No. 209
Reports of Maj. Gen. Robert H. Milroy, U.S. Army, of
operations December 4 and 7, 1864.
FORTRESS ROSECRANS,
Murfreesborough, Tenn, December 6, 1864.
GENERAL: In obedience to your orders I proceeded on the
afternoon of the 4th instant to the relief of the block-house at Overall's
Creek, four miles and a half north of this place, on the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad, which was besieged by a considerable rebel force with
artillery. I took with me, by your order, the Eighth Regiment Minnesota Veteran
Volunteer Infantry, Sixty-first Regiment Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry,
One hundred and seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and a section
of the Thirteenth New York Artillery, under Lieutenant McGurrin. I proceeded on
the Nashville pike to Overall's Creek, where I found the Thirteenth Indiana
Cavalry (Colonel Johnson), who preceded me some hours, engaged in skirmishing
with the enemy's sharpshooters, who were deployed across the creek. I threw
Lieutenant McGurrin, with his section of artillery, forward to the bluff of the
creek, who engaged the enemy's battery in gallant style, which was posted on an
eminence about 900 yards distant, on the opposite side of the creek, between
the railroad and the Nashville pike. I at once deployed the Sixty-first
Illinois as skirmishers, and sent up the Eighth Minnesota to the block-house at
the railroad crossing, about half a mile below the pike, with orders to cross
there, if practicable, and flank the rebel battery on the right. I then
advanced the skirmishers across the creek, most of them crossing the bridge
under a galling fire, and drove back the rebel sharpshooters. I then threw
forward the One hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Colonel
Jones), who crossed the bridge under a sharp fire, both of artillery and
small-arms, and formed in good order on the opposite bank. Being under the
impression that the forces opposing me consisted of a portion of Forrest's
cavalry, dismounted, I supposed that their three-gun battery operating against
us could be run over and taken by Colonel Johnson with his gallant regiment,
who were anxious to try the experiment. So, after the One hundred and seventy-fourth
Ohio had formed on the north bank of the creek, the ground being favorable for
a cavalry charge and the smoke of the battery and approaching darkness rendering
my movements invisible, I directed Colonel Johnson to cross the bridge, pass through
an opening in the line of the One hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio, charge the
battery and take it if possible. The colonel moved forward on the enemy in the
most splendid and impetuous style, but finding the battery strongly supported
by infantry he turned and passed off to the right. I then moved forward the One
hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio, which advanced with a terrific rolling fire
upon the enemy, capturing a number of prisoners who dared not to arise from the
ground to run away amid a sheet of lead. From these prisoners I learned that
the force confronting me consisted of General Bate's division of infantry.
It being now quite dark, and the enemy having been driven
back near eighty rods and ceased firing, and the Eighth Minnesota not having found
a crossing, I withdrew the One hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio with the
skirmishers of the Sixty-first Illinois to the south bank of the creek. These
regiments withdrew in the most perfect order, bringing off their dead, wounded,
and prisoners. The Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry also returned to the bridge and
crossed to the south side of the creek in good order. The evening being cold I
drew my force up in line on the south bank of the creek and kindled fires the
whole length, and waited till 9 p.m., when, not hearing of the enemy, I moved
back to the fortress.
The Eighth Minnesota, being a veteran regiment of long and
true service, would of course have done efficient service could they have found
a crossing at the block-house; the Sixty-first Illinois, being also a veteran
regiment and much reduced by long and hard service, well sustained their
reputation as veterans. But the One hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio being a new
full regiment, and for the first time under fire since its organization, I was
most agreeably surprised at the promptness, steadiness, and bravery they
evinced; no veterans could have behaved better in action, but this I discovered
(as I have in every other instance where I have found an efficient and reliable
regiment) is owing to the energy, bravery, and efficiency of its colonel.
