Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 214. — Report of Maj. George A. Camp, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, of operations December 7, 1864.

No. 214.

Report of Maj. George A. Camp, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, of operations December 7, 1864.

HDQRS. EIGHTH REGIMENT MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS,        

Fortress Rosecrans, December 8, 1864.

COLONEL: In obedience to your orders, I have the honor to report that my regiment was formed on the right of the brigade, the left resting on the Wilkinson pike, near Stone's River, by Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers, from which point we advanced in line of battle on the right of said road, meeting with but little resistance, the enemy retiring as we advanced in the center of a cotton field, where we found a large force of the enemy in the woods in front of our line, and we were exposed to a severe fire of the enemy in front, and upon the right of the regiment a flanking fire for about twenty minutes, and until a charge was made by the whole line, when we advanced, driving the enemy from their cover and pressing them for upward of half a mile. Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers having been wounded at the commencement of this charge, I assumed command and followed the enemy until they were completely routed, when, finding that my regiment had become detached from the center and in advance of it, I halted and reformed it, and moved by your order by the left flank until my left rested on the center, which had advanced on a line with the front of my regiment, which position I retained until withdrawn by your order. During the charge, Companies C and K, on my left, opened a severe fire on the enemy's battery in front of the center of our line of battle, killing the enemy's horses, which they attempted to replace with others, but were driven back, and their horses killed or disabled by the fire of my men. The number of my regiment engaged were 2 field, 3 staff, and 24 line officers, and 515 enlisted men.

The casualties of my regiment during the fight were: Lieutenant Colonel Rogers, wounded in the right arm severely; Captain Brookins, Company E, wounded in the side; Lieutenant Fowler, Company F, wounded in the right hand and shoulder; 13 enlisted men killed and 77 wounded; missing, none. A full report is herewith submitted. The enemy's loss must have been much greater in killed than ours, as there were not less than 20 of their dead in the space passed over by my regiment while charging through the timber. My regiment took at least 55 prisoners, and sent them to the rear.

Respectfully submitted.

G. A. CAMP,        

Major Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, Commanding Regiment.

Col. M. T. THOMAS,
        Eighth Minnesota Volunteers.

_______________

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS,        

Fortress Rosecrans, Tenn., December 8, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following list of killed and wounded in the Eighth Minnesota Volunteers in the engagement of yesterday.*

Respectfully submitted.

G. A. CAMP,        

Major Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, Commanding Regiment.

Col. M. T. THOMAS,
        Eighth Minnesota Volunteers.

_______________

*Nominal list (omitted) shows 13 men killed and 3 officers and 17 men wounded.

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. 623

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 213 — Report of Col. Minor T. Thomas, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, of operations December 4, 1864.

No. 213.

Report of Col. Minor T. Thomas, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, of operations December 4, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS,        

Fortress Rosecrans, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Eighth Minnesota Volunteers in the engagement at Overall's Creek on the evening of the 4th instant:

The first position was to the right, with the left resting near the brick house on the right of the pike road. I was then ordered to move by the right flank in the direction of the block-house on the railroad, following and supporting a line of skirmishers from the Sixty-first Illinois. When within fifty yards of the block-house halted and formed line of battle. The enemy in front were sharpshooters, posted in a wood and behind a rail fence, between the enemy's battery and a blockhouse. After remaining in this position for a short time, and being annoyed by the sharpshooters and shell from the enemy, I first moved down two companies to the right of the block-house, and, by opening fire, drove the sharpshooters from cover, and was in the act of opening on the battery when I discovered our cavalry charging through the intervening space, which compelled me to cease and move down the whole force. When in this position we were subjected to the fire of the battery for a few minutes, which was sharp and well directed. My orders permitting me to go no farther, I remained in this position until Ordered to retire, which was done, first to the first position on the field, and at 9 p.m. marched to the fortress.

The only casualties were Private Dominick Barney, Company H, wounded in the head severely (left at block-house); Private John Payne, slightly, Company A.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. T. THOMAS,        

Colonel Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, Commanding Regiment.

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. 622