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Numbers 141. Reports of Colonel Israel N. Stiles, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-THIRD INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with instructions received from Brigadier-General Cox, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, at Franklin, Tenn., on the 30th of November, the brigade being temporarily under my command on that day, owing to the illness of Colonel Thomas J. Henderson, the brigade commander.

By direction of General Cox I placed the command in position early on the morning of the 30th, on the left of the Second Brigade, and with the left resting on the river and in the following order: One hundred and twentieth Indiana Infantry, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry, with the One hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry a short distance to the rear in reserve. Substantial works were at once thrown up, and such portions of our front as were not already obstructed by a well-grown and almost impenetrable  hedge were covered with a strong abatis made of the hedges which ran at right angles with the works. At about 4 p.m. the enemy commenced his advance on our front in three lines of battle, preceded by a strong line of skirmishers. When within shell range, Battery M, Fourth Regulars, stationed on the left and rear of the brigade, opened upon the advancing lines. The front line of the enemy soon came within range of our muskets and was repulsed. A portion of their second line succeeded in reaching that part of the works held by the One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and planted their colors upon them. The color-bearer was killed, and the flag fell upon the outside. A number of the enemy succeeded in climbing over the works, and were taken prisoners. This charge of the enemy was soon repulsed, and he made no further serious efforts to drive us from our position. The battery I have already mentioned, together with a battery in the fort across the river, kept up a continuous firing upon our front till after dark, which, I have no doubt, did much to check any further attempt of the enemy to advance upon us. In the meantime the One hundred and twentieth Indiana on the left was subjected to a terrific enfilading fire, both from the enemy’s artillery and infantry. The regiment and its commander, Colonel Prather, in my opinion, deserve great praise for the heroic manner with which they held their position, the loss of which might have resulted in a defeat to our army. It is proper also that I should mention the stubborn and soldierly conduct of Lieutenant -Colonel Packard, One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and his command, in resisting the enemy after he had reached their works. The One hundred and twelfth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Bond commanding, though in reserve, was exposed to a considerable fire during the engagement, and near night-fall was ordered by General Cox to re-enforce some portion of the Second Division.

The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, commanding Sixty-third Indiana Volunteers, as well as that of the officers generally, was praise-worthy, and that of the men was made more efficient by the aid and presence of Colonel Henderson, the brigade commander, who, though suffering from illness, could not withstand the desire to be present where his command was engaged, and who was along the lines during the engagement, and whose opportunities of witnessing their good conduct were equal to my own.

By direction of General Cox I withdrew the brigade, except the One hundred and twelfth Illinois, across the river at midnight.

I learn that a report of the casualties and the number of prisoners taken has already been forwarded to General Cox.

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

I. N. STILES,

Colonel Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Lieutenant STEARNS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Cox was living in Darlington, Indiana, when he enlisted on January 30, 1864, as a 1st Sergeant and was mustered into “B” Co. IN 120th Infantry. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on May 1, 1864, and to 1st Lieutenant on September 30, 1864. His discharge information is lacking.

The 120th was organized over the winter of 1863-64 and left the state on March 20, 1864. It first saw action at Rocky Face Ridge, joining in the charge which routed the Confederates. It then participated in the assault of Kennesaw Mountain and in the battle before Atlanta in July. It was in the siege of Atlanta and engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station. It moved in pursuit of Hood in October as far as Summerville. It was then detached from Sherman’s army, ordered to Nashville, and became involved in skirmishes at Columbia and in the battle at Franklin, where the 120th lost 48 men who were killed or wounded. When it reached Nashville, it took part in the battle of December 15 and 16, joining in pursuit of Hood’s retreating forces. The following year, the 120th proceeded to New Berne, North Carolina. It was in a sharp fight at Wise’s Forks when a furious assault was repulsed with heavy loss on the Confederate side. Joining the forces under Gen. Cox at Kinston, it moved to Goldsboro, meeting Sherman’s army which had arrived from Fayetteville.

