Head Quarters, 4th Army Corps Nashville, Tenn.

Dec 3rd, 1864 Dear Brother, I received yours of the 20th of November. Was glad to hear from you. The reason I did not get your letter sooner was that I was at Atlanta, GA until the 5th of this month and then you directed your letter to the 125th Ohio*. I thought that you knew that I had not been with my regiment for six months. I stay at Corps Head Qtrs and have been ever since we got to Atlanta. I was at Murfreesboro the 15th of this month. But did not know that you was there. I suppose you know that we have been fighting Hood all of the way from Pulaski, Tenn, at Columbia, Spring Hill and Franklin. We had the hardest fight at Franklin that we have ever had. Only 18 miles from Nashville. We left the most of our dead and wounded on the field, and then retreated to our holes at this place. We have lost an awful sight of killed and wounded but our consolation is that we killed two of them to one of ours and perhaps more, for they were laying in piles. They charged in one place seven times and in another nine times, and it was one continual roar of musketry and artillery from three oclock in the afternoon till 12 oclock at night and then we drove off leaving our dead and wounded on the field. Such as we could not get away. The Cooper [?] brothers from Ashley, John something was killed from 26th Ohio and I do not know how many more. I have not heard from home for a long time but the last was that Sarah was very sick and mother was out to Ind[iana] staying with her. That is what father and Lizza wrote. My hand is so numb and cold that I cannot write but if you get this and answer I will write more for I am very uneasy about you for the new Regts and Recruits were most all killed or wounded for they do not know how to fight or how to save themselves. When you write direct to Sergt John A. Bell, Ambulance Corps, Head Qtrs, 4th A.C. Care of Capt Tousler [?]. So wrote soon and often and oblige a brother who loves you as a brother. I forgot to state that we took fifteen hundred prisoners, give me all the news and oblige. John A. Bell, Head Qtrs, 4th A.C. Give my respects to all the boys that I know. Tack Mason* is safe and so are all of my Co. I saw them yesterday. I will write home in a few days or two but I do not know as they will get it soon. I hear the R.R. is cut between here and you.

*125th Ohio - The dealer thought this was Stanley Bell of the 174th Ohio; but I suspected from the beginning that this was not accurate. When I got the letter in person I think it is clearly John A. Bell of the 125th Ohio. *Tack Mason - There is no soldier with last name Mason in the 174th, but there is a William Mason in the 125th.

Nashville, TN after battle report: No. 45. Report of Capt. Edward P. Bates, One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry, of operations November 29-December 1, 1864. HDQRS. 125TH OHIO VOLUNTEER, Nashville, Tenn., December 4, 1864. CAPT.: I have the honor to report the operations of the One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteers from November 29 to December 1, 1864. On the morning of November 29 the regiment was bivouacked on the north bank of Duck River, opposite Columbia. At 8 a. m., and ten minutes after receiving the order, my command marched, as directed by Col. Opdycke the fifth regiment in the brigade and division, on the pike toward Spring Hill, distant twelve miles. At 11 a. m., having arrived within a mile of the town, the command was moved double-quick to reach the place before it should be occupied by a large cavalry force of the enemy then in sight. Our lines were formed north of the town, with the One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio on the left of the pike and of the brigade, and as soon as formed the brigade advanced, driving back the enemy till he disappeared from our front. Soon after he was seen advancing on the Franklin pike, and, as directed by the colonel commanding, my regiment was immediately deployed and advanced, covering the pike, and successfully held the enemy in check there while other parts of the lines became more seriously engaged. A skirmish line of more than half a mile in length was thus maintained by the regiment during the afternoon and night. Meanwhile the army and train retreated safely trough our lines toward Franklin. At daybreak the regiment joined the brigade, which was to be rear guard. The lines of retreat were formed under direction of the colonel commanding, with the One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio in the rear line on the left of the pike. At 6 a. m. the retirement commenced and proceeded without serious interruption to Franklin, which place we reached about 2 p. m. and took a commanding position to check the advancing columns of the enemy's cavalry and infantry then in sight. At about 3 p. m. the brigade was relieved and move within a hastily constructed line of works near Carter's house, on the pike, where the men were permitted to take the first refreshments of the day. Scarcely was supper ended when sharp picket-firing heard on all sides, and the men were called to arms; they rebel battle-line soon joined their skirmishers and the fight began. With all celerity the regiments of the brigade were moved to right and left of the pike ready for use, and the front of my command uncovered; the next moment the line at the works was broken, a mass of frightened recruits and panicstricken men case surging back, and the clash of arms, the whizzing of bullets, and the demoniac yell of an elated foe was all that could be heard, when the order came from our leader to advance my regiment, and the One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio charged double-quick through and over crowds of routed men, and met the rebels at our abandoned works, and poured into them withering volleys that sent them reeling back from our lines, strewing their way with flags, dead, and wounded. I was quickly joined on the left by the gallant Twenty-fourth Wisconsin and Eighty-eighth Illinois, and on the right by the noble Thirty-sixth Illinois that added their veteran fire, which thoroughly repulsed the first fierce

assault. Two guns at the right of the regiment that had been deserted by all but a single corporal, were quickly brought into action again, new barricades constructed, stragglers forced back to them, and disaster averted. Repeated assaults were made and repulsed, each time with great loss to the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The trophies secured were 2 guns saved, 2 battle-flags and 85 prisoners captured. I cannot select retributive language to describe the bravery evinced by the entire regiment. Officers were example and the men emulated them. Some instances deserve particular mention. Sergt. Henry Ross, of Company H, penetrated enemy's lines three times, demanded surrender, and actually conducted to our lines 40 rebel prisoners. Corpl. Joseph Wilson, Company C, was captured and subsequently made his escape with 25 rebels as prisoners. Sergeant French, Company C, in charge of a party of sharpshooters, did excellent service. Private William C. Roberts, Company, I and Theophile Ducquet, Company D, captured each a rebel battle-flag. The casualties in the regiment were 1 officer and 1 man killed; 1 officer and 13 men severely and 1 officer and 6 men slightly wounded, and 8 men missing. Among the killed was the lamented Capt. R. B. Stewart, of Company D, whose courage, capacity, generosity, and intellectual worth endeared him to all, and recommended him to higher position. It is due to those reported missing, to say that they are all men of true courage, and that death or severe wounds caused them to be missing. At 11 p. m. the regiment retired a short distance from the works as support to the pickets, and at 12 crossed the Harpeth River, having brought the wounded off the field. The march was immediately resumed, with the One hundred and twenty-fifth Ohio first in the brigade, and the brigade was the first of the army to enter Nashville at 10 a. m. December 1, 1864. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD P. BATES, Capt., Cmdg. 125th Ohio Volunteers. Capt. R. C. POWERS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.