The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-30
Colonel starkweather's Report Of the
Twenty eighth Brigade.
HeAporkRrsHs 2sru BRIsaDn. Do DIvrssoS)
o. BkTrLEFHLD CuArLiy B4aEH,
ftatal.oe n 1870

ocicscr Ia, 1859
CAPT. JfcDopcH, A. \. a. O., Third Divisioa:
Sir have the honor 70 report that
the 28tk brigade, composed Of the 10Th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Oath Illinois
Volunteers, 1st and Dist Wisconsin Vol
unteer Infantry, commanded respectively
by Col. II. A. Hambright, Capt August
Maui, (Colouel MihalotzSy being absent
sick), Lieut. Colonel George B. Bingham,
and Colonel Benjamin j. Sweet; LIST
Kentucky Artillery, Capt D. G. Stone,
and 9TH Indiana Artillery, Capt. A. r.
Bush, left Maxville under orders on the
6th inst--the 21st Wisconsin marching
in the rear as guard % the division ann
muRilion train, (the nth Kentucky Vol
unteer Infantry, Col John H. McHenry,
having been sent TO Springfield as guard
TO the division supply train,) and arrived
on the field of battle at about 3 o'clock
p. NJ, having marched twelve miles, about
three miles thereof being through fields,
woods, sc. Finding the troops already
engaged well on the right centre and
left, and thinking the extreme position
the most accessible, and, from appear
ances, one that should be held at all haZ-
ards, placed my command in position,
facing the enemy right (countermarching
portion of my brigade for such purpose
the oath Ill. and 18th Pennsylvania form
ing the right wing, to be supported by
the 1st Wisconsin, and 2lst Wisconsin,
when the last acknowledgement should
arrive, and holding my two batteries to
act as the disposition of Che enemy might
require. General DOnesOn's brigade
at this moment engaged the Gath Illinois
and 10Th Pennsylvania on the right, but
were driven from the field after desper-
ate fighting. While this engagement
was progressing, placed, by your order,
Bush's battery on the extreme left,
stones battery on its right, the lst Wis
consin %, the rear of Bush TO support
him, and The 2lst Wisconsin, which had
arrived excepting two companies acting
as llankers TO the ammunition train, TO
the front Of the two batteries, in a
cornlield at the foot Of the hill, upon
which artillery was placed, forming it
ut once in line of battle. This DISPOSE
ton OF my forces was hardly completed
before General Manning's brigade attack.
ed me in front, assisted by a battery;
and General DOnelson's brigade, again
attacked me on the extreme right, the
enemy at the same time placing a bat
terry on my extreme. left, upon we'll
chosen position to flank me. The flank
movement on the left was prevented by
Stones battery Smelling tho position
chosen, and Donelson's brigade was again
forced TO retire by the well directed
and continuous fire of the oath Illinois
and 18th Pennsylvania. then ordered
the Twenty first Wisconsin to fire and
charge to the front, but being new
regiment and their Colonel being
severely wounded and their Major killed
at about The time such order was given,
no field officer was left 10 carry the COM
mand into execution, although several
companies, hearing the order, attempted
to obey it, but being sorely pressed by
the brigade and battery in front, il re-
tired in some disorder and confusion.
| Immediately advanced the lst Wiscon-
sin 20 the trout, supported by an oblique
fire from the 10Th and with canister from
my artillery, and held such position until
many of the artillery horses were killed,
the balance became unmanageablc, Great
ing such confusion that proper discharges
could not be continued. Regiments on
my right at this time were retiring, and
being unable to obtain any support from
them, / ordered the 18th, oath, and LIST to
hold their position while Stones battery
Of four guns and Bushs battery of two
(all thai were manageable were retired
to new and safe position. The retire.
ment was made in good order, and the
fire from the artillery again opened. A
part of the 1st Winconsin then charged
TO the front, capturing the colors of the
LIST Tennessee. The fire from the 10Th
and Oath held the enemy in check while
the balance of the lst Winconsin took by
hand every remaining gun and caisson
from the field. The enemy by this time
was completely routed. The firing
ceased on our front and flank, and the
regiments were retired to the support of
their new position, which was occupied
until twelve O'Clock, when a change was
made by your order.
MY loss in officers and men was terrible
indeed. Where all did so nobly and
well, one cannot be mentioned without
doing injustice 10 others; but / must ac-
knowledge the great service rendered me
by my staff officers, Leuts Franklin,
Searles and Bingham, in carrying orders
20 and fro in the midst of the terrible fire
surrounding them.
Trusting that the brigade will receive
at your hands the proper mention which
it deserves for its bravery, good conduct,
and magnificent fighting, ] subscribe
myself yours TO command
JOHN @. STARKWEATHER,
Col lst Wis, Commanding 28th Brigade.
NghBlB of uEN rNGACED ~ nArTLE VIM to-sls,
=