Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-07-08

Col Q. G. Eaton, commanding I'D Reg. y. "
v. L., of the part taken by the regiment in the
recent battle at Guntown, Miss
The report gives the best and only reliable,
detail of the operations of the regiment in that
disastrous affair Col. Eaton has kindly per-
mitted me to send you copy of ii, for the in
formation of the friends at home.
Respectfully, J.MAoK LENNON,
Capt. I'D o. WI.
HEAD QUARTERs 72D REGT o. WI,
MEMPHIS, TENN, June I6, 1864.
LIEUT.. o. H. ABLE, A. A. a. G. 1st Brig, lst
Div, 10th Army Corps:
SIR-In compliance with special order No. SO.
Hd. Qrs. Ist Brig, lst Div. 10th A. c., dated
Memphis. Tenn, May 81, 1864, this regiment, as
part of the infantry force commanded by
Col. W. L. McMillen, reported at the Memphis
& Charleston Depot, at a. m, June lst 1864
From the depot we were transported by rail toa
point about three miles east of Colliersvile,
from whence we proceeded by slow and easy
marches to our camp on the side hill, aboutfOul
miles north of the Hatchie bottom, where we ar
rived the evening of June 9Th. The march OF
the command of which the I'D Ohio formed
part, from Colliersvlle to this camp, was slow
on account of rainy weather, muddy roads and
being encountered with a train of some two
hundred and fifty wagons. At 6 a. m. June
10th, we moved from this camp, marching at
good pace for about nine miles, when was no
tilted by Capt. Buckland of Col. McMillen's
Staff, that the cavalry command was engaged
with the enemy in front. and that 1T would be
necessary for me to hurry up my regiment.
Accordingly l moved my regiment at very
rapid pace, some three miles, to the battlefield.
where we arrived between and 3 p. m. The
day being extremely hot and sultry, quite a
number of my men fell out before we arrived
there, being overcome with heat and fatigue.
Upon arriving at the battlefield, by order of
Col. W. L. McMillen, commanding infantry di
vision, the I'D Regt was stationed on the left
of the lins, to support Miller's battery-whch
was Immediately on its right-and cover the
road to the rear. The battery was stationed on
hill in front of log house, the right Of the
I'D resting near the battery and the regiment
extending to the left nearly to the foot tofthe hill
In front of the I'D, about two hundred and
fifty yards, was another hill on the top of which
were stationed few rebels, concealed by BUSH
es and rail fence. The space between the I'D
and the rsbel line was an open field, giving a
good opportunity to see any advance on the
part of the enemy. | had five companies de-
ploy as skirmshers to the front and to theright.
They kept up little skirmishing with the en-
emy for about an hour and hail. when Col.
wilkins, commanding brigade. ordered me to
withdraw my regiment from the position on the
left of the line and to form it in lne that the
left would rest about one hundred yards to the
right of Miller's battery. COL Wilkins inform
ed me that the object of this movement was to
protect the cavalry while they should retreat
across the bridge to the rear. Accordingly l
withdrew my regiment, with the exception of
the five companies which had previously been
deployed as skirmishers, but had not arrived at
the position where l was ordered to establish
my regiment, before the five companies deploY-
ed as skirmishers were heavily engaged with
| the skirmishers of the enemy.
suggested to Col. Wilkins, the propriety of
| moving my regiment back to its former posi-
ton, for the reason that if the enemy should
| drive back my five skirmish companies, it would
enable him to possess the road to oour rear there
by cutting us off from retreat in case Of disas-
/ ter. and also enable him to destroy the large
train of ammunition and commissary stores
Col. Wilkins seeing how much dam
age the enemy could do by forcing back the left
| Of our line consented to my returning TO my
first position.
As soon as my regiment arrived at the first po-
sition, a heavy line of the enemy's skirmishers
which extended quite distance beyond the left
| of my skirmish line, was seen advancing across
the open field. / formed my command so as to
give the men good range of that part of the
enemy's line of skirmishers which extended be-
yond the left of my line of skirmishers A few
yolleys fred by my command caused the enc
| my to withdraw. Just at this moment dis
covered that the whole infantry command with
the exception of my regiment was retreating.
In very few minutes Col. McMilIen, in per-
son, ordered me to hold my position until all OF
the other regiments should have crossed a creek
and swamp to our rear, TO the end that they
might have time to form new line of battle
about half a mile in the rear. By the time the
last regiment had crossed, the enemy was ad-
vancing from the right, left and front, of my po-
sition, and it was almost by chance that my reg
iment escaped being captured. After crossing
The creek and swamp, Col. McMillen ordered me
to march my regiment along with the train,
keeping the right hand side of the road. This
l did until ! arrived at a house on ridge
about half a mile to the rear of the battlefield
where Gen. GriersOn suggested that should
station my regiment behind rail fence to pro-
tect the train until it should all have passed this
point. This suggestion considered agood one
| and Immediately formed my regiment III line
ON the right hand side of the road where ] re-
manned until the last wagon had passed. Again
l moved my command to the rear, keeping the
right hand side of the road as directed. We
had gone but few rods when the teanlsters near
the middle of the train began to destroy their
wagons by setting them on fire-thus blockad-
| ing the road so that all the wagons in the rear
of those destroyed had to be abandoned. See
| ing that no new line of battle was established,
and that all the rest of the command were con-
tinuing to retreat, and receiving no orders from
my superiors in command, / continued the
march to the rear until arrived on the bill on
the north side of the Hatchie bottoms, where
ordered my regiment to halt, intending to allow
the men rest of about an hour as they were
getting very much fatlgued, having marched
about eight miles from the battle field without
rest. The regiment had hardly halted when an
aid to Gen. Sturgis, in the name of the General
ordered to keep up the retreat still further to
the rear.
In obedience to these orders, again moved
nv command to the rear until arrived on the
ground where my regiment had bivouaeed the
night previous. My men, overcome by fatigue
having marched some twelve miles from the
battlefield, without rest, ] ordered q halt in
tending to remain until should receive orders
from some of my superiors in command
About half an hour afterward Col Warren s
brigade of cavalry came up and the command
| ing officer ordered to move my command to
Ripley. | enquired by what authority he gave
me such orders. He replied, "By order of Gen.
Sturpis" Again / moved my command to the
rear, and came up with Gen. Sturgis and Col.
McMillen at a bridge crossing creek, about
six miles south of Ripley. Col. McMillen or
dered me to continue the retreat to Ripley,
which l did, arriving there at o'clock the fol-
lowing MISUNDERSTANDING in twenty three hours
marched distance of thirty eight miles and
engaged the enemy two hours.
Ata little before seven o'clock Col MeMillen
sent an aid, (Kieut. Liyings, ordering me as the