taught in the manual of arms. The artillery
which I had was composed of men of different
regiments some of infantry and a few artillery
men who had been separated from their com
mands at Cumberland Gap. They had been
sent from Lexington without caissons or a proper
supply of ammunition, being quite deficient in
fuses and friction-primers. The ammunition of
some of the pieces was entirely spent in the first
engagement of the morning, and the ammunition
of all had been quite exhausted at the close of
the last battle in the evening.
Taking into consideration the rawness of our
troops, there has been no battle during the war
in which more bravery was displayed, by officers
and men, with few exceptions, than there was in
the four battles near Richmond.
I have neglected to state, in the proper place,
that I was joined, in the second engagement, by
a portion of the Third Kentucky infantry, who
had passed from General Morgan s command, at
the Cumberland Gap, with some Government
horses. These men dismounted, hitched their
horses, and did excellent service. I do not know
the names of any of the accomplished officers
who commanded this detachment, or I should
gladly give them a place in this report.
I cannot close my report without referring,
especially, to the gallant acts of some of the offi
cers which came directly under my own observ-
vation. Captain R. C. Rise, my Assistant Ad
jutant-General ; Captain Biddlc, United States
Army ; Lieutenant Osborne, of the Fifty-fifth
Indiana ; Colonel Metcalfe ; Mr. William Good-
loe, of Lexington, Kentucky ; Mr. Bennett, of
Madison county ; and one or two other citizens,
whose names I do not remember, who com
posed my staff on the day of the battles, who are
entitled to great credit for the services which
they rendered me, and for the prompt manner in
which they discharged their duty, regardless of
personal danger. I am particularly under obli
gations to Captain Biddle for valuable sugges
tions in relation to the posting and arranging of
the artillery.
I am under great obligations to the gallant
Lieutenant Wickliffe Cooper, Dr. Irwin, Captains
Baldwin, Stacy and Kendrick, of your staff; some
of whom had travelled twent} r -five miles after
hearing the cannonading of the morning, for valu
able aid given me during the second and third
engagements. Colonels Lucas, Link, Mahan,
Korft; Landrum, Oden, Munday, McMillan, Ma
jors Kempton, Orr, Morrison, Captain Baird,
Lieut. Lamphere, and Sergeant Brown, of the
battery, greatly distinguished themselves during
the action, together with other officers whose
names I have not got.
The enemy say they had about twelve thou
sand infantry, four thousand cavalry, and fifteen
pieces of artillery, who were all veteran troops,
most of them having been in the army since the
commencement of the war. Their loss in killed
was about two hundred and fifty, and in wound
ed not over five hundred. The Union troops did
not exceed six thousand five hundred, and there
were not engaged at any time over two thousand
five hundred. It is to be regretted that we had
not some drilled and disciplined soldiers to meet
the enemy in the battles near Richmond ; I am
satisfied the result would have been different.
In conclusion, allow me to express the wish
that the wound which you received in the last
action near Richmond may speedily heal, and
that you may soon be able to take the field
again.
I herewith transmit the report of Col. Mahan,
of the Fifty-fifth Indiana ; and as soon as ro-
DOCUMENTS.
411
ports arc received from the other regiments o
my command, I will forward them to you.
T arn, sir, very respectfully, yours,
M. I). MAXSON,
Brigadier-General Commanding Forces at Richmond
COLONEL McMILLEN S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS NINETY-FIFTH REGIMENT 0. V. I., j
CAMP CHASE, September 20, 1862. j
GOVERNOR : I have the honor to submit the
following report of the part taken by the Ninety
fifth regiment Ohio volunteers, in the battles be
fore Richmond, Kentucky, on Saturday, August
thirtieth, 1862.
About three o clock P.M., on Friday, twenty-
ninth of August, I received an order from Bri
gadier-General Cruft, commanding the Twenty-
first brigade of the army of Kentucky, directing
me to form my regiment quietly in line of battle,
and to wait further orders. The regiment re
mained in line until about dark ; at which time,
the skirmishing in front having ceased, supper-
was prepared, and the men dismissed, one half
at a time, to eat it. During the night the regi
ment lay on their arms, and at three o clock on
Saturday morning again formed in line of battle.
