Our total loss was as follows, viz: Col. Holden Putnam, killed; Adjt. H. G. Hicks, wounded; Capt. John A. Russell and Lieut. William M. Morris, missing. Enlisted men: 19 killed, 44 wounded, and 25 missing. After the battle the regiment was rallied, and, taking up a position in the rifle-pits, bivouacked for the night. Respectfully, N. C. BUSWELL, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment. Lieut. R. A. MCKEE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 216. Report of Col. Jabez Banbury, Fifth Iowa Infantry. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH IOWA INFANTRY, Larkinsville, Ala., December 29, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to forward to you a report of the part taken by the Fifth Iowa Infantry, in the recent engagement near Chattanooga, Tenn. : We marched from camp on the north side of the Tennessee River, at 2 a. m. of the 24th day of November, crossed the river in boats, the last of the regiment making the opposite side of the river at daylight, were placed in position on a knoll, fortified a line equal to the front of the regiment, were moved into a second position, and fortified the second line. At 1 p. m. we were thrown into column by division, with the rest of the division, and moved forward in the direction of the north hill of Mission Ridge, passed over a field and through a skirt of timber about 2 miles, much of which was covered with deep mud and water. Arriving at the foot of the hill were marched by the flank to near its summit, where we formed the regiment in line, with the brigade in column by regiment; remained here for one-half hour, when I was ordered to detail one-half of each company to fortify the summit of the hill; detail was made and men commenced work. We were then ordered to fall in, take arms, and were marched hurriedly down the hill in the direction we had come up. Marched 1 mile, halted for three-fourths of an hour, when we were again marched back to the foot of the hill and halted near the railroad, where our forces were throwing up fortifications, where we remained until 1 a. m. of the 25th, when the whole regiment went on picket, the line arranged as skirmishers. We remained on picket until 12 m. of that day, at which time I was ordered to assemble the regiment (double-quick), and form it in line of battle on the right of our brigade. This done we moved forward in line from the Knoxville railroad through a narrow skirt of timber to an open field fronting Tunnel Hill; here we were ordered to fix bayonets and lie down. Our broad saber bayonets glittering in the sun made an excellent mark for the enemy's artillery. They opened on us from a battery on the next point to the right of Tunnel Hill, brought a second battery into position as rapidly as possible on the sink of the ridge between the two hills, and opened upon us from this also. The first shot struck close to my line, ricocheted and skipped over the men; the second struck directly in the ranks of the regiment on my left, several others plowed the ground immediately in our front and rear; so we were moved out of the line by the left flank, and placed in rear of the Tenth Iowa, and out of range of the enemy's shots; remained here about fifteen minutes, when we were again moved forward on to the line to the right of the brigade. The whole line was then moved forward across the open field in the direction of Tunnel Hill, under the redoubled firing of both batteries before mentioned. The air seemed filled with shot and shell, but the line advancing at a quick, and occasionally breaking into the double-quick steps, the shots passed over their mark. About 100 yards below the white house near the railroad tunnel, which was burned during the action, we came within range of the enemy's musketry. We were now advanced double-quick. At a fence near the house spoken of above, we found the remnants of a line that had preceded us; passing this line we took a position along a small hollow in the side of the hill to the left of the burning house. The Tenth Iowa was brought around and formed on our right. I was now ordered to send out a company as skirmishers to be deployed to our front and left. Sent Company G, which immediately became hotly engaged with the enemy. Was next ordered to send two companies to take possession of the outhouses near the burning house, clear out the enemy from the railroad, and watch his movements in that direction. I sent two companies from the right, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sampson. He took his position, when the Tenth Iowa was removed toward the left of the brigade. I now, in compliance with orders, sent another company to re-enforce my skirmishers on the front and left, also re-enforced Lieutenant-Colonel Sampson with two more companies, who was maintaining himself in the position assigned him. To my left was a part of a Pennsylvania regiment, and it seemed to me to their right a space of at least 50 yards, without