Head Qrs [?] Corps

Shelbyville Tenn. 11^th Jan 1863.

 

Major Roy

            Having acted under the orders of Lieut Gen'l Hardee, at the Battle before Murfreesboro' on the 31^st of Dec. 1862, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by My Division

My Division is composed of these Brigades

1^st        Brigade Commanded by Brig. Gen'^l M. D. Ector

            11^th Texas Reg. Com^d by Col. J.C. Burks

            14^th Texas Reg. Com^d by Col. J. A. Camp

            10^th Texas Reg. Com^d by Col. M. F. Locke

            15^th Texas Reg. Com^d by Col. J. A. Andrews

                   Captain J. A. Douglass Battery

2^d         Brigade Commanded by Brig. Gen^l Jas. E Rains

            29^th N.C. Reg. Com^d by Col. R. B. Vance

            11^th Tenn. Reg. Com^d by Col. G. W. Gordon

            3^rd Ga. Bat. Com^d by Lt Col. M. A. Stovall

            9^th Ga Bat. Com^d by Major J. S. Smith and

            Eufaula Lt. Ar'try Com^d by 1^st Lt. W. A. M^cDuffie

3^d         Brigade Commanded by Brig. Gen^l E M^cNair

            1^st Ark (M^a) Rifles Com^d by Col. R. W. Harper

            2^nd Ark (M^a) Rifles Com^d by Col. J. A. Williamson

            4^th Ark Regiment Com^d by Col. H. G. Bunn

            30^th Ark Reg. Com^d by Major J. J. Franklin

            4^th Ark Bat. Com^d by Major J. A. Ross and

            Captain J. S. Humphries Battery

 

My effective force being about (4000) Forty hundred men & Seventeen Guns.

 

My Command was located at Readyville Tenn 12 miles east of Murfreesboro'

 

At 12 oclk on the night of the 26^th Dec. I received orders from the General Commanding to move at once to Murfreesboro'. I arrived at 9 A.M. on the 27^th, this march being made / in a cold and drenching rain.

 

In obedience to orders my Division was posted near the Shelbyville Nashville Pike behind Stones River, as the reserve to the Army of Tenn. On the 29^th I moved my Division to our extreme left to fill an interval between Gen'l Polks left and the Triune Road.—Not finding an interval I posted my Command on the left of Triune Road in a lane at nearly right angles to said road and about (150) one hundred and fifty yards in advance of Lieut. Gen^l Polks advance line with Brig. Gen'^l M^cNairs Brigade in reserve—two Batteries in reserve—and one (Eufaula Lt. Ar't'y) near my centre—On the 30^th the enemy extended his lines to our left placing in position our several Batteries, and later in the day made a determined attack upon Robinsons Battery—placed on Gen^l Polks left. I directed the Eufaula Ba Lt Ar'ty to be posted so as to take the enemys line, and one Battery in flank. Brig Gen'^l Rains executed this order in person with considerable damage to the enemy. about this time another battery opened upon my front killing & wounding about thirty of my Command—principally from Brig. Gen'^l M^cNairs Brigade. Night closed this, almost a battle. During the night the enemy extended his lines covering my front. At the dawn of day in obedience to orders from Lieut Gen'^l Hardee I removed my reserve Brigade (M^cNairs) and placed it on my right, and moved upon the enemy in my front about six or eight hundred yards distant /

 

I will here state that Maj. Gen^l Cleburnes Division was placed in rear of my Command as a second line

 

