Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 6.— Organization of the U.S. Forces, commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, at the battle of Nashville, Tenn., December 15-16, 1864.

No. 6.

Organization of the U.S. Forces, commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas,

at the battle of Nashville, Tenn., December 15-16, 1864.

FOURTH ARMY CORPS.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS J. WOOD.

FIRST DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL.

First Brigade.
Col. ISAAC M. KIRBY.

21st Illinois, Capt. William H. Jamison.
38th Illinois, Capt. Andrew M. Pollard.
31st Indiana, Col. John T. Smith.
81st Indiana, Maj. Edward G. Mathey.
90th Ohio, Lient. Col. Samuel N. Yeoman.
101st Ohio, Lieut. Col. Bedan B. McDanald.

Second Brigade.
Brig. Gen. WALTER C. WHITAKER.

96th Illinois, Maj. George Hicks.
115th Illinois, Col. Jesse H. Moore.
35th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Augustus G. Tassin.
21st Kentucky, Lieut. Col. James C. Evans.
23d Kentucky, Lieut. Col. George W. Northup.
45th Ohio, Lieut. Col. John H. Humphrey.
51st Ohio, Lieut. Col. Charles H. Wood.

Third Brigade.
Brig. Gen. WILLIAM GROSE.

75th Illinois, Col. John E. Bennett.
80th Illinois, Capt. James Cunningham.
84th Illinois, Lieut. Col. Charles H. Morton.
9th Indiana, Col. Isaac C. B. Suman.
30th Indiana, Capt. Henry W. Lawton.
36th Indiana (one company), Lieut. John P. Swisher.
84th Indiana, Maj. John C. Taylor.
77th Pennsylvania, Col. Thomas E. Rose.

SECOND DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. WASHINGTON L. ELLIOTT.

First Brigade.
Col. EMERSON OPDYCKE.

36th Illinois, Maj. Levi P. Holden.
44th Illinois, Capt. Alonzo W. Clark.
73d Illinois, Capt. Wilson Burroughs.
74th Illinois [and] 88th Illinois, Lieut. Col. George W. Smith.
125th Ohio, Maj. Joseph Bruff.
24th Wisconsin, Capt. William Kennedy.

Second Brigade.
Col. JOHN Q. LANE.

100th Illinois, Lieut. Col. Charles M.Hammend.
40th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Henry Learning.
57th Indiana:
        Lieut. Col. Willis Blanch.¹
        Maj. John S. McGraw.
28th Kentucky:
        Maj. George W. Barth.
        Lieut. Col. J. Rowan Boone.
26th Ohio, Capt. William Clark.
97th Ohio:
        Lieut. Col. Milton Barnes.¹
        Capt. Clarkson C. Nichols.

Third Brigade.
Col. JOSEPH CONRAD.

42d Illinois, Lieut. Col. Edgar D. Swain.
51st Illinois, Capt. Albert M. Tilton.
79th Illinois,² Col. Allen Buckner.
15th Missouri, Capt. George Ernst.
64th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Robert C. Brown.
65th Ohio, Maj. Orlow Smith.

THIRD DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. SAMUEL BEATTY.

First Brigade.
Col. ABEL D. STREIGHT.

89th Illinois, Lieut. Col. William D. Williams.
51st Indiana, Capt. William W. Scearce.
8th Kansas, Lieut. Col. John Conover.
15th Ohio:
        Col. Frank Askew.¹
        Lieut. Col. John McClenahan.
49th Ohio:
        Maj. Luther M. Strong.¹
        Capt. Daniel Hartsough.

Second Brigade.
        Col. P. SIDNEY POST.¹
        Lieut. Col. ROBERT L. KIMBERLY.

59th Illinois, Maj. James M. Stookey.
41st Ohio:
        Lieut. Col. Robert L. Kimberly.
        Capt. Ezra Dunham.
71st Ohio:
        Lieut. Col. James H. Hart.¹
        Capt. William H. McClure.
93d Ohio, Lieut. Col. Daniel Bowman.
124th Ohio, Lieut. Col. James Pickands.

Third Brigade.
Col. FREDERICK KNEFLER.

79th Indiana, Lieut. Col. George W. Parker.
86th Indiana, Col. George F. Dick.
13th Ohio (four companies), Maj. Joseph T. Snider.
19th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Henry G. Stratton.

ARTILLERY.
Maj. WILBUR F. GOODSPEED.

