To Gen Rousseau From RH Milroy Dec 10 1864

              Copy 
 
                              Fortress Rosecrans  
 
                 Murfreesboro, Tenn. Dec. 10th 1864 
 
 
  
     General, 
 
 
 
              I have the honor to report that in 
obedience to your Orders, I proceeded on the 7th inst. to 
 make a reconnaissance and feel the enemy in the 
 vicinity of this Post. 
 
 
 
         I took with me by your direction Seven (7)  
Regiments of Infantry and a Fed. Gun Battery under 
the Command of Capt. Bundy of the 13th N.Y. Artillery 
and a small detachment of the 5th Tenn. Vol. Cavalry  
the Regiments consisted of the 174th , 177th, 178th, and  
181st Ohio Vol. Infantry 61st Ill. V.I. 8th Minn. V.I. and  
12th Ind. V. Cav. (dismounted) For convience I  
divided those Regiments into two Brigades (Pro Tempere)  
as follows. 
 
 
 
         First Brigade Colonel Thomas of the 8th Minn.  
Commanding, consisted of the fed.gun battery 8th Minn.  
V.I. 61st Ill. Vol. Infantry 174th , and 181st O.V.I. 1,973 men. 
 
 
 
      The Second Brigade consisted of the 177th, 178th  
O.V.I. and 12th Ind. Cavalry 1326 strong Total strength  
of my Infantry, Artillery, and Cavalry combined 3325. 
 
 
 
       I started on the Salem Pike about 10’oclock  
AM and threw out the detachment of the 5th Tenn.  
Cavalry in advance, who struck the Rebel Vidette in  
less than half a mile after passing after passing our piquets. 
 
 
 
       The Rebel Cavalry fell back rapidly before my 
advance.  I threw out a portion of the 61st Ill V. Infy