Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 121. Reports of Lieut. Col. Hamilton S. Gillespie, Fiftieth Ohio Infantry, of operations November 26-December 8 and December 15-16, 1864.

No. 121.

Reports of Lieut. Col. Hamilton S. Gillespie, Fiftieth Ohio Infantry,

of operations November 26-December 8 and December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. FIFTIETH REGIMENT OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,       

Nashville, Tenn., December 8, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the operations of this regiment since crossing Duck River, at Columbia, Tenn., including the casualties at Franklin:

November 26, crossed the river at 2 a.m. on railroad bridge, and camped at Duck River Station; built rail barricade, and took position behind it. November 27, in camp all day till 5 p.m.; ordered to cross river at dark; crossed after dark and occupied works prepared for us until 3 a.m. next day, when we returned to north side of river, and went into position till the railroad and pontoon bridges were destroyed. At 11 a.m. November 29 fell into column and moved in the direction of Spring Hill and Franklin. While advancing toward Spring Hill the same night we were attacked by a body of rebels in the dark; repulsed and drove them back, and moved on toward Franklin, where we arrived at 6.30 a.m. of November 30. Went into position and built works on south side of Franklin, and were attacked by the enemy in force at 3.20 p.m., and fought them till 12 p.m., losing: Commissioned officers — wounded, 3; missing, 2. Enlisted men — killed, 7; wounded, 33; captured, 10; missing, 57. Total loss, 112.

I deem this a favorable opportunity to mention the brave and heroic manner in which both officers and men of the regiment met and fought the enemy in a hand-to-hand conflict. Never before did I witness such a bloody contest, and yet there were none who faltered. Capt. J. G. Theaker, of Company F, fell, wounded in the leg, while bravely encouraging his men in their noble work. Lieut. Michael Walsh, of Company D, and Lieut. J.T. Lucas, of Company B, were also wounded while in the devoted line of their duty. Lieut. J. H. Haney, of Company B, and Lieut. Edwin G. Edgley, of Company H, were both captured while in the discharge of their duty. I cannot omit to mention in this connection the valuable assistance I received from Capt. John S. Conahan, of Company D, acting major. My staff — consisting of Adjt. Jerome F. Crowley, Dr. N. B. Cole, and Sergt. Maj. P. F. Pechiney — deserve great credit for the prompt manner in which they performed all their duties during the whole engagement. All the officers and men of the regiment have my sincere thanks for their promptness in obeying orders, and the brave and efficient manner in which they did their bloody work upon the enemy. Coleman Quinn, private of Company K, bravely left the works in pursuit of a rebel ensign, whom he shot, and captured his colors. The boy, not knowing the value of this trophy, gave the colors to some Federal officer in the night.

The regiment retired at 12 p.m. by orders, falling back with the army (marching all night) to Nashville. December 1, arrived at this place at 12 m., and went into position on the left of Fort Negley (facing northwest). December 2-8, all quiet and we occupy the same position.

Accompanying this will be found a list of casualties, giving name and company and the nature of casualty.

Respectfully submitted.

H. S. GILLESPIE,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.            

ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 3D BRIG., 2D DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS.

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HDQRS. FIFTIETH REGIMENT, OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,      

In the Field, near Columbia, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of this regiment on the 15th and 16th days of this month:

December 15, broke up camp at 6 a.m. and moved with Third Brigade, Second Division, to extreme right and rear of the Sixteenth Army Corps, where we laid upon our arms till 3 p.m., when we were ordered to take position on the extreme right of our army. About 4 p.m. charged the enemy, in which we had a warmly contested fight for twenty minutes, driving them back to their intrenchments. First Lieut. E. L. Pyne was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men forward to the fight. Threw up barricades at dark, and heavy skirmishing ensued. At 7 p.m. same night were relieved by Second Brigade, Third Division, and moved one brigade distance to the left and connected with the First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. Built strong breast-works. December 16, heavy skirmishing in our front. Laid quiet in our works till 3 p.m. Sixteenth Army Corps charged and carried the rebel works in our front, our brigade supporting, then moved forward in line of battle one mile and camped for the night.

Casualties: First Lieut. E. L. Pyne, Company K, wounded through breast and arm (mortal); Private Philip Hamen, Company G, in head (slight).

I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. GILLESPIE,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.            

ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 3D BRIG., 2D DIV, 23D ARMY 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. 395-7

Further Particulars of the Murfreesboro Battle – Official

HEADQUARTERS 14TH ARMY CORPS,
Department of the Cumberland,
Front Murfreesboro, Jan. 3, Via Nashville.

