Showing posts with label George D Wagner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George D Wagner. Show all posts

Saturday, October 19, 2024

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

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 133. Reports of Lieut. Col. Edwin L. Hayes, One hundredth Ohio Infantry, of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

No. 133.

Reports of Lieut. Col. Edwin L. Hayes, One hundredth Ohio Infantry,
of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. 100TH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,                      
Nashville, Tenn., December 6, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the battle at Franklin, Tenn., November 30: My regiment was the extreme right regiment of the brigade and division, my right resting on the Franklin and Columbia pike, fronting nearly south, the left connecting with the One hundred and fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. I had thrown up a temporary breast-work, with head-logs on top and an abatis in front. The First Kentucky Battery was then placed in my line, cutting embrasures in my work, and displacing three companies. To cover these companies I threw up a light earth-work about three rods in rear of my main line. A brigade of General Wagner's division, Fourth Corps, was some 200 or 300 yards in our front. About 4 p.m. the enemy advanced in three lines upon them. They fell back upon us, coming in on the right flank and over our works. They filled our trenches so that we were unable to use our guns, and creating considerable confusion, the enemy reaching our works almost simultaneously with them. I immediately ordered the men belonging to the Fourth Corps to fall back and reform in rear of the second line of works, which order some of my men upon the right mistook as meaning them, and fell back with the colors, but immediately rallied and went back upon my ordering the color-sergeant, Byron C. Baldwin, to advance and plant the colors upon the works. The battery men deserting their pieces, a space was left around the guns between my right and left, which was filled by some men of the Sixteenth Kentucky; at the same time the regiment on the right of the road gave way, and the enemy poured in over the pike onto my right flank. The Forty-fourth Illinois here charged with my right and forced the enemy back beyond the works. From this time until we were ordered to leave the works, at 10.30 p.m., six distinct charges were made upon my right, and repulsed each time. I was exposed to a murderous enfilading fire from our works on the right of the road, which was held by the enemy, never having been retaken by the troops on our right after the first charge. A large proportion of our missing were captured on the skirmish line, which was in advance of the Fourth Corps.

I would particularly mention the distinguished gallantry of Capt. W. W. Hunt (acting major), who fell while nobly fighting at the front works, and of Lieut. M. A. Brown, who was on the skirmish line, and was wounded while falling back upon the main line, and was killed inside of the works, urging the men to stand fast. Color-Sergt. Byron C. Baldwin fell with the colors in his hand, and wrapped them around him in his death struggle.

It would be invidious in me to mention any of the survivors where all did so nobly, both officers and men sustained the character they always bore as brave soldiers.

The following is the number of men engaged and our loss in killed, wounded, and missing: Number of men engaged, 250. Commissioned officers — killed, 2 (1 not mustered); wounded, 1. Enlisted men — killed, 6; wounded, 24; missing, 32. Total, 65.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. L. HAYES,                       
Lieut. Cot., Comdg. 100th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Brig. Gen. JAMES W. REILLY,
Comdg First Brig., Third Div., Twenty-third Army Corps.
_______________

HEADQUARTERS 100TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,              
Spring Hill, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the operations of the 15th and 16th instant:

Our movements on the 15th are not worthy of notice, as we simply moved with the brigade around to the right to the support of General Smith's forces and went into position that evening; that night we threw up a line of works, and on the morning of the 16th found the enemy's line also thrown up in the night in plain view in our immediate front. Skirmishing was kept up until about 3.30 p.m., when a charge was made along the whole line. My regiment advanced up a ravine, driving their skirmishers out of their pits until we reached the enemy's line of works, when, in connection with the Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, we captured four pieces of artillery and quite a number of prisoners, burns these were at once sent to the rear their numbers cannot be correctly given. The regiment pushed on, making a swing to the right until we formed a line perpendicular to the one we had just left, and on the crest of the hill, where we threw up a new line of works and encamped for the night.

