No. 179.
Report of Brig. Gen. Charles Cruft, U. S. Army, commanding Provisional
Division,
of operations November 29, 1864—January 13, 1865.
HEADQUARTERS
PROVISIONAL DIVISION,
ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Chattanooga, Tenn.,
January 20, 1865.
The following report of the recent campaign is respectfully
submitted: I had been ordered by Major-General Thomas to organize the troops
belonging to Major-General Sherman's field command within this department and
report them to Major-General Steedman, commanding District of the Etowah. On
the 29th day of November, 1864, while on the above duty at Chattanooga, Tenn.,
an order was received from Major-General Steedman to move that day by rail all
available force. A portion of the garrison at Tunnel Hill was withdrawn, and,
with the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteers from this post, was added to my command.
The following statement exhibits the number of officers and men comprising the
command on leaving Chattanooga, and the formation of battalions and brigades, temporarily
made, to wit:
Command.
|
Officers
|
Men
|
Aggregate
|
Total
|
FOURTEENTH ARMY
CORPS.
Col. J. G.
MITCHELL, commanding.
|
|
|
|
|
First Battalion, Lieut. Col. F. W. Lister
|
8
|
526
|
534
|
|
Second Battalion, Lieut. Col. William O'Brien
|
4
|
256
|
260
|
794
|
|
|
|
|
|
TWENTIETH ARMY
CORPS.
Col. BENJAMIN
HARRISON, commanding.
|
|
|
|
|
First Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel McManus
|
8
|
399
|
407
|
|
Second Battalion, Major Hoskins
|
6
|
304
|
310
|
717
|
|
|
|
|
|
TWENTIETH ARMY
CORPS.
Lieutenant-Colonel
BANNING, commanding.
|
|
|
|
|
Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Captain Henderson.
|
9
|
316
|
325
|
|
Third Battalion, Fourteenth Army Corps, Major Roatch
|
8
|
311
|
319
|
644
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEVENTEENTH ARMY
CORPS.
Col. A. G. MALLOY,
commanding.
|
|
|
|
|
Field and staff
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
Twentieth Illinois Battalion, Capt. C. C. Cox
|
1
|
126
|
127
|
|
Thirtieth Illinois Battalion, Capt. J. Kemnitzer
|
1
|
208
|
209
|
|
Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, Capt. C. H. Haskin
|
1
|
186
|
187
|
|
Third Battalion, Twentieth Army Corps, Captain Hulbert
|
6
|
290
|
296
|
822
|
Total
|
55
|
2,922
|
2,977
|
|
November 30, 1864, reached Cowan Station at 8 a.m.,
disembarked the command, and bivouacked.
December 1, shipped the command by rail during the night,
and left Cowan about daylight. Reached Nashville at 5 p.m. and went into camp
in the eastern suburbs of the city. December 2, moved to the hill near Rains'
house and built a strong line of fortifications, and a redoubt for the
Twentieth Indiana Battery (Captain Osborne commanding), which was upon service
with my command this day. December 3, in compliance with orders from
Major-General Steedman, abandoned the works built the day previous, and fell back
to a line indicated nearer the city. In the new position the right rested at
Judge Trimble's house, and the line extending northward across the
Murfreesborough pike, the left rested near Major Lewis' house. A substantial
line of earth-works, with a protecting line of palisades, and an abatis of
brush in front, was speedily constructed. During the day the Eighteenth Ohio
Battery (Captain Aleshire commanding) was assigned to me for duty. A strong
redoubt was built for the artillery at a point where the line crossed the
Murfreesborough turnpike. My command occupied this line until the general
assault upon the enemy. The position was materially strengthened from day to
day by the construction and raising of a dam across Brown's Creek, at the
bridge below, on the Lebanon turnpike. The creek ran nearly parallel to the
line of works and about 200 yards in front of the abatis. It became--as the
depth of water increased--a material impediment in the way of an assault. My
command performed about 4,500 days' work in the construction of this dam.
