opened upon us from all sides, except to the left, towards the Murfreesboro pike. Order, however, was promptly restored by our division and brigade commanders, and my regiment, with others, moved slowly to the rear, keeping up a steady fire upon the enemy. When nearer the cleared field to the right of the Murfreesboro pike, the regiment was rallied, and held the ground for twenty or thirty minutes; it was then marched about half way across the open field, when orders came to charge back into the cedars. My regiment promptly obeyed my orders, rallied on the colors, and charged back into the woods with great gallantry, checking the enemy by the sudden and impetuous attack. After delivering one volley, orders came to retire, and the regiment fell back in good order to the left of the Murfreesboro pike. Here closed the active operations of the day.

In

"On the 2d of January we were again called into action. In the afternoon of that day we were posted as a reserve, in an open field in the rear of our batteries on the right of the left wing of our army. Between 3 and 4 o'clock the enemy made a heavy attack with artillery and infantry on our front. My command was kept lying upon the ground, protected by a slight hill, for about half an hour. At the expiration of this time the enemy had driven back our forces on the opposite side of the river, one regiment crossing in great disorder, and rushing through our ranks. As soon as the enemy came within range, my regiment with the others of this brigade, rose up, delivered its fire, and charged across the river. passing the river my line of battle was necessarily broken, and I led the regiment forward to a fence on a rise of ground, and reformed the line. Here the firing continued for some time until the enemy was driven from his cover and retreated through the woods. My regiment was then promptly advanced to the edge of the woods, and continued to fire upon the enemy as he fled in disorder across the open field in front to his line of entrenchments. At this time the ammunition was nearly exhausted, and my regiment, with the others in advance, formed in line of battle, threw out skirmishers, and held our position until recalled across the river. The 11th was among the first that crossed Stone river and assisted in capturing four pieces of artillery, abandoned by the enemy in his flight. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the troops under my command. They fought with the bravery and coolness of veterans, and obeyed my commands, under the hottest fire, with the precision of the parade ground. The officers of my command behaved with great gallantry and firmness. Where all nobly discharged their duty, it would, perhaps, be unjust to discriminate. Lieutenants Wilson and Flynn were killed while gallantly leading their companies. Major Smith and Lieutenants Hall, Briggs, and Howard were wounded, the two former severely, and Lieutenant Hall is a prisoner."

At Chicamauga the regiment, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Melvin Mudge, was then in the brigade of Colonel Stoughton, being the 2d brigade, 2d division, 14th corps. This brigade constituted part of the command of General Thomas, and on the last day of that sanguinary conflict held one of the most important points on his line of defence against a largely superior force, the regiment fighting most persistently, successfully repelling charge after charge of the enemy, losing seven killed, (including Captain Charles W. Newbern,) seventy-six wounded, and twenty-three missing, and was one of the last regiments to retire from the field in the darkness of that fearful night, when the army fell back. Next morning Colonel Stoughton took up a position in front of Rossville, covering the approach to the battle-field, and held it during that day, and in the night

fell back on Chattanooga, covering the rear of the retiring army. In the movement Colonel Stoughton drew off his artillery by hand, to escape the notice of the enemy. He remained on his picket line until past 4 A. M., when, hearing the enemy stirring, he successfully withdrew his pickets and made a forced march to Chattanooga without the loss of a man, thus most successfully accomplishing a very dangerous and important duty, for which he was afterwards complimented personally by General Thomas. After the battle of Mission Ridge, in November, 1863, where the regiment, under command of Major Benjamin G. Bennett, participated in the decisive charge, losing its gallant commander and thirty-nine in killed and wounded, the regiment, being in the 2d brigade, 1st division, 14th corps, moved forward on the Atlanta campaign, partaking creditably in all the important battles. On July 4th following, it took a part in the successful charge on the enemy's works near Marietta, losing thirteen in killed and wounded, including among the severely wounded Colonel Stoughton, who lost a leg. It was engaged at Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th of that month, with a loss of eleven killed and wounded, and on the 7th of August it was in the charge on the enemy's works in front of Atlanta, losing Lieutenant Edward Catlin and fifteen men killed and wounded.

The period for which the regiment enlisted having expired, it was ordered to Chattanooga on the 27th of August. The rebel General Wheeler being then engaged in making a raid into Tennessee, the regiment, immediately after its arrival at Chattanooga, on the 30th, was ordered to join the column in pursuit, and marched to Murfreesboro, and thence to Huntsville, Ala., but without meeting the enemy. It returned to Chattanooga on the 13th of September. Leaving here two commissioned officers and one hundred and fifty men-veterans and recruits whose term had not expired-the regiment started for Michigan on the 18th, arriving at Sturgis on the 25th. On the 30th of September it was mustered out of service.

THE TWELFTH INFANTRY.

