U.S. Colored Troops played a significant role in the Union victory at Nashville on December 15-16, 1864. The newly formed USCT Division, consisting of nine regiments in two brigades, helped lead the attack against Maj. Gen. S.D. Lee’s Confederates on Overton Hill on December 16. That night, the Confederate Army of Tennessee began a long retreat toward the Tennessee River. Some of the black troops followed them; others made a grueling march to the Federal base in Murfreesboro. Though they paid a heavy price—the 13th USCT had 221 casualties alone—their dedication impressed soldiers on both sides.
‘Bravery, tenacity…’
Col. Charles R. Thompson, the 2nd Colored Brigade’s white commander, praised his men’s performance against daunting odds in the Overton Hill fighting December 16: “The Thirteenth U.S. Colored Infantry, which was the second line of my command, pushed forward of the whole line, and some of the men mounted the parapet, but, having no support on the right, were forced to retire. These troops were here for the first time under such a fire as veterans dread, and yet, side by side with the veterans of Stone’s River, Missionary Ridge, and Atlanta, they assaulted probably the strongest works on the entire line, and though not successful, they vied with the old warriors in bravery, tenacity, and deeds of noble daring. The loss in the brigade was over twenty-five per cent of the number engaged, and the loss was sustained in less than thirty minutes. While reorganizing my command the troops on the right had broken the enemy’s line, which caused them to retreat from Overton Hill. The enemy on Overton Hill was considerably re-enforced during the attack, on account of the firmness of the assault, and which naturally weakened the enemy’s left and made it easier for our troops to break their line at that point. Under orders from the general commanding we moved down the Franklin pike, and bivouacked on the left of the army.”
‘We took no prisoners’
Many Rebels faced black troops for the first time at Nashville and had mixed reactions. Missing white officers among the dead intrigued Charles Martin of the 1st Georgia:
“Every man was on the alert, as this was the first time our corps was to come in contact with negro soldiers. Seeing that their route of march would bring them across the railroad below the end of the cut, it was decided to make a trap for them, and they were allowed to come on unmolested. After crossing the railroad the darkies formed a line of battle, and thinking they had not been discovered, prepared to surprise the men in our works by an attack in the rear. Poor fools! Little did they dream that every step they took toward the breastworks was watched by angry eye and twitching fingers on gun triggers, men only awaiting the signal to exterminate them.
“When they had moved forward far enough to enable our brigade to form in their rear, one of the divisions in the works about-faced, and the other did likewise and wheeled to the left. We had the negroes in our trap; and when we commenced firing on them, complete demoralization followed. All that remained on the ground were good n——s. Many jumped into the cut, and were either killed or crippled. We took no prisoners. Not a single white man was seen among the killed. Where were their officers?”
Originally published in the January 2014 issue of America’s Civil War.