No. 249.
I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this division in the late campaign in Middle Tennessee:
When the army moved
from Florence, Ala., on or about the 20th of November, my brigade was detached
and left behind for the purpose of convoying a supply train which it was
supposed would be ready to follow the army in a few days. It was, however,
detained at the river until the 28th, when I moved with it and joined the army
in front of Nashville on the 6th of December. Being the senior officer present
with the division after the death of General Cleburne I took command of it on
my arrival. I found it much reduced in numbers, especially in officers, many
having been killed and wounded in the battle of Franklin on the 30th of
November; nor was the tone and morale such as was desirable, owing to
the fearful loss sustained in that battle. The division was at this time in
line of battle on the extreme right of the army, its left (Govan's brigade)
resting on to Nolensville pike, and the right (Lowrey's brigade) on the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad cut, about two miles and a half from the
city, Granbury's brigade being in reserve to support the other brigades or
check any movement of the enemy on our right flank. On the 7th my brigade,
commanded by Colonel Olmstead, of the First Georgia Regiment, was again
detached and ordered to report to Major-General Forrest, who was operating near
Murfreesborough. It did not rejoin the division again until we recrossed the
Tennessee River. (For information concerning it I refer you to the accompanying
report of Colonel Olmstead.) While the division was in line as above stated
skirmishes with the enemy (generally negro troops) were of frequent occurrence,
resulting, however, in but little loss on either side. On the 13th Granbury's
brigade was ordered to take position on the north side of the railroad cut and
to construct a redoubt capable of containing 300 men. On the 15th the enemy
made a formidable attempt on this position by a direct assault, and at the same
time by a flank movement came in its rear. This attempt was a disastrous
failure, he having to retire in confusion, leaving many of his dead and wounded
on the field. In this affair Granbury's brigade behaved with its habitual
spirit and gallantry, its loss on this occasion being about thirty killed and
wounded, principally from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. During the
night of the 15th I was ordered to move with my division toward the left of the
line and bivouacked at Lea's house, near the Granny White pike. On the morning
of the 16th I went into position on the extreme left of the army and to the
west of the Granny White pike. I had not, however, been here but a short time
when I was ordered by General Cheatham to report with my command to General
Hood near the center of the line, which I did, and was ordered by him to send
one brigade (Govan's) back to the left to check a movement of the enemy on that
flank. (For a report of his operations during the remainder of the day you are
referred to the accompanying report of Colonel Green,* of the Fifth Arkansas
Regiment, who succeeded General Govan in the command after the latter was
wounded.)
Shortly after
reporting to General Hood I was again ordered by him to report to General
Cheatham, on the left. By the latter I was directed to cross my command in rear
under cover and to await orders. About an hour afterward [sic], their
ill-provided-for condition, many being barefooted and otherwise badly clothed;
the division recrossed the Tennessee River on the 26th of December.
Owing to the absence
of General Lowrey, and to the fact that his brigade changed commanders so
often, I find it impossible to get a satisfactory report from this brigade.
This latter fact—frequent change of brigade commanders—should be stated as the
reason why this report is so meager and deficient in detail.
Assistant Adjutant-General, Cheatham's Corps.