H. W. Halleck, Commander-in-chief:

On the 26th of December, we marched from Nashville in three columns, General McCook by the Nolinsville pike, Gen. Thomas from his encampment on the Franklin pike, via Wilson pike, and General Crittenden on the main Murfreesboro pike.

Our left and centre met with a strong resistance, such as the nature of the country permits – the rolling or hilly routes skirted by cedar thickets and farms intersected by small streams, with rocky bluff banks, forming serious obstacles. General McCook drove Gen. Hardee’s corps a mile and a half from Murfreesboro and occupied the place.

General Crittenden reached within a mile of Lavergne. General Thomas reached Wilson’s Pike, meeting with no serious opposition on the 27th. General McCook drove General Hardee from Nolinsville and pushed a reconnoitering division six miles towards Shelbyville.

They found that General Hardee had retreated towards Murfreesboro.

General Crittenden fought and drove the enemy before him, occupying the line of Stewart’s Creek, and capturing some prisoners, with slight loss.

General Thomas occupied the vicinity of Nolinsville, when he was partially surprised, thrown into confusion, and driven back.

General Sheridan’s division had repulsed the enemy four times and protected the flank of the centre, which not only held its won, but advanced until this untoward event which compelled me to retain the left wing to support the right until it should be rallied and assume a new position.

On the 1st the rebels opened by an attack on us and were again repulsed. On the 2d inst. there was skirmishing along the front with threats of an attack until 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

When the enemy advanced, I threw a small division across Stone’s river, to occupy the commanding ground there. While reconnoitering the ground occupied by this division, which ad no artillery, I saw a heavy force coming from the woods, and advancing in line of battle, three lines deep.

They drove our little division before them, after a sharp contest in which we lost 70 or 80 killed and 375 wounded.

They were finally repulsed by General Negley’s division and the remaining troops of the left wing of General Morton’s pioneer brigade, and fled far over the field and beyond their entrenchments. Their officers rallying them with great difficulty. They lost heavily. We occupied the ground with the left last night.

The lines were completed at four o’clock in the morning.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Tuesday, January 6, 1863

Terrific Battle at Murfreesboro – Rebel Gens. Cheatham and Rains Killed

NEAR MURFREESBORO, Dec. 31 – Our whole line suffered terribly this morning, four regiments of regulars lost half of their men and all their commanding officers. Gen Anderson’s troops suffered terribly. Majors Rosengarten and Ward are killed. Gen. Stanley, Rosseau and Palmer are wounded.

Two o’clock P.M. – Gen. Thomas has just broken the rebel centre and driven the enemy a mile. We are advancing our whole line. Gen. Rosencrans [sic] is personally superintending the movement. One shot killed two of his staff officers. The [15th] Wisconsin lost seven Captains. Gen. Negle’s artillery is still moving the rebels in the centre. Gen. Crittenden – left wing – has taken the entrenchments at Murfreesboro. The rebels Gens. Cheatham and Rains are killed.

NASHVILLE, Jan. 2 – The Federals encountered the rebels on the 30th ult. near Stuart’s Creek, and after heavy skirmishing the rebels were driven back.

We captured 100 prisoners, and killed and wounded a large number of rebels.

Our loss was 70 killed and wounded.

At daybreak on the 31st the fight was renewed with great fury. McCook’s corps was opposed to Hardee. After desperate fighting with heavy loss McCook retreated two miles. He soon rallied, and was again driven back.

At night he was four miles this side of the ground occupied in the morning. The fight continued until 10 o’clock p.m. at which time we had maintained our position.

The Federal loss is very Heavy.

Killed – Brig. Gen. Sill, Lieut. Col. Garesche, Chief of Gen. Rosecrans’ Staff; Brig. Gen. Willeck, of Indiana; Col. Kell of the 2nd Ohio; Col. Straffer, Acting Brigadier General, Col. Farmer of the 15th Kentucky; Col. Jones of the 24th Ohio; Lieut. Col. Cotton of the 6th Kentucky; Lieut. Col. Jones, of the [39th Indiana]; Major Carpenter, of the 19th Regulars; Major Rosengarten of Philadelphia.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. – The Secretary of War to-day received the following:

Cleveland, O. Jan. 2.

The following has just been received by telegraph from Cincinnati, dated Murfreesboro, Jan. 1:

A terrible battle was fought yesterday. – The latest from the field is up to noon. The rebel center had been broken, and things looked favorable. The losses are reported to be enormous. Stanley, Rosseau and Palmer are wounded, and the rebels Cheatham and Rains are killed.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Saturday Evening, January 3, 1862