Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 19, 1864

June 19, 1864.

This is the 50th day of the campaign. Our brigade has been under musketry fire 12 days, artillery about 30. We have as a brigade fought three nice little battles, in as many days, repulsing two charges, and making one which was a perfect success. We have captured all told about 650 prisoners, and I think 1,000 a very low estimate of the number we have killed and wounded. I think Cheatham's and Bates' Rebel divisions will say the same. We have thus cleared ourselves with a loss to us of nearly 300, or fully one-fifth of the command. The other nine days we were on the skirmish line, in the rifle pits or front line.

This morning an order was read to pursue the enemy immediately and in ten minutes the “assembly” was sounded. The enemy had fallen back on his flanks, and maybe was intending to evacuate, for our right had swung around him further than I, if in his place, would consider healthy. But he had not yet left the Twin Mountains. The line now runs from right to left by Corps 23d, 20th, 4th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th. The 14th Corps lost heavily to-day, but drove the Rebels four miles. The 23d Corps was still going at last accounts. The artillery firing to-day was beautiful. Our division advanced about one-half mile only. The Twin Mountains are right in front of us, and I have seen the Rebels shooting from six batteries on the crest and sides. Our batteries on a line 600 yards in front answer them promptly.

Only one shell has burst near us, and that 100 yards to our right.

The 55th had one killed and two wounded just in front of us, by shells. All parts of the line advanced from one to five miles to-day, the right swinging forward farthest, a-la-gate. Osterhaus' headquarters are 30 yards to our right. A solid shot from the mountain went through one of his tents yesterday. It has rained hard all day, but nobody minds it a particle. The general feeling is that the Rebels have fallen back to their main position, although they have abandoned ground that we would have held one against five. I can't hear that any line of battle has been engaged to-day, but the force on the advance skirmish lines was probably doubled at least. You would not smile at the idea of sleeping on the ground allotted to us to-night. Mud from six to eight inches deep.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 263-4

Obituary of Private Theodore “Thede” Tenney, Co. H, 2nd Ohio Cavalry, April 6, 1865

Another Brave Boy Fallen. — No braver or better soldier has laid down his life for the cause of the Union than young Theodore Tenney, a private in the Second Ohio Cavalry, who was killed by a shell in Sheridan’s hard battle near the South Side Railroad, on Saturday last, April 1st.  The deceased was the youngest son of Mrs. C. E. Tenney, of Oberlin, a brother of Captain L. H. Tenney, and brother-in-law of Lieut. Colonel A. B. Nettleton, of the Second Ohio Cavalry.  He was also brother-in-law of Professor Ellis, of Oberlin, and a nephew of J. H. Harris, Esq., of this city.

Young Tenney first enlisted in the summer of 1864, at the early age of eighteen, joining a company recruited for the three months’ service, from the residents of Oberlin.  Soon after the expiration of his term of enlistment, he joined that famous veteran regiment, the Second Ohio Cavalry, and re-enlisted with them last spring.  At the time of his death he was barely twenty years of age.  A manly and noble-hearted boy, large, athletic and brave, ever in good spirits, congenial and full of hilarity, he was the life of his mess, and one of the prime favorites of his regiment.  A true soldier, he shrunk from no duty or danger, and after one of Sheridan’s battles with Early in the Shenandoah Valley last fall, it was written by his commanding officer — “Thede’s muscle brought in two graybacks.”

Theodore Tenny — another honored name — will be inscribed on Oberlin’s monument to her many patriotic sons and martyrs.

SOURCE: “Another Brave Boy Fallen,” Cleveland Daily Leader, Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, April 6, 1865, p. 4.

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: Saturday, April 1, 1865

At daylight, without supper or breakfast, advanced. Rebels in front fell back. 5th corps up. Advanced dismounted 5 miles to the rebel breastworks. Built temporary breastworks. Held them under fire till 4 P. M. when the 5th corps came up and charged. Advanced through the pines till in sight of works and guns with a yell. Repulsed. Formed line again and in 15 minutes charged again. Got under the works and laid down. Here Brother Thede, noble and brave boy, was struck through with a piece of shell. Helped him from the field. Suffered awfully. In answer to my questions he said: “Luman, I think my wound is mortal. I can not live. I have tried to do my duty today. Tell mother I only wish I had been a better boy. I hope that God will accept me and take me to Heaven.” He had his senses for 30 or 40 minutes when he sank away as we carried him along and died before we reached the hospital. I thought that he had fallen asleep. I spoke to him but received no answer. His pulse beat feebly. I knew then that he was going. The Doctor gave him some brandy, but no life appeared. I buried him in a rough box beneath a cedar tree in front of the house and across the road and cut the headboard with a knife. God sustain mother.

