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HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Near Franklin, December 17, 1864-4 p. m. General JOHNSON,
Commanding Sixth Division:
GENERAL: The general commanding desires you to move on the road you are now on until dark; encamp, and communicate with him by a staff officer. Knipe is moving on the Columbia pike, and Hatch parallel to it, on the left.
Respectfully, &c.,
A. J. ALEXANDER,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Chief of Staff.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
You are currently in Volume XLV | Page 242
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Seven Miles from Franklin, December 17, 1864. Brigadier-General CROXTON,
Commanding Brigade:
GENERAL: Generals Hatch and Knipe are in Franklin. Push along as fast as possible by the road you fell back on when Hood advanced on Nashville. Cross the Harpeth River and endeavor to strike the enemy’s flank on the Lewisburg pike. Watch well your left. If possible, send a small force through to communicate with the garrison at Murfreesborough, to inform them what has taken place. Keep us well informed of your progress. Orders will be sent you when you reach the Lewisburg pike, or are near it.
By command of Brevet Major-General Wilson:
E. B. BEAUMONT,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
You are currently in Volume XLV | Page 241
CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. CAV. CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISS.,
Granny White Pike, Eight Miles from Nashville,
December 17, 1864-3.30 a. m.
The Cavalry Corps will move at the earliest possible moment after the receipt of this order, by the following lines:
1. Croxton’s brigade will march, by the most direct road, to the Franklin pike, pressing the enemy closely by that road and those immediately to the east of it, leaving the pike itself for Knipe’s division.
2. Knipe’s division will move, by the nearest road, to the Franklin pike, and press the enemy on that road and any that may be found on its immediate right.
3. Hatch’s division will follow the enemy, on this road, to Brentwood, and press the enemy closely on the right of the Franklin pike. It may not be necessary to strike Brentwood at all, if roads can be found between the Hillsborough and Franklin pikes. General Hatch will use his discretion.
4. General Johnson will march, in pursuance of instructions last night, by the Hillsborough pike.
5. Cavalry Corps headquarters will be with the Fifth Division. Frequent communications must be sent in by the various columns.
J. H. WILSON,
Brevet Major-General, Commanding.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
You are currently in Volume XLV | Pages 239-240
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Three Miles North of Thompson’s Station, on West Harpeth, December 17, 1864-6 p. m.
Brigadier General W. D. WHIPPLE,
Chief of Staff:
GENERAL: We have “bust up” Stevenson’s division of infantry, a brigade of cavalry, and taken three guns. The Fourth Cavalry and Hatch’s division, supported by Knipe, made several beautiful charges, breaking the rebel infantry in all directions. There has been a great deal of night firing, volleys and cannonading from our guns-the rebels have none. It is very dark, and our men are considerably scattered, but I’ll collect them on this bank of the stream-West Harpeth. Hatch is a brick!
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. H. WILSON,
Brevet Major-General, Commanding.
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
You are currently in Volume XLV | Page 238
Action
The following detail is taken from:
http://www.1sttennesseecavalry.com/history2.asp
December 14th, 1864
Special Field Order No. 342
Laid out the plan of attack on Hood’s troops General Smith’s Sixteen Corps and Wilson’s cavalry took the right General Wilson formed his cavalry in the following order: Hatch’s Fifth Division on the right of the Sixteenth Corps; Croxton’s brigade of McCook’s First Division to the right of Hatch. General Johnson’s Sixth Division was on Croxton’s right.December 15th, 1864
The effective force of General Wilson’s corps was twelve thousand, five hundred men and eighteen guns. It was a fine body of men, but very deficient in horses, many being wholly unfit for active service. Around 9am, Thomas started his attack on Hood outside Nashville. Steedman, on the left moved first, then General Smith, then Wilsons cavalry.Croxton’s brigade had been standing in line of battle during the morning just outside of the entrenchments near the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. About 10am Croxton threw out a strong line of skirmishers and moved his brigade out between the Charlotte turnpike and the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad.
Croxton was ordered to move his brigade from the Charlotte turnpike across the country to the Hillsboro turnpike, and in doing so, skirmished most all the way. Shortly after crossing the Harding turnpike, Croxton encountered a portion of Chalmers’s division. The First Tennessee was in the advance and was marching left in front when they were fired upon by the enemy by a stone wall. Lt. Colonel Dyer was ordered to dismount his regiment and dislodge the enemy and in a few minutes the regiment was over the fence in line ready to move. At the command “forward,” the men raised the yell and moved forward under a brisk fire, and in a few minutes reached the stone wall, and springing over succeeded in capturing a portion of the Fifth Mississippi Cavalry.
Darkness set in and Croxton’s brigade was ordered to bivouac near the Hillsboro turnpike which they were glad to do as they had been in the saddle since morning.
Wilson’s cavalry had fought during the day infantry and cavalry, had cleared their front, covered the extreme right of Thomas’s infantry, and not only enveloped Hood’s flank, but had taken it in reverse, had completely turned his left flank and swept everything before them, and at night bivouacked near his line of retreat.
December 16th, 1864
Wilson moved his troops forward dismounted and by noon was east of the Granny White turnpike and had completely turned Hood’s left flank, and cut off his line of retreat by this route. Stewart made several attempts during the forenoon to drive back Wilson’s dismounted cavalry and retake the ground lost, but was unsuccessful and was repulsed without difficulty.