Civil War Record of T.J. Williams
Transcribed from scan of originals by Kraig McNutt
December 2006

[page one]

War record of T.J. Williams who enlisted in Co D 120th Indiana Volunteer Infantry on the 10th day of November 1863 to serve 3 years or during the war.

We was located at Vincennes, Indiana in Old Camp Knox where our Regiment was organized.

We for three months was engaged in drilling and recruiting and preparing for the front. And during this time occurred the coldest New Year’s day and Eve.

So I was at home on a furlough first day of January 1864 and walked home to Princeton, Indiana. Returning to my Regiment, it was so cold quite a lot of chickens, hogs and sheep froze to death. Also one man froze at Camp Knox.

The first week of January 1864 we got our war equipments and our guns and started for the South. Went to Louisville, Ky was there only for a short time, then we marched to Nashville, TN. Was there only a short time and we marched from there to the front and went into the fight in good earnest on what is known as the Atlanta and Georgia campaign and for 60 days we was in a fight all the way from Nashville to the fall of Atlanta.

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We was in a fight all summer at Big Shanty, Marietta and nearly all the stations along the Southern road to Atlanta. Some of the hardest fight was Columbia and Kingston, when Columbus Benson was shot and killed and Eliant [Eli] Briant was wounded. Lost several men at the Battle of Franklin.

So after Lee surrendered to Grant we moved into Raleigh, North Carolina, and thought we would soon be discharged and sent home. But lo and behold ordres came we had to stay until everything was settled up and we stayed there till 8th day of June 1866.

I was placed on guard at Gov. Vance’s residence, and in a short time we received word that President Lincoln was assassinated, and one of the most exciting times I ever saw, had to guard the town of Raleigh to keep soldiers from firing and burning it to ashes.

A few things I [will] never forget while in the service, at one time not engaged in battle, quite a number of the Boys was playing cards, having what they term a good time. All of a sudden we heard firing off to the right and the boom of cannon off to the left and officers riding back and forth, and we was soon in line and marching to the firing line where we hear we would have to face death. So the Boys began to throw away their cards. No one wanted to be killed with a deck of cards in his pocket. But I never saw a Testament thrown away during a battle.

A few outstanding events I ____services in the Civil [War], “One was the surrender of Gen Lee to Gen Grant on the march to Atlanta, Georgia. We stopped on Old Farm to eat dinner, had all eat and was sitting around waiting orders. Saw the Orderly riding his horse to Headquarters then Division Headquarters, hence to Brigade Headquarters, and Regimental Headquarters with orders that Lee had surrendered to Sam Grant, and of all the ______ that took place on that old farm.

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The Boys shouted and yelled themselves hoarse, and some one set fire to a Turpentine Distillery and the blaze almost went to the sky. Then from there we moved in to Raleigh North Carolina. Took charge of all the government surplus. While there I was called to go to Richmond, Virginia. Was a guard for Gen Terry. I had a very pleasant trip. Went all over Richmond, also through Old Libby Prison where they kept our prisoners during the war. It was a shame a rough looking place. So we passed the summer of 1865 at Raleigh N.C., dispensing of government property, and finally on the 8th day of January 1866 we was discharged and sent home. One of the darkest places on earth. So ended my service in the Civil War and it was only through the goodness of God that I got through and got home.

TJ Williams

Richard F. Barter was Colonel of the 120th Indiana. This regiment was organized in the winter of 1863 at Columbus, and was mustered in March 1, 1864. It left the state March 20, proceeding to Louisville, Ky., where it was assigned to a brigade with Hovey’s division.

The flag of the 33rd Mississippi Infantry was captured as Winfield S. Featherston’s brigade (Loring’s Division) assaulted the position of eastern flank defended by the 120th and other regiments.

“The color-bearer of the Thirty-third was killed some fifteen paces from the works,” reported Brig. Gen. W.S. Featherston, “when Lieutenant H.C. Shaw, of Company K, carried them forward, and when in the act of planting them on the works was killed, his body falling in the trench, the colors falling in the works.”