any line, the enemy's firing increasing in volume and rapidity, and seeming to be advancing in that direction. I became uneasy for my skirmishers, and sent out two more companies to strengthen them. As they were moving forward to deploy, the enemy in overwhelming numbers came rushing down the hill, seemingly completely overpowering the main line to the left. At the same time Lieutenant Wright (aide to General Matthies) came running toward me saying, "Retreat!" "Retreat!" Finding that my weak line (my regiment was now nearly all deployed as skirmishers) was opposed by a force which it would be perfect madness to think of contending with, I gave the order to retreat, but the enemy was now upon us demanding our surrender, and I regret to say many of my men were compelled to submit, including most of the color company and color guard. The colors also fell into their hands. Those who escaped did so through a shower of balls, and yells from the enemy to halt. I went into the action with 227 men and 21 officers, including field and staff. My loss is 2 commissioned officers wounded and 8 missing, including major and adjutant; 2 enlisted men killed, 20 wounded, and 74 missing. Total killed, wounded, and missing, 106. What remained of the four right companies were rallied by Lieutenant-Colonel Sampson on the edge of the hill and brought inside of our breastworks, where I was reforming the rest of the regiment and brigade. (General Matthies being wounded during the engagement, I was left in command of the brigade.) I then placed him in command of the regiment, which remained inside of the works that night, and on the 26th and 27th marched in pursuit of the enemy as far as Graysville, Ga., and returned to camp on the north bank of the Tennessee River, on the 28th. I cannot feel justified in closing this report without bearing testimony to the uncomplaining manner in which my brave men have performed the hard labor and endured the severe deprivations of the campaign just closed, especially during the last week of November, following immediately upon the long, fatiguing march of over 200 miles. They were up at midnight of the 23d fortifying, and maneuvering for battle all day of the 24th. Our picket guard, in the face of the enemy, on the night of the 24th, fighting desperately, and under most unfavorable circumstances on the 25th; pursuing the enemy on the 26th and 27th (without rations or blankets, shivering around their camp fires during the nights and marching through rain and mud during the days), and returning to camp (22 miles) on the 28th. All this in the dead of winter, and without a murmur. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. BANBURY, Colonel Fifth Iowa Infantry. N. B. BAKER, No. 217. Abstract from returns of the Army of Tennessee for October 31 and December 10, 1863. 1,481 15, 101 14,674 21,006 16 442 4,653 627 6,362 299 47 3,131 15 688 5,648 518 5, 953 Buckner's division 268 2,945 Artillery 44 b The cavalry of this army have been constantly on the move since the battle of Chickamauga, rendering it impossible to obtain field returns. Abstract from returns of the Army of Tennessee, &c.—Continued. Organization of the Army of Tennessee, General Braxton Bragg, *The artillery assignments indicated were made in circular of this date from General Bragg's headquarters. Return of strength for this date not found. + Detached November 4, for operations in East Tennessee. 42 R R-VOL XXXI, PT II Artillery Battalion. Maj. AUSTIN LEYDEN. Georgia Battery, Capt. Tyler M. Peeples. Jenkins' Brigade. HOOD'S DIVISION. 1st South Carolina, Col. Franklin W. Kilpatrick. 2d South Carolina Rifles, Col. Thomas 5th South Carolina, Col. A. Coward. Palmetto (South Carolina) Sharpshoot- Robertson's Brigade. 3d Arkansas, Col. Van H. Manning. Law's Brigade. 4th Alabama, Col. Pinckney D. Bowles. 15th Alabama, Col. William C. Oates. 44th Alabama, Col. William F. Perry. 47th Alabama, Col. Michael J. Bulger. 48th Alabama, Col. James L. Sheffield. Anderson's Brigade. 7th Georgia, Col. W. W. White. Benning's Brigade. 2d Georgia, Col. Edgar M. Butt. Artillery Battalion. Col. E. PORTER ALEXANDER. South Carolina Battery, Capt. William W. Fickling. Virginia Battery, Capt. Pichegru Woolfolk, jr. Jackson's Brigade. CHEATHAM'S DIVISION. 1st Georgia (Confederate), Maj. James C. Gordon. 5th Georgia, Col. Charles P. Daniel. 47th Georgia,* Capt. J. J. Harper. 65th Georgia,* Lieut. Col. Jacob W. Pearcy. 2d Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters, 37th Alabama, Col. James F. Dowdell. * Walthall's Brigade. 24th and 27th Mississippi, Col. William F. Dowd. 29th and 30th Mississippi, Capt. W. G. Reynolds. 34th Mississippi, Col. Samuel Benton, Wright's Brigade. 8th Tennessee, Col. John H. Anderson. 16th Tennessee, Col. D. M. Donnell. 28th Tennessee, Col. Sidney S. Stanton. 38th Tennessee, Lieut. Col. Andrew D. Gwynne. 51st and 52d Tennessee, Lieut. Col. John Murray's (Tennessee) Battalion, Lieut. Assigned November 12, 1863. |