thrown
back about three hundred yards; and the left wing formed on a new line
toward Stone River; this gave us a shorter line, more reserves, and
allowed the Regular Brigade, at about 4 o'clock A. M., of the 1st of
January, to fall back to a little piece of woods near General Rosecrans'
headquarters, there to bivouac and seek rest.

Early on the 1st of January, 1863, the brigade, with its battery, was
ordered to the right to support McCook's wing, against which
demonstrations were made, and several positions were held by it without
coming into action. Shortly after two o'clock the brigade was ordered to
Stewart's Creek; having marched about four miles, it received orders to
return double quick, and marched nearly the whole distance at that gait.
Night coming on, the brigade bivouacked again to the left of the pike,
near General Rosecrans' headquarters.

On the morning of the 2d of January, before breakfast, the brigade
advanced under heavy artillery fire to the support of the left wing,
remaining as its support in different positions during the day and night;
the battery, being in action off and on during the day, assisted in the
enemy's repulse by the left wing in the afternoon of the day.

On the morning of the 3d, the fourth day of the battle, the battery opened
fire upon one of the enemy, which was annoying our troops, and soon
silenced and drove it from its position. During the forenoon the brigade
and battery advanced again to its position, the key of the field, held on
the 31st of December, threw up slight intrenchments and held them for the
remainder of the battle. The heavy rains during the day filled the ditches
partly with water and rendered them almost untenable, while the
surrounding ground was fast turning into a bed of mud; the men, at their
option, could stand or recline in water or mud, but not a word of
discontent escaped their lips in this trying and painful, as well as
arduous and dangerous service. About 6 P. M., under the cover of the
brigade and other batteries, an attack was made to the front by parts of
John Beatty's and Spear's Brigades; this attack, though spreading to the
front of the brigade, required on its part only increased watchfulness to
prevent surprise in case of a reverse; the battery, however, was actively
engaged in shelling the enemy's position in the woods to our front, south.

Before daylight of the morning of the fourth, the brigade pickets reported
the retreat of the enemy