USA > Tennessee > The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and early western history, including a chronological summary of battles and engagements in the western armies of the Confederacy > Part 40
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again see the Florida and Palmer's, nor Sears's Brigades, until night, they being under the immediate conduct of General Forrest. I re- mained in person with Smith's and Jackson's Brigades. The enemy occupied the line vacated by Finley's and Palmer's Brigades on Smith's flank, but did not push up vigorously.
I " changed front to rear" on my left battalion, and formed line in the woods parallel to and near the turnpike, where I remained, with- out molestation, until ordered by General Forrest to move across the creek and join him (who was then with cavalry, artillery and Sears's, Palmer's and Finley's Brigades), which I did leisurely, moving off the two remaining brigades by the flank. If the cavalry on either flank was seriously engaged I was not aware of it. In this day's fight there were 19 killed, 73 wounded and 122 missing. Among the former was Lieutenant-Colonel Billopps (Georgia Regiment), who fell gallantly at his post. I have to regret the loss of two of the guns of that gallant battery (Slocum's) commanded by Lieutenant Shaleron. The horses being killed, they could not be brought off.
After crossing the creek, about sundown, Smith's Brigade was placed in position to resist, in case of pursuit, and brought up the rear in good order to the bivouac on the Nashville Turnpike. Next day we engaged again in the destruction of the railroad, but little progress was made in consequence of the extremely bad weather. The snow fell rapidly, and the ground was freezing. In consequence of the recent marches, many of the men were barefooted (all were shod, however, when we left Florence). I pressed every pair of shoes that could be found for them, and, in many instances, the citizens gave them second-hand shoes, which but partially supplied the demand. The country afforded us superabundance of rations. While in this neighborhood, I put in operation several mills for the use of the army.
Major-General Forrest gave me an intimation of a probable attack on the main army in front of Nashville, and directed that I be ready to move at short notice. I soon thereafter received an order to move to the right flank of the Army of Tennessee, held by General Cheatham, to take part in the anticipated operations there.
The sleet and severe freezes had made the surface of the earth a sheet of ice. Nearly one-fourth of the men were still barefooted, yet plodded "their weary way" under these adverse circumstances (many with bleeding feet), and arrived in good time to the positions assigned in Cheatham's Corps. This was contiguous to and on the
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left of the Nolensville Turnpike, at a point known as Rains's Hill. I remained here in the intrenched line, with the men uncomfortable from the extreme cold and the scarcity of wood, until the evening of the 15th, when I was ordered by General Cheatham to move to the left where the fighting was going on, and, should he not be there, to report to General Hood. When I passed the Franklin Turnpike streams of stragglers and artillerists and horses without guns or cais- sons-the sure indications of defeat-came hurriedly from the left. I formed my division for battle at once, its right resting near the turn- pike, and communicated the situation to General Cheatham, who, meantime, had come up. It was nearly dark. I received an order from General Hood to move straight forward and take a skirt of woods beyond the field in the rear of which I had formed my line, and near which the firing was going on. I did so, and made known that fact to my corps commander and awaited orders.
