Major-General John A. Logan to Officers and Soldiers of the Fifteenth Army Corps, September 11, 1864

HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

EASTPoint, GA., September 11, 1864.

Officers and Soldiers of the Fifteenth Army Corps:

You have borne your part in the accomplishment of the object of this campaign, a part well and faithfully done.

On the 1st day of May, 1864, from Huntsville, Ala., and its vicinity, you commenced the march. The marches and labors performed by you during this campaign will hardly find a parallel in the history of war. The proud name heretofore acquired by the 15th Corps for soldierly bearing and daring deeds remains untarnished—its lustre undimmed. During the campaign you constituted the main portion of the flanking column of the whole army. Your first move against the enemy was around the right of the army at Resaca, where, by your gallantry, the enemy were driven from the hills and his works on the main road from Vilanaw to Resaca. On the retreat of the enemy, you moved on the right flank of the army by a circuitous route to Adairsville, in the same manner from there to Kingston and Dallas, where, on the 28th day of May, you met the veteran corps of HARDEE, and in a severe and bloody contest you hurled him back, killing and wounding over two thousand, besides capturing a large number of prisoners. You then moved around to the left of the army, by way of Acworth, to Kenesaw Mountain, where again you met the enemy, driving him from three lines of works, capturing over three hundred prisoners. During your stay in front of Kenesaw Mountain, on the 27th of June, you made one of the most daring, bold and heroic charges of the war, against the almost impregnable position of the enemy on Little Kenesaw. You were then moved, by way of Marietta, to Nickajack Creek, on the right of the army, thence back to the extreme left by way of Marietta and Roswell, to the Augusta railroad, near Stone Mountain, a distance of fifty miles, and after effectually destroying the railroad at this point, you moved by way of Decatur to the immediate front of the Rebel stronghold, Atlanta. Here, on the 22d day of July, you again performed your duty nobly, “as patriots and soldiers” in one of the most severe and sanguinary conflicts of the campaign. With hardly time to recover your almost exhausted energies, you were moved again around to the right of the army, only to encounter the same troops against whom you had so recently contended, and the battle of the 28th of July, at Ezra Chapel, will long be remembered by the officers and soldiers of this command. On that day it was that the 15th Corps almost unaided and alone, for four hours contested the field against the Corps of HARDEE and LEE.. You drove them discomfited from the field causing them to leave their dead and many of their wounded in your hands. The many noble and gallant deeds performed by you on that day will be remembered among the proudest acts of our nation's history. After pressing the enemy closely for several days, you again moved to the right of the army, to the West Point railroad, near Fairburn—after completely destroying the road for some distance, you marched to Jonesboro, driving the enemy before you from Pond creek, a distance of ten miles. At this point you again met the enemy, composed of LEE's and HARDEE's Corps, on the 31st of August, and punished them severely, driving them in confusion from the field, with their dead and many wounded and prisoners left in your hands. Here again by your skill and true courage you kept sacred the reputation you have so long maintained, viz.: “The 15th Corps never meets the enemy but to strike and defeat him.” On the 1st of September, the 14th Corps attacked HARDEE, you at once opened fire on him, and by your co-operation his defeat became a rout. Hood, hearing the news, blew up his ammunition trains, retreated, and Atlanta was ours.

You have marched during the campaign, in your windings, the distance of four hundred miles, have put “hors-du-combat.” more of the enemy than your corps numbers, have captured twelve stands of colors, 2,450 prisoners and 210 deserters.

The course of your march is marked by the graves of patriotic heroes who have fallen by your side; but at the same time it is more plainly marked by the blood of traitors who have defied the constitution and laws, insulted and trampled under foot the glorious flag of our country.

We deeply sympathize with the friends of those of our comrades-in-arms who have fallen; our sorrows are only appeased by the knowledge that they fell as brave men, battling for the preservation and perpetuation of one of the best governments of earth. “Peace be to their ashes.”

