Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 172. Report of Lieut. Col. Zalmon S. Main, Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT INDIANA VETERAN VOLS.,                       

In the Field, Tenn., December 23, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Fifty-second Regiment Indiana Veteran Volunteers in the battle fought between Generals Thomas' and Hood's forces on the 15th and 16th instant, near Nashville, Tenn.:

On the morning of the 15th instant I was ordered to move my regiment in front of the fortifications near the Hardin pike, and formed on the left of the Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Soon after this formation was completed a general advance was made in line of battle, obliquing to the left until we had gained a distance of about a mile, arriving at a point near the Hillsborough pike, where we found the enemy in force behind strong works. Here the colonel commanding the brigade ordered a halt. Two sections of the Ninth Indiana Battery at once took position some 200 yards in rear of the Fifty-second Indiana Volunteers, and opened fire on a rebel battery in our front behind strong works near the Hillsborough pike, which was the cause of the regiment receiving a terrible shelling from the rebel battery in its return fire, nearly all of their shells dropping short of our battery and falling in our ranks, killing 1 and severely wounding 6 others. This was a loss to the regiment that it would not have sustained had it not been for our battery. At about 2 p.m. the whole line was again advanced toward the rebel works, my regiment advancing within 200 yards of them, where we received a galling fire of canister and musketry, having one officer and several men wounded. The Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, on my right, having obliqued to the right, under cover of the woods, leaving my regiment without support, compelled me to order a halt, which I did in a ravine near the rebel works, where I soon received orders to move by the left flank to a point of more safety near the Hillsborough pike, where the brigade was formed and a charge made in concert with the Fourth Army Corps, capturing a battery. This about closed the operations of the first day's fight. The regiment soon after went into camp for the night. During the day's fight the regiment sustained a loss of 1 man killed and 1 officer and 10 men wounded.

On the morning of the 16th instant a general advance in line of battle was again ordered, the Fifty-second Regiment Indiana Volunteers taking the center, the Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteers on the right, and the One hundred and seventeenth Illinois Volunteers on the left. In this order the whole line moved forward across the Granny White pike, a distance of about a mile, where we found the rebels posted in a strong position. After some maneuvering the command was halted, where we remained but little exposed to their fire until 3 o'clock, when a charge on the enemy's work was ordered, the regiment occupying the same position in the line that it had in the earlier part of the day. The regiment moved forward in line under a severe fire from a rebel battery in our immediate front and musketry from their works. Yet the whole line pressed forward with a determination that it was plain to be seen that neither rebel batteries nor musketry could withstand the bravery and determination of our officers and men, who had now reached the enemy's works, where prisoners were picked up in squads of six to ten in each, which I ordered to be taken to the rear and turned over to any officer that might be found in charge of the same, without counting them, therefore I am unable to give the number captured by my regiment. The command, without halting at the rebel works, continued to move forward, capturing prisoners, until we reached near the crest of the hill in rear of their works, when the command was halted and went into camp for the night.

The following is a list of the casualties.*

Very respectfully,, your obedient servant,

Z. S. MAIN,              

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Fifty-second Regt. Indiana Vet. Vol. Infty.

Lieut. J. D. COBINE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade.

_______________

*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. 495-6

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 171. Report of Lieut. Col. Jonathan Merriam, One hundred and seventeenth Illinois Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 171.

Report of Lieut. Col. Jonathan Merriam, One hundred and seventeenth Illinois Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS 117TH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY,                      

In the Field, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the battle of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December:

Early in the morning of the 15th the Third Brigade, having been massed in front of our works, with the right resting on the Hardin pike, I was ordered by the colonel commanding brigade to move forward, deploy skirmishers, and support them with the regiment; also to conform the movements of the skirmish line with that of the First Brigade, on the left, with which it was to connect. Acting under these instructions the command was moved forward until a dense canebrake had been passed and an advance of nearly a mile had been gained, when an order reached me from the brigade commander to halt the regiment until the rest of the brigade could come up, but to continue the advance of the skirmish line. After the rest of the brigade had come up I moved (by order of the colonel commanding brigade) to the left to connect with the troops of the First Brigade. Meanwhile the skirmishers had become engaged with the enemy. From this time the regiment held the left of the brigade and advanced with the general line, but the several movements of the brigade to the left threw the skirmishers (who did not conform to the movements of the brigade, but moved forward in a nearly direct line) in the front of General McArthur's division. When the final movement was made upon the enemy's works, the skirmishers charged gallantly and captured 3 Rodman guns and over 40 prisoners. Lieutenant Potter, commanding Company B of the skirmishers, turned one of the guns upon the enemy, but could not fire it for lack of fuses. When the next advance was made the guns and prisoners were left in the hands of the troops who were coming up behind the skirmish line.

