Report of Maj. Cornelius Byington, Second Michigan Infantry.

HDQRS. SECOND MICHIGAN INFANTRY, Knoxville, Tenn., November 22, 1863.

SIR: In accordance with orders from brigade headquarters, I have to make the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the operations of the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of November:

About noon of the 14th November, the regiment left its quarters near Lenoir’s Station, Tennessee, and marched to Huff’s Ferry, arriving early in the evening, and bivouacked near that place.

Early in the morning of 15th November, commenced our march back toward Lenoir’s Station, where we arrived about noon of the same day and bivouacked in the fields between the river and station. Here we remained about four hours. At the end of that time this regiment, together with the Seventeenth Michigan, moved out the Kingston road to the night ground about 250 yards in front of the station and formed in line, right in front, on the right of the road and perpendicular to it, the right of the regiment being near to and in support of a section of Roemer’s battery. On this ground we remained till about 2 o’clock in the morning of the 16th, when we fell back to our former position in rear of the railroad and parallel to it.

About daybreak this regiment, with the Twentieth Michigan, left the station, moving back on the road toward Knoxville, leaving the Seventeenth Michigan behind us, our brigade forming the rear guard in the retreat. About 9 o’clock in the morning we halted in our march and formed in line of battle, right in front, on the right of the road facing toward Lenoir’s Station, in rear of _____ Creek, one company being thrown out to skirmish on our right flank, the Twentieth Michigan being forward in line of battle on our left, to the left of road, in support of the Seventeenth Michigan, which had commenced skirmishing with the enemy on the other side of the creek. Here we remained a short time without exchanging shots with the enemy and then moved off by the right flank on our line of retreat, the skirmishers moving along with us on our left flank.

About 1 mile from _____ Creek we halted, formed in line of battle in the same manner as before on the brow of an elevation, the right of the regiment being in the woods, the left in the fields, and threw out one company to skirmish in front of the regimental line, the left of the line being in support of one section of Roemer’s battery. From this point we fell back slowly in line of battle through the woods, our skirmishers exchanging shots with the enemy, who followed closely our retreating line. But pressing too closely, the line halted, delivered a few volleys, then slowly retreated. Alternately halting and retreating, we arrived at length at an open field, on the edge of which the line halted and opened a hot fire upon the enemy, who was not slow to return the compliment. Up to this time our loss was about 10 killed, wounded, and missing, 1 officer, Capt. Farrand, being among the wounded.

Falling back from this line toward Campbell’s Station, the regiment forward in line in the open field, the Twentieth Michigan on our left. Here I threw out one company to skirmish between our right flank and the woods on our right. This company was relieved by skirmishers from Twenty-third Michigan. The enemy endeavoring to flank us by throwing troops from the woods against our right flank, was handsomely met and foiled in his attempt. It was while holding this line that the regiment lost the heaviest. The enemy having the cover of the woods, picked off our men who were exposed in the open fields. We were relieved at length by troops of the Second Brigade and fell back to a hollow, a short distance in rear of the line just spoken of.

Toward evening we left this hollow, fell back about a quarter of a mile and again formed in line on the right of the road, facing the station, the Seventeenth Michigan on our right, the Twentieth Michigan on our left in support of artillery which was posted on high ground in front of us. Here we remained until dusk, when we moved off by the right flank on the Knoxville road, arriving at Knoxville about 4 o’clock in the morning of the 17th.

My losses in the engagement of the 16th were 3 killed, 27 wounded (1 officer and 26 enlisted men, 1 enlisted man having since died), and 2 missing, making a total of 32. I took into the engagement 13 officers and 201 muskets. Both officers and men behaved with their usual gallantry, and when all behaved more than well I cannot mention one without doing manifest injustice to his companions. Note 1

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CORNELIUS BYINGTON,
Maj., Cmdg. Second Michigan Infantry.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. I, pp. 365-366.

Note 1: According to the OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. 1, p 225. the skirmish at Lenoir’s Station, occured, occured on November 15, 1863. This account seems confused and may be mistaken as to the date it implies, the 16th, as the time of the encounter. Nevertheless, it seems clear the fight took place on the 15th.

Excerpt from the Report of Col. David Morrison, Seventy-ninth New York Infantry, commanding First Brigade, relative to the skirmish at Lenoir’s Station, November 15, 1863.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS, Knoxville, Tenn., December 5, 1863.

CAPT.: I have the honor to forward you the following detailed report of the operations of this brigade since leaving Lenoir’s Station, on the 14th of November, to this date:

On the afternoon of Saturday, the 14th November, I moved from Lenoir’s Station in the direction of Loudon; arrived there about 4 p. m. Halted about fifteen minutes, and took the road leading to Huff’s Ferry, near which place we arrived between 6 and 7 p. m., formed line of battle, and rested for the night.

On Sunday, the 15th, received orders to move back in the rear of Roemer’s battery. Owing to the bad state of the roads our progress was very slow. The troops were directed to bring off the batteries, and, if necessary, to carry them over the hills, which were very steep. This was accomplished without accident. We passed Loudon on our way back, and arrived at Lenoir’s Station about 3 p.m. I was then ordered to take up a position on the Kingston road, about 500 yards from Lenoir’s Station, and support Roemer’s battery which was in position at that place.

About 4 p. m. I was ordered to picket the Loudon road with 25 men, and the cross-roads leading to Huff’s Ferry with the same number. This party, in command of Lieut. Jeffers, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and under direction of Lieut. Daniels, of Gen. Ferrero’s staff, and Lieut. Donaldson, of my own staff, proceeded about 2 miles on the Kingston road, when they were attacked by the enemy in force advancing toward Lenoir’s Station. The picket party deployed in line of skirmishers and fought the enemy, retiring slowly.

About this time I arrived and found the enemy making a flank movement in order to cut them off. I ordered them to fall back at once, which they did just in time to clear their line of skirmishers. I was then ordered to make a stand about 500 yards in front of Roemer’s battery, and deployed the Eighth Michigan Volunteers as skirmishers, with 25 men of the Forty-fifth, who were still in skirmish line on the right. My right rested on the mill-dam; my left extended toward the Loudon road, forming a semicircle; the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers in the center as a reserve.

About 9 p. m. my skirmish line was attacked by the enemy in force on the right and was forced back about 25 yards, where the line was maintained for the remainder of the night.

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OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. I, p. 355.