No. 159.
Report of Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard, U. S. Army, commanding Second
Division,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND
DIVISION, DETACHMENT ARMY OF
THE TENNESSEE,
Camp near Columbia,
December 24, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the
part taken by this division in the late battles before Nashville:
On the morning of the 15th instant, at an early hour, the
division was moved outside of the works, and formed in line of battle in the
following order: On the right, near the Hardin pike, Colonel Wolfe's brigade,
composed of the Fifty-second Indiana, Forty-ninth Illinois, One hundred and
seventeenth Illinois, One hundred and seventy-eighth New York, and Battery G,
Second Illinois; in the center, Col. D. Moore's brigade, composed of the
Twenty-first Missouri, Eighty-ninth Indiana, One hundred and nineteenth
Illinois, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois, and the Ninth Indiana
Battery; and on the left, Colonel Gilbert's brigade, composed of the
Twenty-seventh Iowa, Thirty-second Iowa, Tenth Kansas, Fifty-eighth Illinois,
and Third Indiana Battery. My instructions required me to keep closed on the
Fourth Corps, on my left, and regulate my advance by the right. A strong line
of skirmishers was thrown from the division, as follows: In front of Wolfe, a
portion of the One hundred and seventeenth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam
commanding; in front of Moore, a portion of the One hundred and twenty-second
Illinois, Major Chapman commanding; and in front of Gilbert, the Tenth Kansas
and Company B, Twenty-seventh Iowa, Capt. W. C. Jones, Tenth Kansas,
commanding. The general movement of the day was a grand wheel to the left, and
as the division was in the center of the line it was necessary to use the
utmost exertion to preserve its proper relation to the two grand wings. After
advancing some distance, the skirmish line clearing away all opposition, the
line halted in easy cannon-range of the rebel forts. The skirmish line was well
advanced, and the Second Illinois and Ninth Indiana Batteries immediately
brought into action, under the direction of Captain Lowell, chief of division
artillery. These batteries were much exposed to the enemy's guns from the
forts, but they maintained their fire, were used with much skill, and by
silencing in a great degree the enemy's guns, contributed largely toward the
final capture of the forts. The movement of the division being controlled by
that of the line on its right, it was not until McArthur's left brigade, under
Hill, advanced, that I ordered the charge which was promptly made on the
double-quick. In the front of my center there was an angle in the enemy's
works, so that when the Fourth Corps charged the works in their front, and I
the forts in my front, our lines crossed. To prevent confusion I directed Moore
and Gilbert in reserve, and after the fort in front of Wolfe was carried by
him, brought them up in line on Wolfe's right. In the general movement of the
day the skirmish line was thrown out of position and to the right. At the time
of the charge the skirmish line, which originally was in front of my two right
brigades, was in front of McArthur's left.
With a view to a clear understanding of the position at the
time of the assault, it would be well to state that the rebels had a continuous
line of works facing toward Nashville, and extending from toward the Franklin
pike over to the Granny White pike. Near the Granny White pike and east of it
there was a small redoubt forming an angle with the continuous line, then there
was a series of detached works, extending back toward the hills and in the
direction of the Hardin pike. The first of these forts was just west of the
Granny White pike, and some 600 to 1,000 yards from the small redoubt at the
angle. The Fourth Corps passed over the line of works, its right near the
angle; Wolfe passed over the redoubt at the angle; and Hill's brigade,
McArthur's division, passed over the fort west of Granny White pike. The
skirmishers of the One hundred and twenty-second Illinois and One hundred and
seventeenth Illinois were in front of Hill, and the One hundred and
twenty-second captured the battery flag, but the three guns captured in that
fort rightfully belong to Hill's brigade. Wolfe's brigade captured in the
redoubt two guns, one disabled, and a third gun some distance in the rear of
the redoubt, which the enemy had attempted to carry off.
On the morning of the 16th, at 8 a.m., the division was
advanced in line in the direction of the Franklin pike — Gilbert on the right,
Moore in the center, and Wolfe on the left. It was soon found necessary to
change front forward on the right brigade, in order to face the enemy's line.
