This is the after action report to Wisconsin Governor Solomon by Colonel Hans C. Heg of the 15th Wisconsin. It describes the 15th's role in the Battle of Stone('s) River (also called Murfreesboro), Tennessee, which took place from December 30, 1862, through January 4, 1863. The report is dated January 9, 1863, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This report was not published in the Official Records.
To make the 15th's history easier to understand, information has been added [within brackets] to explain abbreviations, add names, or clarify matters which the original author assumed 19th century Americans would know. In addition, hot links have been added to provide access to additional details about the 15th's soldiers.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (January 17, 1863, Madison, Wisconsin). Transcription from microfilm by Donald B. Larson.
HEADQUARTERS 15th Wisconsin, January 9th, 1863.
Hon. Howard
Solomon: -- I have the honor of transmitting a copy of my report of the part
taken by the 15th Wisconsin during the several actions between Nashville and
Murfreesboro, from the 26th of December to the 4th of January. While we fought
under many disadvantages, and even after we were -- from negligence on the part
of the troops on our right -- nearly surrounded, I think I can safely say that
the reputation of Wisconsin has not suffered by us. Many brave fellows have
fallen; and many are dying from their wounds. In the hurry of making out my
report, I have hardly done justice to many of my officers. I would specially
mention Major [Ole C.]
Johnson, Adjutant [Henry] Hauff, Captain
John M. Johnson [of Company
A], Capt. [Captain] [George] Wilson
[of Company H] and Capt. [Captain] [Mons] Grinager; also
[1st] Lieut. [Lieutenant] [Thor] Simonson of Co. [Company]
F. They all displayed more than ordinary
courage and bravery, and deserve to be remembered. The three last named were
wounded, but remained with their several commands, excepting Capt. [Captain]
[Mons] Grinager, who
is severely wounded, and was taken prisoner -- but escaped -- and is now doing
well.
I escaped without any injury, but had a horse shot under me
[by a cannon ball] in the engagement on the 30th.
Very
respectively, your ob't serv't,
HANS C. HEG, Col. 15th Regt, Wis.
Vols.
HEADQUARTERS, 15th WIS. VOLS.
Camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn., January
7th, 1863.
Col. W. P. Carlin, Commanding 2d Brigade, 1st
Division, Right Wing, Army of the Cumberland.
Sir: -- On the
morning of December 26th, 1862, I left camp near Nashville with eight companies
of the 15th Wis. Vols., numbering 17 officers and 290 enlisted men, proceeding
on the road towards Nolandsville. After marching about ten miles I was directed
by you to form my command in line of battle, and to advance toward the enemy,
who was then engaging our skirmishers. After an advance of nearly two miles,
one of the enemy's batteries was discovered in position in a mountain gap on the
Nolandsville turnpike. Your order to take the battery at all hazards stimulated
the several regiments of your command to do their utmost. Keeping my regiment
closely under the bluffs to the right and sheltered from view by the heavy
timber, I succeeded in advancing to within 200 yards of one of the enemy's
pieces, before we were discovered by them. Without firing, I ordered a charge
and captured the cannon with its caisson and horses, together with three of its
cannoniers, before they had time to disable the piece, and without any accident
to my men. We bivouacked for the night at the place where the charge was made,
without tents.
On the 27th we advanced about two miles on the
turnpike towards Tirune and camped near the road till Monday morning, the 29th,
when we again were ordered to march towards Murfreesboro.
Nothing
of importance transpired during the day and we bivouacked for the night without
fires, the men resting on their arms.
On the morning of the 30th,
by your direction, I formed my command in line of battle, and was ordered to
advance in that position with my right resting on the left of the 21st Ill.
[Illinois], and at the same time to keep one company in advance as skirmishers.
I detailed Co. E, commanded by Capt. [Captain] [John] Ingmundson, and directed him to report to
Lieut. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] [David] McKee, who had previously been ordered
by you to take command of the line of skirmishers. The advance was made very
cautiously and slowly. My first intimation of the presence of the enemy was
about 12 o'clock, while my command was resting in skirt of a piece of timber
near the house of Mr. Grissom; our skirmishers having advanced across an open
cornfield to another piece of woods beyond, where a brisk firing was going on
between them and the enemy's pickets.
About 2 o'clock I received
your order to advance cautiously and to occupy the woods held by our
skirmishers. Upon entering the woods I found Capt. [Captain] [John]
Ingmundson killed
and one of his men severely wounded. Gradually driving in the enemy's
skirmishers, we advanced slowly through a heavy cedar thicket, the ground being
thickly covered with fallen timber, and very rough and stony. Under a severe
fire of shell and grape, my command advanced steadily receiving the fire, until
I discovered the enemy in heavy force stationed by a wall fence close by the
house of Mrs. Wm. [William] Smith. We opened fire when the column was within
300 yards of where the enemy lay. In spite of the fire from the enemy's
battery, my regiment marched forward until it was within 100 yards of the
enemy's line, when another battery on our left and front, opened a cross fire on
us with grape and canister.
