- No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. D.C. Buell, U.S. Army, commanding Army of the Ohio, including General Orders, No. 32
- No. 2. Report of Brig. Gen. T. T. Crittenden, U.S. Army, commanding at Murfreesborough
- No. 3. Findings of a Court of Inquiry.
- No. 4. Report of Maj. James J. Seibert, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry
- No. 5. Report of Capt. John M. Hewett, Battery B, Kentucky Light Artillery
- No. 6. Roport of Col. John C Walker, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry
- No. 7. Report of Col. William W. Duffield, Ninth Michigan Infantry.
- No. 8. Report of Lt. Col. John G. Parkhurst, Ninth Michigan Infantry
- No. 9. Report of Col. Henry C. Lester, Third Minnesota Infantry
- No. 10. Report of Col. John F. Miller, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, commanding at Nashville
- No. 11. Report of Major-General John P. McCown, C. S. Army
- No. 12. Report of Brigadier-Geneneral Nathan Bedford Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade
Showing posts with label 1st Battle of Murfreesboro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st Battle of Murfreesboro. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 1. — Reports of Major-General Don Carlos Buell, U.S. Army, commanding Army of the Ohio, including General Orders, No. 32.
No. 1.
Reports of Maj. Gen.
D.C. Buell, U.S. Army, commanding Army of the Ohio, including General Orders,
No. 32.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA., July 15, 1862.
My information, up to the night of the 13th, from
Murfreesborough was that the Ninth Michigan had been captured, but that Colonel
Lester's regiment and Hewett's battery were doing well, and felt confident of
being able to hold out. Re-enforcements were being started from Nashville. It
appears that before they arrived Colonel Lester surrendered, at 4 p.m. the same
day. I have no particulars, and at present no remarks to make upon what appears
to be a most disgraceful affair. Of course it may embarrass me considerably. I
have been busy to counteract it. The worst is the interception of the
Chattanooga road, which was just completed. I had taken the precaution to place
some twelve regiments on that route until it should be securely established. We
will go to work again.
D. C. BUELL,
Major-General.
General HALLECK.
_______________
HUNTSVILLE, ALA., July 19, 1862.
As nearly as I can ascertain the force captured at
Murfreesborough on the 13th consisted of nine companies of the Third Minnesota,
under Colonel Lester; six companies of the Ninth Michigan, four companies of
the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, three companies of the Seventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry, and two sections of Hewett's Kentucky battery. All except Colonel
Lester's regiment and the artillery, including Colonel Duffield and General T.
T. Crittenden, seem to have been completely surprised in the town and captured
without time or opportunity for resistance. The case of the rest of the command
was but little better. They maintained their position until 4 o'clock and then
surrendered. I had concentrated a larger force at that point to occupy
McMinnville, but a considerable portion of it had been sent away a day or two
before to Kentucky to meet the difficulties there. I regard the whole affair as
most disgraceful and demanding prompt and vigorous treatment. It has also
caused serious delay in the means of supplying the army so that it can move on
the Decatur route. The difficulty has been increased by damages to bridges by
swollen streams. Every effort is being made to remove these difficulties and I
hope to have the Murfreesborough road repaired and in working order in a very
few days. It is not my habit to plead difficulties or represent them even; but
it is important that they should be somewhat understood, lest impossible
expectations should be formed, and the opinion taken up that this army is idle
and has nothing to do but march rapidly along the road. Our lines of supply are
very long and difficult to protect; for, without ascribing hostility to the
mass of the people, there is still enough of hostile and bad element to involve
us in all the difficulties of operating in an enemy's country.
D.C. BUELL,
Major - General,
Commanding.
Major-General HALLECK, or
ADJUTANT-GENERAL
U.S. ARMY.
_______________
GENERAL ORDERS No. 32.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
THE OHIO,
In Camp, Huntsville,
Ala., July 21, 1862.
On the 13th instant the force at Murfreesborough, under
command of Brig. Gen. T. T. Crittenden, late colonel of the Sixth Indiana
Regiment, and consisting of six companies of the Ninth Michigan, nine companies
of the Third Minnesota, two sections of Hewett's (Kentucky) battery, four
companies of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, and three companies of the Seventh
Pennsylvania Cavalry, was captured at that place by a force of the enemy's
cavalry variously estimated at from 1,800 to 3,500. It appears from the best
information that can be obtained that Brigadier-General Crittenden, and Colonel
Duffield, of the Ninth Michigan, with the six companies of that regiment and
all of the cavalry, were surprised and captured early in the morning in the
houses and streets of the town or in their camp near by, with but slight
resistance and without any timely warning of the presence of an enemy. The rest
of the force, consisting of the Third Minnesota and the artillery, under
Colonel Lester, left its camp and took another position, which it maintained
with but few casualties against the feeble attacks of the enemy until about 3
o'clock, when it was surrendered and marched into captivity.
Take it in all its features, few more disgraceful examples
of neglect of duty and lack of good conduct can be found in the history of
wars. It fully merits the extreme penalty which the law provides for such
misconduct. The force was more than sufficient to repel the attack effectually.
The mortification which the army will feel at the result is poorly compensated
by the exertion made by some — perhaps many — of the officers to retrieve the
disgrace of the surprise. The action fit to be adopted with reference to those
who are blamable, especially the officers highest in command, cannot be
determined without further investigation.
In contrast to this shameful affair the general commanding
takes pleasure in making honorable mention of the conduct of a detachment of 22
men of Companies I and H, Tenth Wisconsin Regiment, under the command of
Sergts. W. Nelson and A. H. Makinson. The detachment was on duty guarding a
bridge east of Huntsville, when it was attacked on April 28 by a force of some
200 or 300 cavalry, which it fought for two hours and repulsed in the most
signal manner. Such is the conduct that duty and honor demand of every soldier;
and this example is worthy of imitation by higher officers and larger commands.
By command of Major-General Buell:
JAMES B. FRY,
Colonel and Chief of
Staff.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 792-4
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 2. — Report of Brigadier-General Thomas T. Crittenden, U.S. Army, commanding at Murfreesborough.
No. 2.
Report of Brig. Gen.
T. T. Crittenden, U.S. Army, commanding at Murfreesborough.
I submit the following report of the affair of July 13,
1862, at Murfreesborough, Tenn.:
While at Athens, Ala., I received the special order of
Major-General Buell assigning me to the command of the post of Murfreesborough,
and went there as speedily as possible. I arrived there on the same train with
Colonel Duffield, of the Ninth Michigan, on July 11. The next day I assumed
command of the post and Colonel Duffield of the Twenty-third Brigade. Having no
instructions, and knowing nothing of the affairs at the post, I had several
interviews with Col. [Henry C.] Lester [Third Minnesota], then in command, and
from his statements, made both to myself and Colonel Duffield, it was evident
that he apprehended no danger. He stated that the only points from which the
enemy could approach were McMinnville and Lebanon, that there was no force
between Chattanooga and Murfreesborough, and that Morgan's force was far beyond
Lebanon, en route for Kentucky.
