No. 126.
Reports of Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, U. S. Army, commanding
Third Division, of operations November 22-29 and December 15-16, 1864.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, Tenn.,
December 29, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
movements and engagements of this division from the 22d to the 29th of November
ultimo, inclusive:
On the morning of the 22d of November, in accordance with
orders received from headquarters Army of the Ohio, I moved the division from
Pulaski to Lynnville, and, in view of the report that the enemy were in force
at Lawrenceburg, placed Reilly's brigade upon commanding ground on the west of
the village and of Lynn Branch, covering the Lawrenceburg road. Henderson's and
Casement's brigades were placed north of the village, also on the west side of
the turnpike. Wagner's division, of the Fourth Corps, which followed my command
and reported to me by order of the major-general commanding, I put in position
on the south and southwest of the place, the whole force forming a semicircle,
resting upon the turnpike north and south of the village, and all the roads
being held by outposts and chains of vedettes. Nothing was seen of the enemy
except that on the morning of the 23d a reconnoitering party of cavalry
approached on the Lawrenceburg road and captured two men of Reilly's brigade,
who were, without authority, beyond the pickets. The commanding general arrived
in person about noon of the 23d, and I received orders to move my division
toward Columbia about ten miles, so as to cover the crossing of the Columbia
pike by the Mount Pleasant and Shelbyville road. The division was immediately
put in motion and reached the point designated at dusk and went into camp.
Casement's brigade being in advance was put in position with its right resting
upon commanding ground near the junction of the roads, and Henderson's and
Reilly's brigades being respectively on the left. Nothing was seen of the
enemy, though reports were received that they were in force at Mount Pleasant,
nine miles distant, and moving toward Columbia.
November 24, at 4 a.m., received orders to move at once with
my division to Columbia, and to cover that place during the concentration of
the army there, the enemy being reported to be pushing our cavalry rapidly back
on the Mount Pleasant and Columbia pike. The division was immediately put in
motion, Reilly's brigade in advance, followed by Henderson's, and Casement's
brigade bringing up the rear, covering the train. At a point two miles from
Columbia I determined to take a cross-road intersecting the Mount Pleasant pike
one mile and a half from the former town, and, marching the head of the column
rapidly, reached the last-named turnpike just as the cavalry brigade, commanded
by Colonel Capron, reached the same point in hasty retreat before a very
superior force of the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, who had been pressing
them hard for several miles. This was at 7 a.m. l ordered Reilly's brigade into
position on the right (west) of the turnpike, throwing forward the One
hundredth Ohio Volunteers to the bank of Bigby Creek (a small stream crossing
the road at that place, and at the time not easily fordable), to support a
strong line of skirmishers and check the enemy's advance during the formation
of the division. Henderson's brigade was put in position on the left of the
turnpike, in two lines — the first, an advanced line, at Mrs. Wilson's house,
on the first plateau above Bigby Creek, and the second on the continuation of a
considerable ridge farther in rear and connected with Reilly's line on the
right of the road. Casement's brigade, coming up a little later, was placed on
the left of Henderson's, on the ridge, an excellent position, stretching nearly
to the Pulaski pike (see topographical sketch accompanying).1 The
batteries of the command, under Capt. G. J. Cockerill, acting chief of
artillery, were posted as follows: Cockerill's battery (Battery D, First Ohio
Light Artillery on the right of the Mount Pleasant pike and at the left of
Reilly's brigade, Wilber's battery (Twenty-third Indiana Battery) on a knoll
between Henderson's and Casement's brigades, and Harvey's battery (the
Fifteenth Indiana Battery) at the left of Casement's line. The enemy pushed in
vigorously, and a lively skirmish ensued, which continued most of the forenoon,
but they did not succeed in crossing Bigby Creek. Capron's cavalry, by my
order, rallied at the rear and then took position upon Reilly's right, covering
that flank of the whole line. About 10 a.m. the head of column of the Fourth
Corps reached Columbia, and they began to go into position upon the left of
this division, Whitaker's brigade of that corps relieving Casement's, which was
brought down to the right till its right flank rested on the Mount Pleasant
pike, relieving in its turn the second line of Henderson's, which was advanced
to the support of the first line of that brigade, thus giving stronger reserves
upon the turnpike, which seemed to be the principal line of the enemy's
operations. Harvey's battery (Fifteenth Indiana) was brought over to the right
and placed, one section near the center and the other at the right of Reilly's
brigade. The One hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was relieved from its
position in support of the skirmish line at Bigby Creek by the Sixty-fifth
Illinois Volunteers, of Casement's brigade. Toward evening portions of the
Second Division of this corps came into position on the right of Reilly's
brigade, and the cavalry was withdrawn.
