No. 191.
commanding Second Colored Brigade, of operations December 7, 1864-January 15, 1865.
HDQRS. TROOPS ON NASHVILLE AND NORTHWESTERN R. R.,
Kingston Springs, Tenn., February 24, 1865.
MAJOR: I have the honor to transmit the following report of the action of my command during the past campaign:
On the 7th day of December I reported to Major-General
Steedman, in accordance with verbal orders received from department
headquarters, and by his directions placed my brigade in line near the city
graveyard, the right resting on College street, and the left on the right of
Colonel Harrison's brigade, where we threw up two lines of rifle-pits. On the
11th of December made a reconnaissance, by order of the general commanding, to
see if the enemy were still in our front. Two hundred men, under command of
Col. John A. Hottenstein, pressed the enemy's picket-line and reserves to their
main line of works, where they were found to be in force. The object of the
reconnaissance having been accomplished we retired to our position in line by
the direction of the major-general commanding. This was the first time that any
of my troops had skirmished with an enemy, and their conduct was entirely
satisfactory. On the 13th of December, by order of the general commanding, I
reported to Colonel Malloy, commanding brigade, Provisional Division, District
of the Etowah, to make a reconnaissance on the east side of the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad, to see if the enemy was still in force in that vicinity. The
Thirteenth Regiment U. S. Colored Infantry was deployed as skirmishers, and the
Twelfth and One hundredth Regiments U.S. Colored Infantry were held in reserve
in line. We advanced from the Murfreesborough pike, with the skirmishers of
Colonel Malloy's brigade connecting with my left, and drove the enemy's picket
and reserves to their main line, after a somewhat stubborn resistance, on the
grounds of Mr. Rains. The enemy were there in full force, and sharp firing was
kept up as long as we remained there, which was until nearly dark. We retired
to our position in line, but not without loss. Capt. Robert Headen, of Company
E, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry, was mortally wounded while on the skirmish
line pushing his company forward under a heavy fire from the enemy's
earth-works; several men, also, were killed and wounded.
On the 15th of December, by directions received from the
major-general commanding, I moved my command at 6 a.m. to assault the enemy's
works between the railroad and the Nolensville pike. So that the movement might
be made more rapidly I moved the two regiments, which were to be in the first
line (the Thirteenth and One hundredth U.S. Colored Infantry), under cover of
the railroad bank, and placed them in column of company, side by side, and
awaited the opening of the battle, which was to be done by Colonel Morgan, on
the left. As soon as his guns were heard I moved across the railroad, the
reserve regiment (the Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry) passing in the rear
through a culvert and wheeling into line charged and took the works in our
front. The enemy were evidently expecting us to move to the left of the railroad,
as their artillery was moved to meet us there and was not opened on us until we
had gained the works and were comparatively well protected. My orders being to
await there the orders of the general commanding, my command was kept in the
same position during the day, except making slight changes in the direction of
the line to protect the men from an enfilading fire. Sharp firing was kept up
between the skirmishers, and considerable artillery ammunition expended. The
section of the Twentieth Indiana Battery, commanded by Lieutenant York, who was
wounded, and afterward by Lieutenant Stevenson, did excellent execution, and
drove the enemy's battery opposing it from their positions which it took to
operate against us. During the night we strengthened our rifle-pits and threw
up an earth-work for the protection of the artillery, which had been much
exposed during the day to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters.
At daylight on the morning of December 16, indications that
the enemy had left our front being apparent, I sent my skirmishers forward, and
found the rifle-pits occupied by the enemy's sharpshooters vacant. By direction
of the general commanding I then sent the skirmish line to the hill south and
about one mile from the one we had taken the day previous. Finding no enemy
there the whole command was ordered forward. We marched about one mile and a
half toward the south, and then moved in a westerly direction, my left
connecting with the right of Colonel Morgan's brigade. We halted on the hill
east of the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad until the general commanding could
communicate with the right of the army. When this was done I was ordered to
move to the east of the Franklin pike and connect with the left of General
Wood's (Fourth) corps. This was done without material damage, though the enemy
opened on us from two batteries on Overton Hill. Immediately upon getting my
command into position I reported the fact to General Wood, who said he was
about to make a charge, and desired me to support his left. At about 3 p.m. his
command started, and after they had proceeded about forty yards I moved. The
left regiment (the Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry) was obliged to move about
eighty yards in column, as there was a dense briar thicket on the left, which
it could not penetrate. After passing this thicket it was my intention to halt
the command until I could see what was on General Wood's left and how it would
be best to charge the works. The deploying of the Twelfth Regiment at
double-quick caused the other regiments to think that a charge had been
ordered, and they immediately started at double-quick. Being under a heavy fire
at the time, I thought it would cause much confusion to rectify this, so I
ordered the whole line to charge. The One hundredth Regiment was somewhat
broken by trees, which had been felled. The Twelfth Regiment U.S. Colored
Infantry and the left wing of the One hundredth Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry
passed to the left of the enemy's works, they making a sharp angle there. This
gave the enemy an enfilading and rear fire on this portion of the command. It
being impossible to change front under the withering fire, and there being no
works in front of them, I gave orders for that portion of the command to move
by the left flank to the shelter of a small hill a short distance off, there to
reorganize. The right wing of the One hundredth Regiment moved forward with the
left of the Fourth Corps, and was repulsed with them. The Thirteenth U.S.