Colonel Lester had separated his forces on or about June 23,
1862, leaving five companies of the Ninth Michigan and about 80 men of the
Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry at the old camp, and removing the Third Minnesota
Regiment and Hewett's First Kentucky Battery (four guns) about 1¼ miles
northwest of the former camp. This was the whole force there on July 13, except
one company Ninth Michigan posted in the court-house as provost-guard,
altogether numbering about 950 effective men.
I appointed Lieut. [Henry M.] Duffield, Ninth Michigan,
acting assistant adjutant-general, Lieut. C. H. Blakey, who had been previously
acting, having left for Minnesota on recruiting service on July 12.
Lieutenant Duffield, under my orders, proceeded at once to
prepare a morning report, but did not complete it that day.
I then went with Colonel Duffield to look for a proper camp
for the whole force, as I would not permit it to remain separated. I found the
water, the scarcity of which Colonel Lester assigned as the reason for such
division, abundant to supply 5,000 men and a good camp ground within a quarter
of a mile of the former camp. I examined other camp sites, but preferred the
first, and ordered Colonel Duffield to concentrate his force there.
The same day I rode out with the officer of the day and made
an examination of the pickets. Being dissatisfied with its strength and
locations, I directed Major Seibert, commanding the cavalry, to double his
cavalry force on all the roads to Lebanon and McMinnville, which he did, but
withdrew them at night, in accordance with the custom and orders of Colonel
Lester under which he had previously acted, of which custom and order I was
entirely ignorant. There was no such order on the order-book, it being merely
verbal. I had doubled the cavalry on the points of danger, as a temporary
strengthening of the pickets, until next day, when I had ordered a much larger
detail for picket duty from the infantry. My temporary headquarters were
opposite to and about 75 yards from the court-house.
I have been informed that Colonel Lester had some
intelligence of a cavalry force of the enemy assembling near McMinnville, but
he did not inform me nor did I have any information of impending danger. I
found things negligently and loosely done at the post and attempted to remedy
all the negligence I saw there.
At daylight of July 13 General Forrest, with 2,500 cavalry,
consisting of four regiments and one battalion — among them the First and
Second Georgia and Seventh Texas, having marched 48 miles between noon of the
12th and that time — surrounded and captured the pickets on one of the roads to
McMinnville without the firing of a gun, rushed at full speed into the camp of
the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and into the court-house square and streets of
the town. Passing through the cavalry camp they attacked the Ninth Michigan,
which was ready to receive them. Severe fighting at this point resulted in
driving the enemy back some 300 yards after repeated assaults, both sides
losing heavily.
Colonel Duffield, commanding Twenty-third Brigade, was
severely wounded early in the action and carried from the field. He was paroled
at once, and I have had no report from him.
Lieutenant-Colonel Parkhurst, commanding the Ninth Michigan,
after holding his camp nearly eight hours against superior numbers, finding the
enemy were surrounding him with their whole force and having no hope of
re-enforcement (not receiving any reply to several messages for assistance sent
by him to Colonel Lester), surrendered his force, then reduced to 134 men. This
fragment of a regiment, under its gallant lieutenant-colonel (Parkhurst),
fought splendidly, and deserves honorable mention. Their loss was 11 killed, 86
wounded, and 36 missing.
Company B, Ninth Michigan, the provost guard, made a
resolute defense of the court house for three hours during repeated assaults,
killing 12 and wounding 18 of the enemy. They did not surrender until the
court-house was set on fire. During these hours of suspense only an occasional
shot was heard from the Third Minnesota and Hewett's battery. Of course their
comparative quiet showed that they were not attacked in three. From the reports
of Colonel Lester and Captain Hewett and from other sources I learned that
their commands turned out promptly, marched unattacked nearly half a mile, and
were there halted by Colonel Lester. Except slight changes of position, they
remained there from 4.30 a.m. until 2.30 p.m., twice or three times menaced by
small squads and once attacked by about 300 cavalry. The latter were repulsed
by the fire of the skirmishers and one volley from two companies on the left
flank of the regiment. Within three-quarters of a mile of their position they
heard the fighting at the court-house for three hours and during seven hours
and a half' the fight at the Michigan camp.
The Third Minnesota was a splendidly drilled regiment. The
officers and men were anxious to fight, but Colonel Lester held them there
without seeing any enemy in force. Colonel Lester received two dispatches from
Lieutenant-Colonel Parkhurst, begging for aid, but would afford none. When all
was lost except his own command Colonel Lester went under a flag of truce to
see Colonel Duffield, and there saw the enemy, who had not dared to come within
range of his artillery, and was so impressed with what he saw that he returned,
determined to surrender. This is proved by his calling a council of his company
commanders and his lieutenant-colonel [Chauncey W. Griggs]. They, by a viva-voce
vote, decided to fight. Part of them went from the council. Colonel Lester
reopened and reargued the matter. A ballot vote was taken and the force was
surrendered. This was done by the statements and influence of Colonel Lester.
Lieutenant-Colonel Griggs bitterly opposed the surrender and voted against it
to the last. Not a man was killed in the line of the Third Minnesota during the
day. I state the facts without comment.
With a few men I held my headquarters until after the
court-house was taken. I early sent a messenger, in citizen's clothes, with
orders to Colonel Duffield, but he could not pass through the enemy's lines.
They had my quarters surrounded from the time they entered the square. I submit
copies of reports made to me and refer to them. I respectfully demand a court
of inquiry into the disaster at Murfreesborough.
T. T. CRITTENDEN,
Brigadier-General,
late Commanding Post.
Lieut. Col. J.P. GARESCHÉ,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
[Indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, Tenn.,
November 26, 1862.
Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army,
with the request that this case may receive prompt attention and that Colonel
Lester be ignominiously dismissed the service.* As Capt. [John A.] Tanner is under my command, I propose to
avail myself of the authority delegated to me by the Secretary of War and shall
dismiss him.† General
Crittenden I will order to duty.
W. S. ROSECRANS,
Major-General, U.S.
Volunteers, Comdg. Department.
_______________
* Dismissed December 1, 1862.
† Dismissed
to date September 22, 1862.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 794-6
Labels:
1st Battle of Murfreesboro,
1st GA CAV,
2nd GA CAV,
3rd MN INF,
7th PA CAV,
7th TX CAV,
9th MI INF,
Buell,
Chattanooga TN,
Flags of Truce,
Garesche,
John Hunt Morgan,
Lebanon TN,
McMinnville TN,
Murfreesboro,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
Pickets,
Thomas T Crittenden
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 3. — Findings of a Court of Inquiry.
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 4.
HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE
CUMBERLAND,
Murfreesborough,
Tenn., January 24, 1863.
I. At a court of inquiry, convened at the city of Nashville,
December 17, 1862, by Special Field Orders, No. 19, Headquarters Fourteenth
Army Corps, Department of the Cumberland, on the request of Brig. Gen. T. T.