Indiana Light, 25th Battery, Capt. Frederick C. Sturm.
Kentucky Light,1st Battery, Capt. Theodore S. Thomasson.
1st Michigan Light, Battery E, Capt. Peter De Vries.
1st Ohio Light, Battery G, Capt. Alexander Marshall.
Ohio Light, 6th Battery, Lieut. Aaron P. Baldwin.
Pennsylvania Light, Battery B, Capt. Jacob Ziegler.
4th United States, Battery M, Lieut. Samuel Canby.

TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS.

Maj. Gen. JOAN M. SCHOFIELD.

SECOND DIVISION.

Maj. Gen. DARIUS N. COUCH.

First Brigade.
Brig. Gen. JOSEPH A. COOPER.

130th Indiana Col. Charles S. Parrish.
26th Kentucky, Col. Cicero Maxwell.
25th Michigan, Capt. Samuel L. Demarest.
99th Ohio, Lieut. Col. John E. Cummins.
3d Tennessee, Col. William Cross.
6th Tennessee, Lieut. Col. Edward Maynard.

Second Brigade.
Col. ORLANDO H. MOORE.

107th Illinois, Capt. John W. Wood.
80th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Alfred D. Owen.
129th Indiana, Col. Charles A. Zollinger.
23d Michigan, Col. Oliver L. Spaulding.
111th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Isaac R. Sherwood.
118th Ohio, Maj. Edgar Sowers.

Third Brigade.
Col. JOHN MEHRINGER.

91st Indiana, Lieut. Col. Charles H. Butterfield.
123d Indiana, Col. John C. McQuiston.
50th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Hamilton S. Gillespie.
183d Ohio, Col. George W. Hoge.

Artillery.

Indiana Light, 15th Battery, Capt. Alonzo D. Harvey.
Ohio Light, 19th Battery, Capt. Frank Wilson.

THIRD DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. JACOB D. Cox.

First Brigade.
Col. CHARLES C. DOOLITTLE.

12th Kentucky, Lieut. Col. Laurence H. Rousseau.
16th Kentucky, Capt. Jacob Miller.
100th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Edwin L. Hayes.
104th Ohio, Col. Oscar W. Sterl.
8th Tennessee, Capt. James W. Berry.

Second Brigade.
Col. JOHN S. CASEMENT.

65th Illinois, Lieut. Col. W. Scott Stewart.
65th Indiana, Lieut. Col. John W. Hammond.
124th Indiana, Col. John M. Orr.
103d Ohio, Capt. Henry S. Pickands.
5th Tennessee, Lieut Col. Nathaniel Witt.

Third Brigade.
Col. ISRAEL N. STILES.

112th Illinois, Maj. Tristram T. Dow.
63d Indiana, Lieut. Col. Daniel Morris.
120th Indiana, Maj. John M. Barcus.
128th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Jasper Packard.

Artillery.

Indiana Light, 23d Battery, Lieut. Aaron A. Wilber.
1st Ohio Light, Battery D, Capt. Giles J. Cockerill.

DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

Maj. Gen. ANDREW J. SMITH.

FIRST DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. JOHN MCARTHUR.

First Brigade.
Col. WILLIAM L. MCMILLEN.

114th Illinois, Capt. John M. Johnson.
93d Indiana:
        Col. DeWitt C. Thomas.¹
        Capt. Charles A. Hubbard.
10th Minnesota:
        Lieut. Col. Samuel P. Jennison.¹
        Capt. Edwin C. Sanders.
72d Ohio, Lieut. Col. Charles G. Eaton.
95th Ohio, Lieut. Col. Jefferson Brumback.
Illinois Light Artillery, Cogswell's Battery, Lieut. S. Hamilton McClaury.

Second Brigade
Col. LUCIUS F. HUBBARD.

5th Minnesota, Lieut. Col. William B. Gere.
9th Minnesota, Col. Josiah F. Marsh.
11th Missouri:
        Lieut. Col. Eli Bowyer.¹
        Maj. Modesta J. Green.
8th Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. William B. Britton.
Iowa Light Artillery, 2d Battery, Capt. Joseph R. Reed.

Third Brigade.
Col. SYLVESTER G. HILL.³
Col. WILLIAM R. MARSHALL.