The bloody battle of Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, 1862, first tried the metal of the 12th infantry, and substantially established its reputation as a fighting regiment. Leaving the State, in command of Col. Francis Quinn, on March 18th, it hurriedly reached Pittsburg Landing barely in time to participate in that important engagement. A portion of the regiment was among the troops that first discovered and engaged the enemy in his advance upon the Union lines, and this timely discovery and their persistent opposition to his advance, without doubt, saved their division from entire capture, and must have done much towards saving the whole army from a complete surprise. The 12th was in Col. Peabody's brigade of Prentiss' division, which occupied the position just attacked by the rebel forces. During the night preceding the battle of the 6th, Col. Peabody had been advised by Lieut. Col. Graves, of the 12th Michigan, of the approach of the enemy, and on this information he took the responsibility to order from his brigade two companies of the 12th Michigan, commanded respectively by Captains Graves and Cravath, and two companies of the 25th Missouri as a reconnoissance, the whole under command of Major Powell, 25th Missouri, who, about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, met the advance troops of the enemy and fought them until daylight, gradually falling back until he reached the 12th Michigan and 25th Missouri, which had advanced some distance in front of their color line. These two regiments fought the

enemy until overpowered, when they fell back to their color line, reformed again, and defended their line until again overpowered, when they retired to a third position, which was held until the division was completely surrounded and a large portion of it made prisoners. The 12th escaped capture, maintaining its organization, and next day engaged the enemy, losing in both days 266 killed, wounded, and missing, including among the mor tally wounded Lieutenant Alex. G. Davis, who died at Cincinnati on the 21st of April following.

It also participated in the affair at Iuka September 19th, and in the battle at Metamora October 5th.

The regiment, in December following, was guarding the Mississippi railroad from Hickory Valley to near Bolivar, Tennessee, with its headquarters at Middleburg. On the 24th of that month the force at Middleburg, consisting of one hundred and fifteen officers and men, in command of Colonel W. H. Graves, were attacked by a large force of Van Dorn's cavalry, consisting of three brigades, in all about three thousand strong, by which they were surrounded and their surrender demanded. About 10 o'clock on the morning of the day of the attack Lieut. Col. Dwight May, of the regiment, left Middleburg for Bolivar, distant some seven miles, and when about two miles from Middleburg he saw horsemen approaching; as he neared them he observed that they wore the blue overcoat of our army, but noticing the peculiar gait of their horses and their suspicious movements, he halted and was adjusting his field glass to scrutinize them more closely, when the advance guard fired at him and put their horses to their utmost speed towards him; they were then only about twenty rods off. He immediately wheeled his horse and started for camp, they in pursu, discharging their arms at him during the chase, but having the better horse he succeeded in reaching the camp of his regiment and instantly reported the circumstances to Col. Graves, who in his report states:

"The advance of Gen. Van Dorn's command soon made its appearance, and a flag of truce was sent in by a lieutenant colonel of staff, which I met. The officer asked who is in command; I answered 'I am;' whereupon he surveyed me from head to foot (I had been playing ball that morning, pants in boots, having on a jacket without straps) with a disdainful air and said: 'Gen. Van Dorn demands a surrender of you and the whole damned thing immediately; we don't want to bother with you.' It was my intention to have asked if he had artillery, but his important demeanor did not set well as may be imagined, and I upon the spur of the moment replied, give my compliments to the general and say to him, I have no doubt he can whip us, but while he is getting a meal we will try and get a mouthful; he then remarked, 'that is what you say, is it?' To which I made answer, that is what I say, is it; and he wheeled, put spurs to his horse, and I doublequicked to my command, which was located in a depot platform, with planks doubled and port-holes cut, and a block or rather log-house having portholes. The enemy advanced until I fired a musket, (which was the signal when my men were to fire,) when the enemy broke up in confusion and sought log buildings and ditches, where they fought us for two hours and twenty-five minutes, and finally left us monarchs of all we surveyed,' in

one sense.

"The whole force of Gen. Van Dorn was between five and six thousand, about one-half of which fought us, the balance holding the horses. They lost (as near as I can recollect) 135 killed, wounded, and prisoners, among the latter three officers wounded, one mortally. There were six of my men wounded through the port-holes, one killed, and thirteen taken prisoners,

W

mostly on picket along the railroad. Over one thousand rounds were fired by the men of the 12th during the action."

For this gallant and successful defence of Middleburg, so remarkable for the disparity in numbers, the regiment (with several others along that line of railroad that had successfully defended their posts) was complimented for bravery by General Grant in general orders, and declared by him to be deserving of the thanks of the army, which was in a measure dependent for its supplies on the road they so nobly defended.

Embarking on transports at Memphis to take part in the campaign against Vicksburg the regiment arrived at Chickasaw Bayou, near the rebel stronghold, on the 3d of June. Disembarking at Sartalia, on the Yazoo river, the regiment marched to Mechanicsburg, skirmishing on the march with the rebel cavalry. From thence it proceeded to Hayne's Bluff by an exhausting march, during which a number of men fell under the oppressive heat. The regiment remained at Hayne's and Snyder's Bluffs until the fall of Vicksburg, July 4th. It embarked on the 28th, in command of Lieut. Col. May, for Helena, Ark., near which it encamped until the 13th of August, when it marched from Helena with the army, and on the 11th of September went into camp near Little Rock. On the 26th and 27th of October the regiment moved to Benton, Ark. The 12th continued on duty in Arkansas, in command of Col. May, until the 15th of February, 1865, when it was mustered out of service.