The Triune road turned square to the left about (150) one hundred & fifty yards in front of Gen'^l Polks left and again square to the right about (400) four hundred yards from the first turn. An open field on my entire front, on the right of the field & in front of Gen'^l Polks front was a cedar brake As I advanced my right flank received a galling fire from this brake, as well as in my front from both Infantry and Artillery. My men advanced steadily, reserving their fire untill they were but a short distance from the enemys position—a volley was delivered and their position and batteries taken with the bayonet, leaving the ground covered with his dead and wounded, leaving also many prisoners in our hands, among them Brig Gen'^l Willick captured by Mr James Stone Vol. Aid to Gen'^l M^cNair, and another Officer representing himself as a Brig Gen'^l (name forgotten) captured by Gen'^l M^cNairs Orderly Vol. King. The enemy made several attempts to rally but failed—being closely pressed by my men, their defeat becomeing almost a rout. The enemy was pressed near a mile. The force of the enemy in my front prevented my throwing my left wing forward as soon as instructed by Lieut Gen'^l Hardee In the mean time the enemy pushed a force to my right and rear, close upon the battery captured on my right / Capt Douglass comeing with his battery came close upon this body of the enemy. discovering that the enemy supposed it to be a Federal battery he obliqued to the left, came into battery—not bearing on the enemy—They waving their flags at him. In an instant he turned his guns upon them and opened with canister. The surprise was complete and the enemy fell back in considerable disorder. About this time a heavy force was brought against my right flank. Gen^l M^cNair commanding the Brigade on my right discovered their movements & halted his Brigade I directed Gen'^l M^cNair to face his Brigade to the right & file it to the right to check this movement. The moment was critical. I sent the same order to Gen'^l Ector & Rains, which was promptly obeyed by them, leaving a strong body of the enemy in their front. Seeing Gen'^l Liddells Brigade in the rear I brought it forward and placed it on my right to cover this change of front. Gen'^l Liddell became at once engaged with a largely superior force, the enemy under shelter of a fence, Gen^l Liddell in an open field. He gallantly maintained his ground untill Gen'^l M^cNairs Brigade was placed on his left. Gen'^l M^cNair at once moved upon the enemy—pushing his right upon his centre and forcing him from his position for half a mile. The enemy was here posted behind a rail fence. again Gen'^l M^cNair advanced across an open field for near four hundred yards and drove them from their position, capturing all but two guns of their / Battery, one of those afterwards captured. Gen'^l Liddells Brigade cooperated in this action. The enemy was actively pursued for about three quarters of a mile, where the Division was halted and ammunition issued, forty rounds having been nearly expended. Brig. Gen^l M^cNair by his skill and energy defeated the enemy in this last action before I could bring Gen^ls Ector & Rains into action

 

Here Gen'^l M^cNair became exhausted, having left a sick bed to lead his Brigade. I sent him back to camp, Col R. W. Harper taking command of the Brigade. Capt Humphries Battery on my right engaged one of the enemys Batteries in flank & rear. This Battery was soon silenced or captured by our troops in its front. We were now near the Williamson Pike. The command was much exhausted, having forced the enemys left back several miles & three times defeated the forces sent to check our advance. I may here say that prisoners, except those of rank were turned to the rear, my Command being so small I could not dispense with a single man leaving them to be picked up by the Cavalry and those in rear. Notwithstanding the exhausted condition of my men, having received orders from Lt Gen'^l Hardee I prepared at once to advance, leaving Gen^l Liddells Brigade, having sent my ordnance train to furnish him with ammunition, he having requested me to do so. I moved Gen^l Rains Brigade from the left of my Division to the right being strongest & least cut up. He was directed to move some distance to the right so as to take in flank the Batteries posted by the / enemy near the Nashville Pike, at the same time that Gen^ls Ector and M^cNair took them in the front. Gen'^l Rains met with a determined resistance but succeeded in forcing the enemy from the woods into the fields that lay south of their position of the Nashville Pike, Ector & M^cNair moving in a northeasterly direction Gen'^l Rains moving nearly due north. I soon discovered that my left would become engaged before my right could cooperate. I sent to correct my line, directing the men to be placed under cover & hold their ground. But before the order reached the command Gen'^l Ector came under a galling fire from infantry sheltered in a cedar brake and artillery. Gen^l Ector charged them forcing their first line of infantry beyond the second, and the cannoners from their guns in his front

 