Crittenden, to investigate and give an opinion on the facts connected with the
surrender of the troops at Murfreesborough, under his command, of which court
Brig. Gen. James G. Spears was president, and Col. Joseph R. Scott, Nineteenth
Regiment Illinois Volunteers, was recorder, the following facts were found upon
the testimony:
1st. That he (General Crittenden) assumed command of the
post at Murfreesborough on the 12th day of July, 1862, between the hours of 9
and 10 o'clock a.m.
2d. That he found the camp had been divided for three weeks
previous and the forces separated.
3d. That he rode out on the morning of the 12th July, with
Colonel Duffield, commanding the Twenty-third Brigade, and selected a camp, and
told Colonel Duffield to concentrate the whole force there at once.
4th. That he rode out and inspected the pickets with the
field officer of the day, and not being satisfied with their strength and
location, ordered Major Seibert, commanding the cavalry, to double his cavalry
patrol on the roads leading to Lebanon and McMinnville.
5th. That the pickets on these roads were re-enforced, but
were withdrawn at night without the knowledge of General Crittenden, as was the
custom of the post by order.
6th. That he ordered morning reports to be made out and
one-fifth of the entire effective force to be detailed as grand guards.
7th. That he examined the brigade order books, and ordered a
plot of the town and its approaches to be made.
8th. That he consulted fully and freely with Colonels Lester
and Duffield, did a large amount of executive business, and was constantly
employed until 9 p.m. July 12.
9th. That he was informed, on what should have been good
authority, that there was no force of the enemy nearer than Chattanooga, with
the exception of small parties of guerrillas, and that there was no danger of
an immediate attack.
10th. That the attack was made upon the Ninth Michigan
Infantry and Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and the town at daylight on the
morning of the 13th July.
11th. That the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was immediately
overpowered. That the Ninth Michigan Infantry was promptly formed and
repeatedly repulsed the enemy. That about 8 o'clock a.m. they took a more
sheltered position, which they held until 12 o'clock, when they surrendered;
their commanding officer being wounded and having lost nearly one-half their
number in killed and wounded.
12th. That one company of the Ninth Michigan Infantry,
acting as provost guards, held the court-house in the town until 8 o'clock,
when they surrendered after it was set on fire.
13th. That General Crittenden surrendered himself and staff
at 8 o'clock, having endeavored to communicate with the troops, but failed,
owing to the stopping of his message by rebel guards.
14th. That the Third Minnesota Infantry and Hewett's battery
of four guns, under command of Colonel Lester, being 1¼ miles from town and
about the same distance from the Ninth Michigan Infantry and cavalry,
immediately on hearing the attack on these places marched up the turnpike and
took position in an open field, with woods in front, about 600 yards distant,
where they remained until about 12 o'clock, cavalry occasionally appearing in
their front in small parties, which were driven off with shot and shell from
the battery, after which they fell back about one-half mile, near their camp,
and remained there until they surrendered.
15th. That the estimated number of troops at the post was
about 1,040; that of the enemy 2,600. Upon which statement of facts the court
give the following opinion:
“We therefore are of the opinion from the evidence that
Brig. Gen. T. T. Crittenden did all that should be expected of a vigilant
commander from the time he took command until the surrender. We find no evidence that impugns his skill or
courage; on the contrary, he was very active on the day before the attack up to
9 p.m. in obtaining information and placing the post in a proper state of
defense. Although it may be said that he should have immediately concentrated
his forces and that any delay in so doing was dangerous, yet we find all ample
apology for the delay in the facts that he was an entire stranger to the place
and country, and that he was assured by Colonel Lester, who had preceded him in
the command for two months, that there was no danger of an attack and that no
enemy of importance was nearer than Chattanooga.”
All which is published for the information of the army.
II. The general commanding, after a careful examination of
the testimony adduced before the court of inquiry, is of opinion that the
defeat of our forces under Brig. Gen. T. T. Crittenden at Murfreesborough was
chiefly owing to the withdrawal of picket guards from the roads leading to the
town during the night and to the separation of the forces at the post; that the
post was taken by surprise and the forces overpowered by being attacked in
detail, all which would have been provided against had the timely orders of
General Crittenden been obeyed.
By command of Major-General Rosecrans:
C. GODDARD,
Assistant
Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 796-8
Labels:
19th IL INF,
1st Battle of Murfreesboro,
3rd MN INF,
7th PA CAV,
9th MI INF,
Chattanooga TN,
Courts of Inquiry,
Guerrillas,
James G Spears,
Lebanon TN,
McMinnville TN,
Murfreesboro,
Officer of the Day,
Pickets,
Rosecrans,
Thomas T Crittenden,
William W. Duffield
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 12. — Report of Brigadier-Geneneral Nathan Bedford Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade.
No. 12.
Report of Brig. Gen.
N. B. Forrest, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF EAST TENNESSEE,
Knoxville, Tenn.,
July 22, 1862.
GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the report of an
engagement of our forces under the command of Col. N. B. Forrest and the enemy
at Murfreesborough, Tenn., the 13th instant. A portion of the captured property
has been brought in and turned over to the department. Colonel Forrest is now
on his way to Columbia, Tenn., purposing the destruction of the railroad and bridges
between Nashville and that place.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
E. KIRBY SMITH,
Major-General,
Commanding.
General S. COOPER, Adjt. and Insp. Gen., Richmond, Va.
———, —— 1862.
SIR: We left Chattanooga on July 9 with the Texan Rangers,
under Colonel Wharton, and the Second Georgia Cavalry, under Colonel Lawton. We
made a forced march of nearly 50 miles, reaching Altamont on the night of the
10th instant. After resting one night we passed on to McMinnville, where I was
joined on the night of the 11th by Colonel Morrison with a portion of the First
Georgia Cavalry, two companies of Colonel Spiller's battalion, under Major
Smith, and two companies of Kentuckians, under Captains Taylor and Waltham.
After this junction my whole force was about 1,400 men, and both men and horses
were much jaded and worn by their long travel. After feeding and refreshing for
a single day and being joined by some few volunteers I left on the 12th at 1 o'clock
for Murfreesborough. It was over 50 miles to our destination, but there was no
halt except for a short time to feed the men and horses.
We approached Murfreesborough about 4.30 a.m. and
fortunately captured the pickets of the enemy without firing a gun. I then
learned that there were two regiments in and near Murfreesborough, one the
Ninth Michigan and the other the Third Minnesota, 200 Pennsylvania cavalry, 100
of the Eighth Kentucky, and Captain Hewett's battery of four guns, numbering in
all 1,400 or 1,500 men, under the command of General Thomas Crittenden, of
Indiana. There were said to be two camps, one in Murfreesborough of one
infantry regiment and the cavalry, the other with the artillery about a mile
distant, and a small force with the officers in the court-house and private
houses around the public square. I decided immediately to attack the camp in
town and the buildings, while the camp with the artillery should be held in
check until the first was stormed and surrendered. Colonel Wharton with his
Texan Rangers was ordered to charge the camp in town. He moved forward in
gallant style at the head of his men, but owing to the urgent necessity of
using a portion of the Rangers for the attack on the buildings he did not carry
with him but two of his companies. This fact, however, did not abate his
courage or that of his men. They charged over the tent ropes right into the
camp. Colonel Wharton was soon severely wounded and the command of his Rangers
devolved on Colonel Walker.
