C. Heg, Fifteenth Wis- consin Volunteers. While every field officer under my command did his duty faithfully, Colonels Alexander and Heg, in my opinion, proved themselves the bravest of the brave. Had such men as these been in command of some of our brigades, we should have been spared the shame of witnessing the rout of our troops and the disgraceful panic, encouraged, at least, by the example and advice of officers high in command. Lieut. Col. D. H. Gilmer, commanding Thirty-eighth Illinois Volun- teers, was always at his post and attending to his duty. Maj. Isaac M. Kirby, One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers, took command of the regiment after the fall of the brave Colonels Stem and Wooster, and conducted it to the rear, reduced to about 100 men. Capt. W. A. Hotchkiss, commanding Second Minnesota Battery, and all his officers and men, deserve credit for their gallantry in the fight, and energy in preventing the loss of the battery. Among the staff officers of this army who made themselves useful in rallying the scattered men, Dr. L. F. Russell, Second Minnesota Battery; Licut. S. M. Jones, Fifty-ninth lllinois Volunteers; Captain Thruston, aide-de-camp to Major-General MeCook, and Chaplain Wilkins, Twenty- first Illinois Volunteers, came especially under my observation. On the night of December 31 this brigade was ordered to take up posi- tion near the Nashville pike, 4 miles from Murfreesborough. January 1, 1863, slight skirmishing with the enemy continued during the day, iu which we killed several, capturing 13 prisoners and paroling 11 others, wounded. At 3.30 p. m. January 2, while hard fighting was progressing on our left, I received orders from General Rosecrans to report to him in person. He directed me to take my command to the left, form it in two lines, and, should I find our forces repulsed by the enemy, to allow our men to pass throngh my lines, and, on the approach of the enemy, give a whoop and a yell, and go at em. With a brigade which, in three days hard fighting, had been reduced from 2,000 to 700 and greatly dis- couraged, I felt serious apprehension that I would not be able to fulfill the expectations of the general, and, to prepare him for such a result, I informed him of the condition of my brigade. He said, Tell them they must do it fbr us and for the country. I told him I would do my best. My men fell into ranks with the utmost alacrity and marched to the scene of the conflict, a great portion of the way on the double-quick, crossing Stones River at a ford. All apprehensions that I had pre- viously entertained now vanished. I felt confident that they would not only charge the enemy, but would repulse them. Before reaching the ground designated, however, I learned that the enemy had already bee Page 283 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. CIIAP. XXXfl.] 283 driven back in confusion. I continued my march, and, under the direc- tion of Brigadier-General Davis, placed my command in the advance, relieving the command of Colonel Hazen. It was now dark. We main- tained our gi~onnd till the morning of January 4, when we returned to our position on the right. My loss in killed, wounded, and missing in the engagement at Knob Gap, near Nolensville, December 26, and the battles of December 30 and 31, 1862, and in front of the enemy east of Stones River, January 2 and 3, 1863, is as follows: Killed. Wounded. Missing. Command. .0 0 . l~ ~1 ~ 0 0 ~ o ~ 0 ~ 21st Illinoiq 2 55 7 180 59 303 38th Illinois 2 32 5 104 34 177 101st Ohio 4 19 2 121. ~6 212 15th Wisconsin 2 13 5 05 1~3 119 2d Minnesota Battery 3 1 5 1 10 Total 1.0 122 20 475 1 193 821 I cannot close this report without expressing my obligations to the following, named officers of my staff for their zeal, fidelity, and courage in all the severe engagements embraced in this report, viz: Capt. S. P. Voris, Thirty-eighth illinois Volunteers, acting assistant adjutant-gen- eral; Capt. XV. C. Harris, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers Lieut. Albert Woodbury, Second Minnesota Battery, and Lieut. Walter E. Carlin, Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers. Also to my faithfal orderlies, Pease, Knox, Amick, and Hart. Private Alexander C. Hosmer One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers, my clerk, though not required to go into the battle, was constantly at my side to carry my orders. Regimental reports and lists of casualties are herewith inclosed; also a report of the engagement at Knob Gap, near Nolensville, December 26, 1862. A topographical sketch, showing the ground passed over and posi- tions occupied by this brigade on December30 and 31, 1862, is herewith inclosed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. P. CAItLIX, Golonel Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, Commanding. Lieut. T. W. MORRISON, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 26. Report of Maj. Isaac M. Kirby, One hundred and first Ohio Infantry. NEAR MIYRFREESEOROUGH, January 5, 1863. CAPTAIN: On the morning of December 26, 1862, in our proper posi- tion in the brigade, the regiment (Colonel Stem commanding) marched from our camp, near Nashville, out on the Edmondson pike. Coin Page 284 284 1Y., MID. AND E. rlENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIt missioned officers reported for duty, Col. Leander Stem, Lient. Col. M. F. Wooster, Maj. I. NI. Kirby, Adjt. Leonard D. Smith, First Surg. T. M. Cook, Asst. Surg. Walter Caswell, Second Lient. D. fl. Fox, Com- pany A~ First Lient. S. B. Beckwith, Company B; Capt. B. B. Mc- Donald and Second Lient. John B. Biddle, Company C; Second Lieut. John NI. Latimer, jr., Company D; First Lient. Lyman Parcher and Second Lient. B. D. Lord, Company E; First Lieut. A. B. llillyer, Com- pany F; Capt. John Messer and First Licut. John P. Fleming, Corn. pany Or; Second Lieut. J. I. Neff, Company 11; Capt. N. NI. Barnes and Second Lieut. II. A. Taggart, Company T; Second Lient. P. F. Cline, Company K, and 441 enlisted nien. Early in the afternoon of the same day the regiment formed in line of battle to attack the enemy near Noleusville. Deploying a line of skir- mishers, we moved to the front about a half a mile, with some little firing on the part of our skirmishers, who succeeded in capturing 2 prisoners. While halting at this point, the enemy was discovered at- tempting to plant a battery on a hill one-half or three-quarters of a mile distant. By order of Colonel Carlin, the regiment was wheeled into rnie, bayonets fixed, and moved forward to take that battery at all hazards. The enemy retired on our approach. We were again moved forward, by the right of companies to the front, on the enemy in their new position, a mile distant from this point. Forward we marched, under a heavy fire of shell. Arriving within a quarter of a mile of the enemys battery, we formed into line, and, led by Colonel Stem, charged at double-quick, succeeding, together with the rest of the brigade, in taking one gun and 4 prisoners. We were again ordered forward a short distance, but soon called off to rest for the night. Our loss was 3 men wounded. Second Lieutenant Cline fell from the ranks on the last charge; afterward reported himself stunned by concussion of shell. The next day, December 27, we marched out near Knob Gal), where we rested till Monday morning, December 29, when we again took up our line of march on the Murfreesborongh road, going into camp, near this place, soon after dark. At or near 10 oclock, Tuesday morning, December 30, the regiment was moved forward in double column at half distance, supporting the Twenty-first IRegiment Illinois Volunteers. About 3 oclock in the after- nooii the Twenty-first becameengaged with the enemy, the One hundred and first lying a short distance to the rear, supporting the Second Min- nesota Battery, which was engaging a battery of the enemy. Just at dark the Twenty-first fell back through our lines, leaving us in front. This day our loss was 2 men wounded. Before moving forward, Second Lieutenant Cline reported himself unfit for duty, and permission was granted him to go to the rear. Immediately upon taking the front for the night, we advanced a l)icket line. The regiment was ordered to sleep on their arms. Ten men were kept on guard immediately in front of the regimental lines, and one field officer constantly on the watch during the night. At early daylight, Wednesday morning, D~ceniber 31, the enemy was discovered moving in heavy force to our right; soon after their skir- inishers opened fire on us from the front. By order of Colonel Carlin, Colonel Stem moved his line forward about a hundred yards, when the firing became quite brisk. Soon after, Colonel Stein was ordered to fall back to his former l)osition, sling kuapsacks, and form a new line a short distance to the rear, which he performed in good Or(Ier. here the firing was very severe. Our forces fallin~ back oim our right, wit~hout our knowledge, the enemy turned our right flank, and I)oured a terrific cross Page 285 tThAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 285 fire upon our lines, which we were unable to stand; consequently the regiment fell back iu some disorder. It was at this time Colonel Stem and Lient. Col. Moses F. Wooster fell, mortally wounded, while gal- lantly and nobly attempting to hold the regiment in line. Colonel Stem fell just as he had called out, Stand by your colors, boys, for the honor of the good old State of Ohio. We again succeeded in rallying the regiment at the fence, just at the edge of the woods, where we stood under a terrific fire until we had permission from Colonel Carlin to re- treat. Then the march became quite disorderly, through the corn-field and cotton-field, to the edge of the timber, where we again rallied; were in turn driven from there; rallied again in the woods; marched in good order to a new line of battle; were finally ordered from that position, and formed in front of a dense cedar thicket, from which position we were soon driven in some confusion; but we rallied about 30 men on the colors, and led them back into the cedars, but were driven from that, and rallied for the last time on the railroad, from which position we were marched with the brigade a short distance to the rear, and rested (ill near 3 oclock in the afternoon. At this time there were present Captain McDonald, Captain Messer, Captain Barnes, Adjutant ~mith, Lieutenant Fox, Lieutenant Latimer, Lieutenant Neff, Lientenafit Par- cher, and Lieutenant Beckwith, all of whom performed their whole duty nobly during the entire day. We were moved from here to a position in front, west of the railroad, which we occupied till Friday afternoon, January 2, about 4 oclock, when we were taken on double-quick to the left of the lines, and lay in line of battle during the night and till the afternoon of Saturday, Jan- uary 3, at which time, being quite sick, Colonel Carlin granted inc per- mission to go to the fires in the rear. Captain McDonald, assuming command, reports to me that the regiment was not actively en~aged from that time till 3 oclock a. in. Sunday, January 4, when they were relieved and marched to this place, where I joined the regiment early Sunday morning, though not able for duty. The loss in the regiment, so far as I have yet ascertained, is, Col. Leander Stem, mortally wounded, died at 6 oclock January 5,1863; Licut. Col. Moses F. Wooster, mortally wounded, died January 1, 1863; First Lieut. Asa 11. llillyer, mortally wounded, died January 4, 1863; Sec- ond Lient. John B. Biddle, killed on the field; First Lieut. John P. Fleming, wounded in the arm, supposed to be a prisoner; Second Lient. 11. D. Lord, slightly wounded; killed, 15 enlisted men; wounded, 122; missing, 92.* Second Lieut. Henry A. Taggart I have not seen since early in the morning, December 25, 1862, but think he has gone to Nashville. He was quite unwell, and excused by the surgeon, and may have been taken to Nashville on account of sickness. It is difficult to make selections of commanding officers for gallant conduct, when all who are now present performed their duty so gallantly, but cannot lose this opportunity to thank Capt. John Messer and First Lient. Lyman Parcher for their determined efforts during the battle to serve their country and sus- tain the reputation of the regiment. To Adjt. Leonard D. Smith I am particularly indebted for valuable assistance and the heroic examples he gave others. Color Sergt. James M. lioberts deserves mention here for gallant conduct. He never faltered, always planted the colors promptly where directed, and never moved them till ordered. My thanks are due to Orderly Sergt. Samuel Strayer, commanding Corn- pany K, for managing his company well till he fell, wounded, on the * But see rcvisel statemeut, p. 208 Page 286 286 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. field, and to Orderly Sergt. Isaac P. Rule, for taking command of Company I from January 1 to January 5, Captain Barnes being sick and unfit for field duty. First Lieut. Asa ZR. llillyer and Second Lient. John B. Biddle fell while heThically attempting to rally their men. The regiment has Lost in them officers whose places cannot be filled, and the country patriots who served faithfully to the last. The regiment is particularly indebted to Asst. Surg. Walter Caswell for gallantly staying by them under the heaviest fire. We have now present for duty 10 commissioned officers and 178 en- listed men. Present, on detached service, 15 enlisted men, and report 19 enlisted men known to have gone to Nashville. Respectfully, I. lvi. KIRBY, Major, Gomdg. One hundred and first Reyt. Ohio Vol. Infty. Capt. SAMUEL P. Vouis, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 27. Report of Col. William B. Woodruff, commanding Third Brigade. HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, RIGHT WING, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, January 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report the operations of the Third Brigade, First Division, of the right wing, in the fi freesborough. ye days battle before Mur This brigade having held the advanced position on Overalls Creek in the afternodn and night of Monday, December 29, was the base of formation for the line of battle on Tuesday morning. At an early hour on the morning of the 30th, I received instructions that we would move forward in line of battle. I was directed to join my left with Brigadier-General Sills brigade, holding th~ right of the Second Division, under Brigadier-General Sheri- dan, and that Colonel Carlin, commanding the Second Brigade of the First Division, would connect his line with my right. This brigade was accordingly formed ir~ two lines, the Thirty-fifth Illi- nois Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, on the right; the Twenty- fifth Illinois Regiment, Col. T. D. Williams commanding, on the left, in the first line of battle, and the Eighty-first Indiana Regiment, Lieu- tenant-Colouci Timberlake, in the second line in reserve, the extreme left on the right of Ithe Wilkinson ~?] turnpike; the Eighth Wisconsin Battery, of four guns, Captain Carpenter commanding, being placed iii the interval between Brigadier-General Sills right and my left. My front was curtained with two companies of skirmishers, detailed from the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-fifth Illinois Regiments, under the com- mand and immediate supervision of Major Mcllwain, of the Thirty- fifth illinois Regiment. The commands to my right and left were ftwmed in the same manner. We moved forward on the morning of Tuesday, the 30th, at about 10 oclock, and halted on the edge of a large cotton-field, immediately in front of a wood runiling parallel with the turnpike, our lines facing Mur- freesborough, which was in a southeasterly direction. This was about 11a.m Page 287 ChAr. