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Stone's River after battle report:
Reports of Maj. Charles F. Manderson, Nineteenth Ohio Infantry.
HDQRS. NINETEENTH REGT. OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Field, near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 6, 1863.
LIEUT.: I transmit you the following report of the participation
of the Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteers, U. S. Army (Charles F.
Manderson, major commanding), in the action in front of
Murfreesborough, on Wednesday December 31, 1862:
On the morning of that date the regiment was under arms in double
column, between the Murfreesborough turnpike and Chattanooga and
Nashville Railroad, being the right of the front line of the Third
Division, left wing. By order of Col. Samuel Beatty, commanding
First Brigade, after deploying column and loading, we moved by the
right flank to the left, crossing Stone's River at the ford, and forming
line (after throwing Companies A and K out as skirmishers), with the right
resting about 100 yards from the river, the Ninth Kentucky Volunteers,
which were first formed on our right, being moved to the left.
About 10 o'clock we were ordered to recall our skirmishers and recross
the river, which being done we moved by the right flank across the
open space between the railroad and pike, amid the greatest confusion
of retreating batteries, men, teams, and ambulances. At this point
Gen. Rousseau ordered the regiment to move across the turnpike, and
form line in the woods skirting the west of the pike. From this position
we were immediately ordered by Col. Beatty to march by the left
flank back to the railroad, and then by the right flank back to our
former position, in the last-named woods, under a fire by which we lost
several men.
This scene was one of disorder and panic. Regt. after regiment
swept through our lines in the greatest confusion; but through it all our
men preserved an unbroken front, and when the pursuing enemy came
within 75 or 100 yards, and our front was clear of the retreating and
broken columns, at the order to fire by file, poured most destructive
volleys into the foe, breaking his lines in disorder.
Gen. Rousseau, who was in the rear of the right of the regiment
cheering our men with his presence and words, then ordered a charge,
and our regiment with fixed bayonets, supported by the Ninth Kentucky
Volunteers on our left, and the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers in our
rear, drove the foe in splendid style for about one-fourth of a mile,
when, our ammunition running low, the front line wheeled into column,
and the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers passed through to the front.
The regiment, then forming the second line, in the rear of the
Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers, advanced for about three-fourths of
a mile to an open field, where we were separated from our front line
by a cedar thicket.
We were here but a few minutes when our right support gave way, and
left our regiment greatly exposed to a flanking fire. I sent word twice
to Col. Beatty that the enemy had flanked our position in great
force, but received no order. The regiment was suffering most terribly
from the fire, and, seeing the enemy within 50 yards of our right and
in position to destroy us, I ordered a change of front to the right and
rear. Our men, while executing the movement, were thrown into
temporary disorder by the scattered regiments on our right pouring
through the line, but gathered on the instant, formed an excellent line in
good position, and fired with such precision, that, with the aid of a
battery of artillery in our rear and left, we held the ground and drove
the foe from the open field in our front. Being now entirely out of
ammunition, an suffering loss from the fire of our own artillery, we
moved by the right flank into the woods, and formed line on the left of
the Second Brigade, Col. Fyffe commanding, the second battalion
of the Pioneer Corps supporting us on the left. We were here supplied
with ammunition by Capt. Wood assistant inspector-general, Third
Division, and threw out skirmishers, who met no enemy.
About 4 o'clock we were relieved by the First Brigade, First Division,
Col. Walker commanding; bivouacked where we were until
midnight, when we were ordered by Col. Beatty to report to him on
the left of the railroad.
Our loss in this action is as follows, viz: Killed, 1 officer and 11
enlisted men; total, 12. Wounded, 1 officer and 66 enlisted men; total,
67. Missing, 3 enlisted men. Total loss, 82 men. I subjoin as accurate
a list as it is possible at this time to gather.
My men behaved with the utmost bravery and coolness. Senior Capt.
Henry G. Stratton, of Company C, assisted as field officer. He was
severely wounded about noon. First Lieut. Daniel Donovan,
commanding Company B, fell, dead, in front of his company while
gallantly leading a charge. Orderly Sergt. Robert D. Wilson,
commanding Company D, was killed about the same time.
The cool, manly daring of these gallant officers cannot be spoken of
too highly. But the action of all of the Nineteenth Ohio was under the
directing eve of the colonel commanding the brigade and the generals
commanding, and to them I leave further comments.
