Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 139. Report of Col. John M. Orr, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, of operations November 28-30, 1864.

No. 139.

Report of Col. John M. Orr, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry,
of operations November 28-30, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS 124TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,  
Nashville, Tenn., December 7, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of the One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers since the afternoon of the 28th of November, 1864, at which time my regiment was detached, by order of Col. J. S. Casement, from the brigade, and ordered to the rear to guard the crossing at Rutherford's Creek, near Columbia:

On the afternoon of the 29th I received orders from Major-General Schofield to picket all roads running east for a distance of one mile from the pike, between Rutherford's Creek and Spring Hill, Company B being left on picket on said creek. In compliance with orders, I moved the remainder of the command forward. After moving two or three miles, Company C was ordered by General Ruger to move off the road and into the woods to the support of his own pickets. The company was posted by his assistant adjutant-general, there to await the order of the general. Moving on to Poplar Grove, five companies (D, E, H, I, and K), under command of Lieut. Col. Henry H. Neff, were placed on a road leading east. Companies A, F, and G, under my own immediate command, advanced toward Spring Hill, some one mile and a half or two miles from Poplar Grove. While here cannonading could be distinctly heard in the direction of Spring Hill. Report soon came by courier that the enemy held the pike in my immediate front, and were advancing. Company A was immediately deployed as skirmishers, and advanced upon the enemy. Companies F and G were ordered to blockade the pike. They were then ordered to the front as skirmishers, which order was promptly obeyed, and soon connected their left with the right of the advancing line. Company A soon became hotly engaged with the enemy; Companies F and G were also soon engaged, forcing the enemy to retire, after which I ordered the companies previously stationed on the roads to move forward and join their command. Company A lost one man, seriously wounded through the left lung, who was left at a house near by, and fell into the enemy's hands. From here we moved on toward Franklin, where we arrived at 6 a.m. 30th, here going into position with the brigade. While here Company B joined us from off picket at Columbia, having been detained until the rear of the army had passed; Company C failed to report. It was placed on picket, by order of Brigadier-General Ruger, there awaiting his orders to be relieved, but he failing to give the necessary instructions, the company is supposed to have maintained its position awaiting for orders, but receiving none, was captured by the enemy.

 JNO. M. ORR,          
 Colonel, Commanding.
 Capt. C. D. RHODES,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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. 427-8

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