No. 145.
Report of Col. William L. McMillen, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry,
commanding First Brigade,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST
BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF
THE TENNESSEE,
In the Field,
December 25, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the part taken by this command in the recent engagements near Nashville, Tenn.,
on the 15th and 16th instant:
The following regiments and battery compose the brigade:
Seventy-second Ohio Infantry Veteran Volunteers, Lieut. Col. C. G. Eaton
commanding; Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Jefferson
Brumback commanding; One hundred and fourteenth Illinois Infantry Volunteers,
Capt. J. M. Johnson commanding; Ninety-third Indiana Infantry Volunteers, Capt.
Charles A. Hubbard commanding; Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col.
S. P. Jennison commanding; Cogswell's Independent Battery Illinois Light
Artillery, Second Lieut. S. H. McClaury commanding.
On the evening of the 14th instant I received from the
general commanding division instructions to have my command ready to move the
following morning at 6 o'clock, with three days' rations in haversack and fifty
rounds of ammunition per man. I was ready at the hour designated, but owing to
delay on the part of the cavalry did not move until near 9 a.m., taking the
Charlotte pike, in the rear of the Second Brigade. Reaching the vicinity of Richland
Creek, just beyond which the enemy's lines were established, I was directed to
deploy, with my right resting on the Charlotte pike near Douglass' house. This
was done accordingly, but whilst executing the movement the rebels opened with
a battery, unhorsing Col. D.C. Thomas, Ninety-third Indiana Infantry, and
severely wounding several men in the One hundred and fourteenth Illinois
Infantry. I brought one section of artillery into action and silenced the guns
of the enemy. Soon after this orders were received to move by the left flank,
keeping my left close to the right of the Second Brigade. In this movement I
described the arc of a large circle, and it was continued until we had crossed
the Hardin pike, and reached the vicinity of the Hillsborough pike, where the
enemy was found strongly posted on the side and summit of a high hill, with a
four-gun battery in his lower and a two-gun battery in his upper work. A
battery far to our right, belonging, I think, to some cavalry command, was
engaging these guns when we came up. Deploying the Seventy-second Ohio Infantry
as skirmishers, I advanced my battery to within 400 yards of the enemy's works
and opened on them with a rapid and telling fire. Whilst the battery was thus
engaged I moved up the balance of the brigade and formed it, the Seventy-second
Ohio as skirmishers, the Ninety-fifth Ohio and Tenth Minnesota in the front
line, and One hundred and fourteenth Illinois and Ninety-third Indiana in the
rear, and made preparations to charge. The Second Brigade formed to my left and
one or two regiments of Hatch's division of cavalry on my right. Upon an order
from the general commanding division, we advanced upon the works and carried
both quickly, capturing the 6 guns, 300 or 400 prisoners, and a lot of small-arms.
In this charge I regret to state that the gallant Col. D.C. Thomas,
Ninety-third Indiana Infantry, was severely wounded, and a number of brave men
were killed and wounded. The cavalry regiments on my right deserve credit for
the dashing part they took in assaulting and capturing these works. After
collecting prisoners and guns and placing them in charge of the Seventy-second
Ohio to be conveyed to Nashville, my command moved on the Hillsborough pike and
took a position on its east side, in the rear of the Second Brigade, where we
camped for the night. Two cannon, 2 caissons, 1 army wagon filled with arms and
accouterments, 7 commissioned officers, and 148 enlisted men were secured and
turned over by my command as the fruits of this day's work.
Early on the morning of the 16th I moved out and occupied
the temporary works constructed during the night by the Second Brigade, which
had already moved forward and become engaged with the enemy. Soon afterward an
order to advance and form in two lines on the right of the Second Brigade was
received and executed; my first line throwing out skirmishers, who advanced to
within a short distance of the enemy's works, which could be plainly seen from
a hill in front of a division of the Twenty-third Army Corps, commanded by
General Couch, and upon which my battery went into position and did good
execution in silencing those batteries of the enemy within range and in
covering with a rapid fire an assault made later in the day by my brigade.
Throughout the fore part of the day we remained in line, using artillery
freely, and occasionally advancing the skirmish line, which invariably met with
stubborn resistance. Toward noon I commenced digging a rifle-pit to protect my
first line from the enemy's fire and also to enable it more securely to hold
the ground in case of an assault, preparations for which, on the part of the
enemy, I thought could be seen. In front of Couch's division, Twenty-third Army
Corps, there was a very steep hill, over the crown of which the enemy's main
line extended, and which formed the key point to his works, in front of our
division. This hill once carried and securely held, these works, as far as we
could see to our left, became untenable, and would necessarily have to be
abandoned. Being a position of so much importance it was, of course, guarded by
a strong body of troops, besides being so steep, it was supposed no assaulting
party could live to reach the summit. We waited long hours for the division of
the Twenty-third Army Corps in front of this hill to carry it, intending to
advance at the same time and carry the works at its base and our left. At
length General McArthur, tired with the long delay and fearful the day would
pass without making any serious impression upon the enemy's lines, directed me
to withdraw my brigade and “take that hill.” This was about 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. I immediately withdrew my skirmishers, retired the regiments, and
moved them by the right flank to a point opposite the hill to be carried;
forming in two lines outside of the works occupied by and in front of Couch's
division; supplied empty cartridge boxes, and posted my battery so as to
command the enemy's position. The front line consisted of the following
regiments, named in their order from right to left: One hundred and fourteenth
Illinois Infantry, Captain Johnson commanding; Ninety-third Indiana Infantry,
Captain Hubbard commanding; Tenth Minnesota Infantry, Lieut. Col. S. P.
