Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

sir: In obedience to the order of Col. Buckley, commanding Fourteenth brigade, delivered this afternoon, and devolving upon me the defence of the forage-train, I halted my command at about three o'clock, parallel and close to the rear. Whilst waiting in this position for the train to move on, upon the top of a hill, a little west of the Franklin and Lebanon road, south-west from the house of Mr.----, and above that of Mr.----, I saw a number of the enemy on foot, 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 march in double-time through certain gaps and gates upon the eastern side of and close to the road, which was then filled with our wagons. My purpose was — having a 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 upon my charge. In this effort I succeeded, but not in sufficient time to prevent their spreading themselves on most favorable ground and shelter, before my regiment could ensconce 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 combatants. This lasted until, apparently, being satisfied that the Ninety-third could not be moved from its position, and, consequently, [237] that they could not succeed in the purpose of their ambuscade and assault, they fled, precipitately and universally, as far up the valley as we could see.

Our loss in this action was but one killed and three wounded. Considering the closeness of the range, the deliberateness and duration of the enemy's fire, and the almost rash exposure of several of my companies, these casualties are strangely small in number. What injury was inflicted upon the enemy I cannot undertake to say, and will not guess; neither will I, 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 by large numbers of our foes.

It greatly delights me to speak of the gallantry and firmness of this new regiment in this its first fight. Every officer and man seemed resolved to do his best, and where all have so well succeeded, it might be invidious to distinguish by name particular persons. Notwithstanding, however, 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, company F, and the other that of William C. Stewart, private, company C, acting as color-bearer. The former, after being painfully wounded in the thigh by one of the first rounds of the engagement, went deliberately 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 person and our glorious banner elevated to their highest reach; nor could he be persuaded to seek cover, 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 to 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 various feints elsewhere, to accomplish that special object. Vanity or undue partiality to my own regiment 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.