Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 9. — Report of Maj. Gen. U S. Stanley, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth Army Corps, of operations November 14—December 1, 1864.

No. 9.

Report of Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth Army Corps, of operations November 14—December 1, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS,        

Huntsville, Ala., February 25, 1865.*

On the 14th [November] Major-General Schofield arrived and assumed command, by direction of Major-General Thomas. On the 21st it became positively known, from a dispatch intercepted by General Hatch's pickets and from other sources, that the enemy were moving north and in the direction of Columbia The roads, however, off the pikes were very bad, it having rained very heavily for some days, and then frozen, but not hard enough to bear wagons. It was believed the enemy could make but little speed, and the evacuation of Pulaski was made the afternoon of the 23d. The corps marched to Lynnville that night, to which place the Second Division (General Wagner) had moved the day before. During the night it was learned that the enemy had made good use of his time, notwithstanding the bad roads, and that Colonel Capron's brigade had been driven out of Mount Pleasant; it was believed by an infantry force. This information was received about 1 o'clock at night, and the troops were immediately waked up and put in motion for Columbia, twenty-one miles distant. General Cox's division, of the Twenty-third Corps, was ten miles nearer Columbia, and marching at the same hour as ourselves he arrived in time to save Capron's brigade of cavalry from annihilation and perhaps the town of Columbia from capture. Turning west at a point three miles south of Columbia, on the Pulaski pike, General Cox, by a cross road, reached the Mount Pleasant pike, and immediately attacking the advancing rebels, drove them back. As fast as the divisions of the Fourth Corps arrived they were placed in line of battle and immediately intrenched themselves. The First Division, Brigadier-General Whitaker, did not get into position until after night. The enemy's cavalry made some demonstrations upon our left flank during the march, but were easily driven off by a regiment of infantry commanded by Colonel Knefler. During the 24th and 25th a very strong and complete set of earth-works were constructed, but the line being very long, and leaving no disposable troops after properly occupying it, two divisions of the corps were withdrawn from it on the night of the 25th to occupy a short and interior line, leaving General Wood's division to hold the front, formerly held by the entire corps. Cox's division, of the Twenty-third Corps, at the same time crossed to the north of Duck River, and General Ruger commenced the construction of a bridge-head.

The enemy undoubtedly deployed their whole force upon our front, and they made several attacks upon our pickets; but it became evident very soon that Hood was moving to the east, and most likely with a view of crossing Duck River above us. The intentions of the enemy became so apparent that it was determined to cross the entire of our force to the north bank of Duck River. The night of the 26th orders were given accordingly, but the night was so dark and the rain poured down so that no progress could be made crossing the artillery, and at midnight the movement was given up and the artillery replaced in position. During the night of the 27th the withdrawal to the north side of Duck River was made very successfully, the pickets leaving the outside line and falling back to the first line of works at 7 o'clock and remaining one hour, when they fell back to the interior line abandoned by the troops, holding that line until near daylight. The fort and magazine were fired, but the destruction was not very complete. The morning of the 28th we occupied the high ground immediately north of Duck River, from below the railroad bridge to about a mile above Columbia. The railroad and pontoon bridges had been destroyed. The enemy could be seen in full view across the river. The troops were employed on the 28th in strengthening their position on the north bank of Duck River; one brigade, Whitaker's, was sent back to Rutherford's Creek to protect all the trains of the army parked near the crossing on the Franklin pike. About 3 p.m. it was learned that Forrest's cavalry had driven Colonel Capron's brigade of cavalry to the north bank of Duck River, eleven miles above, and that the rebel cavalry had effected a crossing to the same side. Later in the evening the pickets of Wood's division reported the enemy crossing cavalry at Huey's Mills, five miles above Columbia. A reconnaissance sent after dark failed to find the enemy, but early on the morning of the 29th General Wilson sent word that the enemy had laid a pontoon bridge at Huey's Mills.

At 8 a.m. on the 29th I started to Spring Hill with the First and Second Divisions, all the artillery that could be spared, and all trains and ambulances to follow; at the same time a reconnaissance, consisting of Colonel Post's brigade, of Wood's division, was sent up the river, and soon sent back word that the enemy was crossing infantry and wagons and moving off rapidly to the north and parallel to the turnpike. It being apprehended that the enemy might make a flank attack upon the position of our force between Duck River and Rutherford's Creek, the First Division, General Kimball commanding, was halted, and took up position to cover the crossing of the creek. At 11.30 o'clock the head of the Second Division was within two miles of Spring Hill. A cavalry soldier, who seemed badly scared, was met here, who stated that a scout had come in from the direction of Raleigh [Rally] Hill, and reported that Buford's division of rebel cavalry was all way between Raleigh [Rally] Hill and Spring Hill, and on the march to the latter place. The Second Division was pushed on, and, attracted by the firing east of the village, double-quicked into the place and deployed the leading brigade as they advanced, drove off a force of the enemy's cavalry which was driving our small force of cavalry and infantry and would very soon have occupied the town. General Wagner was ordered to deploy his division at once; Opdycke's and Lane's brigades to cover as much space about the village as would serve for room to park the trains; General Bradley's brigade was sent to occupy a wooded knoll about three-quarters of a mile east of the pike, and which commanded the approaches from that direction.