Colonel Morrison with a portion of the Second Georgia was
ordered to storm the court-house while the balance of the Texan Rangers were
attacking the private buildings. After two or three hours' hard struggle the
court-house was fired and surrendered to Colonel Morrison. The private
buildings were also cleared by the Rangers and General Crittenden and his staff
surrendered.
Lieut. Col. [Arthur] Hood, of the Second Georgia, with a
portion of his force was ordered to storm the jail, which he did, releasing
many prisoners confined for political offenses; he also took the telegraph
office, capturing the operator.
Colonel Lawton, with the First Georgia, the Tennesseeans and
Kentuckians, was ordered to attack the second camp with the artillery, which he
did with great efficiency for several hours. The Tennesseeans, under Major
Smith, and Kentuckians, under Captains Taylor and. Waltham, stood the fire of
shot and shell like veterans. The Georgians, under Captain Dunlop and Major
Harper, made a gallant charge almost to the mouths of the cannon. After
fighting them in front two or three hours I took immediate command of this
force and charged the rear of the enemy into their camps and burned their camps
and stores, demoralizing their force and weakening their strength.
The force of Texan Rangers sent to attack the first camp was
so small that, although they fought with desperate courage and great skill,
they were gradually driven back.
After the court-house and private buildings were surrendered
and the fight had lasted five or six hours I prepared my whole force to storm
both camps and summoned them to surrender. After some parley Colonel Duffield
surrendered the infantry and artillery.
My aide, Colonel Saunders, rendered me efficient aid until
he was severely wounded by a ball from the court-house. Major Strange, my
adjutant, also performed his whole duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Walker and Major
Harrison, of the Rangers, acted with their usual daring and bravery. All the
officers and men who acted bravely cannot be particularly mentioned, but they
acted their part nobly.
After the action was over I detached Major Smith to burn a
railroad bridge below Murfreesborough, which he executed well. I intended to
burn a railroad bridge above Murfreesborough and gave orders for the purpose, but
by mistake they were not executed. I had the telegraph wire cut and a large
portion of the railroad track torn up. I found four car-loads of provisions on
the railroad track and the depot house full of stores, all of which I burned.
There were between 1,100 and 1,200 privates and
non-commissioned officers captured and brought to McMinnville and paroled on
condition not to serve until exchanged. The officers have been already sent to
Knoxville, in charge of Colonel Wharton (and I trust have safely reached their
destination), except one or two who were wounded and left at Murfreesborough,
on condition to surrender when restored to health.
I captured four pieces of artillery — three brass pieces and
one Parrott gun — which are still in my possession, With harness and
ammunition. There were some 50 or 60 large road wagons with the mule teams,
harness, &c., captured. I burnt some of the wagons, which could not be got
away, and sent you the balance. There were a large number of cavalry horses,
saddles, and small-arms, with the ammunition, captured, and such as I have not
been compelled to use are also forwarded to you.
In consequence of our being compelled to leave
Murfreesborough, and not having received reports of the killed from some of my
command, it is impossible to report accurately my loss. My best information is
that we had about 25 killed and from 40 to 60 wounded. Among those killed is
Lieutenant Green, of the Tennessee Battalion. The reports of the officers under
my command when furnished will show more definitely the loss.
The enemy lost about 75 killed and 125 wounded. The
pecuniary loss to the enemy must be near half a million of dollars.
Yours, respectfully,
N. B. FORREST,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding Brigade of Cavalry.
Maj. H. L. CLAY,
Adjutant-General, Army of East
Tennessee.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 809-11
Labels:
1st Battle of Murfreesboro,
1st GA CAV,
2nd GA CAV,
3rd MN INF,
8th KY INF USA,
9th MI INF,
Chattanooga TN,
Columbia TN,
Kirby Smith,
McMinnville TN,
Murfreesboro,
Nashville TN,
Nathan Bedford Forrest,
Samuel Cooper,
Texas Rangers,
Thomas T Crittenden,
William W. Duffield
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 11. — Report of Major-General John P. McCown, C. S. Army.
No. 11.
Report of Maj. Gen.
J. P. McCown, C. S. Army.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN., July 17, 1862.
Colonel Forrest dispatches me as follows:
Attacked Murfreesborough 5 a.m. last
Sunday morning; captured two brigadier-generals, staff and field officers, and
1,200 men; burnt $200,000 worth of stores; captured sufficient stores with
those burned to amount to $500,000, and brigade of 60 wagons, 300 mules, 150 or
200 horses, and field battery of four pieces; destroyed the railroad and depot
at Murfreesborough. Had to retreat to McMinnville, owing to large number of
prisoners to be guarded. Our loss 16 or 18 killed; 25 or 30 wounded. Enemy's loss
200 or 300.
Leaves to-day for re-enforcements coming from Kingston.
J. P. McCOWN.
General BRAXTON BRAGG.
[Indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
MISSISSIPPI,
Tupelo, Miss., July 18,
1862.
Brigadier-General CHALMERS,
Commanding Cavalry, Army of
Mississippi:
GENERAL: The general commanding directs that the above
dispatch be read to the Troops.
Respectfully, general, your obedient servant,
D. H. POOLE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 809
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 10. — Report of Colonel John F. Miller, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, commanding at Nashville
No. 10.
Report of Col. John F. Miller, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry,
commanding at Nashville
NASHVILLE, July 19,
1862 — 12 p.m.
GENERAL: Statements of prisoners and others establish these
facts: Complete surprise of the Ninth Michigan and cavalry at about 4 a.m.
Enemy attacked Michigan camp and provost guard in town simultaneously,
approaching in two directions between roads; no grand guard; pickets only in
roads; Michigan troops in discord; men killed in tents attempting to form
square; Colonel Duffield wounded; failed to form, and surrendered. Provost
guards in court-house did most fighting, holding enemy at bay perhaps an hour,
killing 10 rebels; surrendered; part cavalry attempted to join Michigan
regiment; did little fighting; surrendered.