At daylight arms were stacked and breakfast
prepared. As soon as possible thereafter, the
line was again formed, and at seven o clock we
received inarching orders. Taking the advance
of the brigade, we were marched rapidly a por
tion of the distance on the double-quick, seven
miles to the front, to a point between Rogers-
ville and Kingston, where General Manson s bri
gade had already engaged the enemy. Without
being permitted to halt for rest, or the men to
close up, we were marched at once upon the field,
and required to form our line of battle under a
heavy artillery fire from the enemy and in ad
vance of our guns. This movement was being
executed with alacrity by the men, but before it
could be completed we were ordered by General
Manson to move across the road and charge a
battery which the enemy was planting some four
hundred yards to our front. I moved at once
with that portion of the regiment which had
come up, forming on the right of the road and
advancing rapidly at a charge bayonet on the
battery indicated. Whilst we were thus engaged
the enemy advanced his right and left wings, out
flanking and driving our forces before him. See
ing that it would be reckless and useless to con
tinue our assault upon the battery, I ordered the
regiment to halt and fall back, which they did,
for a time, in good order, losing, however, in ad
dition to our killed and wounded, one hundred
and sixty men and a large number of officers
captured at this point. In forming for this charge,
Captains Allis and Tate, and Lieutenants Bull,
Chittenden, Tate and Potts, as well as other com
pany officers, deserve great credit for the cool
ness and courage displayed.
We continued falling back for about one and a
half miles when we found our cavalry drawn up
in line ; arid where a halt was ordered and the
regiment re-formed. Notwithstanding my men
were very much exhausted and suffering from
want of water, which was difficult to obtain, they
again formed with spirit and promptness. Tak
ing our place in line, the whole army was order
ed to fall back and take up a position on two
commanding hills some two miles this side of
Rogersville, when the second engagement, lasting
about one hour, occurred. Here the Ninety-
fifth and the other regiments forming General
Cruft s brigade, fought with a gallantry and de
termination never surpassed by raw troops, hold
ing the enemy Mn check; at one time driving
them some distance, but were finally overpower
ed, outflanked, and compelled to fall back. The
retreat from this point very soon degenerated
into a complete rout, and no effort \vas made to
rally the men until within sight of the town of
Richmond. There we succeeded in collecting
about three hundred of the Ninety-fifth, includ
ing Captain Taylor s company, which had been
on picket-duty during the former engagements,
and was relieved by order of General Nelson, who
had recently arrived upon the field. We were
posted at the edge ef a corn-field to the right, and
in sight of our old camping ground, with the
Sixty -sixth Indiana on our left, and the Twelfth
Indiana on our right. We then waited some
time the advance of the enemy, who came
up each time with fresh brigades and increas
ed confidence, and engaged us in front at
short range until we were again outflanked and
compelled to abandon the field. This last en
gagement was the bloodiest of the day, our men
fighting with a desperation worthy of a better
result. Our loss here was sad and severe four
teen killed and fifty-two wounded. Here Major
Brumback and Captain Thomas received severe
wounds which still detain them at Richmond,
"aptain Darety and Lieutenant Peters were pain
fully wounded also during this engagement.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the en
durance, spirit and gallantry exhibited by the
officers and men composing my regiment upon
;hat unfortunate day. Only one week in the
field, and during all that time bivouacked in line
of battle in the face of the enemy, with hoaxy
picket and other duties consequent upon our ad
vanced position to perform, but little time or
opportunity had been given to organize or drill
;he regiment. Laboring under difficulties and
disadvantages which few, if any, regiments from
Ohio have ever experienced, the men went into
;he engagement with an eagerness which only
novices in war ever exhibit, and maintained
;hemselves with a gallantry which would have
done honor to veterans. Where all did so well,
t may seem unnecessary and unjust to designate
any by name, but I cannot close without calling
your attention to the gallant conduct and valu
able assistance rendered me that day by Major
J. Brumback, and Captain J. M. Stuart, coni-
>any A, who, after the first engagement, acted
as one of my field-officers. Among the officers
vho were in the several engagements, and who
displayed great personal courage, I desire to
mention Captains Thomas, Darety, and Wylie ;
412
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
Lieutenants Peters, Thrapp, Stray er and Geo-
mans. Lieutenant A. G. Tuther, Adjutant, al
though captured early in the day, displa3 r ed
great gallantly, and rendered valuable assistance
during the time he was engaged.