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 287 No enemy being visible in our front, I caused a few shells to be thrown into the woods beyond, but met no response. The topography of the country in this line and in my front was a cotton-field, which we then occupied, at the farther end of which was a belt or strip of timber, ending at a corn-field on my left and front, and immediately in front of Brigadier-General Sills right. This corn-field extended to a narrow, heavy-timbered wood, bordered by a rail fence. Beyond this timber was a corn-field, receding toward a ravine, terminated by a bluff wood bank, along the foot of which, in the ravine, was the enemys line of battle, with its supports and artillery on the elevation. We remained in position until about 3 p. in., when my skirmishers were ordered forward to occupy the belt of timber, which they did. Major M~Ilwain, who was in command, reported to me that the enemy~s skirmishers were in the farthest wood to our front and left, and desired me to send him a further support of one company, which was sent him, with orders to press their skirmishers back. The skirmishing soon com- menced briskly, and my brigade was ordered to advance, which it did in admirable order, and was halted in the first belt of timber. Desiring to know the position of the enemys line, and the situation of their skirmishers, I proceeded to the line of skirmishers, to assist in directing their movements and urge them on, and, having given them directions in person, returned to my command, to be ready to move for- ward to their support. The wood was so thick and brushy on my right that it was difficult to see farther than the left of the Second Brigade; but as I discovered it advancing, we moved forward also, to protect its dank.. Sheridans division had halted some 100 yards in rear of my bri- gade, his line of skirmishers joining my line of battle. At this juncture my skirmishers commenced falling back rapidly, and I endeavored to get the officer in command of those of Sheridans division to advance to their support, as those of my brigade had not only driven the enemy from my front, but General Sills also; but, as he had no orders to move forward, be refused. The emergency being imminent, Colonel Williams was ordered to detach the left company of his regiment, and deploy it forward as skirmishers, to relieve or strengthen those engaged, as circumstances might require, while the brigade was advanced to support them. The command pressed forward in splendid order, and soon became hotly engaged, and drove the enemy back through the wood and corn- field in their own lines. As we were now far in advance of any sup- port upon the left, I deemed it advisable to halt and wait for them to come up, and, therefore, took position in rear of the rail fence, my right nearly at right angles to my line of battle, thereby obtaining an oblique, as well as direct, fire; but the space to be occupied by this brigade was so great that the Eighty-first Indiana Regiment was ordered up to com- plete my line, thereby leaving me no reserves. The battery was placed in the angle of the fence to protect my right and front. Shortly after taking this position, Brigadier-General Sill joined me on the left. We remained in position, receiving a heavy fire, and occasionally replying with shell, until toward night, when the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire, apparently on the right of Colonel Carlins brigade. Thus, discovering their battery, and mine being in good range and position to enfilade theirs, Captain Carpenter was ordered to silence their battery, which he did in handsome style in about five min- utes. An attack of infantry was then made from the same point on Colonel Carlin, and as their lines presented the same advantage, Captain Car Page 288 288 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. YA [CHAr. XXXII. penter again opened fire with such terrific effect that their yells of pain, terror, and anguish, as our shells exploded in their dense ranks, could be distinctly heard where we stood. So well was the battery served that their attack ceased, and darkness closed the conflict. We slept on onr arms ivithout fires, prepared for the battle which we well knew would open on the morrow. During the night we discovered what appeared to me to be a continued movement of troops, which led me to believe that the enemy were massing troops on our right, which information I had the honor to report to my immediate superior, Brig- adier-General Davis. As soon as day dawned I examined the line of battle, and, as I had no supports, placed three pieces in battery on my left, and pointed out to Brigadier-General Sill the weakness of the line at this point, and requested him to order up some regiments of his brigade, held in re- serve, to strengthen his right and protect my left, feeling certain that the enemy meditated an attack, and that it would be made at that place. He agreed with me, and immediatelyordered up two regiments, which remained there but a short time, and then resumed their former positions as reserves. Deeming the knowledge of this fact of paramount impor- tance, I dispatched a staff officer to Brigadier-General Davis to give him the information. Afterward the general informed me that I must holdthepositionasbestlcould,forhehadnosupportstosendme. Almost simultaneously with tlie withdrawal of the reserves ordered up by Brigadier-General Sill, the enemy made their attack in five heavy lines, and we were immediately engaged. Captain Carpenters battery opened with terrific effect with grape and canister, and they were mowed down as grass beneath the sickle, while the infantry poured in a well- directed and very destructive fire. Sheltered by the rail fence, they were partially protected, and fired with the coolness of veterans. As soon as the battle became general, the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, which joined my left, gave way, leaving my battery and left flank ex- posed to an enfilading fire. I finally succeeded in rallying them as a reserve. At this moment the right of Brigadier-General Sills brigade commenced to swing to the rear, and Colonel Carlins was discovered falling steadily back. I then received orders to take position to the rear, some 300 yards, in the belt of timber. I informed the staff officer who brought the order that we could maintain our position if supported. He said the order was peremptory, and .1 hastened to execute it, bat not until I was flanked both on the right and left. The brigade moved to the rear in good order, and halted on the new line; but the right and left continuing the march, and being severely pressed, we made a vigorous charge and drove the enemy back in our front, and, strange to say, not only carried our point, but swung the enemys lines upon right and left with it. Had we been supported here, they would have been routed; as it was, we regained our position occupied when the battle opened, but could hold it but a moment, when we were forced to yield to superior num- bers, and steadily fell back to the ground from which the charge was first made. From this point we charged a second time, compelling the enemy to yield ground, but our ammunition beginning to fail, and no wagons to be found from which to replenish the stock, the brigade was ordered to hold its ~/osition as best it could, and, if pressed too hard, to fall steadily back until the battery could be got into position to protect their movement across the cotton-field. I placed the battery in position, and gave the officer in command (Sergeant German) directions where t Page 289 CITAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 289 fire, pointing out to him the position of the brigade, and what he was required to do. The ammunition of the regiments now entirely failing, and a perfect rout appearing to have taken place, the brigade fell back to the ground occupied by them on the morning of Tuesday. At this time the whole wing was in the ntmost confusion, and I nsed every endeavor to rally and organize them, but without avail. There seemed to be no fear, no panic, but a stolid indifference, which was unaccountable. Officers and men passed to the rear; no words or exhortation could prevent them. In three different positions I used every exertion to reform onr lines, but it became impossible. Reaching the Murfreesborough pike, a stam- pede or panic commenced in the wagon-train, but, succeeding in getting a regiment across the road, it was stopped, and, by a vigorous charge of cavalry, saved from the enemy. We were then placed in reserve to our division along the Murfrees- borough pike, and there waited in anxious expectation to make or repel attacks until the afternoon of Friday, when we were ordered to move in double-quick to the extreme left, to support the division which was being driven in by the enemy, and, although fatigued and worn out by exposure to the rain, without tents or blankets, for seven days, and want of sleep (two days of which time we had had nothing to eat but parched corn), the command, with yells of joy, rushed forward, and, after fording the river three times, pushed the enemy back with the greatest rapidity, the ground being covered with rebel dead and wounded. We went into position about 2 miles from the ford ,and on the extreme left. During the night we threw up an abatis of rails, and laid on our arms; without fires, in a drenching rain. The next morning (Saturday, January 3) we expected an attack, but none occurred during the day. That night we changed position to the right again, nothing but picket skirmishing having occurred during the day. When the morning of Saturday passed without an attack, I be- came satisfied in my own mind that the enemy were evacuating Mur- freesborough, and so expressed it. I cannot speak in too high terms of the gallant conduct of the officers and men under my command. If indomitable daring, cool courage, and invincible bravery in the midst of the turmoil of such a battle, when all space seemed occupied by some deadly missile, amid carnage and noise, be any proof of heroism, they certainly possess it. Many instances of personal daring and feats of individual prowess were visibly performed, but I must refer you to the reports of subordinate commanders for names and instances. To the officers and men of the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-fifth Illinois Regiments and Eighth Wisconsin Battery I owe especial thanks for the determined bravery and chivalric heroism they evinced throughout; and also to the officers and men of the Eighty-first Indiana, a new regi- ment, the first time under fire, who, with but a few exceptions, man- fully fronted the storm of battle, and gave earnest proof of what may hereafter be expected of them. I desire to call the attention of the commanding officer to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, commanding the Thirty-fifth Illinois, whose cool, steady courage, admirable deportment, and skillful management evinced the soldier, true and tried, and who at all times proved himself worthy of the trust he holds. Major Mcllwain, of the same regiment, I cannot praise too much; his good management and skillful handling of the skirmishers, of which he was in charge, elicited enco- 19 R HVOL XX~ PT Page 290 290 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL miums of well-merited complimentat all times cool, determined, and persevering. Lieutenant-Colonel Timberlake and Major Woodbury, of the Eighty-first indiana, displayed manly courage, and held their regi- ment firm and steady nnder heavy fire; for officers young in the service their e4forts are worthy of imitation. Capt. W. Taggart, who succeeded to the command of the Twenty-fifth Illinois Regiment, behaved as a soldier should, everywhere efficient, and ever ready to executeorders. First Sergeant German, of the Eighth Wisconsiu Battery, merits much praise for the cool, skillful, and determined mauner in which he served - his battery after he succeeded to the command. To my staff, Capt. George Austin, acting assistant adjutant-general; Capt. A. C. Keys, Lieut. C. P. Ford, Licut. John F. Isom, Lient. William R. McChesney, and Lient. II. S. Park, I owe especial thanks for the manner they served upon ~the field, carrying my orders, wherever re- quired, through a storm of shot, shells, and bullets, regardless of all save the performance of their duty. During the conflict it became necessary, in the absence of staff, officers - on duty, to make use of orderlies to supply their places. In connection herewith I take great pleasure in testifying to the brave conduct of Orderlies A. T. Greemau and Abijah Lee, on my escort. Amid the glorious results of a battle won, it gives me pain to record the names of the gallant men who offered up their lives on the altar of their country; but we must drop the tear of sorrow over their resting- place, and offer our heartfelt sympathies to their relatives and friends, trusting that God will care for them and soothe their afflictions. And while we remember the noble dead, let us pay a tribute of respect to the gallant Col. T. D. Williams, Twenty-fifth Illinois Regiment, who died in the performance of his duty. He fell with his regimental colors in his hands, exclaiming, We will plant it here, boys, and rally the old Twenty-fifth around it, and here we will die. Such conduct is above all praise, and words can paint no eulogium worthy of the subject. And here,let me call the attention to the conduct of Captain Carpenter, of the Eighth Wisconsin Battery, who fell gallantly serving his gnus until the enemy were within a few yards of their muzzles. He died as a sol- dier would wish to die, with his face to the foe, in the smoke and din of battle. The casualties of the command are small in comparison to the fire they received and the service done. The Thirty-fitth Illinois lost 2 commissioned officers wounded, 8 pri- vates killed, 49 wounded, and 32 missing; the Twenty-fifth Illinois, 1 com- missioned officer killed and 3 wounded, 14 privates killed, 69 wounded, and 35 missing; the Eighty-first Indiana, 2 commissioned officers killed, 2 wounded, and 1 missing, 3 privates killed, 40 wounded, and 39 miss- ing; the Eighth Wisconsin Battery, 1 commissioned officer killed, 4 pri- vates wounded, and 19 missing. Total, 4 commissioned officers killed, 7 wounded, and 1 missing; 2& 3 privates killed, 162 wounded, and 125 missing. Aggregate killed, wounded, and missing, 324.~ I hope a portion of those missing may yet return, as all cannot have been made prisoners. I have the honor to submit the above report to yourconsideration, and remain, dear sir, yours, most respectfully, W. E. WOODRUFF, Golonel, Gommanding Third Brigade. Lient. T. W. MoRRIsoN, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, First Division. * But see revised statement, p. 208 Page 291 CHAr. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 291 Xo. 28. Report of Capt. We~jford Taggart, Twenty;fifth illinois Infantry. IIDQRS~ TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLS., THIRD BI~IGADE, FIRST DIVISION, RIGHT WING, Camp ~war ]Jfurfreesborough, Thin., January 8, 1863. SIR: 1 have the honor of submitting to you the following report of the operations of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Illinois Infantry (luring the late battle before Murfreesborongb, Tenn.: The regiment left camp, near Nashville, Tenn., at 6.30 a. m. December 26, 1862, under command of Maj. R. H. Nodine, and, after a march of 10 miles, in company with balance of brigade, eucountered a force of the enemy near INolensville. About 3 p. m. were deployed ou the right of the brigade; Companies A, I, and K were thrown out to the front as skirmishers. After sharp action, of about two hours duration, the enemy were driven back, and we bivouacked for the night on the field, the rain falling in torrents. Took 1 prisoner of the Eighth Texas Cavalry. At 7 a. m. on the 27th resumed the march at a distance of 10 miles, encamping near Triune, Col. Thomas D. Williams assuming command early in the morning, Major Nodine being detailed on the staff of Major. General lVIIcCook. At 6 a. m. on the 29th resumed the march; encamped on Stones River. Distance marched, 15 miles. Detailed five companies as advanced picket. At 3 p. m. on the 30th fell into line. At 8 a. m. marched in close col- umn, by division, in company with rest of brigade. After marching a distance of 1~ miles, arrived at the front; deployed in line of battle, the men stripping knapsacks. Company A, under command of Lieut. T. H. West, was deployed to the front as skirmishers, and immediately after- ward joined by Companies I and K, under command of Capt. Samuel Houston and Lient. M. B. Thompson. These companies, in conjunction with others of the brigade, continued skirmishing until dark, driving the enemys skirmishers into his main line, Company A losing 6 men wounded, Company I 2 killed and 3 wounded, and Company K 1 wounded. The regiment advanced in line of battle into a strip of timber, and, coveted under shelter of a rail fence, a corn-field of about 150 yards in width separating our forces from that of the enemy, Company A was thrown out to the front a~s skirmishers a distance of 60 yards. The reg. iment lay in this position until 3 a. m. of the 31st, at which time it was called into line, the Thirty-fifth Illinois on our right and the Eighty- first Indiana on our left, supporting the Eighth Wisconsin Battery. At daybreak a line of the enemys skirmishers advancing, opened fire on our skirmishers, and were followed immediately afterward by their main body advancing in four consecutive lines of battle diagonally on our left. A change of front was ordered by Colonel Williams, which was executed under a heavy fire of musketry. Our regiment then opened a murderous fire on the enemy, completely checking him, and finally driving him back in confusion. The enemy immediately made another advance, and were received with a terrific fire of musketry. Our regi- ment was, however, forced back a short distance. At this time, while bravely rallying his men, Colonel Williams fell mortally wounded by a musket-ball passing through his right breast. He was carried from the field immediately. I then assumed command of the regiment, which by this time had fallen back a distance of 15 Page 292 292 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL paces from the first position. I rallied the men, and, finding them almost destitute of ammunition, immediately dispatched a messenger to Gen- eral Woodruff to report the fact; then ordered bayonets to be fixed, and charged on the enemy once more, driving him from the field and retakii~g one Parrott gun, which had been taken by the enemy from the Eighth Wisconsin Battery; also capturing a number of prisoners. At this