12th Iowa, Lieut. Col. John H. Stibbs.
35th Iowa:
        Maj. William Dill.
        Capt. Abraham N. Snyder.
7th Minnesota:
        Col. William R. Marshall.
        Lieut. Col. George Bradley.
33d Missouri, Lieut. Col. William H. Heath.
2d Missouri Light Artillery, Battery I, Capt. Stephen H. Julian.

SECOND DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. KENNER GARRARD.

First Brigade.
Col. DAVID MOORE.

119th Illinois, Col. Thomas J. Kinney.
122d Illinois, Lieut. Col. James F. Drish.
89th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Hervey Craven.
21st Missouri,⁴ Lieut. Col. Edwin Moore.
Indiana Light Artillery, 9th Battery, Lieut. Samuel G. Calfee.

Second Brigade.
Col. JAMES I. GILBERT.

58th Illinois, Maj. Robert W. Healy.
27th Iowa, Lieut. Col. Jed Lake.
32d Iowa, Lieut. Col. Gustavus A. Eberhart.
10th Kansas (four companies), Capt. William C. Jones.
Indiana Light Artillery, 3d Battery, Lieut. Thomas J. Ginn.

Third Brigade.
Col. EDWARD H. WOLFE.

49th Illinois, Col. Phineas Pease.
117th Illinois, Lieut. Col. Jonathan Merriam.
52d Indiana, Lieut. Col. Zalmon S. Main.
178th New York, Capt. John B. Gandolfo.
2d Illinois Light Artillery, Battery G, Capt. John W. Lowell.11

THIRD DIVISION.

Col. JONATHAN B. MOORE.

First Brigade.
Col. LYMAN M. WARD.

72d Illinois, Capt. James A. Sexton.
40th Missouri, Col. Samuel A. Holmes.
14th Wisconsin, Maj. Eddy F. Ferris.
33d Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. Frederick S. Lovell.

Second Brigade.
Col. LEANDER BLANDEN.

81st Illinois, Lieut. Col. Andrew W. Rogers.
95th Illinois, Lieut. Col. William Avery.
44th Missouri, Lieut. Col. Andrew J. Barr.

Artillery.

Indiana Light, 14th Battery, Capt. Francis W. Morse.
2d Missouri Light, Battery A, Lieut. John Zepp.

PROVISIONAL DETACHMENT (DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH).

Maj. Gen. JAMES B. STEEDMAN.

PROVISIONAL DIVISION.5

Brig. Gen. CHARLES CRUFT.

First Brigade.
Col. BENJAMIN HARRISON.

Third Brigade.
Lieut. Col. CHARLES H. GROSVENOR.

Second Brigade (Army of the Tennessee).
Col. ADAM G. MALLOY.

First Colored Brigade.
Col. THOMAS J. MORGAN.

14th U.S. Colored Troops, Lieut. Col. Henry C. Corbin.
16th U.S. Colored Troops, (||) Col. William B. Gaw.
17th U.S. Colored Troops, Col. William R. Shafter.
18th U.S. Colored Troops (battalion), Maj. Lewis D. Joy.
44th U.S. Colored Troops, Col. Lewis Johnson.

Second Brigade.
Col. JOHN G. MITCHELL.

Miscellaneous.

68th Indiana,⁶ Lieut. Col. Harvey J Espy.
18th Ohio:⁶
        Capt. Ebenezer Grosvenor.³
        Capt. John M. Benedict.¹
        Lieut. Charles Grant.

Artillery.

Indiana Light, 20th Battery, Capt. Milton A. Osborne.
Ohio Light, 18th Battery, Capt. Charles C. Aleshire.

Second Colored Brigade.
Col. CHARLES R. THOMPSON.

12th U S. Colored Troops:
        Lieut. Col. William R. Sellon.
        Capt. Henry Hegner.
13th U.S. Colored Troops, Col. John A. Hottenstein.
100th U.S. Colored Troops, Maj. Collin Ford.
Kansas Light Artillery, 1st Battery, Capt. Marcus D. Tenney.

POST OF NASHVILLE.

Brig. Gen. JOHN F. MILLER.

Second Brigade,Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps.
Col. EDWIN C. MASON.

142d Indiana, Col. John M. Comparet.
45th New York, Lieut. Col. Adolphus Dobke.
176th Ohio, Lieut. Col. William B. Nesbitt.
179th Ohio, Col. Harley H. Sage.
182d Ohio, Col. Lewis Butler.

Unattached.