Captain Taylor s company at the commence
ment of the last engagement were deployed as
skirmishers, and he deserves great credit for
the gallant and skilful manner in which he
handled his men.
I am, Governor, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. L. McMlLLEN,
Colonel Commanding.
His Excellency DAVID TOD,
Governor of Ohio.
LIECT.-COLONEL ARMSTRONG S REPORT.
BUPPLKMENTART REPORT TO THE ACCOUNT RENDERED BY COLONEL
MCHILLEN TO GOVERNOR TOD.
COLONEL : I begin at the place where you left
off, (in your battle report,) in which it is men
tioned that the Ninety-fifth had been ordered to
charge a battery. Here there is a hiatus in your
well-written report, which none but a participant
can supply. Presuming that you had not been
officially advised of the reasons why two hundred
sol diers and numerous officers were captured near
that spot, I propose, in justice to that body of
gallant men, to enter a little more into a detailed
description of the event than your hurried notice,
which reads, "the regiment lost, in addition to
our killed and wounded, one hundred and sixty
men and a large number of officers captured at
this point."
I am filled with admiration for the delicacy
with which this mention is made, but cannot
suffer myself to be restrained by that feeling,
when I read, in your report, that u seeing that it
would be reckless and useless to continue our as
sault upon the battery, I ordered the regiment
to halt and Ml back, which they did, for a time,
in good order, etc." Now, I must acknowledge
I did not hear that order. Those in advance with
you report the order having been for " every man
to save himself." We heard no order! Yet,
shade of John Gilpin, the scene that ensued ! I
only know there must have been an order of some
kind ; for, in proof 01 it, three fourths of the regi
ment, being brave men and good officers too,
would not have fallen back in disorderly retreat,
even before the advance of the enemy, had they
known there was a forlorn hope of two hundred
men to endure the onset ; and while the other
regiments had yet to struggle, and slowly yield
before a line of fire that was terrific.
In your absence I took command, and was join
ed by the following-named officers, who had not
withdrawn from the field : Captains Cowgill,
Warnock, Hansan, Allis and Tato, and I believe,
Captain AVylie, Captain Taylor being on picket-
duty ; these constituted all the Captains from
Franklin county, with the exception of Captain
Stewart, who is mentioned in your report as hav
ing ably seconded you in the capacity of Aid on
the retreat. In addition I beg to mention Lieuts.
Bull, Davidson, Robinson, Tatc, Chrisman and
Colwell, who remained on the field. The list
would doubtless have been much larger, had not
the advance thought we were at their heels. In
fact Adjutant Tuther returned to us on foot and
was captured in our vicinity.
In order to save the command, the men were
kept together, and only began to retire when the
other regiments left the field. My command was
surrounded, yet kept together by the cool cour
age of officers and men, who thought, even when
the day was lost, that we might cut our way out.
But such numbers were brought against us as to
compel the men to throw down their arms, with
in one fourth of a mile from the point where tho
battle opened, and within an hour after the order
to charge the battery.
I have to apologize for not knowing that there
was such an order as to " fall back,", not antici
pating it so early in the engagement. In this
connection, I hope I may be indulged in the men
tion that after my command had surrendered,
being mounted, I effected my escape amid a vol
ley of bullets, happily without injury, and had
proceeded about a mile, receiving an occasional
shot from straggling rebels, when I unfortunate
ly ran into the enemy s lines and was captured
near the point where our army was making its
second stand.
From the time of my capture until the morn
ing of September first, I did not see you. During
those two days (I mention it for your informa
tion) the wounded were brought in and were
cared for, and the five hundred and forty soldiers
of our regiment were released on parole. From
them details were sent to examine the field on
offices of humanity. And I had but just sent
Captain Warnock with a force to inter our dead,
when I received your order to march homeward
with the regiment, at ten o clock A.M., before
these duties were performed, which must be my
apology for not obeying your order ; as we desir
ed to perform the last sad rites of sepulture for
our dead comrades before departure, and which
you had doubtless overlooked.
When those duties were done, the regiment
took up its line of march for Cincinnati, at four
o clock P.M., with which incidents I believe you
are conversant.