Isaac C. Clark, 63rd Indiana Infantry [fought alongside the 120th], wrote the following account in his diary:

“We marched all night. Arrived at Franklin, Tenn. in the morning. Here we halted, and built a line of works, and we thought ( as the rebels seemed anxious for a fight, ) that we would try our hand on them at this place, so we made all necessary preparations. We had cannon placed along our line of works, about 50 yards apart, besides a number of well fortified forts, containing several pieces of artillery. At 4 o’clock p.m., the enemy came, they drove in our pickets and made a desperate charge upon our works, but were driven back with a great slaughter, however this did not satisfy them, and they came again and again until they had made as much as 8 or 10 different charges upon our works. They took a portion of our works at one time, but they were immediately retaken by our men; they fought with a desperation worthy of a better cause. The battle lasted 7 hours; we retreated at 11 p.m. Co. D., had one man killed, Co. E., one wounded. The enemy loss was reported at 8 or 10 thousand.

Our regt., had helped build a great many lines of works during the war, but this was the first time that they had the privilege of fighting behind works during a general engagement.

We retreated to Nashville, and went into camp at Fort Negley. The enemy followed us but they did not make a charge upon us at Nashville as they did at Franklin, I think that they had got about enough of charging; but they halted some distance from the city and built works. We remained in camp some 15 days, and there was some fighting going on every day during this time.”

Source:
“Reminiscences of an Old 63rd, Ind., Soldier”
By Isaac C. Clark
Covington, Ind., Nov. 27, 1875 http://www.indianainthecivilwar.com/letters/63rd/63diary.htm

Regimental History of the One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry
INDIANA (3-YEARS)

One Hundred and Twentieth Infantry. — Cols. Richard F. Barter Allen W. Prather, Reuben C. Kise; Lieut.-Cols., Allen W. Prather, Reuben C. Kise, John M. Barcus, Majs., Reuben C. Kise, Edward B. Brasher, John M. Barcus, Albert Knowles.

This regiment was organized in the winter of 1863 at Columbus, and was mustered in March 1, 1864.  It left the state March 20, proceeding to Louisville, Ky., where it was assigned to a brigade with Hovey’s division.

It moved to Nashville and on April 5, for Charlestown, Tenn., being assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 23rd army corps.  Moving May 2 in the Atlanta campaign, it was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, taking a conspicuous part and joining in the charge which routed the enemy; in the assault of Kennesaw Mountain, and in the battle before Atlanta, July 22.

It was in the siege of Atlanta and in constant skirmishing until its evacuation being engaged at Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station.  Col. Barter resigning Sept. 15, Lieut.-Col. Prather was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment, which moved in the pursuit of Hood in October as far as Summerville.

It was detached from Sherman’s army, Oct. 30, and ordered to Nashville, being in skirmishes at Columbia, and in the battle at Franklin, on Nov. 30, losing 48 in killed and wounded, Maj. Brasher being mortally wounded.

Moving to Nashville, it took position in line of battle and took part in the battle of Dec. 15-16, joining in the pursuit of Hood’s retreating forces, and going into camp at Clifton, Tenn.  Embarking Jan. 15, 1865, it moved to Cincinnati, thence to Washington City, from whence it proceeded to New Berne, N.C.

Moving on March 6, with its division towards Kinston, it was in a sharp fight at Wise’s Forks on the 8th and again on the 10th, when a furious assault was repulsed with heavy loss on the enemy.  The regiment occupied a position in the center, exposed to the heaviest attack, and lost 7 killed and 48 wounded.

Joining the forces under Gen. Cox at Kinston, it moved to Goldsboro, meeting Sherman’s army which had arrived from Fayetteville.  It was in camp at Goldsboro until April 10, when it moved towards Smithfield, proceeding thence to Raleigh, where it was engaged in provost duty with the army encamped about the city.

It then moved to Charlotte, N. C., May 10, remaining there for three months and moving thence to Greensboro.  It was ordered to Raleigh, Aug. 21, for garrison duty.  Col. Prather resigned Sept. 9, Lieut.-Col. Kise was promoted colonel, and on Dec. 2, was made brigadier-general of volunteers for distinguished services.

