, 1863-01-16
TEE DIURFREESDOR0 FIGHT.
T.
Official Report Of tho rart Taken In
tlac Fight by the 89th-Hailrond1 Reg
1mcnts ~; .,s*t 80 49,.

:::E:----: :----:-- - ~, ~, ~.
HxADQuAurEns so7H ILLINOIS INFANTRY,
- 1sT BH11ApE. % plr1esox R1GHr WMa, -,
~" In Camp near Mnrfeeeboro, ian. 7, 1851
Captain Carl schmidtz, a. A. G.: :.
: / hare tho honor to submit" the following
report Of the part tnken by this regiment In
tho Series Of engagements between the Fede-
mi md rebel forces, near Murfreesboro, Tonu.
and upon tue approaches thereto. commenc-
ing OIL December 20, 1869, and ending on JAN
uary 4, 1868, when the latter under Gen Bragg
were defeated BY the army Of Gen: ,e k2secH,ns ~
aud fol cet1 to evacuatc all their Posltaons IN,
and about Murfreesboro.
This regiment lcft tho camp In front Of
81 Der. 26,.: :taking the NJ No1iuBVille pike, and
moving slowly With the column {as the enemy,
bad to be driven BY the adYance) through
Noiinsville, Triune, and along the Murffess-
BORG and franklin road, arriving on the night
Of the S0th Mt a. point about three and 6alf
miles due west, from -Murfreesboro, where.
just after dark, the brigade was put in posi-.
tlon on the extreme right Of cur right wing,
about 200 yards in rear Of, and at right angles
With Kinks brigade. Ny regiment was form.
of the 49th Ohio, which was formed in line
fronting south The 18th Ohio formed in line
fronting west, On my right flank, with battery
a, :lst Ohio artillery, near the right flank Of
the 49ll Ohio, and the left flank of the 18th
Ohio, the SD and seth Indiana regiments
being on picket, covering the front Of our po-
sittop, both south and west, thus protecting
the rear Of the. extreme riSht, Kifk's brig:
men biyouackcd, without fires, for the night.
At halfpast five o'clock on the morn
ing Of = December 31st, rapid firing
Of. musketry was heard on Kirk s front, which
was almost instantly followed by the 1nen Of
Lis brigade rushing in confusion and indis-
crimlnatelJ through our ranks, and oTer my:
men, closely followed by heasy colnmn Of
rebel infantry. The enemy's t1re,beiug very
heavy and severe uponn6, and the;large;num
bcr Of fhgiti7es passing through aud covering
my front, together with perempto1y: orders
communicated to: regiment commanders In
his brigade by Gen Which the night preyi-
ous, made 1t impossible for me to make de-
ployment, or: otherwise ndyantageously
change my position. 70, protect my men as
much as possible from the enemyte fire, or
dercq them to lie down. In that position
they remained, without confusion, until my
Left wing was uncovered Of fugftives, and the
enemy within fifty yards Of my ,position,.
done with good effect, the colors of the lead
ing column Of rebelsf falling. Having received
no orders as yet, and seeing the other regf-
meuts Of the hrigade falling back, gave the
order TO retire, by the right faux On double
quick, (which was done {but with some confu-
sion} to lane about 400 yards in northwest
erly direction, where placed capts. Willett,
Whiting and Comstock and Lieut.. Wells
companies, in very good position. But few
leading column Of the enemy again falling un-
der our fire; but being closely pressed, I
ordered these companies to retire on the sa,ne
line Of direction to d point on small creek,
about eco yards distant, whcre placed Capts.
Rowen and Rlake's companies under the par
hi ~ TOAD Y,o$n C.. Az
II checked the enemTs advancing akirmish-
ers, allowing me time to cross the creek With
and partially reorganiZe my command, Capt.
Rowen gradually following. Following,
the line. Of the creek, I again crossed
to point some 500 yards southeast Of the I'd
division hospital, where, in an open field, I
found a portion Of each Of the 49th and 18th
my's cavalry appearing In large force on our
right, and their infantry approaching on our
left flank, threatening to cut us OF, moved
by the left flank (the other regiments follow
ing} IN northeasterly direction, to q position
IN the woods on the south side Of Wilkinson
tails Of the 1st {Gen. Dayis') and ID (Gen.