Lieutenant-Colonel Grosvenor principally superintended its construction, in
obedience to orders from district headquarters. Major Roatch, commanding
battalion Fourteenth Army Corps, was seriously wounded while superintending a
fatigue party at the dam, and the services of this meritorious officer were
thereby lost to his command during the residue of the campaign.
December 11. My command was increased on and after the 6th
instant by the assignment of recruits arriving from the rear, amounting in the
aggregate to 2,327 enlisted men, who were properly armed and distributed to
their respective battalions and brigades. The Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteers,
Lieutenant-Colonel Espy commanding, was also added. These re-enforcements brought
the effective strength of the division up to 5,249. This day orders were
received directing a reconnaissance in force upon the enemy occupying our old
line of works, near Rains' house. Col. J. G. Mitchell, commanding the brigade
of detachments from Fourteenth Army Corps, was assigned to that duty. He moved
his brigade on the Murfreesborough turnpike for about half a mile, then made a
detour to the right, where he formed his lines behind a small ridge and sent
his skirmishers to the front; drove in the skirmishers of the enemy, advanced
upon his works, and thoroughly reconnoitered his position. The casualties of
Colonel Mitchell's command were trifling, having none killed and but 3 or 4
slightly wounded.
December 12, the command was put in shape to move at 6 a.m.
on the following morning. December 13, in obedience to orders another
reconnaissance was made on the enemy's line near Rains' house. This duty was
assigned to Col. A. G. Malloy, commanding brigade of detachment of Fifteenth
and Seventeenth Army Corps. Colonel Malloy, with 1,200 men of his command,
advanced upon the enemy's line at the point indicated. Some sharp skirmishing
ensued, but the objects of the reconnaissance were attained. Colonel Malloy's
casualties were as follows: Killed, 1; wounded, 6; missing, 1; making a total
of 8 enlisted men.
December 14, the effective force of the division was 5,359,
as shown by the following statement:
Command.
|
Officers.
|
Men.
|
Aggregate.
|
Division headquarters :
|
6
|
20
|
26
|
First Brigade, Colonel Harrison
|
26
|
1,033
|
1,059
|
Second Brigade, Colonel Mitchell
|
24
|
1,104
|
1,128
|
Third Brigade, Colonel Grosvenor
|
39
|
852
|
891
|
Second Brigade (Army of the Tennessee), Colonel Malloy
|
22
|
1,925
|
1,947
|
Miscellaneous Camp, Captain Eaton
|
4
|
304
|
308
|
Total
|
121
|
5,238
|
5,359
|
Orders were again received to be ready to march at 6 a.m. of
the next day. Arms were issued to the portion of troops that were unarmed, and
command was put in readiness to comply with the order. In the evening orders
were received from Major-General Steedman to detail one of the brigades to
report for duty to Colonel Morgan, commanding colored brigade, on my left..
Lieut. Col, C. H. Grosvenor (who had succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel Banning in
command of the brigade) was ordered to report to Colonel Morgan. This order
detached Colonel Grosvenor's brigade from my immediate control during the
operations before Nashville, and it did not again rejoin its command until it
reached Murfreesborough, marching by way of Franklin, Tenn.
December 15, according to directions from the major-general
commanding, the division moved at 4 a.m., and, abandoning its line of defenses,
relieved a portion of the troops of the Fourth Army Corps, Brigadier-General
Wood commanding, and Twenty-third Army Corps, Major-General Schofield commanding,
and held their exterior line of works, picketing also the front from the Acklen
place to a point north of Fort Negley, and commanding the approaches to the
city by the Granny White, Franklin, Nolensville, and Murfreesborough turnpikes.
Details were furnished to support the batteries of artillery in the lines and
to garrison Fort Morton, and Redoubt Casino. The brigade of Lieutenant-Colonel
Grosvenor (temporarily reporting to Colonel Morgan) was engaged during the day
in the assault on the enemy's works near Rains' house, and was the only portion
of the division in the fight. It suffered considerably in killed and wounded,
and behaved creditably. The Twenty-fourth [Twenty-fifth?] Indiana Battery
(Captain Sturm), in position on the right of the line, near the Acklen place,
was ordered by me, near night-fall, to fire upon a retreating line of rebels
which came in sight, passing parallel to my right, from left of the Fourth
Corps. The fire was opened with good effect (though at long range) and the
rebel line was dispersed in great confusion. Captain Sturm and his officers and
artillerists deserve great credit for the precision with which they worked
their guns and the good results that followed.
