Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-02-26
Battle of Logan's Cross Roads
Official Report of Gen. Thomas.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, !
DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
1880 |

III carrying out the instructions ct the Cen
erai commanding this Department, contained
IN his communication of the 29th December,
l reached Logan's Cross Roads, about ten
miles north Of the intrenched camp of the
enemy on the Cumberland river, on the 18th
inst, with portion of the I'd and Sd brigades,
kinney's battery of light artillery, and a bat.
TALON of Wooltords cavalry. The 4th and
10th Kentucky, 18th Ohio, and 18th United
States Infantry being still in the rear, detain,
ed by the almost impossible condition Of the
roads, | determined TO halt at this point to
await their arrival, and to communicate with
Gen. Schoepf
nothing of Importance occurred from the
time of my arrival until the morning of the
18th, except a picket skrnish on the l7th.
The 4th Kentucky, the battalion Of Michigan
Engineers and W"stmore's battery, Joined Oh
the 18th. About half.past O'Clock on the
morning of the 10th the pickets from Wool
ford's cavalry encountered the enemy advan-
cling on our camp retired slowly and report
ed their advance to Col. NJ. q. Menson, COM
manding the I'd brigade.
lie Immediately formed his regiment, (the
10th Indanal and tooE position on the road
to await the attack, ordering the 4th Kentucky,
Col ,. >. Fry, to support him, and then in
formed me In person that the enemy W re ad
vancinG In force, and what disposition he bad
made to resist them. | directed him to Join
his brigade Immediately and hold the enemy
in check until | could order up the other
troops, which were ordered to form immed.
ately, and were marching to the field in ten
minutes afterwards.
The battalion of Michigan engineers and
company A, 38th Ohio, Capt. Greenwood,
were ordered to remain guard to the camp.
Upon my arrival the field soon after
wards, l found the 10th Indiana formed in
/ front of their encampment apparently await
ing orders, and ordered them forward TO the
support Of the 4th Kentucky, which was the
only entire regiment then engaged.
| l then rode forward myself to see the enc
my's position, so as to determine what dispo-
sltlon to make OF my troops as they arrived.
On reaching tbs position held by the 4th
Kentucky, 10th Indiana, and Woolfords cav
airy, at point where the roads fork leading
to Somerset, ! found the enemy advancing
through q corn field, and evidently cndeavcr-
ing to gain the left of the 4th Kentucky reg
lment, which was maintaining its position i'll
a most determined manner. | directed one
Of my aids to ride back and order up section
Of artillery, and the Tennessee brigade to ad
vance On the enemy's right, and sent orders
for Col McCeok t, advance with his two reg.
iments (the 9Th Ohio and I'd Minnesota to
the support of the 4th Kentucky and 10Th In
diana.
A section of Kinney's battery took posi-.
ton on the edge of the field to the left Of the
4th Kentucky, and opened an efficient FIRE on
q regiment of Alabamans, which was advan.
cling on the 4th Kentucky.
Soon afterwards the I'd Minnesota. Col. Ii.
P. Van Cleve, the Col reporting to me for
instructions, | directed him to take the posi-
ton of the 4th Kentucky and 10th Indiana,
which regiments were nearly out Of ammu-
milton. The 9th Ohio, under the immediate
command of Major Kemmerling, came into
position on the right Of the road at the same
time
Immediately after the regiments had gain
ed their positions the enemy orened a most
determined and CALLING fire, which was return
ed by our troops in the same spirit, and for
nearly half an hour the contest WAS maintain
ed on both sides in the most obstinate man.
ner. At this time the 10Th Kentucky, Col.
W. A. Hoskins and the Tennessee brigade,
reached the field to the left of the Minnesota
regiment, and ocened fire on the right flank
of the enemy, who then began to fall back.
The ID Minnesota kept up most calling fire
in 'front.' and the 9th Ohio charged on
the enemy on their right. with bayonets
fixed, turned their flank and drove thenl from
the field, the whole line giving way and re.
treating in the utmost disorder and confusion.
AS soon as the regiments could be formed
and refill their cartridge boxes, ordered the
whole force to advance. A few miles in the
rear of the battle field small force of caval-
ry was drawn up near the road, but few
shots from our artillery Ia section of StaD-
darts battery dispersed them, and none of
the enemy were seen again until we arrived
in front Of their intrenchments; as we ap-
preached, the division was deployed in line
of battle and steadily advanced to the sum-
NIT of the hill at Moulden's.
From this point directed their intrench-
ments to be cannonaded, which was done un-
til dark by STANDARD and Westmore's batter
les Kinney's battery was placed in position
on the extreme left at Russell's house, from
which point he was directed to fire on their
ferry TO deter them from attempting to cross.
On the following morning Capt. Netmore's
battery was ordered to RusselPs house, and
assisted with his Parrot guns in firing upon
the ferry.
Col. Manzon's brigade took position ON the
left near Kinney's battery, and every prepa
ration was made to assault their rintrenchments
on the following morning.
The l4th Ohio, Col. Stedman, and the 10th
Kentucky, Col. Harlan, having joined from
detached sci vice soon after the repulse of the
enemy, continued with their brigade in the
pursuit, although they could not get up in
time to join in the fight. Gen. Schoepf also
joined me on the evening of the 10Th with the
l7th. 3lst, and 3Sth Ohio. His entire brigade
entered with the other troops.
On reaching the intrenchments we found
that the enemy had abandoned everything
and retired during the night. Twelve pieces
of artillery with their caissons packed with
ammunition, one battery wagon and two for
ges, large amount of ammunition, large
number Of small arms mostly the old flint.