This report would not have been made it did
not need making, so far as the furnishing of in
formation is concerned. Gen. Manson long ago
reported the part our brigade took in the action,
and before you made up your mind to make your
informal showing to the public. The regiment
perfectly understand your reasons for appearing
in the papers at this late day, and why you do
not report more elaborately, except on certain
points, which certain reasons required you to
amplify. But that public mind which was so
long left unenlightened (in a Pickwickian sense)
may take our accounts together, and congratulate
itself that there were two officers in one regiment,
not only willing but anxious to appear before tho
world with the pen as well as the sword. (And
here let me mention, that the sword and the horse
DOCUMENTS.
413
you instructed me to turn over to the rebels, I
had the good fortune to bring home through their
lines.) The public mind may congratulate itself,
or not, as is its mood, that the two officers, who,
like Caesar, could win battles, and with equal ele
gance describe them for history, no longer crowd
each other in the narrow limits of a camp of pris
oners, for the writer no longer rejoices in the
title, or the style of Lieutenant-Colonel. The
Department, strangely, left a loop open whereat
an escape was made possible from about twenty-
four hundred a year, and from the service where
in paroled men are treated something like com
mon felons. Moral. Having something else to
do, and not being an adventurer, the release is,
to the individual interested, a subject of felicita
tion. Though, had the regiment remained in
the service, this withdrawal would not have hap
pened.
There is one paragraph in your account which,
although mentioned before, I cannot admire
enough. It is suggestive. It is pregnant with
hidden meaning that none but the men of the
regiment understand. At the risk of being
thought prolix, it is worthy of reproduction in
this place :
" Seeing that it would be reckless and useless
to continue our assault upon the battery, I order
ed the regiment to halt and fall back, which they
did for a time in good order, losing, however, in
addition to our killed and wounded, one hundred
and sixty men, and a large number of officers
captured at this point." Names of men in the
list immortal, which shall still live in the memory
of the few brave men who rallied for the enemy s
first onset ; how were expletives invoked and
adjurations employed by you when witnessing
the flight of your commander before the regiment
was under fire of musketry, or had fired a gun.
"Witness, ye six captains and six lieutenants, who
scorned to fly with or without orders, though
well knowing the penalty would be no mention
of name or act other than the brief allusion above
written; how it is possible for man to be so
heartless as .to merely say, "losing at this point,
however, (however what ?) in addition to our kill
ed and wounded, one hundred and sixty men, and
a large number of officers," etc.
" He rides a race, he carries weight," etc.
The Colonel forgets his vocation. The report
is evidently considered from a surgical Bull Run
stand-point. He has reverted, instinctively, to
old professional habits. The preservation of
human life was apparently uppermost in his
thoughts. In witness whereof, his report says :
" We continued falling back for about one and
a half miles." This is not doubted ; but at the
same time a few thousand Indiana and two hun
dred Ninety-fifth men were hidden from his view
in an encircling storm of cannon-shot and mus
ketry.
Sanitary conditions considered, the point select
ed for that battle-field was not very salubrious.
The Colonel was right. Projectiles were nume
rous, and the list shows great casualties. If he
is as rapid in noting premonitions of danger in
the present encampment as he was in the famous
retrograde movement on the battery, he will dis
cover, by the diagnosis, that the atmosphere in
that vicinage is breathed by too many of the ill-
fated Ninety-fifth men to make respiration pleas
ant.
The Colonel s ill-starred anxiety for distinction,
which caused him to importune the authorities
for leave to take his regiment to the field ; the
same manifestation at Lexington, Kentucky, re
sulting in Gen. Wallace s order to move forward
to meet the enemy at Richmond, when not one
half the men knew their field-officers, and com
pany-officers hardly knew each other by sight,
and the regiment had never had battalion drill ;
the inhumanity to the sick the brutality to the
well such as knocking men down with his fist,
striking them with his sword, drawing pistols on
them, and coming it a la Nelson over them gen
erally, winding up by arresting the whole Quar
termaster s Department at once ; and, the morn
ing of the battle, putting the officer of the day
and other officers -under arrest for these, and
other reasons, to be held in general execration,
his men are utterly demoralized, and lost to the
service, under his command. Then to print a
report not required by the regulations, (and if he
could have given correctly three words of com
mand, consecutively, would have known it ; ) in
which injustice is done to men and officers
through petty feelings of envy : all these matters
conspire to bring forth a reply which shall truly
represent sentiments, nearly unanimous, prevail
ing in the regiment, and to do the regiment
the justice which can alone be done by a court-
martial or by this publication. The writer has
sought to do it without fear o r favor, for he has
weighed the consequences and will abide by them
for the sake of all those men, from whom he now
parts with regret, who, whether officers or sol
diers, fighting in the first battle or through them
all, whether carrying swords or muskets, in all
our intercourse never once forgot that they were
gentlemen, ever.