THE THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

The day dang oravery of the 13th infantry, raised and organized by Col. Charles E. Stuart, of Kalamazoo, is attested by its persistent fighting and splendid achievements on many fields.

This regiment left Kalamazoo on the 12th of February, 1862, under command of Col. Michael Shoemaker. Its route was through Kentucky and Tennessee via Bowling Green and Nashville. It reached the battle-field at Pittsburg Landing, after a forced march, near the close of the second day's fight, and thenceforward, until the evacuation of Corinth, was engaged in picket and fatigue duty with the forces that captured that post. The 13th was the last of General Buell's command to leave northeastern Alabama on the withdrawal of our forces from that region in August, and was among the troops of the same army which fell back upon Louisville.

On the 10th of November, 1862, this regiment marched from Silver Springs, Tenn., and formed part of the forces that drove the enemy from Lebanon. Proceeding to Nashville, it was then engaged in guarding forage trains, and on picket duty, from the 25th of November to the 26th of December, when it marched with the army under General Rosecrans on Murfreesboro'. It was deployed as skirmishers on the 29th in the advance, and suffered some loss. It participated in the bloody engagements at Stone River, on the 30th and 31st of December, and 1st, 2d, and 3d of January, the regiment going into action with 224 muskets, and losing out of this number 25 killed or died of wounds, 62 wounded, and 8 missing. On the 31st of December it recaptured, by a bayonet charge, two guns which had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

The 13th was particularly distinguished at Stone River, under Colonel Shoemaker, and at Chicamauga, under the command of Col. J. B. Culver. In a recent report, Col. Culver says: "They will always be remembered with pride and sorrow by every member of the 13th. Pride, in the acknow

ledged gallantry of the regiment, and sorrow, for our brave comrades who fell there." He says further: "At the battle of Stone River, the 13th supported the 6th Ohio Independent Battery; and early on the morning of the memorable 31st of December, 1862, our brigade was detailed by verbal orders of General Rosecrans, and directed to go to the support of General R. W. Johnson, of McCook's corps, who was on the extreme right of the line, and was being forced back by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The order was promptly executed, and while getting into position we were attacked by the advancing columns of the rebel General Hanson's division, which we stubbornly resisted for fifteen or twenty minutes, when three of the regiments of the brigade retired in disorder, leaving the 13th to protect the battery. Our position was in a cotton-field, without protection. We fell back about 300 yards to the edge of a cedar thicket, formed on the left of the battery, and delivered such a destructive fire that an entire brigade of the enemy were held in check for over thirty minutes; but we were again compelled to retire, losing one-third of the entire regiment dead or wounded, together with two guns from the battery. We reformed again about 150 yards to the rear of the second position, and being opportunely supported by the gallant 51st Illinois infantry, we made a dashing charge with the bayonet, broke and routed the rebel line, recaptured the two guns, took 150 prisoners, and defeated the purposes of the enemy on this part of the field, namely, getting possession of the Murfreesboro' pike. On this field the 13th lost Captain Clement C. Webb.

Colonel Shoemaker, in his report of the part taken by his regiment in that great struggle, says:

"My report of the 5th having been made in great haste, was necessarily very brief, and for the better understanding of the movements of this regiment during the several days of battle, commencing on the 29th and ending on the 3d instant, submit the following:-In the evening of the 29th, when ordered to cross the river, we were on the left, the 51st Indiana in the centre, and the 73d Indiana on the right. My regiment commenced crossing as soon as our skirmishers were fairly on the other side. The skirmishers were company A, commanded by Lieut. Hanarsdale, and company F, commanded by Lieut. James R. Slayton. They drove the enemy rapidly, the regiment following quite close upon them. When in line in the cornfield, after receiving the 3d volley from the enemy, we were ordered to fix bayonets and prepare to receive a charge of cavalry. As my regiment was somewhat in advance of the 51st Indiana, and my right covering their left, I moved my regiment to the left and rear, so as to connect with the 51st Indiana, but still leaving my left somewhat in advance, and in such a position as would have enabled us to enfilade any force which might charge the centre. Our position was now a very strong one, being in the edge of the woods. Here we remained until ordered to recross the river. On the 31st, being in reserve, when our brigade was placed in position on the extreme right of the army, we occupied an open field in the rear of where the 64th and 65th regiments of Ohio volunteers, and 73d regiment of Indiana volunteers, were engaged with the enemy. When the battery retired we were ordered to fall back to the position we held when the enemy advanced upon us. When they opened fire upon us the other regiments of the brigade had passed by on our right to the rear, and we did not see them again until after the close of the engagement. My regiment was in line during the engagement, and delivered their fire with such precision and rapidity that the whole force of the enemy were brought to a stand at the fence in our front, and held there for at least twenty minutes, when their left, which