December 16, the command remained in position as of
yesterday. The brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Grosvenor was engaged on
the left during the day and contributed its share in the work achieved by
Major-General Steedman in that quarter. The assault made upon the enemy's lines
and works in the afternoon of this day was under the immediate sight and
direction of Major-General Steedman, and the brigade will, without doubt,
receive due credit from him. All accounts that reach me speak well of the
conduct of the troops in this action. During the afternoon Colonel Mitchell's
brigade was moved rapidly out from the works and occupied the hills beyond
Rains' house, in compliance with orders, pushing a strong line of skirmishers
to Riddle's Hill beyond. The brigade held this position firmly and in shape to repel
any attack on the part of the enemy's cavalry to turn the left of the general
line, and protected all approaches from the east during the residue of the time
this command remained at Nashville.
Monday, December 19, received orders to march to Murfreesborough;
moved the command at 6.30 a.m., leaving behind those sick and unable to march,
in all, say, 500. Reached La Vergne, fifteen miles, and encamped at night-fall.
Tuesday, December 20, marched to Murfreesborough and encamped. Wednesday,
December 21, shipped the command on cars, without rations, and started on the
morning of 22d for Stevenson. Remained on cars four days. Sunday, December 25,
reached Limestone Creek, eight miles beyond Huntsville, and bivouacked. Monday,
December 26, marched to bayou near mouth of Limestone Creek, say ten miles, and
bivouacked; sent back by train those sick and unable to march, say 400 men.
Tuesday, December 27, waded bayou at 4 a.m., and marched
down on north side of Tennessee, nearly opposite mouth of Flint River, and awaited
orders. The enemy shelled the transports sent to convey my command over, but no
casualties resulted therefrom. Signaled General Steedman information of the
enemy's strength, &c., at Decatur, obtained from Colonel Prosser and one of
my staff officers. Crossed the river and lagoon beyond, and halted to receive
rations from the transports at 4 p.m., as directed by Major-General Steedman.
Soon received orders from him to move up to support Colonel Thompson's
division, which had been advanced toward Decatur and had been engaged during
the afternoon in skirmishing with the enemy. The command was brought up as
rapidly as possible and formed in line on Colonel Thompson's right. The enemy
opened fire with two pieces of artillery. Some of the shots fell near my line,
but without damage. An advance was ordered, and both divisions moved rapidly on
the town. The enemy ran away before we reached it, taking his two pieces of
artillery, and our troops occupied the place. Marched back to the woodland near
Decatur, and encamped for the night.
Wednesday, December 28, marched at 5 p.m., on Courtland
road, to Moseley's farm, say three miles west of Decatur, and bivouacked, Thursday,
December 29, marched thirteen miles and a half, to Swope's place, and
bivouacked. Friday, December 30, marched at 7 a.m. to Courtland, four miles,
and encamped. Remained at Courtland five days.
