A Report from the West...
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, USCivilWar.Net wants to thank
Jenny Goellnitz for compiling this information.
Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 25, 1863.
COLONEL: Herewith I
have the honor to transmit a brief report of the transactions of the medical
department of the Army of the Cumberland, together with the reports of
the medical directors of the right, left, and center:
On the morning of
December 26 last, pursuant to orders from the commanding general, the army moved
forward from camp, near Nashville, toward Murfreesborough, the right on the
Nolensville and the center on the Franklin pikes, while the left advanced direct
on the Murfreesborough road.
Soon after Major-General McCook, in command of
the right wing, left his camp on Mill Creek, he encountered the cavalry of the
enemy and skirmished with them till he reached Nolensville. About a mile in
advance off this place the enemy made a determined stand, with a battery in
position, but was soon routed, with a loss of one of his guns and several
prisoners. We had 3 men killed and 7 wounded in Davis' division. The heavy rain
of the morning had subsided, and now the country was enveloped in a fog or
mist.
The same day Major-general Thomas, in command of the center, moved
across the country from the Franklin to the Nolensville pike; sent aid to
General Davis, who, he learned, was engaged, and on the following day marched
to Stewartsville, on the Murfreesborough pike We remained here till the morning
of
the 29th, when he advanced to the support of the left wing, which had preceded
him, and was now near Murfreesborough.
On the 30th, General Negley's
division, of this portion of the army, joined with Sheridan, who occupied the
left of General McCook's command, which had moved up from Nolensville on the
Wilkinson pike and now occupied a position nearly parallel with the enemy, the
left resting on the Wilkinson pike and the right extending southwesterly in a
line in a direction with the river. In this movement of the right from near
Nolensville, General Stanley, in command of a division of cavalry in advance,
encountered the enemy in considerable force, and drove him beyond Triune. The
cavalry lost 1 killed and 5 wounded, and in another affair the much-lamented
Major Rosengarten was killed and Major Ward mortally wounded. Of the Anderson
Cavalry, 6 privates were also wounded. These were taken with the command in
ambulances, and placed in hospital at the cross-roads.
Major-General
Crittenden, in command of the left wing, while advancing along the
Murfreesborough pike, met the enemy on the 27th at La Vergne and put him to
flight. In this engagement we lost 2 killed and 32 wounded. These latter were
left in hospital at La Vergne, in charge of medical officers, and were
subsequently removed to Nashville.
On the 29th, this ground division of the
army moved into position on the extreme left, with General Palmer on the right,
resting on the Murfreesborough pike and joining Negley, of the center, and
General Wood occupying the ground from Palmer to the river, General Van Cleve
in
reserve of this, and General Rousseau in rear of the center.
General
Rosecrans, with his entire staff, advanced from Nashville on the Murfreesborough
pike, and, having reached the head of the column, turned off to the right over
a
heavy mud road visited General McCook s command, and returned to his camp, in
the rear of La Vergne, about 4 o'clock the following morning. Here he remained,
contemplating the movements of the enemy, till the following day, when he moved
on to Stewartsville. The next day (the 29th), late in the evening, he visited
General Crittenden's headquarters, and remained in consultation all night with
the chief officers of his command.
On the following morning, one of our
batteries, in position a little to the left and in advance of the general,
opened fire upon a battery of
About 11 o'clock the heavy picket firing on our left ceased, and opened
generally along our right, where General McCook was being engaged. The enemy
was strongly intrenched behind earthworks, extending from the river on our extreme
left across our front in almost a direct line; then, far along our right, but
receding from the Wilkinson to the Franklin pike, through heavy timber.
The
left wing lost to-day 3 killed and 18 wounded; the center 14 killed and 53
wounded, and the right wing 24 killed and 105 wounded.
Field hospitals were established for the left and center in houses and tents along the Nashville
pike, and for the right wing in the same manner on the Wilkinson pike and
neighborhood.