3d Kentucky.
28th Michigan, Col. William W. Wheeler.
173d Ohio, Col. John R. Hurd.
78th Pennsylvania (detachment), Maj. Henry W. Torbett.
Veteran Reserve Corps, Col. Frank P. Cahill.
44th Wisconsin (battalion), Lieut. Col. Oliver C. Bissell
45th Wisconsin (battalion).

GARRISON ARTILLERY.
Maj. JOHN J. ELY.

Illinois Light, Bridges' Battery, Lieut. Lyman A. White.
Indiana Light, 2d Battery, Capt. James S. Whicher.
Indiana Light, 4th Battery, Capt. Benjamin F. Johnson.
Indiana Light, 12th Battery, Capt. James E. White.
Indiana Light, 21st Battery, Capt. Abram P. Andrew.
Indiana Light, 22d Battery, Capt. Edward W. Nicholson.
Indiana Light, 24th Battery, Lieut. Hiram Allen.
1st Michigan Light, Battery F, Capt. Byron D. Paddock.
1st Ohio Light, Battery A, Lieut. Charles W. Scovill.
1st Ohio Light, Battery E, Lieut. Frank B. Reckard.
Ohio Light, 20th Battery, Capt. William Backus.
1st Tennessee Light, Battery C, Lieut. Joseph Grigsby.
1st Tennessee Light, Battery D, Capt. Samuel D. Leinart.
3d U.S. Colored Light, Battery A, Capt. Josiah V. Meigs.

QUARTERMASTER'S DIVISION.⁷

Bvt. Brig. Gen. JAMES L. DONALDSON.

CAVALRY CORPS.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. JAMES H. WILSON.

ESCORT.

4th United States, Lieut. Joseph Hedges.

FIRST DIVISION.8

First Brigade.
Brig. Gen. JOHN T. CROXTON.

8th Iowa, Col. Joseph B. Dorr.
4th Kentucky (mounted infantry), Col. Robert M. Kelly.
2d Michigan, Lieut. Col. Benjamin Smith.
1st Tennessee, Lieut. Col. Calvin M. Dyer.
Illinois Light Artillery, Board of Trade Battery, Capt. George I. Robinson.

FIFTH DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. EDWARD HATCH.

First Brigade.
Col. ROBERT R. STEWART.

3d Illinois, Lieut. Col. Robert H. Carnahan.
11th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Abram Sharra.
12th Missouri, Col. Oliver Wells.
10th Tennessee:
        Maj. William P. Story.⁹
        Maj. James T. Abernathy.

Second Brigade.
Col. DATUS E. COON.

6th Illinois, Lieut. Col. John Lynch.¹⁰
7th Illinois, Maj. John M. Graham.
9th Illinois, Capt. Joseph W. Harper.
2d Iowa, Maj. Charles C. Horton.
12th Tennessee, Col. George Spalding.¹
1st Illinois Light Artillery, Battery I, Lieut. Joseph A. McCarthey.

SIXTH DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. RICHARD W. JOHNSON.

First Brigade.
Col. THOMAS J. HARRISON.

16th Illinois, Maj. Charles H. Beeres.
5th Iowa, Lieut. Col. Harlon Baird.
7th Ohio, Col. Israel Garrard.

Second Brigade.
Col. JAMES BIDDLE.
14th Illinois, Maj. Haviland Tompkins.
6th Indiana, Maj. Jacob S. Stephens.
8th Michigan, Col. Elisha Mix.
3d Tennessee, Maj. Benjamin Cunningham.

Artillery.

4th United States, Battery I, Lieut. Frank G. Smith.

SEVENTH DIVISION.

Brig. Gen. JOSEPH F. KNIPE.

First Brigade.
Bvt. Brig. Gen. JOHN H. HAMMOND.

9th Indiana, Col. George W. Jackson.
10th Indiana, Lieut. Col. Benjamin Q. A. Gresham.
19th Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. Joseph C. Hess.
2d Tennessee, Lieut. Col. William R. Cook.
4th Tennessee, Lieut. Col. Jacob M. Thornburgh.

Second Brigade.
Col. GILBERT M. L. JOHNSON.

12th Indiana, Col. Edward Anderson.
13th Indiana, Lieut. Col. William T. Pepper.
6th Tennessee, Col. Fielding Hurst.

Artillery.

Ohio Light, 14th Battery, Lieut. William C. Myers.