You now rest for a short time from your labors; during the respite prepare for future action. Let your country see at all times by your conduct that you love the cause you have espoused; that you have no sympathy with any who would by word or deed assist vile traitors in dismembering our mighty Republic or trailing in the dust the emblem of our national greatness and glory. You are the defenders of a government that has blessed you heretofore with peace, happiness and prosperity. Its perpetuity depends upon your heroism, faithfulness and devotion.

When the time shall come to go forward again, let us go with the determination to save our nation from threatened wreck and hopeless ruin, not forgetting the appeal from widows and orphans that is borne to us upon every breeze to avenge the loss of their loved ones who have fallen in defense of their country. Be patient, obedient and earnest, and the day is not far distant when you can return to your homes with the proud consolation that you have assisted in causing the old banner to again wave from every mountain's top and over every town and hamlet of our once happy land, and hear the shouts of triumph ascend from a grateful people, proclaiming that once more we have one flag and one country.

John A. Logan,

Major General Commanding.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 301-3

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 112. Report of Col. Oliver L. Spaulding, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, of operations November 24-December 5, 1864.

No. 112.

Report of Col. Oliver L. Spaulding, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry,

of operations November 24-December 5, 1864.

HDQRS. TWENTY-THIRD MICHIGAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,  

Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders of the colonel commanding brigade, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the regiment under my command from the 24th of November last to date:

On the 24th of November the regiment was at Johnsonville, Tenn., under orders to rejoin the brigade at Columbia. At 4 p.m. of that day it left Johnsonville by rail, and arrived at Columbia at noon on the 25th, and immediately built works on that part of the line to which it was assigned, sending five companies on picket. At 2 o'clock the next morning the regiment retired with the brigade some two miles, near to Duck River, and was occupied all day and night in building works on the left of the brigade line. On the morning of the 27th we were ordered to move to the right, where we took up a new position, our right resting upon the railroad a short distance from the railroad bridge, and threw up works. In the afternoon the regiment was ordered on a reconnaissance to the right of our line to ascertain what force, if any, the enemy had thrown across the river at a ford some six miles on our right. Having accomplished the object of the reconnaissance we returned to camp shortly after dark and crossed the river, with the brigade, (luring the night, taking position on the north bank of the river a short distance to the right of the railroad bridge. We remained here till morn of the 29th, when we retired with the division toward Franklin, reaching there on the morning of the 30th. On the evening of the 29th, when near Spring Hill, a body of the enemy was found to be in our front. In the advance upon them this regiment was thrown on the right flank of the line to move by the flank in the rear of the line and guard against any movement the enemy might make upon that flank. I threw out flankers, who, in the darkness, ran upon the pickets of the enemy. In the confusion we captured a rebel adjutant-general. On arriving at Franklin we threw up works in the position assigned us, throwing up traverses upon the flanks of each company, which proved of the greatest service to us in the engagement of the evening, as the enemy had a heavy flank fire upon us during most of the time. At a little past 4 p.m. the enemy assaulted our works with three lines, apparently confident of carrying them with ease, but after a most stubborn attempt he evidently became convinced that he had undertaken a very heavy contract, and one which one of the high contracting parties had no idea of ratifying. He renewed the attack several times, only to be repulsed each time, with terrible loss. During the engagement the left of the regiment was more hardly pressed than the right, and most of my fire was left oblique. At one time two companies of the One hundred and eighty-third Ohio, on our immediate left, broke and left their part of the Works unprotected. A body of the enemy occupied the outside of these works for some time. Here we shot down two color-bearers, and prevented their entering the works, till they were again occupied by two companies of the Eightieth Indiana. As the Eightieth was moving to the left to occupy this position I threw one company on the right center — where the enemy's fire at that time was very light — over the works, and fired one volley into rebels as they lay upon the outside of our works. During the engagement we took among other prisoners Lieutenant Lee, aide-de-camp, of General S. D. Lee's staff.

My loss during the engagement was 2 killed, 13 wounded, and 3 missing. Among the killed was Lieut. D. M. Averill, a brave and thorough officer.

Shortly after midnight we crossed the river with the division, and reached Nashville shortly after noon of December 1.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. L. SPAULDING, 

Colonel, Commanding.

