Do you have the list of privates, or where I can access the article? I had family in a couple of Companies in the 8th Tennessee, including the Mulberry Riflemen. I had no idea they wore Zouve caps.
Eighth Tennessee Infantry
Stone's River after battle report:
Report of Lieut. Col. John H. Anderson, Eighth Tennessee Infantry.
CAMP NEAR SHELBYVILLE, TENN.,
January 12, 1863.
GEN.: Below you will please find a report of the part taken by the
Eighth [Tennessee] Regt. in the late action before Murfreesborough:
On the morning of December 29, the regiment was ordered into line of
battle. We were placed in line of battle in an old field on the west side
of Stone' River, my left resting on the left of the Wilkinson turnpike
road, in which position we remained subjected during the time to heavy
cannonade of shells, which did but little or no harm, until Wednesday
morning, the 31st, at which time I received orders to hold my regiment
in readiness to move forward at a moment's notice to the support of
Brig.-Gen. Chalmers' brigade, which was in our front. At about
10 o'clock our brigade was ordered forward. The Eighth moved off
promptly at the command, under a very heavy cannonade of shot and
shell. When we had arrived at the position formerly occupied by
Gen. Chalmers' brigade, we were ordered to halt and lie down
behind the little fortification constructed by his brigade of logs and rails.
We remained in this position about twenty minutes under a perfect storm
of shot and shell, causing considerable mortality in my regiment. In this
position we lost 15 or 20 men killed and wounded. It soon became
apparent to every one that Chalmers' brigade was giving way, for it was
with great difficulty that I could keep his men from running over my
men; they came running back in squads and companies, and I am
satisfied that before we left this position that at least two-thirds of the
regiment that had formerly occupied the position we were in had
returned. We were then ordered forward to the charge, which was
responded to by the Eighth Regt. with a yell, the gallant Col.
Moore leading. We moved forward at a double-quick, under a perfect
hail of shot, shell, and grape, when we arrived at the burnt brick house.
The regiment
was thrown into some confusion, caused by the house and some picket
fence and a portion of Chalmers' men that had remained behind the
house, there being several fences and the house and a portion of
Chalmers' men that were in the way, causing some four of the
companies on the right of the regiment to pass around and through the
best way they could. At this juncture the enemy in our front opened a
terrible fire upon us with small-arms, at a distance of about 75 or 100
yards. Such a fire I do not suppose men were ever before subjected to.
At this point the colonel's horse fell, and I supposed that he himself was
either killed or wounded. Seeing the condition in which the regiment
was placed, with a powerful enemy in our front and on the right and
left-for at this time we were then in front of the balance of the brigade,
and the enemy were cross-firing me right a left-and seeing so many of
my men falling around me, I ordered them forward at a double-quick
with fixed bayonets. The gallant Eighth responded with a shout, and
leaped forward like men been on conquering or dying in the attempt.
When we had advanced about 50 or 60 yards, and were just entering the
woods in our front, the colonel came up with sword in hand. He was
not killed or wounded, as I expected; it was only his horse. He had just
reached the regiment again, and was urging them forward, when he fell,
dead, shot through the heart with a minie ball. The enemy in our front
contested stubbornly, and those on our right and left continued to pour
a deadly fire into us. The enemy's first line gave way before my men;
their second was brought forward, but could not stand the impetuosity
of our charge, and they gave way. At this point it was reported to me
that the enemy was trying to get away some artillery on my left. I
immediately changed direction to the left, and charged them and
captured their guns (three at one place), and went 50 yards below. We
captured one more by shooting down their horses and stopped the piece.
I also captured at this point about 400 prisoners belonging to the
artillery and infantry, and we killed Col. [George W.] Roberts, who
was commanding the brigade, as stated to me by the prisoners.
Through the bloody charge I lost many gallant officers and men killed
and wounded. The enemy in the woods in my front having come to a
halt, and pouring a galling fire into us, I ordered the men forward again
at a double-quick; they responded with a shout, and moved forward
upon the enemy. At this point I was joined by the colors and about 100
men of the Fifty-first Regiment, who came in on my left. I ordered
them forward with my men, which orders they obeyed promptly. We
charged the enemy in his position in the woods, under a perfect storm
of bullets, and drove him before us.