Up to this time it was thought we had only cavalry to contend with, but a general officer and his staff, at whom we sent some complimentary shells, were seen reconnoitering our position, and very soon afterward General Bradley was assailed by a force which the men said fought too well to be any dismounted cavalry. I received General Schofield's dispatch about the same time, telling me that the rebels had been crossing the river, and leaving no doubt but that we now confronted a superior force of rebel infantry. About the same time an attack was made upon a small wagon train, composed of some pressed wagons which had passed on, by rebel cavalry, at Reynolds' [Thompson's] Station, three miles toward Franklin, and simultaneously the rebel cavalry appeared west of us and threatened the railroad station of Spring Hill. Thus we were threatened and attacked from every direction, and it was impossible to send any re-enforcements to Bradley's brigade, which had become quite severely engaged, lest in so doing we should expose the train and artillery park to destruction. The enemy made two assaults on Bradley's position, and were severely handled and repulsed; but finding his flank the third time they overlapped him on his right,. and the general at the time receiving a severe wound whilst encouraging his men, his brigade was driven back to the outskirts of the village, where we rallied them and again formed them in line. The enemy attempted to follow up his advantage, but coming across the corn-field toward the village they fell under the fire of at least eight pieces of artillery, at good range for spherical case-shot, and received a fire in flank from a section of a battery which had been placed on the pike south of the village. A part of the rebel force making the charge fled to their rear, and a portion ran down into a ravine between their own and our lines and concealed themselves in the bed of the small stream, neither able to crawl forward or go back until night-fall. This was the condition of affairs when night fell. General Bradley's brigade had lost about 150 men in killed, wounded, and missing. We now know that the enemy lost, according to the statement of one of their surgeons who was on the field, 500 men. Our greatest loss was in the disabling of so intrepid an officer as General Bradley.

As night closed we could see the enemy rapidly extending his lines, and by 8 o'clock it was evident that at least a corps of Hood's army was formed in line of battle, facing the turnpike, and at a near distance of but little more than a half a mile from it. General Schofield arrived from Columbia at 7 o'clock in the evening with Ruger's division. He found the enemy on the pike, and had quite a skirmish in driving them off. My pickets had reported seeing rebel columns passing east of our position as if to get possession of the hills at Thompson's Station, and the anxious question arose whether we could force our way through to Franklin. It was determined to attempt this, and General Schofield pushed on with Ruger's division to ascertain the condition of affairs. He found that the enemy did not attempt to hold the road. It was now 11 o'clock at night, and Cox's division had just arrived from in front of Columbia; the division pushed on at once for Franklin. From a rebel officer, captain and adjutant-general of Cleburne's division, we learned that it was his division of the rebel army we had been fighting. Wood's division, of the Fourth Corps, arrived just after Cox. The enemy's skirmishers fired into the column frequently, and stampeded a new regiment which had just joined the day before; but instructions were sent to push on and not get into a fight if the enemy kept off the road, and in half an hour after General Wood's division arrived I had the satisfaction of meeting the head of General Kimball's column, which got through with some skirmishing. So close were the enemy on our flank that, when a column was not passing, it was difficult for a staff officer or an orderly to get through on the road. General Cox's division was out of the way, and the train commenced to pull out at 1 o'clock the morning of the 30th. The number of wagons, including artillery and ambulances, was about 800. At the very starting point they had to pass singly over a bridge, and it was exceedingly doubtful whether the train could be put on the road by daylight. Unless this could be done, and the corps put in motion, we were sure of being attacked at daylight and of being compelled to fight under every disadvantage. I was strongly advised to burn the train, and move on with the troops and such wagons as could be saved, but I determined to make an effort to save the train. My staff officers were busily employed hurrying up teamsters, and everything promised well, when we were again thrown into despair by the report that the train was attacked north of Thompson's Station, and that the whole train had stopped.

It was now 3 o'clock in the morning. General Kimball was directed to push on with the First Division and clear the road. General Wood's division, which had deployed in the night north of Spring Hill and, facing the east, had covered the road, was directed to move on, keeping off the road and on the right flank of the train, and General Wagner's division, although wearied by the fighting of the day before, was detailed to bring up the rear. Before Kimball's division could reach the point at which the train was attacked, Major Steele, of my staff, had gotten up a squad of our stragglers and driven off the rebels making the attack; they had succeeded in burning about ten wagons. The trains moved on again, and at about 5 o'clock I had the satisfaction of seeing the last wagon pass the small bridge. The entire corps was on the road before daylight. The rebel cavalry was in possession of all the hills to our right, and made numerous demonstrations upon our flank, but were easily driven off by General Wood's skirmishers, and when finally a section of Canby's battery unlimbered and threw a few shells into them the rebel cavalrymen disappeared and troubled us no more. Colonel Opdycke's brigade formed the rear guard, and rendered excellent service, skirmishing all the way with the rebel force following us and forcing our stragglers and lame men, of whom there were many, to make a final effort to reach Franklin. General Kimball's division reached Franklin soon after 9 o'clock and took up position on the right of the Twenty-third Corps, the right flank of the division resting on the Harpeth below Franklin. The line selected by General Schofield was about a mile and a half in length, and inclosed Franklin, resting the flanks upon the river above and below the town. The trains were all crossed over to the north side of the Harpeth; Wood's division was also crossed and posted to watch the fords below the place. Colonel Opdycke reached the heights two miles south of Franklin at 12 m. He was directed to halt on the hills to observe the enemy. Croxton's brigade of cavalry was steadily pushed back by the enemy's infantry column on the Lewisburg pike, and at 1 o'clock General Wagner reported heavy columns of infantry approaching on the Columbia and Lewisburg pikes. General Wagner was instructed to fall back before the advance of the enemy, observing them. About the same time word was received that the rebels were trying to force a crossing at Hughes' Ford, two miles above Franklin.

