Stone's River after battle report:
Report of Col. John H. Savage, Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry.
JANUARY 8, 1863.
The following report of the conduct of the Sixteenth Tennessee
Regt. in the battle before Murfreesborough, December 31, 1862, is
respectfully submitted:
When the advance was ordered, my regiment being the right of
Cheatham's division, I was directed by Gen. Donelson (through his
aide, Capt. [John] Bradford) to move along the railroad, but two
companies to its right and eight on its left, taking the guide to the right.
The advance was made under a heavy cannonade, and the line of battle
and direction maintained, although serious obstructions impeded the
march. The eight left companies advanced between the railroad and the
turnpike in front of the Cowan house without the slightest protection,
engaging a battery and the enemy's infantry in the woods at a distance
of less than 150 yards. The right companies advanced through a
stalk-field to the edge of a cotton-patch. Here the enemy opened a heavy
fire at short range from a line extending to the right as far as I could
see. This killed Capt. Spurlock, who fell while leading his men in the
most gallant manner. At this moment it seemed to me that I was without
the expected support on my left, and that the line had divided and gone
off in that direction. My men shot the horses and gunners of the battery
in front, but I could not advance without being outflanked and ----by
the enemy on my right; I therefore ordered them to halt and fire. In a
few moments my acting lieutenant-colonel (L. N. Savage) fell by my
side, supposed mortally wounded, and my acting major (Capt.
Womack) had his right arm badly broken. There were batteries to the
right and left of the railroad which literally swept the ground. The men
maintained of fight against superior numbers with great spirit and
obstinacy. The left companies, being very near and without any
protection, sustained a heavy loss. Thirty men were left dead upon the
spot where they halted dressed in perfect line of battle. It was on the
day following a sad spectacle, speaking more eloquently for the
discipline and courage of the men than any words I can employ. Here
the Thirty-ninth North Carolina came up in my rear, and I ordered in
into line of battle to my right, but before it got into position the
lieutenant-colonel was shot down and was carried from the field. Under
the command of Capt. [A. W. Bell] it continued under my control and
did good service until driven from this position, after which I lost sight
of it.
Seeing a heavy force of the enemy crossing the field to my right and
rear, I ordered the line to fall back to the river, and formed two lines
to the front and right. To cover this space the men were deployed as
skirmishers. I also ordered forward a portion of Blythe's Mississippi
Regt. that had collected near the railroad, and was joined by
Lieut.'s [J. F.] Williamson and [T. W.] McMurry (Fifty-first
Regiment), with three companies, who continued with me and did good
service. This force checked and drove back the enemy advancing up the
river, and a column that attempted to cut off my whole party advancing
along the railroad, but not without loss. Lieut. [R. B.] Anderson,
of the Sixteenth, a valuable officer, while directing the skirmishers was
dangerously wounded and carried under the river bank by Privates
Thompson and Adcock, all of whom were captured by the enemy upon
his subsequent advance. When Adams' brigade advanced I drew back
my little force to let it move to the front, which it did in gallant style,
but
only for a short distance, when it broke and fled in confusion. Most of
the men I had been controlling moved with it. I collected the men of the
Sixteenth and Fifty-first, and moved to the front en echelon of
Chalmers' position, and remained during the heavy cannonade on the
enemy. While here two of my men were killed by a shell. I afterward
moved, in connection with Col. Stanton, near the burnt gin-house,
and, halting the regiment, went on foot to my first line of battle. About
dark I sent a party after the body of Capt. Spurlock, which captured
a Yankee captain from his lines.
I claim for my command great gallantry in action; that it engaged and
held in check superior forces of the enemy, who were attempting to turn
our right-forces that afterward drove Adams' and Preston's brigades.
My flag-bearer (Sergeant Marberry) was disabled early in the charge.
The flag was afterward borne by Private Womack, who was also
wounded. The flag-staff was broken and hit with balls in three places;
the flag literally shot to pieces. The fragments were brought to me at
night. I carried about 400 officers and men in action. The killed amount
to 36; the killed, wounded, and missing to 208, a list of which is
forwarded. My men did not strip or rob the dead.
