Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 146. Report of Capt. Edwin C. Sanders, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 146.

Report of Capt. Edwin C. Sanders, Tenth Minnesota Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. TENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,   

In the Field, December 23, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report the part borne by the Tenth Minnesota Infantry in the battles of the 15th and 16th of this month near Nashville, Tenn.

On the morning of the 15th the regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. S. P. Jennison, moved from the earth-works near Nashville as the center of your command. In the charges which were made during the afternoon of this day it participated and contributed in no small degree toward carrying the strong works of the enemy on the left of his lines, which resulted to him in the loss of six cannon and many prisoners, together with very strong defensible positions. On the morning of the 16th the regiment took position on the left of your brigade, the left resting on the right of the Second Brigade, of General McArthur's division, within musket-range of the enemy's earth-works, and in this position remained constantly under fire until about 2 p.m., when it moved about 100 rods to the right and took position parallel to and in front of the Twenty-third Army Corps, where it remained about forty-five minutes, when it participated in the grand charge so gallantly and successfully made by your command against the salient point of the enemy's works, and did very much toward producing the glorious results of the day.

All the officers and men, during these sanguinary conflicts, were at their posts and nobly did their duty; especially did Lieut. Col. Jennison display a high order of those qualities which endear an officer to his command, and by his coolness and noble daring did very much in carrying his regiment repeatedly over the enemy's defenses, the last of which himself did not pass over, being struck down severely wounded while in the act of sealing the works. I should hardly do my duty if I failed to mention Sergeant O'Neill, the color-bearer of the regiment, who particularly distinguished himself in all the charges made, especially so in the last one, in which case he was the first to enter the enemy's works, and, with one toot upon an enemy prostrated by his own hand, waved the regimental colors.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. C. SANDERS,      

Captain, Commanding.

Col. W. L. McMILLEN, Commanding Brigade.

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. 444

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: June 23, 1864

My coverlid nobly does duty, protecting us from the sun's hot rays by day and the heavy dews at night. Have no doubt but it has saved my life many times. Never have heard anything from Hendryx since his escape. Either got away to our lines or shot. Rebels recruiting among us for men to put in their ranks. None will go — yes, I believe one Duffy has gone with them. Much fighting. Men will fight as long as they can stand up. A father fights his own son not ten rods from us. Hardly any are strong enough to do much damage except the raiders, who get enough to eat and are in better condition than the rest. Four or five letters were delivered to their owners. Were from their homes. Remarkable, as I believe this is the first mail since our first coming here. Something wrong. Just shake in my boots — shoes, I mean, (plenty of room) when I think what July and August will do for us. Does not seem to me as if any can stand it After all, it's hard killing a man. Can stand most anything.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 70

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: February 23, 1864

None have been taken away from the island for a number of days. Have heard that a box came for me, and is over in Richmond. Hope the rebel that eats the contents of that box will get choked to death. I wrote to the Governor of Michigan, Austin Blair, who is in Washington, D. C, some weeks ago. He has known me from boyhood. Always lived in the neighborhood at Jackson. Mich. Asked him to notify my father and brothers of my whereabouts. To-day I received a letter from him saying that he had done as requested, also that the Sanitary Commission had sent me some eatables. This is undoubtedly the box which I have heard from and is over in Richmond. Rebels are trying to get recruits from among us for their one-horse Confederacy. Believe that one or two have deserted our ranks and gone over. Bad luck to them.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 33