COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 14th of
December last I received the order of the general commanding the corps to
be ready to march at 6 o'clock the next morning, for the purpose of
attacking the rebel army, then intrenched before Nashville. At that hour
my command was under arms, and immediately after daybreak it was moved
toward the right and out through our line of works on the Hillsborough
pike, and put in position--the Third Brigade, Brig. Gen. William Grose
commanding, on the right, his right extending to the position taken by
the left of the Second Division of this corps, and the First Brigade,
Col. I. M. Kirby commanding, on the left, his left resting on the
Hillsborough pike; the Second Brigade, Brig. Gen. Walter C. Whitaker
commanding, was placed in reserve opposite my center. All of my brigades
were formed in two lines of battle. During the forenoon my line was
advanced, driving the enemy's skirmishers before it to a ridge fronting
and about 1,000 yards from Montgomery's Hill, where the enemy had strong
works and a battery commanding the Hillsborough pike. In this advance my
command had obliqued to the left, conforming its movements to adjacent
commands, and nearly all of the First Brigade crossed the turnpike and
took position to the left of it. Ziegler's battery (B, Second Independent
Pennsylvania Artillery) had been ordered to report to the, and was placed
in position on the ridge before spoken of, near the pike, and on the left
of it. About midway between this position and Montgomery's Hill, in front
of my left, intervened a small ridge of ground, which almost disappeared
at the Hillsborough pike, in front of my left center. The country between
my position and the enemy's works was open, and every movement of my
troops could be plainly seen by him. At 2 p.m. I was ordered to occupy
this ridge, which was promptly done by Kirby's brigade, Grose's brigade
connecting with his right. The right of Grose's brigade in this movement
was retired to protect my right flank, which was left exposed in
consequence of the Second Division not having moved at the same time.
Ziegler was sent forward with his battery, and took position on the
Hillsborough pike, on the right of First Brigade, and within easy
musket-range of the enemy's works. From this point he kept up a galling
and continuous fire upon the enemy, sending many of his shells through
the rebel embrasures into their ranks. Upon securing the ridge of ground
referred to it was discovered that at the foot of the slope toward the
enemy there was an old road, somewhat worn by rains and long use, and
which Kirby's front line was ordered to occupy. A good protection to a
part of my line was thus procured for the time being within 250 yards of
the enemy's works.
At 4 p.m. I asked and received permission of the general commanding the
corps to assault this hill. The command, "forward," was immediately
given. Grose's brigade advanced along the turnpike, and, crossing it,
passed a stone fence which had been used by the enemy, and charged up the
steep hill at double-quick. The right of this brigade reached around and
inclosed the southwesterly or left end of the enemy's works on
Montgomery's Hill. Kirby's brigade moved directly forward, with an
unbroken line, across a corn-field where the ground was very heavy, and
through the brush and fallen timber on the hill-side, never halting until
his front line was inside the enemy's works. Both brigades moved in the
face of a murderous fire of canister and rifle-balls, and both reached
the hill-top at nearly the same moment. Kirby lost heavily while crossing
the corn-field, as he was necessarily much exposed to the
enemy's fire. In this assault my command captured- pieces of artillery,
about 300 prisoners, and great numbers of small and side arms. The
prisoners were sent to the rear, and the command pushed on in pursuit of
the retreating enemy, leaving the artillery, small.arms, and other
trophies in the works from which the enemy had been driven. The right of
my line was here thrown forward and the direction of my front changed
toward the left. The enemy was closely pursued until my command reached
the Granny White pike, where darkness ended the day's work, and the
command bivouacked for the night.
In obedience to your orders, at 7 o'clock the morning of the 16th, I
formed my command in line of battle, with the Second Brigade,
Briga-dier-General Whitaker commanding, on the right, the Third Brigade,
Brigadier-General Grose commanding, on the left, and the First Brigade,
Col. I. M. Kirby commanding, in reserve, each brigade in two lines.
