Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Wagner's Division - Lane's Brigade
Stanley's Corps moved back behind the Duck River at Columbia overnight on the 27th-28th. On the 28th, it was discovered that Hood's army had moved east and crossed the river,giving them a road to Spring Hill on the east, surprising the Union army that had expected them to stay west of Columbia.
Thus on the 29th, Wagner's division was rushed to Spring Hill to block the Confederate forces moving northward. This they successfully did, and remained in position as the rest of the Union army crossed behind them en route to Franklin, TN. Wagner's division followed toward Franklin after all the other Union troops had passed by.
Battle of Franklin, TN
The Union army reached Franklin and had entrenched in a semi-circle south of the town, with the town and the Harpeth River behind them. The Union left and right both touched the river. Wagner's division, however, remained out in front of the trenches about a half a mile. As the ground was flat, it was not expected that the Confederate army would attack, as there was a clear field of fire wherever they might advance.
Confederate General Hood had decided that this was the place for the battle, and directed a full frontal assault. General Wagner inexplicably ordered them to stay and fight, and this forward position was soon overrun. We may picture John Baer, running full speed up the turnpike, in the midst of the attacking rebels, rushing for the Union lines. He did get there, although many did not; and he was no doubt thankful for it, as he was just about to get out of the army. General Wagner's behavior during the battle caused him to fall swiftly out of favor; and he was soon after relieved of duty at his own request.
The Confederate attack ended as most of these attacks did; entrenched defenders mowed down the attackers, and the Confederates suffered 3 times as many casualties as the Union (Hood's army had 6252 casualties, including many commanders). General Schofield, having staved off the attack, moved the whole army north that very night and burned the bridge over the river, leaving the Union dead and immobile wounded behind.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - November 19th to 22nd.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, November 27th, 1864
Weather remained damp with occasional showers. Took the muster out roll to division Headquarters but could get nothing done owing to the fact that teams and desks were all across the river. The picket line being drawn in, the rebels discovered that we were evacuating - attempted to press us but were checked at the line of works. Succeeded in crossing safely, having to leave some siege pieces which were chopped down and spiked - the fort and magazines were blown up.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, November 28th, 1864
Having got everything across the river except the rear guard, and daylight coming, the rebels attempted capturing it, but the Yankees got across and destroyed the bridges. Our wagon trains still being in the way, we could not fall back without leaving them for the rebels, and consequently moved around and formed our lines in front of the town - but on the opposite side of the river to where they had been the day previous. Rebs moved up on the other side and skirmish fighting took place at long range. Built works in the afternoon. Supply train came up and we drew rations.
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DIARY ENTRY - Tuesday, November 29th, 1864
During the night the rebels had succeeded in crossing Cheatham’s corps above us and were threatening our rear at Spring Hills about 8 miles to our rear - to meet this emergency our division was detached and moved almost at double quick, and arrived at Spring Hills just in time to meet and check the enemy’s advance, save the train that had already arrived there and secure our line of retreat. As we were entering town, the rebel cavalry charged our skirmishers and were repulsed. Our lines were then formed and barricades made of rails for protection, and to check the impetuosity of the rebel cavalry should they attempt to dislodge us. The 3rd Brigade, General Bradley’s, was on the right covering the pike. 2nd Brigade, Colonel Lane’s, in the center covering the town, and only connected with Bradley’s by a line of skirmishers for nearly half a mile. The 1st Brigade, Colonel Opdyke’s, was on the left, and extended across the Franklin pike.
After the first cavalry dash, the rebels fell back until their infantry came up. When discovering the position of the 3rd Brigade, they determined to dislodge it. Three times they charged the position with two brigades, but were three times repulsed with great loss. The fourth time they charged flank with cavalry, and compelled our brave boys to fall back. This they did but slowly, and dark coming on, the fight ended. Furious cannonading had been kept up all day at Columbia. In the meantime, our trains were getting into Spring Hills, and during the night moved out for Franklin. The 23rd Corps having fallen back went in front of the trains.
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DIARY ENTRY - Wednesday, November 30th, 1864
By daylight, everything was on the move from Spring Hills to Franklin, our division serving as rear guards. About 4 o’clock A.M., the rebel cavalry having struck the Franklin pike about 6 miles from Spring Hills, cut the train in two and destroyed about 20 wagons. At daylight the train was again cut but the rebels were repulsed without doing any damage. At noon we were all in Franklin. The 23rd Corps having arrived in advance were engaged in throwing up works. The trains were moved across the river and preparations were made to continue the retreat to Nashville. The rebels, anticipating our intentions, and thinking we had but one division there, moved up and formed their lines, determined to capture the division and secure the train.
To accomplish this, about 4 o’clock they made a furious charge along the whole line. They succeeded in driving our division from the advance line of works, past the 2nd line, and into town, but were handsomely repulsed along the balance of the line. Seeing this, our boys returned to the works and drove the rebels back, reoccupying the works and capturing a number of prisoners. Several successive charges were made by the rebels but each time were repulsed with great slaughter. We captured about 30 stand of colors and about 1700 prisoners. At night we moved out quietly, taking all our trains and artillery, and destroying the bridges behind us. We were compelled to abandon one siege howitzer, of which the carriage was cut down and the gun spiked. When our rear guard left, they fired the magazine, and later in the night when we were well on our way to Nashville, we could hear the explosion of the shells as it blew up.
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John describes the movements of his division from Columbia, to Spring Hill, and then to Franklin, TN where the battle was fought. On the evening of the 30th, the army has moved out for Nashville.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XLV, Chapter LVII, Part I, Correspondence, pp.1083-1205.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 186-187.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, p. 655-673.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 133-212.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 645-647.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 663-668.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: DECEMBER 4TH
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