No. 143.
Report of Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Smith, U. S. Army, commanding Detachment
Army of the Tennessee, of operations November 30, 1864-January 10, 1865.
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Eastport, Miss.,
January 10, 1865.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report the operations of my
command from the date of their arrival at Nashville, Tenn., pursuant to orders from
Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, commanding Military Division of the Mississippi,
November 30, 1864, to the present date.
Debarked the First and Third Divisions on the 30th and the
Second Division on the 1st of December. On the 1st, by your direction, the
command was placed in line of battle for defense of the city of Nashville, as
follows: The right resting on the Cumberland River, about three miles from the
city in a direct line, and the left resting on the Hillsborough pike, about two
miles and a half in a direct line from the city, forming a line of three miles
from right to left. Breast-works strong enough to protect the men from either
artillery or musketry were immediately constructed by the troops along the
whole line. The command not being sufficiently large to form a continuous front
line and still have any troops for a reserve, with your consent, one brigade
was withdrawn from the works on the left and placed in rear of the left center,
immediately on the right of the Hardin pike, to be used as circumstances might
require, their works on the left being occupied by a division of the Fourth
Corps, which had then arrived. The enemy made his appearance on the evening of
the 2d and took position beyond artillery range in my front, which respectful
distance was retained throughout the siege, with the exception of an occasional
picket-post or reconnoitering party. Until the 14th of December the troops were
employed in strengthening the works and some slight skirmishing. A spirited
dash made by sixty of our cavalry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Blackburn, of a Tennessee regiment, in which some few prisoners were captured
from the enemy, and desultory artillery firing at long range at small parties
of the enemy, were all that occurred in my front. In the meantime
transportation was obtained, ammunition and commissary stores loaded, and
everything placed in readiness to move at an hour's notice.
On the night of the 14th orders were received to move
outside the works early the next morning and form on or near the Hardin pike,
the left connecting with the right of the Fourth Corps, the cavalry passing
behind and forming on my right, the whole to wheel to the left, with the Fourth
Corps as a pivot, and make a vigorous assault upon the enemy's left. This
movement was commenced by my command at 6 a.m. on the 15th. The Second
Division, Brig. Gen. K. Garrard commanding, moved out on the Hardin pike, and
then moving by the left flank until he connected with the Fourth Corps, forming
my left. The First Division, Brig. Gen. J. McArthur commanding, moving out next
by the Hardin and Charlotte pike, formed on the right of the Second Division.
The Third Division, Col. J. B. Moore, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infantry
Volunteers, commanding, moving out by the Hardin pike, formed in rear of the
center to act as a reserve to either flank.
The First and Second Brigades of General McArthur, which
moved out by the Charlotte pike, owing to the roads diverging widely, and the
stubborn resistance of the enemy's skirmishers, he having to silence one
battery, did not connect with the main line until nearly 8.30. The cavalry then
passed to our right and the movement began about 10 a.m., our orders being to
touch to the left and guide right. Throwing out a strong skirmish line they
became almost immediately engaged with the enemy's skirmishers, driving them
back easily, and the line advancing and wheeling gradually, assumed a position
almost parallel with the Hardin pike. Pressing forward we came to the first
works of the enemy, about half a mile south of the Hardin pike, and one mile
and a half from the main line of works around Nashville — a small earthwork on
the top of a hill, in which were four 12-pounder brass guns, the fort covered
by another on the hill about 400 yards west, in which were two 12-pounder brass
guns. Four batteries opened on the first fort, soon silencing their guns, and
General McArthur directed to take two brigades and carry the works by assault.
Placing the First Brigade, Col. W. L. McMillen, in advance, supported by the
Second, Col. L. F. Hubbard commanding, the work was carried at a run. The cavalry
on our right, at the same time charging directly under the guns of the rear
fort on the hill, entered the first fort simultaneously with our skirmishers.
The guns in the fort were all captured and about 150 prisoners. The cavalry
claimed the guns as their capture, and more for their gallant charge than
because they were entitled to the pieces, they were conceded to them. The First
and Second Brigades of McArthur's division, obliquing to the right without
stopping, carried the second fort, capturing the two guns and about 200
prisoners, the First Brigade moving directly to the top of the hill, and the
Second flanking it on the left. During the assault upon these two forts the
Twenty-third Corps passed in my rear by the flank to my right, and by the time the
forts were taken had formed on my right. Advancing Colonel Ward's brigade, of
the Third Division, to fill the gap caused by the oblique movement of Colonels
McMillen's and Hubbard's brigades, in the charge of the second fort upon the
hill, the line again advanced, skirmishing heavily along its whole extent. A
small earth-work containing two guns on a hill in front of Colonel Hill's
(Third) brigade, of McArthur's division, was carried by that brigade in gallant
style, capturing the guns and many prisoners, the skirmishers from the Second
Division entering at the same time from the east. On entering this work Col. S.
