Sunday, March 10, 2019

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 128. Report of Brig. Gen. James W. Reilly, U.S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of operations November 30, 1864.

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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