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

[494]

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 Hazen, which had so nobly vindicated their courage in the then closing conflict, I ordered a heavy line of skirmishers to be thrown out. The enemy's lines were soon encountered, 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 I disposed of my troops in such manner as would best enable me to repel an attack, and, in compliance with instructions, I directed rifle-pits and breastworks to be thrown up. This was done, and morning found us well prepared for any emergency, either offensive or defensive.

The following day (third of January), considerable skirmishing was kept up without abatement, from early in the morning until dark. During the night, I received orders from General Crittenden to withdraw my command from the east bank of the river, and to report with it to General McCook.

This movement was executed between one and four o'clock in the morning, during which time the rain fell incessantly. 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. Further observations made after daylight proved this to be the case.

The following list of casualties shows a loss in the division during the several engagements above described, as follows:

officers.
Killed	16
Wounded	34
Missing	2	--	52
enlisted men.
Killed	176
Wounded	784
Missing	399	--	1,359
Total			1,411

This 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, Fifteenth Wisconsin; Captain Carpenter, Eighth Wisconsin battery, and Captain McCulloch, Second Kentucky cavaly, 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.

From the twenty-sixth of December, until the close of the engagement on the fourth of January, at Murfreesboro, no entire day elapsed that the division or some portion of it did not engage the enemy. During a great part of the time the weather was excessively inclement and the troops suffered much from exposure. A heavy list of casualties and much suffering was unavoidable under the circumstances.

It affords me much pleasure to be able to report the cheerful and soldier-like manner in which these hardships and privations were endured by the troops throughout. History will record, and the country reward, their deeds.

My staff, consisting of T. W. Morrison, acting Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain H. Pease, Inspector-General; Captain McCullough, Lieutenants Frank E. Reynolds, and Thomas H. Dailey, Aids-de-Camp; Surgeon J. L. Judd, Medical Director; Captain Shriver, Ordnance Officer; Lieutenant R. Plunket, Provost Marshal; private Frank Clark, Clerk to the Assistant Adjutant General, and acting Aid-de-Camp; deported themselves throughout the entire campaign, as well as on the battle-field, with distinguished zeal and conspicuous gallantry.

While expressing my high regard and approbation of the General commanding, I desire to tender my thanks to yourself, Major, and to Colonel Langdon, Major Bates, Captains Thurston, 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, my subaltern officers attracted my admiration by their conspicuous gallantry, and whose names, I regret, cannot be mentioned in this report. They will be remembered in future recommendation for promotion.

I am, Major, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: In obedience to instructions from the headquarters of the right wing, I have the honor to report the following as the operations of my division, from the twenty-sixth day of December, 1862, to the sixth day of January, 1863:

On the twenty-sixth of December I moved