Thomas’s charging troops pushed Hood out of his works and the enemy fled toward the Franklin turnpike in great confusion. Wilson’s cavalry was delayed in the pursuit, caused by the troops being so far from the led horses, as the men leading them made slow progress over the hills and dense forests. Croxton’s brigade, which had been in reserve, was not moved to the right of Hammond’s brigade of Knipe’s division, and in making this move captured several prisoners.
As soon as Wilson’s men gained their horses the pursuit was begun, with the commands of Hatch, Knipe and Croxton on the Granny White turnpike and Johnson on the Hillsboro turnpike. Everything indicated a rout, and after moving a short distance the leading division, Hatch’s, encountered Chalmers’ division about dark.
This was called the great cavalry battle of the west, and it is exceedingly doubtful if there was a single battle of the war where so much gallant and meritorious service was rendered by that arm of the service.December 17th, 1864
The cavalry continued the pursuit. At Brentwood, Croxton’s brigade was ordered t take the Wilson turnpike where the enemy was again routed and fell back toward Franklin. Croxton’s brigade skirmished with Hood’s rear guard most of the way to Franklin. Hood attempted to make another stand at Franklin, but again his flanks were turned and he fell back toward Columbia. Croxton and Hatch moved to the left of Franklin, swimming Harpeth River at McGavock’s Ford and encamped for the night near Douglass Church on the Lewisburg turnpike.December 18th, 1864
Wilson continued the pursuit south from Franklin with great energy, moving on all the roads, and continued to harass the flanks and rear of Hood’s army.
Sources
Web sites
- 1st TN Cavalry site - nice
George H. Thomas
O.R.–SERIES I–VOLUME XLV/1 [S# 93] NOVEMBER 14, 1864-JANUARY 23, 1865.–Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
No. 1.–Report of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Cumberland.
Read it online – http://www.aotc.net/nashv-rep.htm
On the evening of the 16th Dec…
The Corps bivouacked for the night: Knipe, Croxton, and Hatch’s on the Granny White pike, and Johnson, on the Hillsboro pike, near the Harpeth River. Before daylight (17th Dec) they were in motion again; Knipe’s in the advance, marched through the country to the Franklin pike; Croxton crossed and marched over on the other side, through the fields, to its left; Hatch and Croxton crossed soon after at the fords above the town. At Franklin the enemy’s hospitals, with two thousand wounded, fell into our hands; two hundred of our own wounded, left there on the retreat to Nashville, were also recovered, together with 1,700 rations. The prusuit was immediately continued, Knipe and Hatch moving in parallel columns were directed to push rapidly forward, and endeavor to press round the flanks of the enemy’s rear-guard, composed almost entirely of infantry, while a strong force of skirmishers across the pike should press it continually, and compel it to form line as frequently as possible. By these means I hoped to break up their last organized force, and disperse their disorganized and flying mass they were covering. My orders were obeyed with great alacrity, but the enemy finding his flank so much endangered, retired as rapidly, but skirmishing heavily with Hatch and Knipe. Late in the evening, apparently exhausted with rapid marching, the rebels took a strong position in the open fields, about a mile north of the West Harpeth. It was then almost dark from fog and approaching night. The men of General Hatch’s advance, by their rapid movements, had become so intermingled with the sullen and disheartened enemy, he began to doubt that the forces in his front were really those of the rebel rear guard. The momentary hesitation caused by this uncertainty gave the rebels an opportunity to put their batteries in position and reform their line. I immediately gave orders for Hatch and Knipe to collect their men and charge both flanks of the enemy, and directed my escort, the fourth United States Cavalry, about two hundred strong, Lieutenant Hedges commanding, to charge their centre on the pike. These orders had scarcely been given, before the enemy opened a rapid fire from their battery, not over three hundred yards from us. Hatch’s battery promptly replied; Lt. Hedges, thinking that I simply wished him to ascertain the real character of the force in our front, hastily moved his regiment about, and to the front side of the road, out of the range of the rebel guns, but, at my order, as promptly resumed his original formation in, columns of fours, in the road, and dashing forward at the gallop, with sabres drawn, broke through the enemy’s battery. Hatch’s division and Hammond’s brigade, dismounted, dashed forward at the same time. The enemy, broken in the centre and pressed back on both flanks, fled rapidly from the field, withdrawing his guns at a gallop. Lieutenant Hedges, outstripping his men, was captured three different times, but throwing away his hat and raising the cry, “the Yankees are coming; run for your lives,” succeeded in getting away. The rout was complete, although then it was very dark, everybody pressed rapidly forward; the fourth cavalry and General Hatch, with a handful of men, in advance on the pike, and the fifth division on the right and left. General Hammond, with the tenth Indiana cavalr, Lieutenant Colonel Gresham commanding, fording the West Harpeth, a few hundred yards to the right, again struck the rebels on the flank. Pressed in all directions, the artillerymen left their guns and saved themselves as best they could; the infantry scattered in all directions. Darkness alone enabled the entire command to escape. The rebel force was found to be Stevenson’s division of Lee’s corps, under command of General Forrest, who had just returned from Murfreesboro.
Source: report of Major General Thomas (web site)
Cited on page 419: Reports of Committees: 30th Congress, 1st Session – 48th Congress, 2nd
Note: It was for this action Hedges was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Additionally, Wilson awarded Hedges to be Captain and brevet Major for this action.
” I have the honor to recommend and request brevet appointments for the following-named officers: First Lieut. Joseph Hedges, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, to be captain and brevet major for conspicuous gallantry during the pursuit of Hood after the battle of Nashville, charging the enemy’s rear guard on the West Harpeth River, leading his regiment, capturing three pieces of artillery” (May 19, 1865)
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