I will here mention that the Companies A and B and their officers — Capt. H. W. Wood and Second Lieut. G. W. Brown, of the first, and First Lieut. G. W. Potter, commanding the latter company — composing the skirmish line, behaved with great gallantry during the entire day.

In the action of the 16th the regiment did not become engaged until the general charge was ordered at 4 p.m. In this movement the regiment was on the left of the brigade and was exposed to a severe fire from a rebel battery, from which it suffered considerably, but did not falter. In this charge the regiment captured (as reported by the officer in charge of prisoners) 100 prisoners, also 2 guns. Private Wilbur F. Moore,* Company C, captured one battery flag, and was far in advance of the line when he did so. There were other instances of individual bravery and coolness, but when all behaved so gallantly I refrain from particular mention.

Inclosed is the surgeon's list of casualties.^†

I have the honor to be, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. MERRIAM,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Lieut. J. D. COBINE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

* Awarded a Medal of Hornor.

^† 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. 494

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 169. Report of Col. Edward H. Wolfe, Fifty-second Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

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

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: May 27, 1862

Camp on Corinth Road, Miss., May 27, 1862.

Why don't you write me just a word, if no more? I'm almost uneasy. Not a line from home for a month. We hear that smallpox is raging in Canton, and — I want you to write. They say there is some smallpox in the center and right of the army, but think 'tis like the milk sickness of our Egypt, “a little further on.” There's enough sickness of other kinds, so we have no room for grumbling if we can't have that disease. The hospitals at Hamburg make almost a city. I think there can be no more sorrowful sight, real or imaginary, than that camp of the sick.

I don't know the number of patients, somewhere in thousands, all packed in tents as closely as they can lie, and with not one-tenth the care a sick horse would get at home. I suppose the surgeons, stewards and nurses have [f]eelings like men when they first enter the hospitals, but familarity with disease and suffering seem to make them careless and indifferent to a degree that surprises me, and I can't but look upon it as criminal. I suppose nearly half the bad cases are typhoid fever. Yellow fever, cholera and smallpox have never been known here to the citizens. They all say this is a very healthy country, and I believe it. Our boys are suffering from the change of climate and water, and as much as anything, the sudden change in temperature. Our regiment is improving in health now rapidly. We have gained about 40 for duty within a week. We had about 250 sick last week. The 17th has some 300. I found a batch of live secesh women last Sunday. I rode up to a fine looking house to get a glass of milk (I suppose I drink more milk than any six calves in Fulton) and found eight or ten ladies at dinner, accepted a rather cool invitation to dine wid’ ’em, and did justice to their peas and fodder generally, and was much amused. Think there was more spice to that dinner than I ever before saw. One black-eyed vixen opened the ball with “I don't see how you can hold your head up and look people in the face, engaged in the cause you are.” I told her I thought she had a free way of ’spressing her opinion. “Yes,” says she, “I can't use a gun but I can tongue lash you, and will every chance.” Then they all joined in, but I found that eating was my best “holt,” so they had it their own way. When I'd finished my dinner, told them “a la Buell,” that I thought their house would make, an excellent hospital, and that we'd probably bring out 80 or a 100 patients the next day for them to take care of. Scared them like the devil, all but one, and they all knew so much better places for the sick. This odd one said she had a way of “putting arsenic in some people's feed, and she'd do it, too.” Told her we'd give her a commish as chief taster, and put her through a course of quinine, asafœtida and sich. Said she'd like to see us dare to try it, she would. They were too much for me, but I'll never pass that place without calling. I'd give my shirt to have had Ame Babcock there. Those are the first outspoken female seceshers I have yet seen.

