ORs: (US) Report of Col. Benjamin J. Sweet, 21st Wisconsin Infantry. - April 28, 1863

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 23, Part 1, Page 323-4

FORT THOMAS,
Galiatin, Tenn.,
April 28, 1863.

CAPTAIN:
In obedience to orders from your headquarters, yesterday morning, April 27, 1863, I took from my command 150 men, of the One hundred and second Illinois Volunteers, Colonel Smith, and placed them on the 9.30 a. m. up-passenger train, engine No. 4, Frank Bassett engineer, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, with instructions from you to repel any attack which might be made ou the train, save its passengers, and prevent damage to the railroad. On the train was also a guard of 25 men from Company H, One hundred and eleventh Ohio Volunteers, under First Lieutenant Dowling, of same company, stationed at Bowling Green, Ky. The train left the depot at Gailatin about 10 a. m. Arriving at Franklin, Ky., information gathered there indicating the belief that an attempt might be made near that place to tear up the track before the evening down-train should arrive, Lieutenant Conger, Company C, One hundred and second Illinois Volunteers, an intelligent officer, was left there with 50 men, with instructions to save the track, and, if attacked, to make his fight in the town, using the houses near the depot as a shelter, if necessary.

Leaving Franklin at about 11.30, when running through Negro Head Cut, between Franklin and Woodburn, distant from Franklin 3 1/2, from Woodhurn 2 1/2 miles, where a train was attacked and burned some weeks ago, the cool, watchful engineer, Frank Bassett, saw ahead on the track that one end of a rail on the east side had been turned out some 4 inches, to run the train off and though running at ordinary speed, and fired at again and again from behind trees not more than 4 rods distant, stood firmly at his post, keeping the train under control, and bringing it to a halt when the fore wheels of the engine were 10 feet from the end of the broken track.

On the right of the railroad, up and down, nearly, perhaps more than a mile, is a thick wood, crowding close on to the road, the trees of which,at a distance of about 4 or 5 rods along the train, made a cover for the enemy, from which, while the train was yet in motion, he fired indiscrirninately, upon the ladies’ car in the rear as well as upon all the other passenger cars of the train. Though much crowded in the cars, our men at once, while the train was moving, returned the fire through the car windows with coolness and deadly aim. Then, as the train halted, fell out rapidly on the side opposite the enemy, and, from under cover of the railroad grade, loaded and fired over the track and under the cars. This being what the enemy did not bargain for, he broke and fled.

Finding that the train guard, under Lieutenant Dowling, Company H, One hundred and eleventh Ohio Volunteers, had most experience and drill as skirmishers, I deployed it, under his command, and, supporting him with Company C, One hundred and second lllinois Volunteers, Lieutenant Shaw, pursued the flying train-robbers rapidly through the dense wood, which extends some 100 rods from the railroad, hunting them from cover. They mounted their horses, which had been left well in their rear, under the protection of a crest, and escaped, except those killed or badly wounded. Followed some 2 miles with skirmishers, and scoured the wood and country with ready-made scouts mounted upon 6 captured horses. I recalled skirmishers and scouts and their supports, having meanwhile broken the wire. Telegraphed Lieutenant Gouger, at Franklin, General Judab, at Bowling Green, and you at Gallatin.

The track being repaired, our own wounded and those of the enemy then found being placed in the cars, took the train again until meeting the down-passenger train from Louisville, 3 miles south of Bowling Green; changed cars, and returned to this post, taking on the command of Lieutenant Gouger at Franklin, the object of the expedition having been accomplished.

Officers and men all showed good fighting qualities; and my thanks are due to Colonel Smith and his command, lieutenant Dowling, Company H, One hundred and eleventh Ohio Volunteers, and his command, from Bowling Green, as well as to Lieutenant [A. H.] Trego, One hundred and second Illinois Volunteers, acting adjutant to me, and Lieutenant Hall, Thirteenth Indiana Battery, for their courage and resolution.

The passengers on the train behaved well, keeping quiet till the fight was over.

This attack was made by 52 men, detailed from the brigade of the rebel General Wharton, or Horton, to avenge the capture of the rebel trains at McMinnville, and was led by Captain Gordon, accompanied by Captain Jones, of Morgan’s command, who selected the place of attack. The party crossed Cumberland River, near Hartsville, on the night of
April 25. Arrived near the place of attack about daylight, April 27. Our loss is 5 men of the One hundred and second Illinois wounded, 2 mortally, whose names will be found below.* The rebel loss is known to be 4 killed, who have been found and buried, and 4 wounded; 6 horses and their equipments captured, which were sent under charge of Lieutenant Dowling to Bowling Green.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

I have the honor to be, yours, to command,

B. J. SWEET,
Col. Twenty-first Regt. Wisconsin Vols., Comdg. Fort Thomas.

Capt. PHELPS PAINE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

*names omitted

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