time, finding all our supplies gone, and flanked on the left, the enemys lines having passed us on the right, and being unable to com- municate with General Woodruff, I assumed the responsibility of with- drawing the regiment in good order to the rear of a battery placed on a commanding eminence, taking with us the piece retaken from the enemy, bnt which we were forced to leave after taking it about 300 yards, on account of a destructive fire being opened on us from one of the enemys batteries. At this point-I reported in person to MajorGeneral MeCook that we were out of ammunition, and was ordered by him to retire to the ammu- nition train in the rear. Did so, and supplied ourselves with ammuni- tion. Then, in obedience to orders, took position on the Murfreesbor. ongh pike, remaining there until 10 a. m. of January 1, 1863. At this time received orders from General Woodruff to fall back a dis- tance of 300 paces and erectbarricades. Did so, remaining there until 4 p. m. of the 2d instant. At this time received orders to fall in line, cross Stones River, and par- ticipate in the action going on on the left. Moved forward at a double- quick a distance of 14 miles, wading the river three times, the last time under a heavy fire of shot and shell from the enemys battery, placed on an eminence directly in front of our regiment; formed line of battle, and moved forward at a double-quick, charging on the enemy, who, however, speedily retreated. After going a distance of 300 yards in the open field, I halted the regiment, threw out a party of skirmishers in front, built a strong line of barricades, and bivouacked on the field of battle. At daylight of the 3d instant the enemys sharpshooters, who were concealed in the timbers, opened fire on the regiment, keeping it up until dark, wounding 2 of our men. Remained on the field until 4 a. m. of the 4th instant; then received orders to recross the river and go into camp on the Nashville pike, which we did. Col. Thomas D. Williams acted with great courage, coolness, and bravery until he fell. Capt. Samuel D. Wall was severely wounded while gallantly doing duty as a field officer. He was carried from the field. Lieutenants Dickson and Hastings were also severely wounded while nobly discharging their duty, and were carried from the field. To the officers and men of the regiment I am deeply indebted for the coolness and bravery shown on every side, all doing nobly. There were presentwith the regiment the following commissioned offi- cers: Capts. S. D. Wall, S. Houston, B. F. Ford, Z. Hall, and J. Smart, Adjt. G. W. Flynn, First Lients. T. H. West, T. J. MeKibben, E. HaIl, A. Yarner, W. J. Sallee, J. H. Hastings, and Second Lients. A. Martin, J. C. Gundy, M. B. Thompson, Thomas W. Braselton, S. Dickson, and A. H. South. Our loss is: Killed 15~ wounded 6 Yery respectfully, , , , 8; missing 25 * WESFOJID TAGGART, Captain Twenty-fifth illinois, Commanding Regiment. Lient. G. W. FLYNN, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. * But see revised statement, p. 208 Page 293 CHAr. XXXThJ THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 293 No. 29. Report of Lient. Cot. William P. Chandler, Thirty-fifth Illinois infantry. IIEA~QUARTERS THiRTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Camp near ]Jiiurfreesborough, Tenn., January 3, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the movements and battles occurring from the time of taking up camp at Saint James Chapel, on December 26, 1862, to the evacuation of Murfreesborough by the enemy, on January 3,1863: December 26, the regiment was on picket duty, and, after the divis- ion J)assed outside the lines on the Nolensville pike, formed the rear guard. The roads being very bad, the train did not close up at night, and the command was placed in position to protect it. December 27, moved forward at daylight and joined the brigade before marching. Moved forward on the road to Triune, about 6 miles, and halted for the night. December 28, remained in camp. December 29, marched at daylight on the road to Lanes Store. Bri- gade formed the advance at Stewarts Creek, and slept on our arms at night. December 30, formed line of battle at 10 a. m. and advanced on the enemy~5 lines. Major Mcllwain was placed in command of skirmishers of the brigade, and towards night~ was sharply engaged. Had 4 men wounded. Laid on our arms at night. December 31, skirmishing commenced at daylight. About sunrise the enemy advanced obliquely in strong force, striking first the Eighty- first Indiana and next the Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, causing them to retire from their position. Soon coming within range of our rifled muskets, we opened a murderous fire on their flank, checking their advance, and enabling the Twenty-fifth and Eighty-first to regain the ground lost. Our loss in the first charge of the enemy was light, owing to a strong position we had on the cedar ridge. Soon, however, the enemy reformed his broken lines, appearing with fresh troops on our right, and made a second desperate charge on our lines, causing them to waver and fall back, but again they were repulsed with terrible slaughter and our original position regained, except on the right, from which I had been retiring, by orders of the brigade commander, and, in obedience to those orders, I retired to the point of timber in rear of the cotton-field, my right being hotly pressed by the enemy, and the whole line under heavy fire of the enemys batteries. On reaching the timber, the regi- ment was halted, and messengers sent for ammunition, but, owing to the confusion on our right, where the train had been parked, none could be procured. Having received no orders from the brigade commander in relation to the point to which I should retire, I governed my move- ments by the left of Carlins brigade, and so continued to do until nearly reaching the Nashville pike, when other troops and batteries crowding in, separated us. I directed Major Mcllwain to report to Colo- nel Carlin and find out his position, with the intention of for ning the brigade (then acting under my orders) on his left; but before his return was obliged to change my position, to give room to other troops then forming in line of battle. I moved the troops a short distance to the rear, procured and distributed ammuhition, and, moving to the right and front, formed on the left of Carlins brigade, and remained in that position until nearly night, when Colonel Woodruff, returning, assume Page 294 294 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL command, and we took position on the west side of the Nashville pike, and laid on our arms at night. Our, loss during the day was First Lieut. H. M. McConnell, Company II, kill~zl, and Second Lieutenant Kagay, Company K, slightly wounded- 9 men killed and 39 wounded. January 1,1863, changed position to rear of the pike, and laid on our arms at night. Jannary 2, abont 4 p. in., moved across the river to our left, to repel the enemys assault in that direction. After coming nuder fire of the enemys batteries, formed line of battle, and advanced, under heavy artil- lery fire, to within musket range of their battery, and silenced it. Took the adjutant of the Forty-first Alabama and 12 men prisoners. Lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded. Laid on our arms at night. The officers and men deserXe great credit for their patience and en- durance, being exposed to drenching rain, cold, and hunger, without fire nearly all the time, for a week. No officer failed in his duties. All did well and deserve commendation. Major Mcllwain had command of the skirmishers of the brigade on the 30th and on the morning of December 31, and deserves great credit for the bravery and skill he displayed in handling them; and, after they were driven in and the action became general, he returned to his command, and by his cool courage and gallantry, shown throughout the entire conflict, deserves my highest commendation. Recapitulation of ca8ualtte8. a 0 Commissioned officers 1 1 2 Enlisted men 10 49 25 84 Total 11 50 25 86 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. P. CHANDLER, Lieutenant FLYNN,. Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brigade, First Division. No. 30 Report of Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson, U. ~. Army, commanding & cond Division. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, IRIGHT WING, January 8, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the opera- tions of tife Second Division, nuder my command, beginning December 26,1862, the day on which it left Nashville, and terminating on January 6, 1863: The Second Division is composed of the following troops: First Brigade, Brig. Gen. A. Willich commanding: Forty-ninth Ohio, ColonelGibson; Fifteenth Ohio, Colonel Wallace; Thirty-ninth Indiana Page 295 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 295 Liente nt-Colonel Jones; Tb irty-secon ci Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Erdelmeyer; Bi olity-nintli illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel llotchkiss, and Goodspeeds battery, First Ohio Artillery. Second Brigade, Brig. Gen. B. N. Kirk commanding: Twenty-ninth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Dunn; Thirtieth Indiana, Colonel Dodge; Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, Lie uLnant-Colonci Honsnm; Thirty- fourth iliinoi , Lientenant-Colonel Bristol; Seventy-ninth illinois, Colo- nel Read, and Edgartons battery, Ohio Artillery. Third Brig~ de, Col. P. P. Baldwin comm nding: Sixth Indiana, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Tripp; Fifth Kentucky (Louisville Legion), Lieutenant- Colonel Berry; First Ohio, Major Stafford; Ninety-third Ohio, Colonel Anderson, and Simonsons (Indiana) battery. Major Kleins battalion, of Third Indiana Cavalry, was assigned to duty with the Second Division. Agreeably to orders, the three divisio~is constituting the right wing of the Fourteenth Army Corps marched from their camps, near Nash- ville, taking the Nolensville pike, and arrived in that village the same day at4p. m. On the following day the same divisions, with mine in advance, marcl]ed to Triune. The rebel rear guard contested the ground inch by inch, and the day was I)assed constantly skirmishing with them, with no loss on our side, but several casualties on their part. Triune was occupied by my division about 4 p. m. The following day, December 28, the command remained in Triune. A reconnaissance to ascertain the direction the enemy had retreated was made by a brigade of my command, commanded by Brig. Gen. A. Willich. it having been ascertained that the enemy had retreated toward Mnrfreesborongh, I was ordered to leave a brigade at Triune, and on the 29th to march on Murfreesborough, on what is known as the Bole Jack road. Col. P. P. Baldwins (Third) brigade was left at Triune. The command arrived at Wilkinsons Cross-Roads about 8 p. m. on the 29th, and an order was sent at once to Colonel Baldwin to move forward his brigade, which arrived early on the afternoon of the 30th. My division was in reserve on the 29th. On the following morning, December 3f~, General Sheridans division was ordered to advance in line of battle, covering the Wilkinson pike, while General Davis division marched in the same order on the right of General Sheridan. My division, being held in reserve, was marched in column on the pike. There being no troops on General Davis right, and General Sheridans left being guarded by General Crittendens left wing, I was ordered to oblique to the right, ~o~ring the right of Gen- eral Davis division. About 2 p. m. I received an order from Majo~~neral MeCook to look well to my right, as General Hardee (rebel), wiih his corps, was on the right flank of our column. I ordered BrigadierGeneral Kirk, coin- manding the Second Brigade, to take position with his brigade, his left resting against the right of General Davis, his right refused, so as to cover our right flank. About dark I placed General Willichs brigade on the right of Kirks, refusing his ribht, and (lirecting a heavy line of skirmishers to be thrown forward, connecting on the left with those of General Davis, and extend- ing to the right and rear, near the Wilkinson pike. This line of skir- mishers was thrown forward about (300 yards, and near those of the enemy. My Third Brigade, Coloncl Bahiwin corumandin g, was held in reserve Page 296 296 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. At dusk on the evening of the 30th the troops occupied the position as indicated by the accompanying map. In consultation with lajor- General MeCook, late in th& afternoon of December 30, he informed me that he had reliable information to the effect that the center of the rebel liizie of battle was opposite our extreme right, and th t we would probabi be attacked by the entire rebel army early on the following morning. His prediction proved true. lie also informed me that he had communicated this information to the comm riding general. I expected a change in the programme for the following day, but none was made. My brigade commanders were called together, and the op- erations of the following day fully explained to the~m Every arrange- ment was made for an attack. Two ballant and experienced officers commanded my two advanced brigades, and every precaution was taken against surprise. At (3.22 on the morning of the 31st the outposts in front of my divis~ ion were driven in by an overwhelming force of infantry, outnumber- ing my forces greatly, and known to contain about 35,000 men. At the same time my extreme right was attacked by the en mys cavalry. The gallant Willich and Kirk soon opened a heavy fire of mu ketry and artillery upon the advancing columns, causing wavering in the ranks, but fresh columns would soon repThce tbem, and it was apparent that to fall back was a military necessity. Edgartons battery, after firing three rounds, had so many of its horses killed as to render it un- manageable. He, however, remained with it, and continued to fire until he fell by a severe wound, and he and his battery fell into the hands of the enemy. Before falling back, the horse of General Willich was killed, and he was wounded and taken prisoner. About the same time General Kirk received a severe wound, which disabled him. Seeing the pressure upon my lines, I ordered up my re- serve brigade, under the gallant Baldwin. The troops of his bri~ade advanced promptly and delivered their fire, holding their ground for some time, but they, too, were compelled to fall back. The troops of this division for the first time were compelled to yield the field tempo- rarily, but the heroes of Shiloh ud Perryville did not abandon their ground until forced to do so by the immense masses of the enemy hurled against them, and then, inch by inch. The ground over which the divis- ion passed, covered with the enemys dead and those of our own men, shows that the field w s warmly contested. Several times the lines were reformed and resistance offered, but the columns of the enemy were too heavy for a single line, and ours would have to yield. Finally the left flank of my division reached the line of General Jiousseans when it was reformed ai~d fought u~ til out of ammunition, but my effi- cient ordnance officer,tf~utenant Murdoch, had a supply in readiness, which w s soon issue~L~ud tb e division a~~ist d in driving the enemy from the field in their lust desperate ~tii gg~e of the day. Soon the curtain of darkness fell upon the scene of blood, and all was quiet, awaiting the coming of morn to renew hostilities. Morning caine, but the enemy had withdrawn. January 1 was a day of comparative quiet in camp, few shots being fired, but many preparations made for a heavy battle on the following day. General Critteudens wing was attacked in force on the 2d, and one of my brigades (Colonel Gibsons) was sent to re-enforce him. For the gallant part taken by it, reference is made to the report of Major- General Critteuden. The enemy evacuated Murfreesborongh on the night of the 3d. On the 6th I was or ered to remove my camp to a point on the Shel- byville road, 4 miles south of Murfteesborough Page 297 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 297 The conduct of officers and men under my command was good. (The Louisville Legion, under the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Berry, brought off by hand one cannon after the horses were killed.) They yielded the ground only where overpowered, offering an obstinate resistance at every point. Some few in each regiment, becoming panic-stricken, fled to Nashville for safety. Captain Simonson managed his battery with skill and courage, and with it did good execution. He lost two gnus, but not until the horses had been killed and the guns disabled. Goodspeeds battery lost three guns and quite a number of horses. This battery was handled well and unt Beidhig. , did good execution under Lienten Reference is respectfully made to the reports of regimental ami bri- gade commanders for the list of those who, by their bravery and good conduct, rendered themselves conspicuous. After the capture of General Willich, his brigade was commanded temporarily by Colonel Wallace, Fifteenth Ohio, but was afterward re- placed by Colonel Gibson, Forty-ninth Ohio. General Kirk becoming disabled, was replaced by Colonel Dodge, Thirtieth Indiana, while the Third Brigade was commanded throubhout by Colonel Baldwin. These four colonels have demonstrated their fitness for command on several bloody fields, and are recommended to my superiors for promo- tion. Their coolness and courage rendered them conspicuous through- out the bloody engagement. Major Klein and his battalion of the Third Indiana Cavalry deserve special mention. Under their gallant leader the battalion was always in front, and rendered efficient service. To Captains Bartlett, Hooker, Thruston, and MeLeland, and Lieu- tenants Taft, H ill, and Sheets, of my staff, my thanks are due for their efficiency and promptness in carrying orders to all parts of the field. My medical director, Surgeon Marks, and the medical officers of the division were untiring in their exertions to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded, and to them my thanks are due. My escort, composed of the following-named men of the Third Kentucky Cavalry, who accom- panied me throughout the engagement, deserve special mention for their good conduct: Sergt. William C. Miles, rrivates George Long, Thomas Salyers, John Christian, John Whitten, James Bowen, B. Hammerstein, and H. A. Norah. Private Bowens horse was killed by a cannon-ball. The loss of the division was as follows: Killed, 260; wounded, 1,005; missing, 1,280 (supposed to have been captured).* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. JOHNSON, Brigadier- General of Volunteers, Commanding. Maj. JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 31. Report of Capt. Peter Simonson, Fifth Indiana Battery. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH INDIANA BATTERY, Camp in Field, January 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report that, on the morning of December 27, this command marched with the brigade from its bivouac on the * But see revised statement, p. 209 Page 298 298 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL Nolensville pike, half mile south of Xolensville, Ten n. After mari~hing about 2 miles, the battery was ordered forward with the brigade, which was advancing in line, of battle on the right of the pike, cannonading being li~ard directly in our front. Colonel Baldwin, brigade commander, ordered one piece forwa~rd, which fired three shots at the enemys cavalry, which was in sight, retreating, on the opposite bill. We then advanced a short distance, and two Pgrrott guns were ordered in the woods to the right of the pike, where six rounds were fired at the enemy, who were apparently cavah~y, drawn up in line of battle, supported by a battery planted on the left of the pike. Their artillery ceased firing, and their cavalry retreated when we advanced, but too late to properly support the brigade, which had charged through the village of Triune. The cause of delay was a bridge being destroyed, and very heavy ground bordering on each side of the creek, when we passed beyond. With a light 12-pounder we fired two shots at the enemy, retreating through a wood. The command then encamped half a mile south of Triune, where it remained, and was employed in inspecting ammunition, until the morn- ing of December 29, when four pieces of the battery were ordered to report to General Willich, under whom they marched, without any event worthy of notice, to within 4 miles of Murfreesborough, Teun. At this place, at about 1 oclock, the four pieces rejoined the brigade, when the whole command went with the brigade upon a reconnaissance 2 miles to the right of the main body of the division, from which the command returned at about. 8 p. in., and went into bivouac in the woods near brigade and division headquarters. We received permissiou to unhitch the horses, but not to unharness, and, early on the morning of the 31st, an order was sent to us by the brigade commander to hitch, which we did without watering the horses. At about 7.30 a. m. two light 12-pounder guns were ordered out to a position about 800 yards southeast from the camp, facing a large corn- field, the enemy appearing in a very heavy force, I was then ordered to return and get the other four guns in position as quickly as possible, which was done, placing them to the right and rear of the first pieces posted. The light 12-pounder gun in the advanced position was under command of First Lieut. II. Fankin. The brigade commander is better informed as to their actions than 1 am, as they were under his imme- diate eye. I simply noticed that they fired very rapidly, and were the last troops which passed to the rear upon my left. They fired in that position 17 rounds from one piece, and 23 from the othernearly all canister. Some of the rounds were double charges. The four guns under my immediate command commenced firing shell. We had fired about 15 rounds when a very large body of our own troops appeared to our right-oblique, retreating rapidly; it was the remains of Kirks bri- gade. Colonel Dodge, of this brigade, had hardly time to inform me that a very large body of the enemy was in close pursuit, when they appeared. Three of the four guns opened upon them with canister, and checked them in front and to the right-oblique, but more appearing almost directly on our right flank (our infantry were out of sight to the rear), the order was given to leave the field. The command succeeded in getting away with but two of the four pieces. At these two positions there were 3 men killed and 21 wounded; also 23 horses disabled. We retreated through a dense woods, and had great difficulty in gettiimg our carriages through. I endeavored to go as much to the left as possible, as I noticed that our troops were less disorganized in that direction. With two pieces we m4e an ineffectual stand in the woods, about midway between th Page 299 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 2~9 CHAP. XXXII.] two pikes, at a J)Oiflt 500 or 600 yards to the right of the Murfreesbor- ough pike. Under the direction of the brigade and division command- ers, with three of our own pieces and one of Battery B, First Ohio Light Artillery, we succeeded for a time in checking the enemy, but the in- fantry fell back, and we were ordered to retire the battery. At this point about 42 rounds of ammunition were fired. It was a splen- did position, and I regretted leaving it. One man was wounded and several horses disahied. We then fell back across the pike and the railroad, and be came again separated from the brigade. I then reported to General Johnson, who ordered me in position on a point to the left of the railroad, where we remained until about 3 p. m, and were then ordered to our present position, on the right or the Mnrfreesborough pike. On the following morning we had a short artillery duel with a four- gun battery in front of ns. in the afternoon the enemy appeared ad- vancing with about a brigade, and we opened fire, firing about 25 rounds. We have been lying in our present position since. Very respectfully, yours, & c., PETER SIMONSON, Captain E~fth Indiana Battery. Lient. GEORGE II. BURNS, Aetg. Assi. Adjt. Gen., Third Brigade, Second Division. No. 32. Report of Capt. Warren P. Edgarton, Battery B, First Ohio Light Artillery. NASHVILLE, TENN., June 25, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit, for your consideration, a brief report of the action of my command (Battery E, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery), at and immediately preceding the battle of Stones River. I have cause seriously to regret that my capture and subsequent imprisonment have so long delayed the recital of facts which I purpose to embody in this report, known only to myself, by which injustice has been done to the brave men of my command, especially as there seems to have been very generally a misapprehension in regard to my position on the morning of the 31st of last December, and the cause which re- sulted in the capture of my battery. We left camp near Nashville on the 26th of December, attached to General Kirks brigade of General Johnsons division, right wing. We marched on the Nolensville pike. The next day, the 27th, approaching Triune, our brigade was ordered in the advance. After marching about 1 mile, we encountered a battery of the enemy posted in a commanding position. My battery was ordered forward to engage it, and, after a few rounds, we (Irove them from that position. We took a second posi- tion on a hill overlooking the village of Triune, and again discovered the enemys battery planted in our front, well snpported by cavalry. We dislodged them a second time, dismounting one of their guns. The enemy ceased to annoy us here, and we were ordered to bivouac near the village, one section being ordered on picket duty. The duty of following the enemy on this day was very arduous. We were obliged to leave the traveled roads in order to gain position; we removed fences, dragged our pieces through the soft ground of cu4ivate Page 300 300 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL fields, through streams of water, and climbed hills, where it became neces- sary to call for a detail from the infantry to help us along. On the 29th we took the direction of Murfreesborough, passed over a very j-ough and hilly road, and arrived after dark near the scene of the contemplated battle. The utmost caution and vigilance was ordered.. We were hitched up and ready for action at daylight of the 30th. On this day the Second Division was held in reserve. We followed the advance till late in the afternoon, when we were ordered to oblique to the right, to cover the right of General Davis division. The enemy had posted a battery on the right of General Davis, in a handsome posi- tion, enfilading his whole line. General Kirk ordered me forward with a regiment of infantry as support, with instructions to silence, if possible, the rebel battery. Under cover of a cedar thicket, I was enabled to approach within about 700 yards of the enemy. The battery was si- lenced by six rounds from our pieces. They retreated, leaving a caisson disabled. An attempt was made to gain another position, but we fol- lowed them, engaging the infantry that caine to their support, and kept up a brisk fire until dark. General Kirk then ordered us to cease firing. My battery was the only detachment of General Johnsons division engaged in the action of Tuesday, the 30th of December. I here repre. sented to General Kirk that my men were very weary, my horses almost famished; that my ammunition was short in the limber-chests of the pieces, and asked permission to withdraw long enough to prepare for hard work on the following day. Believing horses to be the main de- pendence of a light battery, and not knowing when I should have an opportunity to feed and water if brought into action, I asked time to prepare for the conflict of the morrow. General Kirk pointed out a spot about 100 yards in the rear of the position I then occupied, shel- tered by a heavy growth of timber, and ordered me to bivouac there for the night. I reported to him that I could not place my guns in battery there, or defend myself if assaulted. He replied that I should be protected, and that ample notice should be given when I was ex- pected to take a position in the line of battle. After I had brought my guns into park, the right of the brigade was thrown across the muzzles in front. General Willichs brigade marched up and formed on the flank. I found myself within the angle formed by the junction of the two brigades, retiring about 50 yards, and on a low and narrow piece of ground. I have before stated that it was dark when I arrived at this point. We were not permitted to have lights. The ground in our rear had not been reconnoitered. I rode back some distance, but failed to find water for my horses. I did not consider it sge to push the investigation far outside of our lines that night. I waited until morning. At daylight a small stream was discovered about 100 rods in our rear It was quiet all along our lines. I could not hear a picket shot, nor any indication that the enemy was in our vicinity. I had no orders to take position. My horses were already harnessed, to hitch on at a moments warning. I was completely sur- rounded by veteran troops. I had a right to suppose that our fl-out and flank were so picketed that I should have notice of the approach of the enemy. I ordered a half battery of my horses to go to water on a sharp trot, and return at the slightest indication of danger. The horses had barely reached the water when a fierce shout was heard at the front, and a terrible volley of musketry was poured in upon us. I called the cannoneers to their posts, had a half battery hitched in, put my guns in battery where they were, and in a moment was prepared, as best I could, to fight in that position. The infantry, our support, gave wa Page 301 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. ~CHAr. XXXII.] 301 on the front and flank in disorder, almost with the first volley. I then opened on the enemy with canister, firing from 16 to 20 ronnds, with good effect, as I have cause to know, for I passed over the ground in our front a few mom& nl~ afterward a prisoner. The assault of the enemy was fierce and overwhelming. After the first fire, in which I had 1 man killed, a number wonnded, and 12 horses killed, the enemy charged with an impetnosity which carried everything before him. The battery was taken. It would have been impossible for me to have saved my battery, even if I had commenced a retreat on the first alarm. The enemy was very near ns before discovered, and the fight commenced without any of the preliminary skirmishing before a general engagement. To the best of my judgment, it was not more than five minutes from the firing of the first shot to the catastrophe when my battery was taken and myself a prisoner. In the mean time some of my horses returned, were hitched in, and killed. The rest were driven back by the fierce fire from the front. I deemed it my duty to stay with my guns so long as a single shot could be fired, or a chance exist of their being supported and re- taken. I did not realize the helplessness of the case until I was sur- rounded and retreat impossible. In the brief time we were engaged I had 3 men killed, 25 wounded, and 22 taken prisoners. I wish here to compliment my men for their determined bravery; they obeyed orders implicitly, and stood by their guns to the last. I would not be understood in this report as casting the slightest re- flection on the discretion or vigilance of my brigade commander. I am not capable of criticisinghisorders,norwouldlbepermittedtodoso had I the disposition. I had learned highly to respect General Kirk as a fine gentleman and accomplished soldier. I reverenced him for his heroic courage in the presence of an enemy. He was dangerously wounded in a desperate attempt to rally his broken regiments to sup- port my battery, riding almost upon the bayonets of the enemy. As I have been charged with grave errors on the occasion of the battle, I respectfully request that I may be ordered before a court of inquiry, that my conduct may be investigated. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. P. EDGARTON, Captain Battery B, First Regiment Artillery, Ohio Vols. Col. JAMES BARNETT, Chief of Artillery. No. 33. Report of Lieut. Albert U. Ransom, Battery B, First Ohio Light Artil lery. IN CAMP NEAR MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by Battery E, First Regiment Ohio Artillery, in the movement of the Federal army on Mur- freesborough and the battles before that town. Leaving camp near Nashville, December 26, 1862, but marching in rear of two other divisions, the Second was not that day engaged. W Page 302 302 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXJL bivouacked south of Xolensville, and early on the morning of the 27th instant started on the road to Triune. Before we had proceeded more than 1 mile, heavy skirmishing was heard in front, and one section of onr battery was ordered forward by General Kirk. Our place in the march Ileing in rear of the Second Regiment, when the head of the col- nmn had reached the top of a ridge beyond which cavalry skirmishing was still going on, a masked battery of the enemy on the left and com- manding the road opened on it. Our pieces were at once nnlimbered, and, after firing twelve rounds, got no response from the enemys guns. The infantry skirmishers had filed off the road to the left, and our entire battery now moved rapidly after them. Leaving the pike, the skirmishers moved to the top of another ridge, and our battery, following, was at once placed in position there, from which point it opened fire from every gun, driving the rebels out of range. Here we were ordered to await the uplifting of a very heavy fog, and, when the infantry moved forward, again songht the pike, which we followed until the skirmishers reported the enemy again in sight and in line of battle. A fine position, on a hill overlooking Triune, and within the range of the rebel cavalry, in line of battle facing our left, was found here and four pieces opened from this eminence, throwing shot and shell into and beyond the town, and into the rebels on right and left. When we first came in sight of Triune, the road was filled with rebel cavalry, and one section, nulimbering in the road, made them its especial mark. The town was soon made untenable, and in an effort made by the rebel battery planted above the village to return our fire, it was d riven off with one gun disabled. The enemy again retired before onr fire, and the skirmishers, following up as fast as the nature of the gronnd would admit, threafrued the capture of his guns, which he fired rapidly, and which we coukl not return, as he had cut down a bridge, obliging us to search a crossing more than one-half mile down the creek. When our battery again appeared, the enemy had drawn off, but we threw several shots in the direction of his retreat. We were not again in action until the evening of December 30, when the Second Brigade was ordered to support the right of General Davis division, threatened by rebel cavalry. They showed themselves in force, but, having secured a good position, a few shells threw their ranks into confusion and made them retire. The right of General Davis was at this time suffering from the shells of the enemys battery, to which we turned our attention, and had the satisfaction of silencing the battery after a few rounds. Knowing our danger on the right, we planted two pieces on the road by which it was supposed the enemy would come, kept the horses harnessed all night, and took every precaution we thought necessary to guard against surprise. At daylight on the morning of the 31st instant the pickets gave the alarm, and skirmishers were firing, but as yet could see no enemy. The horses were quickly hitched, except a few, perhaps one.half of which were on their return from water, and were brought up at once. Failing to distinguish the enemy, two shells were thrown in the direction of their fire, and, when t~hey appeared, canister. Six rdunds were pOlIIre(l into the moving mass with great effect, but, attacked in front and flank, we soon saw our horses shot down, the work evidently of sharpshooters, who moved in the advance and on the right and left, nntil ti ic whole column being now upon us, we had n~t horses enough to save our guns. The number of deaths among our men, and particularly the fact that two of them were bayoneted at their guns, will show conclusively th~ courage and tenacity which influenced them on the occasion. Coin Page 303 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 303 pletel~ overpowered, it became necessary to retire with a few horses perhaps 30. In conclusion, allow me to express my heartfelt regret at the loss of Captain Edgarton, whose manly voice rang out above the din of mus- ketry, encoura~4ng his men, and giving orders coolly and judiciously. He preferred to go a prisoner with his battery to leaving his much- cherished pieces. In mentioning the other officers and men, the name of Lieutenant Berwick comes foremost, who, an adopted citizen, rushed to arms at the first call, and, in acts as well as words, proved his un- changeable love of the freedom which enticed him from his bonnie hills. The sergeants and men behaved with noble devotion, as the death of three of the former will fully testify, while the alacrity shown by all to enter the service anywhere, so they could fight for their country, proves patriotism and courage. Accompanyin~, this report I append the names of those known to have been killed and wounded: iRespeetfully, your obedient servant, A. G. RANSOM, Fir~t Lieutenant, Commanding. Capt. D. C. WAGNER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade. No. 34. Report of (ol. WiUjarn if. Gibson, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, command ing First Brigade. IIDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, RIGHT WING, ]Jiliurfreesborough, lenin., January 5, 1863. CAPTAIN: The capture of Brigadier-General Willich renders it my duty to report to Brigadier-General Johnson, commanding division, the participation of this command in the events of the last ten days. In accomplishing this task, I shall address myself to a concise narrative of occurrences, that the truth of history may be vindicated, the memory of our heroic slain honored, and that justice may be done to the brave survivors, who, by their energ~ md stubborn courage, maintained a conflict fGr six days, and vanquL~ ied the great army of our foe. Leaving camp, near Nashville, December ~G, 1862, the first and second days march was wit out incident, and took us through Nolensville to Triune, 20 miles. The following day we reconnoitered the country 7 miles to our front, in the direction of Shelbyville, and developed the fact that the rebel forces had retreated the day and night previous in the direction of this place. In that reconnaissance we made 4t prisoners of war. On the 29th we moved upon this place, reaching the Sakm road, 4 miles distant, after dark, and slept upon our arms in rear of General Davis division. On the 30th we advanced upon this position, acting as a reserve to the right wing, and were not brought under fire that day. In the even- ing we took up a position on the extreme right of our army on the Frank- lin road. General Kirks brigade was in front, with pickets thrown out to the mar~in of open fields. To his r ar and near his right, in open woods, was Edgartons battery in position, with a narrow cleared field in front. To the right of this battery, and on a line perpendicular to th Page 304 ~3O4 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA?, AND SW. YA. [ChAP. XXXIL rear of General Kirks right, were the reserves of the Thirty-ninth and Thirty-second Indiana, of this command, portions.of each being on picket duty. The ~lirection of the Franklin road is due east and west at this point, and it was covered by General Kirks right, his line of battle fronting east and in advance of a lane running north and south, 8 yards wide, and intersecting the road at right angles. In this angle is a field of open woods 330 yards square. South of this is an uninclosed space covered by a few trees and near 100 yards wide, through which the Franklin road is located. At the fence, to the right of Edgartons bat. tery, five companies of the Thirty-ninth Indiana were camped in line of battle, fronting south. To their right the Thirty-second Indiana occu- pied a like position. Inside of the wooded field and within 30 yards of the fence the Forty-ninth Ohio was formed in line of battle, fronting south, its left resting within 100 yards of the 4ane and its right within a like distance of the west inclosure. In its rear the Eighty-ninth Illinois was in double column, closed in mass, fronting south. Perpendicular to the rear of the right of the Forty-ninth was the Fifteenth Ohio, in line near the fence, fronting-west, its left wing resting within 60 yards of the Forty-ninth. In the southwest corner of this wooded field Good- speeds battery was parked in oblong square. North and west of this field and south and east of the uninclosed space were cleared fields. The picket line of General Kirk covered his front and flank, connecting with that of this brigade at a fence 600 yards south of the left of the reserve of the Thirty-ninth Indiana. The pickets of the Thirty-ninth were advanced 700 yards in front of the reserve in an open corn-field. The pickets of the Thirty-second joined those of the Thirty-ninth and covered our flank and rear. At 3 a. m. Colonel Jones was ordered to patrol the woods 600 yards in front of his pickets. No indications of the presence or purposes of the enemy were discerned. Here I beg leave to call attention to the very concise and satisfactory report of Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, commanding Thirty-ninth Indiana, and also to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Erdelmeyer, commanding Thirty-second Indiana. These dispositions had been made and these precautions adopted by General Willich. At dawn of day orders were received to build fires and make coffee. In a few moments after I met General Willich, who remarked that he would be absent a few moments at the headquarters of General John- son, and in case anything occurred in front of our pickets he directed me to rally the Thirty-ninth and Thirty-second to their support. At 6.25, and soon after meeting the general, firing was heard on Gen- eral Kirks right. The brigade was instantly ordered to take arms, and Lieutenant Miles, of the staff was dispatched for General Willich. He was fonud, and started for his command, but his horse was shot under him, and he was made a prisoner before giving an order. The enemy advanced upon our position with four heavy lines of bat- lie, with a strong reserve held in mass. All these were in full view before the lines of General Kirk gave way. His left extended a great distance beyond our extreme right, and was thrown forward, so that his lines were, to some extent, obliqne to ours. To the right of our position, and near the Franklin road, he took position with an immense force of cavalry. In fact, the center of flardees corps attacked our right. His lines were advanced with great rapidity, and his force could not have been less than 35,000, besides cavalry. Portions of Polks and Smiths corps were engaged. The lines of General Kirk soon yielded to an assault which no troops in the worl Page 305 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 305 could have withstood. The Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth moved promptly, but were embarrassed by the retiring forces, and their safety endangered by an assault in overwhelming numbers upon front and flanks. Lieutenant Belding moved back with four guns, but was so hotly pressed that he could not put them in position with safety. He had done nothing in his original position, because the lines falling back in our front were between his guns and the enemys line. He and his men stood at their pieces until the enemy~5 lines were within 50 yards, wheti they fell back, leaving two guns on the field, owing to the killing of horses attached to one and the breaking of the pole of the other. The Forty-ninth remained in its l)OsitiOn until ordered to retire, and fou~ht desperately at every rod. The Fifteenth Ohio, Colonel Wallace, delivered six rounds before falling back, while the Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth Indiana bravely contested the ground on the right. The courage and activity of these regiments kept the enemy in check until our artillery horses could be hitched, and the dead of the foe showed the telling efi~ct of their fire. With cavalry on their right, infantry assailing them on the left, and heavy masses rushing to the assault in front, these regiments were directed to retire as the only escape from annihilation or capture. Edgartons battery, after being uncovered by the lines of General Kirk, opened fire, but before three rounds were delivered the enemy reached the guns and captured the pieces. Unchecked, the foe rushed on, and as his advance reached Goodspeed~s battery, his second line reached Edgartons battery, and that gallant officer being wounded and made prisoner, his men continued to defend themselves with their gun-swabs. The Fifteenth Ohio, Colonel Wallace, had got into posi- tion, and, under cover of its fire, the Forty:ninth Ohio and Eighty-ninth Illinois were directed to retire by the flank. The Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth were now retiring in good order. At this juncture, learning nothing of General Willich, I felt it my duty to exert myself as far as possible to save the command. Good- spee(ls battery, under command of Lieutenant Belding, was ordered to retire to a position beyond an open field, and Lieutenant-Colonel Drake was directed to place the Forty-ninth Ohio in position at the same point. Here I had hoped to rally the whole brigade, but Lieutenant-Colonel Drake was killed, and Major Porter, of the Forty-ninth, was severely wounded. My horse was shot, and most of our field officers were disa- bled or dismounted by the enemys fire. From my position, looking to our center, I could see our whole line fall back rapidly in some disorder, though a constant fire was kept up to the right. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones was bravely rallying his men, and large numbers, separated from other regiments, were moving directly west, instead of to our center. Lieutenants Belding and Scovill, with one gun, moved to the center, while Lieutenant Day, in charge of three guns, moved back toward the Wilkinson road, with our extreme right. After retiring for nearly half a mile, and rallying and fighting at every available point, my second horse was killed, placing it again out of my power to communicate with our center. Soon after, a line was rallied and formed, extending west to a small creek, and Lieutenant Beldings gun was got in position. Beyond the creek Lieutenant-Colonel Jones and myself rallied, under cover of a fence and cedar thicket. As the enemys columns neared our irregular lines, they were met by a rapid and deadly fire, and Lieutenant Belding opened fire at the same time with terrible effect. The rebel columns were checked and fell back across the open ground. Here they opened 20 U UVOL XX, PT Page 306 306 KY., MID. ANI) E. TENN., N. ALA., ANI~ SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL on us with artillery and again advanced their infantry, our line falling back. After thus rallying and meeting the enemy several times, we arrived with ow~ flank on the Wilkinson road, a short distance west of our ammunition train. Here we were charged by the enemys cavalry and lost one gnn, all of us being in the enemys power. My sword was demanded, but just at that instant a detachment of our cavalry made a dash for our rescue, and in the confusion of the moment most of us fought our way out and escaped. The division train was got under motion, and we moved rapidly and in considerable disorder to the Nashville road, closely pursued by the enemys cavalry. Here the colors of the Thirty-ninth Indiana were captured. At this moment I learned that a considerable portion of this brigade had reached the center; that General Willich had been killed or captured, and that General Wallace was in command of the brigade. A complete panic prevailed. Teams, ambulances, horsemen, footmen, and attachJs of the army, black and white, inoun ted on horses and mules were rushing to the rear in the wildest confusion. I exerted myself to arrest this panic, and hastened down the road until I met Colonel Walker with his brigade, who promptly formed in line of battle and put his artillery in position. With this assurance the tide was. quite checked, and, placing a strong guard of cavalry across the road, Colonel Walker moved his command to the front, compelling every able-bodied soldier to fall in. I hurried them back to the front, and thus hundreds, if not thousands, were compelled to return to their commands. In the evening this brigade was reorganized, and, by order of Gen- eral Johnson, took J)ositiOn on our extreme right, in rear of Colonel Carlins brigade, of the First Division. Though repulsed and su 4aining severe loss in officers and men the day previous, January 1 found us 1,300 strong, and eager to participate in the dangers and struggles of the field. I was directed to reconnoiter the woods to the right and rear of onr position, which was accomplished under the observation of Major-Gen- erals Itosecrans and McCook. Though within range of the enemys battery, we reached the woods unobserved,, and soon met his sharpshoot- ers, and discovered that he was massing his infantry under cover of these woods, with the apparent design of attacking our extreme right. In withdrawing we were harassed by shot and shell from his batteries~ but sustained no loss. We were soon directed to reoccupy the woods, and promptly took up onr position with the Fifteenth Ohio and the Thirty-second indiana and Eighty-ninth Illinois, in line of battle (their front covered by skirmishers), and the Thirty-ninth Indiana and Forty- ninth Ohio, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, as a reserve. The enemys cavalry made a dash npon our l)osition, but were gallantly repulsed by our skirmishers. The movements of the enemy on the right having averted the serious attention of General Ilosecrans, troops were promptly placed in posi- tion to our left, and our lines withdrawn to the margin of the woods, our flank covered by a strong force of cavalry. The prompt movements of our forces and the splendid maneuvering of the commander-in-chief defeated the designs of the enemy, and no further attack was made. Leaving this position on the morning of the 2d, by order of General Johnson, we were placed in an important position, so as to sustain the right, center, or left, in case of a reverse to either. In the evening a terrible assault was made upon our extreme left, an Page 307 CHAP. XXXH.J THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 307 our forces were repulsed. We were ordered to make a charge with the bayonet. The brigade moved out and deployed in splendid style. It moved with alacrity and perfect order, clearing the field and reaching the river, where we were ordered to halt. Onr right dank was exposed to the enemys infantry, concealed in the woods on our right, while he annoyed us with a battery across Stones River. General Palmer attempted to drive the foe from the woods, but, meet- ing with strong resistance, his aide appealed to me for re-enforcements, and the