Before leaving Nashville I had approved of full and complete
requisitions, at the suggestion of Surgeon Murray, U.S. Army, my predecessor,
for the three grand divisions of the army. I had also, in reserve, tents,
bedding, &c., for a field hospital for more than 2,500 men, which I ordered
up from the rear on the 29th, as soon as I learned the enemy had made a stand
near Murfreesborough. At the same time I ordered forward 20 ambulances--all that
we had on hand at Nashville. Surgeons were detailed to perform operations, when
decided on after consultation, for dressing, and such other duties as the
reception and disposition of the wounded and circumstances required.
Early on
the morning of the 31st, the enemy, during the night having massed a heavy force
on our right, fiercely attacked Johnson's and Davis' divisions, which he forced
back; and Sheridan's, being heavily pressed, was obliged to recede. The
hospitals, wounded, and nearly all the medical supplies of this wing of the army
thus fell into the hands of the enemy. We were also called on to lament in
sadness the loss of General Sill, and many noble and brave officers and
men.
About 9 o'clock the commanding general, with his staff, dashed boldly
forward to the front of the left wing, and in person directed the movements of
troops and placed batteries in position. His daring presence so near the enemy's
line brought down upon him an angry and spiteful fire of musketry, round shot,
and shell, almost at point-blank range. But utterly disregarding this metallic
storm, our brave commander moved calmly on from left to right, cheering and
inspiring our faltering troops; and throughout the day, wherever the tide of
battle most fiercely raged, General Rosecrans bore his charmed life and
ubiquitous presence. The noble Garesche was killed by his side, and his aides,
Lieutenant Kirby severely, and Lieutenant Porter slightly, wounded. Sergeant
Richmond and 4 privates of his escort were also killed or wounded, the former
mortally.
Much the heaviest loss sustained to-day fell upon our regular
battalions, brigaded under command of Lieut. Col. O. L. Shepherd, in holding
the cedar brake, on the right of the center, against the columns of the enemy
sweeping down upon them, after having forced back our entire right wing. This
loss amounted to 561 killed and wounded, more than one-third of their numbers;
in fact, I might probably better say nearly one-half.
Our
casualties in killed and wounded did not fall short of 4,000 men,, including
about 1,500 of the right wing, 1,200 of whom, wounded, fell into the hands of
the enemy.
The ambulance corps, though temporarily organized, worked
admirably. As soon as the fire of the enemy slacked at any point along our lines
and became only desultory, the ambulances dashed in at a brisk trot, and
snatched our wounded from their picket lines. In justice, I should add, the
enemy did not fire on these brave men when they knew their humane mission,
friend and foe, no longer combatants, being equally the objects of their
care.
In the early part of the day, Dr. Weeds, assistant medical director,
went to the rear to take charge of the property pertaining to the field
hospitals, and placed it in proper position. About 10 o'clock Surgeon McDermont,
medical director of the right wing, reported to me that his hospitals and
wounded, hospital supplies and medical officers, had fallen into the hands of
the enemy, and asked for instructions. I directed him to a cedar brake on the
left of the road, half a mile to the rear, where I instructed him to make a
temporary field hospital, constructing the shed, roof, and beds for the wounded
from cedar boughs, to make his requisition on 1)r. Weeds for supplies, and
report to me when he could receive the wounded. Visiting his place an hour
later, I found it unten-ble, or, at least, unsafe, on account of round shot and
shell from the enemy occasionally falling upon it. I then directed Surgeon
McDermont to find suitable buildings on the pike to the rear.
It became
necessary, in order to accommodate so many wounded, to make use of tents, and
my field hospitals having arrived, I was enabled to afford comfortable shelter
for
all. In the mean time my attention was drawn to a large number of wagons,
ambulances, caissons, &c., moving from different points to the river, more
to the left. I soon learned they had come in disorder from the right, and were
looking for safety, over an uneven rocky ford, on the opposite river bank. This
Babel-like confusion was somewhat augmented by the approach of the enemy, who
now charged upon this flank. They were, however, driven back before much
property had been destroyed. I had succeeded in drawing out many of the
ambulances before crossing the ford. Three were reported to me as having been
taken by the enemy and burned. The remainder subsequently did good
service.
