Report of Col. Cyrus L. Dunham, Fiftieth Indiana Infantry.
Louisville, Kentucky, September 30, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to an order from Major-General Gilbert, I, on the 13th instant, at 11 p.m., left the depot of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad with six companies of the Fiftieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers and one company (K) of the Seventy-eighth Indiana (attached to the Fiftieth, for duty), in all 446 strong, rank and file, for Green River, near Munfordville, to reinforce Colonel Wilder in the defense of that point. The train ran very slowly until some distance below Elizabethtown, when I went forward and earnestly urged the engineer to greater speed, assuring him that it was all important for us to reach Green River before daylight. he did increase the speed as far as safety would permit. Just below Bacon Creek, about 7 miles from Green River, the train stopped for wood. I immediately passed along the cars, aroused the men, and bade them stand by their arms in readiness for any emergency, as we were approaching dangerous ground. I took position on the engine, and the train moved cautiously forward. We had proceeded about a mile when we ran upon a portion of the track which had been undermined by the enemy, and slid to one side in such a manner as not to make the injury apparent to the engineer or myself. The train was thrown off, and several of the cars completely wrecked; yet, strange to say, not a man or a horse was seriously injured. The men seemed inspired with even greater confidence, as if feeling themselves under the especial protection of an overruling Providence. They were immediately formed in line of battle, an instantaneous attack being expected. The woods, which skirted the sides of the road were promptly reconnoitered. No enemy appearing, the regiment was put in rapid march for Munfordville, presuming that the road had been destroyed to prevent reinforcements from reaching the place. We had not proceeded far before cannonading was heard in that direction. It had now become daylight, and the men deposited their knapsacks and blankets in a thicket by the road side and moved on rapidly. We soon met crowds of frightened and fleeing citizens, from whom no satisfactory information could be got of the situation of affairs at or of the forces investing our works. When within 3 or 4 miles of the place we were met by an intelligent citizen of my acquaintance, who informed me that a cavalry force of the enemy, at least 2,000 strong, and a battery of artillery were posted some distance this side of the river and covering the road approaching our works, which were upon the south bank; that guns were also so planted upon both banks of the river as to cover the bridges, and that he deemed it impossible for us to pass them and get in. But, nothing daunted, our little force made a detour to the right, and, by keeping uder cover of the woods and corn fields and down ravines, eluded the enemy, and reached the river just below the bridges and opposite our works. Here a momentary halt was made, under the cover of the woods, to close up the colunm and give the men a little rest. They then plunged into and forded the river at the double-quick between the two bridges, the first notice the enemy having of our approach being the hearty cheers of our beleagured troops in the works. Fortunately for us the guns of the enemy upon the northern bank bearing on the crossing had just before, by a well directed fire from our own, under Lt. Mason, been silenced, and from those upon the southern side he had only time to throw a shell or two at our rear as it disappeared under cover of the bank, resulting only in slightly wounding one man. His cavalry came dashing down upon us in an attempt to cut us off, but only in time to be as hastily driven back by our little band, who promptly turned and fired upon them.
We found the engagement still progressing. By General Gilbert's written order the command was to go according to seniority, and I being the senior officer, Colonel Wilder promptly tendered me the command, but I as promptly refused to assume it, feeling that to do so during the progress of the engagement would be ungenerous in me and unjust to him, but I placed myself and my forces under his command. He has reported the proceedings of that day.
