No. 121.
Reports of Lieut.
Col. Hamilton S. Gillespie, Fiftieth Ohio Infantry,
of operations
November 26-December 8 and December 15-16, 1864.
HDQRS. FIFTIETH
REGIMENT OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 8, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the
operations of this regiment since crossing Duck River, at Columbia, Tenn.,
including the casualties at Franklin:
November 26, crossed the river at 2 a.m. on railroad bridge,
and camped at Duck River Station; built rail barricade, and took position behind
it. November 27, in camp all day till 5 p.m.; ordered to cross river at dark;
crossed after dark and occupied works prepared for us until 3 a.m. next day,
when we returned to north side of river, and went into position till the
railroad and pontoon bridges were destroyed. At 11 a.m. November 29 fell into
column and moved in the direction of Spring Hill and Franklin. While advancing
toward Spring Hill the same night we were attacked by a body of rebels in the
dark; repulsed and drove them back, and moved on toward Franklin, where we
arrived at 6.30 a.m. of November 30. Went into position and built works on
south side of Franklin, and were attacked by the enemy in force at 3.20 p.m.,
and fought them till 12 p.m., losing: Commissioned officers — wounded, 3;
missing, 2. Enlisted men — killed, 7; wounded, 33; captured, 10; missing, 57.
Total loss, 112.
I deem this a favorable opportunity to mention the brave and
heroic manner in which both officers and men of the regiment met and fought the
enemy in a hand-to-hand conflict. Never before did I witness such a bloody
contest, and yet there were none who faltered. Capt. J. G. Theaker, of Company
F, fell, wounded in the leg, while bravely encouraging his men in their noble
work. Lieut. Michael Walsh, of Company D, and Lieut. J.T. Lucas, of Company B,
were also wounded while in the devoted line of their duty. Lieut. J. H. Haney,
of Company B, and Lieut. Edwin G. Edgley, of Company H, were both captured
while in the discharge of their duty. I cannot omit to mention in this
connection the valuable assistance I received from Capt. John S. Conahan, of
Company D, acting major. My staff — consisting of Adjt. Jerome F. Crowley, Dr.
N. B. Cole, and Sergt. Maj. P. F. Pechiney — deserve great credit for the
prompt manner in which they performed all their duties during the whole
engagement. All the officers and men of the regiment have my sincere thanks for
their promptness in obeying orders, and the brave and efficient manner in which
they did their bloody work upon the enemy. Coleman Quinn, private of Company K,
bravely left the works in pursuit of a rebel ensign, whom he shot, and captured
his colors. The boy, not knowing the value of this trophy, gave the colors to
some Federal officer in the night.
The regiment retired at 12 p.m. by orders, falling back with
the army (marching all night) to Nashville. December 1, arrived at this place
at 12 m., and went into position on the left of Fort Negley (facing northwest).
December 2-8, all quiet and we occupy the same position.
Accompanying this will be found a list of casualties, giving
name and company and the nature of casualty.
Respectfully
submitted.
H. S. GILLESPIE,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Commanding Regiment.
ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 3D BRIG., 2D DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS.
_______________
HDQRS. FIFTIETH
REGIMENT, OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
In the Field, near
Columbia, Tenn., December 22, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of
operations of this regiment on the 15th and 16th days of this month:
December 15, broke up camp at 6 a.m. and moved with Third
Brigade, Second Division, to extreme right and rear of the Sixteenth Army
Corps, where we laid upon our arms till 3 p.m., when we were ordered to take
position on the extreme right of our army. About 4 p.m. charged the enemy, in
which we had a warmly contested fight for twenty minutes, driving them back to
their intrenchments. First Lieut. E. L. Pyne was mortally wounded while
gallantly leading his men forward to the fight. Threw up barricades at dark,
and heavy skirmishing ensued. At 7 p.m. same night were relieved by Second
Brigade, Third Division, and moved one brigade distance to the left and
connected with the First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps.
Built strong breast-works. December 16, heavy skirmishing in our front. Laid
quiet in our works till 3 p.m. Sixteenth Army Corps charged and carried the
rebel works in our front, our brigade supporting, then moved forward in line of
battle one mile and camped for the night.
Casualties: First Lieut. E. L. Pyne, Company K, wounded
through breast and arm (mortal); Private Philip Hamen, Company G, in head
(slight).
I am sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. S. GILLESPIE,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Commanding Regiment.
ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 3D BRIG., 2D DIV, 23D ARMY CORPS.
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. 395-7
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