_______________

1 Wounded.

² Veteran detachment 27th Illinois attached.

³ Killed.

⁴ Detachment of the 24th Missouri attached.

⁵ Composed mainly of detachments belonging to the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and Twentieth Army Corps, which had been unable to region their proper commands serving with General Sherman’s Army on the march through Georgia.

⁶ Attached to Third Brigade.

⁷ Composed of quartermaster’s employés.

⁸ The Second and Third Brigades of this division, under the division commander, Brig. Gen. E. M. McCook, were absent on an expedition into Western Kentucky.

⁹ Mortally Wounded.

¹⁰ Disabled.

¹¹ Chief of Division Artillery.

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. 9 3), p. 90-6

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 255. — Report of Brig. Gen. Lawrence S. Ross, C. S. Army, commanding Ross' brigade, of operations October 24-December 27, 1864.

No. 255.

Report of Brig. Gen. Lawrence S. Ross, C. S. Army, commanding Ross' brigade,

of operations October 24-December 27, 1864.

HDQRS. ROSS' BRIGADE, JACKSON'S CAVALRY DIVISION,        

Corinth, Miss., January 12, 1865.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part performed by my brigade in the late campaign into Middle Tennessee:

First, however, and by way of introduction, it is proper to premise that we bore a full share in the arduous duties required of the cavalry in the Georgia campaign, and were particularly active during the operations of the army upon the enemy's line of communication.

October 24, in compliance with orders from division commander, I withdrew from my position near Cave Spring, Ga. crossed the Coosa River at Gadsden the day following, and by rapid marches arrived in front of Decatur, Ala., on the evening of the 29th. Was here halted to observe the movements of the enemy while the army rested at Tuscumbia. On the morning of 8th of November a strong reconnoitering party, consisting of three regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, coming out from Decatur on the Courtland road, was promptly met, and after a sharp skirmish driven back, with some loss. The next day, being relieved by a portion of General Roddey's command, we retired down the valley to Town Creek and rested until the 18th, when we were ordered across the river at Florence, and moving at once to the front of the army, took position with the other cavalry commands on Shoal Creek.

November 21, all things being ready for the advance, we were ordered forward, following in rear of Armstrong's brigade. The effective fighting strength of my command at this time was as follows: Third Regiment Texas Cavalry, 218; Sixth Regiment Texas Cavalry, 218; Ninth Regiment Texas Cavalry, 110; Twenty-seventh Regiment Texas Cavalry, 140, making a total of 686. With this small force we joined the advance into Tennessee, strong in heart and resolved to make up in zeal and courage what was wanting in numbers. The day after crossing Shoal Creek General Armstrong, having still the advance, came up with the Federal cavalry at Lawrenceburg. The fighting was chiefly with artillery, Captain Young's battery being freely used and to good effect. About sunset the enemy withdrew in the direction of Pulaski. Early the next morning I was ordered to take the advance and move out on the Pulaski road. About twelve miles from Lawrenceburg came up with the Federal pickets and drove them in. The Third Texas now dismounted, and, with two squadrons from the Twenty-seventh Texas, moved forward and attacked the enemy, forcing him from his successive positions, and following him up so vigorously as to compel the precipitate abandonment of his camp and all his forage.

The next day, having still the advance, when within five miles of Pulaski we changed direction to the left, following the route taken by the enemy on his retreat the evening before, and arriving about noon in sight of the little village of Campbellsville, I found a large force of cavalry, which proved to be Hatch's division, drawn up to resist us. Lieutenant-Colonel Boggess was ordered promptly to dismount his regiment, the Third Texas, and move it to the front. Young's battery was hurried up from the rear, placed in position, supported by the Sixth Texas, Col. Jack Wharton commanding, and commenced shelling the enemy's lines. In the meanwhile the Ninth Texas and Legion were drawn up in column in the field to the right of the road, to be used as circumstances might require. These dispositions completed, I watched with interest the effect of the shelling from our battery, and very soon discovered from the movements of the enemy an intention to withdraw, whereupon, believing this to be the proper moment, I ordered everything forward. The Ninth Texas and Legion, led by their respective commanders, Colonel Jones and Lieutenant-Colonel Whitfield, rushed forward at a gallop, and passing through the village fell upon the enemy's moving squadrons with such irresistible force as to scatter them in every direction, pursuing and capturing numbers of prisoners, horses, equipments, small-arms, accouterments, and four stand of colors. The enemy made no effort to regain the field from which he had been driven, but, while endeavoring to withdraw his broken and discomfitted squadrons, was attacked vigorously in flank by a portion of General Armstrong's brigade and his rout made complete. The last of his forces, in full flight, disappeared in the direction of Lynnville about sunset, and we saw nothing more of them south of Duck River. Our loss in the fight at Campellsville was only 5 men wounded, while our captures, I found upon investigation, summed up to be 84 prisoners and all their horses, equipments, and small arms, 4 stand of colors, and 65 beef-cattle. Without further opposition we arrived the next day in front of Columbia and took the position assigned us on the Chapel Hill pike.