The firing had now slackened. About 8 o'clock, Major-General Cheatham came to me and took me with him to find the line I was to occupy. He informed me that he was directed by the general com- manding to "extend a line of battle from the apex of the hill (now known as Shy's Hill) occupied by Ector's Brigade in the direction of Mrs. Bradford's house on the Granny White Turnpike, so that a pro- longation of the same would strike the line then occupied by General Stewart." We went together and found General Sharp's Brigade on left of that corps, in the rear of Mrs. Bradford's house, somewhat par- allel to the turnpike, its right resting near the woods in which we were informed the balance of that corps was. A fire was kindled by Gen- eral Cheatham's order, to indicate the direction of my line from the given point on the left. I moved my command in the position indi- cated, but with much delay, attributable to the darkness of the night and marshy fields through which I had to pass. The artillery I was unable to get up. The field intervening the turnpike and my position was impassable to artillery. The earth had thawed, and the cultivated. low ground was an obstruction through which even the ambulances could not pass with success. Hence the artillery was left in the rear for the night. Having a personal interview with Colonel Coleman, command- ing Ector's Brigade, and agreeing upon the point where the right of his line rested, I adjusted mine, as ordered, between that and the point de- signated on General Sharp's line, taking such advantage of the ground in the exact locality as I could in the night. My left then rested near
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the crown on that slope of the hill facing the turnpike, and my right in the cornfield, advanced toward Nashville; hence not quite at right angles with the turnpike. Seeing that my line at its junction with Coleman's made a right angle, and the enemy already immediately under the brow of the hill, annoying me with sharpshooters within one hundred yards, and my right unconnected with any one, I went in per- son to my corps commander and remonstrated as to the position of my line. He informed me "he was not authorized to change it, and that General Stewart was to connect with my right." I at once put the men to making defences with such tools as I had. They worked with alacrity the balance of the night (nearly all the while under my imme- diate supervision), and constructed works along my entire front im- pervious to ordinary shots. Daylight revealed the fact that Stewart's Corps had been moved back several hundred yards from the point toward which I was directed to extend my right. His two left divis- ions were retired in echelon from my right, Walthall's on the same side of the turnpike with me, and Loring's behind the rock wall on the opposite side of the turnpike, in echelon to him. Ector's Brigade was on my left, occupying that side of the "angle." It was prolonged in same direction by Lowry's (Cheatham's) Division. My line was formed with Jackson's Brigade on the right, then Finley's and Tyler's in succession, with no support. The hill on which my left rested was confronted by a similar one within four hundred yards, and an open field in the intervening valley. On this hill the enemy had planted several rifle pieces during the night. There was a deflexion on the left of this, and then a series of hills, occupied by the enemy, extend- ing to its left and culminating opposite Lowry's left in an irregular range and greater altitude than those held by us, surmounted here and there by a commanding peak. This range of hills, from the point where Lowry's left rested, extended at right angles across the Granny White Turnpike, almost parallel to and in rear of my line of battle, a distance of not more than six hundred yards, with open fields between. At daylight, I found a road skirting the inner border of the hills on my left, over which artillery could pass, but not without difficulty. I or- dered Captain Beauregard to send a section of howitzers and place them upon a small plateau making out from the declivity of the hill just in rear of Finley's Brigade, from which they could sweep the front of my right and the entire line of General Walthall. A desultory fire by sharpshooters was kept up during the night and morning until about
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8 o'clock, when the enemy began to deploy additional masses, ad- vancing his lines into the woods held by Stewart's Corps the night pre- vious, where he soon planted batteries. He made a feeble charge along my front, and was quickly repulsed. About this time, Ector's Brigade was taken out of the line and put in reserve, and I was or- dered to extend to the left. This not only gave me an additional ground to occupy, but necessarily thinned my lines, as I had no re- serves. The line established by Ector's Brigade had been located in the darkness of the night, and was, unfortunately, placed back from . the brow of the hill, not giving a view and range on the front of more than from five to twenty yards, and the curvature of the hill, as well as the gradual recession of the lines from the "angle," forbid any flank fire, giving protection to the front of the "angle." The works were flimsey-only intended to protect against small arms, and had no abatis or other obstruction to impede the movements of an assaulting party. From the hour this became a part of my line, it was impossi- ble to remedy it. The constant fire of sharpshooters from the neigh- boring hills made it fatal to attempt to work in front. To advance my line and attack the enemy was the only way to relieve the situation, and to do that was to attack a re-entering angle of breastworks, which, of course, could not be done unless the whole line moved. The enemy opened a most terrific fire of artillery, and kept it up during the day. In the afternoon, he planted a battery in the woods in the rear of Mrs. Bradford's house, and fired directly across both lines com- posing the angle-threw shells directly in the back of my left brigade ; also placed a battery on a hill, diagonally to my left, which took my first brigade in reverse. The batteries on the hill in its front, not more than three hundred yards distant, had borne the concentrated fire of my Whitworth rifles all day; must have suffered heavily, but were not silenced. These rifle guns of the enemy being so close, razed the works on the left of the angle for fifty or sixty yards. Ec- tor's Brigade was withdrawn from its supporting position in rear of the angle, and left me without any support whatever -- at which transfer I remonstrated. The enemy was in two lines in my front, and in the afternoon moved by his right flank from direction of the Granny White Turnpike, and massed, by advancing a skirmish line at a time, under the brow of the hill, near the angle. I made this known to General Cheatham by a staff officer (Lieutenant Rogan), and asked for reinforcements. The general informed me that he had nothing
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that could possibly be spared, and desired me to extend still farther to the left, as he had to withdraw strength from his front to protect his left, which had been turned. About this time, the brigade on the ex- treme left (Govan's, I understood) was driven back down the hill into the field in my rear, and the balls of the enemy were fired into the backs of, killing and wounding my men. The lines on the left (as you go into Nashville) of the Granny White Pike at this junction, * were the three sides of a square-the enemy shooting across the two parallel lines. My men were falling fast. I saw and fully appreciated the emergency, and passed in person along the trenches in the angle built by Ector's Brigade, where I had placed troops who I knew to be unsurpassed for gallantry and endurance, and encouraged them to maintain their places. The men saw the brigade on the left give way and the enemy take their place on the hills in their rear, yet they stood firm and received the fire from three directions with coolness and courage.