From 1 o'clock until 4 in the evening the enemy's entire force was in sight and forming for attack, yet in view of the strong position we held, and reasoning from the former course of the rebels during this campaign, nothing appeared so improbable as that they would assault. I felt so confident in this belief that I did not leave General Schofield's headquarters until the firing commenced. About 4 o'clock the enemy advanced with his whole force, at least two corps, making a bold and persistent assault, which, upon a part of the line, lasted about forty minutes. When Wagner's division fell back from the heights south of Franklin, Opdycke's brigade was placed in reserve in rear of our main line, on the Columbia pike. Lane's and Conrad's brigades were deployed--the former on the right, the other the left of the pike--about 300 yards in front of the main line. Here the men, as our men always do, threw up a barricade of rails. By whose mistake I cannot tell, it certainly was never a part of my instructions, but these brigades had orders from General Wagner not to retire to the main line until forced to do so by the fighting of the enemy. The consequence was that the brigades stood their ground until the charging rebels were almost crossing bayonets with them, but the line then broke--Conrad's brigade first, then Lane's--and men and officers made the quickest time they could to our main lines. The old soldiers all escaped, but the conscripts being afraid to run under fire, many of them were captured. Conrad's brigade entered the main line near the Columbia pike, Colonel Lane's several hundred yards to the right of the pike. A large proportion of Lane's men came back with loaded muskets, and turning at the breastworks, they fired a volley into the pressing rebels now not ten steps from them. The part of the Twenty-third Corps stationed in the works for a distance of about three [hundred] or four [hundred] yards to the right of the Columbia pike, and which space took in the First Kentucky and Sixth Ohio Batteries, broke and ran to the rear with the fugitives from Conrad's brigade. To add to the disorder the caissons of the two batteries galloped rapidly to the rear, and the enemy appeared on the breast-works and in possession of the two batteries, which they commenced to turn upon us. It was at this moment I arrived at the scene of disorder, coming from the town on the Columbia pike; the moment was critical beyond ally I have known in any battle--could the enemy hold that part of the line, he was nearer to our two bridges than the extremities of our line. Colonel Opdycke's brigade was lying down about 100 yards in rear of the works. I rode quickly to the left regiment and called to them to charge; at the same time I saw Colonel Opdycke near the center of his line urging his men forward. I gave the colonel no order, as I saw him engaged in doing the very thing to save us, viz, to get possession of our line again. The retreating men of Colonel Conrad's brigade, and, I believe, the men of the Twenty-third Corps, seeing the line of Opdycke's brigade start for the works, commenced to rally. I heard the old soldiers call out, "Come on, men, we Call go wherever the general can," and making a rush, our men immediately retook all the line, excepting a small portion just in front of the brick house on the pike. A force of the rebels held out at this point, and for fifteen or twenty minutes, supported by a rebel line fifty yards to the rear, poured in a severe fire upon our men. So deadly was this fire that it was only by the most strenuous exertions of the officers that our men could be kept to the line; our exertions, however, succeeded, and in twenty minutes our front was comparatively clear of rebels, who fell back to the position formerly held by the two brigades of the Second Division in the commencement of the fight, from whence they kept up a fire until midnight, when we withdrew. Just after the retaking of the line by our troops, as I was passing toward the left to General Cox's position, my horse was killed, and no sooner had I regained my feet than I received a musket-ball through the back of my neck. My wound, however, did not prevent my keeping the field, and General Cox kindly furnished me a remount. The rapidity of the firing made it very difficult to keep up the ammunition, the train being some two miles distant on the road to Nashville when the battle commenced, and our greatest danger at one period of the battle was that we would exhaust our ammunition. One hundred wagon-loads of ammunition, artillery and musket cartridges, were expended in this short battle, belonging to the ordnance train of the Fourth Army Corps; this train, however, supplied in great part the wants of the Twenty-third Corps.

After the first great attack and repulse the enemy made several feeble demonstrations, and until 9 o'clock in the evening formed and advanced upon the Columbia pike three or four times. I think these movements were made to keep us from moving, or to ascertain the very moment we left. At the commencement of the engagement word came that the enemy's cavalry had forced a crossing at Hughes' Ford, and calling upon me for support for our cavalry. General Wood was directed to send a brigade, and General Beatty's brigade had started, when information came that our cavalry had driven the rebels back and the re-enforcements would not be needed. General Kimball's division, holding the extreme right of the line, had comparatively an easy thing of this fight; being well posted behind breast-works, their volleys soon cleared their front of rebels. One brigade, Colonel Kirby's, only had the opportunity to fire one volley, and this was a very effective one, at a rebel brigade which endeavored to move obliquely across our front to gain the right bank of the river. It having been determined to withdraw the troops to Nashville, they were directed to leave the line at midnight, the flanks withdrawing first and simultaneously, the pickets to be withdrawn when all the troops had crossed. Some villain came very near frustrating this plan by firing a house in Franklin; the flames soon spread, and the prospect was that a large fire would occur, which, lighting up objects, would make it impossible to move the troops without being seen. My staff officers and General Wood's found an old fire engine, and getting it at work, the flames were soon subdued and the darkness was found to be increased by the smoke. At midnight the withdrawal was made successfully, although the enemy discovered it and followed our pickets up closely.

General Wood's division remained on the north side of the Harpeth until 4 o'clock in the morning as rear guard, destroying the bridges before he left. The enemy indulged in a furious shelling as soon as they found we had left. In the fight of the day before their artillery had not come up, and but two batteries were used upon us. These two batteries threw shells into the town during the entire fight.

The march was continued to Nashville without interruption; the troops made a short halt at Brentwood to get breakfast and allow the trains to move on. Our men were more exhausted physically than I have ever seen them on any other occasion. From November the 23d, when we left Pulaski, until arriving at Nashville we had been constantly in the immediate presence of an enemy we knew to be vastly superior to us in numbers, closely watching to attack us at disadvantage. With us both mind and body were kept at full stretch, and it was only by night marching and the constant use of intrenchments that we could hope to save ourselves. Many of our men were overtaxed and broke down; unable to travel any longer, they fell into the hands of the enemy. On two occasions the enemy was very near obtaining the advantage he sought of us--the first was when Cox drove back his advance, just about entering Columbia; the second and greatest escape for us was at Spring Hill, where, with a whole corps in line of battle, the left of the line within 600 yards of the road, they allowed all our army, excepting Wagner's division, which had fought them during the day, to pass them with impunity in the night. Upon arriving at Nashville I turned the command of the Fourth Corps over to Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood, and took advantage of leave of absence on account of my wounds.

Before closing this report I must mention the distinguished and faithful service rendered by some of the officers of my command. To Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood I am under more than ordinary obligations for advice, and for his success in selecting every position we occupied from Pulaski to Franklin. To General Whitaker, who commanded the First Division up to Columbia; to General Kimball, who succeeded him, and to General Wagner, commanding the Second Division, I am under many obligations for the zeal in carrying out my plans and orders.

To the members of my staff much is due for the cheerful and thorough manner in which they discharged their constant and severe duties during the campaign. Col. J. S. Fullerton, assistant adjutant-general and chief of staff; Col. W. H. Greenwood, inspector of the corps; Maj. William H. Sinclair, assistant adjutant-general; Maj. J. W. Steele, aide-de-camp; Capt. S. J. Firestone, acting aide-de-camp, and Capt. L. L. Taylor, aide-de-camp---all were most zealous in the discharge of their duties. Colonel Greenwood's duties were particularly important and thoroughly attended to.