The regiment was mustered out Jan. 6 1866.  Original strength, 976; gain by recruits, 219; total, 1,195. Loss by death, 151 ; desertion 5 2.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 3, p. 178

• Far left Union flank, east of Columbia Pike
• Abutt the railroad track and Harpeth River
• Battery M, 4th U.S. artillery directly behind them
• Fort Granger behind and a little east
• To their immediate right was the 63rd Indiana

Facing direct assaults from Loring’s division, by these brigades (in order of assault):

• Scott’s Brigade, BG Thomas M. Scott (w), Col. John Snodgrass27th, 35th, 49th, 55th, 57th Alabama and 12th Louisiana

• Featherston’s Brigade, BG Winfield S. Featherston1st, 3rd, 22nd, 31st, 33rd, 40th Miss., 1st Miss., Battalion

• Adams’s Brigade, BG John Adams (k), Col. Robert Lowrey6th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 23rd, 43rd Miss.

See blowup of larger map of Franklin battlefield.

Stiles’ and Casement’s men found a thick hedge of osage about fifteen yards south of their position, an almost perfect natural abatis. They went to work cutting some of it down and using the refuse to extend its reach farther west until most of their front was covered by the prickly limbs. Along the line the boys topped the earthen walls with head logs for added protection. . . . Only a fool would attack such a position of strength.

- Patrick Brennan, The Battle of Franklin, North & South magazine, January 2005, Vol. 8., No.1: page 32.

Near the Harpeth River, Major General William Loring’s troops could begin to see the looming Federal line protecting Reilly’s division. Buford’s dismounted troopers and Brigadier General Winfield Featherston’s Mississippians advanced between the river and the Lewisburg Pike, their line bisected by the Central Alabama Railroad. To their left, the Alabamians of Brigadier General Thomas Scott’s brigade had fallen behind as they guided on the pike, the enemy artillery in Fort Granger contesting their advance. Suddenly, at a range of two hundred yards, the Federal artillery upporting Reilly’s line exploded, followed quickly by riflery from Israel Stiles‘ and James Casement’s brigades, six regiments of battle-tested Indianans. In a blinding flash, the Confederate battle line shivered as Federal iron tore trough the rebel front. Of the carnage, one Confederate survivor remembered, “Our troops were killed by whole platoons; our front line of battle seemed to have been cut down by the first discharge, for in many places they were lying in their faces in almost as good order as if they had lain down on pupose.”

Featherston’s boys recolied from the impact then pressed forwar, but fifty feet from the Yankee line they ran into the impenetrable hedge of osage. Grown to a stinging thickness by the locals to control cattle, the hedge line now provided a perfect barrier against the rebel assault, too high to surmount and too dense to winnow. The Mississippians came to a halt, seraching frantically for a way through the natural abatis. As they did, they became little more than sitting ducks for the Indianans across the way. Only near the opening at th epike were the Yankees slightly tested. A pitifully small set of survivors planted two Mississippi flags on the earthworks, but they were almost immediately killed or captured. One survivor described it as “a tremendous deluge of shot and shell . . . seconded by a murderous sheet of fire and lead from the infantry behind the works, and also another battery of six guns directly in our front.” It was, he said, a “scene of carnage and destruction fearful to behold.”

Featherston’s right-most regiments crawled along the ground trying to find another way through the obstructions, but when they curled into the railroad cut marking Stiles’ left, the 120th Indiana palstered their van with musketry. Farther north, Battery M, 4th U.S. Artillery, began to spray the cut with canister, while Cockerill’s gunners in Fort Granger added their own plunging fire. Even a battery east across the Harpeth weighed in. Caught in the maelstrom were Buford’s troopers, belly down on the banks of the Harpeth trying to escape the murderous sweep.

-  Patrick Brennan, The Battle of Franklin, North & South magazine, January 2005, Vol. 8., No.1: pages 39-40.

Franklin: 23^rd Corps, 3^rd Division (Reilly), 3^rd Brigade (Stiles). Served with 63^rd and 128^th Indiana and: 112^th Illinois

Relative: Thomas Jefferson Williams