We did not lose a man.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. L. HAYES,                       
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
[Capt. J. H. BROWN,
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. 419-20

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 99. — Reports of Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of Operations November 30 1864

No. 99.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations November 30 1864.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, Tenn., December 31, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, in the battle fought at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, between the forces of the United States, commanded by Major-General Schofield, and the rebel army, under General Hood:

The division arrived at Franklin soon after daylight on the 30th of November, 1864, having marched during the night from Spring Hill, and had been for several days previously almost constantly either marching or working in throwing up breast-works at Columbia, Tenn, and at Duck River, near the railroad bridge. On arriving at Franklin I received orders from Major-General Schofield to report to Brigadier-General Cox, commanding Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and for the time being in command of the corps for assignment to position. I was directed by Brigadier-General Cox, commanding corps, to place my division in position next on the right of the Third Division at the Columbia turnpike. I placed the division in the position indicated, the Third Brigade, Col. S. A. Strickland, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers, commanding, on the left of the division, and next on the right of the Third Division, its left resting on the Columbia turnpike, on a hill of moderate elevation just at the outskirts of the village of Franklin, and the Second Brigade, Col. Orlando H. Moore, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteers, commanding, on the right of the Third Brigade. The right of the Second Brigade rested on the Carter's Creek turnpike. The Third Brigade was in two lines formation; the Second Brigade in single line formation. Breast-works were at once commenced along the whole line and completed about 2 p.m. The general line of our forces was that of an arc of a circle, with the convexity toward the enemy. Immediately in front of the line the ground was open, the left of the line commanding the ground in its front; in front of the center of the line, and distant about 150 yards, was a slight elevation; in front of the right of the line, distant about 250 yards, there was a ravine, which could not be swept by the fire from the line, extending diagonally to the front and left and departing from the line; in front of a portion of the division line, near the left, was a small locust grove, which was felled, forming a fair abatis in front of that portion of the line; a slight obstruction was also made by cutting a row of fruit trees that was in front of the right of the line; in front of and extending to the left of the division line there was a range of hills commanding the line and varying in distance from three quarters to a mile, and affording good positions to the enemy for artillery, and still farther distant a high range of hills, affording a good view of our lines.

Owing to the relation of the line to that which would be occupied by the enemy in case of all attack on us, being that of all inner arc of a circle, the enemy's being the outer are, and affording, particularly to my left, positions for artillery which could enfilade and fire in reverse on the right portion of the line, I caused the line of breast-works to be made in the form of a broken line, thus obviating that difficulty, and also giving a cross-fire on portions of the ground in front, particularly the slight elevation before spoken of, as being about 150 yards in front of the center of the line of the division. The only artillery placed in position under my direction was a section of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, commanded by Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?], which was placed in rear of the right of the Third Brigade, and commanded the approaches to the center and right of the line, and could also cross-fire with a battery in position on the Carter's Creek turnpike by Brigadier-General Kimball, whose division of the Fourth Army Corps was next on my right, connecting with my right at the Carter's Creek turnpike. About 2 o'clock the enemy's skirmishers appeared in front of my line of skirmishers, which was posted at a distance of from half to three-quarters of a mile in front of the main line. The enemy was observed to be developing in front soon after. About 3.30 o'clock I received information from Colonel Zollinger, One hundred and twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, commanding my line of skirmishers, that the enemy was advancing in force. Like information was also sent to me about the same time by Brigadier-General Cox, commanding the corps. The enemy advanced in three lines, covering the whole front of the division, drove in the skirmishers, who fell back slowly, firing as they came. At about 4 p.m. the attack of the enemy was made with great boldness and determination, but was everywhere resisted with firmness, except on the left of the division, the enemy being checked within 100 yards by a steady fire of our men from the breast-works, and finally driven back, with very heavy loss, whilst our loss was comparatively slight.

