Naval Action at Battle of Nashville-- Part 2

"I therefore maneuvered around above them till the afternoon, when our cavalry had reached the desired position in the rear; the USS Neosho and Carondolet then moved down again and the rebels, finding the position they were in, had tried to remove the guns, but were too late; our cavalry closed in and took them with but little resistance."

The Union gunboats then engaged other batteries down the river, in some cases silencing them with gunfire and others absorbing the attention of the Confederate gunners while Union cavalry encircled them.

By the afternoon of 15 December, Hood's batteries on the Cumberland River had been captured and his left flank, further inland, was in full retreat.

In reply to President Lincoln's congratulations on the big victory, Thomas remarked: "I must not forget to report the operations of Brigadier-General Johnson in successfully driving the enemy, with cooperation of the gunboats under Lieutenant Commander Fitch, from the established batteries on the Cumberland River below the City of Nashville...."

An Oft-Overlooked Aspect of the Battle.  --Old B-Runner

Naval Action at Battle of Nashville-- Part 1

DECEMBER 15-16, 1864:  As Major general George Thomas opened his offensive in the Battle of Nashville, gunboats of the Mississippi Squadron, commanded by Lt.Cmdr. Fitch, operated closely with the Union Army by engaging batteries on the Cumberland River and helping secure a resounding victory for Thomas.

On the night of Dec. 14th, Fitch, together with the seven gunboats of his command, had moved down toward the main Confederate battery guarding the river and Major General Forrest's far left.

Fitch described the joint effort: "Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Howard then returned to where I was, just above their works, and reported but four guns in position.  These I could have easily silenced and driven off, but our army had not yet sufficiently advanced to insure their capture."

--Old B-R'er

More Fighting on the Cumberland River in Tennessee

DECEMBER 6TH, 1864:  The USS Neosho, with Lt.-Cmdr. LeRoy Fitch aboard, embarked with three small steamers: USS Fairplay, Silver Lake and Moose and several Army transports and moved down the Cumberland River from Nashville to engage Confederate batteries near Bell's Mills, Tennessee.

The Neosho was an ironclad and took the lead and single-handedly engaged the Confederates.  Fitch sailed to within 20-30 yards to test his ship's strength and to fire canister and grape shot at that distance: "Our fire was slow and deliberate, but soon had the effect to scatter the enemy's sharpshooters and infantry, but owing to the elevated position of the batteries directly over us we could do but little injury.

"The enemy's fire was terrific, and in a very few minutes everything perishable on our decks was completely demolished."

Fitch returned to Nashville with the lighter ships.

--Old B-R'er