No. 103.
Report of Col. Cicero Maxwell, Twenty-sixth Kentucky
Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.
CAMP TWENTY-SIXTH
KENTUCKY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Five Miles North of
Columbia,, Tenn., December 22, 1864.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders I respectfully submit the
following report of the part taken by the Twenty-sixth Kentucky Volunteer
Infantry in the actions near Nashville, Tenn., on the 15th and 16th instant:
We left our camp near Fort Negley about 8 a, m. on the 15th
instant; moved slowly two or three miles toward the right, passed through our
outer line of works on the Hardin turnpike, and formed line of battle at 11
a.m., just outside the works and on the left of the pike, the Twenty-sixth
Kentucky Volunteers being the right of the First Brigade. In forming line one
of our men, James H. Cohron, Company B, was instantly killed by the accidental
discharge of his own gun. Between 12 m. and 1 p.m. we were moved forward about
a mile, the right considerably advanced, and halted in a lane. A heavy
cannonade was going on at the time, and the enemy's shells occasionally
exploded near us, but no one was injured. After remaining here an hour or so we
were moved by the right flank, changing direction somewhat to the right, a mile
perhaps, again formed in line of battle, and moved briskly forward. As we
commenced to move a strong position of the rebels in our front was gallantly
charged by some dismounted cavalry, and a number of prisoners and several
pieces of artillery were captured. We continued to move, our right advancing,
until our line was nearly or quite perpendicular to the one first formed in the
forenoon; and at little more than a mile from where we formed line the second
time our brigade charged a strong position of the enemy on one of the high
hills, or knobs rather, between the Hillsborough and Granny White pikes, about
five miles from Nashville, and though the men were exposed to a galling front
and cross-fire, they moved steadily and rapidly forward, drove the rebels in
great disorder from their positions, and captured a number of prisoners and
several pieces of artillery. In a few minutes we were moved about half a mile
farther, and took position at sundown on a high hill exposed to a cross-fire
from the enemy posted on another hill on our right. Here we remained all night
and threw up earth-works. Our regiment was not regularly engaged on the 16th,
but was moved forward with the First Brigade the final charge was made late in
the afternoon, and bivouacked for the night near the new house of Mr. Lea, on
the left of the Granny White pike.
The line officers of the Twenty-sixth Kentucky, without
exception, and the enlisted men, with few exceptions, behaved very gallantly.
We lost 2 men killed, besides Cohron, and had 44 wounded, some severely, but
the most of them slightly. Captain Hackett, who, as senior line officer, was
assisting me in the absence of the lieutenant-colonel and major, and was
mounted, was severely wounded while bravely urging the men forward. The
color-bearer, James Scott, was severely wounded in the leg as he ascended the
hill but would not go to the rear until he had planted our regimental flag on
the top, and he was among the first there. Lieutenant Brown, acting adjutant,
behaved with great gallantry and rendered me great assistance.
I inclose herewith a list of the names of the killed and
wounded:*
I am, captain, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. MAXWELL,
Colonel Twenty-sixth
Kentucky Volunteer Infantry.
Capt. T. C. HONNELL,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.
_______________
* Embodied in table, p. 99.
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. 373-4