Colored Infantry, which was the second line of my command, pushed forward of
the whole line, and some of the men mounted the parapet, but, having no support
on the right, were forced to retire. These troops were here for the first time
under such a fire as veterans dread, and yet, side by side with the veterans of
Stone's River, Missionary Ridge, and Atlanta, they assaulted probably the
strongest works on the entire line, and, though not successful, they vied with
the old warriors in bravery, tenacity, and deeds of noble daring. The loss in
the brigade was over twenty-five per cent. of the number engaged, and the loss
was sustained in less than thirty minutes. While reorganizing my command the
troops on the right had broken the enemy's line, which caused them to retreat
from Overton Hill. The enemy on Overton Hill was considerably re-enforced
during the attack, on account of the firmness of the assault, and which
naturally weakened the enemy's left and made it easier for our troops to break
their line at that point. Under orders from the general commanding we moved
down the Franklin pike, and bivouacked on the left of the army.
December 17, we marched to the north bank of the Harpeth
River, opposite Franklin, in pursuit of the enemy. December 18, marched about
three miles south of Franklin, where orders reached us to return to Franklin
and from there to move to Murfreesborough. We arrived in Murfreesborough on the
20th of December, at about noon, the men completely worn down, having
accomplished by far the hardest march that I ever experienced. The rain had
fallen almost constantly, and every brook had overflown its banks and assumed
the proportions of a river. The mud was ankle deep, and when we arrived at
Murfreesborough over fifty per cent. of the command were in need of shoes. On
the 23d of December, 1864, moved from Murfreesborough by rail, and on the 26th
of December disembarked from the cars about nine miles east of Decatur, Ala.,
and moved within a mile of the Tennessee River, near the mouth of Flint River.
Was placed in command of the Second Provisional Division, consisting of the
First and Second Colored Brigades and Reserve Brigade. On the 27th, in
accordance with orders from the general commanding, I moved my command to the
river and embarked them on transports. We were landed on the opposite shore,
and a bridge which had been prepared was thrown across a lagoon, which still
separated us from the main shore, by the men of the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. Too much praise cannot be given to this regiment for the skill and
energy displayed in the laying of this bridge. Skirmishers were sent across
this lagoon immediately upon landing, and in wading the water was up to their
necks. Before noon the whole command was across and I pushed it forward,
driving the enemy before until I reached a point at which I had been directed
to halt and await further orders from the general commanding. From information
received from citizens I was sure that there was not more than 200 cavalry at
Decatur, and so informed the general commanding. General Cruft, with the First
Provisional Division, having crossed the river and lagoon, came up and joined
my right. We then moved forward into Decatur with but little resistance. We
moved from Decatur on the 28th of December with the whole command, and arrived
at Courtland on the 30th of December. On the 31st, in accordance with
directions from the general commanding, I started with my division from
Courtland to proceed as far as La Grange and Leighton, to support the cavalry
under Colonel Palmer, that had gone to destroy the train of the enemy. Moved on
this day as far as Town Creek, where we found it necessary to build a bridge,
which was done with great dispatch by the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
We moved from Town Creek at 4 a.m. January 1, 1865, and arrived at Leighton at
9 a.m. Sent Col. John A. Hottenstein, with the Second Brigade Colored Troops,
to La Grange, with orders to take post there and find out all he could about
Colonel Palmer, and to communicate to me any information that he might receive.
