No. 115.
Report of Col. Silas A. Strickland, Fiftieth Ohio Infantry, commanding
Third Brigade, of operations November 24-December 7, 1864.
HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, SECOND DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 7, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of
operations of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps,
since November 24, 1864:
November 24, 1864, in camp at Columbia, Tenn., with two
regiments of infantry the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Seventy-second
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, the last regiment having been assigned to Third
Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, per order of
Brigadier-General Ruger, commanding Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. November
25, 1864, at 9 p.m., Third Brigade receives orders to cross Duck River, and
take position on north side near railroad bridge. November 26, 1864,
skirmishing commenced at 6 a.m. and continued during the day on south side of
river. Third Brigade remains in position on north side of river. November 27,
1864, remained in position on north side of river until 6 p.m., when we
received orders and crossed the river to south side, occupying the works
previously built by Twenty-third Army Corps, and sent out skirmishers to cover
our front. November 28, 1864, remained in works on south side until Fourth Army
Corps crossed the river, which, at 4 a.m., the Third Brigade moved across the
river and occupied the same works left November 27, 1864. The One hundred and eighty-third
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry is assigned for duty with Third Brigade, per
Special Orders, No. 74, headquarters Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps.
November 29, 1864, Third Brigade in same position, and work on fortifications
until 12 m. The Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry is assigned to Third
Brigade, per Special Orders, No. 75, headquarters Second Division, Twenty-third
Army Corps. At 12 m. Third Brigade moved by the right flank for Spring Hill,
Third Brigade in advance of Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. All quiet
until 5 p.m.; light skirmishing until 9 p.m., when part of brigade moved toward
Johnson [Thompson's?] Station, leaving the Forty-fourth Missouri and One
hundred and eighty-third Ohio Regiments of infantry to follow in rear of all
transportation. We reached Johnson [Thompson's?] Station 12 o'clock at night.
November 30, 1864, at 2 a.m., Third Brigade moved from
Johnson [Thompson's?] Station, on Franklin road. We reached Franklin, Tenn., at
6.30 a.m., and commenced throwing up works. Works completed at 12 m. The
position of Third Brigade, west of Columbia pike, on left of Second Brigade,
Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and on right of Third Division,
Twenty third Army Corps. Skirmishers thrown out to cover our front. The brigade
in two lines — Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Seventy-second Illinois
Volunteer Infantry in front line, and One hundred and eighty-third Ohio
Volunteer Infantry and Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry in rear line. At
3 p.m. heavy skirmishing commenced, the enemy driving in our skirmishers, and
at 3.30 p.m. the enemy assaulted the whole line, making an effort to flank us
out of front line of works by marching down the Columbia pike in solid column.
The nature of the ground gave the enemy the advantage. They succeeded in taking
the front line of works, but had the pleasure of holding it but a few moments.
The second line rallied to the support of the first line and succeeded in
driving the enemy from it. The disorderly manner in which some of the troops of
the Fourth Army Corps retreated caused a slight confusion, and, indeed, the
enemy made his appearance on the outside of the first line of works almost
simultaneous with the retreat of the Fourth Army Corps. I then ordered the
reserve regiments to first line in support. The Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Gillespie commanding, and Seventy-second Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Stockton commanding, renewed the attack
with great vigor and gallantry; while the Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer
Infantry, Colonel Bradshaw commanding, and One hundred and eighty-third Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Hoge commanding, moved up in good order, under a
most terrific fire, and took full possession of the first line of works, and in
a hand-to-hand encounter the four regiments drove the enemy from the works,
which was held with great tenacity, capturing a number of prisoners (not
known). In the charge to drive the enemy from their immediate front of the
first line and save it from capture by the enemy, Colonel Bradshaw, of the
Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, while leading his regiment, with
colors in hand, and most gallantly, by personal example, encouraging his men,
fell mortally wounded,1 also, at the same moment, Lieut. Col. M.
Clark, One hundred and eighty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was
instantly killed while actively engaged assisting in bringing his regiment up
to the first line, while Lieutenant-Colonel Stockton and Major James, of the
Seventy-second Illinois Regiment of Infantry, were wounded at the same time.
The tenacity with which the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
and Seventy-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry held the first line, stubbornly
refusing to yield their position, in the midst of a most terrible carnage, and
the prompt manner in which the Forty-fourth Missouri and the One hundred and
eighty-third Ohio Regiments executed the order to move up to the support of the
first line, midst a shower of leaden rain, cannot fail to command the highest
admiration of our superiors in the engagement and challenge the good opinion of
all brave comrades in the battle.
Lieut. Col. H. S. Gillespie, Fiftieth Regiment Ohio
Volunteer Infantry; Lieutenant-Colonel Stockton, Seventy-second Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, and Major James, of same regiment; and Capt. J. A. Sexton,
Seventy-second Illinois, [who] took command of regiment when both field
officers fell; Colonel Hoge, One hundred and eighty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and Lieut. Col. A. J. Barr, Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry —
all are deserving of the highest praise for the marked ability in the
management of their men, as well as their noble conduct of true bravery, so
handsomely displayed throughout the engagement. To the other officers and men
of the entire command I can find no words fitting the occasion sufficiently
strong in terms of commendation for the pluck, stubbornness, and genuine
heroism exhibited throughout.
I am greatly indebted to the officers of my staff, most
especially the three who were present with me during the engagement: First
Lieut. John B. McLoe, acting assistant adjutant-general; Capt. L. A. Burke,
acting assistant inspector-general; Second Lieut. C. A. Van Deursen, acting
aide-de-camp. Their conduct was such in personal gallantry throughout that
entitled them to my deepest gratitude, and as examples worthy of imitation by
all good soldiers in so trying an hour of battle. I cannot forget to mention
that my two orderlies, John W. Fouts, color-bearer of brigade, and J. Milton
Foster, my personal orderly, during the entire fight, exhibited personal
bravery in the carrying of orders which does them great credit as good and
faithful soldiers.
Although out of ordinary course of reports, I could not make
a faithful history of operations without recording the fact that at a very
critical moment in rallying to retake the first line, I consider the success of
the brigade was mainly owing at this juncture to the immediate personal
presence of Brigadier-General Cox, commanding Third Division, Twenty-third Army
Corps, and the timely assistance he rendered me in so critical a moment in
sending to my support the One hundred and twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
Colonel Bond commanding, who participated in the last two hours of the
engagement (the colonel himself being wounded), the regiment rendering that
assistance making success complete in holding our works until the order to move
was received, which was at 12 o'clock at night, when the brigade withdrew,
leaving a heavy skirmish line in the works, and marched across the river over
the railroad bridge.
December 1, 1864, at 2 a.m., the skirmishers left in works
at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, joined the brigade on the Nashville and
Franklin pike. The brigade was in motion marching toward Nashville, Tenn.,
where it arrived at 4 p.m., and went into position on north side of Fort
Negley, on right of Second Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps,
and on left of Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps.
Below please find list of casualties;2 and for
further information I will respectfully refer you to reports of regimental
commanders; a copy of each accompanies this report.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
S. A. STRICKLAND,
Colonel, Commanding
Third Brigade.
Lieut. S. H. HUBBELL,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
1 Bradshaw survived his wound.
2 Shows 6 officers and 67 men killed, 19 officers
and 159 men wounded, and 2 officers and 278 men missing — total 531.
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. 389-91
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