No. 141.
Reports of Col. Israel N. Stiles, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry,
commanding Third Brigade,
of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS
SIXTY-THIRD INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 5, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with instructions received from
Brigadier-General Cox, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the
operations of the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, at
Franklin, Tenn., on the 30th of November, the brigade being temporarily under
my command on that day, owing to the illness of Col. Thomas J. Henderson, the
brigade commander.
By direction of General Cox I placed the command in position
early on the morning of the 30th, on the left of the Second Brigade, and with
the left resting on the river and in the following order: One hundred and
twentieth Indiana Infantry, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, One hundred and
twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry, with the One hundred and twelfth Illinois
Infantry a short distance to the rear in reserve. Substantial works were at
once thrown up, and such portions of our front as were not already obstructed
by a well-grown and almost impenetrable hedge were covered with a strong abatis
made of the hedges which ran at right angles with the works. At about 4 p.m.
the enemy commenced his advance on our front in three lines of battle, preceded
by a strong line of skirmishers. When within shell range, Battery M, Fourth
Regulars, stationed on the left and rear of the brigade, opened upon the
advancing lines. The front line of the enemy soon came within range of our
muskets and was repulsed. A portion of their second line succeeded in reaching
that part of the works held by the One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and
planted their colors upon them. The color-bearer was killed, and the flag fell
upon the outside. A number of the enemy succeeded in climbing over the works
and were taken prisoners. This charge of the enemy was soon repulsed, and he
made no further serious efforts to drive us from our position. The battery I
have already mentioned, together with a battery in the fort across the river,
kept up a continuous firing upon our front till after dark, which, I have no
doubt, did much to check any further attempt of the enemy to advance upon us.
In the meantime the One hundred and twentieth Indiana on the left was subjected
to a terrific enfilading fire, both from the enemy's artillery and infantry.
The regiment and its commander, Colonel Prather, in my opinion, deserve great
praise for the heroic manner with which they held their position, the loss of
which might have resulted in a defeat to our army. It is proper also that I
should mention the stubborn and soldierly conduct of Lieutenant Colonel
Packard, One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and his command, in resisting
the enemy after he had reached their works. The One hundred and twelfth
Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Bond commanding, though in reserve, was exposed to
a considerable fire during the engagement, and near nightfall was ordered by
General Cox to re-enforce some portion of the Second Division.
The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, commanding
Sixty-third Indiana Volunteers, as well as that of the officers generally, was
praiseworthy, and that of the men was made more efficient by the aid and
presence of Colonel Henderson, the brigade commander, who, though suffering
from illness, could not withstand the desire to be present where his command
was engaged, and who was along the lines during the engagement, and whose opportunities
of witnessing their good conduct were equal to my own.
By direction of General Cox I withdrew the brigade, except
the One hundred and twelfth Illinois, across the river at midnight.
I learn that a report of the casualties and the number of
prisoners taken has already been forwarded to General Cox.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
I. N. STILES,
Colonel Sixty-third
Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
Lieutenant STEARNS,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,
Spring Hill, Tenn.,
December 22, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
operations of this command in the battles of the 15th and 16th instant, at
Nashville, Tenn.:
On the morning of the 15th I moved the brigade from its
position near Fort Negley to the right, in the rear and in support of a part of
the Fourth Corps, on the Hillsborough pike. Near noon I marched farther to the
right, following the First Brigade, and supporting the Sixteenth Corps and a
portion of the cavalry. At night I took position on a high hill on the extreme
right of the infantry, and occupied the adjoining heights by a strong force of
skirmishers. Some time in the afternoon of the next day the cavalry on our
right advanced, and the skirmishers of my command were ordered forward with
them. About this time a successful charge was made by the infantry on my left,
and the enemy in my front was driven from his position. At this time I received
an order from General Cox to move two regiments forward, form on the left of
the cavalry, and advance with it. I found, in attempting to comply with this
order, that the cavalry, meeting with little or no resistance, was moving so
rapidly that it was impossible for me to operate with it. Soon after I received
orders to bivouac for the night.
My only loss was that of three enlisted men wounded.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
I. N. STILES,
Colonel, Commanding
Brigade.
Capt. THEO. Cox,
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. 429-31
