No. 148.
Report of Lieut. Col. William B. Gere, Fifth Minnesota Infantry,
of operations December 15-16, 1864.
NASHVILLE, TENN., December 18, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit for the information
of the colonel commanding the brigade the following report of the part taken by
the Fifth Regiment Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the battles before
Nashville on the 15th and 16th instant:
At 6 o'clock on the morning of the 15th instant, in
obedience to orders received the evening previous, my command was in line,
supplied with three days' rations in their haversacks and fifty rounds of
cartridges per man. Soon after I was directed to move out to the Charlotte pike
and await further orders. At about 8.30 or 9 o'clock the brigade marched out on
the Charlotte pike nearly a mile, the Fifth following the Ninth Minnesota, when
the column struck off into an open field to the left of the pike, where the
order of march was reversed, and I was directed by the colonel commanding to
move by the left flank in rear of the Second Iowa Battery, with a line of
skirmishers deployed on my right to protect my flank. The regiment then moved
forward in the place assigned it in the column, passing in range of a masked
battery of the enemy on our right, from which several shells were thrown,
bursting near our ranks, but doing no damage, my flankers occasionally coming
in contact with and firing upon the enemy's skirmishers on my right. After
moving by the flank something more than a mile I received orders from the
colonel commanding to form my regiment in line on the right and forty paces in
rear of the Eleventh Missouri (the formation of the brigade being in echelon by
regiments) and to deploy a strong line of skirmishers in my front, all of which
was promptly obeyed. Soon the order to move forward was given, and my regiment
marched steadily forward in the place assigned it in the line. We had proceeded
but a short distance when we encountered the enemy's skirmishers, and driving
them back, advanced nearly two miles, when the enemy opened upon our line with
a battery posted upon a hill and behind earth-works about a half or three-quarters
of a mile in our front. During a heavy cannonading between our own and the
enemy's artillery, in obedience to orders, I moved my regiment forward on a
line with the regiment on my left, and the entire line was advanced across a
hollow and creek to the crest of the hill and to within about 100 rods of the
enemy's battery and works, where they were found in strong line of battle. I
was here directed by the colonel commanding the brigade to form my regiment on
the left of the Ninth Minnesota, in the front line (the brigade here being
formed in two lines), and prepare to assault the enemy's works. My regiment
threw off their knapsacks, blankets, and overcoats, and fixed bayonets ready
for the charge. The order to forward was soon given, and our line moved
steadily on through the brush and fallen timber in our front under a heavy fire
from the enemy, closely followed by the second line; and as we drew near the
rebel line of battle volley after volley was poured into their wavering ranks,
which soon gave way, and as they fled our forces pursued them, killing and
wounding many, and capturing large numbers of prisoners. The pursuit was
continued until we crossed the Hillsborough pike, when our line was halted. The
enemy was soon discovered to be moving on our left flank, and I was directed to
change my front to the left, which I did under a sharp fire, and moved my
regiment, in obedience to orders, by the left flank across the pike, my right
resting on or near the same. Our skirmishers soon became hotly engaged, and we
were again ordered to advance. The enemy soon opened upon us with musketry from
the crest of a hill in our front, where they were formed in strong line, and
with artillery on our right; but our troops, flushed with victory, rushed
forward, with bayonets fixed, at a double-quick, breaking the enemy's lines,
killing and wounding large numbers, and capturing hundreds of prisoners and
small-arms. In this charge the loss in my regiment was quite severe, as we were
exposed to an enfilading fire of musketry and artillery on our right flank, as
well as the direct fire in front. First Lieut. Henry G. Bailly, commanding
Company K, was severely and probably mortally wounded, and several
non-commissioned officers and privates were killed and wounded. We pursued the
enemy nearly or quite a mile, when our line was again halted, and, in obedience
to orders, I bivouacked my regiment in rear of the Second Iowa Battery, it
being then quite dark. During the night I constructed rifle-pits in front of my
regiment and the battery, all being quiet in our front except occasional firing
by the pickets.
At 8 o'clock on the morning of the 16th I was directed to
form my regiment on the left-of the Ninth Minnesota, outside the works
constructed the night previous, and to deploy a line of skirmishers in my
front. As soon as the line was formed the order to move forward was given, and
our line was advanced, under a heavy fire, nearly a mile, and to within about
100 rods of a strong line of intrenchments, occupied by the enemy in large
force. Here the line was halted and the brigade was formed in two lines, the
Fifth Minnesota on the left and in the front line, the Third Brigade being on
my left. Intrenching tools were sent to the regiment, and I caused temporary
breast-works to be constructed to protect the men from the enemy's
sharpshooters. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon I received orders from the
colonel commanding to be in readiness to charge the enemy's works in our front
at a moment's notice; and at 4.15 p.m. the order to forward was given, which
being repeated along the line, the Fifth Minnesota, with bayonets fixed, moved
over the breast-works in their front into the open field which lay between them
and the enemy's works, and at a double-quick rushed forward under the most
terrific and withering fire of musketry and artillery it has ever been my
fortune to behold or encounter. Yet, forward our line pressed, and soon the
colors of the Fifth Minnesota were planted, the first in the brigade, upon the
rebel intrenchments, and the enemy were driven from their fortified position.
The regiment pursued, capturing hundreds of prisoners, among whom was
Brigadier-General Jackson and many other officers. I think I can safely say
that the Fifth Minnesota captured more prisoners in this charge than the
regiment numbered. The pursuit was continued about one mile, to the foot of the
Granny White Hills, where the regiment bivouacked for the night.
The glorious victory we had won had not, however, been a
bloodless one. The loss in my regiment in this charge had been nearly 100
killed and wounded, which was about one-fourth my entire command. Capt. Henry
Stasson, commanding Company E, a brave and faithful officer, was killed while
leading his company in the charge. Capt. A. P. French, commanding Company I,
was severely wounded at the head of his company. A list of the killed and
wounded in the two days' engagement is herewith respectfully transmitted.*
The officers, without exception, behaved with conspicuous
gallantry and performed their duty with coolness and good judgment; and the
soldiers fought with that bravery and determination which knows not defeat, and
are entitled to the warmest gratitude of their country. Captains Morehouse and
French, and Lieutenants Bishop and Hatch, while in command of the skirmish
lines in front of the regiment at intervals during the two days' engagement,
performed their duty most satisfactorily. Capt. T. J. Sheehan, commanding
Company C, the color company, gallantly stood by the colors, and in the last
charge on the 16th instant, two color-bearers having been shot, he placed the
colors in the hands of a non-commissioned officer of his company, who planted
them on the rebel intrenchments. My especial thanks are due to Maj. John C.
Becht, who rendered me efficient aid on the field during the two days'
engagement. First Lieut. Roscoe Hilton, acting regimental adjutant, a brave and
gallant young officer, was always in the right place at the right time, and
discharged his duties to my entire satisfaction and with credit to himself.
Surgeons Kennedy and Leonard were untiring in their efforts in the care of the
wounded, both upon the field and at the hospitals.
On the morning of the 17th instant the regiment was ordered
to join in the pursuit of the defeated enemy, and being unable to remain in the
field on account of physical disability and injuries received the day previous,
I turned over the command to Major Becht, to whom I would respectfully refer
the colonel commanding for any information pertaining to the regiment since
that time.
Respectfully
submitted.
WM. B. GERE,
Lit. Col., Comdg.
Fifth Regt. Minnesota Vet. Vol. Infantry.
Lieut. T. P. GERE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
_______________
* Embodied in Table, p. 101.
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. 449-52
