Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-29
Col. Wallacs's Report.
HhApouaRrERs i5rH IyvASrlI, IN CAMP
NEAn MURFRKys joso', TESS., Jan. 7, Is63.


SEAn MuRfRxys rxSs- Jan. 7. 1858.
CAPT. @. SCHMIDT, A. A. G.. let Brigade.
SIR: have the honor to submit to you
my report Of the part taken by the INh
Ohio in the battle Of Murfressbnro. ON
the night Of the 30th Of December, 1862,
We were ordered to take mp u position with
the brigade on the extreme right of the
army before Murfreesboro-the lhh ocnpy.
iny the extreme right OF the briys 10. sn.l
in line perpendicular to the other p,.itioi,.
Of the brigade and rhe supposed front O.
tho enemy. No fire, marked our line hy
night sentinsls, regularly relieved s,ood
Ady 10 call the calup to ar,ss. | was M
all night myself. called the men into line
at 8 clock, A. N. About 7o'clock the
enemy WAS upon Us. My frat notice that
the heavy firing to our left WAS an attack
upon the 81 division WAS hurried order
from Col. Gibson 10 move out and form
line OF battle. that the enemy were an
proaching in iuy rear. moved out in line
OF battle abost ten rods, and count srrnsrch
ell the regiment and facing my late position.
BY the time this WAS accom- p,ishsd the Brigs.
de 10 the left Of the lst brigade had been
over-poweredb by the covcrwheI,uing z uam Der.
Of the enemy, and with the other regiments
of the lst brigade were 10 fall retreat to oar
right and left and through our ranks. |
held the position long enonsh to oover ,h.
retreat Of these forces, firing six volley-
until the enemy were within fifty yards of
US and their cavalry on our right and left
when gavs the order to fall back. 1t was
ct this point and while shee ring on our men
that the brave and gallant 1t. Col Frank
Asksw fell severely wounded in the thigh,
when Capt. Tom. Douglas, Lieut.. Sam
Hills and Lieut.. Fowler, all brave and ac
conplished officers, fell, together with scores
Of our brave aud noble men, many of whom
upon that spot offered up their lives-so
many more martyrs in Q couatry cause. :,
The retreat was over an open field with .
high fence to cross before getting under
cover Of the elevation of ground and woods
beyondit. Nearly all my killed and Houn
near the fence. After crossing the fence
We fsli back IN GOOD order, keeping up !
brisk Gre ON the advancing foe. I rallied
the regiment about halt milo from our
camp, in position covered from the enc
my's ire / was greatly assisted by Can't.
A. r. Y. Dawson and Adj't. Dubois Of the
18th, both of whom showed themselves
throughout the day to be brave, cool, and
gallant officers At this point I found my.
self, as seuior officer, in command Of the
brigade e-portions of the 32d Indiana, 49th
Ohio, and 89th Illinois, forming, with one
piece of Belongs battery, and the 18th,
my command. With the brigade thus
formed we held the enemy in check. The
piece Of artillery stationed by Adj't. Du
Bois in favorable position, under charge
Of 1t. Belding, made great havoc in tie
enemy immense double columns now cover:
ing the field we had SO lately passed over.
On they came, however, regardless Of losses,
cou6dentin their overwhelming numbers. z
Again l fell back, at 6fst apparently in good
order, but soon rebel cavalry appearing on
our right and left tanks, a temporary panic
seized the brigade, when, Capt. Dawson,
then 10 command Of the 10th, snatohed up
the colors Of the regiment and bore them
boldly toward the foe, when with united
cheer FROM the whole brigade the men
ahont faced and formed in line against the
enemy in another favorable position, when
the we'll directed Ere and the cheer that
went up louder than the 70 Ting of musket.
ry or the roar Of artillery, deceived, no
doubt, the enemy as to our numbers, fer,
recoiliAg from our CALLING fire, they halted
and brought their artillery to bear on ". =
We fell back, annoying the enemy By con.
sssat asisg I'D 'kespiss them q siarssyssA-