November 26, we remained in front of the enemy's works, skirmishing freely and keeping up a lively demonstration. On the morning of the 27th, being relieved by the infantry, we were ordered over to the Shelbyville pike, and camped the following night on Fountain Creek. Crossing Duck River the next morning, at the mill nine miles above Columbia, we were directed thence to the right, on the Shelbyville road, and when near the Lewisburg and Franklin pike, again encountered the Federal cavalry. A spirited engagement ensued, begun by the Third Texas, which being dispatched to attack a train of wagons moving in direction of Franklin, succeeded in reaching the pike, but was there met by a superior force of Yankees and driven back. Seeing this, I had Colonel Hawkins to hurry up his regiment (the Legion) to the assistance of the Third, and ordered a charge, which was made in gallant style, and resulted in forcing the Yankees from the field in confusion, and with the loss of several prisoners and the colors of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry. In the meanwhile Colonel Wharton with the Sixth Texas charged into the pike to the right of where the Third and Legion were engaged, capturing an entire company of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, three stand of colors, several wagons loaded with ordnance, and a considerable number of horses with their equipments. The Ninth Texas, Colonel Jones, having been detached early in the evening to guard the road leading to our right, with the exception of a slight skirmish with the enemy's pickets, in which several prisoners were taken, was not otherwise engaged during the evening. It was now after night, and very dark. The enemy had disappeared from our front in direction of Franklin, but before establishing camps it was thought prudent to ascertain if any force had been cut off and yet remained between us and the river. Colonel Hawkins was therefore ordered up the pike with his regiment to reconnoiter, and had proceeded but a short distance before he was met by a brigade of Federal cavalry. An exciting fight ensued, lasting about half an hour, when the enemy, having much the larger force, succeeded in passing by us, receiving as he did so a severe fire into his flanks. This closed the operations of the day and we were allowed to bivouac, well pleased with the prospect of rest after so much fatiguing exercise.

