Sunday, September 15, 2019

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 174. Report of Capt. John W. Lowell, Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 174.

Report of Capt. John W. Lowell, Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. BATTERY G, SECOND ILLINOIS ARTILLERY,       
In the Field, near Columbia, Tenn., December 21, 1864.

SIR: As acting chief of artillery of the Second Division, I respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the batteries of this command during the actions of the 15th and 16th instant near Nashville, Tenn.:

I was in command of my battery until 2 p.m. of the 15th, when the general commanding ordered me to act as chief of artillery of the division. At this time Battery G, Second Illinois Artillery, was stationed near the brick house, to the left and front of the Third Brigade, in a much exposed position, but its six guns working with rapidity and effect upon the batteries of the enemy, one of which was in front of the left of the division. The Ninth Indiana Battery had two Rodman guns directly in rear of the Third Brigade, and seemed to be doing effective work for long range. The Third Indiana Battery, being in rear of the Second Brigade (which was to the left of the point where the Fourth Corps intersected our line at right angles), was not readily found by me, and did not get within the range of the enemy's works until the final charge was made and the works carried. Following the movements of its brigade again it was not inside the enemy's works in sufficient time to shell the retreating enemy, and consequently did not fire a shot during the day. I wish to call the attention of the general commanding to this fact, not to blame any one, but to suggest that had it not been for the notion of batteries adhering to and operating with brigades, this excellent battery might have been doing great damage to the rebels instead of remaining perfectly idle. At about 3.30 p.m., the infantry having been moved to a more advanced position, I secured a more advantageous position for Batteries Ninth Indiana and G, Second Illinois, massing their ten guns in the open field, in front of and from 800 to 1,000 yards from the rebel batteries, which were soon effectually silenced. As soon as the division entered the enemy's works, the batteries followed, and encamped with their brigades about 1,000 yards in rear of the captured works. During the progress of this afternoon's fight I went up to our skirmish line to ascertain, by the aid of my field-glass, the exact position of the enemy's lines and batteries. I passed around to the left where the Fourth Corps intersected with the Second Division. I saw the position of both lines, and was witness to the charge by part of the Second Division. I know what parts of the rebel works were in their front, and what they first entered, and in behalf of the batteries I claim their share of the rightful honor belonging to the Second Division of capturing three of the enemy's cannon.

On the morning of the 16th, by my direction, Battery G, Second Illinois, drew out to the road one caisson and one gun, which the enemy had attempted to drag off the field, the other two guns being left where they were captured, being near the pike. As the division advanced to the enemy's second line of works, Battery Third Indiana, being with the Second Brigade on the right of the line, was first brought into action. Up to 12 m. it held its first position to the right and rear of the Second Brigade, doing excellent work, silencing one battery and assisting to silence two others. Battery Ninth Indiana came next into position to the left of Third Battery; G, Second Illinois, came last into battery, securing a good position near the white house, within 800 yards of one of the rebel batteries. Later in the day the whole of the sixteen guns of the division were (by order of the general commanding) massed at this point, and held nearly the same position until the close of the action.

It has never before been my fortune to witness so accurate and effective artillery firing as was exhibited by our batteries from this point. The enemy had four batteries, with an aggregate of seventeen guns, bearing upon our three batteries, and yet so terribly effective was our fire that the rebel cannoneers could not be induced to work their guns, and three of their four batteries remained silent most of the day. Captain Edwards, commissary of subsistence, Second Division, informs me that the rebel Major-General Johnson, who was captured near the five-gun battery, directly in our front, said that our artillery firing was the most scientific he ever witnessed. A sergeant of this same rebel battery (who was captured) told me that his battery lost that day twenty-seven men killed and wounded by our shells; his battery also lost twenty-three artillery horses from same cause. In the final charge our batteries did everything in their power to keep the rebel batteries silent, in which they, to a great extent, succeeded, thereby saving the lives of many of the brave officers and men of our division. I saw this charge, and am witness to the fact that the First and Third Brigades captured 15 pieces of the enemy's artillery, and if, as I am informed by undoubted authority, the Second Brigade captured 4 guns, it makes a total of 19 pieces of cannon captured from the enemy by our division as a part of the share of the Second Division in the glorious results of this day.

On the evening of the 16th and morning of the 17th, by my direction, Batteries Ninth Indiana and G, Second Illinois, drew out and parked 11 guns and 7 caissons, captured by the First and Third Brigades, but I found 4 of the guns captured by the First Brigade in the possession of the guards from the Fourth Corps, who refused to surrender them to me.

I respectfully submit to the general commanding that the conduct of both officers and men of the three batteries of the division was most excellent, and I earnestly bespeak for them his favorable mention. When all did so well, I will not attempt to designate single individuals.

I wish to call particular attention to the fact that during both days' battle there was a great lack in the supply of ammunition. On the 16th from two to four guns were almost constantly idle on this account, and such was the case when the final charge was made, when every gun should have been used to keep silent the batteries of the enemy. There was a great fault committed by some one, but whom I am unable to say.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN W. LOWELL,            
Captain Battery G, Second Illinois Light Artillery,
Acting Chief of Artillery, Second Div., Detach. Army of the Tenn.
 Lieut. JAMES B. COMSTOCK,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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. 497-8

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