No. 242.
Report of Brig. Gen. Randall L. Gibson, C. S. Army,
commanding brigade, of operations December 15-17, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS GIBSON'S BRIGADE,
Near Tupelo, Miss., January 11, 1865.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor, in compliance with orders from
division headquarters, to submit the following report of operations before
Nashville and along the line of our march to Columbia:
About 2 o'clock on the 15th of December I was directed by
Lieutenant-General Lee to move my brigade to the extreme left of his corps and
to deploy it in one rank, so as to cover as much space as possible. A little
while before sunset the troops in line at right angles to the line in which I
was posted—a line extending along the left flank of the army—gave way, and soon
those immediately upon my left fell back, the whole moving rapidly in some
confusion to the rear. The enemy advanced, and seeing that my left flank was
exposed and likely to be involved, I withdrew my brigade from the trenches and
formed a line of battle at right angles to them, my right resting upon them. I
also threw forward a strong line of skirmishers under Lieut. A. T. Martin, who
at once attacked the enemy, but he showed no disposition to advance. By this
time it was twilight, and in a few minutes night closed operations.
The next day, the line having been retired about two and a
half miles, my skirmishers were attacked early in the morning, but not ordered
in until near I o'clock, when it was discovered that preparations were being
made to charge us in force. The enemy assaulted my brigade either with one
large or two small brigades, and after several attempts only came up to within
seventy-five yards, and remaining there a few minutes broke and fled. We killed
and wounded a great many for the time they were under fire and the force
engaged. I estimate his loss at 200 killed and from 700 to 900 wounded.
Observing just before sundown troops and ambulances passing into the Franklin
turnpike from the left, and double-quicking toward the rear, I at once
dispatched my aide-de-camp, Lieut. Cartwright Eustis, to say to
Brigadier-General Pettus that I would co-operate with him in any plan to arrest
the progress of the enemy, who had evidently broken the line somewhere to his
left. Scarcely had my aide reached me and informed me of the intentions of
General Pettus, when the enemy was observed already upon our rear and our
troops upon all Sides breaking and striving to reach the line of retreat, which
was nearly covered. I had ordered Lieut. Col. R. H. Lindsay, commanding
Sixteenth Louisiana Volunteers, to get ready to deploy his regiment as
skirmishers along the trenches, while I withdrew the brigade and attempted to arrest
the enemy, but at this time confusion prevailed over everything. Arriving at
the woods in front of Colonel Overton's I formed a line, as again directed by
Lieutenant-General Lee, and moving back half a mile farther Major-General
Clayton reformed his division, and we continued the retreat until we reached
Hollow Tree Gap, where we bivouacked.
Early the next morning I was sent as a reserve near the
hotel, 600 yards in rear of the gap. While there, in accordance with an order
from division headquarters, I sent Col. S. E. Hunter, with the greater part of
the Fourth and Thirtieth Louisiana Volunteers, and my inspector-general to
report to Major-General Clayton. He was placed on picket in a gap in rear of
the division, by order of Lieutenant-General Lee, and while being posted there
I moved the balance of my brigade to attack the enemy, who was approaching the
road between us and Franklin. I drove him back very easily, and was moving to
the road again, when I was informed by a staff officer of Lieutenant-General
Lee (Lieutenant Farish) that Colonel Hunter and his detachment had been
captured. I was again placed in position in an earth-work 1,000 yards from
Harpeth River, and before any instructions reached me our cavalry stampeded. The
enemy, 5,000 strong, charged in three columns, with squadrons covering the
intervening ground and connecting them—one in front, one in rear upon the left
flank, and one in rear upon the right flank. I found a section of artillery
upon the road and apart of a regiment of infantry under Colonel Hunley. I had
the section to open upon the enemy, but it had no effect except to increase the
speed of his flanking columns, and made no impression upon that one advancing
directly upon our front. After firing ten rounds, with no better effect, I
ordered the officer (I do not know his name) to move his pieces to the rear. I
also directed Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay, commanding Sixteenth Louisiana
Volunteers, upon my extreme right, to deploy his regiment as skirmishers in
retreat, and Colonel Campbell and Major Flournoy, with the First, Thirteenth,
Nineteenth, and Twentieth (in all, about 250 muskets), to move to the rear and
to fight as they went. I also directed Colonel Hunley to deploy his men as
skirmishers. The cavalry of the enemy charged all around us. Colonel Campbell
broke up, by a well-delivered fire, the column charging down the road, and thus
gave time to the section of artillery to cross the river. The enemy came up
within less than 100 yards of the section and fired his revolvers at those
about it. My command fought its way to the river, entirely surrounded, with a
loss of 10 killed, 25 wounded, and 5 captured. We continued to make
dispositions against this cavalry, under orders of Major-General Clayton, without
being engaged, until near sunset, when he again charged, coming from the left,
and wheeled into and down the road just where my left flank rested upon it. I
immediately changed front upon the left regiment, and ordered Colonel Henderson
(Forty-second Georgia), temporarily in charge of Stovall's brigade, upon my
right, to face by the rear rank and wheel to the right, so as to cover the
road. A few well-directed volleys cut the charging column, and a part of two
regiments continued down the road, while the rest fell back into the woods.
Major-General Clayton, coming from the front, where he had gone to superintend
the advance of Holtzclaw's brigade, then came up and made dispositions which
resulted in the defeat of this body of cavalry, the killing of many, and the
capture of colors and prisoners. My command was not again engaged.
I trust my officers and men behaved themselves, under all
circumstances, in a way to entitle them to the confidence of my superior
officers. Colonel Hunter, Fourth Louisiana Volunteers; Major Picolet,
commanding Thirtieth; Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay, Colonel Campbell, and Major
Flournoy--all gave every assistance and conducted their parts with skill and
courage.
I would particularly commend Lieut. A. T. Martin, commanding
battalion of sharpshooters, for his conspicuous gallantry and skill, and regret
to say he was wounded and captured when quitting the trenches.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lindsay, while temporarily in command of
my brigade, displayed fine qualities as an officer, and Colonel Henderson was
conspicuous for his efficiency and bravery, while for a short time in command
of Stovall's brigade, under trying circumstances.
I would again commend Capt. A. L. Stuart, acting
inspector-general, for his courage, judgment, and promptness. I regret to say
that he was severely wounded. Capt. It. H. Bein, assistant adjutant-general,
and Capt. G. Norton, acting assistant adjutant-general, were always prompt,
efficient, and gallant, and especially so was Lieut. C. Eustis, my aide-decamp.
Capt. J. Hodges, assistant quartermaster, and Maj. W. V. Crouch, commissary of
subsistence, have discharged their duties throughout with fidelity and
intelligence.
I have to announce and to deplore the death of Capt. C. W.
Cushman, Thirtieth Louisiana Volunteers, who was killed at the trenches. He was
a brave, intelligent, and efficient officer. Nor less zealous and worthy were
Lieut. J. J. Cawthon, Nineteenth Louisiana Volunteers, and Lieut. C. Miller,
Twentieth Louisiana Volunteers, who likewise fell in the discharge of their
duties.
The annexed paper* (marked "A") contains a list of
casualties.
Yours, very respectfully,
R. L. GIBSON,
Brigadier-General.
Capt. J. M. MACON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________
* Not found.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 702-4
