|
No. 5.
Report of Col. Leonard A. Harris, Second Ohio Infantry, commanding Ninth Brigade.
OR. Vol. 16, Pt. 1, p. 1049 - 1051
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Ninth Brigade in the action of the 8th of October at Chaplin Hills.
At the commencement of the action the brigade was on the right center and on the left of the Seventeenth Brigade. By direction of the general Captain Simonson's Fifth Indiana Battery was placed on my right where Loomis' battery was engaged, and the Tenth Wisconsin Regiment directed to support it. The Thirty-third Ohio was on the left, with skirmishers well advanced to the front in the woods; the Second Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana in the center, with the Ninety-fourth as a reserve.
The firing becoming very warm on the right, by direction of Major General McCook the Thirty-eighth Indiana was sent to their support. I placed them in the rear of Simonson's battery, Loomis having withdrawn. The action had now become general along the whole line. Captain Simonson, with two batteries playing on him and a heavy infantry force advancing on him and firing, nobly fought his battery, until, having lost 16 horses and 14 men in killed and wounded, by direction of Major Cotter, chief of artillery, he retired his battery. I immediately directed the Thirty-eighth Indiana to take position where the battery had been. This was not done a moment too soon, as the enemy were advancing on us. By a well-directed volley from the Thirty-eighth Indiana, Col. B. F. Scribner commanding, and the Tenth Wisconsin, Col. A. R. Chapin commanding, they were driven behind the crest of the hill. They again advanced, but were driven back. This was done for the third time, when they took position behind the crest of the hill.
At this time the firing was very heavy. I now sent back for the Ninety-fourth Ohio, Colonel Frizell commanding, but was informed that they had been directed by Major-General McCook to support a section of artillery which General Terrill was working. The positions of the other regiments had all been changed. The Second Ohio, Lieut. Col.
John Kell commanding, and the Thirty-third Ohio, Lieut. Col. O. F. Moore commanding, were fiercely engaged with the enemy, who were making desperate efforts to pierce the center. It was at this point that Lieutenant-Colonel Moore was wounded and taken prisoner.
I saw the necessity of holding my position, with or without support, until the right was successful or compelled to retire, and I determined to do so. If I had been driven back the Seventeenth Brigade would have been cut off from the main body and in my judgment irretrievably lost. During this part of the engagement Colonel Scribner informed me that the regiment on the right was not firing. I sent Lieutenant Spencer, my aide, to inquire the cause and to ascertain what regiment, it was. On his return he informed me that it was the Tenth Ohio, and that Colonel Lytle said that they were reserving their fire. Half an hour afterward I sent to Colonel Lytle, informing him that I had been compelled to withdraw the Tenth Wisconsin for want of ammunition. The withdrawal of this regiment left an interval of 200 yards on the left of the Thirty-eighth Indiana. In the mean time the Fifteenth Kentucky and Third Ohio, which were on the extreme right, were compelled to retire. Colonel Scribner now informed me that they had exhausted their ammunition and were using the ammunition of the dead and wounded. My aide that I sent after support and ammunition informed me that no support could be had and that ammunition was some distance to the rear. The only aide I now had with me having had his horse shot under him, I rode over to Colonel Lytle and informed him of the condition of things. Upon my return to the Thirty-eighth Indiana I found they had exhausted the cartridges of the dead and wounded. Colonel Scribner then directed his men to fix bayonets and hold the position, which was promptly done. Without a round of ammunition, under a heavy fire in front and an enfilading fire from the artillery, they held their position for twenty-five minutes. Seeing the hopelessness of longer attempting to hold the position I gave the order to retire, which was done in perfect order. I had not fallen back more than 100 yards when a tremendous fire from a column of infantry, which had turned the right flank of the Tenth Ohio, was poured in upon their left and my retiring column.
I retired to the woods in the rear of the corn field, where I met the Thirty-third Ohio, who had just replenished their cartridges. I directed Major Lock, who was commanding, to place them in position parallel to the fence separating the woods from the corn field, and at right angles to the road and immediately opposite the white [Russell] house, directing them to hold the enemy in check until the Thirty-eighth Indiana and Third Ohio were supplied with cartridges. The Tenth Ohio came up at this moment, under the command of the gallant, Colonel Burke, and took position on the left of the Thirty-third Ohio. At this time the Second Ohio were warmly engaged with the enemy on our then left, stubbornly falling back, and husbanding their ammunition, which was nearly exhausted. I also met the gallant and lamented Colonel Webster rallying a regiment of his brigade which was in confusion. I assisted him, and as soon as order was restored requested him to form in the rear of the Thirty-third and Tenth Ohio Regiments, so that the balance of my command might supply themselves with ammunition. This he promptly did. At this moment I again met General Rousseau riding among and encouraging the soldiers.
As soon as the Second and Third Ohio, the Thirty-eighth Indiana, and the Tenth Wisconsin were supplied with ammunition I formed them into line to cover the retiring of the Thirty-third and Tenth Ohio and that portion of Webster's command engaged, directing the Tenth Wisconsin to move obliquely to the right, to support a battery engaged to the right of the road. From this point by your orders I retired the line about 100 yards, when I met and attached to my command the Fiftieth Ohio, under command of the lieutenant-colonel, and bivouacked for the night.
When all have done so well it is sufficient to say, from reports of commanding officers of the regiments and my own observations during the day, that the field and line officers, without an exception, conducted themselves nobly and to my entire satisfaction. Too much praise cannot be awarded the soldiers, everyone acting like a hero. My acting assistant adjutant-general, Lieut. George A. Vandegrift, and aides, and Lieuts. F. J. Fitzwilliam and H. E. Spencer were of great service to me during the day, coolly and bravely carrying my orders to all parts of the field. Major Johnson, Tenth Wisconsin, Captain Berryhill, acting major Second Ohio; Capt. John Herrell, Second Ohio, and Captain Drury, Ninety-fourth Ohio, fell gallantly fighting at their posts.
I thought proper to mention other regiments as they became attached to my command during the progress of the action through the loss of their brigade commanders. I also send you reports of regiments which were not under my immediate eye during part of the day. The following is the loss of the brigade: 1
Command Officers Enlisted
2nd Ohio.......................2k..3w..25k..077w...10m
33rd Ohio..........................4w..21k..070w...18m
38th Indiana.......................1w..29k..121w...01m
10th Wisconsin.................1k..2w..40k..103w...04m
94th Ohio......................1k.......7k..025w...07m
5th Indiana Battery.....................2k..016w...03m
Total.........................4k..10w.124k..412w..43m
This list is furnished from the men actually buried and the wounded in the hospitals. Some of the missing have since returned, having been taken prisoner while going for water and paroled. The brigade went into action 2,250 strong, including Simonson's battery.
Very respectfully,
L. A. HARRIS, Colonel, Commanding Ninth Brigade.
Captain McDowell, Assistant Adjutant-General.
|