At Hurt's Cross-Roads, the next day, where the other commands of cavalry took the left and moved upon Spring Hill, my brigade was advanced upon the road to Franklin. Afterward, in obedience to orders of the division commander, we turned toward Thompson's Station, being now in search of the Federal army, which still held its position on Rutherford's Creek. The Yankee cavalry, completely whipped, had disappeared in the direction of Franklin and did not again show itself that day. When near Thompson's Station I discovered a few wagons moving on the pike, and sent Colonel Jones with the Ninth and Legion to intercept and capture them. At the same time the Sixth and Third Texas were drawn up in line and a squadron from the latter dispatched to destroy the depot. Colonel Jones was partially successful, capturing and destroying one wagon and securing the team. He then charged train of cars, which came up from the direction of Franklin, when the engineer becoming frightened cut the engine loose and ran off southward. The train, thus freed, began to retrograde, and, in spite of the obstructions thrown in its way and the efforts of the men to stop it rolled back under the guns of the block-house and was saved. The guard, however, and all the men on the train, were forced to jump off and became our prisoners. I now had the railroad bridge destroyed, in consequence of which the engine had escaped from us and another became the prizes of our army the next day. In the meantime the enemy at the depot, observing the approach of the squadron from the Third Texas, set fire to all his valuables, including a train of cars loaded with ordnance, and evacuated the place. Having accomplished all that could be effected at the station, we withdrew late in the evening, dropping back to the left of Spring Hill, and halted until I could communicate with the division commander. About midnight I received the order directing me to again strike the pike and attack the enemy's train, then in full retreat to Franklin. Moved out at once to obey the order, guided by an officer of General Forrest's staff who knew the country. When within half a mile of the pike I dismounted three of my regiments, leaving the Ninth Texans mounted to guard their horses, and cautiously advancing on foot, got within 100 yards of the enemy's train without being discovered. The Legion, Colonel Hawkins commanding, having the advance, fronted into line, fired a well-directed volley, killing several Yankees and mules, and rushed forward with a yell, producing among the teamsters and wagon guards a perfect stampede. The Yankees lost thirty-nine wagons, some of which were destroyed and others abandoned for the want of the teams, which we brought off. We captured also several prisoners. Remaining in possession of the pike for half an hour we withdrew upon the approach of several bodies of infantry, which, coming up in opposite directions, by mistake got to shooting into each other and fired several volleys before finding out their error. Having remounted our horses, we remained on the hills overlooking the pike until daylight, and saw the Yankee army in full retreat. While this was passing a regiment of cavalry, appearing in an open field in our front, was charged by the Sixth Texas, completely routed, and driven behind his infantry column. Soon after this we again pushed forward, keeping parallel with the pike upon which our infantry was moving; crossed Harpeth River in the evening about three miles above Franklin, only a small force of the enemy appearing to dispute the passage. Half a mile from the river we came upon a regiment of Yankee cavalry drawn up in line. This the Ninth Texas at once charged and routed, but was met by a larger force and, in turn, compelled to give back, the enemy following in close pursuit. The Third Texas now rushed forward, checked the advancing squadrons of Yankees, and then hurled them back broken and disorganized, capturing several prisoners and driving the others back upon their heavier lines. The gallant bearing of the men and officers of the Third and Ninth Texas on this occasion is deserving of special commendation, and it affords me much gratification to record to the honor of these noble regiments that charges made by them at Harpeth River have never been and cannot be surpassed by cavalry of any nation. By the charge of the Third Texas we gained possession of an eminence overlooking the enemy's position, and held it until late in the evening, when, discovering an intention on the part of [the] Yankee commander to advance his entire force, and being without any support, I withdrew to the south side of the river again. Very soon the enemy advanced his whole line, but finding we had recrossed the river again retired, and during the night withdrew from our front.

The next day we moved forward, arrived in front of Nashville December 3, and took position on the Nolensville pike, three miles from the city. Just in our front was a line of works, and wishing to ascertain what force occupied them I had two squadrons of the Sixth Texas to dismount, deploy as skirmishers, and advance. We found the works held only by the enemy's skirmishers, who withdrew upon our approach. After this, being relieved by our infantry, we retired to the rear, with orders to cook up rations.

On the morning of December 5 the brigade was ordered to La Vergne. Found there a small force of infantry, which took refuge inside the fort, and after a slight resistance surrendered upon demand of the division commander. Moving thence to Murfreesborough, when within a few miles of the city, the enemy's pickets were encountered, and after a stubborn resistance driven back by the Sixth and Third Texas, dismounted. A few days after this Major-General Forrest invested Mur-freesborough with his cavalry and one division of infantry. The duty assigned my brigade, being to guard all the approaches to the city from the Salem to the Woodbury pikes inclusive, was very severe for so small a' force, and almost every day there was heavy skirmishing in some portion of our line.

December 15, a train of cars from Stevenson, heavily laden with supplies for the garrison at Murfreesborough, was attacked about seven miles south of the city, and although guarded by a regiment of infantry 200 strong, was captured and burned. The train was loaded with sugar, coffee, hard bread, and bacon, and carried full 200,000 rations. The men guarding it fought desperately for about an hour, haying a strong position in a cut of the railroad, but were finally routed by a most gallant charge of the Sixth Texas, supported by the Third Texas, and 150 of them captured; the others escaped to a block-house near by. The next day, in consequence of the reverse to our arms at Nashville, we were withdrawn from the front at Murfreesborough, ordered across to Triune, and thence to Columbia, crossing Duck River on the evening of the 18th.