Capt. H. A. HALE,

Assistant Adjutant-General Second 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. 385-6

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 99. — Reports of Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of Operations November 30 1864

No. 99.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations November 30 1864.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,

Columbia, Tenn., December 31, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, in the battle fought at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, between the forces of the United States, commanded by Major-General Schofield, and the rebel army, under General Hood:

The division arrived at Franklin soon after daylight on the 30th of November, 1864, having marched during the night from Spring Hill, and had been for several days previously almost constantly either marching or working in throwing up breast-works at Columbia, Tenn, and at Duck River, near the railroad bridge. On arriving at Franklin I received orders from Major-General Schofield to report to Brigadier-General Cox, commanding Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and for the time being in command of the corps for assignment to position. I was directed by Brigadier-General Cox, commanding corps, to place my division in position next on the right of the Third Division at the Columbia turnpike. I placed the division in the position indicated, the Third Brigade, Col. S. A. Strickland, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers, commanding, on the left of the division, and next on the right of the Third Division, its left resting on the Columbia turnpike, on a hill of moderate elevation just at the outskirts of the village of Franklin, and the Second Brigade, Col. Orlando H. Moore, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteers, commanding, on the right of the Third Brigade. The right of the Second Brigade rested on the Carter's Creek turnpike. The Third Brigade was in two lines formation; the Second Brigade in single line formation. Breast-works were at once commenced along the whole line and completed about 2 p.m. The general line of our forces was that of an arc of a circle, with the convexity toward the enemy. Immediately in front of the line the ground was open, the left of the line commanding the ground in its front; in front of the center of the line, and distant about 150 yards, was a slight elevation; in front of the right of the line, distant about 250 yards, there was a ravine, which could not be swept by the fire from the line, extending diagonally to the front and left and departing from the line; in front of a portion of the division line, near the left, was a small locust grove, which was felled, forming a fair abatis in front of that portion of the line; a slight obstruction was also made by cutting a row of fruit trees that was in front of the right of the line; in front of and extending to the left of the division line there was a range of hills commanding the line and varying in distance from three quarters to a mile, and affording good positions to the enemy for artillery, and still farther distant a high range of hills, affording a good view of our lines.

Owing to the relation of the line to that which would be occupied by the enemy in case of all attack on us, being that of all inner arc of a circle, the enemy's being the outer are, and affording, particularly to my left, positions for artillery which could enfilade and fire in reverse on the right portion of the line, I caused the line of breast-works to be made in the form of a broken line, thus obviating that difficulty, and also giving a cross-fire on portions of the ground in front, particularly the slight elevation before spoken of, as being about 150 yards in front of the center of the line of the division. The only artillery placed in position under my direction was a section of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, commanded by Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?], which was placed in rear of the right of the Third Brigade, and commanded the approaches to the center and right of the line, and could also cross-fire with a battery in position on the Carter's Creek turnpike by Brigadier-General Kimball, whose division of the Fourth Army Corps was next on my right, connecting with my right at the Carter's Creek turnpike. About 2 o'clock the enemy's skirmishers appeared in front of my line of skirmishers, which was posted at a distance of from half to three-quarters of a mile in front of the main line. The enemy was observed to be developing in front soon after. About 3.30 o'clock I received information from Colonel Zollinger, One hundred and twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, commanding my line of skirmishers, that the enemy was advancing in force. Like information was also sent to me about the same time by Brigadier-General Cox, commanding the corps. The enemy advanced in three lines, covering the whole front of the division, drove in the skirmishers, who fell back slowly, firing as they came. At about 4 p.m. the attack of the enemy was made with great boldness and determination, but was everywhere resisted with firmness, except on the left of the division, the enemy being checked within 100 yards by a steady fire of our men from the breast-works, and finally driven back, with very heavy loss, whilst our loss was comparatively slight.

