No. 215.
MAJOR: In compliance with orders received from headquarters Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command at the engagement of Overall's Creek, December 4, 1864:
In obedience to orders from the general commanding, my command formed in line of battle to the right of the Nashville pike, throwing out skirmishers to the front, in the direction of Overall's Creek. I was ordered to remain in this position in support of the artillery on our right. My command thus remained until the advance was ordered across Overall's Creek. I then moved my command forward in line of battle to the creek. The skirmishers were immediately thrown across, and the right and left wings were directed to remain in line until the center crossed the bridge and formed on the opposite side. The color company crossed and formed, and the companies from the right and left wings alternately crossed and formed in their respective places in line of battle. This was done under a severe fire from the enemy. The bridge was torn up, and somewhat impeded our progress, but the movement was executed promptly and in good order. The command was then ordered to move by the left flank until the right would rest on the pike, and then move forward by the right flank, which was done as directed. We advanced directly against the enemy, driving him steadily before us until we advanced from one-half to three-quarters of a mile, when we were ordered to withdraw. On receipt of this order we marched back in line “faced to the rear.” On reaching the creek we moved by the left flank by file right, recrossed the bridge, and formed line of battle a little in advance of the position we were in when in the support of the artillery at the commencement of the engagement. I left one company at the bridge, one deployed to the left of the bridge, and one at the right of the same, under charge of the major, to protect the recrossing of the cavalry. Remained in this position until ordered to return to Murfreesborough.
Any allusion to the conduct of the officers of my command may seem unnecessary, as they fought under the eye of the general commanding. It is due them, however, from me to say their conduct was unexceptionable. My lieutenant-colonel, A. J. Sterling, and major, B.C. G. Reed, also my adjutant, Harry M. Dean, performed their respective duties in the most prompt and gallant manner, and my line officers all behaved so well that it would be invidious to make distinction. It affords me pleasure to be able to say their conduct deserves special commendation. The horses of my lieutenant-colonel, major, and adjutant were wounded, and I had my own horse killed during the engagement.
The following is a list of casualties in my command.*
Number of prisoners captured and sent to the rear, 20. The prisoners were from the Second and Seventh Florida Regiments. From the number of the enemy dead and left on the field over which my command passed, their loss must have been severe. Among those left by them was one commissioned officer. All the killed and wounded of my command were brought from the field.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,COLONEL: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the engagement with the enemy on Wilkinson's pike, on December 7, 1864:
In obedience to orders, my command moved out on the Salem pike, crossed Stone's River bridge, and, by direction, formed in double column, at half distance, "in the field to the left of the line of battle." Remained in this position until the receipt of orders to move by the right flank. On reaching the woods I deployed my command into line, it being difficult to move through the woods in double column. On reaching the hill, where we were opened upon by the enemy's guns, my command was formed in line of battle in the edge of the woods to the left of our artillery. I threw skirmishers well to the front in the corn-field and in a skirt of timber to my left, with a view of picking off the enemy's cannoneers. Remained in this position until received orders to move to the right. In the execution of this movement I was directed by the general commanding to move in line "faced to the rear," and then by the left flank, in order that the rising ground in our front might conceal the movement to the right from the enemy. In the formation of the line of battle near the pike my command formed the left center of the brigade. One company (Company E, Capt. George Campbell) was thrown out as skirmishers, and we advanced directly against the enemy across an open field, driving his skirmish-line from their defenses back into the breast-works in the woods. On discovering their main line of works we moved immediately forward and carried them by storm, capturing at this point 1 stand of colors, 8 commissioned officers, and 52 enlisted men. My command moved forward, capturing a large number of prisoners and the two pieces of artillery on the pike in the rear of the enemy's works. We advanced our line beyond the white house, driving back the battery that was shelling our line from the opposite side of the field.
It being reported to me that the enemy were making an attempt to turn our left flank by advancing through the woods to our left, I immediately moved my command to the left, forming the line in the edge of the timber, with the view of checking any movement of the enemy that might be made from that direction. By the direction of the general commanding we remained in this position until he could advance the line on our right. By his order I took command of the three regiments to the left of the white house, and was directed to hold the position until further orders. When the right was brought forward to the line I received orders from the general commanding to move my command by the right flank until my right reached the left of the right wing, and then sweep down by the left flank across the open field in my front. I was in the execution of this movement when the order to return to Murfreesborough was received[.]
My command behaved in the most gallant manner. My major, B.C. G. Reed, was shot dead from his horse while charging the enemy's works. He was an excellent officer, possessing most chivalrous and daring courage, and fell gloriously while waving his sword beckoning the line forward. My lieutenant-colonel, A. J. Sterling, and my adjutant, Harry M. Dean, rode gallantly through the action, and did everything that men could do In cheering forward the line.
I cannot say too much in praise of my line officers. Captain Robb, Company C, and Lieutenants Rigby and White, Company A, were severely, and Lieutenant Swartz, Company C, slightly, wounded in the charge on the enemy's works. One of my color-bearers, Sergt. Joseph E. Crow, Company I, was severely wounded in the same charge. To Captain Beatty, Company A, to whose company is due the honor of capturing the stand of colors; Captain Cole, Company B; Captain Robb, Company C; Captain Combs, Company D; Capt. George Campbell, Company E, whose company led the advance as skirmishers; Lieutenant Price, commanding Company F; Captain Evans, Company G; Captain Basiger, Company H; Captain Garrett, Company I, and Captain McPeek. Company K, special thanks are due for the admirable manner in which they handled their companies during the action. These officers and also their subordinates were conspicuous for their gallantry throughout the entire engagement. I desire to make special mention of First Sergt. William F. Wallace, Company A, to whom the officer commanding the rebel color company delivered up his sword, and who also secured the colors.
On receiving orders to return to Murfreesborough we brought from the field all our dead and wounded, also the wounded of the enemy who were left on the field.
The following is a list of casualties in my command.† Recapitulation: Commissioned officers--killed, 1; wounded, 5. Enlisted men--killed, 5; wounded, 33. Total killed and wounded, 44. Two horses were wounded in my command (Major Reed's and my own) so severely as to be worthless.
The loss of the enemy was heavy; he left in our immediate front not less than 30 dead and many wounded; among the number mortally wounded was one lieutenant-colonel.
The following is the list of captures: 1 stand of colors; 2 cannon; 60 prisoners, 8 of whom were commissioned officers. A large number of prisoners not included in the above were captured, disarmed, and sent to the rear, there being neither time nor men to spare to collect them in a body and guard them to the fortress.
The number of my command engaged was: Commissioned officers, 20; enlisted men, 555. Number of the enemy not known, but, judging from their lines and reports of prisoners captured, their number must have been much greater than our own.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,* Nominal list (omitted) shows 3 men killed and 1 officer and 49 men wounded.
† Nominal list omitted.
