These companies were formed in fair musket range, and their battery was cutting the timber all around us, yet the men stood firm and unflinching.
The order of charge was by squadrons in columns of fours.
This battallion was to charge the center and to move first, Capt. Eylar was to charge down the pike with two companies, I and M, Capt. Hall was to cross the creek at its mouth and charge on the right with three companies, H, K and L.
Everything being in readiness, the word "forward!" was given.
The center battalion moved first at a walk then at a trot.
By this time the storm of leaden hail from musketry and iron missiles from the battery began to come thick and fast about us.
A shout went up and off the boys went at full speed through the fences, down steep banks and across the creek, over a narrow ridge and another creek and up to within fifty yards of the battery, when suddenly a large force of the rebel infantry raised from behind a barricade of rails and poured a deadly fire into our columns.
Captain Eylar was repulsed on the bridge, and Capt. Hall failed to cross the creek at its mouth, therefore Captain Rankin was compelled to fall back to his former position.
We dismounted and went at them again on foot. Their musketry was too high, their grape and cannister too low, creating however, considerable mortality among the horses.
Capt. Rankin was sent to signal the gunboats to come down, which they did.
Our own battery, the 4th U. S., opened on them with twelve pounders and compelled them to leave their position, the gunboats sending a few shots up the ravine after them, added speed to their flight.
They left four pieces of artillery in the woods, which we have the credit of capturing.
On the morning of the 16th, at 4 o"clock, everything was in readiness for a forward move.
We continued our pursuit on the Charlotte pike for a few miles to where the enemy had camped. At this point the enemy had left the pike and took a dirt road.
We followed this road about seven miles, and found several wagons and one piece of artillery stuck in the mud.
Here a halt was made, and Captain Rankin was ordered with his battalion to move across the country, through the fields or otherwise and endeavor to reach the Harding pike. This being accomplished, the Captain sent the following dispatch to Col. Garrard:
"COLONEL--I hold the Harding pike at the brick church and where the Franklin road crosses the said pike. Gen. Chalmer"s division pa.s.sed this point, taking the Franklin road, this A. M. They left some wagons here. As soon as the command could be brought up, our pursuit was continued, the Fifth Iowa Cavalry being in the advance. Skirmishing soon commenced but nothing of importance occurred on this day"s march, except taking a few prisoners, twelve being the largest number at any one time."
Night coming on, we went into camp. The next morning, the 17th, our regiment took the advance, Capt. Eylar having the right of the regiment.
The pursuit was vigorously prosecuted, so much so that orderlies were sent forward several times to request Col. Garrard not to move so fast, but all to no purpose, for skirmishing had already commenced, and it is an utter impossibility to hold the Colonel back when a fight is in progress.
On we went, crossing the big Harpeth river below Franklin.
Skirmishing became quite lively, as we neared the town, but we steadily pressed them back until we arrived in full view of the town.
Capt. Rankin was ordered to take his battalion and move to the right and occupy some buildings in the suburbs.
Here the enemy was discovered, drawn up in three lines of battle, but manifesting no disposition to fight save by artillery which threw a few sh.e.l.ls at us.
The enemy seeing our advance taking position in so close proximity to them, about faced and commenced moving off.
Col. Garrard on seeing this movement of the enemy ordered a charge.
Capt. Rankin"s battalion was on the extreme right and Company E on the right of the battalion.
Now for the charge. The order was given to forward, and as soon as we crossed a small stream, it was increased to full speed.
Some columns pa.s.sed through the princ.i.p.al streets, while others pa.s.sed to the right and left of the town, and on reaching the first line of works beyond the town we captured a great many of the enemy who had taken position there.
At four hundred yards distant from their works, the enemy had planted a battery, and as soon as the confused ma.s.s we were driving could be got away, they opened up on us, but to no purpose, for we were now behind our outer line of works.
The works were also thrown up by our men on the retreat from Columbia, but were not so formidable as the first near the town.
In this position we fought the enemy more than one hour without receiving aid from any quarter whatever.
So rapid were the movements of the 7th and so far were they in advance of our own brigade that our battery moved to the point first held by Captain Rankin"s battalion and mistaking us for the enemy commenced sh.e.l.ling us.
The sh.e.l.ls fell in close proximity to the battallion which had been sent out to watch and guard against any movements of the enemy to flank our position.
The firing was kept up until Captain Rankin"s battalion had to be removed, and had scarcely been placed in position on the left of the pike, when a battery belonging to Gen. Hatch"s division opened on us from a fort on the opposite side of the river.
At this, Col. Garrard ordered the regiment to form in close column of squadrons in a low piece of ground to get out of their range, but the first being on very high ground, our position was a very hazardous one.
We were quickly deployed into line, took up our former position behind our works and again engaged the enemy.
A fire was kept up by our battery until a courier could be sent to stop it.
Thus did the 7th stand for more than an hour, firm and unshaken, with the enemy"s battery playing on their front at four hundred yards distant, and two of our own playing on their rear.
By this time, Gen. Hatch"s Division moved up and flanked the Johnnies on our left and they lit out again, losing their artillery and many prisoners.
Here Col. Harrison commanding our brigade, congratulated Colonel Garrard on the success of the 7th, and remarked, "you have done enough for one day, I will throw the 5th Iowa in advance and you can fall in the reserve."
We moved out two miles and went into camp on a road to the right of the Columbia road.
The 5th Iowa was sent on further with orders to go across the country to intercept the enemy and if possible to capture their battery, while Hatch"s Division pressed their rear.
A stand was made by the enemy between 6 and 7 o"clock p. m., in which they lost one thousand prisoners besides their killed and wounded and four pieces of artillery. Thus ended the third day"s operation.
On the 17th of December nothing of interest occurred except the usual amount of skirmishing and gathering in of stragglers from a retreating army until the 25th of December, (Christmas day), our brigade had the advance and the 5th Iowa the advance of the brigade.
Skirmishing commenced but we drove the rebels back, and through Pulaski.
Just beyond the place is a large stream called Richland creek, spanned by a large covered bridge.
A charge was made by a portion of the 5th Iowa, but they were repulsed.
The enemy ran six pieces of artillery into the creek without even spiking them. They also run three pieces into Duck river. They fired the bridge in several places.
Capt. Rankin was ordered to move forward with his battalion and if possible put the fire out.
The battallion set out at a brisk trot until near the bridge when they dismounted and made a rush for it, gathering from the houses along the road tubs, buckets, pans and everything else available, for carrying and throwing water on the flames, which had already penetrated to the roof in several places.