After seeing the regiment on my
right, which I think was more exposed to the enemy's fire than mine -- retiring,
I gave the order to retreat. At this point my men behaved with more than
ordinary coolness. The retreat was made in good order, and while retiring a
distance of less than 200 yards, the regiment was twice faced to the enemy and
ordered to fire and then took a position behind a fence about 300 yards from the
enemy, which position we held till after dark, taking off all our killed and
wounded.
In this engagement I had 6 killed and 80 wounded. About
8 o'clock, we were relieved by the picket guard, under the command of Lieut.
Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] [David] McKee, and retired my regiment 400 yards to the rear, where we remained
during the night, resting on our arms without fire.
At 4 o'clock
in the morning of Wednesday the 31st, my men were in line of battle with a full
supply of ammunition in cartridge-boxes. At daylight, brisk firing was heard
some distance to our right. I held my first position in the morning, until the
battery retired, when by your direction I fell back about 300 yards acting in
support to the battery. I remained here until the battery again retired, when I
followed marching in retreat behind it across the open field towards the high
ground near the house of Mr. Grissom, then occupied by us for a hospital.
Knowing that the rest of the brigade were still engaging the enemy in
the woods, near their first position, I suggested to your Adjutant that my
regiment ought to be up there to which he replied that there was where we were
wanted. I then immediately wheeled to the right and advanced through the
cornfield in the direction indicated, intending to take up position where I
could render assistance in keeping the enemy in check. Such a position I found
by a fence immediately in the rear of the 38th Illinois which at that time was
holding the enemy at bay.
While advancing towards this position,
I met Gen. Woodruff retiring from the field with his men, and as I then supposed
for the purpose of taking up a position on the wooded hill in our rear. I
remained by the fence above referred to until the 38th was forced to retire,
when my regiment opened fire on the enemy, who at that time was within 200 yards
of us, and advancing towards us in very solid column. We held this position
until I discovered a large force of the enemy appear on our right, leaving no
alternative but to retire as best we could or have the regiment taken prisoners.
While holding this position, many of my men were killed and
wounded. Lieut. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] [David] McKee fell here, shot through the head, while facing the
enemy. I succeeded, however, in withdrawing and directing the men towards the
hill in our rear, where I expected our forces were preparing to make a stand.
It was here impossible to retire in as good order as I had done the day before,
for the reason that a large body of the enemy had already advanced so far on our
right flank as to expose us to a terrible fire from that direction, and as our
retreat was only to be effected through an open field.
I believe my
regiment was the very last to retire from the action, and I should not have
remained as long at my last position as I did, had I not supposed that our
division was preparing to make a stand on the high wooded ground in our rear,
near the house of Mr. Grissom.
Arriving on the hill above
referred to, I saw no other troops than the remains of our brigade, and
agreeably to your orders we retired to the Murfreesboro pike, marching slowly in
retreat. When within 400 or 500 yards of the Murfreesboro pike, by your
direction I again took up a position behind a fence, and waiting until the enemy
came within range, opened on them with excellent effect. The enemy's forces,
however, were overwhelming, and we were once more forced to retire. At this
point, I also lost one man killed and several severely wounded. Crossing the
turnpike, the men were again rallied at the railroad track, in the vicinity of
which we remained the rest of the day.
The 1st and second of
January we remained near the Murfreesboro turnpike, skirmishing with the enemy's
pickets and capturing a few prisoners, the men remaining continually under arms
during the day and sleeping on their arms at night, until Friday evening, the 2d
of January, when we again started in pursuit of the enemy, crossed Stone's river
and took up a position on a high point of ground in front of the enemy, three
quarters of a mile from the river, where we remained till Sunday morning the
4th, during a drenching rain, without shelter and fire, continually skirmishing
with the enemy's pickets.
During five days and nights my men may
be said to have been continually under arms, a part of the time in a drenching
rain, without shelter, without fire and with scanty rations, continually
fighting or skirmishing with the enemy. To the credit of my men it must be said
that not a word of murmur or dissatisfaction was heard. The officers and men of
my command, almost without exception, displayed personal courage and bravery.
Capt. [Captain] George
Wilson [of Company H], Capt. [Captain] Mons Grinager
[of Company K] and Lieut. [1st Lieutenant] Thor Simonson
[of Company F] were
wounded in the engagement on the 30th but remained with their several companies
and brought them in good order off the field. Capt. [Captain] [Charles] Gustaveson
[of Company F] was slightly wounded in the foot in this same engagement but did
not again appear on the field. Lieut. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] [David]
McKee [of Field & Staff] and Capt. [Captain] [John] Ingmundson [of
Company E] are the
only officers known to be killed. The Government has few officers in its service
more earnest, capable, and brave than these two men. They fell nobly doing
their duty.
My little remnant of a regiment return to you their
heartfelt thanks for your unceasing attention to us. Your presence with us upon
all occasions, night and day, in action and out it, during victory and defeat,
has, if it was possible, increased the confidence and admiration we have always
entertained.
If we have done our duty towards you and our
country, we are satisfied.
The casualties in the regiment during
the engagements on the 30th and 31st are as follows:
Killed, 15;
wounded, 70; missing 34; total, 110.
Very Respectively, Your obedient servant,
Hans C. Heg, Col. Com.
[Colonel Commanding]"
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