Wednesday, January 4, 1865, left Courtland at 2 p.m.;
marched back to Swope's, and bivouacked. Thursday, January 5, marched at dawn
of day; made thirteen miles and a half, and encamped at Moseley's. Here orders
were received from Major-General Steedman, advising of his departure, by
transports, with the artillery, and turning over the entire infantry command to
me. Friday, January 6, crossed the Tennessee at the Decatur pontoon, and sent
forward one division to Huntsville, which arrived about dark, the
transportation doubling back for the other. It was designed to remain at
Huntsville until 1 p.m. of the next day to bring up the residue of the command
and to await transportation and the completion of the Paint Rock bridge, which
had been destroyed by the enemy. At an interview with Brigadier-General Wood,
commanding Fourth Corps, then at Huntsville, he requested me strongly to press
forward a brigade to Larkinsville, apprehending that the rebel General Lyon
might be in the vicinity. Colonel Mitchell's brigade was sent forthwith (at
11.30 p.m.), with instructions to get over Paint Rock Creek in some manner, and
reach Larkinsville by march, patrol the country thoroughly, and engage Lyon, if
he could be found. Colonel Mitchell used every possible effort to carry out his
instructions. He reached Larkinsville on the morning of the 7th, and made an
extensive patrol of the surrounding country, and reported that he could hear
nothing of Lyon. Saturday, January 7, General Wood advised, at an interview
during the morning, that I should personally go to Larkinsville, with all the
troops for which transportation could be had. The condition of the troops and
the orders of General Steedman, &c., were explained to General Wood. In the
emergency, however, I followed his advice. There could be but one train made up
at Huntsville; on this Colonel Harrison's brigade was loaded at 12 m. and the
train run to Paint Rock Station. Here the railway managers kept the troops
until, say, 2 a.m., waiting on westward bound trains, and for repairs of the
bridge. A telegraphic instrument was put in operation and communication had
with Brigadier-General Wood and Major-General Steedman. Here an order from
General Wood reached me by telegraph, based upon instructions from the
department commander “to stop the return of Major-General Steedman's troops.”
The telegraphic message directed me to “disembark the forces that are on the
cars immediately, scour the country thoroughly, and find out, if possible,
where Lyon is, and get in pursuit of him; he must be found, and either captured
or driven across the Tennessee River. General Thomas' orders on this subject
are emphatic, and he says you must not go on your way until this work is
finished.” Here intelligence was received that all the troops on trains
following me—Colonels Thompson's, Morgan's, and Salm's brigades—had been
stopped and unloaded at Brownsborough, by orders from Brigadier-General Wood;
that a portion of these were ordered to New Market by his direction; and that
the arrangements for shipping Colonel Malloy's troops had not been carried out.
The men were out of rations, the weather now cold, rainy, and disagreeable, and
the roads well-nigh impassable for infantry. On reaching Larkinsville a
telegraphic message was sent to Colonel Krzyzanowski, commanding at Stevenson,
asking a supply of rations; he promptly promised them. Owing to delays on the
railways, however, they did not reach the troops in time. The garrison at
Larkinsville consisted of Company M, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, Captain Givens
commanding, numbering probably sixty men, and a sort of amateur gathering of
mounted men, who styled themselves “Alabama Scouts,” under Captain Sparks, say
thirty or forty in number. At 7 a.m. all the cavalry and the anomalous scouts
were sent to patrol the roads in the direction of Winchester, New Nashville,
Robinson's farm, &c., with instructions to keep a strong vedette post at
Colonel Province's. Infantry patrols were sent out to watch the approaches
leading through the coves, in the direction of Bellefonte, Scottsborough, and
Larkinsville. The intelligence which reached my headquarters from all these
parties, and from citizens during the day, showed that no enemy was in the vicinity,
except the “bushwhacking gangs of Russell, Hayes, Mead, and Wilson, which
constantly infest the mountains in the vicinity. Lyon could not be heard of. At
2.55 p.m. a dispatch was received from Colonel Krzyzanowski reciting a dispatch
from Major-General Milroy, as follows:
General Lyon crossed the mountain last night, going toward
Bellefonte. Has 500 men; many of them dressed in Federal overcoats. He has one
howitzer.