Anticipating a disaster, I ordered Captain Beauregard, who com- manded my artillery, to move his battalion back to the Franklin Turn- . pike, as the enemy already had the Granny White Pike in our rear, which was my channel for escape, as per order in the forenoon. About 4 o'clock P. M. the enemy with heavy force assaulted the line near the "angle," and carried it at that point where Ector's Brigade had built the light works, which were back from the brow of the hill and without obstructions; not, however, until the gallant and obstinate Colonel Shy and nearly half of his brave men had fallen, together with the largest part of the three right companies of the Thirty-seventh Georgia, which regiment constituted my extreme left. When the breach was made, this command-the consolidated fragments of the Second, Tenth, Fifteenth, Twentieth, Thirtieth and Thirty-seventh Ten- nessee Regiments-still contested the ground, under Major Lucas (Brig- adier-General T. B. Smith being captured); and finally, when over- whelming numbers pressed them back, only sixty-five of the com- mand escaped-not as a command, but individuals. The command was nearly annihilated, as the official reports of casualties show.
Whether the yielding of gallant and well-tried troops to such pressure is reprehensible or not, is for a brave and generous country to decide. The breach once made, the lines lifted from either side, as far as I could see, almost instantly, and fled in confusion. Two regiments- the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Georgia, then my extreme right, com-
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manded by Colonel Mitchell (Jackson's Brigade), and adjoining Wal- thall's Division-did not " break," but remained fighting until sur- rounded, and then formally surrendered (General Jackson being per- sonally with them). The section of artillery under Lieutenant Alston was turned on the enemy and fired, after being completely flanked and our lines vanishing. I mention it in compliment to this gallant lieutenant.
. I first sought to rally the men and form line in the wooded bottom in rear of Strahl's Brigade, Lowry's right, but found it yielding to the example on its right (there being no pressure of consequence either on its front or that of my extreme left), and hence it was impossible to do so. I was then directed by General Cheatham to form a line at Lee's house, on opposite side of Granny White Turnpike, but found, on getting there, that our lines on that flank had also given way, and the enemy already commanding it with his small arms. The men then, one by one, climbed over the rugged hills in our rear, and passed down a short valley which debouched into the Franklin Turnpike. The whole army on this thoroughfare seemed to be one heterogeneous mass, and moving back without organization or government. Strenu- ous efforts were made by officers of all grades to rally and form line of battle, but in vain. The disorganized masses swept in confusion down the Franklin Turnpike, amidst the approaching darkness and drench- ing rain, until beyond Brentwood, when the fragments of commands were in some measure united and bivouaced in groups for the night. At daylight I moved my command across Harpeth River, through Franklin to Spring Hill, and next day crossed Rutherford's Creek, formed line of battle and bivouaced for the night. The enemy's ad- vance appearing on the morning of the 19th, slight skirmishing ensued. I retired with my command, in conjunction with Cheatham's Corps, across Duck River, at Columbia, that evening. My division moved, without separation from its corps, and crossed the Tennessee River, at Bainbridge, on the evening of the 25th of December.
