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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