Colonel Harrison's brigade was immediately loaded on the
only train at Larkinsville and started before 4 p.m. to Bellefonte, with
instructions to patrol the road from there west to Scottsborough and place a
battalion at Bellefonte landing; engage Lyon, if possible, and pursue him at
all hazards. He was directed to inform the officer commanding at Scottsborough
of the intelligence received; to direct him to make stalwart resistance, and to
re-enforce him if he heard firing at Scottsborough. The garrison at
Scottsborough consisted of two lieutenants (whose names have been mislaid),
and, say, fifty-four colored soldiers of the One hundred and tenth
(unorganized) U.S. Colored Volunteers, supposed to be in a substantial
earth-work at the place. At about 5.30 p.m. train arrived from the west, the
last one bringing Colonel Halley's brigade. This was immediately sent forward
to Scottsborough by rail, at, say, 8 p.m., as soon as the road was clear, with
proper instructions. Shortly after Colonel Malloy left, a few single discharges
of artillery were heard at long intervals in what citizens said was the direction
of Bellefonte. It seemed possible that Harrison had fallen in with Lyon, or
that the gun-boats were shelling his river detachment; however, as Colonel
Malloy was rapidly nearing Scottsborough and the firing soon ceased, it seemed
to demand no special attention. The commanding officer at Scottsborough erred
in leaving the earth-works and betaking himself and command to the brick depot
building; he made, however, from the latter place a sturdy resistance to the
attack of the skirmishers and held out well (as the enemy's prisoners admit),
and forced Lyon to dismount and form line of battle, bring up his artillery and
use it, thus consuming considerable time. In the meanwhile the two sections
preceding Colonel Malloy dashed past the troops on the trains, firing on the
enemy, confusing him, and stopping his attack on the garrison. In this
confusion and cessation of fire the garrison escaped and came to Colonel
Malloy, who was unloading and forming his lines at the water-tank in the edge
of the town. A re-enforcement from Colonel Harrison, at Bellefonte, arrived at
this time on the east of the place, and the enemy ran away rapidly. Colonel
Malloy sent back one of his sections, with one of the lieutenants of the
colored troops, to report, reaching headquarters about midnight. This
lieutenant was badly stampeded; his statements were miserably incongruous,
childish, and improbable; a complete physical terror seemed to possess him, and
nothing he stated could be relied on. Colonel Mitchell's brigade was
immediately ordered from Larkinsville, in the direction of the river, to try
and intercept Lyon at Perry's house, the junction of the Larkin's Ferry and
Gunter's Landing roads. Colonel Mitchell moved at about 2 a.m. Colonel
Thompson, arriving from west with his brigade, was sent forward to join Colonel
Malloy and press on in pursuit. Colonel Salm's brigade, arriving in the night,
was rationed, and soon after day left to follow up Colonel Mitchell by a line
more to the right. At daylight the troops were disposed as follows: Colonel
Malloy and Colonel Thompson in direct pursuit of Lyon and close on him; Colonel
Harrison to his left, pressing down the river and feeling into Bellefonte,
Sublett's, McGinn's, and Larkin's Landings, and preventing retreat up the
river; Colonels Mitchell and Salm trying to cut him off, by shorter lines to
the river, at Roman's and Law's Landings, and to strike the Gunter's Landing
road below him. Colonel Mitchell pushed his column rapidly forward. Soon after
dawn of day he came upon a detachment of the enemy attempting to burn the
bridge across Santa Creek, while the main portion of his forces had swum the
creek some three miles below and were passing the junction of the roads at
Perry's, say four miles down the Gunter's Landing road. Colonel Mitchell drove
off the enemy, extinguished the fire on the bridge, and pushed on after him. He
was only about an hour behind him at Perry's Cross-Roads. Colonel Malloy was
compelled to delay his pursuit at the creek below for some three hours to
construct a crossing for his men. The streams were all flooded, the mud deep,
the rain pouring down, and the men (except Colonels Mitchell's and Salm's
commands) without rations. I accompanied Colonel Mitchell's column; Colonel
Malloy joined this during the afternoon. Pursuit was made vigorously till near
night-fall, when the troops were so exhausted that they were bivouacked as an
act of humanity. I rode back to Larkinsville, and during [the] evening informed
Brigadier-General Wood and Major-General Steedman by telegraph of the condition
of affairs, and tried to get at Colonel Morgan's command, to send it from
Woodville to strike the Tennessee at mouth of Paint Rock. It was impossible to
reach Colonel Morgan, the telegraphic station having been removed from
Brownsborough. He came up during the night with his own regiment and Colonel
Shafter's. Colonel Morgan was unloaded at Larkinsville to get rations and rest,
and Colonel Shafter sent on to Scottsborough to protect that place from
guerrillas, who were reported to have been firing at the small guard there
during the afternoon. Efforts were again made to have rations at Gunter's
Landing by transport, and a message was received from Major-General Steedman
announcing their shipment.
