Shiloh after battle report:
Report of Maj. Stephen D. Carpenter, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry.
PITTSBURG BATTLE-FIELD, April 10, 1862.
SIR: I herewith make the following statement of facts connected with the
operations of my battalion during the engagement on Monday, the 7th
instant, which to me appears proper to bring to your notice:
In the afternoon, while the right of your brigade was engaged with the
enemy, Lieut. Andrews, of my regiment, observed to me the
enemy's flag, behind which were forming his columns doubled upon the
center. Having been confirmed in my mind that this was the flag of the
enemy, behind which his force were forming for the purpose of taking
our left directly in flank, I immediately changed my front forward on
the left company, and sent my adjutant, Lieut. Snyder, you ask you
for the support of the left of your brigade. You immediately ordered up
the Sixth Indiana, Col. Crittenden, in support, when instantly, as you
will doubtless recollect, we were engaged hotly by the enemy in front,
and after hard fighting, in which our own and the enemy's forces nearly
came together, he finally gave way and fled.
One more incident I will also state, which occurred a short time after
this: While resisting another attack of the enemy in our front and in
pursuit my battalion moved over and took the ground and a battery of
the enemy, which I presume had been taken from our forces the day
before. This battery consisted of a 24 and a 12 pounder howitzer,
which, after examination, and finding them spiked, we left on the
ground. For particulars in reference to these forces taken by my
battalion Capt. Gilman, on duty with Gen. Buell's staff, can give
information. I will only add that during the entire day, from 9 a. m. till
4 p. m., during most of the time under fire, my officers, without an
exception, also the men of the command with but a very few exceptions,
did their duty with a determination and zeal that in my opinion cannot
be excelled.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. D. CARPENTER,
Maj., Nineteenth Infantry, Cmdg. Battalion.
ADJUTANT-GEN.,
Fourth Brigade, Second Division.
P. S.--The list of killed and wounded of my battalion of five companies,
amounting to 5 killed and 2 officers and 30 rank and file wounded, has
been handed in to the adjutant-general of our brigade. During the day,
with the exception of half an hour, from 3.30 to 4 p. m., my battalion
occupied a position on the left of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth United
States Infantry, during which half hour we were hotly engaged
supporting one of our batteries. The assistant surgeon attached to my
battalion, H. C. Parry, was present at the first engagement in the
morning. At this time I called his attention to a soldier who had been
wounded. After this I saw him no more upon the battle-field during the
day, and the wounded of the regiment were sent to the rear by the
officers of the regiment.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
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Stone's River after battle report:
Report of Capt. James B. Mulligan, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry.
HDQRS. FIRST BATTALION NINETEENTH U. S. INFANTRY,
Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 8, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to report that six companies of the First Battalion
of the Nineteenth Regt. U. S. Infantry, under command of Maj.
S. D. Carpenter, with the regular brigade, under command of
Lieut. Col. O. L. Shepherd, Eighteenth Infantry, were ordered to the
front, and entered into action of the morning of December 31, 1862,
before Murfreesborough, at 9.30 a.m.
The battalion was ordered by the brigade commander to take its position
in the brigade on the left of the Eighteenth Infantry, supporting the left
of Guenther's battery (H), Fifth Artillery.
About 10 a.m. the brigade, with the battery, was ordered into the cedars
to assistance of Negley's division; but, after finding there was no
possibility of securing a position, the battalion, in company with the
battery, retired from the cedars in excellent order, under a most
destructive fire.
After taking our position on the hill near the railroad, we were again,
about 12 m., ordered, with the remainder of the brigade, to advance in
line of battle into the cedars. We there engaged an overwhelming force
of the enemy for full twenty minutes. It was as we received the order
to retire that Maj. Carpenter fell, receiving six mortal wounds, dying
instantly. The fire from the enemy at this time was terrific. Our men
were falling on all sides.
At this point the command of the battalion devolved upon myself, being
the senior officer present. We fell back, in pursuance of orders, to the
support of Guenther's battery, which had taken its position on the hill
near the railroad, which position we maintained throughout the day.
The next day, January 1, 1863, at daybreak, we were ordered, with the
brigade and battery, to the right, to assist McCook's corps, where we
remained in position until after midday, when we were ordered to
proceed up the Murfreesborough pike, in the direction of Nashville, to
Stewart's Creek, to protect a provision train which was threatened by
the enemy. After proceeding about 4 miles up the road, we were
ordered to the right-about, and double-quick to the center of the line of
battle.
On January 2, at daybreak, we took our position on the hill by the
railroad, in front of the cedars, which we held during the day and
throughout the night.
The next day, the 3d, we commenced intrenching the front and center,
under cover of our skirmishers, and that night our breastworks, being
completed, were occupied and held by us until after the enemy had left
our front, which fact was reported by me to the colonel commanding the
brigade shortly after sunrise on the 4th instant.
The battalion lost 1 commissioned officer killed (the major
commanding); enlisted men, 6 killed, 55 wounded, and 7 missing. The
greater part of the latter known to be in the hands of the enemy.
Twenty-two of the enemy fell, on the 31st, into our hands, and were
turned over to an escort of cavalry, by order by Lieut. H. Millard
of Gen. Rousseau's staff, by Lieut. Stansbury.
The following officers participated: First Lieut.'s Andrews,
Stansbury, and Jones; Second Lieut.'s Wagoner, Lowe, Curtis,
Miller, Johnson, and Carpenter.
The conduct of the officers and men throughout the five days' battle was
excellent, the battalion taking part and sharing with the brigade in all its
hardships, deprivations, and arduous duties in its movements over the
entire field, at one time supporting the right of Gen. McCook's
corps, at another assisting Gen. Crittenden's, and on the last day and
night entrenching and holding the center of our own division.
I take pleasure in mentioning the energy and efficiency displayed by Dr.
Henderson, of this battalion, and Dr. Lindsly, of the Eighteenth
Infantry, acting brigade surgeon, in the care and treatment of our
wounded, all of whom, I am credibly informed, are well cared for and
in comfortable hospitals.
I enclose herewith a consolidated list of the killed, wounded, and missing
of the battalion during the five days' battle; also copies of the reports,
from the commandant of companies, of casualties,* &c.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES B. MULLIGAN,
Capt. Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, Cmdg. First Battalion.
Lieut. ROBERT SUTHERLAND,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Brigade of Regulars.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 406-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII.
[Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]
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