No. 163.
Reports of Col. James
L Gilbert, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry, commanding Second Brigade,
of operations December
15-16, 1864, and January 9, 1865.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND
BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
In the Field, Tenn.,
December 20, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: In relation to the part taken by my brigade in
the late battles with the enemy near Nashville, Tenn., on the 15th and 16th of
December, 1864, I have the honor to make the following report:
My command was comprised as follows: The Twenty-seventh Iowa
Volunteer Infantry, 477 effective force, Lieut. Col. Jed Lake commanding; the
Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 362 effective force, Lieut. Col. G. A.
Eberhart commanding; the Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 331
effective force, Maj. R. W. Healy commanding; the Tenth Kansas Veteran
Volunteer Infantry, 187 effective force, Capt. W. C. Jones commanding; the
Third Indiana Battery, six guns, 114 effective force, First Lieut. Thomas J.
Ginn commanding.
In compliance with orders from General Garrard, commanding
Second Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, I had my command in
readiness to move at daylight on the morning of the 15th instant. About 7 a.m.
I moved the brigade outside the line of intrenchments encircling the city and
formed the regiments of infantry in column by division, sending out the Tenth
Kansas with one company of the Twenty-seventh Iowa, Company B, as skirmishers,
to cover the entire front of the brigade. Soon afterward I received orders to
form in line of battle and advance, governing my movement by that of the troops
upon my right, guiding, however, to the left. I immediately deployed into line
in the following order: The Thirty-second Iowa on the right, the Fifty-eighth
Illinois in the center, the Twenty-seventh Iowa on the left, the battery
following closely in the rear, my left resting near the right of the Fourth
Army Corps We had advanced but a short distance when brisk skirmishing
commenced. Our skirmishers were checked only a few minutes, however, and soon
drove the enemy from his sheltered skirmish line back upon his reserves, and
yet steadily back to within 400 yards of a strongly intrenched position. Here
they were checked, but, being re-enforced, again advanced to within 200 yards
of the rebel works, driving the enemy inside, and, finding good shelter behind
trees and stumps, held this position until the main line was ready to charge,
all the while doing excellent service in sharp-shooting the gunners of a rebel
battery in their immediate front. The approach of my command toward the rebel
works was necessarily very slow, as it was nearest the pivot upon which the
whole right wing of the army swung around upon the enemy's left flank. Heavy
cannonading from the enemy occurred at times during the advance, but owing to
the thick timber in front he tailed to get range so as to do me material
damage. About 4 p.m., the main line having arrived close upon the left of the
enemy's works, my skirmishers were relieved and reported to the command, when I
received orders to move by the right flank to the rear of the First and in
support of the Third Brigade, now ready to charge the works. I immediately
executed the order in quick time, but had little more than reached the position
assigned me when I heard the shouts of victory and saw several hundred prisoners
passed to the rear. I was soon afterward ordered to move half a mile to the
right and form my command upon the right of the First Brigade, when, as it was
now dark, I was ordered to rest for the night.
My casualties on this day did not exceed twenty, nearly all
of which were in the Tenth Kansas Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and I cannot
close the report of the day without justly complimenting this regiment and
Company B, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for excellent performance of
skirmish duty.
On the morning of the 16th, just after daylight, I received
orders to form my command in line of battle, my right resting near the left of
the First Division, my brigade constituting the right of the Second Division. I
at once formed as directed, in the following order, sending out five companies
of the Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain
Kittel, as skirmishers: The Thirty-second Iowa on the right, the Twenty-seventh
Iowa the right center, the Fifty-eighth Illinois left center, and the Tenth
Kansas on the left, which last-named regiment was soon afterward posted as a
reserve, and so held throughout the day; the Third Indiana Battery again
followed the movements of the command. About 7.30 o'clock, conforming to the
movement of the line upon my right, I moved the brigade forward nearly the
distance of half a mile through an open corn-field, partially wheeling to the
right. Having reached the Granny White pike I moved some 500 or 600 yards by
the right flank upon the pike, when I again moved forward, still advancing my
left faster than my right, over another open corn-field, where the enemy opened
upon us a severe fire from a battery within their line of works, some 1,000
yards distant. The command moved in quick time, but with much coolness, until I
had passed a little ravine, crossed a brook, and reached the brow of a hill in
front, sheltered by trees, where I ordered the command to halt. I had occupied
this position but a few minutes when I heard heavy musketry and saw a sudden
changing of troops upon my right. Fearing that it might possibly be the line
giving way I immediately ordered my command to recross the brook and then halt,
whilst I rode up on an adjacent hill in order to discern the precise nature of
the movements upon the right. Perceiving that the First Division was
contracting in order to double its lines, I hastened back, and, under brisk
artillery fire, moved the command by the right flank, breaking considerably to
the rear, following a little ravine which, fortunately, ran nearly parallel to
the enemy's line of works, until my right again rested near the First Division.
