04/06/62 Shiloh, TN
04/07/62 Shiloh, TN
07/12/63 Jackson, MS
09/19/63 Chickamauga, GA
09/20/63 Chickamauga, GA
11/25/63 Missionary Ridge, TN
Historical Data Systems, Inc.
..........
Shiloh after battle report:
Report of Col. B. L. Hodge, Nineteenth Louisiana Infantry.
HDQRS. NINETEENTH REGT. LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Corinth, Miss., April-, 1862.
SIR: In pursuance with your orders I have the honor to submit herewith
a brief report of the part taken by my regiment in the engagements with
the enemy on the 6th and 7th instant, at Shiloh Church, Tenn.:
My regiment, being on the right of the First Brigade of the division
commanded by Brig.-Gen. Ruggles, was bivouacked on the night
of the 5th instant immediately to the left of the Bark or Old Bark road,
as I understood the road to be called that led to the enemy's
encampment.
At 5.30 a.m. on the morning of the 6th we commenced the march, and
in accordance with your orders I conducted the regiment so as to leave
space for the First Arkansas Regt., Col. Fagan, which was
immediately on my left, to deploy into line. Advancing to the front, in
conformity to these instructions, my command soon crossed over to the
right of the road, when Gen. Bragg himself, in person, ordered me
to conduct my regiment forward, that, when formed into line of battle,
the said road should be immediately on my right.
Having repassed to the left of the road I continued to move forward
rapidly until we came in sight of the enemy's camp, when, by your
order, through Mr. Pugh, I halted the regiment, having previously
deployed them into line. At this time my regiment was in the woods, the
First Arkansas on my left in a field.
Immediately after our line halted a battery of the enemy, posted on an
eminence to the left and rear of their front line of camps, opened on us
with shot and shell. Although exposed to this fire for fully half an hour,
only two of my men were wounded, the guns of the enemy at this point
being served with little effect except upon the tree-tops around us. This
battery having been captured by the troops of some other command, and
our brigade having been moved forward a short distance beyond the
outer line of the enemy's camps, my regiment upon the verge of an old
field, we for the first time engaged the enemy. Seeing that the distance
was too great for our arms to do execution, we ceased firing after two
or three rounds. The enemy again noticed our presence by a few shells,
but with even less effect than before.
From this point we moved about half a mile to the right and a little in
advance, passing through a wheat field. We crossed a road leading in
the direction of Hamburg.
At this time the First Arkansas and my regiment were well together in
line, as I could see while passing through the field. Just after crossing
the road my regiment entered a small farm, a log cabin near the center,
our line extending across the field. We had advanced midway the little
farm, which is about 150 yards in width, when the enemy, lying in
ambush about 80 or 100 yards beyond the outer fence and directly in
our front, opened fire upon our entire line. Although the fire was not
expected at the moment, the advance of the regiment was not checked
in the slightest; but moving forward steadily to the fence the men
commenced to deliver their fire at will. Owing to the impenetrable
undergrowth between the enemy's position and ours I was unable to see
him, and from the manner of the men looking through the bushes, as if
hunting an object for their aim, it was apparent that they
too were unable to descry the concealed foe, and were only firing at the
flash of the enemy's pieces.
Seeing that my men were being rapidly shot down, and having no reason
to believe that we were inflicting equal injury upon the enemy, I gave
the order to cease firing and to charge bayonets. Officers and men alike
obeyed the order promptly. So dense and impenetrable became the
thicket of undergrowth that after my men had boldly forced their way
20 or 30 steps into it, and if seeming impossible to make further
progress, I again gave the order to commence firing.
The regiment now gradually fell back to the fence. Finding that the
enemy were now opening a cross-fire upon us from our left, and seeing
a large number of my small command killed and wounded, I deemed it
my duty to order the regiment to fall back to the order side of the little
farm, which was accordingly done in good order.
In this enequal conflict-unequal on account of the enemy's local
position-the regiment sustained heavy loss. In this one action, out of
little less than 300 we had lost in killed and wounded between 40 and
50 as brave and gallant men as ever risked their lives in the defense of
a righteous cause. Adjt. J. P. Harris and Lieut. W. J. Clarke, of
Company I, and Lieut. J. P. Spears, of company C, here fell
severely wounded. As of the others, so I have the pleasure of bearing
testimony for these; they did their duty well and nobly.
Having fallen back beyond the small farm, I halted the regiment and
waited in the hope that the enemy would leave his covert and give us a
fair fight. But he too fully appreciated his great advantage of position to
give it up.
Remaining in this position a short time, having had nor order from your
or our division commander, I received an order from Gen. Bragg,
transmitted through one of his staff, to advance again and attack the
same position from which we had just withdrawn. Of course the order
was obeyed without delay; but I requested the officer to say to the
general that I thought it impossible to force the enemy from this strong
position by a charge from the front, but that with a light battery playing
on one flank and a simultaneous charge of infantry on the other the
position could be carried with but small loss.