Throwing forward a strong line of skirmishers, and supporting them with
my whole command, the enemy's position in my front was soon developed,
and he was found strongly posted in earth-works along the base of a high
ridge, his line extending toward the east across and covering the
Franklin pike. At 10 o'clock I was in position in front of the enemy, my
line parallel to his, my left resting upon the Franklin pike, and my
right connecting with Garrard's division, of the Sixteenth Corps.
Ziegler's battery was posted upon an eminence near my center and about
1,000 yards from the enemy's works. At 1 p.m. I advanced my lines to a
ridge about 400 yards from the enemy's main works, and occupied it, under
a most galling fire from his artillery immediately in my front. It was in
this position, while using his battery with great effect upon the enemy,
that Ziegler had two of his pieces disabled by solid shot. His battery
was then withdrawn, and Battery F [M], Fourth U.S. Artillery, Lieutenant
Canby commanding, reporting to me, was put in the position formerly
occupied by Ziegler's battery, where it did excellent service, punishing
the enemy severely. At 4 o'clock my command charged the enemy's works
successfully, capturing -- pieces of artillery, 900 prisoners, and a
great number of small-arms and intrenching tools, which were left in the
works while the command pressed on after the enemy, who were fleeing down
the Franklin pike. The Ninety-sixth Illinois Infantry, Maj. George Hicks
commanding, was in the advance, and pressed the enemy so closely that a
drove of cattle was abandoned by them. The pursuit ended soon after dark,
and my command bivouacked seven miles from Nashville, on the Franklin
pike, picketing the Brentwood Pass. Canby's battery pressed forward with
the division during the pursuit of the enemy.
Early on the morning of the 17th the pursuit was continued, and my
command bivouacked at night on the north bank of the Harpeth lover near
Franklin. During this day's march great numbers of stragglers and
deserters from the enemy were picked up and sent to the rear. On the 18th
my command crossed the Harpeth River, and marching through Franklin,
bivouacked three miles south of Spring Hill. On the 19th I moved to near
Rutherford's Creek, which, although usually easily forded, was then so
swollen by the heavy rains which had continued to fall without cessation
since the afternoon of the 16th, as to be impassable, all the bridges
having been destroyed. The Third Brigade, Brigadier-General Grose
commanding, was sent soon after noon to bridge the stream, and before
dark the next day my whole command had crossed the creek, bivouacking
near the Franklin pike, about three-quarters of a mile from Columbia. The
division remained in bivouac at that point until 9 o'clock the
evening of the 22d, when it crossed Duck River by the pontoon bridge, and
bivouacked about midnight south of the town of Columbia. The march was
resumed at 2 o'clock the evening of the 23d. The advance guard of cavalry
immediately in my front came up with the rear guard of the enemy about
five miles south of Columbia, strongly posted in a pass between high
hills and through which the road ran. I immediately deployed a strong
line of skirmishers and sent them forward. A section of Thomasson's
(First Kentucky) battery was put in position about 800 yards from their
lines and opened upon them. After a sharp skirmish they were driven from
the pass, leaving behind a captain mortally wounded and one man killed.
My command bivouacked for the night in the pass. On the 24th I marched to
a point on the Pulaski road three miles south of Lynnville and
bivouacked. On the 25th I moved through Pulaski to a point on the Lamb's
Ferry road six miles south of Pulaski, where my command bivouacked and
remained next day awaiting the arrival of rations. On the morning of the
27th I moved at daylight, and bivouacked near Puncheon Church, on Sugar
Creek. At daylight the 28th my command resumed the march, and bivouacked
at sundown near Lexington, Ala, where orders were received announcing
that the pursuit of the enemy for the present was ended.
