No. 128.
Report of Brig. Gen. James W. Reilly, U.S. Army, commanding First
Brigade,
of operations November 30, 1864.
HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 5, 1864.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to
report the operations of the First Brigade-composed of the One hundred and
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. O. W. Sterl; One hundredth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Lieut. Col. E. L. Hayes; Sixteenth Kentucky Veteran Infantry, Lieut.
Col. J. S. White; Twelfth Kentucky Veteran Infantry, Lieut. Col. L. H.
Rousseau, and Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Capt. J. W. Berry — in
battle of 30th ultimo at Franklin, Tenn.
The brigade was placed in position on the right of the
division, on left of Columbia pike, facing south, or nearly so, the right of
the brigade resting on pike, the left connecting with the Second Brigade. Owing
to the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteer Veteran Infantry being rear guard
upon the evacuation of position on north side of Duck River, near Columbia, on
evening of 29th ultimo, they did not reach Franklin for some considerable time
after the other portion of command, in consequence of which the brigade was
formed with One hundredth Ohio Infantry on right, One hundred and fourth Ohio
Infantry on left, with Eighth Tennessee Infantry in reserve. The first line of
the brigade, immediately upon being placed in position, commenced intrenching,
and succeeded in getting up an ordinary line of works, with head-logs. Upon the
arrival of the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky Infantry, about 10 a.m., they
were put in reserve. The brigade had strong line of skirmishers thrown well
forward. At about 4.30 p.m. the enemy were discovered approaching in strong
force upon a portion of the Fourth Corps, in front of brigade; the advance was
rapid, the troops remaining until the enemy were in such close proximity to
them before they retired, that the enemy's heavy assaulting columns pushed them
back rapidly over our line of works, the enemy following closely and
determinedly.
The officers of my command and myself were using our utmost
to prevent our men from firing until all of our own men could succeed in
getting into the works. This, with the enemy pushing close after, and in some
cases with our own men on the works, caused a momentary abandonment of the line
by a portion of the right of the brigade. The line was rapidly rallied by their
officers and with the assistance of the Sixteenth Kentucky, that at this moment
led by Lieutenant-Colonel White, who, seeing and appreciating the disaster that
would be caused if our line should be broken, gallantly ordered and led his
regiment forward to the breach before orders to that effect could reach him. That
portion of the enemy who had gained inside our works were either killed or
taken prisoners. The enemy made various and continued assaults upon the line,
but were each time repulsed with fearful slaughter. Every inch of the works was
held, both inside and outside, until the brigade was ordered to fall back. The
One hundred and seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel
McCoy, was ordered up, or at least came up, gallantly and nobly, and mingled
with our men in rear of the works during the remainder of the fight. The
Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. John Russell, was ordered up,
and right nobly did they come and render valuable services. The Twelfth
Kentucky Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Rousseau, in reserve in
rear of the One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry, pushed his men forward to the
works and did valuable service.
It is proper for me to say that, with the exception of the
aid rendered by the One hundred and seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and
Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as herein stated, the brigade
received no assistance during the fight, unless, perhaps, some of the men
coming in over the works may have rallied in or behind the lines.
I cannot in justice but mention the efficiency and bravery
of Col. O. W. Sterl, and also that of Lieut. Col. E. L. Hayes, who, with his
regiment, particularly distinguished themselves.
Lieutenant-Colonels White and Rousseau have already been
mentioned. In fact, the regimental officers and men of the brigade nobly
sustained the reputation earned on other fields, to which the flags captured,
some twenty, the number of prisoners taken, the almost unparalleled slaughter
of the enemy in front of their works, the casualty list, all bear ample and
indisputable evidence.
I herewith forward a list of the casualties in the brigade.
Among the many brave men killed I regret to report Capt. H.
D. Palmer, Sixteenth Kentucky; Capt. W. W. Hunt, One hundredth Ohio; Lieut. W.
F. Kemble, One hundred and fourth Ohio; Lieut. M. A. Brown, One hundredth Ohio
Infantry; Lieut. J. J. Hiser, Sixteenth Kentucky, and Lieut. F. M. Jackman,
Twelfth Kentucky Veteran Infantry. Among the wounded, Lieut. Col. J. S. White,
Sixteenth Kentucky; Lieutenants Markley, Brown, and Wood, Sixteenth Kentucky;
Lieut. S.S. Cope, One hundred and fourth Ohio; Lieut. H. Obee, One hundredth
Ohio; and Lieut. G. W. Clarke, Twelfth Kentucky Infantry.
My staff officers performed their duties bravely and
efficiently. I regret to report that Capt. D. D. Bard, my assistant
adjutant-general, was mortally wounded whilst fearlessly discharging his duty.
I would respectfully call attention to the reports of
regimental commanders as to individual acts of bravery by officers and enlisted
men that would more properly come under their notice.
The reports, no far as received, are herewith forwarded.
I am, sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
J.
W. REILLY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
_______________
List of casualties in First Brigade, Third
Division, Twenty-third Army Corps,
at the battle of Franklin, Tenn.,
November 30, 1864.
Command.
|
Killed.
|
Wounded.
|
Missing.
|
Total.
|
Aggregate.
|
||||
O
|
M
|
O
|
M
|
O
|
M
|
O
|
M
|
||
8th Tennessee.
|
5
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
|||||
12th Kentucky.
|
1
|
5
|
26
|
1
|
12
|
2
|
43
|
45
|
|
16th Kentucky.
|
2
|
8
|
4
|
38
|
9
|
6
|
55
|
61
|
|
100th Ohio
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
26
|
31
|
3
|
62
|
65
|
|
104th Ohio
|
1
|
9
|
2
|
28
|
15
|
3
|
51
|
54
|
|
Total
|
6
|
27
|
7
|
123
|
1
|
69
|
14
|
218
|
232
|
[O = Officers M = Men]
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J.
W. REILLY,
Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers.
Capt. THEO. COX,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
Third Div., 23d Army Corps.
_______________
HDQRS. FIRST BRIG.,
THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 3, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I herewith have the honor to report nine
battle-flags captured at Franklin, on the 30th ultimo, by First Brigade,
including two captured by the One hundred and seventy-fifth Ohio. There were
twenty in all captured, but many were torn up and sent home by the privates,
and some others were lost.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J. W. REILLY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Capt. THEO. Cox,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
Third 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. 411-3
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