I now ordered the command to lie down, where it remained for several hours,
almost entirely safe from the missiles of the enemy, although the firing was
severe and we lay within 400 or 500 [yards] of his line of works. At some
distance to our right the enemy's fortified line ascended a hill. From this
point his sharpshooters, having full view of my line, made frequent attempts to
reach it. One of their bullets passed very close to two of my staff officers,
and killed a horse belonging to Major Hutchison, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry.
In the meantime my battery, which had failed on the previous day to get into
action on account of the impossibility of procuring a suitable position, had
followed the movements of the brigade until the infantry advanced from the
Granny White pike. It was at this time that the enemy opened a heavy fire from
a covered position. I immediately ordered Lieutenant Ginn into position at
double-quick, on a rise of ground in the open corn-field, from which position
he opened a rapid fire upon the enemy, which was continued until his ammunition
(canister excepted) was wholly exhausted. About 1 p.m., having received a fresh
supply of ammunition, Lieutenant Ginn was ordered some 400 yards to the left,
where he expended some sixty rounds of ammunition. He was then ordered by
Captain Lowell, chief of artillery Second Division, some 100 yards to the
right, where he expended sixty additional rounds upon a rebel battery
immediately in his front. Thence Lieutenant Ginn was ordered by Major-General
Smith to the left of my brigade. From this position he continued fire with three
guns upon the battery in my front, and the other three upon a battery in front
of the Third Brigade, until the final charge was made. Throughout the day the
battery did good service, and, although most of the time in an exposed
position, its firing was rapid, accurate, and effective, expending 923 rounds
of ammunition during the action.
A few minutes before 4 p.m., everything being in readiness,
General Garrard's order was received to charge the enemy's works. The order was
instantly given to my command and as instantly obeyed. From right to left my
entire infantry command sprang to their feet, raised the crest of the little
hill in front, gave a wild hurrah, and pressed directly forward.
Notwithstanding a severe fire of musketry, grape, and canister, which, but for
the fact that it was delivered too high, must have terribly torn my ranks, the
whole line pressed eagerly on. As we passed the skirmish line, Captain Kittel,
Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with admirable skill, collected his
skirmishers on the run and joined in the charge. The rebels were seen to leave
their rifle-pits and rush back over the works, and when within fifty paces of
their line, a last volley of musketry, grape, and canister was poured upon my
line, but it also passed almost harmless through the air over our heads. In a
few minutes more the whole command had reached and passed the enemy's
intrenchments, killing and capturing some of the artillerists at the guns,
whilst the main line of the rebels ran in every direction. Five cannon were
passed by my brigade, but, by my directions, were left without a guard, and the
whole command ordered forward in pursuit of the enemy. Prisoners were taken
singly and in squads numbering as high as thirty, most of whom were simply
disarmed and ordered to the rear, which seemed very much in accordance with
their desire. The command pressed on to the foot of and some distance up the
base of the mountain, where I was ordered to halt. From the heights above,
Captain Harris, Thirty-sixth Mississippi, hung out the white flag, and, with a
few men yet with him, came down and were passed to the rear. Regimental
commanders report not less than 150 prisoners taken in the pursuit. William
May,1 a private of Captain Benson's company (H), Thirty-second Iowa
Infantry, as we approached the works, dashed forward and captured the battery
guidon, which is now in my hands. Several of the official papers of the battery
were also captured, showing it to have been A. Bouanchaud's. I am thus explicit
in relation to the capture of the five guns, as I have been informed that they
were claimed by some other command, which drew off the guns long after my brave
men had captured and passed them in pursuit of the enemy.