On the following morning (the 25th) no force of the enemy
was visible in our front, but a reconnaissance sent forward on the Mount
Pleasant pike at about four miles from the town met their cavalry again
advancing, and supported by heavy columns of infantry, which proved to be the
main body of Hood's army. Our whole line was strengthened by a good breast-work
of timber and earth, with abatis and other impediments to an attack. The
bridges over the Bigby Creek were taken up, but that stream was rapidly falling
and was already fordable nearly everywhere. The enemy advanced cautiously, but
with considerable determination. An advanced line of our skirmishers beyond the
creek were driven back at the pike, though they were still kept out on the
right, where the creek approaches nearer to our line of breast-works. Several
batteries were put in position opposite us, and under cover of the artillery
fire an attempt was made to advance along the turnpike, which, however, was
easily repulsed. The Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, in support of the
skirmish line, had erected a barricade of rails near the creek, but upon the
enemy turning the fire of his artillery upon them the regiment was withdrawn
into a slight hollow in rear of their left, leaving a heavy skirmish line in
their barricade. The enemy's cannonade was returned from our batteries, which
at an early hour in the afternoon silenced those of the rebels and caused them
to withdraw both their artillery and the infantry supports out of range. The
skirmish fire along the creek was continued until dark. Our losses were
trifling, amounting to casualties in all, for the particulars of which
reference is made to the lists forwarded herewith. At evening I received orders
from the major-general commanding to remove two brigades and the artillery of
my command during the night to the north bank of the Duck River, and to take
position covering the ford (where the pontoon then was), one brigade, with the
whole skirmish line, to remain in the present position, whilst the remainder of
the army should take up an inner and shorter line within the town. This
movement to be made after the Fourth Corps should have gotten into position on
the new line. I accordingly ordered Henderson's brigade to remain in support of
the skirmish line and the remainder of the command to be in readiness for the
proposed movement during the night. At 12.30, notice being received that the
Fourth Corps was in position and the road clear, the brigades of General Reilly
and Colonel Casement, with the batteries and baggage train, were put in motion
and passed over the river by the pontoon bridge, which was then removed to a
point two miles farther down the stream and in rear of the new line occupied in
and at the right of the town. The weather, which had been clear since leaving
Pulaski, now changed to rain.
At daybreak of the 26th I rapidly reconnoitered the ground
on the north of the river, and found that the ford is situated at the extreme
southern point of a bend of the river, inclosing a long narrow tongue of land,
which is almost everywhere commanded by the hills and bluffs on the southern
bank, one of the most commanding of which is crowned by a stone fort, at that
time within the line occupied by our troops. The southern point of the tongue
of land is entirely bare of trees or other cover, and is from fifteen to twenty
feet lower than the banks immediately opposite, the river being here not quite
200 feet wide. A little farther north the ground rises slightly, till, at a
distance of from 600 to 800 yards from the ford, a ridge traverses the bend,
crossing it in a curved line, which is about as high as the hills on the
opposite side, except a range of two or three, including that upon which the
fort is situated. Upon this ridge is situated the house of Mrs. Brown (see
topographical sketch).1 In rear of the ridge the ground is again
depressed, and the whole distance across the tongue is in plain view of and
commanded by the ground on the opposite banks of the river. Still farther to
the rear, and about a mile distant from the ridge last described, is another
ridge or chain of hills nearly at right angles to the Franklin pike and
affording a good defensible position. The house of Mrs. Porter is upon this
ridge (see sketch)1 Rutherford's Creek, a deep, difficult stream,
crosses the Franklin pike two miles from Mrs. Porter's, and by a circuitous
course runs into the Duck River about a mile below the ford. The examination of
the ground showing that the only tenable position in the bend of the river was
the ridge on which Mrs. Brown's house is situated, I ordered Reilly's brigade
to occupy that ridge from Mrs. Brown's to the turnpike, and Casement's on the
left of the turnpike. Wilber's battery was put in position in the center of
Reilly's position, and the other two batteries left in reserve at Casement's
position, epaulements being constructed to cover them, facing both east and
south, on Casement's line as well as upon Reilly's. The troops were ordered to
intrench themselves, and rifle-pits for a strong skirmish line were dug along
the margin of the river, taking especial pains to make as much cover for
sharpshooters as possible opposite the ford. The Eighth Tennessee Volunteers,