On the 2d received orders from the general commanding to move east with my
command and rejoin him at Courtland. I started immediately, but at Town Creek received
orders directing me to send one brigade to Leighton, and with the others to
remain where the order reached me until Colonel Palmer was heard from. In
compliance with this order I went into bivouac with the First and Second
Brigades Colored Troops and sent the Reserve Brigade to Leighton. On the 4th of
January received orders to move to Courtland, as Colonel Palmer had been heard
from and was on his way to Decatur, having destroyed the pontoon and another of
the enemy's trains. On arriving at Courtland found that the general commanding,
with the First Division, had gone to Decatur, orders having been left for me to
follow with my command. On the 5th moved to within four miles of Decatur, where
I received orders to move with my old command (the Second Brigade Colored
Troops) to Nashville, Tenn. On the 6th of January moved to the terminus of the
railroad opposite Decatur and waited transportation. On the 7th sent the
Twelfth Regiment off, and on the 8th started for Nashville with the Thirteenth
and One hundredth Regiments. On arriving at Larkinsville found that the rebel
General Lyon had cut the road, and was sent in pursuit of him by General Cruft,
who was at Larkinsville. Moved to Scottsborough on the morning of the 9th, and
found that Lyon had gone toward the Tennessee River. In conjunction with
Colonel Malloy's brigade started in pursuit on the Guntersville road. On the
10th overtook Mitchell's brigade and marched to Law's Landing, where, by order
of General Cruft, I took post. On the 11th I received orders to return to
Larkinsville, as Lyon had escaped across the Tennessee River. Arrived at Larkinsville
on the evening of the 12th, and loaded troops the next evening (13th) and
started for Nashville, at which place we arrived at 4 p.m. on the 15th day of
January, 1865.
The conduct of the troops during the whole campaign was most
soldierly and praiseworthy. Before making the assault on the enemy's works the
knapsacks of the troops comprising the Second Brigade were laid aside, and
after the works were taken, being ordered to go in pursuit, these were left,
and without blankets or any extra clothing, and more than one-half the time
without fifty good shoes in the whole brigade, this whole campaign was made
with a most cheerful spirit existing. For six days rations were not issued, yet
vigorous pursuit was made after the rebel General Lyon.
To Col. John A. Hottenstein, Thirteenth U.S. Colored
Infantry, commanding Second Brigade Colored Troops, Colonel Morgan, Fourteenth
U.S. Colored Infantry, commanding First Brigade U.S. Colored Troops, and Col.
Felix Prince Salm, Sixty-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, commanding Reserve
Brigade, my thanks are due, and are warmly given, for their promptness to
answer every call and for their great assistance to me in helping to lighten
the heavy responsibility that chance had thrown upon me.
Of the officers of my staff—Capt. Henry A. Norton, Twelfth
U.S. Colored Infantry, acting assistant inspector general; Lieut. George W.
Fitch, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry, acting assistant quartermaster, wounded
by the enemy after having been taken prisoner while taking stores to the
command; Lieut. William H. Wildey, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry, ordnance
officer; Lieut. John D. Reilly, Thirteenth U.S. Colored Infantry, acting
aide-de-camp; Lieut. Thomas L. Sexton, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry, acting
assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. D. A. Grosvenor, One hundredth U.S. Colored
Infantry, acting aide-de-camp, who, after having been wounded in three places,
took the colors of his regiment from close to the enemy's earth-works, the
color-bearer having been killed; and Lieut. R. G. Sylvester, Twelfth U.S.
Colored Infantry, commissary of subsistence of the brigade--I cannot speak too
highly; uniting in the performance of their several duties, and on the field
anxious to do the cause service in the most dangerous places, they richly
deserve the thanks of the country.
To the glorious dead we drop a tear, and while we cannot but
deeply regret the great loss, not only we, their companions, but the country
has sustained, we could not wish them more honorable graves. The conscientious,
brave, and high-minded Capt. Robert Headen, the gallant Lieut. Dennis Dease,
the gentle, but firm and untiring Lieut. D. Grant Cooke, of the Twelfth U.S.
Colored Infantry, the two former receiving their death wounds while leading
their men against their country's and freedom's foe, the latter butchered by
the savage enemy while performing his duties as regimental quartermaster taking
supplies to his command, we can never forget as friends, and their positions
can hardly be refilled.
In the deaths of Lieut. John M. Woodruff, Lieut. George
Taylor, Lieut. L. L. Parks, and Lieut. James A. Isom, of the Thirteenth U.S.
Colored Infantry, the service has lost brave and efficient officers, the
country patriots, and humanity friends; they all fell close to the enemy's
works, leading their brave men.
The loss of the brigade is as follows:
|
|
Officers.
|
Men.
|
Aggregate.
|
|
Killed
|
7
|
73
|
80
|
|
Wounded
|
12
|
376
|
388
|
|
Missing
|
....
|
1
|
1
|
|
Total.
|
19
|
450
|
469
|
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAS. R. THOMPSON,
Colonel Twelfth U.S.
Colored Infantry, Commanding Brigade.
Maj. S. B. MOE,