To my senior brigade commander, General H. R. Jackson, I am especially indebted, not only for the prompt and willing execution of orders, but for many practical suggestions, based upon his enlarged experience, for his conspicuous gallantry and resistless energy. Gen- eral T. B. Smith, commanding Tyler's Brigade, and Colonel Robert Bullock (Finley's) bore themselves with heroic courage both through good and evil fortune, always executing orders with zeal and alacrity,
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and bearing themselves in the face of the enemy as became reputa- tions which each had heretofore bravely won. The latter was severely wounded on December 4th, near Murfreesboro, and was succeeded by Major Lash, whose coolness and gallantry was marked. He, to- gether with Brigadier-Generals Jackson and Smith, the two brigadiers, was captured at Nashville, and are yet in prison. Major Ball having arrived, and being ranking officer in Finley's Brigade, assumed com- mand and conducted it at Nashville. Captain Beauregard, command- ing my artillery, showed merit beyond his years, managed the battalion not only to my satisfaction, but to the good of the service and to his own credit.
I take pleasure in making my acknowledgements, for their prompt- ness and gallantry, to Major Arthur Shoeff, my Inspector; Captain H. J. Cheney, my Assistant Adjutant General; Lieutenants R. B. Mc- Clure, John B. Pirtle and Charles B. Rogan, of my personal Staff, and Captain W. H. Rhea, Paymaster of my division, who participated with us in the fight without obligation to do so. Also to Lieutenant McGruder, my Ordinance Officer. I am also much indebted to my Chief Surgeon, Dr. McDowell, for his skill and unwearying applica- tion to his delicate trust; to Major John S. Brown, Commissary, for his success in getting up and distributing supplies under most embar- rassing circumstances; and Major E. P. Tyree, Quartermaster, for his promptness, vigilance and success in managing his department, without loss, during the long march and hazardous retreat, of either wagons or supplies.
My Escort Company, under Captain J. N. Buck and Lieutenant J. A. Henderson, merits my especial commendation for gallantry upon the field, and the faithful and cheerful performance of all duty devolving upon them. My excellent Pioneer Company, under Lieutenant Reddick, labored day and night without murmur, for which they will receive my thanks. My Provost Guard was most efficiently managed by Captain Matt. Doyle, for which I am under obligations. My squad of Sharpshooters (with Whitworth rifles), un- der Lieutenant A. B. Schell, behaved with marked gallantry on every occasion when brought into requisition.
In this report, I have dealt more in particulars for the reason there are no reports from brigade commanders, all three of whom having been captured.
I reserve to myself the privilege of making such corrections as VOL. I, NO. IX .- 2.
-
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would appear right and proper when I subsequently have the opportu- nity to examine their reports.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
WM. B. BATE, Major-General Commanding.
THE BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO.
Official Report of Lieutenant-General W. J. Hardce.
HEADQUARTERS HARDEE'S CORPS, TULLAHOMA, TENN., February 28, 1863.
Colonel :
A FTER the campaign in Kentucky, our forces were collected at Murfreesboro, while the enemy gradually concentrated an army, reported seventy thousand strong, around Nashville. Every prepara- tion that forecast could suggest was made by them to crush our army and obtain possession of Central Tennessee. For nearly two months there was apparent inaction, interrupted only by skirmishes, raids, and a successful affair at Hartsville.
The enemy occupied Nashville, their right extending toward Frank- lin and their left toward Lebanon. Our center was at Murfreesboro, under Lieutenant-General Polk; our right at Readyville, under Major General McCown; and our left at Triune and Eagleville. Such was the situation of the armies when information was received on the 26th of December that General Rosecranz was advancing with sixty thous- and men from Nashville against Murfreesboro. The first demonstra- tion was made against Triune by an advance of the enemy on the Shelbyville Turnpike. Cleburne's Division and Adams's Brigade, un- der my immediate command, were posted in that vicinity.
The Commanding General having decided to accept battle and to de fend Murfreesboro, I withdrew my command the succeeding day by his orders, leaving Woods's Brigade and Wharton's Cavalry to skirmish with the enemy near Triune. This was done boldly and successfully, and they rejoined the command on the 28th at Murfreesboro. My corps consisted of Breckenridge's and Cleburne's Divisions, each of four brigades, and Wheeler's Brigade of Cavalry.