To Capt. Lyman Bridges, chief of artillery; to Colonel Hayes, chief quartermaster; to Surg. J. T. Heard, medical director; Captain Hodgdon, chief commissary, and to Captain Tousley, chief of ambulance corps, and Lieutenant Laubach, quartermaster at corps headquarters, I am much indebted for the efficient manner in which they discharged their respective duties.

Before closing this report I will mention the names of Colonel Opdycke, One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Colonel Conrad, Fifteenth Missouri Veteran Volunteers; Lieut. Col. Arthur MacArthur, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteers; Captain Morgan, assistant adjutant-general, and Captain Tinney, of General Wagner's staff, as some of the officers whom I knew and whom I saw behave most gallantly at the battle of Franklin. Colonel Opdycke's gallant services on that occasion I have before noticed in a communication to department headquarters.

Although Brig. Gen. J. D. Cox was not in my command, he was my close neighbor in the battle of Franklin, and I take this opportunity to express to him my thanks for his gallant help at that time.

A list of casualties has already been furnished. A recommendation for promotion will be forwarded.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. S. STANLEY,        

Major-general.

Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE,
        Chief of Staff.

_______________

Report of casualties in Fourth Army Corps, at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864.

	Killed.			Wounded.			Missing.			Total.		Aggregate.
	Officers.	Men.	Total.	Officers.	Men.	Total.	Officers.	Men.	Total.	Officers.	Men.
First Division	....	5	5	3	34	37	1	17	18	4	56	60
Second Division	5	47	52	31	488	519	13	657	670	49	1,192	1,241
Third Division	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
Artillery Brigade	....	10	10	3	48	51	....	6	6	3	64	67
Total	5	62	67	37	570	607	14	680	694	56	1,312	1,368

NASHVILLE, TENN., December 6, 1864.

ADDENDA.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANS., December 17, 1866.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the Tennessee:

My report of the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864, was, from unavoidable circumstances, not written until the 25th of February ensuing. In the notice of the services of my staff on the day of battle I omitted mentioning the name of Capt. John D. Moxley, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, one of my aides-de-camp. I take this opportunity, though late, to correct my report. Captain Moxley did his duty gallantly and well on that day, and was busy throughout the fight encouraging and rallying our troops.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. S. STANLEY,        

Colonel Twenty-second Infantry, Brevet Major-General.

_______________

* For portion of report here omitted, relating to operations in North Georgia and North Alabama, see Vol. XXXIX, Part I, p. 907.

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. 112-9

Diary of Gideon Welles: [Sunday], May [28], 1865

 Mrs. Welles, who had not left her bed after retiring on the 24th on the lower Potomac, was brought upon deck and had a bed under the awning. The day was delicious, the air balmy, and she, as did all of us, enjoyed the scene. Our whole company, with the exception of Mrs. Welles and Mrs. Howard, went on shore and dispersed in squads over the city. With Dahlgren and a few others, I went to the Rebel navy yard and thence to the citadel and various parts of the city. Late in the afternoon we took carriages which were politely furnished by General Hatch, and rode through the principal streets and into the suburbs, visiting the cemeteries, etc.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 311-2

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Saturday, July 18, 1863

This morning we proceed on our way, and arrive in camp at Corinth about noon, much disappointed in not finding any rebels, the design of the expedition being to cut off Colonel Biffle and Forrest who were retreating from Colonels Hatch and Phillips. But like somebody else, we were one day too late.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 180

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 204. — Report of Bvt. Brig. Gen. John H. Hammond, commanding First Brigade, Seventh Division, of operations December 15-27, 1864.

No. 204.

Report of Bvt. Brig. Gen. John H. Hammond,

commanding First Brigade, Seventh Division, of operations December 15-27, 1864.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SEVENTH DIV., CAVALRY CORPS,        

Camp Near Sugar Creek, Tenn., December 27, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report, that my command left Nashville on the afternoon of December 15, 1864, and encamped near the Granny White pike. On the 16th retired to Hillsborough pike, where the Ninth Indiana was sent to support of the Fourteenth Ohio Battery in an attack on the front and right. About noon moved to the Granny White pike, and crossing it occupied a hill on our extreme right, and well on the left flank of the enemy. In this the Tenth Indiana did some fighting and lost killed and wounded. Our position was maintained with considerable fighting, in which the whole brigade participated, until about 5 p.m., when, under orders from General Knipe, a line was formed and a charge made on our right, not finding any enemy. On the 17th, at daybreak, the brigade moved to the Franklin pike, the Nineteenth Pennsylvania in advance, and engaged the enemy, driving him in confusion, and taking prisoners, to Hollow Tree Gap, six miles from Franklin. Seeing the strength of the position and finding our men falling back in some confusion, I moved with what men I could collect to the left, by a pass leading to the enemy's rear, and sent several messengers to General Knipe, informing him of this and asking him to make a show in front and send me what force he could spare. I reached a strong position in the enemy's rear, but no re-enforcement arriving was compelled to return. Part of the Tenth Indiana Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Gresham, captured in this movement 2 flags, 2 colonels, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 1 major, a number of line officers, and 110 enlisted men, mostly Louisiana troops. On returning I found that General Knipe had been repulsed in an attack on the gap, losing 22 killed and wounded and 63 captured from the Tenth Indiana and Nineteenth Pennsylvania. The enemy having retreated we followed rapidly, the Ninth Indiana in advance, to near Franklin, and drove the enemy across the river into the town, capturing, it is reported, 2 stand of colors and near 200 prisoners. In this charge we lost three fine officers, among whom was Captain Hobson, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, a man remarkable for the prompt discharge of his duties and his bravery. He is a great loss to the service. The Ninth Indiana was supported by the Tenth Indiana and Fourth Tennessee, but the first regiment deserves the principal credit of the charge and success. General Hatch's command arriving soon after, the Fourth Tennessee was pushed over the river and through the town, gaining a position in the enemy's rear. Being joined by the remainder of the brigade we moved first to the Lewisburg and then to the Franklin pike, and about 4 p.m. engaged the enemy on the right of General Hatch's division. Soon after, under orders from General Wilson, the command moved on the enemy's left, and just after dark attacked in the rear on the pike. At first successful, we inflicted heavy loss and took many prisoners, but in the darkness part of the command mistook the road, and the enemy, abandoning his artillery, brought his infantry up, and we were compelled to retire. In this attack the Tenth Indiana led and was supported by the Ninth Indiana. Both suffered, but are repaid in the knowledge that this attack caused the abandonment of four cannon by the enemy.