This was done under heavy artillery fire; and to form connection with
McArthur's line, Wolfe was brought up in line in my center and Gilbert moved to
the right. A fortified hill in front of my left was carried by the skirmish
line and the artillery brought into action. An effective and continuous
artillery fire was kept up, and the skirmish line advanced close up to the
enemy's works. The Fourth Corps was formed on my left. Noticing, about 4 p.m.,
a heavy musketry fire on the right of the corps, and believing that the
critical point in the battle had arrived, I gave the order for the whole division
to charge. This order was most promptly and gallantly obeyed. Gilbert's and
Wolfe's brigades moved forward as a unit, and Moore a little retired. The
division charged in the face of heavy artillery and musketry fire from the
enemy's works, but its advance was so determined and rapid that the enemy was
completely routed and driven in confusion from his intrenchments. His works
consisted of a strong stone wall capped with earth, having a ditch and abatis
in front. The enemy abandoned his artillery. Gilbert passed over and captured 5
guns, with the battery flag; Wolfe, 5; and Moore a battery of 4 guns a little
to the left of that portion of the enemy's works carried by his brigade. This
battery was captured by the One hundred and twenty-second Illinois, by moving
off by the left flank after passing over the enemy's works. In addition to the
above-enumerated guns, six more were captured by Moore's brigade. They were on
a road just behind the first hills and were taken from the enemy as he was endeavoring
to run them off. In the hills quite a number of wagons, limbers, and caissons
were captured. During the assault all the artillery of the division, under the
direction of the chief of artillery, was massed on the hill where my line had
been formed, and was served with great rapidity and effect.
I inclose the report of the chief of artillery, that the
major-general commanding the corps may be informed more in detail of the
valuable service rendered by that arm in the late battle.*
On this day 20 guns and about 850 prisoners were captured,
including Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson and other officers. On both days the first
thought of myself and officers was to defeat and pursue the enemy, and I have
to regret that proper care was not taken to secure receipt for the three guns
on the 15th nor the twenty on the 16th, nor even for the prisoners which were
captured; many of these were even taken to the provost-marshal in Nashville and
left there without stating to what command they belonged. With the exception of
the four guns on the extreme left on the 16th, I was an eye-witness to the fact
of the different brigades passing over the batteries reported as captured by
them; I also saw the battery on the left during the charge, but passed forward
and out of sight of it before the One hundred and twenty-second Illinois
captured it. The Fourth Corps, on my left, did not advance until I had carried
the enemy's works, and I was, on this account, compelled to hold the
Twenty-first Missouri in reserve, in rear of my left brigade, to provide
against any attack on my flank; this flank, from the course of the enemy's
works, was exposed to and in the charge suffered from a cross-fire.
It is with a feeling of just pride and pleasure that I refer
to the good conduct and gallant bearing of the division throughout the two
days' engagement. Under the many trying circumstances which surround a
battlefield, both officers and men yielded a prompt and cheerful obedience to
all orders, and in the assaults they displayed a determination and zeal which
gained for them a complete and great victory. Among the many who did nobly I
would ask the especial notice of the major-general commanding the corps to Col.
James I. Gilbert, commanding Second Brigade, and Col. Edward H. Wolfe,
commanding Third Brigade. These officers, for their efficiency as brigade
commanders, and their soldierly bearing on the battle-field, I would
respectfully recommend for promotion to the rank of brigadier-general.
To the officers on the division staff I feel under many
obligations for their useful assistance to me. Lieut. James B. Comstock.
Twenty-first Missouri, acting assistant adjutant-general; Capt. William B.
Dugger, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois, provost.marshal; Lieut. Richard
Rees, Twenty-first Missouri, acting inspector-general, and Lieut. Sargeant
McKnight, One hundred and twenty-second Illinois, acting aide-de-camp, were
with me during both days, and by the intelligent and soldierly manner in which
they discharged their duties, contributed materially toward the success of the
division.
For the detailed action of brigades and regiments and
special mention of regimental officers I have the honor to refer you to the
reports of the brigade commanders herewith inclosed.
My loss, I am pleased to report, is small, only 4 officers
and 160 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
K. GARRARD,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding Division.
ASST. ADJT. GEN., DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.
_______________
* See Lowell’s report, p. 497.
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. 472-5
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