Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-31

Otieiaf Report Of the Part Taken ga The Battle
near Somerset By the Indiana llth-Complete
Last Of The Killed and Wounded Of the IOd
Indiana
CANf OPPosITE MIL SrnrScs.
Wayne Co, KY, Jan. %, 90
Colonel N. ID. MonsOn. Commander % Bsiqads.
LIST Dirision, Dspartmenf Ohio:
SIN: have the honor to report to YOU the part
taken by the 10Th Indiana reg ment OF volunteers
under my command. in the battle fought on the
18th inst, az iogan's farm. Pulaski county. Ken
lucky.
On the evening OF the 18th inst In accordance
with your order. ! sent out as pickets cOmpanies
h aud i. Captains Shorter aud Perkins. and had
them posted ON the road leading 10 the iortifica
tons OF the enemy on Cumberland river distance
about twelve miles Major A. o. Miller. who
posted the pickets, stationed Company one mile
from our camp, and Company X three hundred
yards beyond. The latter company received in
structions to fall back to Captain Perkins if at
tackled
At about half past o'clock on the morning of
the 18th inst, courier came to quarters with
information that the enemy was advancing upon
our camp, and almost Immediately afterward the
firing OF our pickets heard. The long roll
quickly brought the lOtl regiment into ranks.
and gave orders TO Maj Miller to 90 forward with
Company A, Captain Hamilton, to the support of
the picket companies. which order was promptly
executed.
soon proceeded, by your order, with the re-
naming seven companies of my regiment. down
the road in the direction of the picket firing.
When got within seventy FIVE wards of these
companies there holly engaged, I formed the
regiment in line OF battle and rapidly disposed it
for fighting. Five companies extended through
the woods on the right of the road and the re-
naming companies on the lett. regiment of
rebels we're advancing j. line OF battle, and their
reasonable colors Haunting in the
breeze. Having selected as good position as
practicable, took a stand and ordered the regi-
ment To FIRE, which order was instantly obeyed.
The firing continued without cessation for more
than hour. during which time we engaged three
of the enemy's regiments. and held them at bay
The battle was at its hottest, and our ranks were
gradually becoming thinned and mutilated. when
perceived a regiment of rebel cavalry attemp-
ting to flank me on the right, and an infantry
regiment the left. commanded Captain
Gregory's company to take position to meet the
cavalry on the right, which il did, and opened a
Calling fire upon them; but they were fast closing
in upon US, and saw myself completely outfank-
ed on the right. and that re-inforcements3 must
come to my relief or would be compelled
20 fall back. was eventually forced to order
nv right wing TO retire, when Just as nv order
was being executed, the 4th Kentucky regiment,
commanded by Colonel Fry, came up and took
position on the left of my left wing. and opened
q deadly fire on the ranks of the enemy.
now rallied the right wing the men, with the
exception Of those who had been detailed to carry
of the dead and wounded. quietly taking their
places in the line. Just at this time heavy
force appeared to be advancing on the extreme
left of the 4th Kentucky regiment and portion
of Colonel McCook's brigade, which mad arrived,
engaging the enemy on my right, L was os3ered
by General Thomas to the extreme left of the
4tb Kentucky regiment. moved the regiment
through the brush and over logs 20 the place
designated, and coming to fence parallel with
my line, we holly engaged the enemy, and alter
hard struggle Of half an hours duration. drove
him before Us and put him to fight with great
loss. A part of my left wing still engaged on
the right of the 4th Kentucky, against great odds,
being stron yly opposed. was again ordered by
General Thomas to their support. ] forthwith
obeyed this command, and in doing brought
my right wing upon the identical ground it had
been forced TO abandon during the earlier part OF
the engagement. l then moved forward the
whole right wing and two companies of the left
and soon got into fierce contest with enemy in
front. The whole regiment from right to left
was now warmly engaged, and slowly but surely
driving the enemy before them when ordered a
"charge bayonets" which was promptly executed
along the whole line We soon drove the enemy
an open field two hundred yards from where
ordered the charge. When arrived at the
fence in our 'front.' many of the enemy were found
lingering in the corners, and were bayoneted by
my men between the rails.
pressed onward, and soon beheld with salts.
faction, that the enemy were moving in retreat
across the field; but suddenly saw them halt in
the southeast corner of the field, on piece oil
high ground where they received considerable
las nd Of
fort to repulse our troops In the meantime the
gallant Colonel McCook with his invincble 9Th
Ohio regiment, came TO our support, and for
twenty thirty minutes terrific struggle en-
sued between the opposing forces. | never in all
nv military career saw harder fight. Finally
the enemy began to wsyer and give back before
the shower of lead and glitterng steel brought To
bear on his shattered ranks, and he commenced
a preciptate retreat under storm Of bullets from
our advancing forces until his retreat became a
perfect rout. | ordered enough men TO be left to
attend to our dead and wounded. and receiving a
new supply of cartridges, (the most of our boxes
being entirely empty the men rehlled Their
boxes and. according TO your order | put the
regiment in motion after the retreating enemy
Pursuing them the same evening distance OF
ten miles, We arrived near the enemy's fortfcsG
tons at this place The way by which the enemy
had retreated gave evidence that thew had been in
haste to reach their den, Wagons. cannon. mus
kets swords, blankets etc, etc, were strewn AL
along the roads from the battle field to within a
mile of this place. where halted the regiment.
and the men slept on their arms in the open
field.
The men at this time were powder beSmeared
tired, and hungry, having had nothing to ea'
since the previous night. On the following
morning, the 20th inst. after artillery had
sheled the enemy's works, by your order
moved my regiment to his breastworks and into
his deserted intrenchments, where have since
remained.
IL NAV be interesting TO state here that our
recimental colors. which were those presented by
the ladies of Lafayette. and borne in triumph at
the battle of Rich Mountain. completely
torn into shreds BY the bullets OF the enemy.
have had its scattered fragments gathered, and
intend preserving them Three stand of rebel
colors were captured by my regiment
cannot speak in terms OF sufficient praise OF
the noble aud gallant conduct .. some OF the
officers Of my regiment They did Their DUTY
and fought like true veterans. Major A y. NIL
Ter Mas wherever duty called him, anu IN the
thickest of the fight cheering on the men Act
ing AaJutant W f. Ludlow did his whole duty
and rendered me valuable assistance during the
day. Assistant Surgeon C 5. Perkins, and the
Rev. DE- Dougherfy Chaplain of the lO;a resi-
meiai. rendered valuable service in their unre
ieniins attention to the wounded Quarterrnss
ter Oliver Rankins. and Nelson b Smith. OF
the same Department.. are entitled 20 great credit