On Monday, the 15th, I assumed command. The enemy had under cover of the night withdrawn from before us, the infantry and artillery to Cave City and the cavalry up the river. Work upon the entrenchments was at once resumed and pushed forward with vigor that day, the night following, and in fact throughout all the affair of Tuesday. Wagons were sent to the wrecked train for the provisions upon it, and steps successfully taken, by the aid of Mr. William Gibson, a patriotic Union citizen of Munfordville, of who I cannot speak in too high praise, to bring in the ammunition which had been upon it, but which the loyal men of the neighborhood had carried to the wood and concealed. Efforts were also made to repair the telegraph line. Messengers were sent to different points northward to communicate to headquarters in this city our situation, inform them that we expected a renewal of the attack by a largely increased force, and ask reinforcements. Messengers with a like object, I was informed, had been sent by Colonel Wilder to Bowling Green. I regarded the place as of great importance to the Government amd made every effort to save it. Monday night reinforcements , under command of Colonel Owen, Sixtieth Indiana, we received from Lebanon Juction, consisting of a part of the Sixtieth Indiana, 420 men, including one company (I) of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky, Lt. Conaway, which ahd been attached to it for duty; a part of the Sixty-eighth Indiana, Colonel king, 570 men, and six pieces of the First Ohio Artillery, 150 men, Captain Konkle in command.
On Tuesday, the 16th instant, at about 9:30 a.m. the advance of the enemy attacked our pickets on the south side of our works and from the direction of Cave City. His advance was sternly resisted by Companies A, B, and H, Fiftieth Indiana and part of Company K, Seventy-eighth Indiana, under Major Samuel T. Wells, who, as well as the officers and men under him, in this little skirmish displayed great coolness and courage. They held the enemy's advancing columns at bay for over an hour and were only pressed back by overwhelming numbers. The object evidently was to avoid the field work on our left, known as Fort Craig, from which he had been fatally repulsed on Sunday, and, under cover of the woods to approach and carry by storm the breastworks on our right; but the promptness and energy witht which he was met seemed to deter him from the attempt. Before 11 a.m. the engagement had become general along our south line, the heavy pressure being on the west or right. The men were cool and eager for the expected assault. The fire was rapid and continuous on the part of the enemy, who kept himself closely under cover of the woods. Between 2 and 3 o'clock it slackened, and by 3 o'clock it had almost ceased, and, supposing the enemy had withdrawn from the wood which fronted our entire south line, and being anxious to occupy the farther edge of it, that I might be advised of and check a renewed attack, Company A, Fiftieth Indiana, Captain Burrell, was thrown out as skirmishers, to feel through it. They soon became hotly engaged with the enemy, who attempted to turn their left flank. I immediately ordered Capt. Carothers' company (G, same regiment) to his support. The order was promptly obeyed, and the company gallantly deployed under a galling fire. This was a brilliant little affair. In it Lt. Burton, of Company G, fell severly wounded, nobly doing his duty. Finding that the enemy still occupied the woods in force, our men were with drawn, under a fire from the works. I should also mention that Company A, Sixtieth Indiana, was thrown out as skirmishers upon the left early in the engagement, and there remained for some time, doing excellent service, with the loss of 1 man wounded. By 4:30 p.m. the firing on both sides had nearly ceased, there being only an occasional shot from our guns, as opportunity offered, to prevent the planting of batteries by the enemy.
Between 5 and 6 o'clock a flag of truce from the enemy was seen approaching. I sent Colonel Wilder to receive it. It covered a note from General Bragg, commanding the enemy's forces, asserting that we were surrounded by an overwhelming force, all hopes of reinforcements cut off, and demanding a surrender to save the loss of human life, which must result from carrying the works by storm. I promptly and perimptorily declined; but when Colonel Wilder returned, after the delivery of my reply, and informed me that so far as he had been able to observe the force against us was truly overwhelming, and especially in artillery, and our situation critical, and being only a senior officer of equal rank with several others in the works, some of whom had had greater experience, I, at his suggestion, deemed it my duty to call a council of war of those officers. I also desired to gain time, in hopes of relief from this place or from Bowling Green. I therefore sent a note to General Bragg, asking a further suspension of hostilites, to give me time for such consultation. He consented to such suspension until 9 p.m. This was a point gained, as by that time it would be too late for further attack, except by assault, which I felt able to repel. By this time I had got telegraphic communication with Louis- ville, and immediately telgraphed General Gilbert, in substance that we had held the enemy (said to be Bragg's and Polk's whole army) at bay all day; that evidently fresh coluns were being moved agains us, and whether we should be able to continue to hold our position without assistance remained to be seen; that we should do the best we could. I recieed and answer, ordering me to turn the command over to Colonel Wilder. I replied that, under the circumstances, I regarded the order as unjust, but should obey it. In the mean time the council had been convened, consisting of Colonels Owen, Wilder, King, Emerson and Murray,and Capt. Konkle and myself. The unanimous conclusion was, if that they had the force claimed, viz, over 25,000 men and sixty pieces of artillery, besides cavalry, it would be a useless sacrifice of human life to resist, and especially as by their artillery they could in spite of us occupy the heights north of the river which completely covered our works. But it was also unanimously resolved that we should be permitted by some competent officer or officers to have actual observation of their strength or that we should demonstrae it by actual trial of arms.
