John M. Thayer to 1st Nebr., Comdg. 3d Brig., 3d Div., Dept. West Tenn, February 18, 1862

Camp Cloak, near Fort Henry, February 18, 1862.

Str: Below I give you a list of the killed, wounded, and missing in the Twenty-fifth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers in the battle at Dover, on the 13th instant.

f Mist , . n A A # Ces ds 6 2 E 8 = $ 2 a 2 E 5 2 38 o H U o [“

Pursuant to your order, on Saturday morning, the 13th instant, I proceeded with my regiment in the direction of General MeClernand’s extreme right. Following the guide you sent me, I passed General MeOlernand at his headquarters, and he ordered me to go at doublequick. The guide continued with me, leading me within range of the enemy’s guns, until we passed in the rear of one of our batteries on the hill, when the guide left me, directing me to proceed around the hill. I then proceeded, in utter ignorance of the point at which I was needed and the position of the enemy, until I came up in the rear of one of General MeClernand’s regiments, when the colonel came running down to me and appealed to me to come to his rescue, stating that his men were about out of ammunition. I halted my regiment, formed them, and led them up in the face of a most galling and terrific fire. My officers and men marched upon it with the coolness and firmness of regulars, and opened a most deadly fire upon the enemy.

After some time two officers came up, and, without consulting me, ordered my men to forward down the line. My men then moved down the line under a most deadly fire from the enemy. When I again opened fire upon them, and whilst my men were fighting as bravely and gallantly as men ever fought, some officers came upon my extreme right and ordered them cease firing ; that some of my men were firing upon them off to the right of my regiment, moving through and breaking my line, when my command fell back, a number of the officers and men fighting as they retired. The regiment was subsequently reformed and entered the action.

Respectfully, yours, s j J. M. SHACKELFORD, Colonel Twenty-fifth Regiment Kentucky Volunteers.

Colonel CRUFT, Commanding First Brigade, Third Division.

* But see revised list, p. 169,

Report of Col. John M. Thayer, First Nebraska Infantry, commanding Third- Brigade. —

HDQRS. 3D BRIG., 9D Dıv., DEPT. WEST TENNESSEE, Fort Henry, February 18, 1862,

CAPTAIN: I have the honor herewith to submit a report of the part taken in the battle of Fort Donelson by the brigade under my command, composed of the First Nebraska, Lieutenant-Colonel McCord; the Seventy sixth Ohio, Colonel Woods; the Fitty-eighth Ohio and the Sixtyeighth Ohio, Colonel Steedman. There were also attached to my brigade during the action the Forty-sixth Illinois, Colonel Davis, the Fiftyseventh Illinois, Colonel Baldwin, and the Fifty-eighth Illinois, Colonel Lynch.

At 3 o’clock on the afternoon of Friday, the 14th instant, I moved the brigade forward, under orders from General Wallace, commanding the Third Division, of which this ae igade constitutes a part, from the small settlement in the valley some 2 miles south of the fortifications to take up a position on the left of Colonel Cruft’s brigade, which had gone on in the direction of General McClernand’s division. After passing up à mile the line of battle was formed in the road fronting the valley leading to the western redoubt. No enemy appearing in that direction, we bivouacked for the night on the side of the road, the troops lying on the ground with their arms in their hands. At daylight the next morning the line was again formed. At about 10 o’clock I received orders from General Wallace in person to move forward with my command to the support of General McClernand, who had been engaged with the enemy during the morning. Passing along the central road leading to the breastworks half a mile I met and passed the column of General MeClernand retreating. Moving my men at double-quick, we were soon between the forces of General MeClernand and the enemy, who was rapidly ap- ; proaching.

On arriving at a small opening in the timber I filed into the right, crossing the ravine and ascending the hill; placed Colonel Lynch’s Fiftyeighth Regiment on the right slope of the hill. The Chieago battery, Lieutenant Wood,taking position, by direction of the general, in the road, the Nebraska reg iment, Lieutenant-Colonel MeCord, was placed immediately on the right of the battery, on the line of the Fifty-eighth Illinois. A detached company of the Thirty-second Illinois (Company A, Captain Davidson) occupied the position next to the battery on the left. The Fifty-eighth Ohio were in position on the left of thiscompany. The line of battle was thus formed across the road at right angles with it. The Seventy sixth Ohio was placed some 50 yards in the rear of the First Nebraska, and directed to lie upon the ground as areserve. The Fortysixth and ‘Fifty- seventh Illinois were also held in reserve on the road in the rear, ready and anxious for the fight. Colonel Steedman’s Sixtyeighth Ohio were stationed on a road on the left, leading to the fort. In this position we had not long to wait for the enemy, who soon approached, with a battery supported by a large body of infantry. Lieutenant W ‘ood i immediately commenced an effective fire with his battery, which was instantly returned by the enemy. The extreme left of the First Nebraska, resting on the battery, under orders previously given, at once opened. a well- “directed fire, which rapidly extended along the

line toits right. This regiment continued an almost incessant discharge T

“Crap. XVIL] CAPTURE OF.FORT DONELSON, TENN.

of musketry for three-quarters of an hour, the battery continuing its

firing at the same time, when the enemy were completely repulsed and fled. Nothing but the thick underbrush prevented a charge with the bayonet. The enemy made an effort three times to push forward through our lines, but were as often driven back.

Colonel Cruft’s brigade was engaged on my right in the direction of the river with the enemy’s forces, who were endeavoring to outflank his right. Theenemy approaching the center of our lines, where my brigade was posted, evidently shows that it was his intention to open his way through and unite with the forces that should outflank Colonel Cruft, but in both of these attempts he was overcome and forced to retreat. I

_ have since learned from the enemy that his force in the engagement which

I have described, in addition to his battery, was three regiments of infantry and a squadron of horse, which were repulsed by one regiment of our infantry, the First Nebraska, and the Chicago battery. The enemy also admit a large number of killed: and wounded in this action. The Nebraska regiment had but 3 killed and 7 wounded. The enemy poured volley after volley upon us, but, fortunately, aimed too high to do much execution. The Nebraska regiment being the only one engaged at this time, I was with it during the action, and am pleased to be able to say that every officer and soldier behaved very gallantly throughout. I cannot omit to speak in high terms of the soldierly bearing and efficient conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel McCord and Major Livingston during the engagement.

Colonel Woods and “his regiment were also exposed to the full fire of the enemy, and their position was rendered the more trying, as I had directed them not to fire until ordered forward for that purpose, if the emergency should arise, which, however, was not necessary. In the afternoon Colonel Lynch was sent forward with his regiment to the assistance of our forces who were engaged on the right, where General Wallace with a part of his division had encountered the enemy, and who drove them back within their intrenchments, recovering the ground lost in the morning. Colonel Davis moved forward and took position on the road in front. The other regiments of the brigade remained in the positions oecupied by them during the engagement and camped there that night. The next morning at daylight (Sunday), on receiving orders from General Wallace, I moved my command over to the road on the right and passed down the road to.the base of the hill leading to the fortifications, where the line was formed in connection with our other forces, with the intention of storming the works, but before this could be attempted the enemy surrendered.

Not having received reports from the different regiments under my command during the battle, I am not able to submit a detailed report

of its casualties.

I must acknowledge the efficient services in the prompt execution of orders of S. A. Strickland, my acting assistant adjutant-general, my aide-de-camp, Capt. Allen Blacker, and Lieut. Charles E. Provost.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Assistant Adjutant- General, Third Division

No. 45.

Message from the President of the Confederate States.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, March 11, 1862.