The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-02-11

Official Report of the Eighth Indiana
Battery---At the Battles near Mur,
fFeesb0rO, Tenn.
Major S. Race, Chief Of artillery, Is,
DiUiSion:
/ have the honor respectfully to sub.
NIT the following official report of the
Sth Indiana Light Battery, on the 3Ist
day of December, 1862, and the first and
second days ofJanuary, 1863 l put my
Battery in position on Wednesday morn
ing about 9 clock, by order of General
RoSecrans, on the east side of the rail-
road, supported on the right by two bat
teries ard on the left by the 18th Regi-
nent of Regulars. We fired one hun
dred and thirteen rounds at range of
eight hundred yards at the enemy, who
were then driving back our infantry ad-
vance, and then advanced the battery
seventy-fve to eighty yards, supported as
IN the first position, by the two batteries
on my right and the 10Th infantry on my
left At this position the enemy in three
lines made three desperate charges, and
were as often repulsed by my battery. ex-
| rended seventy rounds of canister and
was compelled four or FIVE times to dou-
BILE charge the pieces in order to drive
the enemy, beginning at a range of
ninety yards, and increasing as the
enemy retired. | also fred from this
position one hundred and six rounds of
shrapnell she'll and solid shot, at range
of about eight hundred yards, at the time
OF the enemy advancing on our right |
left of fhe'pfa the pike IN the dfFefFa8a Gfaaval
freesboro, which did, supported by his
entire brigade, as good soldiers as ever
went TO battle. l commenced firing at
range of four hundred yards, the enemy
bringing up his forces in three lines and
making desperate charges on the center,
but was repulsed by my battery and the
Gallant men of Gen Hascalrs brigade
| / was twice in this position, and fired
two hundred and twenty-six rounds, my
men all the time exposed to a Calling
fire of musketry. Late in the afternoon
l wa. ordered to position on the East
side of the railroad, supported by three
regiments, the Doth Ohio, 9th Indiana,
and an Illinois regiment Here l ex-
nended sixty rounds, shelling the enemy
from the woods near the creek, from
which he had driven portion of our
troops during the afternoon | remain
ed in this position until after dark, and
then retired to the camp of the previous
nicbt On the morning of the first of Jan.
was put in position before daylight in the
line of battle by Major Race. An hour
or two after daylight the enemy COM
menced an advance on our front
opeped fire, in connection with other
batteries, and drove the enemy back, ex'
pending forty-six rounds, Remained IN
position all night, and in the morning
, expended thirty-four rounds Smelling the
woods at different points, where the
enemy could occasionally be seen from
nv position. About nine o'clock l wa'
fred upon by two rebel batteries (twelvc
, runs), supposed at range of 2,OO(
Yards, it being beyond my range. wa
forced to retire my battery, leaving TO
j. the time being two pieces on the field
: Some of the horses attached to one o
the Hmbers were severely wounded, am
became so badly frightened by the burst
ing of the enemy shells tnat the driver
were unable to control them; they RAJ
to the rear in in spite Of every effort mad
}. long. however, in recovering both pieces
After repairing the loss of horses in m
battery from battery and forge WACO
l. horses. I remained quietly in line unit
"a four O clock. Twas then ordered to tax
a nosition on the left, which l did.
was well supported by infantry, but q
not know what troops they were. L cor
menced firing at range of about y
t. Yards, at what supposed to be brlga.c
of the enemy's infantry, holding poi
= of woods. / am positive that my batter
from this position, did the enemy gre
rP injury expended one hundred al
1ds twenty-three rounds, and retired the b;
ins terv for ammunition, and again took
o4. om no:ition to the left of my first, and ne
bed the creek. Here engaged a rebel b
as, ns, terv ter at range of 900 yards, and 81
ICE, ceeded in silencing it, expendlng elgh
ion seven rounds. We soon after cross
"ao :as, the creek and remained during the mig
salt lam sorry to say that Lieut.. Richa
an an Jervis. on Wednesday, at trying a
Iler, critical moment, retired section OF
-, battery, without my knowledge or ora
ore, and that he otherwise behaved ba
during the day. He said, on the norm
r." of the second days fight, he was UNIV
(but this was before daylight); ana
1t he should feel better in the course OF
rsV hour or two, he would come out TO
-' field and report for duty. This was
). last saw of him till the fight was o'