At the conclusion of the council I fomally relinquished the command to Colonel Wilder, who has reported the further proceedings. I at once telegraphed General Gilbert, in substance, that I had so relinquished the command, and that I should take my musket and go into the trenches; that, as a senior officer, under the circumstances, I would not, as an officer, fight under a junior. I was immediately ordered by him to report to Colonel Wilder under arrest, which I did. It is but just to observe that I did not object to serving under Colonel Wilder. Between him and myself had existed and yet exists the most friendly and cordial relations. We had in all things agreed, and no praise from me would add to his reputation as an officer. The proper authorites must judge from subsequent events whether my telegram to General Gilbert was such evidence of weakness as justified my removal from command, or whether it was simply evidence that I saw our peril and was not, afraid to look it in the face. To that authority I shall also appeal for the justness of my arrest.
Of the coolness and determined courage of the men I cannot speak too highly. Of officers, where all did their duty well, especial praise seems almost out of place; yet some of course had beter opportunities than others to display tact, coolness, and courage. Justice requires me to acknowledge my obligations to Lt. Col. Edward A. King of the Nineteenth Regulars, but now Colonel of the Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteers. He had position about midway of the south line of the works west of the railroad. Six companies of his regiment were held to a hollow near by as a support, the assault being anticipated in that direction. His experience, coolness, and close observation, even when shells and musket-balls flew thick and fast, were invaluable and cannot be too highly praised. Colonel Owen was in command of the field works on the left (Fort Craig), with discretionay authority. I need scarcely say that it was trustworthily confided. I should also metion the excellent conduct of Adjt. John R. Simpson, of the Fiftieth Indiana, and Lt. Pumpelly, of the Sixteenth Kentucky, who acted as my aides. On Sunday they boldly reconnoitered the woods along our march to guard us against surprise. On Tuesday they did their duty with a quiet fearlessness that deserves favorable notice.
Our loss, 1 officer (Lt. Burton) and 6 privates wounded (one private mortally and Lt. Burton dangerously, a musket-ball passing through both legs and shattering a bone of one). The enemy's loss was over 100, said to be 105.
The forces under my command during this affair were those mention by Colonel Wilder in his report and the reinforcements thereto herinbefore noticed.
I am, respectfully,
C. L. DUNHAM
Colonel Commanding U. S. Forces at Green River.
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL AND CHIEF OF STAFF,
Army of Kentucky
N.B. - It is probably but just to Major-General Gilbert and myself to add that since my arrival in this city he has informed me that within a few moments after issuing the order directing me to report to Colonel Wilder under arrest he sent me a dispatch, not only releasing me from arrest, but restoring me to the command; but, telegraphic communtication being in the mean time cut off, it did not reach me.
Respectfully,
C.L. DUNHAM
Colonel Commanding
This found in the OR, Seried I, Vol. 16, Part 1 - Reports, Operations in Kentucky, Middle and East Tennessee, North Alabama, and Soutwest Virginia, June 10th - Ocober 31, 1862, Series 22, The National Historical Society Republication 1971, pages 963,964,965,966 & 967.