No. 12.
Reports of Surg. J. Theodore
Heard, Medical Director, Fourth Army Corps, of operations November 29-30 and
December 15-16, 1864.
SIR: I have the
honor to submit the following report of the operations of the medical
department of the Fourth Army Corps at the battles of Spring Hill and Franklin,
November 29 and 30, respectively:
On the morning of
the 29th of November the Fourth Corps (three divisions) and the Twenty-third
Corps (two divisions) were in position on the north bank of Duck River,
opposite Columbia, Tenn. The enemy, or the larger portion of the rebel army,
was upon the south bank and confronting our lines. At 9 a.m. the Second
Division, Fourth Corps, marched for Spring Hill, accompanied by and guarding
all the trains of the army, with the exception of twenty ambulances left with
the First and Third Divisions, Fourth Corps, which divisions were ordered to
remain with the Twenty-third Corps until dark and then withdraw with the rest
of the army. About 2 p.m., the head of column being within one mile of Spring
Hill, the general commanding was informed that the cavalry of the enemy was
pushing back our cavalry and rapidly approaching the town. The troops were at
once pushed forward at double-quick, passed through the town, charged the
enemy, checked him, and finally caused him to retire. The division was then
placed in position to protect the pike on which the trains were moving. About 4
p.m. the right brigade (Third Brigade, Brigadier-General Bradley) was furiously
attacked by what afterward proved to be two brigades of rebel infantry. The
attack was continued until nearly dark, when our right gave way toward the
pike, followed by the enemy. Fortunately, however, all trains had then passed
and were parked north of the town, where also division hospitals were
temporarily established and the wounded rapidly cared for. A few wounded were
unavoidably lost when the right gave way. One hundred and fifteen wounded were
brought to hospital. Shortly after dark orders were given to break up
hospitals, load ambulances, and be ready to move with the other trains at a
moment's notice. The rest of the army reached Spring Hill about 10 p.m., and
continued their march through the town toward Franklin. The hospital and
ambulance trains moved at the same time, reaching Franklin at 10 a.m. November
30, without loss, although several times attacked by the enemy's cavalry. The
wounded and sick were shipped by rail to Nashville early in the afternoon. The
two divisions of the Twenty-third Corps, with the First and Second Divisions of
the Fourth Corps, remained south of Harpeth River and intrenched themselves;
the Third Division, Fourth Corps, crossed to the north side of the river, and
was not engaged in the battle of Franklin.
At about 1 p.m.
November 30 the enemy appeared in force opposite our lines. At 3.30 p.m., as it
was determined to withdraw at dark toward Nashville, orders were given to send
all trains, except half the ambulances of each division, to Nashville. Soon
after the trains were fairly on the road the enemy commenced a furious attack
upon the entire lines. Six distinct assaults were made, and, by hard fighting,
were repulsed, with great loss to the enemy. As soon as the firing commenced
orders were sent for the hospital wagons to be parked in the nearest field, and
the tents to be temporarily pitched, all ambulances to return and cross the
river. Efforts were then made to obtain a train of cars for the wounded; the
commanding general, however, did not deem it best that one should be
telegraphed for. Owing to the intense darkness and imperfect provision for
crossing and recrossing the river, the movements of ambulances were necessarily
retarded. The wounded were collected at hospital as rapidly as possible. The
town was thoroughly searched for wounded. Orders were issued for the withdrawal
of troops at 12 o'clock. The ambulances worked constantly until 11 p.m., and
were then loaded to their utmost with wounded collected at hospitals. Such
slight cases of disease as remained were loaded upon army wagons. The hospitals
and ambulance trains were the last to draw out, and were closely followed by
the troops; 550 wounded were brought off. From all that can be ascertained it
is probable that from 75 to 100 wounded of this corps were left in the hands of
the enemy. Many rebel wounded fell into our hands, but were left for want of
transportation. The ambulance train reached Nashville at 9 a.m. December 1, and
the wounded were placed in general hospital. The following casualties occurred
in the ambulance corps of Fourth Army Corps.*
Lists of wounded and
tabular statements of wounded have already been forwarded.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Surg. GEORGE E.
COOPER, U.S. Army,
Medical Director,
Department of the Cumberland.
SIR: I have the
honor to submit the following report of the operations of the medical
department of this corps during the battles of December 15 and 16, near
Nashville, Tenn.:
On the morning of
December 14 orders were received to be ready at 6 a.m. December 15 to move upon
the enemy's position. The hospitals of this corps, which, since the 2d of the
month, had been located near the city on the Franklin pike, were ordered to be
broken up and the hospital train to be parked on the Hillsborough pike, there to
remain until further developments; the sick were transferred to general
hospital. At 7 a.m. December 15 the troops of this corps moved out by the
Hillsborough pike in front of the line of works occupied by them during the two
weeks previous, and formed as follows: First Division on the right, connecting
with the left of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith's command; Second Division on the left
of the First; and the Third Division on the left of the Second and somewhat
retired. The hospitals of the corps were at once established directly on the
Hillsborough pike, and about a quarter of a mile in rear of the line of works.
The site selected was the lawn in front of a large brick house; water was
abundant and good. Detachments from each division ambulance train were close in
rear of the troops; the remaining ambulances were parked in rear of the works
and ready to move out when required; the stretchermen were with their
respective regiments. During the fighting of the 15th ultimo the line of this
corps was advanced nearly two miles. The loss in wounded was not severe, being
only 203 men. The wounded were promptly removed from the field and cared for at
division hospitals. The majority of the wounds were caused by conoidal balls.
After dark, the fighting having ceased and all operations and dressings having
been attended to, the wounded were transferred to general hospital. As the
position of the corps had now changed from the Hillsborough pike to the
Franklin pike, the hospital train was ordered to be loaded and ready to move at
daylight on the 16th ultimo.
On the morning of
the 16th ultimo the position of the troops of this corps was as follows: The
Third Division on the left of the Franklin pike, connecting with the right of
Major-General Steedman's command; Second Division in center; and the First
Division on the right, connecting with the command of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith.
The hospitals were located on the right and left of the Franklin pike at
"The Springs," about two miles in advance of the old line of works;
the ambulances were near the troops. The fighting of to-day was much more
severe than that of yesterday, although the casualties were wonderfully slight.
Four hundred and ninety-five men of this corps were wounded and taken to
hospital. Shell wounds were of more frequent occurrence than on the previous
day. At night the wounded, after being attended to, were ordered to be
transferred to general hospital and the hospital trains to be loaded and ready
to move at early day, either for the establishment of the hospitals near the
troops in the event of another battle, or to be ready to follow the corps in
case, as was probable, the enemy should retreat.
The medical and
ambulance officers of the corps deserve great praise for the faithful and
efficient manner in which they performed their arduous duties. With little or
no rest for fifty hours, they yet cheerfully and fearlessly continued at their
posts. I can truly say that I have never seen wounded more promptly removed
from the field or better cared for in division hospitals. Medical and hospital
supplies were abundant and rations plenty. There were no casualties in the
ambulance corps or among medical officers.
The following number
of wounded of other commands was received into hospitals of this corps, viz:
Rebels, 15; Twelfth U.S. Colored Troops, 2; Thirteenth U.S. Colored Troops, 40;
Fourteenth U.S. Colored Troops, 1; One hundredth U.S. Colored Troops, 3; total
of other commands, 61.
Inclosed are lists
of rebel wounded received into hospitals of this command.
The battle reports
of division hospitals have been forwarded.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Medical Director, Department of the Cumberland.
* Nominal list
(omitted) shows 1 killed, 3 wounded, and 1 missing.