BROTHER THEODORE
KILLED IN THE LAST GREAT BATTLE AT FIVE FORKS, VA.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 149

Obituary of Austin Woolfolk

DIED

In Auburn, Macon county, Ala., on the 10th Inst., AUSTIN WOOLFOLK, on his way from Baltimore to his home and family in Louisiana.  In the fond-hope of reaching them ere death had laid his icy hand upon him, he struggled on from place to place, against the advice of his friends and the ruthlessness of his desease [sic], notwithstanding he was utterly unfit to bear the fatigues of traveling, and his unavoidable exposure to an inclement season.  He died about 50 years of age after an illness of two years duration – his constitution, originally a strong one, gradually giving way, despite of human remedies, to the fell destroyer, Consumption.  Though far from home and family, his last moments were not soothed and tended by strangers alone.  His Uncle, John Woolfolk, was with him and brought his remains to be interred in the cemetery of this city.  To the people of Auburn, his relatives here, and bereaved family, owe many thanks for their kindness and attention to him in his last illness.  He left a Father, a Brother and three Sisters in Tennessee, and a wife and five children in Louisiana to mourn their loss.  My that  Providence “who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,” take them under is fostering care.

J.

Columbus Enq. Ga.

SOURCE: “Died,” The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Friday, March 5, 1847, p. 2

EDITOR’S NOTE: Austin Woodfolk was a slave trader who became notorious for selling Frederick Douglass's aunt.

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 127. Report of Brig. Gen. James W. Reilly, U.S. Army, commanding Third Division, of operations November 30, 1864.

No. 127.

Report of Brig. Gen. James W. Reilly, U.S. Army, commanding Third Division,

of operations November 30, 1864.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,                      

Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to report the operations of Third Division in battle of Franklin, on the 30th ultimo, I being temporarily in command thereof, General Cox commanding corps.

The division reached Franklin about 5.30 a.m. of the 30th ultimo, and about 7 a.m. were placed in position on the extreme left of the army, and between the Columbia pike and Harpeth River, connecting on right with Second Division of corps, the left resting at or near ——— River, facing southerly and southeasterly. The brigades of the division were in the following order: First Brigade, the right; Second Brigade, Colonel Casement, in center; Third Brigade, Colonel Stiles (in temporary command), on left. The division was substantially formed in two lines. The first line of the division, as soon as placed in position, threw up an ordinary line of rifle-pits, with head-logs, and in some cases abatis was placed in front of works.

As to the conduct of officers and, privates of the division during the many assaults made by the enemy on our line, commencing at or near 4.30 p.m., and continuing at intervals until after dark, I would most respectfully refer to the reports of brigade commanders herewith forwarded.

A compiled list of casualties in the command is hereto appended. The meagerness of this report will not require excuse to my superior officers, who are familiar with the circumstances under which it is made.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. W. REILLY,          

Brigadier-General, Commanding Third Division at Franklin.

Brig. Gen. J. D. Cox, Commanding Twenty-third Army Corps.

List of casualties Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, November 30, 1864.

Command.	Killed.		Wounded.		Missing.		Total.		Aggregate
	O	M	O	M	O	M	O	M
First Brigade.
8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.				5		2		7	7
12th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry.	1	5		26	1	12	2	43	45
16th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry	2	8	4	38		9	6	55	61
100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.	2	5	1	26		31	3	62	65
104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry	1	9	2	28		15	3	51	54
Total	6	27	7	123	1	69	14	218	232
Second Brigade.
65th Indiana Volunteer Infantry		1		5				6	6
l24th Indiana Volunteer Infantry		1	1	4			1	5	6
65th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.				1				1	1
5th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry		1		5				6	6
Total		3	1	15			1	18	19
Third Brigade.
112th Illinois Volunteer Infantry		2	4	11		9	4	22	26
120th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.	1	5		28		11	1	44	45
63d Indiana Volunteer Infantry.		2		4				6	6
128th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.	2		1	3	1		4	3	7
Total	3	9	5	46	1	20	9	75	84
Total Third Division	9	39	13	184	2	89	24	311	335

[ O = Officers, M = Men]

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. 410-1