No. 116.
Report of Col. John
Mehringer, Ninety-first Indiana Infantry, commanding
Third Brigade, of
operations December 15-16, 1864.
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., SECOND DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
In the Field, near
Columbia, Tenn., December 23, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to most respectfully submit the
following report of operations of Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third
Army Corps, during the action of which it took part in (15th and 16th of
December, 1864):
December 15, 1864, at 7 a.m., left camp (north side of Fort
Negley, Nashville, Tenn.), and following Second Brigade, Second Division,
Twenty-third Army Corps, moved to the right through works on the Charlotte
pike; formed line of battle in rear and advanced in support of Second Brigade.
When near Hillsborough pike we moved to right and took position upon extreme
right of Second Division, in front of Compton's Hill. Soon after crossing the
Hillsborough pike the First and Second Brigades were advancing rapidly on the
enemy, charging a hill in their front. I received orders to move by the right
flank, which the brigade executed very promptly, forming line of battle in a
piece of woods some 400 yards to the right of Second Brigade, under orders not
to advance until support would arrive. Soon after and before I was supported
the enemy advanced on my front and right flank, coming in short range owing to
all elevated piece of ground in our immediate front. I at once advanced the
brigade in line of battle to the crest of the hill, and ordered fire, which was
very promptly executed, and the enemy repulsed, we losing 19 men and 3
officers. During the engagement the officers and men behaved most gallantly,
and particularly I would mention the officers of the One hundred and
eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, whose men have never had the opportunity
to drill; also the shaft officers of my brigade behaved very gallantly. We
barricaded and remained in position until 8 p.m., when we were ordered to move
and take position on right of First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army
Corps, where we built works and threw out skirmishers covering our front.
December 16, 1864, still in same position, on right of First Brigade, and
remain under fire of the enemy until 3 p.m., when a charge was made by part of
Sixteenth Army Corps upon Compton's Hill, carrying the enemy's works, when we
moved through the enemy's works and camped near Granny White pike for the
night.
Below I have the honor to attach the list of casualties*
which occurred in Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and
also forward history of operations of regimental commanders in Third Brigade.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
JOHN MEHRINGER,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Lieut. S.H. HUBBELL,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________
* Nominal list (omitted) shows 1 officer and 1 man killed
and 2 officers and 18 men wounded.
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. 391-2
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