J. B. ARMSTRONG,
Late Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Ninety-fifth Regiment.
REPORT OP LIEUTENANT-COLONEL KORFF.
CINCINNATI, September 5, 1862.
To His Excellency Oliver P. Morton, Governor of
the State of Indiana :
The first brigade of the army of Kentucky, to
which the Sixty-ninth Indiana belonged, was or
dered from their camp, about two miles beyond
Richmond, about two o clock P.M., August twen
ty-ninth, to meet the rebels, who were reported
in great force near Rogersville, four miles from
camp. After forming in line of battle in sight of
the enemy, after a slight skirmish they disap
peared. We followed them, and lay on our arms
at Rogersville until morning. Orders for a for
ward movement were given at five o clock A.M.
The Sixteenth Indiana in advance, then he bat
teries, after which came the Sixty-ninth. About
414
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
two miles from Rogersville the line of battle was
formed the Sixty-ninth on the right, Sixteenth
Indiana on the left, and the batteries in the
centre.
The battle commenced about six o clock by
heavy artillery firing on both sides. The rebels,
with the intention to dislocate our artillery and
infantry, were strengthening their position by
planting three additional batteries. The men
under my command stood for about two hours a
terrible fire of shot and shell, when, in order to
save the lives of as many of my men as possible,
I ordered them to lie down. In the mean time
company A, Captain Finley, was ordered out as
skirmishers to guard the right flank. He, as well
as his officers and men, performed the hazardous
duty nobly. About ten o clock I received orders
to move with seven companies of my command to
the left to the assistance of the Sixteenth Indiana.
I felt sorry to leave only three companies, A, F,
and I), on the right, feeling confident that the
enemy would force and turn our right flank.
The seven companies ordered to the left, marched
under my command steadily for about half a mile
under a galling and terrible fire of shot, shell, and
musketry. We took a position at the extreme
left, relieving Colonel Lucas. I despatched two
companies, B and C, as flanking companies on
our extreme left.
The rebel force in our front was two regiments
of infantry and some artillery. After trying sev
eral times to turn our front without success, they
commenced to outflank us. The One Hundred
and Fifty -fourth and Thirteenth Tennessee made
the first attack on our left flank ; while the three
companies, A, F, and D, on the extreme right of
the army, were engaged successfully as skirmish
ers against sharp-shooters ai^l artillery. Captain
Ross, company D, drove the rebel artillery twice
from their position ; while Captain Finley, with
company A, kept the sharp-shooters of General
Churchill at bay. Col. Butler, of the rebel army,
was killed here.
Col. Fitzgerald, of the One Hundred and Fifty-
fourth Tennessee, led the attack against our left
with two regiments of Tennesseeans. He was
killed ; and the attack being unsuccessful, two
more regiments were ordered up under command
of General Preston Smith, to defeat our left wing.
We gave way after half an hour s fighting against
greatly superior numbers, Captains Nation and
Wingett, of companies B and G, defending every
inch of ground. About this time Adjt. Perry s
horse was killed and he wounded ; but notwith
standing he unflinchingly performed his duty.
We were compelled to fall back behind the Seven
ty-first Indiana, which was forming in line of
battle to check the advance of the enemy. While
forming our lines my horse was struck by a can
non-ball, thus falling, myself being under him,
paralyzing me and injuring me internally. Capt.
Finley took command immediately. Three more
lines of battle were formed by order of General
Manson.
The men fought gallantly, defending every inch
of ground, until compelled to surrender two miles
beyond Richmond.
I regret to record the death of Major Walter-
house, and Lieut, Cowing, of company B. Both
fought gallantly and did high credit to the regi