I directed Col. Harper (Com'ding M^cNairs Brigade) to charge the batteries in his front with a like result. These two Brigades were coolly forming into their second line of infantry, not sixty yards distant, notwithstanding they were enfiladed by a terrible fire from three batteries on our right. Every moment I expected to see Gen^l Rains take these batteries. I was doomed to disappointment. I was informed that Gen'^l Rains fell, shot through the heart at the moment the enemy was routed. The fall of this gallant Officer and accomplished gentleman threw his Brigade into confusion. Also about this time Gen'^l Cheatham gave some orders to a part of the Brigade that tended to change their direction to the front /

 

I now directed Gen'^l Ector and Col Harper to fall back under cover, which was accomplished without demoralization or molestation from the enemy. as these Brigades fell back Gen'^l Liddell was met in the edge of the woods haveing received his ammunition I directed them to form on his right. Capt Humphries during this last contest passed through an interval in our lines and engaged the batteries on the hill on his right. The enemy turned sixteen guns upon him, but he gallantly maintained the fight untill my command was under cover. Four of his guns were disabled and sent to rear. One Regiment of Gen'^l Rains Brigade received orders to advance from Lieut. Gen'^l Hardee and was again in action.

 

My Division had now been under fire from five to eight hours—although exhausted, the men were in good spirits. By direction of Lieut Gen'^l Hardee was the Division was moved to the right connecting with Lieut. Gen'^l Polks left. Here the Division remained on the defensive, at times skirmishing with the enemy and being shelled by their batteries untill the night of the second of January 1863, When I was placed in reserve between the Nashville and Lebanon pikes. Here I remained untill one o'clock A.M. on the 4^th when in obedience to orders from Lt Gen'^l Polk I moved to this place. During these operations one section of the Eufaula Lt Artillery was detached with Gen^l Buford. /

 

Captain Hardeys Company of Cavalry acting as my escort was thrown out to connect my left with Gen'^l Wharton, where he suffered severely. Among the many incidents of this severe and protracted struggle, I would mention the following. Col J. C. Burks com'ding the 11^th Texas Regt though mortally wounded continued to lead his Reg. untill exhausted. Col. Burks was a gallant soldier and idolized by his command. In the words of his brigade Commander, "A better friend, A warmer heart A more gallant leader than he was, never drew the breath of life" Sergt A. Sims flag bearer of the 10^th Texas (Col Locke) seeing in one of the charges a Federal flag bearer with his flag waving his Regiment forward sprang forward & seized the Federal flag when both fell dead, waving their banners with their last breath. The Federal flag was captured. Sergt Jas T. M^cGee the only man left of the color guard seized our color but for a moment, when "another of our noblest & bravest men fell to rise no more". Private Manny of Co H. then seized the flag & bore it aloft the balance of the day. Private Clark Jenkins of Co. D. 1^st Ark Rifles seeing a Federal Officer making great exertions to rally his command detached himself from his company taking deliberate aim shot him from his horse. The saddle had the saddle cloth of a General Officer. Private Jas. W Clark Co G. carried the flag of the 15^th Texas Regt. on the 31^st Dec in the first charge during which time he was killed the colors / were then taken by Lieut. L DeBoard of Co F who bore them during the balance of the engagement. In the first charge in the morning Sergt J R Terry color bearer of the 14^th Ark Bat had his arm paralized by a shot striking the staff & the flag fell to the ground. Sergt J C Davis of Co. A. immediately snatched the colors and bore them untill reclaimed by Sergt Terry. Ensign W. C. Hamblin 2^d Reg. Ark Rifles color bearer to the Reg. gallantly bore his flag untill shot down. The colors were immediately seized by Corporal J. W. Piles of the color guard who bore them gallantly the remainder of the day. The color bearer J B Bryant of the 4^th Ark Reg. was wounded Lieut. Armstrong then took the colors and fell mortally wounded Lieut Goodwin then took them but was soon wounded, Captain Lavender bore the colors the remainder of the day. In one of the charges of the 30^th Ark Reg. it had seven company Commanders were cut down and the color bearer, yet the men never wavered. later in the day a second color bearer was wounded & the colors lost in a cedar brake, but whether found by the enemy or not is not known The only field Officer Maj. Franklin and several Lieutenants also fell, and yet this Regiment maintained its organization Several color bearers fell in Gen'^l M^cNairs Brigade & three in Gen'^l Ectors. Col G. W. Gordon 11^th Tenn Reg. fell dangerously / wounded while most gallantly leading his Regiment. I was informed by prisoners that the Federal General Sill was killed by my Division while endeavoring to rally his defeated troops