Tuesday, January 10, Colonels Mitchell, Malloy, Salm, and
Thompson were in motion at 4.30 a.m., continuing the pursuit. I reached the
column of Colonel Mitchell soon after dawn of day. Colonel Thompson's command
was thrown off to the left to Law's Landing. About eight miles from
Guntersville the head of Colonel Mitchell's column struck quite a force of the
enemy; probably 100 were in sight. Two battalions were thrown into line, and
with the small cavalry force (which was taken from Larkinsville) was pushed for
them. They broke to small squads and ran away to the hills and woods on each
side and down the road in great confusion; but few shots were fired. The
gunboats on the river were at this time shelling the woods on the north side,
near Gunter's Landing, and below. The enemy could be seen running about in
small detachments in almost every direction and without any order, but, being
well mounted, kept beyond musket-range. The column was pressed steadily toward
Gunter's Landing, with patrol parties in every direction on the flanks, and the
enemy chased in toward the river. They all, however, that were on the left of
the road crossed it in advance of the column, and with those on the right, left
rapidly by the roads running down the river. Some were driven into the
riverbank, but being mounted could swim the lagoons in the bottom that could
not be waded by infantry; here they encountered the gun-boats; a few abandoned
their horses, and they were captured by the boats. General Lyon had reached
Claysville, opposite Gunter's Landing, the evening before, with the greater
portion of his command and the piece of artillery. Citizens reported that he
had abandoned his command during the night, and had crossed the river by a scow
with the piece of artillery and a portion of his staff. It is probable that
about 200 of his command crossed during the night at Law's Landing, and at a
point about one mile and a half above Claysville, in canoes and by swimming
their horses. The rest of his command at Claysville was collected at the head
of the island above on the 11th, attempting to cross, and was alarmed by the
coming down of a gun-boat and dispersed; a portion of the command, under
Colonel Chenoweth, left Claysville about 12 m. in direction of Deposit. My
advance reached Claysville at 2 p.m. Colonel Salm, leaving his men who were
barefooted, was sent on immediately toward Deposit, with instructions to make that
point or the creek and beyond, if possible, by daylight. He marched his Command
vigorously, pursuing the enemy retreating as squads, and making the points
ordered. The ambulance wagon and artillery harness which General Lyon had with
him were captured, as well as those wounded at Scottsborough, viz, 1 captain
and 3 soldiers. Patrol parties were sent from Colonels Mitchell's, Malloy's,
and Thompson's commands to scour the woods along the river and to watch the
various ferrying places in the vicinity. Lieutenant-Colonel O'Brien's battalion
of the Fourteenth Corps detachment was placed opposite Gunter's Landing. The
few cattle and sheep the country afforded were collected by the commissary and
distributed to the command. The gun-boats on the river had no co-operation with
me. I was able to get on board but one of them, the U.S. Grant, I think. The
commanding officer was informed of the nature of my dispositions and all the
intelligence that had been obtained. By some mistake one of the gun-boats (as
Colonel Thompson reported) threw some shells into his camp at Law's Landing,
fortunately without hurting anybody. The rebels were much alarmed by the shells
of the gun-boats, but there were no casualties from them that could be heard
of. Being satisfied that none of the rebel squads had gone up the river Colonel
Harrison was ordered to march to the railway, at the nearest point, and load
his command for Chattanooga.
Wednesday, January 11, no rations arriving by river, Colonel
Malloy's and Colonel Thompson's commands were ordered back to the railway at
Larkinsville, by different routes, with instructions to subsist on the country.
Colonel Mitchell remained at Claysville, patrolling the country in the
vicinity. Colonel Salm pushed his march toward mouth of Paint Rock Creek. On
arriving at Honey Comb Creek it was found to be impassable. The few mounted men
of the Eleventh Indiana with the command swam the creek and patrolled the
country to Paint Rock during the day. It was impossible, however, to catch the
small parties of rebels to be seen without a cavalry force. The high waters and
impossibility of procuring rations rendered it out of the question to push
forward infantry farther. The pursuit was abandoned, therefore, toward
night-fall, confirming the experience of all time that troops of the line
cannot run down cavalry.