Third Minnesota, 1½ miles in rear, formed on alarm; had
Hewett’s battery; left their camp and reserve ammunition; marched short
distance, halted, took position, waited for attack; enemy, some in front and
flank. At 7 a.m. burned camp charged on battery; were repulsed with slight
loss; made several weak attempts to charge. Infantry hovered about in woods;
but little firing by infantry. Enemy showed signs of intention to retreat;
burned depot supplies; surrender demanded; men anxious to continue fight;
colonel and six captains anxious to surrender. Infantry had plenty ammunition;
battery short, but had 64 rounds left; surrendered at about 3 p.m.; loss, 2 killed,
5 wounded in Michigan. Colonel Lester reported as having been stupid with fear,
some complain, cowardly: strength of enemy, five regiments; average estimate,
1,800. Marched the prisoners 7 miles beyond McMinnville. Whole force left for
Chattanooga, moving rapidly.
Jealousy of officers, causing separation of troops beyond
supporting distance in sudden emergency. Bad picketing, lack of skill,
vigilance, and personal courage on part of officers caused the disaster
according to testimony.
Loss of Ninth Michigan, 14 killed and 63 wounded.
Respectfully,
JNO. F. MILLER.
Colonel, Commanding Post.
Maj. Gen. D.C. BUELL.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 808-9
Monday, May 7, 2018
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 9. — Report of Colonel Henry C. Lester, Third Minnesota Infantry
No. 9.
Report of Col. Henry C. Lester, Third Minnesota Infantry.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report the share taken by my
regiment in the action at Murfreesborough, Tenn, on Sunday, July 13, 1862.
The attack was made about daylight upon the camp of the
Ninth Michigan, the pickets having been captured without firing a shot. With
the first alarm my regiment was formed in line and marched from camp toward
town, for the purpose of effecting a junction with the other troops, the
camping ground of the two regiments having been necessarily separated about 1½
miles in consequence of scarcity of water. We had proceeded nearly half a mile
when the enemy appeared in force in the woods in our front, and also upon our
left flank. Line of battle was at once formed upon the crest of a hill and we
opened upon the enemy with shell. The firing was principally directed to the
woods in front, where they were evidently forming for a charge. In the mean
time a small force had made its way through a corn field on our left and
attacked our camp, which, after a sharp skirmish with the camp guard they took,
killing or capturing the guard and firing the tents. Some time was passed in
shelling the woods, when a train arrived from Nashville, and was only stopped
when it had reached a point opposite our position and distant from it about 100
yards. As soon as the enemy had seen the train pass they commenced to tear up
the track between it and Nashville, and were repeatedly driven off by the
artillery. A charge was made upon our left from the woods, but was easily
repulsed, with some loss to the enemy. At this time a scout returned from the
camp of the Ninth Michigan, reporting the enemy in strong three on the Lebanon
road between the Michigan regiment and our position; and as the force in front
seemed to be still too strong to attempt to push through with any prospect of
success I determined to maintain my own position for the present. The firing in
town having ceased for some time I sent a scout through the corn field to try
and get news from our friends, but the effort was unsuccessful, the enemy being
still in strong force on the Lebanon road. Shortly after a soldier of the Ninth
Michigan came through and reported his regiment as having surrendered.
Thereupon we fell back to a farm-house a short distance in our rear, which
being surrounded by a fence I expected to make as strong as possible and to
hold until the end.
While taking up our new position a flag of truce appeared,
borne by yourself, and sent at the request of Colonel Duffield, commanding
Twenty-third Brigade, for the purpose of procuring an interview with me. I
returned to town with the flag and had an interview with the colonel
commanding, in which I learned that we were attacked by the rebel General
Forrest with a brigade of cavalry. Learning from the Colonel that the enemy
were in overwhelming force, and that even should the road be uninjured the
forces at Nashville were absent upon an expedition and that there was no hope
of re-enforcements, at his suggestion I agreed to refer the matter of surrender
to my officers. Accordingly the matter was represented to them as derived from
Colonel Duffield, and the great majority, looking upon further resistance as
involving the certainty of an ultimate defeat with great loss, and with no possibility
of an escape or assistance, it was decided to surrender, which was done at 3.30
p.m.
The force surrendered by me consisted of about 450 infantry.
The enemy's force consisted of about 2,600 troops, together with some hundreds
of citizens of the country between McMinnville and Murfreesborough, being in
all about 3,000 men.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant.
H. C. LESTER,
Colonel, Commanding
Third Minnesota.
Lieut. H. M. DUFFIELD,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General, Twenty-third Brigade.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 807-8
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 8. – Report of Lieut. Col. John G. Parkhurst, Ninth Michigan Infantry.
No. 8.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of
the battle of Murfreesborough, Tenn., on July 13, 1862. Before giving the
particulars of the battle I beg leave to report the strength and condition of
the Ninth Regiment Michigan Infantry at the time of the attack:
This regiment, with the Third Regiment of Minnesota
Infantry, Hewett's Kentucky battery, and a portion of the Seventh
Pennsylvania Cavalry, had been encamped
in one encampment, in the city of Murfreesborough, for some months, under the
command of Colonel Duffield, when, on May 9, he was assigned to command of the
troops of Kentucky, and Colonel Lester, of the Third Minnesota, assumed command
of the forces at Murfreesborough.
On June 26 the force at Murfreesborough was divided and its
strength greatly reduced by the Third Minnesota Regiment and Hewett's battery
being sent 1½ miles north of the city of Murfreesborough, on the Nashville
pike, leaving the Ninth Michigan and a squadron of the Seventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry occupying the old camping ground, and the only troops in the city.
On June 30, agreeably to an order received from Colonel
Lester, this force was further reduced, and Companies D, E, F, and I, of the
Ninth Michigan, were sent to Tullahoma. Company B, Capt. [Oliver C.] Rounds, of
the Ninth Michigan, was occupying the court-house, situated three-fourths of a
mile from camp, and acting as provost guard for the city, leaving only five
companies of my regiment in camp. From these companies heavy details for picket
and other duties were constantly made, so that the force in camp was about 250
strong.
The weakness of my camp and the divided condition of the
forces at Murfreesborough were observed by General Crittenden upon his arrival
and viewing of the camp on the 12th, and the danger to be apprehended in
consequence of such division was remarked upon by both General Crittenden and
Colonel Duffield, who returned to Murfreesborough in company with General
Crittenden, and it was by them determined to reunite the forces at once.
At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 13th I was aroused by the
sentinel at my tent and informed that the enemy was advancing upon the camp. I
at once turned out an[d] gave the alarm in camp. The companies in camp turned
out with alacrity, but before they had time to form square the enemy, mounted
and some 1,200 strong, with terrific yells, dashed upon us from three
directions, armed with double-barreled shot-guns and Colt's navy revolvers.
Some of my men gave way under this charge, but the majority of them stood firm
and returned the first fire with great precision and fatal effect. After
discharging their pieces the enemy retired and dismounted a part of his force
and advanced upon us mounted and on foot. I rallied my force, and, although the
effect of the fire of the enemy was terribly severe, my officers and men stood
their ground with heroic courage and poured a destructive fire into the enemy's
ranks until he began to yield. Seeing this, I took advantage of it and ordered
my force to advance and charge upon him. In obedience to this order my men,
with a yell equal to that of the Texans, made a charge, driving the enemy
before them until he was completely routed from my camp and driven out of and
beyond reach of the camp of the Pennsylvania cavalry and brigade headquarters.
