No. 17.
Report of Col. John T. Smith,
Thirty-first Indiana Infantry, of operations December 15-30, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part borne by the Thirty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the campaign commencing at Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864:
Pursuant to orders from brigade headquarters, received about 10 o'clock on the night of the 14th instant, the regiment was formed early the next morning, and moved into position with the brigade near the Hopkinsville [Hillsborough] pike. The regiment numbered 503 muskets and 25 commissioned officers, and constituted the left of the second line in the formation of the brigade. During the day the movements of the regiment conformed to that of the brigade, steadily advancing in the direction of Montgomery's Hill, where the enemy was pretty strongly intrenched. It was near 4 o'clock in the afternoon before the regiment was brought into action, or was much exposed to the fire of the enemy, except occasional shots of artillery, which, fortunately, did no execution. About this time the regiment was occupying a position near the crest of a hill, with Companies H, I, and K retired some thirty paces, to make room for a section of artillery. While in this position Brigadier-General Wood rode by and gave the word to charge Montgomery's Hill, in our front. The command not being distinctly heard or understood, the right commenced rapidly moving out, the movement being taken up successively to the left, and the three left companies being retired, half the distance to the enemy's intrenchments had been gained before anything like a regular line was formed. In the meantime the left of the front line had obliqued to the left and the right had borne to the right, leaving about a regimental front vacant; into this space the regiment was hurriedly pushed and charged the hill, and entered the enemy's works and shared in the captures along with the front line of the brigade. During this charge most of the casualties of the regiment occurred. It should be remarked that about 8 o'clock in the morning Lieutenant-Colonel Hallowell reported to division headquarters as division officer of the day, and commanded the skirmish line with much skill and gallantry. Company A, First Sergt. R. H. Waterman (who was commissioned first lieutenant and awaiting muster) commanding; Company B, Captain Hammond; Company D, Captain Reed, together with a detail of twenty men of the regiment, constituted the skirmishers of the brigade. During the forenoon Lieutenant Waterman, Company A, was severely wounded, and Lieut. J. H. Welch, Company I, was detailed-to command the company. Although there were fifty of our drafted recruits on the skirmish line, the conduct of the line is represented as being the most gallant. December 16, the regiment moved into position early in the morning near the Franklin pike, but the brigade being in reserve it was not called into action. In the pursuit of the enemy that followed the regiment has marched with the brigade, but has at no time engaged the enemy.
It is with pleasure that I refer to the fact that the conduct of the officers of the regiment during the campaign has been gallant without an exception, and that of the men has been soldierly in action and on the march they have manifested creditable endurance.
The casualties of the regiment are 10 killed and 33 wounded.
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), pp. 188-9
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