No. 152.
Report of Capt. Joseph R. Reed, Second Battery Iowa Light Artillery,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND
IOWA BATTERY,
In the Field,
December 21, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit the following report of
the part taken by this battery in the recent engagement in the vicinity of
Nashville:
On the morning of the 15th instant the battery moved from
its position at 8 a.m. and marched in the brigade, following all its movements
in column and line until the enemy was discovered in a strongly intrenched
position on our front. Here, by direction of General McArthur, I placed my
rifle section in position 200 yards in rear and a little to the right of the
brigade line. From this position I fired ten rounds from each gun, when I moved
it forward and placed it in position on a slight eminence in front of the
brigade, and also brought forward my 12-pounders as fast as I could find
positions where they could be used to advantage. I occupied this position until
the brigade was moved forward, when I replenished my limber-chests and followed
it, and, under direction of Colonel Hubbard, occupied a position on the left of
the battery of McMillen's brigade, within 600 [yards] of the enemy's works, on
which I opened a vigorous fire, which I continued until the work was carried. I
immediately moved forward and placed the battery in position on the left of
this work and opened fire on the summit of the next hill, up the sides of which
our skirmishers were then advancing. As soon as this position was carried I
moved to the front of the work and opened on the enemy's line in the woods and
pike 1,000 yards to our front, paying particular attention to a hill to the
right of the line, on which the enemy had placed a battery. When this hill was
carried and the enemy's line broken by the charge of the brigade, a confused
mass of the enemy broke from the stone wall at the pike and started to the rear
across an open field. On this ground I opened all my guns with shot and shell,
plowing through and exploding amongst them; a larger number of them ran back to
the wall and, as I afterward learned, surrendered. I then moved to the front
and reported to Colonel Hubbard, who directed me to open on a battery of the
enemy which was firing on the left of our line. As our position was immediately
on the enemy's flank and our fire enfiladed him, the battery was limbered up
and the whole line moved to the rear after a very few moments. I continued
firing until he passed beyond my range, and it being then quite dark I encamped
for the night.
During the night I had thrown up a slight work on the front
of my guns, and at 5 a.m. was harnessed and hitched up, and at 7 a.m. moved out
of our works with the brigade. Changed front to the right and opened fire on
the enemy's train, which was in sight, moving to the right and rear. The
brigade moving to the front, was soon hotly engaged. By direction of General
McArthur I moved one section to the front and placed it in position on a crest
to the right and rear of the brigade and in front of the line of the
Twenty-third Corps, immediately following it with the other four guns, which I
put in position still farther to the right. From this position I kept up a
vigorous fire on the enemy's line until the final charge at near 3 p.m. As soon
as the line was carried I moved three guns (all for which I had any ammunition)
to the front, following the brigade and opening on the enemy from every
favorable position. At dark I encamped with the brigade, bringing forward
during the night the balance of the battery.
During the two days I expended 1,500 rounds of ammunition. I
had but a single casualty during the whole engagement, and that resulted from
the accidental, premature discharge of one of the pieces.
To my lieutenants, Coons and Burk, I am indebted for prompt
and efficient assistance. My non-commissioned officers and men uniformly
behaved with coolness and gallantry.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Respectfully, your
obedient servant,
J. R. REED,
Captain, Commanding
Second Iowa Battery.
Lieut. T. P. GERE,
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. 458-9
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