The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-01-22
HARRY Conner.
Co. A, lst 0. v. 1. 2I Division.
Report Of Major Stafford orIst
O~, I.

I
Report Of Major Stafford OrIst
O[V, I.
CAMP NEAR MURFREEsB1Ro,)
! January 9th, 1868.
| Msssrs Editors: | have succeeded in
getting from Headquarters Of ed Divis.
ion, Brig. Johnston. Commanding. copy
of Major ]. A. Stafford's Report of the
part taken by our Regiment in the Elk
days fight and skirnishcs on Stone river
near MurfreesbOro. l give it to you en-.
tire II. C.
HEGDoRs 1st BAT O. WI
10 Camp, JaH. 9th, '63
LIEUT. Burns. A. A A. C. 4th Brig.
Lieutenant IL have the honor to repor,
the part taken by my regimen. in the re-.
cent battles and skirmishss about Mur.
freesboro
On the morning Of tile eth December.
1869. when about one mile below Nolans
vile. the enemy appeared in our font.
| was ordered by you to form line OF
battle on the righ, of The pike. my left
resting OH the 9th Indiana, to dcploy Two
companies Of skirmishers and 10 advance.
| did so, drploying Co. B, Lieut. Dorm
bush, commanding; and Co. D, Lieut..
Hayward commanding, We had severe
skirm'hing all day, but drove the snt my
before lis and encamped near Triune.-
On the morning Of the 3Oth December,
1869, we were ordered to join our Di.
vision, (Which preceded us the day be-
fore, within about four miles Of Muir.
freesboro /; we arrived about 4 o'clock.
After making reconnaissance on our
right We returned and bivouacked for the
night 10 the woods in rear OF our Divis-
ion. On the morning Of the 3lst a. out
halt past 6 O'Clock l heard what lho'r
10 be heavy skirmishiug on the light. ]
Immediately ordered my command und, r
arms and marched to and halted on the
edge of the woods just 10 the right ol
where we bivouacked the night previous
A few moments after by your orders,
moved forward at double quick across a
large open field, formed my line behind a
rail fence on line with tie 9th Indiana,
they occupying piece OF woods to my
left, with two pieces of Simousou's bate.
ry between us. the 79!h Illinois and 3olh
Indiana occupying the right-lhe 79tn in
the reserve. .f
ordered Lieut.. Hayward, Co. D. to
deploy the FIRST platoon of lis compan y
as skirmishers this had hardly been
done when the enemy appeared in our
font, followed by columns closed in mass,
several batteries of artillery. and large
amount of cavalry, the left Of their lines
extending not less than one. fourth Of a
mile to the right OF the 30lh Indiana -
As they arrived to within about $50 ydr
Of my line opened fire. which checked
their advance for about Is minutes. Their
lines then in front of me appeared to
8 paratc. and l saw them marching by
the flank to the right and left Of us i'm
msdiately after this maueuvpr ths two
regiments on my right gave way and left
my right entirely unprotected. This enc
my's lett then changed their front 10 the
right ard marched diRgonaly towards
my right at this moment the 9Th indians
was forced from its position, the enemy
immediately taking possession Of the fence
they occupied They then again ap.
peared in my from, and opened an crfila
ding fire on my right Finding it was
impossible to hold my position ~ithou
being aunihilated, ordered my regimen
10 fall back. intending to take position
> in rear Of the Louisville Legion who wpr,
at that time supporting me. My regimen
started back, but coming in contact will
the Louisville Legion (Col. Berry hayin!
just ordered u change Of front forward OF
tirst company to protect our righD w
0 became enlangled with them, as we als
4 did with the 93d Ohio, whom you hat
ordered to our support. l then fell bac
; iu some Confusion 10 the woods occupie,
by me IN the morning. Here / agai
tried 10 form my line, but again entap
sled with pnu Of the tst Brigade. NJ
regiment became scattered and it was i'm
: possible to get them into line until W
I, had fallen back through the woods into
cotton field and into another piece G
wooda. Here, by your help, and !h
united efforts of my officers. succeede
: in rallying my regimen. and took posi-
o tion ON the left Of Col. Berry who ha
|, also succeeded in rsllying part of his reg
iment.
Here the enemy were checked an
driven Back short distance, but the
soon rallied and came down io a coli
+. massa and we we're obliged to again retire
. In short time alter l rallied porto
Of my regiment, and meeting Captain
Trapp aud 0'Connsll. who lad succeede
d 10 doing the same Gin all amounting t
about 100 mep) halted and formed
line ). here l was joined BY the 93d Ohit
urder command CT Lieut.. Harmon.
u took command Of the whole.
l. At this moment received an ordt
from Gen. Johnston TO proceed immed
asely to q certain point. but the guild
missed the plsce, so took position 0
the left Of q regiment (5lh Ohio) wh