of Reilly's brigade (a small regiment numbering less than 200 men), was placed
as a reserve for the skirmishers in a small depression a little in rear of the
ford, where their flanks were covered by the nature of the ground and their
front by a breast-work. During the 26th these preparations were continued
without interruption, the skirmish lines not being withdrawn from the old
positions on the south of the river. An attack was made upon Colonel
Henderson's line, upon the Mount Pleasant pike, but was repulsed and the
original lines maintained until night of the next day, 27th, when the whole
command was moved by the major-general commanding to the north side of the
river.
At daybreak of the 28th the enemy occupied the town, and
immediately lined the banks of the river with skirmishers and sharpshooters and
opened a lively fire. They also placed several batteries in position and opened
fire upon our lines. In addition to the earth-works above mentioned I had on
the day before caused good cover for a battery to be made on the farm road
leading from Mrs. Brown's to the ford, and also immediately in front of Mrs.
Brown's house. In the first of these I placed one section of Harvey's battery,
and the other section of the same battery was put in the work at Mrs. Brown's.
Our skirmishers, having the advantage of rifle-pits previously prepared, found
no difficulty during this day in maintaining their ground, though the cross and
plunging fire upon them made their position a trying one. In artillery practice
the rifled guns of Cockerill's and Harvey's batteries proved more than a match
for the rebel guns, which seemed mostly light 12-pounder smooth guns, and none
of the enemy's batteries were able to maintain a position, though they shifted
their ground and kept up a fire at intervals throughout the day. During the
morning the Fourth Corps took position on the ridge at my rear (on which Mrs.
Porter's house is). and the two wings of that command reaching the river, right
and left, covered the flanks of this division, and prevented the enemy from
annoying me by a flank fire. Soon after noon Henderson's brigade reported (Col.
I. N. Stiles temporarily in command, on account of sickness of Colonel
Henderson), and was placed on the right of Reilly's, beyond Mrs. Brown's house,
and somewhat recurred, so that the whole division was now formed in a crescent
upon the ridge before described.
Early in the morning of the 29th I was notified by the
major-general commanding that the report that the enemy was crossing Duck River
in force several miles above, made it necessary to withdraw most of the Fourth
Corps from its position, and I received orders to hold the bend of the river
and prevent the rebels from crossing or laying a pontoon bridge till evening.
The enemy had used the night in making rifle-pits and other shelter for troops
along the river-bank, and succeeded in getting a battery in position where it
enfiladed the line of rifle-pits for our skirmishers near the ford and old
bridge-head, making it impossible for the men to remain in them or in the open
ground at the extreme point of the tongue of land in the bend. I thereupon
ordered Brigadier-General Reilly, commanding First Brigade, to establish a new
line as far forward as it was possible to obtain cover, and give it such
supports as to prevent any enemy from forming above the bank of the river,
still keeping the men in the old positions on the right and left, where they
could command the approaches to the river on the opposite side. He accordingly
ordered the Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteers to occupy the open timber
down to the edge of the cleared ground, in irregular open order, using the
trees for shelter. These regiments occupied this position through the day, and
by a well-directed fire foiled all efforts of the enemy to bring down to the
river or launch pontoons until late in the afternoons. A brisk cannonade was
kept up on both sides at intervals during the day, the enemy striving to
establish batteries sufficiently far up and down the river to take our
positions in reverse, but were foiled by the very active use made of his guns
by Captain Cockerill, chief of artillery, and the superior practice of our
gunners. The enemy in the town (since learned to be Lee's corps, with the whole
artillery park of Hood's army) made redoubled efforts to force a crossing as
the afternoon advanced, and about 4 o'clock succeeded in getting several
pontoon boats down to the water. With these, sheltered by the steep banks of
the river and covered by a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, they
ferried over a considerable force, which made an effort to form and charge into
the open wood where the two Kentucky regiments were posted. As soon, however,
as they showed themselves on the open ground they were met with a severe and
galling fire, which soon drove them for shelter under the river-bank. Colonel
Stiles promptly moved forward the Sixty-third Indiana and the One hundred and
twelfth Illinois, of his brigade, to support the right of those advanced
regiments, and the enemy finding it impossible to clear the wood by his fire
from the south bank, so as to enable his detachment to reform, withdrew them,
and made no further effort to cross whilst we remained in the position.