My staff—Major Cravens. Captain Carson, Captain Wilkinson,
Lieutenant Worthington, and Lieutenant Frowe—well deserve and have my thanks
for the assistance rendered; also Capt. J. G. Mohler, of the One hundred and
fifteenth Regiment Ohio Veteran Infantry, who volunteered his services on the
field and rendered himself very useful to me. Major Cravens and Lieutenant
Worthington both had their horses shot under them. My thanks are also due
Surgeon (Major) Birney, who volunteered as medical director, and rendered very
valuable service in care of the wounded.
I captured 20 prisoners. My killed, wounded, and missing
amount to 64—the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry yet to hear from. I have no means
of knowing the loss of the enemy, who fell back five miles that night; some 8
or 10 dead were counted on the field.
Inclosed I send copies of reports received from regimental
commanders, giving names of killed, wounded, and missing.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most
obedient servant,
R. H. MILROY,
Major-General of Volunteers.
Maj. Gen. LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU,
Commanding District of Tennessee. _______________
FORTRESS ROSECRANS,
Murfreesborough, Tenn., December 10, 1864.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to
your order, I proceeded on the 7th instant to make a reconnaissance and feel
the enemy in the vicinity of this post. I took with me, by your direction,
seven regiments of infantry and a six-gun battery, under the command of Captain
Bundy, of the Thirteenth New York Artillery, and a small detachment of the
Fifth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry. The regiments consisted of the One hundred
and seventy-fourth, One hundred and seventy-seventh, One hundred and
seventy-eighth, and One hundred and eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,
and Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (dismounted). For convenience, I divided
these regiments into two brigades (pro tempore), as follows: First
Brigade, Colonel Thomas, of the Eighth Minnesota, commanding, consisted of a
six-gun battery, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, Sixty-first Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, One hundred and seventy-fourth and One hundred and
eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 1,973 strong. The Second Brigade
consisted of the One hundred and seventy-seventh, and One hundred and
seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry,
1,326 strong. Total strength of my infantry, artillery, and cavalry combined,
3,325. I started on the Salem pike about 10 a.m., and threw out the detachment
of the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry in advance, who struck the rebel vedette in less
than half a mile after passing our pickets. The rebel cavalry fell back rapidly
before my advance. I threw out a portion of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer
Infantry as skirmishers, to assist the cavalry in driving them. Upon arriving
at Stone's River, two miles out, a body of about 300 rebel cavalry were
discovered across the river. I brought up a section of Captain Bundy's battery
and shelled them a few minutes, when they retreated rapidly, and I crossed the
bridge and continued my march. Upon arriving at Mr. Spence's fine residence,
four miles out, I learned from his accomplished lady that there were two
brigades of rebel cavalry, under Generals Jackson and Armstrong, at Salem, a
mile farther out, and that Generals Forrest and Bate, with a large force of
infantry, artillery, and cavalry, were north of me, on the Wilkinson pike,
three miles from Fortress Rosecrans. I deemed it best to turn my attention in
that direction, but before doing so I detailed a company and sent them back
with a drove of sixty fine, fat hogs, belonging to Mr. Spence, that would have
fallen into the hands of the rebels if left. I proceeded north till within half
a mile of the Wilkinson pike. My skirmish line encountered that of the enemy,
and in a few minutes afterward they opened on me with much rapidity from a
six-gun battery stationed in the edge of a wood on the opposite side of a field
in my front. I at once ordered forward Captain Bundy's battery, which replied
in an equally spirited style. Having only taken along what artillery ammunition
that could be carried in the limbers of the guns, the shell and solid shot of
my supply was exhausted in about thirty minutes. Finding that the enemy would
not come across the field to attack me, and not being able to ascertain his
strength, and the left of his line, extending parallel with the Wilkinson pike,
was as near Fortress Rosecrans as my right, I deemed it prudent not to engage
them with my infantry without having the fortress in my rear, and accordingly
fell back through the forest until out of sight of the enemy, and then moved by
the right flank in a northeasterly direction until my lines were partly across
the Wilkinson pike, where I formed them to the front in two lines of battle,