Deserters say that the Rebels have positively no forage or provisions in Corinth. That the Memphis and Mobile railways can barely bring enough daily, scraped from the whole length of the lines to feed the army. It is reported here that Sherman took possession of the Memphis road west of Corinth yesterday and has fortified his position. Pope got two or three men killed yesterday. There was about 5,000 of the enemy camped in the woods one and one-half miles in front of his posish, and he drove them back until they were reinforced and made him scoot again. I was out with a scout Sunday and started again last night at dark (Monday) and was out until 9 this a. m. The cause was some small bands raising the d---1 on our left. We didn't catch them. We were over to the Tennessee, Sunday, where we could see the sacred soil of Alabama. I like Alabama better than any other Southern State. She's never done the “blowing” the others have and people here say that she's nearer loyal than any other Southern state. They're raising loyal companies here now. There are two full in Savannah.

General Jeff C. Davis' division passed here to-day to join Pope's corps. Davis stopped with us and made quite a visit. General Ash of this division goes forward to-morrow. The 21st and 38th Illinois from Stules division went out yesterday. Eleven regiments in all added to Pope's command in two days; except the last two they were all at Pea Ridge and some at Wilson's Creek. A splendid lot of men but not drilled equal to many regiments of the “Army Miss.”

I don't honestly believe that we have with all our reinforcements 100,000 men here; but don't believe the Rebels have 75,000; of course I mean effective men that can be called on the field to fight. We have just received orders to move to front to-morrow.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 92-4

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Saturday, July 18, 1863

Serj. of Guard today — 117. Ill. down on Courier at 7.30. P. M.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 493

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Sunday, July 19, 1863

Scouting party of. 35 Mo. 28 Wis. 43. Ind. 117. Ill. inft. regts. and 1st Ind cav. 4 pieces of Dubuque battery go out with 3 day. ration in haversacks This party back before night. Inft. went 5 mile cav. 15. Saw Dobbs pickets

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 493

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Sunday, July 5, 1863

Very tired. Jake a little smarter, with him all the time, rebel wounded being brought in all day. Alarm gun at 5. P. M. men to arm and to the pits Rained hard 5.30 after dark 117 Ill came down.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 492

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Monday, July 6, 1863

Very tired. Jake died 1.30 A M. 117 Ill. 5th Kansas cav. out on scout brought in 100 prisonors. afternoon 117 Ill. go to Memphis.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 492

117th Illinois Infantry

Organized at Camp Butler, Ill., and mustered in September 19, 1862. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., November 11-17, 1862. Attached to Reserve Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn., 13th Army Corps (Old), Department of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. District of Memphis, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 1st Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, 16th Army Corps, to January, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps, to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865.

SERVICE. – Duty at Memphis, Tenn., till July 5, 1863. Affairs near Memphis June 17-18, 1863 (Detachment). Moved to Helena, Ark., July 5, and return to Memphis. Duty there till December 29, 1863. Expedition after Forest December 24-31. 1863 (Detachment). Grierson's Bridge and near Moscow and LaFayette December 27. Ordered to Vicksburg, Miss. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2, 1864. Clinton February 5. Meridian February 9-13. Red River Campaign March 10-May 22. Fort DeRussy March 14. Occupation of Alexandria March 16. Battle of Pleasant Hill April 9. About Cloutiersville April 22-24. At Alexandria April 26-May 13. Governor Moore's Plantation and Bayou Roberts May 3-7 and 11. Retreat to Morganza May 13-20. Mensurn May 16. Yellow Bayou May 18. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss.; thence to Memphis, Tenn., May 21-June 10. Action at Lake Chicot, Ark., June 6. March to relief of Gen. Sturgis June 14-16. Near LaFayette June 23. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Camargo's Cross Roads, near Harrisburg, July 13. Harrisburg, near Tupelo, July 14-15. Old Town (or Tishamingo) Creek July 15. Smith's Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Hurricane Creek August 13-14. Abbeville August 23. Moved to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and in pursuit of Price through Missouri September to November. Action at Franklin, Mo., October 1. Moved from St. Louis to Nashville, Tenn., November 21-December 1. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., and Eastport, Miss., and duty there till February, 1865. Moved to New Orleans, La., February 6-17. Campaign against Mobile and its defences March 17-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25, and duty there till August. Mustered out August 5, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 11 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 115 Enlisted men by disease. Total 130.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1096