On the slight elevation in front of the line before referred to the enemy's line was brought up by our fire, and from its elevated position it was clearly defined against the sky to the view of our men, and I distinctly observed it gradually waste and disappear under our fire. This attack of the enemy continued for about one hour. At the first onset of the enemy the left of the line, held by the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers and the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, fell back some fifty yards from the breastworks, at which position they were rallied and maintained a firm stand, holding this new position, which was hastily intrenched during the intervals of the fighting. The enemy got possession of the outer portion of the breast-works, and apparently would have swept the line back and gained strong hold of the key point of our lines, had it not been for the timely assistance received by that portion of the line by other troops, particularly a brigade of the Fourth Corps, commanded by Colonel Opdycke. Much was due also, in restoring order and firmness to this part of the line, to the personal exertion and direction of Brigadier-General Cox, who was present on that portion of the line at the critical moment. It is reported by the commander of the Third Brigade that the left of his line temporarily gave way, owing to the line being shattered immediately on his left. From my own observation and what I have otherwise learned, I am of the opinion that the right of the Third Division and the left of the Second Division, commanded by myself, were temporarily thrown back and disordered to some extent at about the same time, and from the same cause, which was as follows: General Wagner's division, of the Fourth Army Corps, occupied a line on both sides of the Columbia turnpike in front of our main line, and did not retire until either forced back by the enemy, or until the enemy was so close as to be enabled to follow at its heels, and strike our breast-works at the Columbia turnpike close after, thus preventing an effective fire of our infantry or artillery at this point on the approaching lines of the enemy. General Wagner's division, of the Fourth Army Corps, also in coming in on so small a portion of our line disorganized it to a considerable extent by its pressure and by the hurry of its movements and its disorganized and crowded condition, inevitable under the circumstances.

It was an error that General Wagner's division should have remained so long in  front of the line that the enemy's masses were enabled to crowd it back and follow it pell-mell on to our main line. On whom the responsibility for such a condition of things rests is better known to my superior officers on the field than to myself. The advantage gained by the enemy was but temporary, our lines being soon restored, and the repeated attempts thereafter made by the enemy to force us from the position were successfully resisted and the position firmly held by us, and the enemy in every instance repulsed with loss. After a short interval, under cover of approaching darkness and the obscurity caused by the settling of the smoke on the field, the enemy made another fierce and persistent attack in heavy force, covering, so far as my line was concerned, from near the right of the division to its extreme left. This attack was made with great boldness, the enemy in some places reaching the breastsworks and attempting to force our line with the bayonet. Our men at this juncture behaved gallantly, defending their breastworks and repulsing the enemy's attack with the bayonet wherever occasion required, making a considerable capture of men and officers, among the latter several field and staff officers. After the repulsing of this the second heavy attack of the enemy, some further attempts, but comparatively slight, were made on the line up to as late as about 9 o'clock in the evening. The forces of the enemy actually engaged in the attack on the position held by our army, so far as I was able to learn from prisoners, were the corps of the rebel Generals Cheatham and Stewart and one division of the corps commanded by General S. D. Lee.

All things considered, this battle of Franklin is one of the most remarkable of the war, both for the bravery, energy, and persistence of the attack by the enemy, he continually bringing up fresh troops, apparently confident that each new effort would enable him to force our lines, and also for the courage, firmness, and patience with which his repeated attacks were received and repulsed by our men.

Considerable captures were made by the division, of officers and men, the precise number of which I do not know, as the prisoners were at once passed to the rear. From my personal observation I should judge the number to be from 150 to 200 men.

The division remained in position until 12 o'clock at night, soon after which time, in accordance with orders, it withdrew to the north bank of the Harpeth River and took up its march for Brentwood with the rest of the army.

The First Brigade of the division, Brigadier-General  Cooper commanding, and the Ninety-first Indiana Volunteers, Col. John Mehringer commanding, and One hundred and twenty third Indiana Volunteers. Col. J. C. McQuiston commanding, were not present With the division at this battle, having been previously detached to guard the fords on Duck Creek below Columbia, and did not rejoin the division until after its arrival at Nashville, Tenn. The Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, Lieut. Col. J. Stockton commanding, and Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteers, Col. R. C. Bradshaw commanding, were temporarily assigned to the division and attached to the Third Brigade. Both regiments did efficient service. Colonel Bradshaw fell severely wounded while in the act of leading his men in the endeavor to force back the enemy in his front. Also at about the same time Lieutenant-Colonel Stockton and Major James, of the Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, were wounded and disabled.