I have receipts for 9 pieces of artillery and 968 prisoners of war
captured by this division during the actions of the 15th and 16th. The
reports of my brigade commanders make the captures of artillery amount to
17 pieces, but I have no doubt that 4 of these are claimed by two
different brigades. I am, however, positive that this division captured
13 pieces of artillery and 1,200 prisoners of war, besides great numbers
of small-arms, several wagon-loads of intrenching tools, and a number of
beef-cattle.
In the eagerness of both officers and men to pursue the fleeing enemy
prisoners were sent to the rear and the artillery and other spoils passed
by, which by this means falling into the hands of commands which came
after us were accredited to them, although the credit of the capture is
due to this division.
My losses were 9 officers killed and 4 wounded; 32 enlisted men killed,
207 wounded, and 2 missing. Reference is respectfully made to the
accompanying tabular statement of the losses of each brigade. For a full
and complete statement of the gallantry of officers and men I
respectfully refer you to the accompanying reports of brigade and
regimental commanders.
It is unnecessary for me to mention to the general commanding the corps
the conduct of my division in the battles of the 15th and 16th ultimo and
in the pursuit of the enemy succeeding those battles. He was an
eye-witness to the noble bravery of the officers and men in their daring
and successful assaults upon the enemy's works, and the patient and
cheerful temper with which they endured the tedious and fatiguing
pursuit, through rain and mud, while driving the rebel hordes across the
Tennessee. But I cannot close this report without commending to the
general commanding and to the Government Brig. Gens. Walter C. Whitaker
and William Grose and Col. I. M. Kirby, of the One hundred and first Ohio
Infantry, my brigade commanders, for the skillful manner in which they
handled their troops and the promptness with which they obeyed and
executed my orders. My thanks and gratitude are tendered them, and the
Government should reward them. I also with pleasure commend the officers
and men of my whole command, who deserve the highest praise and gratitude
of the nation. Although in general terms I thus commend all, I
would make special mention of Capt. Charles E. Rowan, of the Ninety-sixth
Regiment Illinois Infantry, who, when the rebels were driven from their
works on the afternoon of the 16th, pursued them with twenty of his men
so closely that he was beyond hearing of the order to halt and reform,
and continued pressing immediately upon their heels, taking many
prisoners and stampeding their drove of cattle; and of Lieut. William
Felton, Ninetieth Ohio Infantry, and acting assistant adjutant-general of
the First Brigade, who, in the charge on Montgomery's Hill, seized the
colors of his regiment and bore them on horseback through an embrasure
into the rebel works; and of Father Cooney, chaplain of the Thirty-fifth
Indiana Infantry, who remained in the front with his regiment,
encouraging and cheering the men by his words and acts; and of
Color-Sergt. Jesse H. Hall, of the One hundred and first Ohio Infantry,
who, when attacked by a rebel officer with a drawn saber, defended
himself with his flagstaff' and beat the officer into an unconditional
surrender; and of Sergt. John Vincent, of the Ninety-sixth Illinois
Infantry, who bore the colors of his regiment into the rebel battery
ahead of his comrades and planted them there while the enemy were loading
the guns. I cannot speak in too high terms of commendation of Ziegler's
(Battery B, Second Pennsylvania Independent Artillery) and Canby's
(Battery F [M], Fourth U.S. Artillery) batteries. To the bravery, energy,
and skill of their officers and men this division is greatly indebted for
its success in charging the enemy's works. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and Kentucky may well be proud of such sons, their
representatives in the nation's army. The honor of those States and the
welfare of the nation will ever be safe in their hands when led by such
noble chiefs as Bennett, Suman, Smith, Rose, Moore, Yeoman, Evans,
Morton, Wood, McDanald, Tassin, Northup, Humphrey, Hicks, Taylor, Mathey,
Jamison, Pollard, Cunningham, and Lawton.
To the officers of my staff I am grateful for their valuable services in
promptly delivering my orders and assisting in the execution of them upon
every part of the field. I commend them to your most favorable consideration.
I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NATHAN KIMBALL,
Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding
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