About this time I was joined by Col. Chester in person. We then
continued driving the enemy before us, when it was reported to me that
they were trying to flank me on my right. I then changed direction to
the right, and moved forward upon him, and struck his flank and rear,
in which position I halted and gave him a deadly fire, being too weak
in strength to close in behind him. About this time I heard a heavy fire
to right in front of the enemy, whose flank I was upon. I sent an officer
forward to see what it was, and, if it was our force, which I left
confident it was, to inform the commander of my position, that he might
not fire into me, and also to tell the commander to charge them at a
double-quick and drive them by me, that I might shoot them down,
which he did in gallant style; still, when he came up, it proved to be the
Nineteenth Tennessee Regt. I then formed on his left, and moved
forward to the point, driving the enemy before us. It was then reported
to me that the enemy was flanking me on my left. I immediately
changed direction to the left and moved upon him, when he gave way
and fled
through the old field in front of the woods occupied by us when we left
the other night, when we charged him to the old field through which he
fled. We halted in the edge of woods, and gave him a deadly fire as he
ran through the old field. The effect of that fire was apparent to every
one who visited that place, for the edge of the woods and the field for
200 or 300 yards was strewn with his dead and wounded. When we
were unmasked by his force, the enemy, from his batteries on the hill
in our front, opened upon us a perfect hail of grape and canister, when
I ordered the men back into the woods. I then fell back to the old house
in the rear of the woods, to gather together the remainder of the
regiment, that had somewhat scattered in the charge through the dense
woods, and to get a supply of ammunition. I remained there some time,
and gathered all the men that I could get up, in company with Col.'s
Carter and Chester, when we formed line on the right of Gen.
Stewart's brigade. The firing in our front being very heavy, we were
ordered forward, which order we obeyed promptly, and moved to the
front of the woods in front of the enemy, in the old field. In this
position we remained under a very heavy fire of artillery until night
closed this bloody and eventful day.
Perhaps it is necessary that I should be more explicit in my explanation
of my maneuvering in the woods. The reason why I had to change
direction so often was that I was not supported either on the right or
left. Our regiment drove the enemy in our front before this;
consequently, this force on the right and left remained in their position,
and when I had got in their rear it seemed as if they were flanking me;
but when I changed direction to the right; as you will see in the
foregoing report, I struck his flank and rear; and at that time the
Nineteenth Tennessee came to my support on the right again, when I
changed direction to the left. I then discovered that support had arrived
on my left, and was driving the enemy on my left. It was then that I
struck the enemy's flank on my left, when he was entering the old
field. This force on my left I did not ascertain who it was, but supposed
to be the Thirty-eighth Tennessee.
It was generally the case in battle that every regiment that passes a
battery claims to have taken it. In this case there can be no dispute, as
we shot down the horses attached to the guns, and captured the men
belonging to the guns. It is also claimed by my men that there were two
pieces more (in addition to the four that I have previously named)
captured by the right of the regiment, some 75 yards to the right,
making in all six pieces. These two additional pieces I did not see at the
time, as I was near the left of the regiment, but I did see them
afterward, and they must have been taken by my regiment, as it was the
only force in these woods, and those guns, from their position, [were]
covered by my regiment.
I can[not] close this report without saying a few words in regard to the
gallant Col. W. L. Moore, though he fell in that bloody charge. A
more gallant and noble spirit never lived or died for his country. Loved
and honored by his regiment, he fell gallantly battling for his country,
and his native soil drank his blood.
It would afford me great pleasure, and be but sheer justice, to speak at
length of the many noble spirits among the officers and men of my
regiment who gave their lives a sacrifice to their country and native
State on that memorable day, but the casualties of the regiment speak
more for those noble spirits than I could write in a volume.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. H. ANDERSON,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Eighth Tennessee.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XXXII.] THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN. PAGE 715-29
[Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]
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Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Col. John H. Anderson, Eighth Tennessee Infantry.
HDQRS. EIGHTH TENNESSEE REGT.,
WRIGHT'S BRIGADE, CHEATHAM'S DIVISION.
Camp near Chattanooga, October 3, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part
taken by the Eighth Regt. Tennessee Volunteers in the battle of
Chickamauga, September 19 and 20:
On the night of the 18th, my regiment bivouacked about 3 3/4
miles from battle-ground, and at daylight on the 19th I was
ordered to move forward and cross the Chickamauga River at
a ford in rear of Gen. Walker's division, which was then
engaging the enemy about 1 1/2 miles from the ford. After
crossing, were formed in line of battle in an old field on the
bank of the river, in which position we remained an hour and a
half, when we were again moved to the front by the right flank
to a position on an eminence about half a mile to the front, when
we were again formed into line, in which position we remained
but a short time, being annoyed to some extent by one of the
enemy's batteries in position near Lee and Gordon's Mills, about
1 mile to our left and front. We were then ordered forward to
engage the enemy on the left of Maj.-Gen. Walker's division,
who were hotly engaged by the enemy in heavy force, when we
moved forward at a double-quick a distance of about 1 mile over
a very broken and bushy ground to the immediate front of the