The section of the Twentieth Ohio Battery, Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] commanding, fought gallantly. Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] was mortally wounded, also his orderly sergeant. I regret that I have no official report from this section, which was only temporarily under my command. The conduct of Lieutenant Hadley [Burdick?] and of his sergeant, whose name I do not know, was represented as most gallant.

I was indebted to Brigadier-General Kimball, commanding division of the Fourth Army Corps, next on my right, for the timely assistance of five companies of the One hundred and first Ohio Volunteers, commanding, which fought bravely and did efficient service. Col. S. A. Strickland, commanding Third Brigade, and Col. Orlando H. Moore, commanding Second Brigade, contributed much by their personal bravery and activity to the success of the division in resisting the enemy.

There were present on the field with me of my staff, Lieut. S. H. Hubbell, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. George L. Binney, aide-de-camp; Lieut. E.G. Fay, aide-de-camp; Captain Milholland, acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. J. A. Lee, commissary of musters; Captain Spain, provost-marshal, and Lieut. J. Clingman, ordnance officer, who rendered valuable assistance. Each did his duty bravely and faithfully. Surg. J. W. Lawton, U.S. Volunteers, medical director of the division, was present with the division and used all means at his disposal for the care and transportation of the wounded.

Accompanying are the reports of the brigade and regimental commanders, to which I respectfully refer for details of the part taken by the brigades and various regiments of the division in the battle. The losses of the division, as appear by the reports of brigade commanders, are as follows:

Command.	Killed.		Wounded.		Missing.		Total.		Aggregate.
	O	M	O	M	O	M	O	M
Second Brigade	3	18	8	81		12	11	111	122
Third Brigade	6	67	19	159	2	278	27	504	531
Total	9	85	27	240	2	290	38	615	653

[O = Officers  M =Men]

Some errors exist in the reports of the regimental commanders. Persons are reported killed who were not, but are prisoners. So soon as I can procure corrected lists of the casualties I will forward them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. H. RUGER,

Brigadier-General of Vols., Comdg. 2d Div., 23d Army Corps,

And at this date Comdg. First Division, Twenty-third Army Corps.

Maj. J. A. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,

Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of prisoners, arms, and flags captured by this division in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864:

Command.	Officers.	Men.	Flags.
Second Brigade.
107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry		20
129th Indiana Volunteer Infantry		2
23d Michigan Volunteer Infantry	2	24
80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry		40
Third Brigade.
50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry	1		1
183d Ohio Volunteer Infantry	3	30
Total	6	116	1

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 THOS H. RUGER,

 Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

Capt. C. A. CILLEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Ohio.

_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,

Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of casualties in regiments temporarily attached to this division during the engagement at Franklin, November 30, 1864:

	Officers.				Men.
Regiment.	K	W	M	T	K	W	M	T
72d Illinois Volunteer Infantry		6	3	9	10	56	83	149
44th Missouri Volunteer Infantry	4	2		6	30	35	86	151
Total	4	8	3	15	40	91	169	300

[K = Killed     W = Wounded     M = Mission     T = Total]

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 S. H. HUBBELL,

 Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Capt. C. A. CILLEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General Army of the Ohio

_______________

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,

Nashville, Tenn., December 3, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of casualties in Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, in the fight at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864, in which two brigades of this division were engaged:

	Officers.				Men.
Regiment.	K	W	M	T	K	W	M	T
Second Brigade.
23d Michigan Volunteer Infantry	1	1		2	2	13	3	18
80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.						9		9
Illth Ohio Volunteer Infantry	1	3		4	10	25	9	44
129th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.			1	1	4	15	2	21
107th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.	1	1		2	3	14	1	18
118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Third Brigade.
183d Ohio Volunteer Infantry..	1		4	5	2	44	17	63
50th Ohio Volunteer Infantry..		2	3	5	5	15	95	115
Total.	4	7	8	19	26	135	127	288

[K = Killed     W = Wounded     M = Mission     T = Total]

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. H. HUBBELL,

First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

 Capt. C. A. CILLEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Ohio.

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. 364-9