The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-27
Mastlrllle Mnioll.
va. GAMEgOs 8 CO.. PabIIshers.
TUESDAY. DEcEMBER I27, 1854
0peratIOns Of the Cavalry Before
Nashville.
Correspondents Of the Nashville Union.)

CAI ACH6paDCAHg AlAG ENEdA
battle that has been fought in front OF
Nashville, in which the part taken by
the different corps de armee" and
their subdivisions has been favorably
noticed, it has struck me with much
force that the cavalry arm of the ser
vice has been almost entirely overlook
ed--and especially the services Of the
gallant 9TH division cavalry corps, mill
IL division, Miss, commanded by
Brigadier General Edward Hatch. You
will therefore please permit me through
the medium of your journal, to call the
attention of the public to the services
of this gallant division.
On the 29th day of October, when in
camp at Clifton, Tenn, and after having
been out on a campaign of thirty one
days, during which time both man and
beast had for the most part tsubsisted on
the country and travelled over six hun
dred miles, orders were received by Gen
Hatch TO march at once and Join Major
General Howard at Stevenson, Ala
The division at once moved, and on ar
irving at Pulaski, Tenn, was met by a
telegram from Major General Thomas
ordering the division South to Florence,
Ala, to confront the army of Major
General Hood, crossing the Tennessee
River at this point, on its mission north
to deyastate the country and recruit
his army in Middle Tennessee, as a
counterpart to Major General Sheman's
march from Rome, Ga, to the Atlantic
coast. Here the 10th and 18th Tenn.
cavalry were ordered to report to Gen.
Hatch, who at once moved South and
chose for his line of defense the cOun~
try along the banks of ShOal creek
Here he was also Joined by General
Croxton, commanding lst Brig lst Div.
Cavalry corps.
This line was held by the small force
above named, in the face of General
Hoods whole army compelling the
rebel General to cross his whole force of
cavalry, infantry and artillery over
the Tennessee river before he could ad-
vance over Shoal creek until about the
sixteenth of November, and this too,
forty.fve miles in advance of any sup
port whatever
During the whole time it rained al
most inces q ltly, rendering the camps
a perfect quaguaire, and the daily
marcl es ons continued series oflabOrs
beyond the powers of beast to endure.
and trying in the extreme, to both the
patience and constitution of man. In
addition to this, there was daily fight
ing or skirmishing, in disputing Hood
advance, in harrasing him while bridg-
ing the Tennessee river, in telling trees
and forming an abattis on every road on
which Hood could advance NorthWaT /,
and in using every means which mili-
tary genius could devise TO detain the
rebel army. After holding this line Of
about twenty miles in length, for six
teen days, in the face of powerful
foe, Hood succeeded in making his ad-
vance by attempting to turn General
Hatch's right flank. Then commenced
a struggle between this gallant division
and the rebel army, more energetic
than any struggle since the commence
ment OF the great battle before this
city. The attackupon General Hatch's
right flank was made by two divisions
of Forests cavalry, commanded respec
lively by Generals Buford and Chal-
mers. Both these Generals were defeat
ed and their divisions driven back into
the columns of the rebel infantry, and
their wagon train captured and burned,
as it was impossible to get
the train from the field Forrest then
resumed the attack with his whole
force. General Hatch was thus obliged
to fall back, both to prevent being
fanked on his right, and to obtain for
age for his animals, as the country had
been drained of all its forage for dis
tance of ten miles in his rear HOwev-
er, the falling back was gradual, and
every mile Of the eighty was disputed
with Fo: r .st aud Hood, until our inla' =
try had tune TO fall back from Pulaski
and reach Columbia The battles of
Campbellyille, Mt Carmel and Linn
Vile, in which FORESTS three divisions
General Hatch's one division
attest the truth of this as
sertion, they are among the most severe
cavalry fights of the war
Having fallen back upon the infant
nv at Columbia, small reinforcements
began to arrive, thus strengthening the
cavalry. From this time until our
army reached Nashville, this division
was constantly engaged with Forests
cavalry on the right flank of Hoods
Advancing columns When the division
reached Nashville it had been from
camp sixty-five days, and was destitute
Of clothing four horses out of five had
the Grease Heel, and many OF the men
we're mounted on mules. The time
that elapsed between Hoods arrival in
'front.' of-th city and the opening OF
the battle was diligently occupied in
slothing and remounting the men,
7ery slow business from the fact that
he horses TO mount the men could not
be had. Here the llth Ind. cavalry were
added to the division and Battery ],
Ist Illinois Artillery. The division then,
when the Battle of Nashville opened,
Vas composed as follows: 81, 9th, 7th
md eth Ill. cavalry, 2nd Iowa cavalry,
9TH No cavalry, 10th and 18th Tenn
cavalry, Ilth Ind cavalry and Battery
/, lst Ill Art On the morning before
he battle opened, General Hatch re-
.eiyed the order to recross the Cumber-
and river, and take his position on the
light flank of the 10th army corps, com
handed by Gen. A. j. Smith, whose
light rested on the Harding Pike, its
amp, therefore, was between the Har
lin and Charlotte Pixies and near the
utter lines Of breastWoFks. During the
ame eagsning Gen Hatch received 4
,rders to move at daylight next mOrn-4
ne, and turn the enemys left flank I
DAYLIGHT found the division moving 1
nd all eager for the fray, the lst
,rigade under Colonel Stewart on the /
.xtreme right Having moved a short /
distance the enemys breastworks were /
These were charged and 4
arried in the most gallant style by the /
st brigade, consisting Of the Sd Ill, /
9th Tenn, 18th No and llth Ind, /
avalry. At this moment Gem Hatch /
discovered the train Of twenty /
wagons belonging to the division Of
General Chalmers endeavoring to make I
q escape down the Harding Pike The |
9th Tenn. cavalry, Col Spaiding COM
handing, being at hand, mounted, Gen !
latch ordered this gallant officer, aith /
is regiment to go for that traia.' As
uick as ghoaght 'efl darted these /
rusty Te7snSsseaNs in q style seldom |
qaalled, making the woods ring With I
heir yells, bringing back after acharge 1
{ seven miles the whole train Of 4
Henty five wagons, forty prisoners and !