No. 161.
Report of Col. Thomas J. Kinney, One hundred and nineteenth Illinois
Infantry,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS 119TH
ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
In the Field, Tenn.,
December 21, 1864.
SIR: I herewith forward report of the part taken by my
regiment in the battle of Nashville, on the 15th and 16th instant.
We moved out of our works a little after daylight on the
morning of the 15th instant and formed line of battle on the left of the Hardin
pike, my regiment on the right of the brigade and joining the Third Brigade.
After waiting until about 9 a.m., all things being ready, we moved to the front
in line, steadily advancing and swinging to the left until near noon, when we
came to a stand in a ravine in support of the Second Illinois Battery. Remained
there some two or three hours, when orders were received to move forward. In
connection with the Third Brigade, we moved forward over the hill and down into
the next hollow, and there halted again, wailing for all things to be prepared
for a grand charge upon the enemy's works. While in this position we
experienced a heavy artillery fire from the enemy's guns, which were planted on
a hill some half a mile off. At about 4 p.m., as all things seemed ready for
the charge — the Fourth Army Corps had massed their forces at right angles with
our line and charged the works of the enemy in our front, thereby completely
cutting us off from a direct charge — we moved by right flank until we cleared
the Fourth Corps, then to the front again, but we were all too late in the
charge, as the fort had been taken by the skirmish line of the One hundred and
twenty-second Illinois Volunteers before the Fourth Corps reached it. Dark then
came on, and we went into camp on the ground we occupied.
On the morning of the 16th we were again in line soon after
daylight, and moved forward in the same position occupied the day previous. We
had advanced not over half a mile when the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire
upon us from works erected by them on a hill in our front. We steadily advanced
our skirmish line and moved forward the line of the brigade, and carried the
position with great ease. Our brigade, taking position on this ground, awaited
further developments and for the time to come when we should make the grand
charge upon the rebel breast-works, which were some 1,000 yards in front. There
were several batteries manned upon this elevation which kept a continual fire
upon the enemy's works during the afternoon, which called forth a brisk reply
from his guns and occasioned our men at times to lay very close to the ground.
At about 3 p.m. the order was given to charge the works, and well and bravely
was it done. They were carried with perfect ease, the charge being almost
simultaneous along the whole line from right to center and then taken up by the
left of our line. After taking the works we advanced through the timber to an
open field, and across that to the foot of the mountain, the enemy fleeing
before us as fast as possible. Here we captured two Napoleon guns and many
prisoners. I then reformed my regiment and moved by the right flank along the
road some distance, and then again by the left flank, in line of battle, up a
ravine, and here I captured one 10-pounder Parrott gun, one Rodman, and two
more Napoleons.
Having become detached from the rest of the brigade I halted
my regiment and waited for orders, which were received. The One hundred and
twenty-second Illinois and Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteers came and passed in
my rear, and formed in line on my right, closing up the interval between my
regiment and the Third Brigade. We then prepared for camp, it being then dark.
Orders were received at 8 o'clock to move out and form line in the open field
at the foot of the mountain, which was done, and then we went into camp for the
night. Was up next morning at daylight and found the enemy had entirely left
and were in rapid retreat.
The captures made by my regiment were 6 pieces of artillery,
15 caissons and limbers, 16 wagons, 3 two-horse wagons, which I suppose were
used for ambulances, 1 ambulance, together with their contents of supplies,
small-arms, and fixed ammunition for artillery and small-arms. In prisoners, I
am not able to say how many we did capture, as they were sent to the rear as
fast as taken, except some ten or twelve sent to headquarters on the morning of
the 17th instant. Major-General Johnson was taken by Company C of my regiment,
and sent to the rear and delivered to Captain Whitaker by Private Daugherty, of
Company C, and a private in the Eighty-ninth Indiana — name unknown. It is
proper to say here that I did not, nor did the men, know who he was until he was
delivered to Captain Whitaker, when he told him in presence of my men that his
name was Johnson and he was a major-general, but that he had told him
(Daugherty) that he was a colonel. I make this explanation, as I am informed
nearly every regiment in the command claim to have captured him. I also
captured Colonel Voorhies, of the Forty-eighth Tennessee, one surgeon, and
several line officers, all of whom were duly delivered to the provost-marshal
of the division, or otherwise disposed of by orders. The four last guns
captured were the battery of Captain Beauregard, son of General Beauregard, as
I was informed by a member of the battery captured near it.
I shall not attempt to particularize in regard to the acts
or conduct of the officers and men of my command, only to say that they did
their whole duty, with perhaps a very few exceptions. I must, however, speak in
favorable terms of Lieut. and Adjt. H. S. Buck, who was on hand at all times
and rendered me all assistance in his power in keeping my regiment in order. He
is cool, brave, and active, and deserves promotion.
The casualties in my regiment were very few. I lost none
killed and had but 8 men wounded, a list of which is herewith forwarded.*
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully,
THOMAS J. KINNEY,
Colonel, Commanding
Regiment.
Lieut. S. D. SAWYER,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________
* Nominal List Omitted
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. 477-9
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