Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 11, 1864

Hot and dry.

Dispatches from secret agents at Washington state that Grant and his staff have arrived, that half his army preceded him, and the remainder will soon follow. The campaign is considered a disastrous failure, and it is anticipated that henceforth the scene of operations is to be transferred from Richmond to Washington. They say President Lincoln's face expresses "great terror," and affairs there are in a critical condition.

A dispatch from Gen. Lee states that Gen. Bradley Johnson's brigade of cavalry was surprised and routed on the 7th inst. by Averill. He has directed that Gen. J. be relieved.

A dispatch from Gen. Hood (Atlanta, Ga.) says no important change in affair has occurred since yesterday, except that Major-Gen. Bates is wounded. There are 5000 militia in the trenches.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 262-3

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 210 — Report of Col. Minor T. Thomas, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, commanding Independent Brigade, of operations December 7, 1864.

No. 210.

Report of Col. Minor T. Thomas, Eighth Minnesota Infantry,

commanding Independent Brigade, of operations December 7, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS INDEPENDENT BRIGADE,        

Fortress Rosecrans, Tenn, December 8, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the Independent Brigade in the engagement of the 7th instant on the Wilkinson pike, near Stone's River:

In moving round the fortress the enemy was first discovered in force about one mile left of the Wilkinson pike and two miles from the southwest corner of the fortress. Two sections of artillery, one of the Twelfth Ohio and one of the Thirteenth New York Batteries, were placed in position and engaged the enemy with spirit, and showed him to be well posted and in strong force. Having but a limited amount of artillery ammunition (fifty rounds per piece), the brigade was moved by the right flank until the Eighth Minnesota Regiment had crossed the Wilkinson pike, when it was formed in line of battle to the front, with its left resting on the pike, One hundred and eighty-first Ohio on the left of the pike, and One hundred and seventy-fourth Ohio on the left of it, the Sixty-first Illinois being deployed in front as skirmishers. An advance was immediately made of several hundred yards, when an interval appeared in the skirmish line. Two companies of the One hundred and eighty-first Ohio were thrown forward to strengthen it, and the line being corrected the brigade again advanced in double-quick time until the enemy's skirmishers were driven about one mile. This advance was made, forcing back a heavy line of skirmishers, and under a heavy fire of artillery, without much loss, until we had advanced to the center of an old cotton field, when we were confronted by the enemy in the timber beyond the field, well covered either by woods or rifle-pits. At this point the firing from both sides was furious and very destructive. After an incessant fire for ten or fifteen minutes, a charge was made by the whole line and the rifle-pits and woods cleared, the enemy leaving, probably, 100 dead and wounded, two 12-pounder Napoleon guns, and 197 prisoners in our hands. The enemy having disappeared, except a mounted force, which was driven pell-mell by our artillery (it having just returned from the fortress where it had gone to replenish its ammunition), the troops were withdrawn in as good order as if coming from an afternoon drill, and reached their quarters at 6 p.m. The fight was sharp and decisive, and the battleflags of our country floated again victoriously over the memorable field of Stone's River.

Inclosed please find reports of subordinate commanders, giving complete list of killed and wounded.

The conduct of the troops for steady, determined bravery, and rapidity of movement could not be excelled.

The enemy engaged consisted of Major-General Bate's division, with two brigades attached, and Forrest's cavalry, the whole force amounting to probably 4,500 men, with two batteries of artillery.

The Independent Brigade took into the fight 1,800 officers and men. Their total loss was 21 killed and 167 wounded.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. T. THOMAS,        

Colonel Eighth Minnesota Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.

Maj. JOHN O. CRAVENS,
        Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

Recapitulation of the killed and wounded in the following regiments and batteries composing the Independent Brigade in the engagement of the 7th instant:

Command.	Killed.		Wounded.		Number Engaged.
	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
61st Illinois Volunteer Infantry		1	2	12	13	174
8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry		13	3	74	29	520
181st Ohio Volunteer Infantry		1	1	32	25	540
174th Ohio Volunteer Infantry	1	5	3	35	20	555
13th New York Independent Battery				4	2	54
12th Ohio Battery				1	1	40
Total	1	20	9	158	90	1,883

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. 619-20