Owing to the advantage taken of every natural and artificial
means of shelter for the men, the casualties in the division did not reach 100,
although the command was during the whole day under severe concentric fire from
all parts of the enemy's line, which was semicircular and exterior to ours. For
details of the casualties reference is made to the lists forwarded herewith.
From reports of prisoners I am satisfied the enemy's loss was very much greater
than our own.
One of the brass guns of Wilber's battery was struck by a
solid shot near the trunnion and disabled. No other accident occurred to the
artillery.
At dark I received orders to move the division to Spring
Hill, leaving the skirmish line with proper supports out until midnight, when
it should follow the command. The Twelfth and Sixteenth Kentucky regiments were
accordingly left as they were, supporting the skirmishers. Major Dow, assistant
inspector-general on my staff, together with the brigade inspectors, being also
left to direct the rallying and bringing off of the detachments, and the
remainder of the command marched at 7 o'clock for Spring Hill passing the First
and Third Divisions of the Fourth Corps on the road. At Spring Hill I received
orders to proceed in advance of the army to Franklin without delay, and marched
forward, reaching Franklin an hour before dawn on the 30th, having marched over
twenty miles since 7 o'clock of the evening preceding.
I have omitted to mention that one regiment of Casement's
brigade, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, was, on the 28th,
detached as an outpost at Rutherford's Creek, on the Franklin pike, and on the
29th was doing picket duty on roads coming into that pike between the creek and
Spring Hill. One company, by order of the major-general commanding, reported to
Brigadier-General Ruger, commanding Second Division, Twenty-third Corps, for
similar duty. The remainder of the regiment reported to the brigade again as we
marched to Spring Hill, but the one company has not since been heard from, and
is supposed to have been captured from some misunderstanding as to relieving
it.
The pickets left at Duck River remained till midnight and
were then safely withdrawn, except Lieutenant Sherbondy and ten men of the One
hundred and twelfth Illinois Volunteers, who are missing and are supposed to
have lost their way in the wood on the extreme right, where they were posted.
The march from Duck River to Franklin was made in the most
perfect order; the men, knowing they were moving near the enemy's positions,
kept well closed up, and I cannot learn that any were lost by straggling or
falling out on the road. The roll-calls at Franklin next morning showed the
whole command accounted for, except those referred to above.
Besides expressing my high sense of the services performed
by the commandants of brigades during the very trying day and night of the
29th, I beg leave to make special mention of Capt. Giles J. Cockerill, Battery
D, First Ohio Light Artillery, my chief of artillery, and of Maj. Tris. T. Dow,
One hundred and twelfth Illinois Volunteers, acting assistant inspector-general
of the division--the former for his brilliant handling of the batteries of the
command during the day and the latter for his admirable performance of the
delicate duty in charge of the skirmish line, left on duty and withdrawn at
midnight, several hours after the rest of the command had marched.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Army of the Ohio.
_______________
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, Tenn., December
25, 1864.
MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the operations of my command in the battle of Nashville on the 15th and 16th
instant:
On the evening of the 14th I received orders to withdraw the
division before daylight next morning from the line of works crossing the
Franklin turnpike in front of Nashville, including Fort Negley and the
fortified hill at Block-House Casino, and upon their place being supplied by
troops of Major-General Steedman's command, to march to the Hillsborough pike
and form as a support to the Fourth Corps, Brigadier-General Wood commanding.