G. Hill, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, First Division,
was unfortunately struck in the forehead by a musket-ball and died almost
instantly. In consequence, the guns and prisoners were not properly taken care
of and turned over, but were taken possession of by other troops, and the
brigade did not get the credit which it justly deserves. At the same time Col.
E. H. Wolfe's (Third) brigade, of the Second Division, crossed the Hillsborough
pike and carried the earthworks on the hill immediately to the left of that
pike, capturing two guns in the fort and one more a short distance from it,
which the enemy were endeavoring to take away.
At the time these last two assaults were made, which were
almost perpendicular to the Hillsborough pike, the Fourth Corps charged,
parallel with the pike, the works in their front, thereby crowding out the
First and Second Brigades of the Second Division, the enemy's works at that
point making nearly a right angle with the salient angle in front of the right
of the Fourth Corps and the left of my command. I therefore passed the First
and Second Brigades, Second Division, by the right flank, to the right and rear
of Third Brigade, same division, and directed them to form on the right of that
brigade. The Fourth Corps also took possession of the guns passed over by
Colonel Wolfe. In the meantime the First Division and the brigade of the Third,
advancing on the right, drove the enemy across the Hillsborough pike,
dislodging them from the stone walls on either side, capturing 2 pieces of
artillery, a large number of prisoners, and about 1,000 muskets. Night coming
on, the troops bivouacked in line of battle. During the night, a request coming
from General Schofield, commanding Twenty-third Corps, for re-enforcements, I
sent him the Third Division, Col. J. B. Moore commanding, just before daylight.
On the morning of the 16th, advancing my lines in the same
order as on the previous day, the First on the right and the Second Division on
the left, it was discovered that the enemy had taken position at the base of a
chain of hills called the Brentwood Hills, with a front nearly perpendicular to
our line, and had strongly intrenched themselves by throwing up breast-works
and massing artillery in every available position. Changing my front by a half
wheel by brigades, the command moved slowly in echelon from the right, so as
not to break connection with the Fourth Corps, and took a position directly in
front of the enemy at a distance of about 600 yards, my right resting at the
base of a hill on the top of which was the enemy's left, and my line, being the
whole front of the two divisions, extending about one mile. The enemy opening a
heavy artillery fire upon my brigade as they went into position, all the
batteries of the First and Second Divisions, six in number, were brought into
action at a distance of about 800 yards, and after a fierce cannonading of
about two hours succeeded in quieting the enemy's guns in our front. The
Twenty-third Corps was on my right in the intrenchments thrown up by them the
night before, and nearly at right angles with my present line. Expecting that
corps to take the initiative, as they were on the flank of the enemy, I held
the command in its present position, keeping up a slow artillery fire at their
lines without eliciting any reply. About 1 o'clock I received a request from
General Schofield, and a few minutes later an order from you, to send another
division to his assistance, he having retained the one sent at daylight that
morning. Not having any reserve, and my whole line being immediately in front
of the enemy and liable to be attacked and broken at any point, where even a
brigade should be withdrawn, I therefore sent a staff officer to him to state
the condition of my command and ascertain if he could not get along without the
division. The officer reported to me that General Schofield's line was not
engaged, and upon the condition being reported to him, that he said he did not
need the additional force, consequently it was not sent.
