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

Monday, Dec. 29.--The army again advanced — the Seventh Pennsylvania, under Major Wyncoop, on the left flank; the Third Kentucky, Col. Murray, on the right flank ; the Fourth Michigan, under Lieut.-Col. Dickinson, in reserve; Second Indiana on courier duty. Light skirmishing with the enemy all day. Found the enemy in position in front of Murfreesboro at about three o'clock P. M Bivouacked immediately in rear of our line of battle.

Tuesday, Dec. 30.--One battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania, and one battalion of the Third Kentucky, formed a chain of videttes, in rear of line of battle, with orders to drive up all stragglers.

Under orders from the Colonel commanding the division, I took the Fourth Michigan, and one battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania, hack on the Nashville road to operate against Wheeler's cavalry, who, a few hours before, had captured the train of the Twenty-eighth brigade on the Jefferson pike. Between Stewart's Creek and La Vergne, I met the enemy, who were chiefly dressed in our uniforms. The Seventh Pennsylvania drove them until after dark. I joined Col. Walker's brigade and camped with them near La Vergne for the night.

Wednesday, December, 31.--Under orders from Gen. Rosecrans I reported to Brig.-Gen. Stanley, Chief of Cavalry, who came up the same morning with the First Middle Tennessee, and a part of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania, and in accordance with his orders we moved rapidly across the country toward the right flank of Gen. McCook's position, leaving Lieut.-Col. Dickinson with one hundred and twenty men to protect Lieut. Newell's section of artillery at the cross-roads, northwest from Stewart's Creek. The enemy's cavalry fell back rapidly before us for some miles, When close to Overall's Creek our own artillery, in position to our left, opened on us with shell, and wounded severely one man of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania.

Crossing Overall's Creek, I took up position parallel to and about three quarters of a mile from the Murfreesboro and Nashville pike; the Fourth Michigan, under command of Capt. Mix, forming a line of dismounted skirmishers close to the edge of the woods, out of which they had driven a large force of the enemy's cavalry. They were supported by a portion of the First Middle Tennessee cavalry, also dismounted,

Capt. Jennings's battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania, and two companies of Third Kentucky, under Capt. Davis, were posted in the woods near and to the right of the Fourth Michigan, with the Fifteenth Pennsylvania (the Anderson Troop) in their rear.

My entire force at this time numbered nine hundred and fifty men.

The enemy advanced rapidly with two thousand five hundred cavalry, mounted and dismounted, and three pieces of artillery, all under the command of Gens. Wheeler, Wharton, and Buford. They drove back the Fourth Michigan to the line of the First Tennessee skirmishers, and then attacked the Seventh Pennsylvania with great fury, but met with a determined re sistance. I went forward to the line of dismounted skirmishers, and endeavored to move them to the right to strengthen the Seventh Pennsylvania, but the moment the right of the line showed itself from behind the fence where they were posted, the whole of the enemy's fire was directed on it, turning it completely round.

At this moment the Fifteenth Pennsylvania gave way and retreated rapidly, leaving the battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania and the dismounted men entirely unsupported, and leaving them no alternative but to retreat. I fell back a couple of fields and re-formed in the rear of a rising ground, which protected us from the enemy's artillery.

The rebel cavalry followed us up sharply into the open ground, and now menaced us with three strong lines, two directly in front of our position, and one opposite our left flank, with its right thrown well forward, and a strong body of skirmishers in the woods on our right, threatening that flank.

Gen. Stanley ordered a charge, and he himself led two companies of the Fourth Michigan, (H and K,) with about fifty men of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania, against the line in front of our left — he routed the enemy and captured one stand of colors, which was brought in by a sergeant of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania.

Capt. Jennings, of the Seventh Pennsylvania, with his battalion, supported this movement. At the same time I charged the first line in our front with the Fourth Michigan and First Tennessee, and drove them from the field. The second line was formed on the far side of a lane, with a partially destroyed fence on each side, and still stood their ground. I re-formed my men and again charged. The enemy again broke, and were driven from the field in the wildest confusion.

I held the ground that night, with the First Tennessee, Fifteenth Pennsylvania, and Fourth Michigan, picketing the whole of my first position.

A sergeant of the Seventh Pennsylvania, who was taken prisoner by the enemy when we were driven back, states that before we charged we had killed twenty-seven, including many officers.

January 1, 2, and 3.--Had the brigade under arms all day, with two regiments on picket and skirmishing with the enemy's pickets.

Sunday, January 4.--I moved the brigade to Wilkinson's cross-roads, and bivouacked there for the night, with the Fourth cavalry.

Monday, January 5.--I marched through Murfreesboro and took the Manchester pike. One mile out I met time enemy's pickets, and reported the facet to Gen. Stanley, who ordered an advance, and took the lead with the Fourth cavalry.

After crossing a small creek about two miles from Murfreesboro, the bridge over which had