of operations December 15-30, 1864.
HDQRS. NINETIETH REGIMENT OHIO VOL. INFANTRY,
Near Lexington, Ala., December 30, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: In accordance with circular from brigade
headquarters of this instant, I have the honor to make the following report of
the part taken in the actions of the 15th and 16th instant, and the pursuit of
General Hood's rebel forces to this place:
In accordance with orders received from brigade
headquarters, my command was in line on the left of the Granny White pike at 6
a.m. on the 15th instant, and at 6.30 a.m. my regiment was relieved by a
portion of Brigadier-General Cruft's command. At 7 a.m. it was in motion,
moving across the Granny White pike by the right flank, following the
Eighty-first Indiana. At 8.30 a.m. passed through our breast-works on the
Hillsborough pike, and formed in line upon the right, the left of my regiment
retired and resting near the pike· At 10 a.m. the skirmishers commenced
advancing, and we moved over the crest of a hill in our front, obliquing to the
left, our skirmishers driving the enemy in our front from his skirmish pits. A
halt was ordered, during which the enemy used his artillery upon our lines. At
11 a.m. we were ordered forward a second time, the brigade making nearly a
right half wheel, and throwing my regiment upon the left of the Hillsborough
pike, its right resting upon the pike. In this advance of my battle line to
enemy's rifle-pits I lost but one man wounded· A battery being ordered into
position, my command was moved to the left until it connected with the right of
The Third Division. In this position we remained until 2 p.m., when I was
ordered forward by Colonel Kirby to take a hill 400 yards from my front and
within rifle-range of the enemy's works. I advanced without opposition until
reaching the crest of the hill, when the enemy opened upon me from his works· I
immediately put my men under cover, and ascertaining that a dug road in my
front afforded a better protection for my men, by order of Colonel Kirby, I
moved my men forward to it, where they were well protected, and from this
position I opened a vigorous fire upon them. At about 4 p.m. I observed them
shifting rapidly to the left; this I communicated to Colonel Kirby, when a
charge was ordered, to which the men responded with cheers, and in ten minutes
my regimental flag [was] first on the enemy's works and my men pursuing them. I
ordered a halt, and reforming my regiment, was placed by Colonel Kirby in
position at right angles with the enemy's works, my right resting on their
works. Formed thus, we moved forward, crossing the Granny White pike, and
bivouacking 1,000 yards east of it, when my regiment was ordered to and built
works parallel with the pike. In this action I lost thirty-two men in killed
and wounded.
My entire command behaved with the greatest gallantry and
enthusiasm, but I regret that in the enthusiasm and eagerness of my command to
pursue the enemy that my command neglected to secure the trophies of war that
we had captured from the enemy, both these and the prisoners falling into the
hands of other commands coming up to our support.
16th, my regiment again formed left of the front battle-line
of the brigade, and moving out of our works by the right flank, we shifted
gradually toward the enemy's right. At 9.30 a.m. we moved forward in line of
battle, supporting the Second and Third Brigades, our movements entirely
controlled by the movements of those commands. At 11 a.m., in advancing through
an open corn-field on the right of the Franklin pike, I had one man wounded by
artillery; from that until the enemy was routed, and night found us in pursuit
of the enemy, my command acted quietly and efficiently in the execution of all
orders. We bivouacked on the right of the Franklin pike, six miles south of
Nashville.
On the 17th instant moved in same order on the Franklin
pike, and bivouacked on the north side of Harpeth River near Franklin, making a
march of twelve miles. On the 18th crossed the Harpeth, and moving in the
direction of Columbia marched eighteen miles, and bivouacked in six miles of
Columbia. On the 19th moved one mile, halted, and bivouacked. On the 20th,
p.m., crossed Rutherford's Creek, and bivouacked on the banks of Duck River,
opposite Columbia, where we remained until the 22d, at 7 p.m., when we crossed
Duck River, and moving through Columbia, bivouacked on the left of Mount
Pleasant pike. On the 23d moved at 1 p.m. on the Pulaski pike, and bivouacked
six miles south of Columbia. On the 24th moved at 1 p.m., marching thirteen
miles, and bivouacked on the right of Pulaski pike. On the 25th moved at 8
a.m., reaching and passing through Pulaski, twelve miles. At 1 p.m. crossed
Richland Creek and moved out six miles, in support of cavalry, marching sixteen
miles, and bivouacking at 8 p.m. Remained in same position until 5.30 a.m.,
when we moved out the same road twelve miles, bivouacking at 2 p.m. on Sugar
Tree Creek. On the 28th moved at 8 a.m. and made this point, a distance of
twelve miles, at 5 p.m.
I cannot close my report without special mention of
Color-Sergt. Jacob S. Cockerill for his gallantry in being first to plant his
colors on the enemy's works, and would make special mention of other men,
non-commissioned officers, and officers, but the universal good conduct and
cheerfulness of the command throughout the battles and hard marches of the
campaign will not admit of it.
Appended you will find a list of the killed and wounded of
my command of the 15th and 16th instant.* Those that are marked slight were
only thrown out of action during the first day; most of them now are with the
command.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. N. YEOMAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
Lieut. WILLIAM FELTON,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Brigade, &c._______________
HDQRS. NINETIETH REGIMENT OHIO VOL. INFANTRY.
LIEUTENANT: In compliance with circular from department
headquarters of the 27th instant, I have the honor to forward the following
statement in regard to a stand of rebel colors and several swords captured but
not secured by my command on the 15th instant at Nashville, Tenn., and ask that
you append it to my report of December 30, 1864:
The center of my regiment struck the enemy's works at the
point where a rebel stand of colors was planted on the left of the fort
heretofore mentioned in my report, the right of it reaching to the left wing of
said fort. As the members of Company H crossed the works Privates Irvin, Brown,
and others, of Companies C and H, saw a stand of rebel colors on the ground
near the ditch, but the word was forward, and the command passed over the crest
of the hill after the flying enemy, and, in the excitement of the chase, not
pausing to collect any trophies. In substantiation of this statement I append
the statement of James R. Vansickle, a private of Company H of my command, who
came up after the regiment had crossed the works, and says that he saw a
soldier with a stand of rebel colors, and asking him where he captured them, he
said that he picked them up right there, where the Ninetieth Ohio crossed the
works. He then asked him to what regiment he belonged, and he replied to the
Ninth Indiana. Others of my command saw him with the colors, and substantiate
this.
As to the swords, there were as many as three or four others
besides the one forwarded by me, with its history, shown me by soldiers of my
command, which I ordered them to keep, but being ordered to form a new line and
move forward in line of battle through the brush until long after night-fall,
the soldiers could not carry them and they threw them away.
I claim credit for my command for the capture of this stand
of colors, and also the prisoners who passed through my regimental line to the
rear, and respectfully forward the name of Private James W. Homey, of Company
C, as a soldier who by his heroic conduct, in being first on and over the
enemy's works, fixing his bayonet as he mounted them, has won the right to
receive any testimonial that the Government may see proper to award as an
acknowledgment of his conduct.
I am, as ever, your obedient servant,
S. N. YEOMAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
[
Lieut. WILLIAM FELTON,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.]
_______________
* Nominal list (omitted) shows 4 men killed and 29 men
wounded.
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), pp. 190-2