Colonel Thomas' brigade forming the front line and Colonel Anderson's the
second line. The Sixty-first Illinois was deployed as skirmishers in front of
the first line. In this order I advanced upon the enemy, through the brush, cedars,
rocks, and logs, under a heavy fire of artillery. I had sent my artillery back
to the fortress for ammunition before commencing my last advance, and
consequently had no artillery to reply to that of the enemy. Skirmishing with
small-arms began very soon after commencing my advance, but my skirmish line
advanced rapidly, bravely, and in splendid order, considering the nature of the
ground, driving the rebels before them for about one mile, when coming to a
cotton-field I found the enemy strongly posted in a wood on the other side
behind a line of works constructed of rails and logs. The enemy's fire of
small-arms here became so strong that my skirmishers withdrew to the flanks of
my line of battle, opened on the enemy a terrible fire, while it still advanced
in good order to the middle of the field, when the line halted and the fire
from both sides was most furious and destructive for about ten minutes, when I
ordered an advance, and the front line moved forward into the edge of the wood,
where for a few minutes the roar and fire of musketry was like the thunder of a
volcano, and the line wavered as if moving against a hurricane. Fearing that my
front line would fall back, I ordered the One hundred and seventy-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry to move on the double-quick from the left of the front line,
and the balance of the rear line to advance to support and relieve the front
line; but before this could be fully executed the gallant regiments composing
the first line, seeing themselves supported, advanced with a yell and darted
over the enemy's works, capturing many prisoners and putting the enemy to a
hasty flight. A rapid pursuit of half a mile resulted in the capturing of many
more prisoners, one battle-flag, and two fine pieces of artillery (12-pounder
Napoleons), with their caissons. The ammunition of some of the regiments being
exhausted, I ordered them to halt and replenish from the ammunition wagon that
overtook us at that point.
While this was going on, I received your dispatch, general,
admonishing me of the report of a large rebel infantry force from the north,
and directing me to return to the fortress, if I could do so with safety. My
artillery, which I had sent back for ammunition, arrived at this time, and a
large body of the enemy's cavalry being in plain view I directed the artillery
to open on them rapidly for a few minutes, when they rapidly disappeared out of
sight.
I cannot speak too highly of the bravery exhibited by my
troops, especially by those in the front regiments, under the gallant Colonel
Thomas. Never did troops fight better for the time they were engaged. Every
officer and man performed his duty with the most unflinching bravery and
promptness. The conduct of the Second Brigade, under Colonel Anderson, also
deserves much praise; for, though the regiments of the brigade did not take
much part in the firing, yet their coolness and promptness in supporting the
first line added greatly to its confidence and morale, and did much to
discourage the enemy by the appearance of two lines of battle moving on them. I
regret deeply the death of the brave men killed, and added their lives to the
hundred of thousands of patriot heroes who have died for their country. Particularly
among the killed do I regret the death of Major Reed, of the One hundred and
seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who fell while gallantry leading on his
regiment to victory. The history of his services and adversities in the present
war is stranger than fiction.
My total loss in killed and wounded amounts (as per inclosed
reports) to 208, of whom 22 were killed. I have no means of arriving at a
knowledge of the loss of the enemy, but from the number of dead and wounded
observed on the field it must have been greater than mine. Among their dead on
the field were observed two lieutenant-colonels. We captured and brought in 197
prisoners, among whom 21 were commissioned officers. Forty-three different
regiments are represented by the prisoners. The enemy were commanded by
Generals Forrest and Bate, and about 5,000 strong.
I am much indebted to the gentlemen of my staff' for their
prompt, gallant, and efficient assistance throughout the day; and I avail
myself of this opportunity to tender to the major-general commanding the
District of Tennessee my most grateful acknowledgments for his kindness in
affording me the two late opportunities of wiping out to some extent the foul
and mortifying stigma of a most infamously unjust arrest, by which I have for
near eighteen months been thrown out of the ring of active, honorable, and
desirable service.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most
obedient servant,
R. H. MILROY,
Major-general.
Maj. Gen. L. H. ROUSSEAU,
Commanding District of Tennessee.
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. 615-9