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Murfreesboro is situated thirty miles southeast of Nashville, in a fer- tile, gently undulating and highly cultivated country, in the midst of the great plain that stretches from the base of the Cumberland Moun- tains toward Nashville. The Chattanooga Railroad, the chief line of communication from Tennessee to the South Atlantic States, passes through it, and numerous excellent turnpikes radiate from it in every direction. Stone's River flows about two miles west of the town, through low banks of limestone, steep and, in some places, difficult to pass, and gradually trends to the north as a tributary of the Cumber- land. At the time, the stream could everywhere be passed without difficulty by infantry, and at the usual fords was not more than ankle deep; but heavy rains in a few hours swell it to an impassable torrent, and it subsides as rapidly. The road to Lebanon passes nearly due north from Murfreesboro; that to Triune nearly west; that to Salem a little south of west; and the Nashville Turnpike northwest, crossing Stone's River about two hundred yards above the turnpike ford. At four or five hundred yards beyond this, it intersects the Nashville Turnpike at a very acute angle, running between it and the river for about seven hundred yards, where the stream turns to the east by a sharp bend, and then resumes its northern course.
The field of battle offered no peculiar advantages for defense. The open fields beyond the town are fringed with dense cedar brakes, offer- ing excellent shelter for approaching infantry, and are almost impervious to artillery. The country on every side is entirely open, and was acces- sible to the enemy.
On Sunday morning, the 28th of December, the troops were moved into line of battle. The river separated our right from the left. By order of the Commanding General, the space between the Lebanon Road and the ford on the Nashville Road, making the right of the army, was occupied by my corps. I arranged my troops in two lines -- Breckenridge's Division forming the first line and Cleburne's the second. The former was arranged with Adams's Brigade resting on the Lebanon Road, about a mile and a half from town. The line was broken by an intervening field about three hundred yards wide, which was left apparently unoccupied, but was covered by the Twen- tieth Tennessee and Wright's Battery, of Preston's Brigade, which swept it and the fields in front. The remainder of Preston's Brigade rested with its right in the woods, and extended along the margin of the grove with its left toward the river. Palmer's and Hanson's Brig-
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ades completed the line, with the left of Hanson's resting near the ford. Cleburne's Division was posted eight hundred yards in rear of and parallel to that of Breckenridge. Polk's Corps extended beyond the river, with its right near the stream, and about two hundred yards in advance of my left. Withers' Division formed the front line of this corps, and Cheatham the second, while McCown's Division was held in reserve near the town.
No movement of importance occurred until Monday evening. It was deemed necessary to hold a hill situated about six hundred yards in advance of Hanson's Brigrade, as it commanded the sloping hill- sides toward the river in front, and from it the right of General Polk's line could be enfiladed. In the evening the enemy attempted to take this position, but was vigorously repulsed by a portion of Hanson's Brigade, and the hill was occupied by our batteries.
During Monday night the cavalry of Brigadier-General Wheeler, at- tached to my corps, was moved from our right by a circuitous route through Jefferson and Lavergne against the communication of the enemy. After making the entire circuit of the enemy's lines, this daring officer, having inflicted severe injury by the destruction of several hundred wagons and many small arms, and by the capture of several hundred prisoners, returned, through Nolensville and Triune, to Murfreesboro.
The next day (Tuesday, the 30th) heavy skirmishing took place on our left, between the right of the enemy and the command of Lieuten- ant-General Polk. In the afternoon of that day I received instructions from the Commanding General to proceed to the left, to take command of McCown's Division, to place it in position, and to move Cleburne's Division from our extreme right in the same direction. The order was communicated to Cleburne, and I proceeded at once to the left. I found McCown's Division, consisting of three brigades, in two lines-Ector's and Rains's Brigades in the first, and McNair's in the second line, with Rains's Brigade so situated as to be enfiladed by a battery from the enemy. Orders were given to rectify the position of . Rains, and to place McNair in the first line. Cleburne's Division was brought forward and placed five hundred yards in rear of Mc- Cown as a second line. During the night, the Commanding General having determined to attack the enemy on our left, Brigadier-General Wharton was ordered to report to me, and I was instructed, with the two divisions already mentioned and Wharton's Cavalry, to com- mence the attack at dawn the next morning.
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