Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[492]

Private Bowen's horse was killed by a cannon ball.

The loss of the division was as follows: Killed, 260; wounded, 1,005; missing, 1,280; total, 2,545.

The missing are supposed to have been captured.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the division under my command, in the recent operations against the enemy's forces in the vicinity of Triune and Murfreesboro:

On the morning of the twenty-sixth ult., in compliance with instructions received from the General commanding the right wing, I broke up camp at St. James' Chapel, on Mill Creek, and advanced upon Nolensville via the Edmonson pike, as far as Prim's blacksmith shop; from thence my advance was over a rugged country road, rendered almost impassable by the incessant rain which had been falling in torrents during the entire morning.

The enemy's pickets were discovered by my cavalry escort (composed of Company B, Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteers, under command of Captain Shirer), within a few miles of our camp. This small force of cavalry being the only mounted force under our command, I ordered them to the front, with instructions to drive in the enemy's 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 interruption 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 Colonel P. Sidney Post, was immediately deployed for an advance upon the town. Pinney's Fifth Wisconsin battery was posted so as to command the town and all approaches from the south-west. The enemy's cavalry was seen by this time taking position on a range of hills south-west of town, and was evidently attempting to flank our position. A few shells from Pinney's 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 Pinney's guns.

The Second brigade, consisting of the Twenty-first and Thirty-eighth Illinois, Fifteenth Wisconsin, and One Hundred and First Ohio regiments, and the Second Minnesota battery, commanded by Colonel Carlin, had by this time formed a line of battle on Post's right, and moving rapidly forward soon engaged the enemy's dismounted cavalry in a sharp skirmish.

The Third brigade, consisting of the Twenty-fifth and Thirty-fifth Illinois, Eighty-first Indiana, 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. Carlin 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 another effort to resist our advance about two miles further on, and notwithstanding it was late in the afternoon, and the men were much fatigued from a hard day's 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 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 Nolensville and Triune pike passes, known as “Knob's Gap.” This was a favorable position to the enemy, and well guarded by artillery, which opened fire at long range upon Carlin's lines.

Hotchkiss' and Pinney's batteries were rapidly brought into action and opened fire, while Carlin's brigade charged the battery, carried the heights in his front and captured two guns. Post's brigade carried the heights on the left of the road with but little resistance, while Woodruff's brigade drove in the enemy's skirmishers on the extreme right.

The day had now closed, and I ordered the troops to bivouac in accordance with instructions from the General commanding, who arrived at this time upon the ground, followed by Generals Sheridan's and Johnson's divisions.

The steady courage and soldierly zeal displayed on this occasion by both officers and men, gave ample assurance of what could be expected of them in the coming struggle at Murfreesboro.

On the twenty-seventh, in accordance with the General's instructions, the division took position at the junction of the Balle Jack road with the Nolensville pike, one mile from Triune, where it remained in bivouac until the morning of the twenty-ninth, at which time the advance was resumed. In compliance with instructions, I moved forward on the Balle Jack as far as Stewart's 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 division in the rear could be brought up.

Brigadier-General Stanley, commanding the