On the slight elevation in front of the line before referred to the enemy's line was brought up by our fire, and from its elevated position it was clearly defined against the sky to the view of our men, and I distinctly observed it gradually waste and disappear under our fire. This attack of the enemy continued for about one hour. At the first onset of the enemy the left of the line, held by the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers and the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, fell back some fifty yards from the breastworks, at which position they were rallied and maintained a firm stand, holding this new position, which was hastily intrenched during the intervals of the fighting. The enemy got possession of the outer portion of the breast-works, and apparently would have swept the line back and gained strong hold of the key point of our lines, had it not been for the timely assistance received by that portion of the line by other troops, particularly a brigade of the Fourth Corps, commanded by Colonel Opdycke. Much was due also, in restoring order and firmness to this part of the line, to the personal exertion and direction of Brigadier-General Cox, who was present on that portion of the line at the critical moment. It is reported by the commander of the Third Brigade that the left of his line temporarily gave way, owing to the line being shattered immediately on his left. From my own observation and what I have otherwise learned, I am of the opinion that the right of the Third Division and the left of the Second Division, commanded by myself, were temporarily thrown back and disordered to some extent at about the same time, and from the same cause, which was as follows: General Wagner's division, of the Fourth Army Corps, occupied a line on both sides of the Columbia turnpike in front of our main line, and did not retire until either forced back by the enemy, or until the enemy was so close as to be enabled to follow at its heels, and strike our breast-works at the Columbia turnpike close after, thus preventing an effective fire of our infantry or artillery at this point on the approaching lines of the enemy. General Wagner's division, of the Fourth Army Corps, also in coming in on so small a portion of our line disorganized it to a considerable extent by its pressure and by the hurry of its movements and its disorganized and crowded condition, inevitable under the circumstances.

It was an error that General Wagner's division should have remained so long in  front of the line that the enemy's masses were enabled to crowd it back and follow it pell-mell on to our main line. On whom the responsibility for such a condition of things rests is better known to my superior officers on the field than to myself. The advantage gained by the enemy was but temporary, our lines being soon restored, and the repeated attempts thereafter made by the enemy to force us from the position were successfully resisted and the position firmly held by us, and the enemy in every instance repulsed with loss. After a short interval, under cover of approaching darkness and the obscurity caused by the settling of the smoke on the field, the enemy made another fierce and persistent attack in heavy force, covering, so far as my line was concerned, from near the right of the division to its extreme left. This attack was made with great boldness, the enemy in some places reaching the breastsworks and attempting to force our line with the bayonet. Our men at this juncture behaved gallantly, defending their breastworks and repulsing the enemy's attack with the bayonet wherever occasion required, making a considerable capture of men and officers, among the latter several field and staff officers. After the repulsing of this the second heavy attack of the enemy, some further attempts, but comparatively slight, were made on the line up to as late as about 9 o'clock in the evening. The forces of the enemy actually engaged in the attack on the position held by our army, so far as I was able to learn from prisoners, were the corps of the rebel Generals Cheatham and Stewart and one division of the corps commanded by General S. D. Lee.

All things considered, this battle of Franklin is one of the most remarkable of the war, both for the bravery, energy, and persistence of the attack by the enemy, he continually bringing up fresh troops, apparently confident that each new effort would enable him to force our lines, and also for the courage, firmness, and patience with which his repeated attacks were received and repulsed by our men.

Considerable captures were made by the division, of officers and men, the precise number of which I do not know, as the prisoners were at once passed to the rear. From my personal observation I should judge the number to be from 150 to 200 men.

The division remained in position until 12 o'clock at night, soon after which time, in accordance with orders, it withdrew to the north bank of the Harpeth River and took up its march for Brentwood with the rest of the army.

The First Brigade of the division, Brigadier-General  Cooper commanding, and the Ninety-first Indiana Volunteers, Col. John Mehringer commanding, and One hundred and twenty third Indiana Volunteers. Col. J. C. McQuiston commanding, were not present With the division at this battle, having been previously detached to guard the fords on Duck Creek below Columbia, and did not rejoin the division until after its arrival at Nashville, Tenn. The Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, Lieut. Col. J. Stockton commanding, and Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteers, Col. R. C. Bradshaw commanding, were temporarily assigned to the division and attached to the Third Brigade. Both regiments did efficient service. Colonel Bradshaw fell severely wounded while in the act of leading his men in the endeavor to force back the enemy in his front. Also at about the same time Lieutenant-Colonel Stockton and Major James, of the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, were wounded and disabled.

