<title type="main">William E. Hobson to John Boyle

Head Quarters 13th Ky Vol Infantry 2d Brigade 2d Division 23d Army Corps Knoxville Tennessee Novr 20 1863. Col John Boyle Adjt Genl State of Kentucky Sir

I have the honor to report to you the Casualities of my Command from the 14thto the 17th Novr,

On the night of the 13th Novr. I received orders to hold my Command in readiness to march from the Camp opposite Loudon Tenn, at 5 Oclock the following morning, and to take Charge of one Section of Henshaws Battery under Command of Lieut Morrison. My Regt being rear guard, all the troops having to pass it. was sometime after daylight before my Command got in motion, marching four miles to Lenoir Station, there Col Chapin ordered me halt the rear guard, and allow the men to build fires and make coffee. remaining here an hour. I received an order from Col Chapin to take the advance with my Regiment, and march back on the same road to Loudon, advancing up to Loudon. I found no enemy --

Changing direction to the right, I was ordered to move in the dircetion of Huffs ferry -- Six miles down the

2 river, and opposite Loudon -- reaching some rugged hills and heavy timber, I ordered Capt Twyman to advance with his Company to the point and deploy as Skirmishers, to feel the enemy reported in the hills and timber -- the Capt soon had his men in line as Skirmishers, covering the point and flanks of my command joining his right with the Skirmishers of the 107th Ill Regiment who had been ordered up on my right, having advanced about two miles the enemy -- Showed himself by firing on my Skirmishers trying to retard their advance -- they were soon driven back by my Skirmishers, to within a mile of Huffs Ferry. where they ran upon two Regiments of Rebel Infantry posted on the Crest of a hill behind a rail fence, a good natural fortification -- compelling my Skirmishers to fall back to the Regiment -- Seeing this I ordered my Regt under the Cover of a ridge my left resting in the River in an exposed position from the enemys fire -- fighting an hour -- I was ordered with my regiment to charge the enemy's point an across an Open field up a very Steep hill some three hundred yards. -- The 107 Ill advancing at the Same time on my right. the order was obeyed, and, the enemys position carried in handsome Style --

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In this Charge forty one of my men fell Killed and Wounded, Occupying the enemys position, I received Orders to halt and remain in line of battle until further orders, the enemy Shelling me from the opposite Side of the river -- but it was now too dark to ascertain our exact position, so they effected nothing --

Remaining in this position until daylight of the 15thI was orderd to move my Command back in the same direction from which it Came -- in line of battle occasionally facing about and awaiting a few moments to give the enemy a fight if he pressed us -- getting into the main road, I was ordered back to Lenoir Station some 10 miles -- arriving there about 3 Oclock P M -- took a position to fight the enemy -- who was at that time following our rear -- remaining at Lenoir until 6 Oclock -- A M,, on the 16th I was ordered to withdraw my Command back to the main road leading to Knoxville -- Marching Seven miles to Campbells Station -- where I was again ordered to form my Regiment in line on the left of the 23rd Michigan Volunteers when the enemy attacked our lines, and a fight ensued lasting from 1 Oclock P M until dark -- the enemy massing his forces

4 on our right left and Center -- Well Supported by artillery -- during the engagement Col Chapin being quite ill, I was ordered to take Command of the 2nd Brigade. -- the fireing having ceased -- I was ordered with my Brigade to Cover ^the retreat of^ that portion of Genl Burnsides Army -- receiving instructions from Brig Genl White Commanding division. he ordered one Section of Benjamins regular Battery two Regts of Cavalry -- and two Companies of the 11th Ky -- Mounted Infantry -- to report to me --

In this emergency I offered, the enemy battle -- facing about, changing point, deploying as Skirmishers and giving them an Occasional voley from the Artillery holding my brigade well in hand, obedient to evry Command, the enemy were Completely Checked and held back during the night,

We arrived at Knoxville at 6 Oclock A M -- the 17th. --

During the battle at Campbells Station My Regt lost (17) Seventeen men wounded --

I must not forget to mention the names of these gallant and efficient officers who were wounded at the Battle of Huffs ferry, Capt Jett of Co (K) Lieut Stratton, of Co (I) Lieut Cabble of Co (G)

5 all wounded while at the front leading their brave boys in the Charge -- Lt Stearman killed while at the head of his Company --

Lt Col B P Estes nobly performed his duty and was at his post during the engagements --

Major J P Duncan had his horse killed under him during the thickest of the fight, and deserves much credit for his gallant Conduct in the field

Capt Caldwell Act Adjt. was ever ready to Communicate any order from me to my officers he deserves much praise --

Capts Thompson Patteson Butler Victor Twyman Woodruff, as well as Lieuts Christie Bradley and McCracken Commanding Companies deserve special mention for their promptness and bravery during the engagement at Huffs ferry -- and Campbells Station, Many thanks, to the other brave Lieuts of the Regt, "With one exception" well known to all the officers and private soldiers in the command -- of my brave boys the privates and Non Commissioned Officers of the Regiment I cannot speak too highly of their Conduct -- for they performed their duty nobly -- And it,

6 would be difficult -- to say who performed his part the best

I am Sir Very respectfully Your obt Servt Wm E Hobson Col Com 13" Ky Vol Infantry

The following is a list of Killed and Wounded Novr 14th & 16th 1863 Mike Shuffett.PrivateCoAWoundedSlightlyJ B Shirley -- """dodoR A Fults"""MissingJ H Lewis""BKilledH J Conover"""doW Perryman"""Wounded SeverelyH Warmick"""doSlightlyZ L SamuelsCorpl"do"Frank VirgusPri"do"Lewis Bradshaw""do"G W FlowersSergt"do"Frank StaplesPri"do"R B SteegerSergtC.doSeverelyA H CaveCorpl"doSlightly.J H Howard""do"C H HatcherPri"do"

J D AbsherPrivCoCwoundedSlightlyJ E PikeCorpl""dodoS G WatsonPri""dodoJ C FletcherOrd SergtD -- KilledW E GibsonCorpl."WoundedSeverelyJ R FletcherPriv""doJ M Skaggs""dodoAaron Williams""dodoW M McCandless""doSlightlyN G Dohoney -- ""dodoL R Ray"E.KilledSol Pitman""WoundedSeverelyStarling Pittman"""SlightlyM S Sublett""MissingJ H Arvin"FWoundedSlightlyW H Stearman2 LieutG.KilledS J Cabell1 do"WoundedSeverelyDanl SullivanOrd Sergt"dodoWash SullivanPrivate"dodoR M Maupindo"KilledWm McLaneSergtHdoJ L O McCubbinPri"WoundedSeverelyW E Chaney""dodoJohn Pierce""dodo

Wm H Stratton1 LieutCoI.WoundedSeverely -- W P WrightOr Sergt"'KilledBen Sagesser.Private"WoundedSeverelyH H Harlan""MissingW Morris""doS Sublet""doA M JettCaptK.WoundedSightlyA T HarlinsonSergt"""W N Bowling"""SeverelyH A Tudor.Corpl"""G R SuttlesSergt"""Thomas WoodsPri"""A T Supplee""""C Hodge""""B J Button""""J T Hammers" ""SlightlyJ N Park""""J W Lewis"""Severely --

I am col very respectfully your obdt Sert Wm E. Hobson col Comdg