My picket-line was ordered to be left in position until relieved by General
Steedman. Accordingly, at 5.30 a.m. on the 16th [15th], I withdrew the command
from the works, massing them behind the hill slopes in rear from 100 to 200
yards. The picket-line was left under command of Major Baker, Sixty-fifth
Indiana Volunteers, division field officer of the day. At 7 a.m. the line was
partially occupied by General Cruft's division, of General Steedman's command,
and the First Brigade, Col. C. C. Doolittle, Eighteenth Michigan Volunteers,
temporarily commanding, with the Third Brigade, Col. I. N. Stiles, Sixty-third
Indiana Volunteers, temporarily commanding, and Battery D, First Ohio Light
Artillery, were marched to the Hillsborough pike. A lively demonstration along
the left, leading to a rapid artillery firing from the right of the enemy's
line, with some appearance of an advance on their part, led me to order the
Second Brigade, Col. J. S. Casement, One hundred and third Ohio Volunteers,
commanding, to remain temporarily in support of General Cruft's line, which was
very light. This fact was reported to the major-general commanding, who
approved the order and farther ordered the Twenty-third Indiana Battery to
remain at Casino Block-House, which was done. The two brigades and battery were
moved to the Hillsborough pike under cover of a fog, which concealed the
movement from the enemy, and were formed one brigade on each side of the road
in column of battalions massed, the battery on the road in rear. In this
formation the command was gradually advanced as the Fourth Corps advanced,
until about 1 p.m., when I received orders from the commanding general to bring
up Casement's brigade and move the division, by the rear of General A. J.
Smith's command, to the extreme right of the forces engaged with the enemy. The
command was moved by the flank, Colonel Doolittle's brigade in advance, by a
country road leading diagonally from the Hillsborough toward the Hardin pike,
about two miles, thence curving more to the left as the right wing of the army
swung forward, about two miles farther, till we reached and crossed the
Hillsborough pike again at a point about five miles and a half distant from
Nashville, and near where the turnpike enters the high range of hills connected
with the Brentwood Heights. During the last mile of the march the brigades
moved in parallel lines, the right flanks being equally advanced, and the
artillery on the right rear of the division, so that by fronting each brigade a
column of brigades would be formed, and that we might be in hand to support the
lines engaged close in rear of which we were moving.
After crossing the Hillsborough pike, facing eastwardly, and
passing the first range of hills, we came up in rear of General Couch's
(Second) division, of this corps, who, with the dismounted cavalry, was engaged
with the enemy upon a somewhat low, round-topped hill, one of two overlooking
the Granny White pike, and immediately north of a high conical hill held by the
left flank of the enemy's forces. I here received orders from the major-general
commanding to support General Couch, and accordingly formed the First and
Second Brigades (Doolittle's and Casement's) in double line each, Doolittle on
the right, and advanced them into the valley in our front. Stiles' brigade
(Third) was pushed to the right upon the crest of a very high rocky ridge
commanding the ground beyond the right of the brigades advanced, and the
battery was halted upon the hill last crossed. At about 4 p.m. General Couch
reported a considerable force of the enemy passing toward his right and
threatening the flank of Mehringer's brigade of his division, which was
detached some 600 yards from the right of the line. I immediately advanced
Doolittle's brigade to the right and Casement's to the left of Mehringer's
command, swinging the right forward to occupy a subordinate ridge in the angle
of high hills (see sketch accompanying) skirting our right flank. A sharp
attack was here made by the enemy, which was repulsed, the fighting, however,
lasting until dark. Soon after dark General Couch withdrew Mehringer's brigade
from the position referred to above, and deeming it very important to hold the
line occupied, I ordered the two brigades to be deployed in single line and to
throw up breast-works along the ridge they held, which formed a crochet,
advanced nearly at right angles to the line of Couch's division, threatening
the enemy's flank and facilitating further movements by the right around the
connected chain of hills, of which Stiles' brigade occupied the first prominent
one. Stiles was also ordered to intrench the hill held by him, and owing to the
valley (a very soft cornfield intersected by a brook) being impassable for
artillery, the battery was put in position on the continuation to the left of
the ridge occupied by Stiles' brigade. The positions were inspected and
approved by the major-general commanding, and I received orders to be prepared
for offensive movements at daylight.
