SIR: In compliance
with orders received in communication dated headquarters, Murfreesborough,
December 5, 1864, I have the honor to report that, in accordance with verbal
orders received from Major-General Rousseau on the evening of December 3, 1864,
I took up the line of march with my command on the morning of December 4, 1864,
toward La Vergne, with the view of camping that night at that point. Upon
reaching a point some three miles distant from this place I met a detachment of
the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, which had been stationed at Overall's Creek,
retiring upon this point, being pursued by the enemy. I ordered the captain in
charge of the same to deploy his men as skirmishers on the left of the road, at
the same time throwing a company of my command on the right, and proceeded in
this manner one mile to the creek, the enemy's skirmishers falling back to the
opposite bank. A brisk skirmish was kept up, the creek intervening, the enemy
at the same time opening on us with three pieces of artillery. At this time I
addressed a communication to the general commanding, of which the following is
a copy:
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH INDIANA CAVALRY,
Overall's Creek, December 4, 1864.
Major-General
ROUSSEAU:
GENERAL:
I am holding the skirmish line at Overall's Creek. The enemy expose a line
double to mine; reported moving column on my right flank; have used three
pieces of artillery on me; also reported the same to be used on the
block-house. Slight loss; skirmishing rapid; await orders; artillery moving
toward their rear on the pike. Heavy artillery firing distinctly heard in the
direction of Nashville. I shall endeavor to cross the creek.
I
am, sir, your obedient servant,
G. M. L. JOHNSON,
Colonel Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry.
Shortly afterward
General Milroy came up with re-enforcements, his infantry relieving my skirmish
line, and I formed my regiment in column on the pike, at a distance of 400
yards from the bridge. Just before night-fall I received an order from General
Milroy, through Captain Carson, to charge across the bridge, which order I
obeyed. After gaining the opposite bank I turned the head of my column to the
right, and swung round the base of the hill, menacing the enemy's left flank,
which had the effect of causing the retiring of a large part of the enemy's
force. My pieces (Enfield rifles) being discharged and difficult to reload when
men are mounted, and the enemy having turned their artillery on me, I retired
my column to the creek under cover of the bank, and in doing so received a
slight fire from our own forces stationed in the block-house, they evidently in
the darkness mistaking us for the enemy. I immediately threw out skirmishers,
dismounted, and, reforming my line, made another dash around the former
position of their left flank and in rear of the hill on which their artillery
had been planted. The enemy having retired, I threw out outposts and withdrew
my command to this side Overall's Creek. I retired, in accordance with orders
from General Milroy, and arrived in camp at this place about 1 a.m. December 5,
1864.
Additional
skirmishes and reconnaissances have been had with the enemy on the 5th, 6th,
7th, and 9th of December, 1864. In these my command has captured about 20
prisoners, among whom were 1 major and 1 lieutenant.
Please find the list
of casualties appended.*
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Defenses Nashville and Chattanooga R. R.
* Shows 1 officer and 7 men killed and 34 men wounded.