The conduct of my recruits was most honorable. Many of them fell in
the front rank beside the veteran soldier of the Sixteenth. It is difficult
to make distinction where all act well. While others deserve nobly, I
feel that I ought not to fail to notice the courage and good conduct of
Private Hackett, whom I placed in command of the company after the
fall of Capt. Spurlock.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN H. SAVAGE,
Col., Cmdg. Sixteenth Tennessee.
Maj. J. G. MARTIN,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 718-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII.
[Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.]
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Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Col. D. M. Donnell, Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry.
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH TENNESSEE REGT.,
Missionary Ridge, October 6, 1863.
CAPT.: I have the honor to make the following report of the part
taken by my regiment (Sixteenth Tennessee) in the battle of
Chickamauga on September 19 and 20:
The line of battle having been formed we advanced, changing
direction slightly to the right, through a corn-field and a short
distance int o the woods beyond, when we found ourselves under
a very heavy fire from a battery of the enemy, about 150 yards
in front of the left wing of my regiment. This fire wounded a
considerable number of my men, who retired from the field, and
at the same time a number of others fell back 10 or 15 paces to
seek protection behind trees. This for a moment induced the
belief that the line was giving
way, but the men maintained their position, firing as
rapidly as they could through the thick undergrowth (which very
much obstructed the view of the enemy) for about three hours,
when I received an order form Brig.-Gen. Wright to retire,
which I did. A few moments before I received this order,
Strahl's brigade, having relieved Smith's, was in the act of
charging the enemy. Having notified Col. Anderson, on my left,
I commenced moving with Strahl's brigade, but had not advanced
more than 20 paces when the order from Gen. Wright (alluded
to above) came, and I retired.
During this time our loss was 67 wounded.
On the next morning, while lying in line of battle, 1 man was
mortally wounded.
During this day we changed position several times, and just
before night joined in the charge which drove the enemy from his
fortifications, thus ending the engagement.
On this occasion the officers and men under my command, with
few exceptions, conducted themselves with their usual gallantry.
I am particularly indebted to Lieut.-Col. Brown, Capt. Dillard
(acting major), and Adjutant Claywell for the invaluable
assistance they gave me in preserving order and inspiring
confidence in the minds of the men.
Capt. Dillard does not belong to my regiment, but is attached to
the Conscript Bureau. Knowing him to be a most excellent
officer, and being without a major, I invited him, on the
evacuation of Chattanooga, to act in that capacity. This he has
done on the march and in action with marked ability. I cannot
speak too highly of his cool gallantry and sound judgment.
I am, captain, yours, respectfully,
D. M. DONNELL,
Col. Sixteenth Tennessee Regt.
Capt. LEON TROUSDALE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Wright's Brigade.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 124-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]
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Report of Capt. Benjamin Randals, Sixteenth Tennessee Infantry.
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH TENNESSEE REGIMENT,
April 9, 1864.
CAPT.: I have the honor to make the following report of the part
taken by the Sixteenth Tennessee Regt. in the battle of Missionary
Ridge November 24 an 25, 1863:
On the evening of the 24th, the regiment, with the other regiments
of the brigade, was marched down the east side of the Chickamauga,
Col. D. M. Donnell commanding. When near the mouth of the river
we were fired upon by infantry and artillery; surprised, as none were
anticipating an enemy. The same eagerness was manifested by the men
to engage the enemy that has ever characterized this regiment. There
were but few shots exchanged.
The regiments was ordered to fall back under cover of a hill. There was
no disorder or confusion among the men. All acted well the part of good
soldiers. They were cool, calm, and deliberate. We were then
withdrawn to the bridge across the Chickamauga with the loss of 1
killed and 8 wounded. Here we remained on our arms during the
remainder of the engagement, taking no further part in the engagement.
I am, captain, very respectfully,
BEN. RANDALS,
Capt., Cmdg. Sixteenth Tennessee.
Capt. LEON TROUSDALE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
P. S.--I have omitted the different changes of positions during this time,
thinking it unimportant.
B. R.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 713-55 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLIII.
[Series I. Vol. 31. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 55.] |