At about 3 a.m. of the 16th I received notice from General
Couch that in closing up his lines to the left a gap of some 300 yards was
opened between his position and mine at the base of the hill last carried on
the evening previous. At the same time I received a dispatch from the
major-general commanding stating that a division from General A. J. Smith's
command would report before daylight to support me. I therefore ordered one
regiment (Sixty-fifth [Sixty-third?] Indiana) of Stiles brigade to be withdrawn
from the position occupied by that brigade and put in on the right of General
Couch, connecting with and extending the line of the Second Division,
intrenching there, and leaving whatever gap might remain in the low ground at
the angle of the two lines. This was done before daylight.
At 6 a.m. Colonel Moore reported with five regiments and a
battery of the Seventeenth Corps, numbering in all about 1,600 men. I directed
three regiments to relieve Stiles' brigade in the works constructed by them
during the night, and the remaining two, with the artillery, to be held in
reserve on the ridge farther to the left, where my own battery had been left. I
then ordered Colonel Stiles to push his brigade forward and occupy the next of
the series of hills beyond our right and intrench the commanding ground upon
it, from which he could, in some measure, protect the right of Colonel
Doolittle's brigade (which was refused) from assault on that flank. The enemy
had been heard chopping during the whole night along the high conical hill in
the re-entrant of our line and upon the ridges farther toward our right. At
daylight the line of their works was apparent upon ground very considerably
higher than that of Casement's and Doolittle's brigades, and early in the
morning General Couch notified me that a heavy column of the enemy was passing
partially in view across his front toward our right. The major-general
commanding, who was on the ground when the information arrived, ordered that
part of my line to be held tenaciously, whilst Stiles' brigade should be
prepared to second the movement of dismounted cavalry toward the enemy's
position from the Hillsborough pike, beyond my right flank. Lively artillery
and skirmish fire was kept up during the day, and numerous efforts made by the
enemy to dislodge Casement and Doolittle by pushing past their right along the
high ridge leading to the Hillsborough pike.
The nature of the ground enabled us to baffle these attempts
by throwing forward strong supports for the skirmish lines until about 4 p.m.,
when the cavalry on the extreme right having pushed past the enemy's left flank
a general advance was ordered. I directed accordingly that Stiles' brigade
should advance vigorously past the line of Doolittle's right upon the high
wooded ridge, keeping pace with the dismounted cavalry beyond him and with
Doolittle's brigade on his left. The latter was ordered to assault the salient
on his front as soon as the conical hill in front of Major-General Smith's left
should be carried, and Casement was ordered to move to the right and occupy
Doo-little's works, supporting him and Stiles when they advanced. About 4.30
General Smith's line was seen to reach the summit of the conical hill, and
Doolittle was ordered to charge. This he did in the most gallant manner, the
Twelfth Kentucky Volunteers having the lead and charging the salient and
battery in their front. The enemy was manifestly disconcerted. Their fire was
too high, and did no injury to our troops as they scaled the rocky hill. Stiles
was promptly up, and as the whole line went forward the enemy broke in
confusion, making the best of their way across the hills toward the Franklin
pike. Four guns (light 12's) were captured in the salient; four others were
taken a little to the left in the depression of the hills. These last were
subsequently claimed by McArthur's division, of Smith's command, but the
evidence appended to the report of Colonel Doolittle leaves no doubt that they
were fairly captured by his brigade. Between 200 and 300 prisoners were also
taken. The line of our advance being perpendicular to the Granny White pike,
and Major-General Smith's being along and parallel to it, we met his troops at
the pike, and to avoid confusion I ordered the division to halt. The
major-general commanding coming up immediately directed us to bivouac for the
night, as the roads were occupied by other columns moving in pursuit.
Doolittle's brigade remained on the ridge it had carried, overlooking the
Granny White pike; Stiles was in bivouac on the next slope to the right, and
Casement in reserve in the works erected by Doolittle's brigade on the
preceding right.
