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
