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[488] his uniform soldierly bearing, point him out as eminently qualified for promotion.

To the Medical Director of the left wing, Dr. A. J. Phelps, the thanks of the army and the country are due, not only for his prompt attention to the wounded, but for his arrangements for their immediate accommodation. He took good care not only of the wounded of my command, but of more than two thousand wounded from other corps, and from the enemy. Since the battle, I have visited his hospitals, and can bear testimony to the efficiency of the Medical Department of the left wing.

Captain Louis M. Buford and Lieutenant George Knox, my Aids-de-Camp, were brave, active, and efficient helps to me all through the battle. Captain Buford was struck just over the heart, fortunately, by a ball too far spent to penetrate, and which only bruised. The Captain and Lieutenant Knox were frequently exposed to the heaviest firing, as they fearlessly carried my orders to all parts of the field.

Captain Case, of the Signal corps, tendered his services as a volunteer Aid, and proved himself a bold soldier and an efficient Aid. Two other officers of the same corps, Lieutenants------and------, tendered their services as Aids, and were placed on my staff during the battle, and I thank them sincerely for their services.

Lieutenant Brown, of the Third Kentucky cavalry, who commanded my escort, was as quietly brave on the battle-field as he is mild and gentlemanly in the camp.

Before concluding this report, it will be proper to add, that when I speak of a quiet day, I mean to speak comparatively. We had no quiet days; no rest from the time we reached the battle-field until the enemy fled, skirmishing constantly, and sometimes terrible cannonading. On the second, which we call a quiet day, until about four o'clock P. M., the First division, under Hascall, lay for half an hour, in the early part of the day, under the heaviest cannonading we endured. Many men were killed, but he and his brave soldiers would not flinch.

The number of killed and wounded demonstrates with what fearful energy and earnestness the battle was contested in my command.

Most respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

T. L. Crittenden, Major-General, commanding.


General D. S. Stanley's report.

Headquarters cavalry, Fourteenth army corps, Department of the Cumberland, near Murpfreesboro, January 9, 1863.
Major: I have the honor to submit for the information of the General commanding the army, the following statement of the part taken by the cavalry under my command in the advance upon and battle of Murfreesboro:

Upon the twenty-sixth day of December, I divided the cavalry into three columns, putting the First brigade, commanded by Colonel Minty, Fourth Michigan cavalry, upon the Murfreesboro pike, in advance of General Crittenden's corps. The Second brigade, commanded by Colonel Zahn, Third Ohio cavalry, was ordered on Franklin, to dislodge the enemy's cavalry, and move parallel to General McCook's corps, protecting his right flank. The reserve cavalry, consisting of the new regiments, viz.: Anderson troop, First Middle Tennessee, Second East Tennessee cavalry, and four companies of the Third Indiana, I commanded in person, and preceded General McCook's corps on the Nolensville pike.

Colonel John Kennett, commanding cavalry division, commanded the cavalry on the Murfreesboro pike. For the operations of this column, and also the movements of Colonel Zahn up to the thirty-first of December, I would refer you to the inclosed reports of Colonel Kennett, and Colonels Zahn and Minty.

On the morning of the twenty-sixth, our cavalry first encountered the enemy on the Nolensville pike, one mile in advance of Balle Jack Pass; their cavalry was in large force, and accompanied by a battery of artillery. The fighting continued from ten o'clock until evening, during which time we had driven the enemy two miles beyond Lavergne. The Third Indiana and Anderson troop behaved gallantly, charging the enemy twice, and bringing them to hand-and-hand encounters. The conduct of Majors Rosengarten and Ward, the former now deceased, was most heroic. On the twenty-eighth we made a reconnoissance to College Grove, and found that Hardee's rebel corps had marched to Murfreesboro.

On the twenty-ninth, Colonel Zahn's brigade having formed, was directed to march upon Murfreesboro by the Franklin road; the reserve cavalry moving on the Balle Jack road, the column communicating at the crossing of Stewart's Creek. We encountered the enemy's cavalry, and found them in strong force at Wilkinson's Cross-roads. Our cavalry drove them rapidly across Overall's Creek, and within one-half mile of the enemy's line of battle. The Anderson cavalry behaved most gallantly this day, pushing at full charge upon the enemy for six miles; unfortunately their advance fronted too recklessly; having dispersed their cavalry, the troop fell upon two regiments of rebel infantry in ambush, and after a gallant struggle were compelled to retire, with the loss of Major Rosengarten and six men killed, and the brave Major Ward and five men desperately wounded. With the loss of these two most gallant officers, the spirit of the “Anderson troop,” which gave such full promise, seems to have died out, and I have not been able to get any duty out of them since.

On the thirtieth the entire cavalry force was engaged in guarding the flanks of the army in position. Some small cavalry skirmishing occurred, but nothing of importance. At eleven o'clock P. M., the thirtieth, I marched for Lavergne, with the First Tennessee and the Anderson cavalry. Near that place I was joined by detachments of the Fourth Michigan and Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry. At half-past 9 o'clock


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