Johnson's) dirisions-a position from which
our fire. at short range, orer m open field,
thinned the ranks, aud partially checked the
advance Of the relele closely pressing COL
ntnns.. At this point being informed Of the
loss Of Gen. Which, and Col. Gibson, The next
senior officer, the command Of the brigade was
sumed by Col. Wallnce Of the 18th Ohio. Tie
forces ito me unknoWn) which here formed
upon the right and left TANKS Of our brigade
having retired in obedience to orders, re-
tired my regiment III line and in good order,
making several stands in the same woods
. with the balance Of the Brigade to point
near The right Of Gen: Rosecrans' Division,
where was ordered by Gen. Johnson to take
position in a cedar t1icket on the right, with
some troops ito me unknown) who were in
front and joining on the right Of saia Division.
suon afterwards the troops Oh my right and
left Of the line which they and In common,
held having unexpectedly and rapidly retired,
Of tie eneny's artillery and musketry firc,
and my ammunition being exhausted, I re.
tired my regiment by the flank townrds the
rear, there replcnishing my ammunition ant
resting my men, who, had, up to that time
taken and delivered an unceahing fire fol
Later in the day, being informed OF the po
sition Of the balance Of the brigade, I nt onct
rejoined them, when was put In position OF
the right Of the Earlc {noW under the com
mand Of Col. GibaonJ thus, unitedly, form
ing the second line of infantry (Gen. Davis
division being in front} on the extreme right
Of the right wing, where wc biYouacked tHat
night without fires.
The operations Of the regiment during tht
subsequent four days wtre in common viii
the brigade, and were not Of q character tt
need from me particular mention, with tht
exception Of the part taken by 1t or, the nigh
r:and Of Capt, Williams (nyself being un
able to take active command, 1t held the n.
sponsib1e position Of guarding the ford, apG
supporting Capt. Stokes {Chicago Board o.
Trede) Battery, Willie the forces under Gen
fegley made tho successful charge upon tht
entniy's right.
The behavior Of the officers and men during
this period, particularly ip the t1yiug actiof
# the 31st, was, in stcadirtss and bravery, ali
that could be required by commander. Thit
phrase. fully expresses my estimate of thcil
conduct, Every man that daY did lis duty
Where bravery and obedience were SO general
it is 1if1lcnh for me TO mike personal dis
cTiminatlon, but among my nor: commissioner
officers, particularly commend for their gal
lantry IN rallying to MY colors .fngitives from
other commands, Scrgt. Major John NJ. Far
qnhar, and LIST Sergt. Erastns O. Young o
company A; also, Capt. Button, ]. T. Cody
Of the S9th lndlana, and Lieut.. 2eifart, ;S5:3t
Indiana, who rendered their services to 1nt
on the field, and fought calamity in my ranks
the period above specified: :
KILLED.
Capt. Henry S. Willett and Corp. VIM: H. Lit
eey, co. H. Prfyatcs Jas. Nichols. co. f Nose,
Beaver, EIijah Yon1in, CO. F: Dewitt e, Serildcr
ass ae:a Rsss ha Il 1ssts, E 4oa FIR f.
-: wopxpED.' !
Adjutant Ed. F. Bishop. scrgt. John b. Moore
musician Juetus D. PaTnc, and priyates James j
Esan, Frank q. Mellen. Louis Sanders, Co. 4:
Saas Gansoa Rap sei Fsiy 2.e1sn
a. WIldFicE, Hi5srn d crsin. Co i; ssiets Jas
ford, Henry Fitch, Joseph Goyer, Co, F; musician
Ken, Herman + Rdseniesi, Witfcd 7 i. Whtnsy 9
b4ee %ean pI1stsa hasa s9rTapsH paa
Snowfall, Ole E. johnson, F. y. GODDARD, Thos,
y. Morley, Vim. ]. Cooper, co. 4 musician A.W.
rsrksr sn Rrisatss A Bis1sy joseph Guthrie
privntes Mich. schabinger. Frank Diesel. John r.
Adsms& Fred. L. Philips, john Reed, CO. E. Total
Mni. Duncan j. Hall; Capt. Thomas Whiting,
Go. g: Corp: J. E. LewEey, aud 'pri1atcs Robt.
Armefroug, Roger Duffy. Chss. Lord Gardner
fg1le4, Ell Jssps1 tTper' Philip %uinix, Frank Bus
ss1i Ealr ARen1J Rs5J sterling, Enoeh sh.P Go. 4;
Ae1rsE, CO. 9; Corp. Mathew II. C1e1ton. mnsl:
eian Marcus z. retIy. snd psivstes Jacob Becker,
Ghss nss's ;l pstes Husse5 psp Eslls: Pat5iek e
Wi1eon, Geo. n Jones, Marvin ]: spooE, ltwo lat.
g5ny. eefp:: David 1sbenty, i David S S Alien, n
l. " Rcsrds!ey, n. d. Mi1tthan1' Charles
Fisher, Marion King: Maa. Rubidi, Henry Tins
ley, comP any p: o;C TIE following aiditton4l in
VoeIhcce. John Miller. Wm. 3. Rice. Jackron
Arnold, ". D: Walker and Leo laurent; Corps.
Geo. Shears, Andrew Golden and g. L. Richarts ;
and priyates q. g. Bramble, c. H. bryant, Thos.
Clark. 8: G.. Eglcston, F. ". Ii compt, r. B.
Mack: John Pinegan, Daniel Porter, VIM. Saadler,
osenh w. n9sms 5a6a' % Sbs.
Walter Hui, and prisates Joseph Babbitt, James
Perkins, Russell: H1n.!ey, Washington Cox.
Curtis E knox. MIiinu chambeza1a; Aa-