No. 153.
Report of Col. William R. Marshall, Seventh Minnesota Infantry,
commanding Third Brigade,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD
BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Near Pulaski, Tenn.,
December 28, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the operations of the Third Brigade, First Division, Detachment Army of the
Tennessee, in the battles before Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864:
The Third Brigade comprised the Twelfth Iowa Veteran
Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Lieut. Col. J. H. Stibbs; Thirty-fifth Iowa
Infantry Volunteers, Maj. William Dill commanding; Thirty-third Missouri
Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col. William H. Heath commanding; Seventh Minnesota
Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col. George Bradley commanding; and Battery I,
Second Missouri Light Artillery, Capt. S. H. Julian; the brigade commanded on
the 15th, at the opening of the battle, by Col. S. G. Hill, Thirty-fifth Iowa
Volunteers.
In obedience to orders from the brigadier-general commanding
the division, the brigade moved from its position behind intrenchments for
defense of Nashville at 7 a.m. 15th instant, and formed in line of battle, with
its left resting on the Hardin pike, connecting with Second Division, the right
connecting with Second Brigade of First Division, Colonel Hubbard's. Two
companies were deployed forward as skirmishers, covering front of brigade. At
10 a.m. the line advanced, crossing the Hardin pike obliquely to the left,
conforming to the movements of troops on our right and left. Our skirmishers,
pushing rapidly toward the enemy, were soon briskly engaged, driving the
enemy's skirmishers before them. About 11 a.m. we arrived in front of enemy's
works, consisting on his extreme left, which was nearly in our front, of a
formidable fort defended by a four-gun battery. Captain Julian's battery
wheeled into position and opened on the enemy's works at from 1,200 to 1,500
yards distance. A rapid and effective fire from the battery was kept up for
more than an hour. The enemy's guns poured a heavy fire into our battery, which
was completely exposed in an open field, but without disabling our guns or for
a moment interrupting Captain Julian's fire. Later in the day the battery was
advanced to cover the charge we made. The infantry of the brigade were kept
lying down during this first artillery fire, not being within musket-range of
enemy. Our skirmishers got close up to enemy's works, and contributed not a
little to the success which crowned the day's operations. The forts on the
enemy's left being carried about 4 p.m. by the right of our division, the Third
Brigade advanced, under a fierce artillery and musketry fire, and charged a formidable
work on the right of the Hillsborough pike, carrying the work at the point of
the bayonet most gallantly. It was at the parapet of this work that the gallant
and lamented Col. S. G. Hill, commanding the brigade, lost his life. He was
shot through the head, and died in a few minutes, without speaking. The service
lost in Colonel Hill's death one of its bravest and best officers. The enemy's
battery that was in the fort on right of Hillsborough pike was being removed,
but we succeeded in capturing two guns and a battle-flag. When we had gained
the first fort a terrible fire was poured into us from a second work, 200 yards
to the left of Hillsborough pike. I ordered a charge on this second work, and
carried it, capturing one piece of artillery, caisson, battery wagon, horses,
&c. In the two works we captured about 200 prisoners. When we had gained
the second work we pressed on to the left, and got in rear of the enemy, where
General Garrard's division and the right of the Fourth Army Corps were pressing
them in front. We opened a deadly fire on the enemy's rear, as he broke from
his works when charged by General Garrard and Fourth Corps, and could have
taken a great number of prisoners, but left them to the troops that came over
the works in their front. Night now closed our work, and we were ordered into
line a little way east of and parallel to the Hillsborough pike.
The casualties of the brigade on the 15th were, 1 officer
killed and 1 wounded, 1 enlisted man killed and 35 wounded.
The battery fired about 1,000 rounds; the infantry expended
very little ammunition except on the skirmish line, the heavy work having been
done with the bayonet.
On the morning of the 16th the Third Brigade, on the left of
Colonel Hubbard's — the left of the Third Division — was advanced, covered by
skirmishers, from its position during time night toward the Granny White pike,
and conforming to the movement of brigades on our right, obliqued and wheeled
to the right until it confronted the enemy's strong works across the Granny
White pike, at the foot of the Overton (or Brentwood) Hills. My right rested on
the pike, connecting with left of Colonel Hubbard's brigade. We pushed forward,
under a severe fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry, until partly covered
by a fence and stone wall running from the Bradford mansion to the pike. Here
we halted until the grand charge in the afternoon. Captain Julian's battery was
posted about 400 yards in rear of the infantry, and opened and kept up a heavy
fire on the enemy's works. In our immediate front was a four-gun battery.
Between 3 and 4 p.m. I observed the right of the division — the First Brigade —
advancing to charge the enemy's left, and quickly Colonel Hubbard's brigade,
immediately on my right, started on the charge. Seeing that Colonel Hubbard
ought to be supported, I ordered the brigade to follow and charge the works in
our front. Most bravely did the lines rise, and with cheers, breasting the
storm of shot and shell from the four guns in our front, and the fierce musketry
fire of the infantry supports of the battery, charge and carry the very strong
works on the left of the [Granny] White pike. The splendid Pointe Coupée
Battery of four Napoleon 12-pounders, a great number of small arms, and 300 to
400 prisoners were taken. The gallant Colonel Hubbard, who had gained the
enemy's works on the right of the pike before I reached those on the left, was
sweeping down toward my front, and claimed part of the guns as his capture.
Although there can be no doubt that my brigade first entered the works by the
front, I thought it but fair to the ever-gallant Second Brigade, which got the
start of us in the general charge and pierced the enemy's line in advance of
us, to divide the guns; accordingly, Colonel Hubbard took two and the Third
Brigade two. We made a short halt upon gaining the enemy's works, and pressed
on up the hills about one mile, pursuing the fugitives, capturing many, until,
by command of the general, halted at the base of the steep part of the
mountain, and put into position for the night.
In the charge, which was made across an open field about 400
yards wide, that noble and brave young officer, Adjt. S. E. Day, of the
Thirty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers, was mortally wounded; he died in
hospital on the 19th instant; Lieutenant Rutledge, of Thirty-third Missouri,
was seriously wounded; Captain McKelvy and Lieutenant Potter, of Seventh
Minnesota, slightly wounded; 11 men were killed and 89 wounded.
I cannot too highly commend the gallant conduct of all the
officers and men of the brigade; no troops ever behaved more gallantly. The
Twelfth Iowa had not a single line officer, owing to the recent muster-out of
non-veterans, yet their conduct was none the less soldierly and brave.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. R. MARSHALL,
Colonel Seventh
Minnesota,
Comdg. Third Brig.,
First Div., Detach. Army of the Tennessee.
Capt. W. H. F. RANDALL, Assistant Adjutant-General.
There were captured by my command in the two days'
engagement, 5 12-pounder guns — brass, 1 steel — (exclusive of the 2 Napoleon's
conceded to Colonel Hubbard, which would have made the number 7), 5 caissons, 1
battery wagon, about 500 prisoners, and 2 battle-flags.
There was expended, by Captain Julian's battery, 2,000
rounds of 3-inch shell and solid shot; by the infantry, mostly by the
skirmishers, about 7,000 rounds of rifle-musket ammunition.
Respectfully, your
obedient servant,
W. R. MARSHALL,
Colonel Seventh
Minnesota,
Comdg. Third Brig.,
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. 460-2
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