The section of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] commanding, fought gallantly. Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] was mortally wounded, also his orderly sergeant. I regret that I have no official report from this section, which was only temporarily under my command. The conduct of Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] and of his sergeant, whose name I do not know, was represented as most gallant.

I was indebted to Brigadier-General Kimball, commanding division of the Fourth Army Corps, next on my right, for the timely assistance of five companies of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers, commanding, which fought bravely and did efficient service. Col. S. A. Strickland, commanding Third Brigade, and Col. Orlando H. Moore, commanding Second Brigade, contributed much by their personal bravery and activity to the success of the division in resisting the enemy.

There were present on the field with me of my staff, Lieut. S. H. Hubbell, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. George L. Binney, aide-de-camp; Lieut. E.G. Fay, aide-de-camp; Captain Milholland, acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. J. A. Lee, commissary of musters; Captain Spain, provost-marshal, and Lieut. J. Clingman, ordnance officer, who rendered valuable assistance. Each did his duty bravely and faithfully. Surg. J. W. Lawton, U.S. Volunteers, medical director of the division, was present with the division and used all means at his disposal for the care and transportation of the wounded.

Accompanying are the reports of the brigade and regimental commanders, to which I respectfully refer for details of the part taken by the brigades and various regiments of the division in the battle. The losses of the division, as appear by the reports of brigade commanders, are as follows:

Command.
Killed.
Wounded.
Missing.
Total.
Aggregate.
O
M
O
M
O
M
O
M
Second Brigade
3
18
8
81

12
11
111
122
Third Brigade
6
67
19
159
2
278
27
504
531
Total 
9
85
27
240
2
290
38
615
653

[O = Officers  M =Men]

Some errors exist in the reports of the regimental commanders. Persons are reported killed who were not, but are prisoners. So soon as I can procure corrected lists of the casualties I will forward them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. H. RUGER,
Brigadier-General of Vols., Comdg. 2d Div., 23d Army Corps,
And at this date Comdg. First Division, Twenty-third Army Corps.
Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of prisoners, arms, and flags captured by this division in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864:

Command.
Officers.
Men.
Flags.




Second Brigade.



107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

20

129th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

2

23d Michigan Volunteer Infantry
2
24

80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry

40





Third Brigade.



50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
1

1
183d Ohio Volunteer Infantry
3
30





Total
6
116
1

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 THOS H. RUGER,
 Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.
Capt. C. A. CILLEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Ohio.
_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of casualties in regiments temporarily attached to this division during the engagement at Franklin, November 30, 1864:

           
Officers.
Men.
Regiment.
K
W
M
T
K
W
M
T
72d Illinois Volunteer Infantry

6
3
9
10
56
83
149
44th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
4
2

6
30
35
86
151
Total
4
8
3
15
40
91
169
300

[K = Killed     W = Wounded     M = Mission     T = Total]

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
 S. H. HUBBELL,
 Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
Capt. C. A. CILLEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General Army of the Ohio
_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of casualties in Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, in the fight at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, in which two brigades of this division were engaged:


Officers.
Men.
Regiment.
K
W
M
T
K
W
M
T









Second Brigade.








23d Michigan Volunteer Infantry
1
1

2
2
13
3
18
80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.





9

9
Illth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
1
3

4
10
25
9
44
129th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.


1
1
4
15
2
21
107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
1
1

2
3
14
1
18
118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

















Third Brigade.








183d Ohio Volunteer Infantry..
1

4
5
2
44
17
63
50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry..

2
3
5
5
15
95
115
Total.
4
7
8
19
26
135
127
288

[K = Killed     W = Wounded     M = Mission     T = Total]

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. H. HUBBELL,
First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
 Capt. C. A. CILLEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Ohio.

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. 364-9