No. 202.
Report of Maj. J. Morris Young, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, of
operations November 28, 1864.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH IOWA CAVALRY,
Near Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.
I have the honor to report the following action of my
regiment and others temporarily under my command during the evening and night
of November 28, 1864:
The Fifth Iowa Cavalry, under my command, was disposed, by
order of Colonel Capron, commanding the First Brigade of the Sixth Division,
Cavalry Command, in different positions on the north side of Duck River, above
and below the crossing of the turnpike running from Franklin to Lewisburg, to
guard the fords and prevent the enemy from crossing to this side, which was
successfully performed in my command and front. At 5 p.m. my patrols and
pickets reported the enemy in force in my rear and Colonel Capron, commanding
the brigade, gone. Hastily withdrawing my regiment, except Company A, which was
posted four miles above, with the enemy between us, I formed the Fifth Iowa in
charging column on the pike, and was in the act of giving the command
"forward," when the other regiments of the brigade, consisting of the
Eighth Michigan, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois, came in successively, much
to my surprise, for I had supposed them gone out with Colonel Capron, and
reported the enemy closing in in [sic]
all directions.
I made the following disposition of my new forces as hastily
as possible (see also plat attached*): The Eighth Michigan in line dismounted,
to the left of and perpendicular to the head of the Fifth Iowa column; the
Sixteenth Illinois disposed in like manner on the right; the led horses of both
regiments to follow up at a safe distance in their respective rears; the
Fourteenth Illinois was placed in column of fours, to the left and rear of the
Eighth Michigan and parallel to the Fifth Iowa, which was in column on the
turnpike. The left was the most exposed to a counter charge by the enemy, who
were known to be in heavy force on that flank. As soon as the enemy's fire was
drawn the dismounted men were to immediately fall back, mount, and follow out
the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, which was to go through with sabers. In fifteen
minutes, these dispositions being completed, the command was given,
"forward." In fifteen minutes more we struck the enemy in line,
barricaded and posted in the outhouses and buildings just evacuated by Colonel
Capron. We received their fire and instantly sounded the "charge,"
riding them down and scattering them in all directions. At 10 p.m. I reported
the brigade entire to Major-General Wilson.
In this charge, which was most gallantly executed,
reflecting great credit on all the troops engaged, I do not think our entire
loss, out of over 1,500 brought through safe, was more than thirty killed,
wounded, and missing. Having been superseded in command immediately by Colonel
Capron, who had preceded me some two hours, I have no means of ascertaining
definitely our loss. The injury inflicted upon the enemy must have been
considerable. The groans and cries of their wounded, as we rode, cut, or shot
them down, could be heard distinctly above the noise and din of the charge.
Permit me to add in closing the fact of the growing
confidence amongst our troops that good cavalry never can be captured.
J. MORRIS YOUNG,
Major, Commanding Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
Capt. E. T. WELLS,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Sixth Cavalry Division. _______________
* See p. 605.
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. 604-5