Again we advanced into the little farm, and again, when midway the
clearing, the enemy opened fire upon us. Again we pressed on to the
other fence directly in front of his ambuscade. Here we remained
exposed to his merciless fire for over half an hour, without the power
to inflict any apparent injury upon the hidden foe. In justice to my
command I again ordered them to fall back, which was done in as good
order as before.
In this second attack we had lost in killed and wounded 15 men of
desperate courage and unflinching bravery. Among them Lieut. M.
Leverett, of Company D, mortally wounded, and Lieut. John L.
Maples, of Company B, slightly wounded. It would, under the
circumstances, have been madness to have kept my command there
longer.
I may be permitted to add, sir, that this formidable position of the
enemy, after having withstood the repeated attacks of various regiments,
was only carried at last by a charge upon the right flank, supported by
a battery on the left.
After the enemy were driven from this stronghold we, with several
brigades, moved toward the river. It was then night sunset.
In accordance with your order we commenced falling back about dusk,
and, being separated from the brigade, I conducted the regiment to the
camp of the enemy, where I had established a temporary hospital
during the day. I was in the saddle till a late hour of the night
endeavoring to find your headquarters, but being unable to do so, I
concluded to let my men sleep in the tents where they were, having
learned that we were a short distance to the right of the Second Brigade,
Gen. Anderson, and immediately with Capt. Girardey's battery,
which had been on my right most of the day.
Early Monday morning I had my regiment in motion to join you, and
was moving with Capt. Girardey's battery toward the left, where I
expected to join the brigade, when I was ordered by Gen. Withers to
send my regiment, under my lieutenant-Col., to support
Brig.-Gen. Chalmers on the right. At the same time Gen.
Withers assigned me to the command of the Crescent Regt., Col.
Smith, and a battery (Fifth Company) of the Washington Artillery, as
a brigade, to support the line in front, which was at that time engaging
the enemy a little beyond the outer line of the enemy's camp and a short
distance to the right of where Gen. Beauregard had his headquarters
Sunday night.
Having marched forward about 400 or 500 yards, our line halted to
await the issue of the conflict going on in front of us. A short time
elapsed when the line in front of us gave way and we engaged the
enemy.
Just at this time I had misfortune to be thrown by my horse, and being
badly stunned and bruised, was borne from the field.
In conclusion, sir, I desire to do simple justice to my regiment by
stating the fact that the officers and men did their whole duty; nothing
more, nothing less.
Of the part taken by my regiment in the engagement on Monday I am
not now able to furnish a report, owing to the sickness of my
lieutenant-colonel, who commanded, not being able to render me a
statement. His verbal report shows my regiment actively engaged all
day. So soon as he renders me his report I will immediately transmit it
to you to form a conclusion to this report, and to show how my
regiment was engaged while I was assigned to another command.
I have the honor, colonel, to be, with distinguished regard, your
obedient, humble servant,
B. L. HODGE,
Col., Nineteenth Regt. Louisiana Volunteers.
Col. R. L. GIBSON,
Cmdg. First Brigade, Ruggles' Division.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10
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Report of Col. W. P. Winans, Nineteenth Louisiana Infantry.
IN THE TRENCHES, July 14, 1863.
CAPT.: In pursuance with orders just received, I have the honor
to report that just before 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 12th, the
enemy, from batteries planted in our front and upon our right flank,
subjected the Nineteenth Louisiana Regiment to a cross-fire of shell and
shot for over half an hour. During this bombardment 1 man in Company E
(Capt. [James B.] Landers) was severely wounded by a fragment of
shell, cutting a considerable gash and fracturing the shoulder blade.
Soon after a cessation of the shelling the enemy in large force made
an assault upon Slocomb's battery, upon my left, which was splendidly
repulsed. Only the three left companies of my right were permitted to
take part in this fight, owing to the topography of our trenches.
Your obedient servant,
W. P. WINANS,.
Col.
Capt. E. P. GUILLET,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XXXVI.] THE JACKSON CAMPAIGN. PAGE 656-37
[Series I. Vol. 24. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 37.]
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Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Lieut. Col. Richard W. Turner, Nineteenth Louisiana
Infantry.