On the 18th the command moved through fields to near Spring Hill; on the 19th, to Rutherford's Creek; on the 23d crossed Duck River; 24th marched through fields on the right of General Croxton; 25th, moved on the right, and was ordered to support Colonel Harrison in an attack on Anthony's Hill. The Seventh Ohio Cavalry breaking to the rear, cut my column in two just as the Fourth Tennessee, my regiment in advance, had successfully gone into action, driving the enemy into his works; and the enemy was for a time between my led horses and the remainder of the command. I was obliged to withdraw the Fourth Tennessee to save the horses. When remounted, being joined by part of the Second Tennessee, we attacked the enemy in flank and drove him into his works again, holding the position until ordered away. The remainder of the brigade went into action by order of General Wilson and attacked along with General Hatch's division. The Fourth Tennessee reached the enemy's [works] in time to see him in retreat. The next morning, moving in pursuit at a rapid pace, the Second Tennessee, Lieutenant-Colonel Cook commanding, in advance, we drove the enemy out of his position five miles from Anthony's Hill, and pushed the rear guard back on the main body, posted in a strong position on the south bank of Sugar Creek. A spirited action followed, in which the Second Tennessee, supported by the Fourth, drove the enemy into his works. A charge was made in turn by two columns of infantry, with cavalry in the center, driving us back about 300 yards across the creek, where we rallied and drove them back to their works, holding the position until the afternoon, when the Fourteenth Ohio Battery shelled their rear guard out of log-works commanding the road, and pursuit was continued to this place.

During this campaign I have had continual occasion to admire the bravery of both officers and men, and to lament want of discipline. The brigade is composed of detachments of regiments unacquainted with each other, but has exhibited evidence of material for a fine command. The personal bravery of Captain Smith, Nineteenth Pennsylvania; Lieutenant Claiborn, Tenth Indiana, and Lieutenant Owings, Ninth Indiana, I have had opportunities of noticing, and, although many are no doubt as deserving as they, I can call attention to them from personal observation.

The regiments claim as follows: Ninth Indiana, 4 commissioned officers, 263 enlisted men prisoners, and 2 colors; Tenth Indiana, 15 officers and 185 enlisted men, 2 colors; Second Tennessee, 2 officers and 18 enlisted men; Fourth Tennessee, 30 enlisted men prisoners; Nineteenth Pennsylvania, 242 enlisted men prisoners and 1 color. Captain Huston, division provost-marshal, having received everything captured until December 18, can judge as to the strength of these claims.

For casualties, see the report of Doctor Culbertson, brigade surgeon, already forwarded, on which I prefer to rely, as his report embraces only those disabled; regimental reports show all hurt.

Prisoners captured since December 18, 25, turned over by Captain Huyett, provost-marshal, to Major Young, provost-marshal of the corps.

My acting assistant adjutant-general, Lieutenant Payne, Ninth Indiana, and Lieutenant Branham, Tenth Indiana, and Lieutenant Allen, Nineteenth Pennsylvania, showed great energy and bravery. Payne and Branham have been very bold in action, and Lieutenant Allen captured a color, received from him by General Knipe.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. H. HAMMOND,        

Brevet Brigadier-General.

Capt. FRANK REEDER,
        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. 606-8

Major-General Stephen A. Hurlbut to Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins, June 10, 1863

MEMPHIS, TENN., June 10, 1863.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have received to-day one letter from Captain Lyford, chief of ordnance, in relation to sending down 32 pounder guns and carriages for 10-inch columbiads. Colonel [Ignatz G.] Kappner, First Tennessee Heavy A.D. Artillery, proceeded at once to Columbus and Island No. 10 to fill this order.

In the other, from yourself, of the 8th, you direct the infantry find artillery of this command held ready for still further reduction at short notice.

The command is ready to be moved as rapidly as can be done and to any extent required by orders from headquarters. It now covers the main line of road from Memphis to Corinth, and covers this very lightly. Had I any disposable infantry force, I should move down the Panola road.

Scout in at La Grange; left Jackson the 7th. Says they claim 50,000 men with Johnston; he thinks not more than 30,000. Breckinridge is there with 10,000. Forces constantly arriving from Charleston, Savannah, and Tennessee. The railroad was fully repaired on Saturday. Forage and supplies being forced down from all parts of Mississippi.

[W. H.] Jackson and [J. W.] Whitfield, with cavalry, reached Jackson on Friday. Hatch has just returned from an expedition along the Tallahatchee. Met nothing but pickets and light squads. I shall send the whole of my cavalry down as far as they can go, to destroy crops and break up roads and means of transportation.

A portion of the Second Division, of Ninth Army Corps, arrived this afternoon; the balance will be here in a few hours from Cairo. The division is in command of Major-General Parke. Everything is being pressed forward as fast as possible, but there is terrible scarcity of boats, and it seems as if boats that go down to your parts never return. It is impossible to send anything down until some of the boats below are returned. Every boat from Saint Louis is in service. They should not be kept an hour after they are discharged of their cargoes.

I am fully satisfied that Johnston cannot bring more than 35,000 men, of all arms, within the next ten days.

Bragg is removing his stores to Atlanta, but Rosecrans will not believe any reports from this quarter, and I have ceased communicating with him, except through Washington. He could now easily clear Middle Tennessee and open communication with Dodge at Hamburg.

