No. 261. Report of Col. John H. Kelly, Eighth Arkansas Infantry.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN., January 7, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report as to the action of my regiment in the late battles at Murfreesborough:

Early on the morning of December 31, [1862,] I received orders from the brigadier-general commanding to advance with my regiment and to conform to the movements of the regiments on my right, which was done by gradually wheeling to the right. A short time after advancing I was ordered to throw forward skirmishers to cover my front. Very soon after the deployment had been made, a brisk fire began, and skirmishers soon succeeded in driving back those of the enemy; the lines of battle confronted, and the contest began. My regiment was posted in an open field; the enemy was strongly posted behind a fence. After a continued and obstinate resistance, the order to charge was given [I should have mentioned that at this juncture Brigadier-General Rains' brigade came up on my left], which was obeyed with promptness and alacrity. The enemy fled in confusion; we pursued rapidly for several hundred yards, when he rallied to make another stand, but the impetuosity with which we followed him up soon hurled him again to the rear. As the second charge was ordered from this point, he was rapidly pursued for over half a mile, when it became necessary for us to halt, in order to refill our empty cartridge-boxes. This was soon accomplished, and again we moved forward. After proceeding several hundred yards, we marched by the flank for about one-quarter of a mile, and then forward to a position several hundred yards in advance in an open field; from this point we withdrew to a position in the wood, a little to the rear. The next position taken placed the left of my regiment on a large field, the remaining portion being in the wood. The lines of battle soon met again. The fire at this point was very heavy. The enemy outflanked my left, but the timely arrival of Swett's battery dispensed all apprehension of danger from that quarter. Another charge was made, and the enemy was falling back rapidly under heavy fire. At this juncture I was wounded and retired from the field. I think it was about 1.30 p.m. The action of the regiment after this will be reported by Lieutenant-Colonel [George F.] Baucum, to whom I turned over the command.

Lieutenant [S. B.] Cole, Company I, Lieut. Calvin East, Company H. and Lieut. T. H. Beard, Company F, fell while gallantly cheering and leading their men to victory. Adjt. H. J. McCurdy was also killed; faithful to the last. He was always at his post; no shock could discompose him. The coolness, bravery, and good judgment of this gallant boy is highly commendable. The gallant conduct of the noble dead was conspicuous to the whole regiment.

I have the honor to call attention to the gallant conduct of First Lieutenant [W. M.] Bass, Company E, who was wounded in the first fight while bravely cheering his men. Captain [W. H.] Lankford, Company A, and Second Lieutenant [B. A.] Terett, Company E, also deserve special mention for gallantly on the field.

In the first charge my regiment captured two stand of colors. These were handed to me by Private James Riddle, Company C, and Corpl. N. A. Horn, Company E, but, owing to the rapidity of the pursuit, I found it impossible to carry these along, and they were left on the field. Another stand was also captured, but was left in the same manner as the others.

A full list of killed and wounded will be furnished by Lieutenant-Colonel Baucum.

The regiment during the whole engagement was always prompt to move at the command.

Very respectfully,

JNO. H. KELLY,
Colonel Eighth Arkansas Regiment.

……….

No. 262. Report of Lieut. Col. George F. Baucum, Eighth Arkansas Infantry.

WARTRACE, TENN., January 12, 1863.

SIR: In the late battle of Murfreesborough, on December 31, 1862, where our brigade engaged the enemy, after leaving our camp on Stone's River in the morning, we were ordered forward, and in a short time we engaged the enemy first in a corn-field, where the firing became general along the line of our whole brigade, at which place our regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded. The firing was kept up for some ten or fifteen minutes in that exposed position, at which time McNair's brigade move up on our left and on the enemy's right and opened fire, at which time the enemy's right gave way. Then we were ordered forward, and, after crossing the fence in front of our regiment and the Sixth Arkansas, we saw that the enemy in front of the Fifth and Second Arkansas was still contesting the ground. At this time the order was given to about face, and we gave them an enfilade fire, and they soon fell back. We then forwarded to where they had been compelled to abandon two pieces of their artillery.

At this engagement I had my horse shot, and halted for a few moments and ordered the infirmary corps to carry our wounded to the hospital immediately in the rear. As I moved forward in the edge of the woods I saw Captain Williams, and asked how far the regiment was. His answer, as well as I remember, was, that it was some distance in the woods and that we were driving them like dogs. I moved on at double-quick through the woods, when I came to a cotton-patch and saw General Liddell, and he asked me what I was doing so far behind. I answered him that I had lost my horse and was very near broke down. He told me to catch up with my command. I went across the cotton-patch, passing a gin-house, and came to a cross fence, where the brigade was halted. There was some little firing with small-arms. Then Swett's battery opened on the enemy in the edge of the woods, and we were then ordered forward across a corn-field and into the woods a few hundred yards, and were halted and received a new supply of ammunition. The firing still kept up on our right. After receiving our ammunition, we were ordered forward to an old field, and were moved some distance into the field and halted. Our battery went forward in the field and opened fire. Our skirmishers were moved forward and engaged. The brigade was ordered back to the woods. We then moved by the right flank for several hundred yards, and were then ordered forward, where engaged the enemy in a neck of woods, where the ground was warmly contested for some time, at which time General Johnson's brigade came up and we were ordered to charge. Then enemy was repulsed, we occupying the ground. The order was then given to cease firing. Johnson's brigade moved forward to the edge of a cedar thicket under cover of a cliff of rocks. We moved forward to a fence to the support of Johnson's brigade. As soon as we reached the fence the right of the front line gave way and the brigade in our front came to the rear in double-quick, passing through our lines. I tried to halt the men in front of my regiment, but they all passed through. After all had passed, Colonel Govan gave the order to fall back; we fell back to the woods under fire from the enemy.

This, I believe, is about as correct account as I can give, which I respectfully submit.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. F. BAUCUM,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Eighth Regiment Arkansas Vols.

[Note: No casualty list noted]

OR V20, Pt, 1, pp. 869/71