Thirty-second Indiana was detached for that service. They met and repulsed two regiments, driving them across the river at the point of the bayonet. Nothing could exceed the gallantry and enthu- siasm that this heroic regiment exhibited in this emergency. Our bri- gade changed the fortunes of the hour, and, under cover of our lines, the enemy was driven back and three pieces of artillery captured. Though under arms night and day, and maneuvering, we were not again brought within range of the enemys musketry. I must mention the fortitude and good cheer with which the officers and men submitted to the hardships and exposure of four long days and nights, without adequate rations or shelter; they cheerfully subsisted partly on parched corn, and rested in drenching rains. On visiting the field over which we retired on the 31st, abundant evidence was presented of the desperate struggle. Our men rallied whenever summoned, and delivered their fire with deadly effect. Though the enemy~s wounded and many of his dead had been removed, it is safe to affirm that his killed exceeded ours as three to two, and.that vast numbers were wounded. It was before our fire that General Rains, of the rebel army, was killed, and a vast number of subordinate officers and men killed and wounded. Every rod of ground over which we retired was marked by the blood of the foe, and our men reached the center with empty cartridge boxes. Our loss was terrible, but unavoidable, and is, to a great extent, com- pensated by the result ultimately obtained. We went into action with 2,458 men and 113 commissioned officers. In killed, we lost 96, includ- ing 4 officers; in wounded, we lost 365, including 14 officers, and our missing reach 682, including 6 officers. Many of our missing escaped, and are safe in the rear, but it is probable that 400 were made pris- oners. Lieutenant-Colonel Drake, Forty-ninth Ohio, fell at the post of duty, bravely cheering his men. By his death the State has lost a valued citizen, his community an ornament, his family a noble husband and kind father, and the army a most gallant and faithful soldier. Captain Keller, of the same regiment, fell as heroes love to fall. A true patriot and accomplished soldier, he carried with him into camp and field all the graces of Christianity. Captain Willett, of the Eighty-ninth Illinois, fell while bravely lead- ing his command, and such were his accomplishments as a gentleman and soldier that it will be difficult to fill his place. Throughout these trying days and nights officers and men did their duty nobly, with a few exceptionsa few officers failed to earn the con- fidence of their men, and some privates sought safety in flight. The Fifteenth Ohio evinced the greatest courage, and many of its officers deserve special mention. Colonel Wallace, always l)rudent, energetic, and brave, fully sustained his high reputation as a soldier, and won the admiration of all who witnessed his conduct. Lienten- ant-Colonel Askew fell, early on the 31st, while heroically cheering his men Page 308 308 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL Captain Dawson was especially distinguished for thrilling heroism and persistent courage. This officer, conspicuous in so many battles, and so well qualified, merits, and should receive, honorable promotion. Adjutant Dubois, of the same regiment, deserves special mention for gallantry and good conduct. The Forty-ninth Ohio sustained its high reputation, and, though it lost 10 officers, it faced the foe at every point. Captain Gray, as rank. ing officer, had charge of a portion of the regiment on the 31st, and proved himself brave, prudent, and competent br any command. Ad- jutant Norton was especially heroic, and excited general admiration by his inflexible courage and great activity. Both of these officers merit, and 1 hope will receive, promotion. Captains McCormack and Tyler were ever active, brave, and sel tpossessed in the midst of dangers, and showed themselves worthy and competent to command. The splendid conduct of the Thirty-second Indiana fully sustained its claims to confidence. Every officer and man did his duty heroically. Lieutenant-Colonel E rdelmeyer, commanding, and Maj or Glass and Cap- tain Mank were especially conspicuous throughout the long struggle. Lieutenant Colonel Hotchkiss, commanding Eighty-ninth Illinois Vol. unteers, deserves the highest praise for his coolness and skill in action. He drew off his men in good order, fighting as he withdrew, and showed himself worthy of any command. This gallant officer has given to the service one of its best regiments, and has justly earned promotion. Major Hall and Captaiu Whiting, brave and valuable officers, 1 regret to say, were made prisoners. All the officers and men of this regiment did their duty promptly, and earned the confidence of their companions in arms. Captain Williams, commanding during the illness of Lieuten- ant Colonel Hotchkiss, is an efficient and competent officer. The Thirty-ninth Indiana, Lieutenant Colonel Jones commanding, fought with desperation and terrible effect. Its list of casualties shows that where it moved the battle raged most fierce. Men could not have evinced greater courage and heroism. Captains McClellaud, Cody, Mc- Coy, Graham, and Captain Herring, acting major, merit the highest praise for their activity and energy. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones dis- charged his duties in the most gallant manner; ever active and brave, he rallied his men at every point, and yielded only before overwhelming numbers. He met the foe in hand-to-hand conflict, and owes his escape to the skillful use of his side-arms. I beg leave to urge the name of this most meritorious officer upon the Executive of his State for promo- tion. I cannot too highly commend the good conduct of Lieutenants Beld. ing, Scovill, and Day, of Battery A, First Ohio Artillery, and the men under their command. The loss of three guns was from no fault of any one. Lieutenant Belding did splendid execution upon the enemys col- umn, and proved himself worthy of a command. I cannot too strongly urge his promotion upon the Executive of Ohio. Surgeons Kunkler, Park, Tuttle, Kelly, and Pitman, as ~tell as Dr. Corey, hospital steward of the Forty-ninth Ohio, remained on the field and labored, for days and nights, unaided, in caring for our wounded. For thus faithfully performing their duty, at the risk of maltreatment, and possibly captivity, they have secured the confidence and respect of this command. On the eveningof the 31st, Captain Schmitt, Lieutenants Green, Miles, and McGrath, of General Willichs staff, reported to me for duty, and in all the subsequent operations of the command these gallant officer Page 309 TIlE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN.. CHAP. XXXII.] 309 were vigilant and prompt in every duty, and to them I am under special obligations for suggestions on the field. Though not acting under my personal observation on the 31st, they were in the thickest of the figlit, and officers ~f experience speak of their conduct as being most intelli- gent and heroic in rallying our forces. James Purdy, mounted orderly, merits especial praise for his activity and courage throughout the week of battles. I must express the deep regret of officers and men at the capture of Brigadier-General Willich; having the confidence of the brigade, and being a soldier of education and experience, his removal from the com- mand at this juncture is a public misfortune. To Brigadier-General Johnson we are under obligations for constant vigilance, unremitting energy, and his many acts of kindness and ex- pressions of confidence toward this command. In the name of the brigade, I am allowed to thank Major-General MeCook and the general-in-chief for their flattering attentions on the field, and for their repeated exhibitions of confidence in our efficiency, prudence, and courage. I am, most respectfully, Colonel, Commanding First Brigade. Capt. J. 11. BART~LETT Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 35. Report of Lient. Col. Charles T. Hotehkiss, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry. HEADQUARTERS EIGHTY-NINTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY, FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, RIGHT WING, In Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the series of engagements between the Federal and rebel forces near Murfreesborough, Tenn., and upon the approaches thereto, commencing on December 26, 1862, and ending on January 4, 1863, when the latter, under General Bragg, were defeated by the army of General Ilosecrans and forced to evacuate all their positions in and about Murfreesborongh. This regiment left camp, in front of Nashville, with my brigade on the morning of December 26, taking the Nolensville pike and moving slowly with the column (as the enemy had to be driven by the advance) through Nolensville, Triune, and along the Murfreesborough and Frank- lin road, arriving, on the night of the 30th, at a point about 3~ miles due west from Murfreesborongh, where, just after dark, the brigade was put in position on the extreme right of our right wing, about 200 yards in rear of and at right angles with Kirks brigade. My regiment was formed in double column at half distance in rear of time Forty-ninth Ohio, which was formed in line, fronting south. The Fifteenth Ohio formed in line, fronting west, on my right flank, with Battery A, First Ohio Artillery, near the right flank of the Forty-ninth Ohio and the left flank of the Fifteenth Ohio, the Thirty-second and Thirty-ninth Indiana Regiments being on picket covering the front o Page 310 310 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. ICHAr. XXXII. our position both south and west, thus protecting the rear of the ex- treme right (Kirks brigade) of the right wing. In this position my men bivouacked without fires for the night. At 5.3w oclock on the morning of December 31, as my men were build- ing fires for cooking. rapid firing was heard on Kirks front~ which was almost instantly followed by the men of his brigade rushing in confusion and iudiscriminately throngh our ranks and over my men, closely fol- lowed by a heavy column of rebel infantry. The enemys fire being very severe and heavy upon us, and the large number of fugitives pass- ing through and covering my front, together with peremptory orders communicated to regimental commanders of his brigade by General Willich the night previous, made it impossible for me to make a deploy- ment or otherwise advantageously change my position. To protect my men as much as possible from the enemys fire, 1 or- dered them to lie down. In that position they remained without confu- sion until my left wing was uncovered of fugitives and the enemy within 50 yards of my position, when I ordered that wing to fire, which was done with good eft~ct, the colors of the leading column of rebels falling. Having received no orders as yet, and seeing the other regiments of the brigade failing back, I gave the order to retire by the right flank, on double-quick, which was done (but with some confusion), to a lane, about 400 yards in a northwesterly direction, where I placed Captains Willetts, Whitings, and Comstocks, and Lieutenant Wells companies in a very good position. But few of our shots were wasted, the colors of the leading column of the enemy again falling under our fire; but, being closely pressed, I ordered the companies to retire on the same line of direction to a point on a small creek, a bout 500 yards distant, where I placed Captains iRowells and Blakes companies under the partial cover of a thicket, and their fire most materially checked the enemys advancing skirmish- ers, allowing me time to cross the creek with, and partially reorganize, my command, Captain Itoweils gradually following. Following the line of the creek, I again crossed to a point some 500 yards southeast of the Second Division hospital, where, in an open held, I joined a portion of each of the Forty-ninth and Fifteenth Ohio and Thirty-second Indiana IRegiments. The enemys cavalry appearing on our right, and their infantry approaching on our left flank, threatening to cut us off, I moved by the left flank,the other regiments following, in a northeasterly direction, to a position in the woods on the south side of the Wilkinson pike, and about equidistant from the hospitals of the First (General Davis) and the Second (General Johnsons) Divisions, a position from which our fire, at short range over an open field, thinned the ranks and partially checked the advance of the rebels closely press- ing columns. At this point, being informed of the loss of General Willich and Colo- nel Gibson, the next senior officer, the command of the brigade was assumed by Colonel Wallace, of the Fifteenth Ohio. The forces (to me unknown) which here formed upon the right and left flanks of our brigade having retired, in obedience to orders I re- tired my regiment in line and in good order, making several stands in the same woods with the balance of the brigade to and near the right of General Rousseaus division, where I was ordered by General John- son to take position in a cedar thicket on the right with some troops (to me unknown) who were in front and joining on the right of said divis- ion. Soon afterward, the troops on my right and left of the line, whic Page 311 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 311 they and I in common held, having unexpectedly and rapidly retired, and my position just then receiving the brunt of the enemys artillery and musketry fire, and in y ammunition being exhausted, I retired my regiment, by~the flank, to the rear, there replenishing my ammunition and resting my men, who had up to this time taken and delivered an unceasing fire for nearly five hours. Later in the day, being informed of the position of the balance of the brigade, I at once rejoined them, when I was put in position on the right of the same, thus unitedly forming the second line of infantry (General Davis division being in front) on the extreme right of the right wing, where we bivouacked that night without fires. The operations of the regiment during the subsequent four days were in common with the brigade, and were not of a character to need from me particular mention, with the exception of the part taken by it on the night of Friday, January 2, when, under the command of Captain Williams (myself being unable to take active command), it had the responsible position of guarding the ford and supporting Captain Stokes (Chicago Board of Trade) battery, while the forces under General Keg- ley made the successful charge upon the enemys right. The behavior of the officers and men during this period, particularly in the trying action of the 31st, was, in steadiness and bravery, all that could be required by any conimander. This phrase fully expresses my estimate of their conduct: Every man that day did his duty. Where bravery and obedience were so general it is difficult for me to make personal discrimination; but among my non-commissioned officers I par- ticularly commend, for their gallantry in rallying to my colors fugitives from other commands, Sergt. Maj. John NI. Farquhar and Sergt. Erastus 0. Young, of Company A; also Capt. Button G. Cody, of the Thirty. ninth Indiana, and Lieutenant Seifert, of the Thirty-second Indiana, who tendered their st~rvices to me on the field and fought gallantly in my ranks. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. T. IIOTCIIKISS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 36. Report of Lieut. Cot. Frank Erdelmeyer, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry. IIDQRS. THIRTY.SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863. SIR: I respectfully submit to you the official report of the part taken by the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers in the late battle at Murfrees- borough and in the events of the days preceding. The regiment left camp, near Mill Creek, on the morning of Decem- ber 26, 1862, and marched to Noleusville. On the 27th, the regiment advanced to Triune. On the 28th, having the advance guard of the brigade, participated in a reconnaissance towar(l Shelbyville. On the 29th, we left Triune, crossing over to within 4 miles of Mur- freesborough Page 312 312 KY., MID. AND E. TENN, N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CH~r. XXXIL On the 30th, the battle having commenced, the regiment moved up to the road and performed picket duty on the right flank of the extreme right of the army corps. On t~e morning of the 31st, firing havin5~ been heard on onr left, Lient. S. Green, of the staff of General A. NVillich, ordered me to draw in the pickets and move up to the brigade. Before I was able to as- semble seven companies of my command and form them in line, facing toward the center, I observed the enemys columns advancing and firing. At the same time a great portion of our battery, guns, caissons, and battery teams, together with a dense mass of infantry, in disorder, came rushing toward us, and, breaking through the regiment, forced our men to give way and fall back. The confusion and panic having then be- come general, I was unable to reassemble the regiment until we had retreated along the creek for nearly three-quarters of a mile, when we succeeded in rallying about 200 of our men. I would respectfully state that Lieutenant Belding, of Captain Good- speeds battery, retreated with me with one gun, and, by firing several times on the enemy, checked their flanking columns. We then moved toward the center of the engagement, firing on the enemys cavalry at different times, and met at a rise of the ground the rest of the division, where Colonel Wallace, of the Fifteenth Ohio, directed me to fall in line with his regiment. The enemy advancing at that time, we fought there for more than an hour, and~ being relieved byfresh troops, fell back and joined the brigade. In the afternoon of January 1 we moved to a strip of wood on the right of the first hospital on the nashville roid an during the night, picketing. d remained there On the 2d we moved with the brigade as reserve to the center of the right wing. Toward 5 oclock the brigade was ordered to charge on the enemy on the left of our center. While the regiment advanced in line of battle toward Stones River, General Palmer rode up and ordered me to move the regiment by the right flank into a strip of wood on our right, occu- pied by the enemy. On approaching said wood I received their fire and threw out my skirmishers to cover my advance. We then charged and drove them back to the edge of the hill, where the heavy firing commenced, the enemy contesting every inch of ground. My skirmishers, advancing on the right and left, unexpectedly found themselves within 15 yards of the enemy, lying below the crest of the hill. At that time a regiment came up to our support on the right. They fired one volley and fell back in disorder. A second regiment (Thirty- first Indiana) came up in fine style, and at the right moment assisted us in driving the enemy from his position, causing him to retreat precipi- tately and in great disorder across Stones River. It having grown night for nearly two hours, it was impossible to gain more advantages or better results of the fight, keeping our position nutil relieved by Gen- eral Palmers pickets, after which we returned to camp. The casualties of December 31 amount to 2 killed, 13 wounded, and 115 missing; of January 2, 10 killed, 27 wounded, and none missing. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK ERDELMEYER, Lieutenant- Colonel, Corndg. Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers. Col. W. II. GIBSoN, Commanding First Brigade Page 313 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STORES RIVER CAMPAIGN 313 No. 37. Report of Lieut. Cot. Fielder A. Jones, Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry. CAMP NEAR MURFREESBOROUGH, TENN., January 7, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the opera- tions of the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers since Decem- ber 25, 1862: Nothing of note occurred after breaking camp near Nashville, Tenn., until the regiment arrived on the field of operations in the enemys front, near Murfreesborough, Tenn., where it arrived December 30, 1862. On the evening of the same day the First Brigade, to which the regi- ment belongs, was moved to the extreme right wing of the army, the line of battle of the brigade being nearly at right angles with that of the right wing. I was ordered to detail five companies from the Thirty-ninth Indiana for picket duty daring the night. My orders were to join the left of my line with the right of General Kirk, and join my right on the left of the picket line of the Thirty-second, and leave the five reserve companies in line of battle, facing toward my picket line. Companies A, B, C, D, and K were detailed, and, having deployed A, C, and D as skirmishers, with B and K as supports, I joined picket lines with General Kirk and Thirty-second Indiana, as ordered. The following diagram will aid in explaining the operations of the 31st: QQ~wa7~y. A :3 ~ DLfforise. (Te& u9vcwo A, line of battle of right wing; B, position of reserve companies of Thirty-ninth Indiana; dotted line a, General I~irks pickets; dotted line b, picket line of Thirty- ninth Indiana, distant from the reserve one-half milo; line extends through open corn-field from point H to honse E; D, fence. About 3 a. m. December 31, 1862, I received orders from General Willich to throw forward one company to patrol the woods F, in our front, and distant about 600 yards. Captain Herring, acting major, immediately sent Company B forward for that purpose. At early daylight General Willich ordered me, in case there should be any indication that the rebels had placed a battery in our front, to move my picket line at once to the woods F, and hold it till the brigade conld give me support. I went immediately to the picket line, and, learn- ing from the patrol that no indication of the enemy had been seen, Page 314 314 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXIL was on the point of ordering Company B from the front, when several ~shots wcre hre(1 from the pickets on our left, who gave way at the point II, leaving our flank exposed. I ordered Lieutenant Stanley to recon- nect his line with General Kirk and hold his ground. At the same time I ordere~l all the company reserves on the picket line, forming a very strong skirmish line. Scarcely had this disposition been made when Kirks )ickets again gave way, and three regiments of rebel infantry, moviiig abreast in line of battle, were interposed between my picket line and the reserve companies. Many of my men were shot down at their post by the enemy who had moved into their rear. Seeing that the rebel line of battle was oblique to that of our right wing. and supposing that our brigade would either change obliquely on the Thirty-ninth Indiana, or place the batteries in position to enfilade the rebel lines, I, partly to support such a movement, and partly to secure an opportunity to rally the pickets on the reserve, ordered Captain Her- ring to move the pickets in double-quick time by the right flank and take position behind the fence D, and open fire on the advancing foe, at the same time sending Lieutenant Neal to the house E, to open the fence an(l show the companies where to commence filing to the right. We succeeded in rallying Company A, and parts of Companies I) an(l K, behind the fence, when the enemy opened upon us a murderons fire. Lieutenant Neal fell mortally wounded, and of the few who took posi- tion there, nearly one-half were either killed or wounded. Twice did our fire cause the enemys lines to halt and waver, but he quickly rallied and moved forward. Had we been supported here, either with infantry or artillery, the enemy would have been repulsed whh great slaughter. But no support came. Three rebel standards were within 30 feet of the fence when I ordered the men to double-qnick to the cedar thicket C, where they again made a stand and covered the retreat of one piece of Goodspeeds battery. Here I first learned that my five reserve companies, under command of Captaiii Cody, senior captain, had charged, front forward, on seven companies, and had bravely held their ground until the regiment on their left had given way, when they were forced to abandon their posi- tion. They retired in good order for some distance when their ranks were thrown into confnsion by the rush of stragglers through their lines. 8ceing onr colors at a distance, I ordered the skirmishers to fall back at once and join them. I met Colonel Gibson near this point, and we selected a ground on which to rally our two regiments; but ignorance of the topography of the country, and the operatiomis of our cavalry, threw me so far over to the right as to separate me from Colonel Gibson and involve me in difficulty with the rebel cavahy, which was swarming on our flank. The division train being threatened by this cavalry, I rallied as many men as possible to its snpport, and escorted it safely and in good order to the Nashville pike. Here both myself and the other officers did our utmost to file the regiment to the right and join the center of our army; but at this time the panic on the pike was at the highest, and our men were swept away as by a whirlwind, leavin me but a handful of men and officers. With these, after having been under a murderous fire for ovel eight hours, with our colors lost and men dispirited, I joined General Johnson, near the rear of the center of our army. TIad I been better acquainted with the topography of the country I might have saved more men; but hour after hour elapsed, and I received no orders, and I did not even know where to direct my line of retreat; yet every obstacle, thicket, fence, or ravine was taken advantage of, and at no time was our fire relaxed Page 315 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RiVER CAMPAIGN. 315 Our loss was terrible. We had 31 killed, including 1 lieutenant; 118 wounded, including 2 lieutenants, and 231 missing, including 1 captain and 1 lieutenant. Of those reported missing, I have reason to believe that vary many are wounded, though, perhaps, slightly. How well the regiment fonght let the above fearful list proclaim. Over 30 fell behind the fence D, while opposed to ten times their num- ber, yet no man left his post until ordered. Lieutenant Neal, acting adjutant, fell here. No truer gentleman, no better soldier or braver man belongs to the great patriot army. He fell at his post doing his duty. He is no longer with us, but his name is in his countrys history and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of us all who knew him well. Lieutenant Leavell was also wounded while in the discharge of his (Inty. He is a brave man and good officer. Most of the company officers acted manfully. I am under obligations to Captains McCoy, McClelland, Cody, and Graham, Lieutenants Foote, Stanley, Mitchell, Clark, Hamilton, and Scott for efficient and timely aid. Of Capt. Thomas Herring, acting major, I cannot say too much in his praise. He was always at the post of danger, brave and cool, aiding here in rallying the men and there in directing the fire, so as to make it most effective. He deserves well of his regiment and his country. Private James Gray, of Company E, behaved nobly. No commissioned officer did more that day to rally the men than he did. He deserves promotion. Sergeants Boyer, Jones, Crozier, Noah W. Downs, Daniel Wilkins, and Mait Mollihan are also worthy of mention. Asst. Surg. John Gray did everything mortal man could do in caring for thewounded, and richly merits th~ deepest gratitude of the regiment and friends of the wounded. On January 1, 1863, the Forty-ninth Ohio and Thirty-ninth Indiana were consolidated, at the request of Colonel Gibson, commanding bri- gade, and the request of the officers of the Forty-ninth. I assumed command of the two. My command took an important part in the maneuvering in the right wing on January 1, and afro in~ the bayonet charge of the brigade on the evening of January 2. In this charge the men were in excellent spirits, and never in the history of the two regiments did they fight with greater desperation than on that night. Three meu of the Forty- ninth Ohio were wounded by shells thrown from the enemys batteries. My thanks are due to Captains Hays, Gray, and Tyler; also to Lieu- tenant Kessler and Adjt. C. A. Norton. Their untiring energy and zeal aroused the drooping spirits of the men, and excited enthusiasm out of despondency. Very respectfully, F. A. JONES, Lieutenant- Golonel, Commanding Thirty-ninth Indiana. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 38. Report of Cot. William Wallace, Dfteenth Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. FIFTEENTH Onio VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, January 7, 1863. SIR: In accordance with orders from Colonel Gibson, commanding brigade I have the honor to report to you the part taken by the Fi Page 316 316 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. teenth Ohio in the march from Nashville to Murfreesborough, and the engagements in which the Fifteenth participated. We were first engaged with the enemy on the morning of December 31, 1862, about 7 oclock, when I found the enemy appr~aching in our rear, and received the order from Colonel Gibson to move out and form line of battle. To do this I countermarched the regiment and took np a position about 10 rods in front of my camp. By the time this was accomplished the brigade in rear of the First Brigade had given way, an(l, with the balance of our brigade, was in full retreat. We held this position only long enough to cover the retreat of our forces, when I gave the order to fall back. It was at this point that the brave and gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Askew fell, severely wounded in the thigh, and was taken prisoner, and the no less brave Captain Douglass and Lieutenant ilulles also fell Captain Douglass wounded in the breast, and Lieutenant lilies in the thigh; both fell into the enemys hands. None of the above have been paroled, and are now within our lines. Major MeClenahan was slightly wounded in the shoulder, but made his escape on foot with the regiment. Five men of the regiment were killed at this point. The retreat was through an open field, with a high fence to cross before we could get nnder cover of the wood. Most of my killed and wounded occurred at or near this fence. Having placed this fence between us and the enemy, we fell back in good order, keeping up a brisk and deadly fire on the advancing foe. I rallied the regiment about one-half mile from my camp, being greatly assisted by Captain Dawson and Adjutant Dubois, both of whom showed themselves to be brave and gallant officers. At this time I found myself in command of the brigade, and my report of the 15th for the balance of the day will be included in that of the brigade, which was rallied here, and, with one piece of artillery, under Lieutenant Belding, we checked the advan~e of the rebel column. Lieutenant Belding is deserving of great praise for the admirable manner of handling his piece. From the effects of three shots not less than 100 of the enemy fell. When in command of the brigade, Adjutant Norton, of the Forty- ninth Ohio, Captain Schmitt, Lieutenants Miles, Green, and McGrath, of General Willichs staff, rendered invaluable assistance in rallying the men, in charging the enemy, and conducting the retreat. Captain Dawson took command of the Fifteenth Ohio, Major MeClen- ahan not feeling able to do so, and once, when there was danger of the men breaking in wild confnsion, he seized the colors of the Fifteenth, and, by a united cheer, the brigade was again formed, and checked again the enemys advance; the brigade fell back at last in rear of Gen- eral Itousseans lines, and formed again, and held the rebel advance in check, but were again compelled to fall back, by the overwhelming num- bers of the enemy, in rear of General Van Cleves division, who put a stop to the further advance of the enemy. On the evening of this day I learned with pleasure of the safety of Colonel Gibson, who took command of the brigade. Under his direc- tion the Fifteenth took part in the maneuvering on the right the follow- ing day, and on the succeeding day was l)resent in the charge made by the First Brigade upon the right of the enemy, and in which but one man of the Fifteenth was injured, Sergeant Maim, who was struck by a piece of shell in the thigh. Major McClenahan rejoined the regiment on the 3d, having been ordered to do so by the brigade commander. I am l)leased to mention Page 317 THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. CIJAP. XXXII.] 317 with pride the gallant bearing of all the company officers of the Fifteenth who took part in the action of the 31st and the following days of the conflict. They did their whole duty under the trying circumstances under which they were placed. Lieutenant Fowler was wounded slightly in the right leg and taken prisoner on the 31st, but he is now within our lines. From December 31 to the evening of January 4 the loss of the Fif- teenth was: KilIe(1, 17; wounded, 68; missing, 127. Your obedient servant, WM. WALLACE, Colonel, Commanding Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, A.A.G., First Brig., Second Div., Right Wing, Fourteenth A. C. P. S.I cannot close my report without speaking in terms of the highest commendation of Dr. Kelly, of this regiment, who remained with our wounded, and by his untiring efforts succeeded in having our unlucky braves made as comfortable as the nature of the circumstances would permit. [Addenda.] GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRs. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 55. Murtreesborough, Tenn., March 21, 1863. I. At a court of inquiry, convened at Murfreesborongh, Teiin., pur- suant to Special Field Orders, No. 59, Headquarters Departmeiit of the Cumberland, on the request of Maj. John McClenahan,to report on the charges against him during the battle of Stones River, of which court Col. Stanley Matthews, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteers, was president, and Capt. D. G. Swaim, assistant adjutant-general, was recorder, the follow- ing facts were found upon the testimony: I st. That on the 31st of December, 1862, at the battle of Stones River, the Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers was part of the First Brigade, Second Division, Right Wing; that early in the day General Willicli, the brigade commander, was taken prisoner by the enemy, and Col. W. H. Gibson, the next ranking officer, with a portion of the command, was cut off from the maiu body of the brigade, whereby the command devolved upon Colonel Wallace, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteers; that thereby the command of said regiment devolved upon Major McClenahan, the senior officer present; that previously thereto Major McClenahan had been wounded by a bullet passing through the muscles over the scapula, and through the spine of the scapula of the right shoulder; that said wound was sufficient to prevent the ordinary use of the right shoulder and arm, but was not severe enough to disable Major McClenahan fr~u remaining in the field on horseback, or to unfit him, under the circumstances, for the discharge of his field duties; that it was an Qecasion of great urgency, requiring extraordinary exertion and endurance on the part of every officer and soldier, the whole line of the Oorps being driven by the enemy from its position, and this brigade, including the Fifteenth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteers, having been thrown into confusion that when Major MeClenahan was notified that the command of the regiment de- volved upon him, he declined, formally, to assume it, on account of his wound, and thereupon Colonel Wallace ordered Captain Dawson, of the same regiment, to assume command thereof which he did; that Major McClenahan nevertheless remained with the regiment until it had fallen back to a position on the Murfreesborongh turnpike, at abou Page 318 318 KY., MID. AND B. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXX1I. 3 p. in., after which it was not again engaged with the enemy, exerting himself, to the best of his ability, to form, rally, and cheer his men, and that, when the regiment reached the position last named, he left, for the first tiwe, to have his wound examined and dressed. 2d. That on the several sncceeding days of that week the said regP ment was not actnally engaged with the enemy, except slightly on the Friday afternoon: that during that l)eriod Colonel Wallace, having been relieved by Colonel Gibson from the command of the brigade, had taken command of the regiment, and the necessity for Major McClena. hans presence and services was not so great; that, accordingly, he was not continually present with the regiment after the 31st of December, 1862, until January 3, 1863, nor on duty with it, but went on duty on the date last mentioned, on the order of his brigade commander; and subsequently, upon a medical certificate and by order of the medical director, went to Nashville for treatment, and obtained leave of absence for twenty days on account of his wound. Upon these facts the court is of the following opinion: That there was nothing in the conduct of Major McClenahan, on the occasions referred to, that can be construed to support any charge of cowardice, disobedience of orders, or other misbehavior in the face of the enemy, but that he is censurable for not assuming the formal command of the regiment during the actual engagement on the 31st of December, 1862. IL. The finding of the court is approved. By command of Major-General Rosecrans: C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 39. Report of Cot. Joseph B. Dodge, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. IIEADQUAThI~EE5 SECOND BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, In Camp near ]liliurfreesborough, Tenn., January 8, 1863. Sin: In compliance with your order of the 7th instant I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report of the operations of this command since the 26th of December last up to the evening of the 31st ultimo: On the morning of December 26, last, this brigade left camp, near Nashville, under command of Brig. Gen. E. N. Kirk, and marched out on the Nolensville pike about 12 miles, where we encamped during the night. Although there was heavy skirmishing in our front and on each flank, we were in nowise engaged with the enemy during that day, as there was a heavy force of i~ederal troops in front of this brigade and. between it and the enemy. On the morning of the 27th we were ordered to resume the march, and on that day the brigade was in advance of our whole forces, with the exception of the cavalry, which was thrown out as skirmishers in advance. About 1 mile from where we had bivouacked for the night the enemy made his appearance in considerable force, composed of cavalry and supported by artillery, all of which opened npon us, and he showed a disposition to contest the ground over which we wished to pass. Th& Page 319 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAiGN. 319 Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers and the Twenty-ninth In- diana were promptly deployed as skirmishers, each regiment retaining a good reserve, and thrown forward, with instrnctions to push on as rapidly as possible, which order was obeyed with alacrity and skill, and the other regiments of the brigade moved forward in line of battle, the Thirtieth Indiana supporting Edgartons battery. Owing to a dense fog, which enveloped everything, so that we could not distinguish the troops of the enemy from our own, it was deemed prudent to halt until the fog partially disappeared, when we again moved forward, with continued skirmishing on our front, until we gained an elevated position overlooking the village of Triune. Here the enemy were in plain view, drawn up in line of battle, the center of their line being in the village. Edgartons battery opened upon them imme- diately with splendid effect, soon throwing them into disorder, and dis- abling at least one piece of their artillery, as I have good reason to believe. While in this position a very heavy rain commenced, accom- panied with fog, rendering an advance immediately hazardous. The fog disappeared again in the course of about an hour, when we again advanced; but, owing to the ground being very much softened by the rain, the mens clothes were so saturated with water that it was impossible to do so at the rate of speed desired. The enemy had de- stroyed a bridge across a stream that runs through the edge of the town, thus compelling the artillery to make a detour of nearly a mile to a ford, and by this means gained time to collect his scattered forces and withdraw. On that night we bivouacked about 1 mile south of Triune. During that day this brigade lost none in killed or wounded, but in- flicted considerable loss upon the enemy. The officers and men engaged showed themselves to be cool, skillful, and courageous, and behaved splendidly. We staid at the above-mentioned place all of the 28th, and on the morning of the 29th took up our march for Murfreesborough. During this day nothing of importance occurred. We bivouacked that night in an open field, without fires, and in a cold, drenching rain. On the morning of the 30th we were ordered out to take position, pre- paratory to an expected attack upon the enemy. Heavy skirmishing and fighting was going on in front of us during the whole day, in which we took no active part until about 3 p. in., at about which time we arrived at the extreme right of the line of our army. At that time the enemy had a battery of artillery stationed directly in front of this brigade, which was pouring a destructive fire into som& troops on our left, belonging to Brig. Gen. J. C. Davis division. Gen- eral Kirk immediately ordered Captain Edgartons battery to open upon it, which order was complied with, with great execution, dismounting one of the enemys pieces, and killing quite a number of men in a very few moments, and driving him from his position. There was no more firing, either from artillery or infantry, that evening or night. The brigade was formed in line of battle, the Thirty-fourth Illinois, Maj. A. P. Dysart commanding, on the extreme right; the Twenty-ninth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Dunn commanding, next on the left; the Thirtieth Indiana, Col. J. B. Dodge, next, and the Seventy- seventh Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel Housum commanding, on the left; Edgartons battery (E, First Ohio Artillery) in the rear and to the left of the Thirty-fourth Illinois, in a cedar grove, with a rather dense thicket immediately in front of the three left regiments. A stron Page 320 ~32O KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXLL picket line was thrown out from 150 to 200 yards in front, with a corn- field in front of their (the picket) line. Every precaution that was pos- sible was taken to prevent surprise, and to give seasonable warning of the approach of the enemy. The biigade was up and under arms for nearly or quite an honr be- fore daylight. Just after daylight a part of the horses of the battery were unhitched from the caissons and taken to water, which was close by. Just at this moment the enemy made his appearance on our front and right in immense force, and formed in close columns, with a front equal to the length of a battalion in line and ten or twelve ranks in depth. General Kirk immediately ordered the Thirty-fourth Illinois to advance to near where the picket was stationed, in order to check, at least, the advance of the enemy, and save the battery, if possible, which movement was promptly executed under an awful fire, which almost annihilated the picket line or line of skirmishers, which it really was, and killed or wounded a large number in the line, some 150 or 200 yards in the rear. The battery nuder command of Captain Edgarton iinme- diately opened with canister upon the enemy, and only had time to fire eight rounds before the battery was taken. Nearly or quite one-half of the horses were killed or wounded, so as to be unmanageable, by the first fire from the enemy, and it was impossible to 1-emove it from the ground. Captain Edgarton and his officers and men fought nobly, as the num- ber of killed and wounded will testify, and did everything possible to maintain their ground against an overpowering force. The captain was taken prisoner while assisting to work his guns, and Lieutenant Ber- wick was bayoneted and taken prisoner while assisting him. General Kirk was seriously wounded at almost the first fire, and I then succeeded to the command of the brigade. The fire the enemy received from us, although well directed, and as effective as a fire from two ranks generally is, produced no visible effect upon him as he moved his heavy column forward upon a double- q nick. General Rains, who commanded a part of their column, fell dead or mor- tally wounded at this point. The enemy then moved to the left oblique, or nearly, by his left flank, until his center was opposite our extreme right, when he moved forward again, changing direction to his right as he did so, so as to bring his whole force upon our most exposed point. We held our ground until our ranks were not more than 20 yards from the enemy, when I was forced to retire, having no support and seeing that it was a needless waste of life to contend in that position with at least twenty times the number of men I then had left, which was done in the best order possi- ble, across a corn-field in the I-ear and to the left of our first position, to a field one side of which was on rising ground and oVerlooking the ground over which the enemy must advance to attack. I here formed the Thirtieth Indiana, at that time under command of Lient. Col. 0. ID. ilurd, of that regiment, and the Sex euty-niuth Illinois, Col. S. P. Read commanding, that had just reported to me (it having been detailed to guard a train the day before, and had just arrived upon the field), behind a fence on the rise of ground before spoken of. Before the Seventy-ninth Illinois reached the fence, and while it was at least 200 yards distant from it, the enemy made his appearance and instantly poured a terrible fire into their ranks. Although a new regiment, they ndvanced with a firmness that would have done credit to veterans, and, nfter reaching the fence, poured a terribly destructive fire into the enemy Page 321 CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONES RIVER CAMPAIGN. 321 Here, assisted by Captain Simonsons (Fifth Indiana) battery, this brigade, unsupported, except by the Third Brigade, which was on our left, and almost alone, succeeded in checking the enemy, bringing his columns to a ]~alt, and requiring the utmost exertions of his officers to keep his men from fleeing in disorder from the field, during all of which time a tremendous fire was kept up. The enemy finally succeeded in throwing his left wing forward across the fence, thus out flanking this brigade and dislodging us from that position; but the number of dead left by him on that ground for five days afterward shows conclusively that it was by far the dearest position to him that he gained that day. Colonel Read, of the Seventy-ninth Illinois, was killed instantly while bravely urging his men on. In his death the service has lost a fine offi- cer, a brave soldier, and a true man. Adjutant Stribley, of the Thirtieth Indiana, was also killed here. The service contained no braver or cooler officer than he. The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colo- nel ilousum commanding, at the time of the occurrences above men- tioned was some 600 yards on the left of the troops under my immediate command, acting with a brigade in General Davis division. While hotly engaged with the enemy, Colonel Housum was wounded severely, from which he died shortly afterward. He was a cool, clear-headed, courageous officer and gentleman. After being driven from the fence, I retired my command to a piece of woods in the rear of my former position, the enemy closely following np with infantry on our rear and cavalry on our left flank. I halted my command twice, and formed a line and undertook to hold him in check, but it was impossible to do but little, owing to our weakened condition and the absence of all support. I finally fell back to near the Murfreesborough and Nashville turnpike, and made up my mind that the enemy must be stopped there. I had at that time the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, Captain Rose commanding, Twenty-ninth Indiana, Major Collins commanding, and about 100 men belonging to the Thirtieth Indiana, Thirty-fourth Illinois, and Seventy- ninth Illinois; in all, about, at that time, 500 men. By command of Brigadier-General Johnson, I formed my little force on the right of Cap- tain Simonsons battery, which was in action with owe of the enemys batteries, which was soon silenced, immediately after which it (Captain Simonsons battery) was placed in another position. I wish to be pardoned for testifying here to the skill, efficiency, and courage displayed by Captain Simonson and his officers and men during that day. I then moved my command some 150 yards to the right of where it had been while supporting the battery, into a piece of woods, and took a good position for defense. Some troops belonging to some other division moved in on my left just at that moment, and a moment after the remains of the column that made the first attack in the morning made its appearance, coming up on a double-quick. I immediately gave the command forward, and my comniand met them, poured in a deadly volley, and rushed forward. Their advance was stopped, their line wavered, and in a moment was in full retreat, and thus the brigade that received the first attack from this column in the morning had the satisfaction of giving it the first repnlse it received during the day. I followed them but a short distance, when I got a regiment to relieve the command I had left, as they were entirely out of ammunition, and, by order of General Johnson, I took them back and formed along the railroad, and got a supply. I was then ordered back to the bank of the river. where I awaited 21 i~ RVOT~X, P T Page 322 322 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. ~CuAr. XXXfl. further orders. While there, an officer rode up and informed me that the enemys cavalry was attempting to cross the river some distance below, near a hospital, and that it was important that we should have a force~there. There was no superior officer near, and I took the respon- sibility of at once moving to the point designated and forming in line. The enemy, seeing us approach, promptly fell back, but not until he had takenquiteanumberofprisoners,aslunderstand. I then returned to the turnpike, and at dark bivouacked in the woods near by, where we spent the night. On the morning of the 1st instant I placed my command in line, under your directions, and we immediately threw up a line of breastworks, behind which we bivouacked until the evening of the 3d instant, without any movement of importance~ on our part, with the exception that on the 2d instant, at about 9 p. in., I was ordered to take four companies from my command and a like number from the Third Brigad eof this division, and to advance to our front until L reached the Franklin turn- pike or found the enemy in force- It was a very dark night, and I took my little comm and according to your orders, deployed the whole as skirmishers, and started. I first crossed an open held or fields nearly to the woods in our front, where I could distinctly hear the enemy chopping and moving either artillery or heav.y wagons