Number 182. Report of Major Robert Klein, Third Indiana Cavalry (unattached), including skirmishes at Triune, December 27, and near Overall's Creek, December 31.

HDQRS. THIRD BATTALION, THIRD INDIANA CAVALRY, Near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this battalion in the field since leaving the camp near Nashville, on the 26th ultimo, up to the 3rd instant:

The four companies under my command left camp on the 26th, as ordered, and, bringing up the rear of the Second Division, encamped beyond Nolensville.

On the following morning, 27th, having orders, reported to General Stanley, chief of cavalry, who, remarking he "had understood the Third knew how to take these rebels," ordered me to move forward and take the advance of the column of cavalry then moving toward Triune. I succeeded in gaining the advance at about the point where the enemy's outposts were expected to be. I then threw out portions of Company H, Lieutenant Young commanding, on either side of the pike, and, putting out an advance guard, moved smartly down the pike. Our advance soon encountered the enemy in considerable force drawn up in line of battle. The column now moved on to them at a gallop, receiving the whole of their fire into one company (Company G, Captain Herriott), the skirmishers on the flanks not being able to come up for some time, on account of the soft nature of the ground and the fences intervening. Company G held their ground until Company I, Captain Vanosdal, on the right, and Company K, Lieutenant Lieske, on the left, advanced gallantly to the rescue, and, despite superior force, drove them across the narrow valley to a position beyond where their artillery covered them. Here we advanced with the remainder of our cavalry force and drove them from this hill, from which they fell back to Triune. Here we were ordered by General Stanley, with one company of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, to attack the enemy on the right side of the pike. They were posted behind a stone wall, heads only visible, one or more regiments strong. We advanced across the open fields, and were pouring in a steady fire at easy range, when two pieces of artillery on our left, about 500 yards, and two in front, opened on us, obliging us to retire to the cover of the woods from where we advanced. This movement was done promptly, but in good order.

On the following morning my battalion was in advance of the reconnaissance under General Willich; did no fighting, but captured some 16 of the enemy's stragglers. On the Nolensville pike we lost 3 killed and 3 wounded. We lost, also a few horses wounded and disabled, and 1 killed by cannon shot.

On the 29th and 30th nothing worthy of note occurred.

On the morning of the 31st ultimo my battalion was posted with our cavalry force beyond Wilson's Cross-Roads pike, on the right and rear of the Second Division. When our forces first gave way before the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, the efficiency of my battalion was destroyed in being divided by one of our own cavalry regiments running through our ranks and scattering the men. This movement, had it been in the opposite direction, would have been a most gallant charge, and, doubtless, from its determination, an efficient one. We kept falling back, forming and charging at intervals, until forced across to the Murfreesborough pike, where one of my companies was first to form to drive the enemy from our train.

We captured during the retreat 11 of the enemy. One of Company G, Corporal Justice, recaptured our ambulance, containing our surgeon, by shooting down one of its captors and frightening the others away. I regret to say that Corporal Justice was afterward captured.

We were formed near the center of our cavalry, when the enemy, in the afternoon, again attempted to take our train. We participated in the fight and the charge that followed. We lost 1 man on that morning, Private Daniel Gibbons, of General Willich's escort, and 2 others wounded.

On the following days of the fight my battalion was on provost duty.

Our loss sums up: Killed, 4; wounded, 6; missing, 10; captured, 5. Of the missing, doubtless nearly all were captured. Our total loss is 25; horses, 30, and 1 ambulance.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. KLEIN,

Major, Commanding Battalion.

Captain BARTLETT,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.