ORs: (US) Report of Lieut. Col. Christopher J. Dickerson - April 12, 1863

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 23, Part 1, Page 217-8

HDQRs. TENTH REGT. MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Nashville,
April 13, 1863.

COLONEL:
On the 10th instant, 40 privates and 4 non-commissioned and 2 commissioned officers were detailed from this regiment to guard a train on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, from this city to Murfreesborough and return. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the train, while on its return trip, 4 miles this side of La Vergne, was suddenly attacked by guerrillas, numbering from 200 to 300, who were secreted in a dense grove of cedars, completely covering them from view. Simultaneously with the attack the train was thrown from the track, in consequence of two of the rails being slightly displaced. The guards were stationed upon the top of some passenger cars and upon one platform car, and were under the command of Lient. Frank M. Yanderburgh. They suffered severely from the first volley fired by the rebels, a number being killed and wounded. After having discharged their pieces at the guerrillas, they jumped, as quickly as possible, from the cars upon the ground, on the opposite side from the point of attack. Protecting themselves as well as possible by the cars, they held the train for some minutes, continually firing at the enemy. Being over-powered by greatly superior numbers, they were compelled to give up
the train, and, falling back a short distance, made a stand behind a fence, where they repulsed a party of rebels who were pursuing them.

Here Lieutenant Vanderburgh, who had previously received two wounds, was again shot and completely disabled. The command of the party then devolved upon Lieut. H. Walter Nichols, who, seeing there was no possibility of saving the train, retreated with his men in good order to the first stockade this side of La Yergue. Here he was re enforced by about 15 men, who were stationed at the stockade. He then moved his men back to the point where the train had been thrown from the track. The rebels had captured the mail and express matter on board, and had set on fire all the cars, together with the engine and tender. The fire, however, had done very little damage to the engine, and the same was saved. Lieutenant Nichols gathered up the wounded, who were taken to some houses near by and made as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. A surgeon connected with the army, whose name I have been unable to learn, was on the train at the time of the attack, and rendered very efficient service in providing for the wounded. Six rebels were found dead near the point of attack, and a number are known to have been wounded.

The following is a list of casualties to the party detailed from this regiment: *

Considering all the circumstances attending the foregoing attack upon said train, and the large number killed and wounded, no less than 18 out of 46 officers and men, the conclusion is irresistible that both officers and men behaved with conspicuous bravery.

Respectfully submitted.

C. J. DICKERSON,
Lieutenant. Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Col. CHARLES M. Lum
Comdg. First Brig., Fourth Div., Dept. of the Gumberland.

*Nominal list, omited, shows 6 men killed and 12 wounded.