I immediately ordered Company C; Capt. [Charles V.] De Land, to advance in
pursuit, as skirmishers, as far as the second street in our front, which he did
in good style, doing good execution and holding the line I had indicated to him
and driving the enemy still farther in retreat.
Finding an opportunity I immediately occupied my time in
preparing for another attack, and marched my force into a garden in front of
camp, which was inclosed by a cedar-post fence, and made use of such forage as
I had in camp to barricade Maney avenue, which led to our right, and made use
of the transportation wagons for a protection on our left, thus securing quite
a formidable position. After having secured
this position and learning that Colonel Lester had not advanced upon the
enemy I dispatched a courier to Colonel Lester, informing him of the fight and
of the superior force of the enemy and that Colonel Duffield was wounded and
had left the field and that my loss had been very heavy, but that we were then
in a good position and could make a successful defense if we could be
re-enforce, and asked him to send re-enforcements.
The enemy kept up a series of attacks and feints and he was
as often repulsed.
Not hearing from the courier, I dispatched a second courier
with similar information as to our position and urged Colonel Lester to advance
to our relief, informing him that we were receiving frequent attacks from a
vastly superior force, but that we could hold out if he would re-enforce us.
After some four hours’ time I received information that my couriers had been
arrested by order of Colonel Lester as spies and that a courier from Colonel
Lester had come over to ascertain our position. About 9.30 o’clock I sent by
the courier who came from Colonel Lester a written statement of our position
and requesting re-enforcements at once, knowing that if Colonel Lester would
join us with his force we could drive the enemy from the city or capture his
command.
I received no reply from this dispatch nor from any that I
sent to Colonel Lester, though he has since informed me that my couriers as
well as my dispatch through his own courier reached him and that his courier
had no trouble in returning to his camp. I leave Colonel Lester to account in
his report or otherwise for his neglecting my repeated calls upon him for
re-enforcements.
The forces attacking my camp were the First Regiment Texas
Rangers, Colonel Wharton, and a battalion of the First Georgia Rangers, Colonel
Morrison, and a large number of citizens of Rutherford County, many of whom had
recently taken the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. There
were also quite a number of negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops,
who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my
forces during the day.
Simultaneously with the attack upon my camp Company B,
Captain Rounds, was attacked at their quarters in the court-house by a large
force of Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky cavalry. This company fought nobly
and held their position for two and a half hours, killing and wounding a large
number of the enemy's forces, and until the enemy set fire to the lower part of
the court-house, when they were compelled to surrender.
We maintained our position, despite the frequent attacks and
desperate efforts of the enemy to destroy us, until 11.30 o'clock, when a flag
of truce was sent to us, with a demand for a surrender, of which the following
is a true copy, viz:
MURFREESBOROUGH,
July 13, 1862.
COLONEL: I must demand an unconditional
surrender of your force as prisoners of war or I will have every man put to the
sword. You are aware of the overpowering force I have at my command, and this
demand is made to prevent the effusion of blood.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
N. B. FORREST,
Brigadier-General of Cavalry, C. S. Army.
Col. J. G. PARKHURST.
This communication I forwarded to Colonel Duffield, who had
been wounded in the first charge and removed from the field, asking for his
order or advice in relation thereto. Colonel Duffield returned the
communication with a message that he should leave the matter entirely to my
discretion. Meantime I had ascertained that General Forrest had concentrated
his entire force, save one squadron, which he had stationed on the Nashville
pike, near the camp of the Minnesota regiment, in the immediate vicinity of my
camp, hemming us in on all sides, and was preparing to make a charge upon us
with his entire command, having surrounded us, and evidently intending, with
this overwhelming force, to execute the threat contained in his demand for a
surrender. Seeing our position, and concluding that I had nothing to hope for
from Colonel Lester, having vainly looked for aid from him for seven hours, and
ascertaining from actual count that I had but 134 men, including a few of Major
Seibert's Pennsylvania cavalry, who had retreated to our lines, I called a
meeting of my officers to consider the demand for a surrender. The officers of
the regiment, after considering our position, deemed it rashness to attempt to
withstand the forces now brought against us, numbering over 1,800, and
unanimously voted to surrender, and at 12 o'clock, eight hours after the
commencement of the battle, I surrendered my command as prisoners of war.
My loss in the battle was as follows: Of the five companies
in camp, killed, 11; wounded, 86; missing, 36; total, 133. Of Company B, at the
court-house, wounded, 3; missing, 1; total, 4. Making a total loss of 137. I
append hereto a correct list of the killed, wounded, and missing.*
In the engagement I received a shot below the knee of my
left leg, but no injury resulted from it.
The loss of the enemy was very much greater than mine. Among
their killed is Colonel Anderson, of one of the Georgia regiments, and among
their wounded is Colonel Wharton, of the Texas Rangers. A large portion of
their officers were either killed or wounded.
I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of my
officers and men, who, with only one exception, behaved nobly, fought like
heroes, and conducted themselves like veteran soldiers; and where all behaved
so well it would be invidious to attempt to discriminate. The exception I feel
it my duty to mention. Capt. John A. Tanner, of Company K, at the first fire of
the enemy retreated to the woods. This conduct needs no comment. Justice will
overtake him.
Subsequent to the surrender my command, including many of
the wounded and sick from the hospital, were marched to McMinnville, some 40
miles from Murfreesborough, where the non-commissioned officers and privates
were paroled. The commissioned officers were marched to Knoxville, Tenn., and
sent thence to Madison, Ga., where we were confined in an old filthy cotton
factory, which was alive with vermin and we were there compelled to provide
ourselves with food, which was furnished, through the guard at the rate of $2
per diem per man.
I beg leave to further report that, though assured that our
private property would not be taken, everything not worn upon our backs was
taken from us. Our trunks, which we were assured we could take with us, were
broken open and the contents stolen or appropriated by greedy rebels.
While on the march to Knoxville I was ordered to dismount
and surrender my horse, which General Forrest instantly appropriated. Other
officers were deprived of their horses.
I remain, lieutenant, most respectfully, your obedient
servant,
J. G. PARKHURST,
Lieut. Col, Ninth Regiment Michigan Infantry,
Comdg.
Lieut. H. M. DUFFIELD,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Murfreesborough, Tenn.
_______________
* Nominal list omitted.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 803-7
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 4. – Report of Maj. James J. Seibert, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
No. 4.
GENERAL: I respectfully submit the following as my report of
the battle at Murfreesborough, Tenn., on Sunday, July 13, 1862:
I first assumed command of the cavalry attached to that
command, consisting of the Third Battalion Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and
one squadron of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, on May 29, but was called to
Nashville on duty on June 19, returning again on July 6.
