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916 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 916 KY., M. AND E.TENN., N.ALA., AND SW.VA. Chapter XXVIII.

Indiana, and as soon as reports are received from the other regiments of my command I will forward them to you.

I am, sir, very respectfully, yours,

MAHLON D. MANSON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding at Richmond.

Major General WILLIAM NELSON,

Commanding Army of the Kentucky.


No. 6.

Report of Lieutenant Colonel John R. Mahan, Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry.

CAMP MORTON,

Indianapolis, September 10, 1862.

I have the honor to submit to you a report of the part taken by the Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteers in the late engagement at Rogersville and Richmond, Ky. On the 29th instant, at about 1 o'clock p.m., in pursuance of your order, a part of the regiment, consisting of Companies B, C, D, E, and G, were formed in line of battle on our camps ground about 2 miles south of Richmond, and was moved down the road in the direction of Rogersville at a point about 1 1/2 miles from our camp, being followed immediately by four pieces of artillery, under command of Lieutenant Lanphere. At this point, the enemy having been discovered in considerable force on the left in the valley, two pieces of artillery were placed on the left of the road and opened an effective fire on the enemy, who had ingeniously concealed himself in the woods. The Fifty-fifth Regiment, in pursuance of your order, here remained in position in the rear of the battery until the woods had been thoroughly shelled in that direction, when they moved forward to a point one-half mile farther toward Rogersville, and formed again upon the right of the road at a point designated and wisely selected by you. Here the artillery was placed again in front of the Fifty-fifth Regiment, the Seventy-first Indiana Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Topping, being now upon the left of the Fifty-fifth, and the Sixty-ninth being upon the left of the Seventy-first and across the road in line of battle, with two pieces of artillery.

The enemy appearing in our front and upon our left at this point in large numbers, the artillery upon the right and left again opened upon them, bearing upon the road in the direction of Rogersville and the valley and woods upon our left. The enemy here opened a lively fire upon us, directed toward our battery and the Fifty-fifth Regiment upon the right, and for a short time we had the promise of a lively engagement, but the enemy was soon discovered to be falling back. At your suggestion I here deployed one company of my command, Company E, Captain [Charles] Emery, and sent them down the road toward Rogersville as skirmishers. They found the enemy in front retreating through Rogersville, and pursued so closely that they captured and brought back to us one piece of the enemy's artillery, which had been used, with but little effect, upon us but a short time previous. The enemy was now found to be retreating in dismay, and the column, the Fifty-fifth being in front, upon your order moved 1 mile farther south to Rogersville, where they slept upon their arms.

At about 6 o'clock in the morning of the 30th I formed the Fifty-fifth Regiment again, and, as you directed, moved in front of the column, being followed by the artillery to a point about one-half mile south of


Page 916 KY., M. AND E.TENN., N.ALA., AND SW.VA. Chapter XXVIII.