About 3 p.m. General McArthur sent word that he could carry
the hill on his right by assault. Major-General Thomas being present, the matter
was referred to him, and I was requested to delay the movement until he could
hear from General Schofield, to whom he had sent. General McArthur, not
receiving any reply, and fearing that if the attack should be longer delayed
the enemy would use the night to strengthen his works, directed the First
Brigade, Col. W. L. McMillen, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, commanding, to storm
the hill, on which was the left of the enemy's line, and the Second and Third
Brigades of the division to attack in front when the First should be half-way
up the hill. Accordingly, Colonel McMillen formed his brigade in two lines,
with the One hundred and fourteenth Illinois Infantry, Ninety-third Indiana
Infantry, and Tenth Minnesota Infantry in the first, and the Seventy-second
Ohio and Ninety-fifth Ohio in the second line, and gave his men orders not to
cheer or fire a shot until the works should be gained. Throwing out a strong
party of skirmishers, under a rapid fire from them and his artillery, he
commenced the ascent. He had no sooner fully commenced his movement than the
Second Brigade, Col. D. F. Hubbard commanding, eager in emulation, also took up
the attack, immediately followed the Third Brigade, and, lastly, the Second
Division. The enemy opened with a fierce storm of shell, canister, and
musketry, sadly decimating the ranks of many regiments, but nothing save
annihilation could stop the onward progress of that line. Sweeping forward, the
right of the line up the hill and the left through mud and over walls, they
gained the enemy's works, calling forth the remark from one of their general
officers that “powder and lead were inadequate to resist such a charge.” The
enemy were whipped, broken, and demoralized. Prisoners were taken by the
regiment and artillery by batteries. The pursuit was continued until dark, when
the troops bivouacked in line.
In this one charge the two divisions captured 27 pieces of
artillery complete, over 4,000 prisoners, among whom were Maj. Gen. Edward
Johnson and Brigadier-Generals Jackson and Smith, 12 stand of colors, General
Johnson's headquarters wagons, and many ammunition and baggage wagons. I am not
able to give you the exact number, as we left the next morning in pursuit,
without collecting them, leaving them to be taken care of by the reserve troops
in Nashville. The Second Division claims that they captured four more guns on
the left, which were afterward taken possession of by the Fourth Corps, but as
they were on the Fourth Corps line, and they were undoubtedly assisted by that
corps in their capture, I am not disposed to question their right to them. I
only hope that there may always be the same ardent desire to capture from a
disloyal enemy his means and munitions of war; it is certainly a laudable
rivalry. The three guns, however, taken by Colonel Wolfe on the 15th properly
belong to and should be credited to him. The sum total of the captures on both
days is: 36 pieces of artillery; 5,123 prisoners, among whom were Maj. Gen.
Edward Johnson and Brigadier-Generals Jackson and Smith; about 6,000 stand of
small-arms; 16 battle-flags; and about 30 wagons of various kinds.
Instances of individual merit were numerous. Colonel
McMillen deserves to be specially mentioned for his conduct of the charge of
the second day. Col. L. F. Hubbard, Fifth Minnesota, commanding' Second
Brigade, First Division, had three horses shot under him on the 16th. Going
into action with a total of 1,421 muskets in his brigade, he captured over
2,000 prisoners, 9 pieces of artillery, and 7 stand of colors, and the
casualties in his brigade number 315.
For details and particulars I refer you to the reports of
division and brigade commanders, herewith inclosed. Inclosed, also, is a
complete list of the casualties.*
The prisoners and artillery were all sent back to Nashville
to be turned over to the proper officers there. The stands of colors are in
possession of the officers and men who captured them, which I will send to you
with a list of the names.
On the 17th, in compliance with orders, my command, the Third
Division having joined that morning, moved out on the Granny White pike about
four miles, and thence south to the Franklin pike, with orders to fall in the
rear of the Fourth Corps. From thence we marched, via Franklin, Columbia,
Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, and Waynesborough, to Clifton, and from thence on
transports to this place, without anything of importance occurring.
My division commanders deserve much credit for the able and
soldierly manner with which they managed their commands and their ready and hearty
co-operation in every respect. The Third Division, Col. J. B. Moore commanding,
only needed as favorable an opportunity to have done equally as well as any.
His troops that day upon the field were all tried soldiers, who have fought
many a battle with credit and honor to themselves.
I have exceedingly to regret the loss of one gallant brigade
commander, Col. S. G. Hill, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, who was killed in the
charge on the 15th. Long with the command, he has endeared himself to every
member of it; brave and courteous, the service has lost a gallant officer and
society a gentleman by his untimely death.
The officers of my staff, each and all, deserve special
credit for their personal services, both on the field and in their respective departments.
They rendered invaluable aid on the field by their activity and discrimination
and their acute perception of the weak points and the proper time and moment
for executing the different movements with which they were charged.
In the supply department everything moved with a prompt
energy and reliability that gave an additional impulse forward to each officer
and man.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. J. SMITH,
Major-General.
Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE,
Chief of Staff, Department of
the Cumberland.
_______________
* Embodied in table, pp. 100-102.
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. 432-7