Respectfully, yours,
CHARLES F. MANDERSON,
Maj., Comdg. Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Lieut. W. H. H. SHEETS,
A. A. A. G., First Brig., Third Div., Left Wing,
Fourteenth Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland.
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HDQRS. NINETEENTH REGT. OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
Field, near Murfreesborough, Tenn. January 6, 1863
LIEUT.: On Friday, January 2, the Nineteenth Ohio Volunteers,
U. S. Army, under my command, was formed, with the right resting
near the high bank on Stone's River, being held with the Ninth
Regt. Kentucky Volunteers, which joined us on the left, in reserve
of the Second and Third Brigades, Third Division, which position we
had assumed on Thursday, January 1, about noon.
Soon after 4 p.m. heavy firing on our front caused us to take arms and
stand in line. The firing had continued about fifteen minutes, when
Lieut. Murdock, aide-de-camp to Col. Beatty, commanding
Third Division, rode up to the front and left of the regiment and ordered
me to advance. Although the order, coming from that source, was
contrary to rule and custom, presuming the occasion to be an emergency
requiring such a deviation. I ordered the regiment forward in
double-quick time. We advanced up a gradual slope for about 200
yards, the lines in front of us pouring through our ranks in confusion;
but the men preserved an excellent front, and rushed upon the enemy.
In some parts of the line our pieces crossed those of the foe. His front
line received a check of some few minutes, and was thrown into
disorder; but a strong flanking party poured over the bank of the river,
and broke our right flank to the rear, file after file. Seeing this, and
that brave officers and many men of our right wing had fallen, I ordered
the left to fall back.
Col. B. C. Grider, commanding First Brigade, here rode up to me
from the left and front, and wished me to rally the men. I told him they
were falling back by order; that the enemy had flanked me in force,
and that I would form line at the foot of the hill. He said, "Do so;" and
stated he would give the same order to the Ninth Kentucky Volunteers,
on our left. The regiment rallied and formed line twice before the
overwhelming force of the enemy drove them across Stone's River. The
storm of missiles was terrific, and for a few moments no men could have
stood under it. The bank of the river presented a scene of indescribable
confusion. The colors of our regiment were seized by Second Lieut.
Philip Reefy, of Company F, who gallantly dashed forward across the
stream, followed by daring spirits of different regiments.
At the same time Col. Grider, bearing the colors of the Ninth
Kentucky Volunteers, crossed with another party, and these flags, with
two belonging to other regiments, rallied under their folds an
indiscriminate mass of men and officers of the Third Division, which,
supported by fresh troops that had been ordered to the conflict, drove
back, in terrible confusion the columns of the enemy, victorious but a
moment before. The colors of the Nineteenth Ohio and Ninth Kentucky
were placed on three pieces of the enemy's artillery, which were
captured and brought into our lines by squads composed of the different
regiments and brigades of the division. After this magnificent scene of
individual heroism, the different detachments of the regiment formed
on the same ground we occupied in the morning, and bivouacked that night.
Again we have the regret the loss of brave officers and men. Capt.
Urwin Bean, of Company E; First Lieut. Job D. Bell, commanding
Company C, and Sergt. Maj. Lyman Tylee were killed while gallantly
performing their duties. First Lieut. Aurora C. Keel, of Company
F, was severely wounded; Second Lieut. William A. Sutherland,
of Company H, slightly. Capt. William H. Allen, of Company F,
rendered most valuable and efficient aid as a field officer. All the line
officers vied with each other in deeds of courage.
I wish particularly to note the gallant bearing of First Lieut. Charles
Brewer, adjutant; Second Lieut. Albert Upson, commanding
Company K, and Sergt. Jason Hurd, commanding Company G. But all
have done their duty, and the unpleasant task is not mine to record any
acts of cowardice in the Nineteenth Ohio Regt.
I annex a list of killed, wounded, and missing.*
In this action we had killed 2 officers and 13 enlisted men; total killed,
15. Wounded, 2 officers and 56 enlisted men; total wounded, 58.
Missing (supposed prisoners), 31 enlisted men.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES F. MANDERSON,
Maj. Cmdg. Nineteenth Regt. Ohio Volunteers.
Lieut. W. H. H. SHEETS,
A. A. G., First Brig. Third Div., Left Wing,
Fourteenth Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 594-29 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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