No. 133.
Reports of Lieut. Col. Edwin L. Hayes, One hundredth Ohio Infantry,
of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.
HDQRS. 100TH REGIMENT
OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 6, 1864.
GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of
the part taken by this regiment in the battle at Franklin, Tenn., November 30:
My regiment was the extreme right regiment of the brigade and division, my
right resting on the Franklin and Columbia pike, fronting nearly south, the
left connecting with the One hundred and fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. I had thrown up a temporary breast-work, with head-logs on top and an
abatis in front. The First Kentucky Battery was then placed in my line, cutting
embrasures in my work, and displacing three companies. To cover these companies
I threw up a light earth-work about three rods in rear of my main line. A
brigade of General Wagner's division, Fourth Corps, was some 200 or 300 yards
in our front. About 4 p.m. the enemy advanced in three lines upon them. They
fell back upon us, coming in on the right flank and over our works. They filled
our trenches so that we were unable to use our guns, and creating considerable
confusion, the enemy reaching our works almost simultaneously with them. I
immediately ordered the men belonging to the Fourth Corps to fall back and
reform in rear of the second line of works, which order some of my men upon the
right mistook as meaning them, and fell back with the colors, but immediately
rallied and went back upon my ordering the color-sergeant, Byron C. Baldwin, to
advance and plant the colors upon the works. The battery men deserting their
pieces, a space was left around the guns between my right and left, which was
filled by some men of the Sixteenth Kentucky; at the same time the regiment on
the right of the road gave way, and the enemy poured in over the pike onto my
right flank. The Forty-fourth Illinois here charged with my right and forced
the enemy back beyond the works. From this time until we were ordered to leave
the works, at 10.30 p.m., six distinct charges were made upon my right, and
repulsed each time. I was exposed to a murderous enfilading fire from our works
on the right of the road, which was held by the enemy, never having been
retaken by the troops on our right after the first charge. A large proportion
of our missing were captured on the skirmish line, which was in advance of the
Fourth Corps.
I would particularly mention the distinguished gallantry of
Capt. W. W. Hunt (acting major), who fell while nobly fighting at the front
works, and of Lieut. M. A. Brown, who was on the skirmish line, and was wounded
while falling back upon the main line, and was killed inside of the works,
urging the men to stand fast. Color-Sergt. Byron C. Baldwin fell with the
colors in his hand, and wrapped them around him in his death struggle.
It would be invidious in me to mention any of the survivors
where all did so nobly, both officers and men sustained the character they
always bore as brave soldiers.
The following is the number of men engaged and our loss in
killed, wounded, and missing: Number of men engaged, 250. Commissioned officers
— killed, 2 (1 not mustered); wounded, 1. Enlisted men — killed, 6; wounded, 24;
missing, 32. Total, 65.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. L. HAYES,
Lieut. Cot., Comdg.
100th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Brig. Gen. JAMES W. REILLY,
Comdg First Brig., Third Div.,
Twenty-third Army Corps.
_______________
HEADQUARTERS 100TH OHIO
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Spring Hill, Tenn.,
December 22, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of
the part taken by this regiment in the operations of the 15th and 16th instant:
Our movements on the 15th are not worthy of notice, as we
simply moved with the brigade around to the right to the support of General
Smith's forces and went into position that evening; that night we threw up a
line of works, and on the morning of the 16th found the enemy's line also thrown
up in the night in plain view in our immediate front. Skirmishing was kept up
until about 3.30 p.m., when a charge was made along the whole line. My regiment
advanced up a ravine, driving their skirmishers out of their pits until we
reached the enemy's line of works, when, in connection with the Eighth
Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, we captured four pieces of artillery and quite a
number of prisoners, burns these were at once sent to the rear their numbers
cannot be correctly given. The regiment pushed on, making a swing to the right
until we formed a line perpendicular to the one we had just left, and on the
crest of the hill, where we threw up a new line of works and encamped for the
night.
We did not lose a man.
I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. L. HAYES,
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Comdg. 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
[Capt. J. H. BROWN,
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. 419-20