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

S. A. HURLBUT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 397

Major-General Stephen A. Hurlbut to Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins, June 10, 1863

HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,        

Memphis, Tenn., June 10, 1863.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the Tenn., in the Field:

COLONEL: I received this morning orders through Captain Lyford, ordnance officer, to send ten 32-pounder guns and carriages for two 10-inch columbiads, with ammunition. I have sent Colonel Kappner, First Tennessee Artillery, to Columbus, to procure the same and forward as speedily as possible. They shall be sent as soon as they can be shipped. Major-General Parke telegraphs me from Cairo, inquiring when first boat of Ninth Army Corps arrives. I expect them hourly. Smith has left with his division.

I reiterate my request that the general commanding will see to it, if possible, that communication north by railroad be destroyed.

Hatch's cavalry is now south of the Tallahatchee, looking after any proposed advance. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I do not desire to move the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and on this await orders. The reasons are that Rosecrans is not active near the Tennessee; that the abandonment of Jackson lays the whole country open, and that active cavalry movements from Columbus are necessary to cover this open line.

Colonel Hillyer reported to me, with orders from General Grant, to assist in expediting movements of troops. I am not aware of any assistance rendered by him, although his society was very agreeable when time was allowed to converse with him. I am satisfied that his forte is not in quartermaster's duty.

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

S. A. HURLBUT.

P. S.—I have heard incidentally that Colonel Duff and Colonel Lagow, of your staff, have been here. They have not reported to me.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 397-8

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 200. — Report of Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson, U. S. Army, commanding Sixth Division, of operations November 24-December 19, 1864.

No. 200.

Report of Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson, U. S. Army,

commanding Sixth Division, of operations November 24-December 19, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,        

Edgefield, Tenn., December 24, 1864.

MAJOR: In accordance with military usage, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the cavalry under my command during the recent and still pending campaign against the enemy in Middle Tennessee:

It may be proper for me to premise that when I assumed command of this division, on the 24th day of November, near Columbia, I found present only Capron's old brigade of the Cavalry Division, Army of the Ohio, composed of the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois Regiments and Eighth Michigan Cavalry, numbering in the aggregate about 800 mounted men, poorly armed and equipped, and I regret to say considerably demoralized by an unsuccessful campaign of some duration against an enemy superior to them in numbers, mount, and equipment. On this same day the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, Maj. J. Morris Young commanding, about 500 strong, reported to me, and on the day following Brigadier-General Croxton, with his fine brigade of the First Cavalry Division, was also placed under my command. Of the operations of General Croxton's brigade during the short time he was under my command I shall not attempt particularly to speak, though I desire to observe that upon all occasions both General Croxton and the officers and soldiers of his command conducted themselves in a manner becoming the high reputation which both he and they deservedly enjoy.

Early in the afternoon of the 24th, the infantry having arrived at Columbia, my troops were, by order of Brevet Major-General Wilson, withdrawn to the north side of Duck River and encamped directly opposite Columbia. I lay at this place until the evening of the 25th, picketing the river below Columbia as far down as Williamsport, and sending scouts across the river above, in the direction of Lewisburg. On the 25th I removed Croxton's brigade to Caldwel's house, six miles above Columbia, on the road to Raleigh [Rally] Hill. Capron's brigade, to which the Fifth Iowa had been temporarily assigned, was sent to take post on the Lewisburg pike at the crossing of Duck River, with instructions to scout toward Shelbyville and Lewisburg, and to picket the fords as far down as Huey's Mill. Croxton established a strong picket at Huey's Mill, which lay directly south of his camp, and also relieved the pickets from Capron's brigade at the fords below Columbia. In this position I lay until the 27th [28th]. On the morning of that day it became apparent, from the reports of my pickets, that the enemy were making preparations to force the passage of the river at Huey's Mill, at the Lewisburg pike, and at many intermediate fords. At 1 o'clock of this day, under orders from Brevet Major-General Wilson, I moved with Croxton's brigade for Hurt's house, on the Lewisburg pike, at the same time sending orders to Colonel Harrison, whom I then supposed to be in command of my First Brigade (Capron's), to fall back to that point. The head of my column reached the Lewisburg turnpike just after night-fall in time to find the Seventh Ohio Cavalry and detachments of the other regiments of Capron's brigade retiring in the direction of Franklin. Understanding the enemy to be in pursuit I directed Colonel Garrard, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, to send out one company to hold them in check, formed Croxton's brigade across the pike and sent orders to Colonel Capron to halt, reorganize, and form his troops. The enemy, however, did not come on, and later in the evening the Fifth Iowa Cavalry and the greater part of the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, from whom Colonel Capron had been cut off by the enemy, came into camp, having gallantly charged through the superior force of the enemy, which had interposed itself between them and the rest of the command.

On the 28th [29th] we fell back, contesting the ground with the enemy's cavalry, across Harpeth River to the road from Franklin to Triune, where we camped for the night near Matthews' house, picketing the river at Davis', Henderson's, and Hughes' Fords. On the morning of the 29th [30th] the Fifth Iowa Cavalry was detached pursuant to orders of Major-General Schofield, and sent to picket the right of the army; they did not rejoin me until we reached Nashville. Croxton's brigade was posted on the immediate left of the infantry, covering the Lewisburg turnpike. General Hatch's division was interposed between him and my First Brigade, of which on this day Col. Thomas J. Harrison, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, under orders from Brevet Major-General Wilson, assumed command. Late in the afternoon of this day occurred the battle of Franklin. For the gallant part taken by General Croxton's brigade I respectfully refer to his report. Colonel Harrison's brigade held the extreme left and was not engaged. On the 30th [December 1] we retired by the dirt road north to Mayfield's house, near Brentwood, thence across the country to the Nolensville pike, and camped for the night on Mill Creek near the Widow Harris'.