When I first assumed command it was the custom, as well as
the order, of Colonel Lester, then in command, to send out daily from the
cavalry a patrol of 5 men on each of the seven pikes leading to and from the
town, starting out in the morning and returning in the evening. This order was
not changed while I was in command until the day before the occurrence. When
you assumed command you ordered me to double the number of the patrols on the
roads to Lebanon and McMinnville, which was done. When the patrols returned in
the evening I received the report daily from each of the non-commissioned
officers in charge, which, after committing to writing, I handed to Colonel
Lester.
The attack was made at daybreak in the morning, and I first
saw the enemy when charging on my camp, which was a short distance to the right
of the Woodbury pike. I had not over 80 duty men in camp at the time of the
attack, most of whom were captured there. We then left my camp and joined the
Ninth Michigan and surrendered with them at noon. I lost 5 killed and 20
wounded.
Before closing this report I would state that a report
reached me about midnight that several men were seen in the night between our
pickets and the town on the Bradyville pike. I immediately mounted 12 men and went to the points named, but
after examining the fields and several houses and barns on the Bradyville and
Woodbury pikes and discovering no signs of the enemy I returned with the men to
camp, having reached it only a little more than an hour before the attack.
I am, general, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES J. SEIBERT,
Major, Seventh Pa. Cav., Comdg. Cav.,
Twenty-third Brigade.
General T. T. CRITTENDEN,
Commanding Forces at Murfreesborough, Tenn.:
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 798-9
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 5. – Report of Capt. John M. Hewett, Battery B, Kentucky Light Artillery.
GENERAL: I have the honor of making the following report of
the part taken by my command in the fight at Murfreesborough, Tenn., on July
13, 1862:
Before it was fairly daylight my camp was alarmed by rapid
discharges of musketry in the direction of the Ninth Michigan camp and in town,
distant l ½ miles. I immediately ordered my horses harnessed and hitched in,
supposing that an immediate advance would be made on the town. I left my park
with the guns of one section advanced and the other passed to the rear, my caissons
in the center.
I rode to the color-line of the Third Minnesota Regiment,
which was forming, and informed Colonel Lester that I was in motion. He ordered
me to wait till he came up. On his joining us I asked in what order we would
advance on the town. He said he would halt in the old field on our left and
wait for orders. The firing was still brisk in town. Twenty minutes or half an
hour later the enemy was seen on our left flank, 1,000 or 1,500 yards distant.
I opened fire on them; they instantly dispersed. I then placed the other
section on the turnpike (the extreme right), in charge of Lieut. [Alban A.]
Ellsworth, who was in position but a few moments when the enemy were discovered
advancing from the town in considerable force. A few rounds drove them for
protection into the woods immediately in our front and half a mile distant from
our line. We then briskly shelled the woods for a few minutes, driving them
out. Nothing further was seen of the enemy for nearly an hour, when they were
discovered in our rear and about the same time saw the smoke from our camp,
which they had gained. I ordered the guns from one section to shell them out,
which was done. In a few minutes after a charge was made on us by 200 or 300,
which was repulsed, the enemy retiring into the woods in front of the line. We
again shelled the woods briskly for several moments. An hour later they were
discovered tearing up the railroad track, half or three-fourths of a mile
below. They were shelled from this. The train from Nashville had before this
passed up and stopped under our guns. We saw them but occasionally for the next
five or six hours. They made no further demonstrations of attack. We remained
during this time, say from 4.30 a.m. till 2 p.m., in an open field, front,
rear, and both flanks open to cavalry. About 2 o'clock we were ordered to fall
back 500 yards toward our camp and take position in front of a frame house. We
remained here about an hour, when Colonel Lester, in answer to a flag of truce,
went into town. Returning, he surrendered the entire command. Up to the moment
of surrender the utmost confidence was evinced by the officers and men. My
command bore themselves like men. I turned over, by order of Colonel Lester,
three 6-pounder smoothbore and one 10 pounder Parrott gun, with the general
property of' the company. Officers and men lost all their clothing, blankets,
&c., in the burning of the tents.
Lost 1 killed, 3 wounded and 9 missing. Seventy men were
surrendered, though but 51 were fit for duty.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
J. M. HEWETT,
Captain, Comdg. Hewett's Battery, Kentucky
Vol. Artillery.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 799-800
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 6. – Report of Col. John C. Walker, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry.
No. 6.
SIR: An engagement has been going on at Murfreesborough
nearly all day between our troops at that place and the enemy under Colonel
Starnes. I give you the reports as they come to me through messengers of
Colonel Hambright, who is stationed at Wartrace. It seems from these reports
that Colonel Starnes, with about 5,000 cavalry and two pieces of artillery,
attacked Murfreesborough this morning. After two or three hours' fighting he
succeeded in taking prisoners seven companies of the Ninth Michigan Regiment
and the entire provost guard. It is said that General Crittenden, of Indiana,
is also taken prisoner. Since this the First Kentucky Battery was engaged for
several hours in shelling the rebels. The battery, I believe, is sustained by
the Third Minnesota Regiment. Toward evening the enemy withdrew to the woods.
I cannot vouch for the details of this statement, but will
add that the cannonading has been heard distinctly at this place during nearly
the entire day. Colonel Matthews, Fifty-first Ohio, arrived at this place this
evening and will await further orders. Under existing circumstances I have
taken the responsibility of ordering my regiment to this place, for the purpose
of co-operating, if necessary, with the other troops in this vicinity. In the
course of a day or two I will have the regiment proceed to Elk River Bridge,
unless orders are received directing me to do otherwise.
Trusting that my action in the premises will meet with your
approbation, I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
J. C. WALKER,
Colonel Thirty-fifth Indiana.
Col. J. B. FRY,
Chief of Staff,
Huntsville,.Ala.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 800
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 7. – Report of Col. William W. Duffield, Ninth Michigan Infantry.
No. 7.
Report of Col. William W. Duffield, Ninth Michigan Infantry.
MURFREESBOROUGH,
TENN., July 23, 1862.
COLONEL: Although I had not yet formally assumed command of
the Twenty-third Brigade, yet, as Brig. Gen. Thomas T. Crittenden and the other
officers of the command have been captured and forwarded to Chattanooga, permit
me to submit the following report of such portion of the attack made on the
13th instant as came under my own personal observation:
I arrived here, after an absence of two months, on the
afternoon of the 11th instant, coming down on the same train with Brig. Gen.
Thomas T. Crittenden, the newly appointed commander of the post, and found that
several material changes had been made in the location and encampment of the
Twenty-third Brigade since my departure. Instead of the whole command encamping
together, as it had done, it was separated into two portions and several miles
apart. The brigade had never been drilled as such nor a brigade guard mounted.
