Report of Brigadier-General R. L. Gibson of Operations in Vicinity
of Nashville.
[From the original MS. signed in General Gibson's autograph.]
Hd. Qrs. Gibson's Brigade,
Capt. J. M. Macon, A. A. G.:
Captain: I have the honor, in compliance with orders from Division Headquarters, to submit the following report of operations before Nashville and along the line of our march to Columbia:
About two o'clock on the 15th December I was directed by Lieutenant-General Lee to move my brigade to the extreme left of his corps, and to deploy it in one rank so as to cover as much space as possible. A little while before sunset the troops in line at right angles to the line in which I was posted—a line extending along the left flank of the army—gave way, and soon those immediately upon my left fell back, the whole moving rapidly in some confusion to the rear. The enemy advanced and, seeing that my left flank was exposed and likely to be involved, I withdrew my brigade from the trenches and formed a line of battle at right angles to them, my right resting upon them. I also threw forward a strong line of skirmishers, under Lieutenant A. T. Martin who at once attacked the enemy, but he showed no disposition to advance. By this time it was twilight, and in a few moments night closed operations.
The next day, the line having been retired about two and a half miles, my skirmishers were attacked early in the morning, but not ordered in until near one o'clock, when it was discovered that preparations were being made to charge us in force. The enemy assaulted my brigade either with one large or two small brigades, and, after several attempts, only came up to within seventy-five yards, and, remaining there a few moments, broke and fled. We killed and wounded a great many for the time they were under fire and the force engaged. I estimate his loss at two hundred killed and from seven hundred to nine hundred wounded.
