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
