November 1, 1865 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - 40th Indiana - 4th Army Corps - 2nd Division - 2nd Brigade

The 40th Indiana remains on duty in Texas, stationed at Green Lake near Port Lavaca.  

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John Baer - Home, Tippecanoe County, IN

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Below is a letter John wrote some time after the war recounting the experience at the Battle of Stones River.  John received a wound to the arm in this battle.  After the collapse of the Union right in the early morning, the Union center came under attack in the afternoon, as related by John below.

John also notes the shocking death of Lt. Colonel Julius Garesche (John spells his name Garischa) during the battle.  Colonel Garesche was was decapitated by a cannonball while riding with General Rosecrans near the 40th Indiana's position.

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LETTER TO THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE

Editor National Tribune -

I am an interested reader of the reminiscences published from time to time in the tribune of the war by correspondents who were participants in these events, and although errors appear frequently it is not to be wondered at, as the majority of these events are chronicled from memory.

Now I was in the battle of Stone River and from what I know the statement of Sergt. Blodgett is in the main correct, Freeman and Dims to the contrary notwithstanding.  I was a member of Co. A, 40th Regiment I. V. I. 2nd Division of 21st (or 45) Army Corps, the Brigade was composed of 15th, 40th, and 57th Vol.  24th Ky. and 97th Ohio and was commanded by Gen. G, G. Wagner.  The Division was commanded by Gen. Wood and occupied the ground from the pike to the river.  Wagner's 2nd Brig. being between the pike and the railroad, Van Cleve's 3rd Division to the left of Gen. Woods.

Early in the day it became apparent that the right could not withstand the impetuosity of the Confed. attack and Van Cleve's Div. was withdrawn from the left and sent to reinforce the right but were driven back and it seemed for some time that everything would be lost.

In the meantime the 2nd Brig. was withdrawn across the railroad  in supporting distance of the batteries that gave the victorious rebels the first check and it was while in this position that Gen. Rosecrans staff were immediately behind our Regt. and not more that 30 paces distant that Col. Garischa was killed and it was about this time that the 10th Ind. battery was getting in their work.

Immediately afterward we were moved back to our former position between the pike and the railroad and notwithstanding the enemy gave us their almost undivided attention the balance of the day by as many as three different charges and an effort to dislodge by shelling, yet we held the ground until dark.  So we say to Gen. Wagner's 2nd Brig., Wood's 2nd Div. belongs the honor of holding the only part of the original line of battle held that day and the pivot upon which the balance of the army turned back.

J. A. Baer

1st Sergt. Co A. 40th Regt.

 

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More Information:

• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 218.
• Events: 1865   
  

NEXT POST: DECEMBER 1ST

 

January 4, 1863 - Sunday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

Battle of Stones River (Part 2)

January 1st passed quietly as both armies regrouped and tended to the wounded.  Early on the 2nd, the 40th Indiana and some other nearby regiments were shelled by Confederate artillery; this was not long lasting and "had no serious result".

General Bragg was determined to make an assault to try to break through the Union left.  Late in the day on the 2nd, this attack came, and as on the right, the Union divisions could not hold, and went over to the retreat.  However, a large gathering of Union artillery on a nearby hill fired into the advancing Rebels and stopped them cold.  The losses sent the Confederate troops into retreat and effectively ended the Battle of Stones River.  After some time of continued stalemate, General Bragg began to move the Confederate army south toward their winter quarters in Tullahoma, TN.

Losses for the 40th Indiana were 4 killed and 68 wounded.  According to this item, Stones River After Action Report, John Baer was "slightly wounded in the shoulder" during the battle.  See about 3/4 of the way down the item where the company casualties are listed.

Union casualties: 1677 killed, 7543 wounded, 3686 missing.  Total: 12906

Confederate casualties: 1294 killed, 7945 wounded, 2500 missing.  Total: 11739

In terms of casualties per men engaged, this is the bloodiest battle (highest % of casualties) of the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st. 

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XX, Chapter XXXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 292-299.
• Link: War Operations, see Volume XX, Chapter XXXII, Part I, Reports,  pp. 492-499
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 91.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 97-103. 
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol 3. The Tide Shifts, pp, 600-637.
• Peter Cozzens, No Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River, pp. 167-218.
• 40th Indiana Infantry website, see article Stones River After Action Report.

 

NEXT POST: JANUARY 8TH

December 31, 1862 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Crittenden's Corps - Wood's Division - Wagner's Brigade 

Battle of Stones River (Part 1)

As of the 29th, the 40th Indiana, with the rest of Wagner's brigade, had moved to within about two and a half miles of Murfreesboro, near a small wood known as the Round Forest.  The 30th passed quietly as the right and center wings were moving into their final positions before the battle.  Both Generals Bragg and Rosecrans had planned for their left wings to attack the other army's right on the morning of the 31st.  

The Union right wing, anticipating a slow day as the action was expected to be on the Union left, was unprepared for the Confederate assault on the morning of the 31st.  Division after division was routed and fell back toward the Nashville Pike.  The Union attack on the left was called off, and several divisions were sent to help stop the collapse.  Only a desperate regrouping, and the exhaustion of the Confederate troops, stabilized the right wing.

Early on the 31st, the 40th Indiana could hear the intense fighting on the Union right, and was moved several times due to other divisions being diverted to stop the Confederate advance.  The 40th's movements were being executed slowly and sloppily; it was found that the commanding officer of the regiment, Colonel Blake, was intoxicated and in no shape to command.  He was relieved and arrested, replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Neff.

The 40th Indiana was now needed at the front.  Here is an excerpt of the regimental report from Major Henry Leaming, who ended up commanding the 40th at the end of the day:

...In a few minutes another order came from Colonel Wagner, directing the regiment to the support of General Hascall's brigade, which was now engaging the enemy and occupying the ground which we had been resting on in the morning.

The regiment was reported to General Hascall, and was by him ordered to take a position, with the right resting at the old house near the toll-gate, and the left extending across the railroad, which struck the line about the colors, and lie down.  This ground being elevated several feet above that occupied by the front line, placed the regiment in a position very much exposed to the fire of the enemy, which was at this time very heave, both artillery and musketry.  Many of our men were wounded here, 1 mortally, and 3 were killed outright.

It was while lying here that I was advised that Lieutenant-Colonel Neff.was severely wounded in the arm, and had quit the field in consequence thereof.  After having laid about three-fourths of an hour on this spot, we were ordered to relieve the Fifty-eighth Indiana, which occupied the advance line in our front.  I called up the regiment and advanced at once, notifying the officer commanding the Fifty-eighth of my purpose.  The Fifty-eighth was withdrawn, and the Fortieth took their place.

The 40th drove back an attack by one regiment, and remained in position for the evening.

 

Here is a recent picture of the area where the 40th Indiana was fighting during the 31st.  As the battle was at the end of the year, the trees would be mostly bare.  The railroad drops down in the distance, showing the higher ground that the Union forces occupied during this engagement.  On the right is a monument to Union troops in the Stones River National Battlefield.

More Information:

• Link: War Operations, see Volume XX, Chapter XXXII, Part II, Correspondence,  pp. 252-290.
• Link: War Operations, see Volume XX, Chapter XXXII, Part I, Reports,  pp. 492-499
  
• The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 91.
  
• Shelby Foote: The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1I, Fredericksburg to Meridian, pp. 84-96. 
• Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol 3. The Tide Shifts, pp, 600-607.
• Peter Cozzens, No Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River, pp. 61-166.
  

 

NEXT POST: JANUARY 4TH