Thursday, January 12, orders were issued to Colonel Salm to
march to the railway at Woodville by Honey Comb Valley, and to Colonel Mitchell
to make the same point by the mountain road from Claysville. They reached
Woodville at dark, obtained rations sent there for them, and were shipped in
the night to their former camps at Bridgeport and Chattanooga. One captain
(Murray) and 2 soldiers were captured, in addition to those mentioned heretofore,
making a total of 2 captains and 5 soldiers. Friday, January 14, the residue of
the troops along the railway were rationed, provided with transportation, and
returned to the places indicated in Major-General Steedman's orders.
The total casualties of the division in battle on the entire
campaign cannot be given with exact accuracy as to names and regiments at this
time. It was impossible to prepare correct lists of the recruits received
during the last few days at Nashville before starting upon the march, and in
some instances, in the haste of arming and equipping the men, this important
matter was improperly neglected. It is probable that a number of worthy men
have fallen in battle and by disease of whom there is no record. The following
statement is made up from the reports of commanding officers, to wit:
Command
|
Killed.
|
Wounded.
|
Missing.
|
Aggregate.
|
O
|
M
|
T
|
O
|
M
|
T
|
O
|
M
|
T
|
Colonel Malloy's brigade
|
|
4
|
4
|
|
7
|
7
|
|
6
|
6
|
17
|
Colonel Grosvenor's brigade.
|
3
|
25
|
28
|
5
|
108
|
113
|
|
33
|
33
|
174
|
Colonel Mitchell's brigade
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
4
|
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
Total
|
3
|
29
|
32
|
5
|
119
|
124
|
|
42
|
42
|
198
|
[O = Officers M = Men]
Among the officers killed was Capt. E. Grosvenor and First
Lieut. Samuel W. Thomas, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteers. They fell gallantly
leading their commands on the 15th of December, in the assault upon the enemy's
works; they held high characters in the service for manly and soldierly
qualities. A lieutenant of Second Battalion, Fourteenth Corps, was also killed,
whose name and regiment have not yet been obtained. Among the officers wounded
were Captains Benedict, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteers, Henderson, One hundred and
twenty-first Ohio Volunteers, Brown, Twenty-seventh Ohio Volunteers, and J. B.
Emery, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteers.
The number of men who were left at Nashville by direction of
the surgeon and from various points sent to hospitals in rear was large, owing
to the material of the command reached 1,100 during the campaign. Those left at
Nashville were reported at 500; the number sent back by trains from Limestone
Creek reached 400, and those from Decatur, by transports, say 200. Several
officers were sent back also from these points (and among them some of the best
officers in the command), suffering from disease and former wounds. In addition
to these a few men were left upon the march at houses, sick and unable to be
moved. These were as well cared for as possible, and measures have since been taken
to bring them up. The number of deaths from disease among the men since leaving
Chattanooga is reported at eleven.
In closing this sketch of the late campaign it is due to the
officers and troops of my command to bear unequivocal testimony to the patience,
cheerfulness, and pluck with which they endured the fatigue of forty-six days
continued field service in midwinter. The command was hastily thrown together;
it consisted of detachments from more than 200 regiments; it was rapidly armed,
and from its very composition could be but illy provided with the ordinary
appliances which render field service endurable. About one-fourth of the
command consisted of soldiers recently from hospital, scarcely convalescent,
another fourth of soldiers returned from furlough, and the remaining half of
raw recruits of every nationality, without drill or experience of any kind, but
earnest and worthy men. The officers as a class were good, and perhaps superior
to the average of the army, but they were separated from their regular
commands, without their personal baggage, camp furniture, servants, change of
clothing, stationery, &c., and many of them without money or time to
procure any supply of these necessities. The command left without ambulances or
wagons. The medical department had not adequate supplies. Measles, small-pox,
and camp disorders were constantly appearing among the new men, and often at
points beyond the reach of hospitals. The weather was bitter cold at times, and
during the coldest days there was much suffering by transportation on the
railway. In spite of all such difficulties, however, the division performed its
share of military and fatigue duty during the campaign; it built its share of
defenses at Nashville, and not only held them but participated to some extent
in the general assault; it moved by rail 451 miles and marched 155 miles,
wading streams and laboring through mud and rain; it was from necessity out of
rations sometimes for days. These sufferings are incident to a soldier's life, but
they are much lessened by experience and thorough organization, neither of
which this division had. It is simple justice to both the soldiers and officers
of this provisional division that the services they have rendered should be
thoroughly understood, and that their individual reputations shall not suffer
in their commands with charges of idleness or shirking during their absence.
