No. 134.
Reports of Col. Oscar W. Sterl, One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry,
of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.
HDQRS. 104TH REGIMENT
OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Nashville, Tenn.,
December 6, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to your command, I have the honor to
transmit a report of the part taken by the One hundred and fourth Regiment Ohio
Volunteer Infantry in the battle at Franklin, Tenn.
The regiment (in connection with the brigade) reached
Franklin, Tenn., from Columbia, about 5 o'clock on the morning of the 30th
ultimo, and bivouacked in line until about 8 a.m., when the brigade went into
position in two lines, on the right of the division — the One hundredth and One
hundred and fourth Ohio formed the first line, the One hundredth on the right,
its right resting on the Columbia pike, and the One hundred and fourth joining
it on the left. The regiment immediately erected in its front a good
breast-work, most of the companies putting head-logs upon their works. These
were scarcely completed until the rebels advanced in two lines against the
Second Brigade of the division, on our left. A curve in the works of the left
wing of the regiment enabled the left companies to enfilade the lines of the
rebels as they advanced, and the three left companies fired several rounds,
doing good execution, when the rebel lines fell back in disorder and confusion.
Immediately afterward a brigade of the Fourth Corps, which had been posted on a
ridge about 500 yards in front of our works, began falling back, first in good
line and order, and afterward in great haste and confusion, when it became
apparent that the real charge was being directed against that part of the line
occupied by this regiment, the One hundredth Ohio, and the brigade of the
Second Division on the right of the pike. As the line of the Fourth Corps fell
back from the ridge it was followed at a distance of not over 100 paces by the
first line of the rebel infantry, which gained rapidly upon it, so that the men
of the Fourth Corps had scarcely crossed our works until the ditches in front
were filled with rebels, scrambling to get over the works, and in some
instances, upon the right of the regiment and in front of the One hundredth
Ohio, many of the rebels passed over the works in company with the rear of the
Fourth Corps men. The confusion and hurry of the crossing of this advance line,
their officers crying to them, to “get to the rear and reform,” came near
throwing our line in confusion, and the three right companies borne back by
them, and in doubt as to the commands, fell back a few paces, but in almost a
moment afterward rushed back, with fixed bayonets, and regained their works. The
Sixteenth and Twelfth Kentucky rushed from the second line simultaneously with
them and joined them and the One hundredth Ohio, on the first line, from which
(having overcome all the rebels who had crossed the works) they kept up a
constant and destructive stream of fire, cutting down by hundreds the rebels
who had accumulated and massed in the ditches and immediately in front. The
other seven companies to the left, so soon as the Fourth Corps men had crossed,
began to pour forth such a severe fire that though the rebels in greater number
than their line had gained the ditches, were unable to attempt getting over the
works, but were cut to pieces by the destructive fire of the men. The rebels in
this charge were seen in three lines at least, but if in more, the smoke of the
firing prevented us from seeing their approach. So soon as it became apparent
that this charge was repulsed, the firing was stilled, and those of the rebels
in the ditches who were not killed or wounded were ordered to ground arms and
surrender, when about 300 climbed over the works and were sent to the rear.
Then almost immediately a second charge of the rebels followed, equaled only in
fierce determination and bravery by that of the first charge; this was again
met by a fire equally as true in aim and destruction as before, resulting in
the complete repulse of the enemy, when about 200 more prisoners were taken in
over the works. By the time the second charge was repulsed night had come, and,
though firing was afterward directed at our line from the front, and replied to
by our men, yet no subsequent charge was successful in reaching near to our
works. The regiment remained in the works until after 11 p.m., when, with their
command, retired across the Harpeth River, and took up the line of march toward
Nashville.
Eleven rebel battle-flags were taken in front of our lines
(two by Color-Corpl. Newton H. Hall,* Company I, who shot their bearers, and
crossed over and captured them during the heaviest of the firing); 9 of them
were turned over to brigade headquarters; the others are reported as having
been sent to friends at home by mail before it was known by the captors that
they should be turned over, or orders received requiring it. The slaughter of
the rebels was very great, the ditches were filled with them, and the ground
for many rods in front was literally covered with their dead and wounded.
The officers and men all did nobly, and when the battle was
ended and the rolls called scarcely any were missing.
Our casualties in this engagement were: Killed, 1
commissioned officer, 16 enlisted men; wounded, 2 commissioned officers, 32
enlisted men; missing, 6 enlisted men; total, 3 commissioned officers and 54
enlisted men.
I am, sir, very
respectfully,
O. W. STERL,
Colonel 104th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry.
ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 1ST BRIG., 3D DIV., 23D A. C.
_______________
HEADQUARTERS 104TH OHIO
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Near Spring Hill,
Tenn., December 22, 1864.
CAPTAIN: In accordance with instructions, I would
respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the One hundred
and fourth Ohio Infantry Volunteers in the operations of the 15th and 16th of
December, in front of Nashville, Tenn.:
Having been relieved from our position in the works to the
right of the Franklin pike, in connection with the rest of the brigade, the One
hundred and fourth moved to the right of the Granny White pike, in rear of the
Fourth Corps; remained there until 1 p.m., when this regiment, in connection
with the rest of the brigade, was moved off to the right, through the works,
marching in the rear and parallel to the Fourth Corps and Smith's corps until
we had gained the extreme right, when, changing direction, we were moved to the
front, crossing the Hillsborough pike over the ridge on which the Fifteenth
Indiana Battery was in position and into a corn-field, where the brigade was
halted in column of regiments, the One hundred and fourth in front. Here we
lost three men wounded from gunshots from the enemy posted on the ridge in
front of us. The troops in our immediate front being at this time pressed very
hard by the enemy the First Brigade was ordered up for support, the One hundred
and fourth taking the advance. Moving up under protection of the ridge we
obtained position without loss. Remaining quiet until after dark, the brigade
was placed in position in line of battle, the One hundred and fourth on the
right and flank. The night was passed in throwing up works. December 16,
remained in position in our works until between 3 and 4 p.m., when the order
came for the First Brigade to charge the works in trout of us. The One hundred
and fourth having been placed on the flank in the works at an angle with our
main line we were detained some little time in changing front. On reaching their
works the enemy were found flying in confusion, having abandoned them without
much resistance. The brigade again going into position in line of battle, the
One hundred and fourth on the left, temporary works were thrown up during the
night.
Very respectfully,
O. W. STERL,
Colonel 104th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry.
|Capt. J. H. BROWN,
Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General.|
_______________
* Awarded a Medal of Honor.
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. 421-3