Reports of brigades and lists of casualties are forwarded
herewith.2
J. D. COX,
Brigadier.General,
Commanding.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Army of the Ohio.
_______________
Sketch To Accompany Report Of 3d Division 23d
Army Corps, of
The Battle Of
Nashville,
Showing Operations Of The Evening Of The 15th
And Of The 16th December, 1864.
EXPLANATION.
Double lines show position of Rebel Forces.
Single lines those of the U.S. Forces.
No. 1.—Position of Casement's and Doolittle's Brigades,
first deployed evening of 15th.
No. 2.—Is first position taken up by Stiles' Brigade.
No. 3.—Position of Casement and Doolittle intrenched on
night of 15th.
No. 4.—Is second position taken up by Stiles on morning of
16th.
No. 5.—Is position taken by Col. Moore with detachment of
17th Corps, besides occupying Stiles' first line, and also of Cockerill's
Battery "D," 1st Ohio.
No. 6.—Is position of Couch's Division, 23d Corps, and of
one regiment of Stiles' Brigade.
No. 7.—Position of Cavalry advancing dismounted on 16th.
Nos. 8 and 9.—Position of Doolittle's and Stiles' Brigades
on night of 16th.
The dotted line shows the line of advance on the afternoon
of the 15th.
_______________
ADDENDA.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 2, 1864.
MAJOR : I have the honor to forward the following
approximate statement of casualties in this command during the battle of the
30th ultimo:
Report of casualties in Third Division,
Twenty-third Army Corps,
at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864.
Command.
|
Officers.
|
Men.
|
Aggregate.
|
K
|
W
|
M
|
T
|
K
|
W
|
M
|
T
|
Headquarters
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
First Brigade.
|
7
|
8
|
1
|
16
|
27
|
113
|
72
|
212
|
228
|
Second Brigade.
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
3
|
16
|
3
|
22
|
23
|
Third Brigade
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
9
|
7
|
42
|
20
|
69
|
78
|
Total
|
11
|
14
|
2
|
27
|
37
|
171
|
95
|
303
|
330
|
[K = Killed, W = Wounded, M = Missing & T =Total]
I am, major, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army
of the Ohio.
_______________
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 3, 1864.
Major-General THOMAS,
Commanding Army of the
Cumberland:
GENERAL: I have the honor of calling to your notice the
conspicuous gallantry and meritorious conduct of Col. Emerson Opdycke,
commanding a brigade in General Wagner's division, Fourth Corps, in the battle
of the 30th ultimo.
In the early part of the engagement a portion of the Second
Division, Twenty-third Corps, was somewhat disordered by misunderstanding the
purpose of retiring through the lines of the two brigades of Wagner's division,
which had been engaged in advance. It was at this time that Opdycke's brigade
was lying in reserve on the Columbia pike, and being called upon, he led them
forward in the most brilliant manner, charging the advancing rebels and
restoring the continuity of our lines, which were not again disordered in the
slightest degree. Colonel Opdycke's promptness and courage deserve official
notice, and as I was commanding the line at that time I deem it my duty to
bring the facts to your attention, the more especially as he does not belong to
my division.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J. D. COX,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding.
_______________
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, December 3,
1864.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army
of the Ohio:
MAJOR: I have reports of twenty battle-flags and standards
captured from the rebels by my division during the fight of the 30th, and am
confident, after investigation, that the number is accurately stated. I have
only eleven, however, to send to headquarters. These are now in General
Reilly's possession, and will be forwarded this morning. The men have a passion
for tearing them into bits to send home as relics, and in spite of orders have
thus destroyed nine. I cannot give any satisfactory approximation as to the
prisoners taken; all that I saw came in on the left of the Columbia pike, where
my division was posted; but I am unwilling to make any claim to definite
numbers, nor do I think it important that I should do so. I ordered all
prisoners turned over to the provost-guards of either corps indiscriminately,
and those officers can best report how many they have.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J.
D. COX,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
_______________
1 See Plate CV, Map 4 of the Atlas.
2 Casualties embodied in table, p. 100.
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. 399-410