HDQRS. NINETEENTH LOUISIANA REGT.,
Camp in Front of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor herewith to make the following report of
the action taken by the Nineteenth Louisiana Regt. in the battle
of the Chickamauga, on the 20th instant:
At daylight the regiment, numbering in the aggregate 349, was
put on the march, moving to the right, and at 7.30 a. m.
was formed in line of battle on the right of Brig.-Gen. Stovall's
brigade and on the left of the Sixteenth and Twenty-fifth
Louisiana Regt.'s, when I threw out Company F, Capt. Handley,
as skirmishers, under the command of Maj. Austin. After the
skirmishers had advanced about half a mile and discovered the
enemy, the line was advanced in most excellent order, the
skirmishing being so exceedingly heavy that I thought every
moment that I was on the enemy's main line of battle. The
skirmishers advanced most resolutely, and succeeded in driving
the enemy so fast and far that it was soon ascertained that the
line of our brigade was considerably in advance of the line on
our left; indeed, so much so that the whole line had to be
changed to the left in order to protect our flank. So soon as the
new line was formed to the left, I was ordered by Brig.-Gen.
Adams to move by the left flank until the left of my regiment
should rest upon the road, which being done, the whole line was
advanced under very heavy fire of the enemy of grape and
canister to a ravine or hollow, where the whole line was halted,
while the Washington Artillery was firing in our front. At this
moment I was wounded slightly in the thigh and had to leave the
field, and was unable to resume command again during the day.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
RICHD. W. TURNER,
Lieut.-Col. Nineteenth Louisiana Regt.
[Lieut.] H. H. BEIN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
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Report of Capt. H. A. Kennedy, Nineteenth Louisiana Infantry.
HDQRS. NINETEENTH LOUISIANA REGT.,
Camp in Front of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor herewith to make the following report of
the action taken by the Nineteenth Louisiana Regt. in the battle
of the Chickamauga, on the 20th instant, after Lieut. Col. R. W.
Turner was wounded and left the field:
After Lieut.-Col. Turner left the field the command devolved on
Maj. Loudon Butler, who led a most desperate charge upon the
enemy, who were in line upon Glenn's farm, and I regret to say
that the gallant Butler lost his life in this the most desperate and
bloody charge that troops were ever called on to make. After the
death of the lamented Butler the command devolved on me.
From this charge the whole line was beaten back, though not
until I perceived that no support could come from the left, as
Brig.-Gen. Stovall's brigade did not come up within 100 yards
of where the left of my regiment now stood, and the right of our
own brigade had given way, until, seeing myself almost deserted
and in the face of a most destructive fire, I had no alternative left
me but to order a retreat, which was conducted somewhat
disorderly, in consequence of the destructive fire under which I
was then maneuvering. The
regiment fell back, and I first sought to rally it in the
ravine from which the charge was begun, but being under a very
heavy fire of the enemy's guns, and seeing that a considerable
portion of the brigade was forming at the spot where the brigade
had changed front to the left, I caused the regiment to fall back,
and formed it on the left of the brigade, to the right and a little
to the rear of the Washington Artillery. From this point the
regiment moved off with the brigade by the left flank about 250
yards, when the brigade was moved to the front until the line
rested just in rear of the houses near which a section of a battery
had been captured by the skirmishers under command of Capt.
Handley. From this point the regiment was moved by the left
flank to a skirt of woods between the prairie and the old field
where the line of battle had been formed in the morning. From
this point the regiment was again moved by the left flank and
formed a line of battle perpendicular to the one then formed just
in rear of the old field above referred to, when the regiment was
moved by a change of direction to the left until it rested near a
small ravine, then halted, stacked arms, and remained about two
hours. The regiment was then moved by the left flank, and
formed line of battle on the hill in front and parallel with the
original line of the morning. Here the regiment was ordered to
lie down during a severe shelling. From this point the line was
ordered forward, and as soon as it had reached the line that was
engaging the enemy in front, the charge was begun and continued
until the ground fought upon in the morning had been entirely
regained, driving the enemy in the wildest confusion far beyond
his original lines. At this point the regiment was halted and faced
to the rear, and marched back east of the road and bivouacked
for the night.
The losses of this day were unprecedentedly heavy. I lost in
killed 3 officers and 25 enlisted men, and wounded 14 officers
and 92 killed 3 officers and 25 enlisted men, and wounded 14
officers and 92 enlisted men; 8 enlisted men wounded and
missing, 1 officer and 10 enlisted men missing; making an
aggregate of killed, wounded, and missing of 153, nearly 50 per
cent of the whole number engaged.
Among the killed we are called upon to lament, in addition to the
gallant Butler, Lieut.'s R. W. Cater, of Company I, and W. T.
Williams, Company C-who fell where soldiers should fall, at
their posts, in the faithful discharge of their duty-together with
25 enlisted men, whose names and deeds will, and of right
should, long live in the hearts of their grateful countrymen.
It is exceedingly difficult to draw distinctions between officers or
men where all do their full duty, yet I must be allowed to notice
particularly Capt. B. B. Matlock, of Company A; First Lieut. E.
M. Woodruff, Company I, and Ensign John S. Brown, who
conspicuously distinguished themselves for gallantry and bravery
during the whole engagement.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
H. A. KENNEDY,
Capt., Comdg.
[Lieut.] H. H. BEIN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 224-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]