Wheeler's report of his raid around Rosecrans and his actions during and after the Murfreesboro
December 29, 1862 - December 31, 1863
HDQRS. CAVALRY, Near Fosterville, Tenn., January 26, 1863.
COL.: I have the honor to report that my command-consisting of the First
Alabama Cavalry, Col. [William W. ] Allen; Third Alabama, Maj. [F. Y. ]
Gaines; Fifty-first Alabama, Col. [JohnT. ] Morgan; Eighth Confederate,
Col. [W. B. ] Wade, and two Tennessee battalions, under Maj.'s [D. W. ]
Holmanand DeWitt C. Douglass, together with [Capt. J. H. ] Wiggin's
battery-was, on the 26th ultimo, stationed at Stewart's Creek, on the
Murfreesborough andNashville pike, and about 10 miles northwest of
Murfreesborough. My line of vedettes, forming a continuous line,
extended from a point east of Stone's River, on my right, crossing the
Nashville and Murfreesborough pike about 10 miles from Nashville, and
extending to a point about half way from said pike to Brentwood, the
posts of the pickets and grand guards being at favorable position on the
avenues of approach a nd at points varying from 300 to 1,000 yards in
rear of the line of vedettes. Gen. Pegram's brigade was stationed on the
right and Gen. Wharton's brigade on the left of my line.
About 7 o'clock on the morning of December 26, [1862,] the enemy
advanced in large force, driving in our vedettes. On arriving at the
front and seeing the extent of the movement, I ordered up the entire
command and deployed it inline of battle. We engaged the enemy during
the entire day, falling back about 3 miles. We also engaged the enemy
during the 28th and 29th ultimo, killing and wounding large numbers,
meeting but very slight ourselves.
By the evening of the 29th we had reached the line of battle of our
infantry and had placed my brigade on the extreme right of the line.
At midnight, pursuant to orders from Gen. Bragg, I proceeded with my
command, re-enforced by Col. [James E.] Carter's regiment, to the
enemy's rear.
By daylight on the 30th we had reached Jefferson, and soon after met a
brigade train, with all the equipage of one brigade. We attacked
vigorously, drove off the guards, and destroyed the train, baggage,
equipage, &c., also capturing about 50 prisoners. We then proceeded
toward La Vergne, and captured a party of Federals out stealing and
gathering stock, and soon after overtook and captured a small foraging
train.
About noon we arrived in the vicinity of La Vergne and formed it filled
with soldiers and large trains parked in the fields surrounding the
place. We immediately charged in three columns, completely surprising
the guards, who made but slight resistance. We immediately paroled the
prisoners, amounting to about 700, and destroyed immense trains and
stores, amounting to many hundred thousands of dollars. We then
proceeded to Rock Spring, attacked, captured, and destroyed another
large train. We then marched on Nolensville without opposition,
capturing large trains, stores, and arms, and about 300 prisoners. We
slept for a few hours 5 miles from Nolensville, and at 2 o'clock
the next morning proceeded to the left flank of our army, having made a
complete circuit of the enemy's rear. On arriving the line was engaged.
We pressed on and attacked enemy on the Murfreesborough and Nashville
pike, just north of Overall's Creek. After a brisk engagement we moved
across the creek and made an attack, on the enemy at that point, driving
him for 2 miles and successfully engaging him until dark, when we fell
back to the left of our line, where we remained during the night.
In this latter engagement Col. Allen and Lieut.-Col. [James D. ] Webb were wounded.
Early on the morning of January 1, I proceeded, pursuant to directions
from Gen. Bragg, with my own and Gen. Wharton's brigade, to the rear of
the enemy. We attacked a large train near La Vergne, dispersing his
guards, and captured and destroyed a large number of wagons and stores.
We also captured one piece of artillery. Toward evening we received
orders to return, and we regained our position on the flanks of the army
by 2 o'clock on the morning of the 2d instant. We remained in position
that night and next day, engaging the enemy at every opportunity.
At 9 o'clock that evening I proceeded again to the rear of the enemy,
according to directions from Gen. Bragg, and succeeded next morning in
capturing anumber of horses, wagons, and prisoners. About 2 p. m. we
attacked a large ordnance train at Cox's Hill, heavily guarded by
cavalry and infantry, andsucceeded in driving off the cavalry guards and
in breaking down and upsetting a large number of wagons. The enemy's
infantry being in such force (quite treble our numbers), we were
prevented from destroying the train, but succeeded in preventing its
making any further progress that day. By this time we received orders to
immediately return to the army, which order was obeyed, we reaching our
former position on the left flank of our army about 4 o'clock next
morning. We here learned that the army had fallen back, and about 9
o'clock that morning we crossed Stone's River and took position in front
of Murfreesborough.
About 3 p. m. the enemy advanced to the river and commenced a brisk
skirmish with artillery and infantry. After dark the enemy retired a
short distance, and our pieces in front of Murfreesborough were
unmolested during the night.
At daylight on Monday, the 4th [5th] instant, we fell back to a point on
the Manchester pike about 3 miles from Murfreesborough. About 1 o'clock
the enemy advanced, and after a short skirmish we fell back half a mile
a favorable position. Here we formed line of battle in conjunction with
Gen. Pegram's brigade, in a very favorable position, behind fences,
entirely obscured from view. About 3 o'clock the enemy advanced with a
brigade of infantry and artillery in line of battle, with heavy force of
cavalry on their flanks. When they arrived within about 250 yards, we
opened on them a heavy fire of small-arms and artillery with excellent
effect, killing and wounding large numbers. After an engagement of about
thirty minutes they turned off and left the field, and have not since
advanced any farther from Murfreesborough on this road.
Very respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant,
JOS. WHEELER, Maj.-Gen. and Chief of Cavalry.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 21, pt. I, pp. 958-960.
No comments:
Post a Comment