On the morning of the 1st [2d] of December we retired to Nashville, and later in the day crossed the river and encamped in Edgefield. The week of rest allowed us here was assiduously devoted to recuperating and shoeing the horses of the command, pressing new ones from the surrounding country, refitting the command in respect to clothing, camp and garrison equipage, of which they stood in great need, and exchanging the infantry arms, with which the regiments of Capron's old brigade had been encumbered, for carbines. In these labors I was efficiently assisted by Colonel Harrison, commanding First Brigade, and by his regimental commanders. In spite of the proverbial inefficiency of the ordnance department, Colonel Harrison, by untiring efforts, succeeded in procuring sabers sufficient to arm all his regiments; Burnside carbines for the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois Regiments, and revolvers for the Eighth Michigan. In the matter of horses we were not quite so fortunate—the Fifth Iowa Cavalry, which was sent to Hopkinsville, Ky., procured a full remount for themselves; the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, which during our stay in Edgefield was stationed at Hyde's Ferry to watch the river in that direction, procured eighteen horses from the country in their rear; the other regiments perhaps twenty horses altogether. By dismounting the Eighth Michigan and Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, however, pursuant to orders from Brevet Major-General Wilson, I was able to efficiently mount the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry and Seventh Ohio Cavalry. My mounted troops I placed under command of Colonel Harrison and my dismounted regiments under command of Col. James Biddle, Sixth Indiana Cavalry, who, on the 7th of December, joined me with his regiment dismounted, so that when offensive operations began I moved with one brigade mounted, composed of the Fifth Iowa, Seventh Ohio, and Sixteenth Illinois Regiments, commanded by Colonel Harrison, with an aggregate strength of 1,340, and a dismounted brigade, composed of the Sixth Indiana and Fourteenth Illinois Regiments, commanded by Col. James Biddle, of an aggregate strength of 759. The Eighth Michigan Cavalry, being armed with only pistols and sabers, and the Third Tennessee Cavalry, which reported to me on the 13th of December, for the most part without arms (their arms having been taken away from them by order of Brigadier-General Hammond, upon their return to my division from his brigade, with which they had been serving), I left in camp at Nashville.

On the morning of the 12th of December, in accordance with orders from the brevet major-general commanding corps, we broke camp, classed the river, and moved to the vicinity of Heiferman's house, near the Charlotte pike; there we remained in bivouac during the two following days.

At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 15th of December, in accordance with Special Orders, No. 3, from corps headquarters, I broke camp and moved on the Charlotte pike to the exterior line of fortifications, which I found occupied by McArthur's division of General A. J. Smith's corps. My orders required me to advance upon the enemy at 6 a.m., but as General McArthur's troops did not get in motion until long past this hour, and when their movement began advanced at first on the precise line by which I was directed to move, and as the orders contemplated a simultaneous attack, both by the infantry and cavalry, all along the line, my division covering the right and rear of the movement, I was delayed for several hours beyond the time designated. It was about 11 o'clock, as nearly as I can remember, that I received a message from Major-General Wilson, through a staff officer, notifying me that everything was in readiness for the attack, and directing me to advance. In order to answer the fire of a battery, which the movements of General McArthur's troops had previously developed on the commanding heights beyond Richland Creek, I had previously posted two pieces of Lieutenant Smith's battery in position near Douglass' house in the low ground on this side of the creek. I at first ordered Colonel Biddle to advance with his regiments deployed across the pike, and with a strong skirmish line covering his front to cress the creek, drive in the enemy's skirmishers, and assault the enemy's barricades on the crest of the ridge beyond, Harrison to hold himself in readiness to follow up Biddle's attack with his mounted brigade. But the movements of the dismounted cavalry were so slow, owing, I suppose, partly to their being unused to maneuver as infantry, partly to the difficulty in crossing the creek, and partly to their sabers, which the commanding officer of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry had, with a singular shortsightedness, permitted his men to bring with them, that I finally ordered Harrison to pass the dismounted brigade and attack the enemy with all possible energy. My order was executed with commendable celerity. The Fifth Iowa dismounted and engaged the skirmishers sharply in the neighborhood of the pike, finally crossing the creek and driving them from their covert, while the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, passing to their left, crossed the creek and charged mounted up the long slope to the ridge upon which the enemy's battery and dismounted men in barricades were posted. The object of this charge was to capture this battery, or, at least, to disperse the supports and shoot down the horses before the guns could be moved, in which case I confidently anticipated the guns would fall into our hands, even though the charge should be repelled by a counter-charge. I never saw a charge more gallantly made or more persistently pressed than this. It failed only by a few moments. Major Beeres, commanding, came upon a stone wall, over which he could not leap his horses. The delay necessary to pull it down sufficed for the enemy to limber up and move the guns, which they incontinently did, the cavalry which had been supporting them also mounting and riding away in haste. A few prisoners, however, fell into our hands. The enemy, retiring by the pike, made a second stand near Cochran's house, from which, however, Harrison hustled them with amusing celerity, and drove him rapidly to Davidson's house. Here, along the ridge beyond a little creek which empties into the Cumberland this side of Davidson's and opposite Bell's Mill, the enemy took up a strong position, his left resting upon the river and his line stretching some distance across the pike; his artillery posted near the house swept the bridge and the pike beyond it, and his dismounted men, strongly posted in barricades, which I suppose he had previously constructed with a view to such an emergency, commanded at close range all the crossings of the creek. Harrison's men, in the energy of his pursuit not observing, or at least not appreciating, the advantages of the enemy's position, attempted to follow the enemy's rear directly into his works, and in this too gallant effort one company of the Seventh Ohio was roughly handled, losing one man seriously wounded, and several captured, including Lieutenant Little, the commanding officer. Our advance being stayed by this repulse, the enemy opened a sharp fire from his battery, doing us, however, no damage. This continued until I brought up Lieutenant Smith with his battery, who, taking position near the pike, soon closed out his rebel adversary. I had now accomplished the limit of the day's work assigned me, but there being still some hour or two of daylight left, I was determined not to give the enemy rest if it could be avoided. Colonel Harrison reported, and my own observation justified his opinion, that the enemy's position was too strong to be carried by my small command, prisoners reporting Chalmers' whole division to be in our front. I had strong hopes, however, that if I could obtain the co-operation of General Croxton's brigade I might capture the enemy's guns, and, if he should make too determined a stand, perhaps a good part of his force. I was encouraged to think by an officer who came to me from General Croxton that the condition of things in his front might permit this, and I accordingly maneuvered my troops so as to attract the attention of the enemy to me, while Croxton, who was now a long distance to my left and rear, should comply with a request which I sent him to close up on my left and swing around so as to envelop the enemy's right and cut him off from the Charlotte pike, which here bears considerably to the south—that is, toward the enemy's right. In this way I hoped we might double him back upon the river, when I felt sure we should make short work of him. In the meantime I sent an officer to notify the commander of one of the gun-boats which lay in the river above my right that by dropping down to near Bell's Mills he might enfilade the rebel line; this information he speedily took advantage of and the tremendous discharges of his heavy guns contributed largely, I doubt not, to the already serious demoralization of the enemy. I was disappointed, however, in my anticipations of General Croxton's aid. I was informed late in the evening that orders from Brevet Major-General Wilson prevented his complying with my request. I learned this when it was too late to make other dispositions in time to follow up my advantage in case my attack should succeed, and accordingly, after throwing my mounted men to my left, I went into bivouac, ordering everything to be in readiness for movement by 4 o'clock on the following morning, and instructing Colonel Harrison, with the first break of day, to execute the movement which I had requested General Croxton to make. I must not neglect to mention that in this day's operations we captured near fifty horses, so rapidly were our lines advanced.