 

My Division moved so rapidly and was so constantly engaged that the guns captured were never counted. I am satisfied that at least twenty three, besides caissons forges and other ordnance stores. The Division passed untouched waggons knapsacks &c Brig Gen'^ls Ector & M^cNair & Col R W Harper (Comding 3^d Brigade (M^cNairs) in the latter part of the day) exhibited cool and dauntless as well as skill in the handling of their Commands.

 

I cannot speak in too high terms of the Regimental & Company Officers all bore themselves gallantly & nobly. To the uncommissioned officers & soldiers of my Division I owe a debt of gratitude. I did not see a single plunderer, nor a single stragler up to the attack on the enemys position on the Nashville Road every man seemed inspired. To my Staff on the field I am under many obligations for the efficient manner in which they performed their respective duties, viz

Major H. S. Bradford A.A.Gen'^l & Chief of Staff

Major G. A. Henry J^r Insp. Gen'^l

Major Bal. Barrow A.A.Gen'^l

Capt F. S. DeWolf A.A.Gen'^l

1^st Lieut. B. N. Mathews A. Insp Gen'^l /

1^st Lieut H. S. Foote J^r Aid-de-Camp

Lieut E. M. Ross A. Aid-de-Camp

Mr R. W. M^cClure Vol. Aid

Capt George W Mathews Chief of Artillery

Capt J. D. Allison Ordnance Officer performed his duty well, not only supplying ammunition to my Division but to others

Lieut Col.W^m E Dyer act. PM. to Smiths Corps in the field

Maj. M Cheatham A.Q.M. & Capt C W Kennedy A.V.M have my thanks for the efficient manner in which they performed duties assigned to them. Maj. P. T. Glass Div.Com. and Maj. J Bronson Smith A.C.S. rendered good service in their department in supplying the command in the field and in the Hospitals, Div. Surg. Gus B. Thornton was untyring in his labors with the wounded. He is entitled to the thanks of the command

 

On several occasions Lieut. D. C. Chamberlain of my escort Company carried my orders on the field to my satisfaction. My two orderlies W^m T Brabson and W Forbes bore themselves with great courage & were useful to me in many ways. Mr Armstrong of Knoxville behaved with great gallantry.

 

To Brig Gen'^l Liddell com'ding Brigade in Cleburnes Div. I am under many obligations He came into action at my request at a critical moment, gallantly maintaining the fight untill I could change my front, and bring my troops into action. 

 

This was the only active support that I am aware of receiving, untill I was forced to abandon the purpose of establishing myself on the Nashville pike

I feel grateful to Lieut Gen'^l Hardee for the consideration he exhibited for my weary and exhausted command, as well as for the confidence (as exhibited by him in sharing our fortunes at one time in rear of the Federal Army) reposed in them

 

It is with price & pleasure I record the gallant bearing of my Division, but it is with a sad heart that I record the roll of the gallant dead & wounded.

 

Col R. B. Vance succeeded to the command of Rains Brigade, Col Vance bore himself gallantly. After the fall of Gen'^l Rains his staff on the field reported to me. Their bearing at all times when under my observation was very gallant. They are as follows

Capt F. R. Smith Insp. Gen'^l

1^st Lieut T. D. Thompson Aid-de-Camp

Capt C. A. Nicholds Vol. Aid-de-Camp

            I send enclosed the reports of my subordinate commanders and a list of killed and wounded, which please append to this report

                                                                                   

Yours &c

(signed)           J. P. M^cCown

Maj. Gen^l

 

Official "Copy"                                                                                   

            H. S. Bradford

                        A.A.G.

SOURCES