enemy when we were halted for a few moments in order to
correct our alignment. The correction being made, my command
moved upon the enemy, who was posted upon an eminence
protected by heavy timber and undergrowth, with two batteries
of artillery stationed in commanding positions to enable him to
give us a warm reception. I had not advanced far when the
enemy opened upon me with artillery and small-arms a heavy
fire. My men maintained perfect order and moved steadily to the
front to a position not exceeding 200 yards from the enemy,
when I received and order to halt, when I gave the order to open
fire, which order was promptly executed., with, as I suppose,
considerable effect upon the enemy, as he commenced giving
way in my front. The fire of the enemy at this time was very
severe, causing the regiment on my right (the Sixteenth
Tennessee, Col. Donnell) to retire some distance
to the rear to a position not so much exposed; and a
few moments after the Sixteenth retired the regiment on
my left (the Fifty-first Tennessee, Lieut.-Col. Hall) retired to the
rear, leaving both of my flanks exposed. I immediately
dispatched some three different officers to see Brig.-Gen. Wright
for orders, but they did not succeed in seeing him. Having no
orders, and believing it my duty to hold my position, if possible,
until ordered to the contrary, I maintained and held my position,
though subjected to a murderous fire from small-arms and
artillery, my men standing firmly to their posts and keeping up
a continuous fire upon the enemy, though with considerable loss
in my regiment. I then dispatched an officer to my left to
ascertain if there were any of our forces on my left. He returned
and reported that there was no support on my left at all, but that
the enemy was there in heavy force. There was a force of ours
some distance on my right hotly engaged with the enemy, and
seeing no immediate danger from my left, I thought it best to
hold my position as long as possible, in order to keep the enemy
from turning the left flank of our forces then engaging them on
my right, which I succeeded in doing. I held my position for
about two hours, when it was reported to me that the enemy in
heavy force was moving on my left flank, and had opened fire
on me from the left. I then gave the order to retire by the right
of companies to the rear, which order was executed slowly and
in perfect order to a position about 150 [yards] to the rear upon
an eminence, that I might better observe the movements of the
enemy and keep him from turning my left flank, in which
position I was joined by the Sixteenth Tennessee, colonel
Donnell, who moved forward and formed upon my left. In this
position I remained a short time, when i observed that the forces
on my right were being hotly pressed by the enemy, and still
having no orders, I moved by the right flank to their assistance,
but just before I reached them Received orders from Brig.-Gen.
Wright, through one of his staff officers, to move to the rear
about a mile and join the balance of the brigade and get a supply
of ammunition, which order I promptly obeyed. After being
supplied with ammunition I moved by the flank to the front with
the balance of brigade to a position in front of an old field,
opposite which the enemy was in position. It then being near
sundown, we were formed in line of battle and ordered to
bivouac for the night.
In this position we remained during the night and until about 12
m. the 20th, when we moved to the extreme right of our lines
and formed line in support of Maj.-Gen. Breckinridge's
command, who was then engaging the enemy's extreme left,
where we remained until about 5 p. m., when we were ordered
forward to charge the enemy in his fortifications on an eminence
near the Chattanooga road, which order was obeyed with a
deafening yell, and we moved forward at a double-quick step,
but before we reached them in their position they abandoned it
and fled in great panic and disorder.
The firing having ceased, the enemy having fled, and it being
then about 7 p. m., we were ordered to bivouac upon the ground
we then occupied, where we remained until the following
morning, 9 o'clock, when we were ordered to move on the
Chattanooga road about 1 1/2 miles, where we remained until 4
p. m., when we moved forward to our present position.
Although my command had been subjected to a great many
hardships and privations, heavy marching through heat and heavy
clouds of dust, and the mortification of again being compelled to
leave
their native State, their homes, and those near and dear to
them to a treacherous, insolent, and unprincipled foe, yet they
behaved and fought like true patriots and freemen who know
their rights and privileges and are willing to maintain them at all
hazards.
All honor to our brave dead and wounded who sleep and have
bedewed the battle-ground of Chickamauga with their blood for
the cause of freedom and the institutions of the South. May the
dead live in the memory of every true patriot, and the wounded
soon be healed to again join their brothers in arms and to
continue to battle until the last armed foe has been driven from
our homes.
I cannot close this report without saying a few words in honor of
the brave officers and men of my regiment. They behaved, with
but the fewest exceptions, in the most gallant manner,
maintaining their positions for about two hours under a terrific
fire of artillery and small-arms in the very face of a large and
overwhelming force of the enemy.
Of the field and staff I would mention Lieut.-Col. McKinney,
Maj. Burford, and Adjt. A. J. Murphy, who conducted
themselves in the most gallant and soldierly manner, directing
and encouraging the men at all times during the action.
I have to regret the loss of Adjutant Murphy, who was severely
wounded in the arm and shoulder; Capt. Bonds, severely in the
scrotum; Lieut. Flynt (I fear mortally) in the hip, and several
valuable officers and men of whom it would afford me great
pleasure to mention if the length of this report would permit.
Accompanying you will please find a report of the casualties* for
my regiment.
All of which are most respectfully submitted.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
JNo. H. ANDERSON,
Col., Comdg. Eighth Regt. Tennessee Volunteers.
Capt. LEON TROUSDALE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 122-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]
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