Jennison commanding; the second line of the Seventy-second Ohio Infantry, Lieut.
Col. C. G. Eaton commanding, and the Ninety-fifth Ohio, Lieut. Col. Jefferson
Brumback commanding. After the troops were ready the assault was delayed some
time, in consequence of a failure on the part of the ordnance department to
supply the battery with ammunition. Ten rounds for each gun were finally
procured from Captain Reed, of the Second Iowa Battery, and about 3.30 o'clock
I ordered Lieutenant McClaury, commanding Cogswell's Independent Battery, to
open on the hill, and under cover of this fire advanced to the assault.
Regimental commanders had been instructed to move out silently, with fixed
bayonets, and, if possible, gain the enemy's works before delivering their
fire. A strong skirmish line had been thrown forward, with orders to advance, firing
as soon as the brigade moved. Capt. James Fernald, of my staff, was placed in
charge of the skirmishers, and, as ever, performed his duty with the utmost
daring and gallantry. Quickly and steadily the brigade moved down one hill and
up the other to within a few feet of the enemy's parapet, where we received a
volley, which on the right went over our heads, but on the left punished the
Tenth Minnesota severely. Nothing daunted, this gallant regiment, together with
the others composing the front line, cleared the enemy's works with a bound.
The two regiments in the second line were inside almost as quickly, having
pushed forward with the highest spirit and determination.
Brigadier-General Smith, 84 field, staff, and line officers,
and 1,533 enlisted men were captured in this charge, together with 4
battle-flags, 8 cannon, 8 caissons, a large number of small-arms and
accouterments. My loss, although not heavy considering the work performed,
embraces many gallant officers and soldiers. It mainly fell upon the Tenth
Minnesota Infantry, which was exposed to a flanking fire. Two field officers, 6
line officers, wounded, and some 60 enlisted men killed and wounded in this
charge alone, attest the fiery ordeal through which the regiment passed; and the
fact that it reached the rebel works in its front as quickly as the regiments
on its right, which were less exposed, is ample evidence of the courage and
daring of both officers and men. Lieutenant-Colonel Jennison, the commanding
officer, was conspicuous for his high daring, and set a noble example to his
officers and men. He fell severely wounded on the enemy's works, and his loss,
even if but temporary, will be severely felt by his regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonels Brumback and Eaton, Captains Johnson and Hubbard,
commanding regiments, acquitted themselves on this occasion, as they always do,
with distinguished gallantry, setting their respective commands examples which
must always insure success. In fact, all officers and men of this brigade
engaged on the 15th and 16th instant displayed an eager desire to engage the
enemy, and a courage tempered with a high resolve rarely, if ever, surpassed.
To Lieutenant McClaury, his officers and men, I am under particular obligations
for their bravery and efficiency in working their battery. Although but
recently attached, they have already won the esteem and admiration of the
entire command.
The following is a summary of the prisoners of war, guns,
colors, &c., captured and turned over by my brigade in the recent engagements:
General officers
|
1
|
Cannon
|
10
|
Field, staff, and line officers
|
91
|
Caissons
|
10
|
Enlisted men
|
1,681
|
Wagons
|
1
|
____
|
Small-arms (estimated)
|
2,500
|
|
Total
|
1,773
|
Accouterments (estimated)..sets
|
2,500
|
To the officers of my staff — Capt. James Fernald, Seventy-second
Ohio Infantry, brigade picket officer; Lieut. O. H. Abel, One hundred and
fourteenth Illinois Infantry, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. Josiah
Barber, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, acting aide-de-camp, and Lieut. John C.
Chittenden, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, acting assistant quartermaster — I am
under renewed obligations for that devotion to duty and gallantry under fire
which has always characterized them. They have my thanks and deserve the
gratitude of the country for their intelligent discharge of every trust,
however trying or dangerous. To Lieut. A. L. Whiteside, regimental
quartermaster, Ninety-third Indiana Infantry, I tender my thanks for valuable
services rendered on both days as volunteer aide-de-camp.
I have the honor to forward herewith a list of the killed
and wounded, from which it will be seen that the entire loss in this brigade
was as follows: Commissioned officers — wounded, 10. Enlisted men — killed, 22;
wounded, 86. Total, 118.
I am, captain, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. L. McMILLEN,
Colonel Ninety-fifth
Ohio Infantry, Commanding.
Capt. W. H. F. RANDALL,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Div.,
Detach. Army of the Tennessee.
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. 440-3
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