The officers necessarily were compelled to become
responsible for arms, equipments, ordnance stores, clothing, &c., and to issue
them irregularly in the exigency to men of all regiments, and many who did not
know their assignments. A liberal course of settlement should be adopted by the
supervising authorities of the various departments with regard to these
officers.
Hereto are appended the reports of Colonels Harrison,
Mitchell, Malloy, and Grosvenor, commanding brigades of this division, also
that of Colonel Salm (covering his services in pursuit of Lyon), marked,
respectively, A, B, C, D, and E.* Reports from the other brigade commanders of
the part taken by their brigades in the “tramp” after Lyon have not been as yet
received.
It affords me pleasure to say of Colonels Harrison,
Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, Mitchell, One hundred and thirteenth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and Malloy, Seventeenth Wisconsin Volunteers, who
commanded, each, one of the brigades of the division, that throughout the
campaign they performed their duties and handled their commands in a creditable
and soldierly manner. They are brigade commanders of much experience and
reputation in the army, and deserve well for long and faithful services and for
their management of their respective commands on the recent campaign. Col.
Felix Prince Salm, commanding Sixty-eighth New York, who served with me in
command of a temporary brigade (after leaving Decatur), is an officer of
experience in European armies, and is commended for the zeal, energy, and good
sense which he brings to the service of the Government. Lieutenant-Colonels
Banning, One hundred and twenty-first Ohio, and Grosvenor, of Eighteenth Ohio,
each commanded for a short while a brigade of the division; they are good
officers, and rendered the country service which should be remembered. Colonels
Thompson, Twelfth U.S. Colored Infantry, and Morgan, Fourteenth U.S. Colored
Infantry, commanded brigades' of colored soldiers for a short while with me.
Their troops were disciplined and behaved uniformly well. These officers are
entitled to the consideration of the Government for their personal efforts on
the late campaign, and for the good results flowing from their labors in
demonstration of the problem that colored men can be made soldiers. It is
impossible to note all the deserving officers in command of battalions or
companies of the division. The reports of the brigade commanders contain
general and special notices of these officers, and the attention of the
major-general commanding is directed particularly to them. The cheerful manner
in which Captain Givens (Company M, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry)? commanding
garrison at Larkinsville, responded to all orders from my headquarters, and the
valuable service which his command rendered from thorough knowledge of the
surrounding country, is entitled to creditable mention.
My staff consisted of the following officers, viz: Capt.
John A. Wright, assistant adjutant-general; Capt. G. W. Marshall, assistant
quartermaster; Capt. A. C. Ford (Thirty-first Indiana), acting commissary of
subsistence; Capt. A. Vallendar (One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry),
acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. L. S. Windle (One hundred and
thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry), ordnance officer; Surg. J. D. Cotton
(Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry), medical director; First Lieut. I. N.
Leonard (Ninth Indiana Volunteers), acting aide-de-camp. Each of these officers
merits my thanks for the satisfactory manner in which he discharged his duties,
and they are all worthy of higher positions than they hold.
With my regards to the major-general commanding district, I am,
very respectfully, yours, &c.,
CHARLES CRUFT,
Brigadier-General,
U.S. Volunteers.
Maj. S. B. MOE,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
District of the Etowah.
______________
* See pp. 519, 524, 532, 532, 526, 801.
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. 509-19