Each regiment furnished its quota of officers and men and watched certain
roads; and, worse than all, the commanding officers of the respective regiments
were on ill terms with each other, and this feeling, upon one occasion, had
broken out into an open personal quarrel. The result was a great lack of
discipline and a bitter feeling of jealousy between the different regiments,
manifesting itself in the personal encounters of the men when they met upon the
street. There was no order, no harmony. The parts of the machine did not fit
well, and the commanding officers seem either not to have possessed the will or
the ability to adjust them. General Crittenden and myself, immediately after
our arrival, visited the several camps, discussed the impropriety of a divided
command, and decided upon a concentration; but as neither of us had assumed
command we deferred it until the morrow. But on the morrow the blow fell, and
the danger we anticipated became a reality. General Crittenden made his
headquarters in town, while I preferred camping with my own men, and therefore
pitched my tent with the five companies of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers.
The force then at Murfreesborough was as follows: Five
companies (A, C, G, H, and K), Ninth Michigan Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel
Parkhurst commanding, 200 strong, together with the First Squadron Fourth
Kentucky Cavalry, Capt. Levi Chilson, 81 strong, were encamped three-fourths of
a mile east of the town, upon the Liberty turnpike; one company (B) Ninth
Michigan Volunteers, Captain Rounds, 42 strong, occupied the court-house, the
other companies of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers having been ordered to
Tullahoma a month since, while nine companies of the Third Minnesota
Volunteers, Colonel Lester (one company being on detached duty as train guard),
450 strong, and Hewett's First Kentucky battery, two sections, 72 strong,
occupied the east bank of Stone River, at a distance of more than 3 miles from
the encampment of the detachment of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers.
Orders were received from Nashville the evening of the 12th
instant directing the First Squadron Fourth Kentucky Cavalry to proceed
immediately to Lebanon. The total effective strength of the command at
Murfreesborough on the morning of the 13th instant did not therefore exceed 814
men, including pickets.
The attack was made at daybreak on the morning of the 13th
instant by the Second Cavalry Brigade, C. S. Army, Brig. Gen. N. B. Forrest,
over 3,000 strong, consisting of one Texas regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Walker;
the First and Second Georgia Regiments, Colonels Lawton and Hood; one Alabama
regiment, Colonel Saunders, and one Tennessee regiment, Colonel Lawton[?]. The
noise of so many hoofs at full speed upon the macadamized roads was so great
that the alarm was given before the head of the column reached our pickets,
about 1 mile distant, so that our men were formed and ready to receive them,
although they came in at full speed. The Texas and a battalion of one of the
Georgia regiments, in all over 800 strong, attacked the detachment of the Ninth
Michigan Volunteers. So fierce and impetuous was their attack that our men were
forced nearly to the center of the camp; but they fell back steadily and in
order, with their faces to the foe. But upon reaching the center of the camp
their line was brought to a halt, and after twenty minutes of nearly
hand-to-hand fighting the enemy broke and fled in the wildest confusion,
followed in close pursuit by one company as skirmishers. A squadron of cavalry
at this time launched at their heels would have utterly routed and annihilated
them. Indeed so great was their panic that their officers were unable to check
the fugitives for a distance of 7 miles, and Colonel Wharton,[?] commanding the
Georgia regiment, was subsequently arrested by General Forrest for misconduct
under the fire of the enemy.
During this attack both officers and men, with one single
exception, behaved very handsomely. There was no excitement, no hurry, and no
confusion. Everything was done calmly, quietly, and in obedience to orders. But
it is with the deepest shame and mortification that I am compelled to report that
one officer of Michigan has been guilty of gross cowardice in the face of the
enemy. Capt. John A. Tanner, of Company K, Ninth Michigan Volunteers, at the
first alarm left his quarters, abandoned his company, and fled from his command
under the enemy's fire, and I therefore inclose you herewith charges preferred
against him for violation of the Fifty-second Article of War. Capt. Charles V.
De Land, Company C, Ninth Michigan Volunteers, deserves special mention for
cool and gallant conduct throughout the action and the fearless mode in which
he led his company as skirmishers in pursuit of the enemy when repulsed. Also
First Lieut. Hiram Barrows, of Company A, same regiment, for the tenacity with
which he held his ground, although sorely pressed by the enemy. The loss of the
detachment of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers has been very severe for the number
engaged, amounting to 1 officer and 12 men killed and 3 officers and 75 men
wounded. The enemy's loss has been much more severe than our own. More than double
the number of their dead were buried with ours and their wounded are found in
almost every house. Among their wounded are a colonel, a major, two adjutants,
and one surgeon. I inclose you herewith the surgeon's report of the killed and
wounded of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers.
Not having been present at the subsequent surrender of the
detachment of the Ninth Michigan Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Parkhurst, I can only state the facts as reported to me, which show that this
force, isolated and reduced by killed and wounded to less than 75 men, after
having held their ground from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., were compelled to surrender or
be cut to pieces by the entire force of the enemy. I am reliably informed that
Company B, Ninth Michigan Volunteers, under command of First Lieut. L. J.
Wright, held the court-house against an incessant attack by a greatly superior
force from 4 a.m. till 7.30 a.m., and did not surrender till the enemy had
possession of the lower story of the building and had started a fire, with the
evident intention of burning them out.
Of the surrender of the Third Minnesota Volunteers and
Hewett's First Kentucky Artillery, under command of Colonel Lester, I cannot
speak from personal knowledge nor have I received any information from sources
sufficiently reliable to warrant my communicating to you any details. Indeed I
would much prefer not to do so. The circumstances of the case, as reported,
bear painfully on the honor of a brother officer now a prisoner of war, and who
is therefore unable to defend himself.
I inclose a list of killed and wounded of the Third
Minnesota Volunteers, furnished me by the assistant surgeon of that regiment,
amounting to 2 killed and 8 wounded,* one of whom was killed and 2 wounded in
line, the remainder in camp.
In the early part of this attack I received two gunshot
wounds, one passing through the right testicle, the other through the left
thigh. These, although very painful and bleeding profusely, did not prevent me
from remaining with my own regiment until the attack was repulsed, when,
fainting from pain and loss of blood, I was carried from the field, and was
therefore not a witness of what subsequently occurred. At noon the same day I
was made prisoner by General Forrest, but, in my then helpless condition, was
released upon my parole not to bear arms against the Confederate States until
regularly exchanged.
I remain, colonel,
your obedient servant,
WM. W. DUFFIELD,
Colonel Ninth Michigan Infantry, Comdg.
Twenty-third Brigade.
Col. J. B. FRY,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Chief of Staff, Huntsville, Ala.
[Indorsements.]
SEPTEMBER 20, 1862.
Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General. It is
gratifying to discover anything to mitigate the mortification of the affair at
Murfreesborough. This report seems to do so as far as Colonel Duffield is
concerned, but does not alter the general features of the affair.
D.C. BUELL,
Major-General.
I respectfully recommend that Capt. John A. Tanner, Company
K, Ninth Michigan Volunteers, be dismissed from the service for cowardly
abandoning his company at the battle of Murfreesborough.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
Approved.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
_______________
* Nominal list omitted.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 800-3
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