During the day the enemy's cavalry made a descent upon our
hospitals, on the Nashville pike; but, beyond some confusion and embarrassment,
they did little harm. Our own cavalry, commanded by Captain Otis, speedily drove
them away, and recaptured all we had lost.
During the night I visited the
hospitals within our lines along the pike and off of it, to the rear, and was
gratified to find the wounded well provided and attended. At daylight, surgeons,
nurses, and attendants were busily engaged in the labor they had begun the
morning before.
As the fighting on January I was confined to brisk
skirmishing, and but few casualties resulted therefrom, we were able to complete
our organization, and finish the heavy work so suddenly thrown upon our hands
the day before. Many of the slightly wounded, and those who were able to ride
in
empty wagons and walk, I ordered to Nashville, 25 miles to the rear.
After a
brisk engagement the following morning, without any marked results, the day
passed much as the preceding, till 5 o'clock, when the enemy came down with an
overwhelming force upon our left flank, driving, for a while, everything before
him; but, emerging from the
Then, as on other occasions, the
ambulance corps behaved well. It was dark when the battle ceased, but while
occasionally only shot fell from the baffled foe, our wounded were on the road,
and less than an hour later they were all comfortably provided for in the rear.
Lieutenant --------- ,who had charge of this branch of the medical service,
deserves favorable mention for his zeal and industry; for though he could not
share, from indisposition, the more bold and daring occupation of his brave
comrades, he contributed much to the comfort of the wounded.
Saturday morning
found our army bivouacked in mud, drenched with rain, without shelter, and
almost without food, but still hopeful and cheerful. None were sick--few
complaining. Our heavy lines of pickets on all sides were all day engaged, and
at night General Rousseau's division stormed their rifle-pits in front, carried
and held them. Our loss in this affair and throughout the day was not large.
This proved to be our last encounter with the enemy.
On the following day we
were engaged in the mournful task of burying our lamented dead. I visited the
hospitals on the Wilkinson pike and neighborhood, now again within our lines,
and found the wounded generally well cared for. Surgeon Marks and other medical
officers, as also the attendants, left in these hospitals by direction of
Surgeon McDermot, medical director of the right wing, I am happy to state, with
but few exceptions, did their duty faithfully and well. Their labors were
great and harassing, and not unattended with danger.
On the 31st, when the
ground was fiercely contested, and only yielded to an overwhelming force, some
buildings were pierced by round shot and musketry, wounding attendants in the
earnest discharge of their duty.
During the battle of Wednesday a portion of
Negley's division, of the center, fell into the hands of the enemy. These have
been reported to me as having received the same care and attention as their own
wounded by the medical officers of their army. In fact, they have said to me
they had been "well treated, and had no reason to complain."
Surgeons Bogue,
Johnson, Brelsford, and Wright are highly commended for their gallantry in
maintaining their position with their wounded comrades when the hospitals of
this portion of the army came within the enemy's lines. In strong contrast with
these, and many other brave, devoted, and self-sacrificing men, it becomes my
painful duty to say that V. D. Miller, assistant surgeon, Seventy-eighth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, is reported to me by the medical director of his corps
as having " basely deserted his post."
Surgeon Phelps, medical director of
the left wing, is entitled to the highest praise for his zeal and untiring
industry in the establishment of the largest field hospital in the rear; for
professional skill and devoted attention to the wants of the wounded. Surgeon
Blair also deserves credit for the comfortable provision made for those
intrusted to his care, in tents, and shelters made of tent-flys. The wounded
here, as elsewhere under canvas, did well, and most clearly established, in
the
opinion of all, the advantages derived from free ventilation thus afforded
I am gratified to say my
conservative views were generally adopted, and that amputations were seldom
performed without consultation. Many exceptions were made, which am doing well,
and some cases were treated as compound fractures with marked
success.
Surgeon Muscroft, medical director of General Rousseau's division,
established a hospital in the rear, and accommodated comfortably a large number
of wounded. Many of the serious cases are in an advanced state of recovery. His
zeal, skill, and industry are common(l-able; also Surgeons James, medical
director of the cavalry division, and Comfort, of the Anderson Troop, did
faithful service. Assistant Surgeon Failer has been assiduous in his attentions
to sick and wounded.