December 24, while bringing up the rear of our army, the enemy charged my rear guard at Lynnville with a heavy force and threatened to break over all opposition, when the Sixth Texas, hastily forming, met and hurled them back, administering a most wholesome check to their ardor. At the moment this occurred our columns were all in motion, and it was of the utmost importance to break the charge of the enemy on our rear. Too much credit, therefore, cannot be given the Sixth Texas for gallant bearing on this occasion. Had it failed to check the enemy, my brigade and probably the entire division, taken at a disadvantage, might have suffered severely. At Richland Creek, where the cavalry took position later in the day, I was assigned a position on the right of the railroad and in front of the creek. Soon afterward, however, the enemy moving as if to cross above the bridge, I was withdrawn to the south side of the creek, and taking position on the hill near the railroad skirmished with the enemy in my front, holding him in check until our forces had all crossed the creek. We were then ordered to withdraw, and, passing through Pulaski, again crossed Richland Creek, and camped near Mr. Carter's for the night. The next day my brigade, alternating with General Armstrong in bringing up the rear, had frequent skirmishes with the enemy's advance. Nine miles from Pulaski, when the infantry halted and formed, I was ordered on the right. Soon after this the enemy made a strong effort to turn our right flank, but failed and was driven back. About the same time the infantry charged and captured his artillery, administering such an effectual check that he did not again show himself that day. This done, we retired leisurely, and after night bivouacked on Sugar Creek. Early the following morning the Yankees, still not satisfied, made their appearance, and our infantry again made dispositions to receive them. Reynolds' and Ector's brigades took position, and immediately in their rear I had the Legion and the Ninth Texas drawn up in column of fours to charge, if an opportunity should occur. The fog was very dense and the enemy, therefore, approached very cautiously. When near enough to be seen the infantry fired a volley and charged. At the same time the Legion and Ninth Texas were ordered forward, and passing through our infantry crossed the creek in the face of a terrible fire, overthrew all opposition on the farther side, and pursued the thoroughly routed foe nearly a mile, capturing twelve prisoners and as many horses, besides killing numbers of others. The force opposed to us here and which was so completely whipped, proved, from the statements of the prisoners, to be Hammond's brigade of cavalry. After this the Yankees did not again show themselves, and without further interruption we recrossed the Tennessee River, at Bainbridge, on the evening of 27th of December.

Our entire loss during the campaign sums up as follows:

Command.	Killed.		Wounded.		Missing.		Aggregate.
	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
3d Texas Cavalry.	....	2	3	22	1	2	30
6th Texas Cavalry.	....	6	3	19	....	1	29
9th Texas Cavalry.	....	4	....	17	....	1	22
Texas Legion	....	....	....	6	....	....	6
Total	....	12	6	64	1	4	87

We captured on the trip and brought off 550 prisoners, as shown by the records of my provost-marshal, 9 stand of colors, several hundred horses and their equipments, and overcoats and blankets sufficient to supply my command. We destroyed besides 2 trains of cars loaded, one with ordnance and the other with commissary stores, 40 or 50 wagons and mules, and much other valuable property belonging to the Federal army.

My brigade returned from Tennessee with horses very much jaded, but otherwise in no worse condition than when it started, its morale not in the least affected nor impaired by the evident demoralization which prevailed to a considerable extent throughout the larger portion of the army.

Before closing my report I desire to record an acknowledgment of grateful obligations to the gallant officers and brave men whom I have the honor to command. Entering upon the campaign poorly clad and illy prepared for undergoing its hardships, these worthy votaries of freedom nevertheless bore themselves bravely, and I did not hear a murmur nor witness the least reluctance in the discharge of duty however unpleasant. All did well, and to this I attribute, in a great measure, the unparalleled success which attended all our efforts during the campaign.

To Col. D. W. Jones, Col. E. R. Hawkins, Col. Jack Wharton, and Lieut. Col. J. S. Boggess, who commanded their respective regiments; Lieut. Col. P. F. Ross and Maj. S. B. Wilson, Sixth Texas; Lieut. Col. J. T. Whitfield and Maj. B. H. Norsworthy, of Legion; Maj. A. B. Stone, Third Texas, and Maj. H. C. Dial, Ninth Texas; also, Captains Gurley, Plummer, Killough, and Preston, Lieutenants Alexander and Sykes, members of my staff, I feel especially indebted for earnest, zealous, and efficient co-operation. These officers upon many trying occasions acquitted themselves with honor, and it affords me pleasure to be able to commend them to the favorable notice of the brigadier-general commanding.

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

L. S. ROSS,        

Brigadier-General, &c.

[Capt. E. T. SYKES,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Jackson's Cavalry Division.]

[ Indorsement. ]

Lieutenant Hunt, of Twenty-eighth Mississippi, particularly distinguished himself; commanding a squadron of cavalry, dismounted his men in an open field.

W. H. JACKSON.

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. 767-73