No. 169.
Report of Col. Edward H. Wolfe,
Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade,
of operations December 15-16,
1864.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD
BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,
DETACHMENT ARMY OF
THE TENNESSEE,
Near Columbia,
Tenn., December 23, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: In obedience to the orders of the general
commanding division, I have the honor to transmit the following report as to
the part taken by this brigade in the engagements with the enemy near
Nashville, Tenn, on the 15th and 16th instant:
My brigade was in readiness to move on the morning of the
15th at 6 o'clock, as ordered the evening previous, and at 8 a.m. I moved by
the flank outside of my works in front of Nashville, massing the brigade for
the moment on the left of the Hardin pike. A portion of the One hundred and
seventeenth Illinois Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam commanding, was
deployed as skirmishers, covering my front and connecting on the left with
skirmishers of First Brigade, Second Division, and on the right with skirmishers
of First Division, my brigade occupying the extreme right of the Second
Division. Soon afterward I deployed my column and advanced, connecting on the
right and left as above indicated, holding one regiment (the One hundred and
seventy-eighth New York Volunteers) in reserve, as ordered by the general
commanding. My instructions, in advancing, were to keep well closed up to the
left, and also to regulate my movements by that of the command on my right, so
as to prevent, as far as possible, any serious gap in the line in that
direction. The peculiar position of our lines on that day rendered it very
difficult to comply with these instructions, and necessarily caused my advance
to be slow and tedious. Soon after advancing my skirmishers became engaged,
driving the enemy's skirmishers before them. At no time, however, during the
day was my command engaged with the enemy, although my line was frequently
exposed to the fire of the enemy, and the brigade on this day sustained a loss
of 35 men, including 1 officer, a report of which will be inclosed herewith.
Before the close of the day a movement on the part of the Fourth Corps, which
charged the enemy's works, somewhat changed my position in the command, and, as
I thought at the time, cut off the First and Second Brigades of this division,
and to prevent the same thing, so far as my brigade was concerned, I advanced
the brigade on the double-quick, as ordered by the general commanding, and did
not halt until within the enemy's work in my front, which they abandoned without
any resistance, except to our skirmishers. Three pieces of artillery here fell
into our hands, which I understand are claimed in the captures of the Fourth
Corps. These guns undoubtedly were captured by this division, and if not by my
brigade in reality were captured by the skirmishers in my front, which at that
time consisted of the Tenth Kansas Infantry, belonging to the Second Brigade of
this division. Owing to our constant oblique movement to the left during the
day, it was impossible to keep our respective skirmishers in their proper
front. The result was, when a charge was made by General McArthur's division,
on the right, and which resulted so victoriously, the skirmishers of my own
brigade were in front of that division and participated in the engagement. The
commanding officer of the One hundred and seventeenth Illinois, from whose
regiment all my skirmishers on this day were deployed, states in his report
that two of his companies then on the skirmish line captured 3 pieces of artillery
and 40 prisoners, and delivered them over to that command as it came up. In the
evening the position of my brigade was so changed, as before mentioned, as to
throw me upon the extreme left of the division, closing up with the right of
the Fourth Corps, and in this position I was ordered to encamp for the night.
On the morning of the 16th, at 7 o'clock, I was again
ordered to advance, and, after advancing about a mile, was ordered to take
position in the center of the division, where my brigade remained in line in
front of the enemy's works until 3 p.m. During this time the enemy were
constantly shelling my line, but the position of the ground in front was
sufficient to protect the men, and but little loss was sustained. My orders
during the afternoon were to again regulate my movements by that of the command
on my right. At about 3.30 p.m. that portion of the command commenced its final
advance upon the enemy's works. It required but a moment to put my brigade in
motion, and the whole command, with a shout peculiar to this corps, advanced
rapidly upon the works in front, carrying them with but momentary resistance
and sustaining but slight loss. The enemy, surprised at the charge, and
witnessing the courage and determination of the troops, fled in every direction,
while many threw down their arms and surrendered at once. So completely
surprised were the enemy in my front by the assault that they had time to
deliver but two or three volleys, and these so poorly directed that but little
execution was done. In this assault my brigade captured 5 pieces of artillery
and a number of prisoners, including 8 commissioned officers, among whom was
the rebel Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson, who was captured and escorted to the rear
by Private J. William Howell, Company B, Forty-ninth Illinois Veteran
Volunteers.
It is impossible, owing to the excitement and confusion at
the time, to give any accurate statement as to the number of prisoners that
actually fell into the hands of this brigade. Prisoners were sent to the rear
indiscriminately, some with guards and others without, and, in addition to
this, many were captured immediately at the works, and left without any guard,
and a great many of them must certainly have fallen into the hands of other
troops. It is, however, no exaggeration on my part to claim that at least 300
prisoners were captured by my brigade alone, and had I taken the precaution to
have secured for the command all the prisoners that actually fell into my
hands, I am satisfied it would exceed that number.
After advancing perhaps a mile in rear of the enemy's works,
and there being no enemy in sight, I encamped for the night as ordered.
The exceeding small loss sustained by my brigade, compared
to the victory gained, I consider unparalleled in the history of the war. My
total loss during the two days' fight foots up 52, viz, 5 killed, 46 wounded,
and I missing, a full and complete list of which, giving name, rank, date,
&c., I inclose herewith.*
Inasmuch as all the batteries of this division were placed
under the immediate control of Captain Lowell, G Battery, Second Illinois,
acting as chief of artillery, during the two days, I have not referred to the
action of my battery during either day, though I have personal knowledge of the
valuable services rendered and the crushing execution done by this battery. The
battery was engaged constantly during the two days, and the conduct of the
officers and men at all times was such as to merit approval. Corpl. Samuel J.
Churchill, of this battery, commanding one gun detachment, is highly commended
for distinguished bravery displayed on the first day. At a time when two of the
enemy's batteries opened upon his guns, compelling for a short time the men of
his detachment to seek the protection of the ground, this young soldier stood
manfully up to his work, and for some minutes worked his gun alone.
It has been customary heretofore to mention in reports of
this character individual cases of meritorious conduct on the part of officers
and soldiers, but this I now find it difficult to do, simply because to mention
one would render it necessary to mention all. Every officer of my command and
every enlisted man, with but few exceptions, performed their duties nobly, and
all officers, realizing the importance of the hour, vied with each other in the
gallant discharge of duty.
Of my commanding officers — Colonel Pease, of the
Forty-ninth Illinois Veteran Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel Main, of the
Fifty-second Indiana Veteran Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam, One
hundred and seventeenth Illinois Volunteers; and Captain Gandolfo, One hundred
and seventy-eighth New York Volunteers — I cannot speak too highly. The manner
in which they commanded their respective regiments during these movements, as
well as elsewhere, has only demonstrated their ability as excellent officers
and their courage and bravery as soldiers.
To the officers of my staff — Lieutenant Cobine, acting
assistant adjutant-general; Lieutenant Rupe, acting assistant
inspector-general; and Lieutenant Kobbe, of the One hundred and seventy-eighth
New York Volunteers, acting aide-de-camp — I am largely indebted for valuable
services rendered upon this occasion, and commend them for the zeal and courage
they have displayed in the discharge of their duties throughout the campaign
thus far.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. WOLFE,
Colonel, Commanding.
Lieut. J. B. COMSTOCK,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
* 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. 490-2
No comments:
Post a Comment