Lieutenant-Colonel Northcott unable longer to bear the
fatigue and exposure incident to duty in the lines, on account of ill-health,
aided me greatly in organizing parties of stragglers, with whom he policed
camps, and procured wood, water, and straw.
Captain Munger, with his company,
was detailed to guard property and enforce discipline in and about the field
hospitals, and Captain Stackpole, to provide and issue subsistence stores as
required. These gentlemen did their duties well, and gave universal
satisfaction. The duties of these officers, like those of the medical
department, though not of the brilliant nature of their more fortunate comrades
in front, were essential to the comfort of the brave wounded, and deserve well
of their commanding general and country.
I must crave your indulgence for
again mentioning the ambulance corps and Lieutenant --------.
The service
performed was highly creditable. The drivers and assist-ants--among the former
of whom I desire to mention F. M. Figett, private, Company M, Twenty-first
Kentucky Volunteers---were kind, prompt, and zealous in the discharge of their
duty. This service was often necessarily continued into the night and near the
enemy's lines; yet these brave men, unarmed, untiring, and unflinching, in the
face of danger, gathered their bleeding comrades from under the guns of the
enemy and bore them to the rear.
My orderly, Private Barrett, Fourth U.S.
Cavalry, deserves creditable mention for his unceasing devotion to duty, and
the prompt manner, in which he conveyed my directions on the field. My clerk,
William Domer, private in the Anderson Troop, who, I am gratified to know, has
been highly recommended for a commission, also served faithfully and assiduously
at the hospitals in the rear.
The commissary and quartermaster's departments
are entitled to our thanks for timely and efficient aid in furnishing supplies
and transportation, and in the preparation of hospitals for the reception of
sick and wounded here and at Nashville. My thanks are also due to my assistants,
Dr. Weeds and Surgeon Phelps, whom I have previously mentioned, for their prompt
and efficient co-operation, and for valuable suggestions conducive to the
comfort and best treatment of the wounded; to Surgeon Thurston, assistant
medical director at Nashville, also, for his zeal, energy, and rare professional
abilities displayed in providing for the wounded sent him from the battle-field.
Surgeons McDermot and Beebe were untiring in their labors, and afforded me
valuable aid. Their observations on treatment of wounded, &c., as shown in
their reports, herewith appended, should receive attention.
From
the difficulty of individualizing, where so many are distinguished, I have
mentioned but few officers as deserving of commendation for faithful and
conscientious attention to duty. I am sorry to say, however, that there are
those whose conduct has been bad, whose names at an early day will be forwarded
to the commanding general for his action. Among these are two officers, who left
the field to look for hospitals beyond Stewart's Creek, and did not soon return,
reported to me by Colonel Burke, Tenth Ohio Volunteers.
Under the present
standard of professional ability among subordinate medical officers, too much
stress cannot, in my opinion, be laid upon the importance of securing
supervisory talent of the highest order. The rank now common to corps medical
directors is most inadequate to the responsibility, extent of authority, and
respect attaching to such a position, while the pay and emoluments pertaining
thereto are a poor inducement to skillful practitioners to abandon a lucrative
practice at home for the drudgery, exposure, and, at best, brief honors of
service with troops in the field. While the medical officers now acting in this
capacity are comparatively the best fitted therefor among those open to
selection, I am of opinion that the standard of professional administrative
capacity of such officers should be elevated, and that increase of rank (it may
be local), of pay and emoluments to medical directors will insure the
availability to the department of a much higher order of talent than is at
present accessible.
It appears to me that the liberality of the Government
and the people, which grants such liberal donations of money and supplies for
sanitary purposes, might be most advantageously applied to securing more
valuable personal attentions to the objects of these laudable efforts.
I append hereto a complete return of the killed and wounded of the various
subdivisions of the army, with a tabular statement of the location and nature
of
the wounds.
Very respectfully,
EBEN. SWIFT,
U. S. Army, Medical Director,
Department of the Cumberland
jgoellnitz@yahoo.com