No. 183.
Report of Capt. John M. Benedict, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH
OHIO INFANTRY,
Chattanooga, Tenn.,
January 20, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
part taken by my regiment in the two days’ battle before Nashville, Tenn., on
the 15th and 16th of December, 1864:
In obedience to orders from Lieutenant-Colonel Grosvenor,
commanding Third Brigade, First Provisional Division, Army of the Cumberland, the
regiment, commanded by Capt. E. Grosvenor, moved out at daylight and took
position on the Murfreesborough turnpike near the picket-line. Soon after the
fighting commenced the regiment was moved forward in the second line, over an
open field, until within a short distance of the enemy's works. There we halted
for a short time, and remained under cover until ordered by Lieutenant-Colonel
Grosvenor, commanding brigade, to charge and take the rebel works in our front.
The regiment charged gallantly under a galling fire up to the works, and
succeeded in reaching the interior of the works with near a hundred men, but
finally had to fall back on account of not being properly supported on the
left. The Second Battalion, Fourteenth Army Corps, started on the charge at the
same time, and on the left of my regiment, but at the first volley from the
enemy it broke and run from the field in confusion, leaving the enemy to concentrate
his whole fire on my regiment. The regiment remained at the works ten or
fifteen minutes, when it was ordered by Lieutenant Grant to fall back, which it
did, fighting stubbornly as it went. Captain Grosvenor fell dead, pierced by
three balls, soon after reaching the works. Lieut. Samuel W. Thomas was also
killed at about the same time. When within about forty yards of the works I was
struck by a spent ball on the knee, paralyzing my leg and rendering me quite
helpless; Captain Grosvenor being killed and myself wounded, the command of the
regiment devolved upon Lieut. Charles Grant, next in rank, who deserves great
praise for the promptness displayed in bringing the regiment off and reforming
it. After the regiment was reformed I was assisted to mount a horse, and
commanded the regiment during the rest of the fight. Soon after reforming, the
regiment, with the rest of the brigade, was moved to the right, and took position
directly in front of Rains’ house. I received orders from Lieutenant-Colonel
Grosvenor to push forward a heavy line of skirmishers to annoy and silence, if
possible, a rebel battery, situated in the rear of Rains' house, on the west
side of the railroad, that was shelling our troops on the right; the skirmish
line moved forward, under Lieutenants Grant and Collings, who pushed it rapidly
up to Rains’ house; the battery was silenced, and only fired two or three more
shots during the afternoon. The regiment remained on the skirmish line until
dark, when it was relieved by the colored troops, when we moved back a short
distance and bivouacked for the night.
December 16, the enemy fell back during the night. We
marched at 7 a.m. over the battle-field of the day before; our dead that had
been left on the field had been stripped of their clothing by the enemy and
left exposed on the open field. We moved across the Nolensville pike and found
the enemy strongly posted on Overton Hill, near the Franklin pike. My regiment
took position in the second line, west of the railroad and near the foot of Overton
Hill. At about 4 p.m. the order was given to assault the enemy, strongly posted
on the hill. We moved forward at double-quick, through a small piece of woods
with thick underbrush, and across an open corn-field, under a very heavy fire
of grape and canister. When within about 100 yards of the enemy's works the
line was halted, and remained under cover in a small ravine until ordered to
fall back. Just as the command was halted I received a very painful wound in
the mouth, which made it necessary for me to leave the field. I turned over the
command of the regiment to Lieut. Charles Grant, who commanded during the rest
of the campaign.
The regiment, composed of different detachments hastily
thrown together but a short time before the battle, fought nobly. The officers
and soldiers, without an exception, deserve great praise for their soldierly endurance
throughout the two days' fight. I wish to speak briefly of the gallantry and
soldierly qualities of Captain Grosvenor and Lieutenant Thomas, who died so
nobly at the head of their commands; they were both brave and efficient
officers.
Lieut. J. B. Emery was severely wounded on the first day
while bravely leading his command against the enemy's works. Lieutenants Grant,
Collings, and Lynch deserve special mention for the promptness in which they
obeyed all my orders. Lieut. D. M. Bates, acting adjutant, rendered me
invaluable service during the campaign; he is a good and worthy officer, and
deserves promotion. Lieut. R. B. Chappell, acting regimental quartermaster,
although not in the fight, rendered me very valuable assistance; by his
untiring energy the command was well supplied with rations and ammunition at
all times during the fight.
Owing to the scarcity of officers several companies were
necessarily commanded by sergeants. Those who distinguished themselves as such
are Sergts. B. F. Davis, Company A; Jerome F. Fry, Company C; James G. Irwin,
Second Ohio; and Henry Carr, Twenty-fourth Ohio. They are all good soldiers and
deserve promotion.
To Sergt. William H. Emrick, Thirty-fifth Ohio, I owe
especial thanks for his assistance in helping me off the field when wounded in
the first day's fight.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
J. M. BENEDICT,
Captain, Commanding
Regiment.
Lieut. E. P. JOHNSON,
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. 529-31
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