The Tenth Kansas occupied the crest of the mountain as picket,
and my command bivouacked for the night at its base, whence on the morning of
the 17th it set out with the division in pursuit of the whipped, demoralized,
and routed enemy.
Regimental commanders report excellent conduct on the part
of both officers and men of their respective commands, which, as far as my
observation extended, I do most heartily indorse and confirm.
Lieutenant-Colonel Eberhart, commanding Thirty-second Iowa,
in his official report, compliments Theodore De Tar, captain Company D,
severely wounded, and Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, acting regimental adjutant, for
brave conduct; also, Color-Sergt. A. J. Ellis and Corporal Bell, both of
Company G, for bravery in action.
The greatest gallantry was displayed on the part of my staff
officers — Lieutenants Donnan, McLean, and Eisenhart. Fearless of danger, they
were in the thickest of the fight, from beginning to end, rendering great
assistance throughout the entire two days.
My casualties throughout the battles are comparatively very
light, numbering sixty-three, many of which are but slight wounds, as will be
seen by a list of the same herewith inclosed.*
I have the honor to
be, sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES
I. GILBERT,
Colonel Twenty-seventh Iowa, Commanding
Brigade.
Lieut. JAMES B.
COMSTOCK,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
HEADQUARTERS SECOND
BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Eastport, Miss.,
January 9, 1865.
LIEUTENANT: In relation to the reconnaissance made to-day by
my command toward Iuka, I have the honor to report:
In compliance with orders from General Garrard, commanding
Second Division, I moved the infantry and one section of the battery of my
command at 7 a.m. January 9, 1865, out on the Iuka road. I proceeded some four
miles without molestation, when my advance was fired upon by the pickets or
scouts of the enemy. After exchanging a few shots they fled, turning off on the
Bear Creek road, some mile and a half this side of Iuka. I advanced without
further trouble, entering the village about 10 a.m., capturing one prisoner,
who claimed to be a commissary sergeant of Roddey's command; that he was on
duty at Corinth and came to Iuka on a visit. Some of the citizens report
Forrest's command in camp a few miles west from Iuka, and Hood at Corinth, but
the greater number claim that Hood has gone south from Corinth. Stewart's
infantry was the last to pass through Iuka on last Thursday. The opinion seems
to prevail that a part, at least, of Forrest's command is on the opposite or
south side of Bear Creek. I think there is no doubt that Hood's command is
moving south from Corinth as speedily as possible. After allowing the men time
to make coffee, I returned, without the slightest interference, to camp,
arriving about 3 p.m.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
JAMES I. GILBERT,
Colonel
Twenty-seventh Iowa, Commanding Brigade.
Lieut. JAMES B. COMSTOCK,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
ADDENDA.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND
BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
In the Field, Tenn.,
December 28, 1864.
Statement of William May, private Company H, Thirty-second
Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, to James I. Gilbert, colonel Twenty-seventh
Iowa, commanding Second Brigade, in relation to trophies captured in the battle
near Nashville, Tenn.:
On the 16th of December, when the Second Brigade, Second
Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, was ordered to charge the enemy's
works, as my regiment, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was on the
right of the brigade, approached the earth-works, I saw this rebel battery flag
with the guns, and ran ahead of the regiment, over the works, and took it out
of a rebel's hands. In a valise close by I found some brass buttons,
manufactured at Montgomery, Ala., with letter B, German text; also a captain's
artillery shoulder-strap, and some papers, invoices of ordnance stores,
&c., showing the battery to have been A. Bouanchaud's. The flag is about
four feet square, of crimson bunting, with yellow fringe, with a diagonal
cross, blue, upon which are thirteen silken white stars.
I have the honor to
be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES I. GILBERT,
Colonel
Twenty-seventh Iowa, Commanding Brigade.
_______________
1 Awarded a Medal of Honor.
* Embodied in table, p.101
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. 480-4
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