At break of day on the following morning Harrison advanced, as I had instructed him, only to find the enemy's works abandoned. I pushed Harrison forward on the road by which he had retreated, moving with Harrison and the battery myself, and ordering Colonel Biddle to follow with his dismounted brigade and my ammunition train of four wagons, We marched down the Charlotte pike near a mile; there following the enemy's trail we diverged by a dirt road to the left, crossing the Hardin pike at the brick church, nine miles from Nashville. From there, following the valley of the Little Harpeth, I reached the Hillsborough pike about 2 p.m., where, posted on the ridges north of Murray's house, we found the enemy in some force and with artillery, which they opened upon us. The first round from Lieutenant Smith's guns, however, silenced their battery, and at our first advance they retired, after exchanging a few shots with our skirmishers, their main force by the road east toward the Franklin pike, and a few down the Hillsborough pike toward Harpeth River. On reaching the pike I found a brigade of General Knipe's division upon it in my rear, and, having had no communication with the brevet major-general commanding the corps during the day, I halted and dispatched a messenger to notify him of my whereabouts and to request instructions. At nightfall the messenger not having returned, and General Knipe's troops being still in the position in which I found them, I went into bivouac, covering the pike and the cross-road by which the enemy had retreated. In our haste to overtake the enemy, on discovering their evacuation of the position they had taken at Davidson's, we left behind us a battery of six guns abandoned by the enemy. They were afterward discovered, as I am informed, by the forces of the gun-boat flotilla and sent into Nashville. I submit that I am entitled to claim these as the capture of my division.

On the morning of the 17th I moved at 4 o'clock in the morning down the Hillsborough pike, driving the enemy's pickets, whom we found in barricades on the ridges beyond Brown's Creek; forded the Harpeth River, and moved by the dirt road past Moore's and Davis' into Franklin, where I struck the flank of the rebel rear guard of cavalry, who were there posted to prevent the passage of the river by General Knipe's division, which had advanced down the Franklin turnpike. On discovering my approach they immediately withdrew their artillery, and as my skirmishers advanced they retired precipitately down the Columbia pike to the high ridges south of the town. Here there fell into our hands all of the rebel and our own wounded of the late battle of Franklin, besides some 17,000 rations. The Seventh Ohio Cavalry, charging through the town, captured some fifty of the enemy's rear guard, and would have pressed the pursuit farther had I not sent them word to stop. Passing from my right over to the Columbia pike, I found Brigadier-General Knipe with his advance, which had followed my charge through the town. On conferring with him it was agreed that he should continue his advance by the Columbia pike, while I took the Carter's Creek pike to the right of this. Accordingly, I moved down the latter pike, three miles and a half, to Reams' house, and from there sent Harrison with the Fifth Iowa by a cross-road to strike the right of the enemy's rear guard, which I judged from the sound to be heavily engaged with General Knipe. The enemy retired so rapidly, however, that this attempt failed, and, Harrison returning, we bivouacked two regiments and artillery at Reams', the Fifth Iowa three miles farther from the pike. On the following morning, starting at 5 a.m., I moved down the Carter's Creek pike to —— house, and from there by the dirt road east into Spring Hill, coming up here, as at Franklin, just in time to turn the enemy's flank and compel him to retire precipitately before the forces advancing down the main pike. Here, together with the Fifth and Seventh Divisions of the corps, I halted by order of Brevet Major-General Wilson to await rations, and on the day following I returned with my dismounted regiments to this place to remount them.

For the subsequent operations of Colonel Harrison's brigade I most respectfully refer to the report of that officer.

I will forward at an early day a list of casualties, which cannot be furnished at this time for the want of the subreports.

I cannot close my report without expressing my deep regret that the corps commander should have ordered my two best regiments transferred to another divisions, while I received in their place one dismounted regiment, not distinguished for its efficiency.

The campaign, though short, called for great endurance on the part of officers and men; long, tedious marches in cold and constant rains were endured without a murmur, and it is a pleasure, as well as a duty, for me to report that both officers and men did their duty nobly.

To the energy and gallantry of Col. Thomas J. Harrison much of our success is due. No colonel in the army has a more brilliant record, and I hope he may receive his well-earned promotion at an early day. Col. Israel Garrard, Lieutenant-Colonel Baird, and Major Beeres deserve especial mention for their good conduct and able management of their regiments.

To the officers of my staff' my thanks are due. Capt. E. T. Wells, assistant adjutant-general; Capt. T. F. Allen, inspector; Capt. J. J. Kessler, provost-marshal; Lieuts. L. T. Morris and W. R. Lowe, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant McKee, ordnance officer, were distinguished here, as on many other fields, for their devotion to duty and gallantry in the discharge of the same. Chief Surgeon Train was always on hand, and through his energy and zeal our wounded were well and promptly attended to.

Respectfully submitted.

R. W. JOHNSON,        

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division.

Maj. E. B. BEAUMONT,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps.

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. 597-602