No. 206
Report of Col. Edward Anderson, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry,
commanding Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps, of operations
December 7, 1864.
HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS,
Murfreesborough, Tenn., December 8, 1864.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that the brigade under my
command was ordered to march on the reconnaissance of yesterday under Maj. Gen.
R. H. Milroy.
This brigade consists of the One hundred and seventy-seventh
and One hundred and seventy eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Twelfth Indiana
Cavalry, Fourth and Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, and Thirteenth New York
Independent Battery. En route for the field of action I was informed that the
Thirteenth New York Battery was attached to the First Brigade, in the rear of
which I was ordered to march. The Fourth and Fifth Tennessee Cavalry Regiments,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Clift, were ordered to report to Col. G. M. L.
Johnson, Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, commanding cavalry. Thus I had under my
immediate command troops as follows, viz.: Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, Lieut. Col.
Alfred Reed commanding, numbering 16 officers and 352 men (368); One hundred
and seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. A. T. Wilcox commanding,
numbering 18 officers and 496 men (514); One hundred and seventy-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, Col. J. A. Stafford commanding, numbering 17 officers and
427 men (444); making a total of 51 officers and 1,275 men--1,326 men.
At Overall's Creek, where the enemy opened an artillery fire
upon us, I was ordered to form my brigade in the rear of the First Brigade, and
in undertaking to do so I found the One hundred and seventy-seventh Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, which was on the right of my command and now for the first
time brought under fire, exposed to a terrible succession of shots from the
enemy's battery. The officers of the regiment and my own staff officers joined
in an endeavor to keep them in column, but knowing that the whole future of the
regiment probably depended on preventing their breaking to the rear, I ordered
Colonel Wilcox to have them lie down. Through all the artillery duel that
ensued they remained in that position, of course so remote from the enemy, in
their position as reserves, that they could do nothing but endure. I was glad,
in occupying a position where I could watch the regiment, to notice that none
appeared to flinch under this heavy fire and in a position more exposed than
often comes to a regiment. After the battery had ceased firing I was ordered to
march my brigade by the right flank till the right of the column should rest on
the Wilkinson pike; there I again formed line of battle and undertook to march to
the support of the First Brigade, which was engaging the enemy in the front.
Owing to the extreme roughness of the ground, rocks, jagged and detached, being
covered at intervals by brush and logs, I was forced to march very slowly, and
for a distance by right of companies, to the front. When we had nearly
approached the position I was ordered to occupy in rear of the First Brigade,
and at about 200 yards distance, I was ordered to throw the One hundred and
seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry to the right, forming its line
perpendicular to the line already formed, in order to prevent a flanking
movement on the part of the enemy, who were evidently intending to get into our
rear. This regiment threw out two companies to deploy along its front as
skirmishers. Sharp firing along the line showed that the general had not been
mistaken in supposing it necessary to protect the right flank. Major-General
Milroy took the One hundred and seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and,
marching it left in front, led it to the extreme left and conducted it
personally into battle. Of the action of this regiment I am unable to speak
thereafter, but have no question as to its gallantry, as the almost reckless
daring of the general cannot be other than infectious. The Twelfth Indiana
Cavalry was pushed forward on the right of the pike over a cotton-field, where
it lay under a hot musketry fire till it was ordered forward into the woods as
the enemy retired. At this juncture I ordered forward the One hundred and
seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the firing having ceased on the right
flank. I formed it in line parallel to the lines in front, and received orders
to hold it there while the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry was ordered to the extreme
front, though too late to participate in actual conflict there, the enemy
having retired. On our return to the fortress the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry
brought up the rear.
The casualties in my command were happily few, as it was
held almost entirely in reserve. I take pleasure in testifying to the bravery
of these troops, nearly all brought in this engagement for the first time under
the enemy's fire, and here, in a position most trying to any soldier, obliged
to take the enemy's shots and unable to enjoy either the satisfaction or the
excitement of returning their fire. No one, however, would be surprised that
troops would stand gallantly under fire, as they could all the time see the
general they loved in the fore front of battle, where the bullets were flying
most thickly. These troops would follow General Milroy wherever he might lead.
Where nearly every officer was brave it would be useless to attempt allusion to
individual instances. My confidence in officers and men is unbounded.
I report the following casualties in the three regiments
under my immediate command and the other troops that report through me: Twelfth
Indiana Cavalry, killed, 1 private; wounded, 1 officer (Captain Sherwood,
Company E, severely in the leg), 10 privates. One hundred and seventy-seventh
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, wounded, 4 privates. One hundred and seventy eighth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, wounded, 2 privates. Fifth Tennessee Cavalry (Col. W.
J. Clift), wounded, 2 privates. Thirteenth New York Battery (Capt. Henry
Bundy), wounded, 4 privates. Total, killed, 1 private; wounded, 1 officer and
22 enlisted men.
I have the honor to respectfully submit the foregoing.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
EDWARD ANDERSON,
Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade.
Maj. JOHN O. CRAVENS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 610-1
