Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-14
GENERAL HOOD.
His LAST CAMPAIGN IN TESxE5ssE,
of the Montreal Bsfstal
UN bOARD STEAMER CLINTON, :
Ar SEA, Oct. 8, 1865. {

At 2 o'clock P. NJ. this boat left Galveston
on its way to the North. Over the green
waves it sped, with laundering paddles, and
flock of young screaming gulls in chase to
pick up anything we might drop. AS the
boat left the land behind, we (the passengers)
began to look at each other, and my eyes rest
ed upon man seated on a chair, with a
crutch beside him. and with his looks bent up
on the sea. This was J. B: Hood, late gene
raj Of the G. S. A. His dress was a suit of
blue flannel, with black felt hat. On his
left hand he wore kid glove, and his person
was very neat. With no little interest went
to him and looked at his features. His face
is oval and fair, his eyes light blue and steady,
and his hair brown, while a'long, light brown
beard falls from his chin. In person he is
tall and well made, and his look is quiet, cool,
and considerate. His age is only 81 years
His quiet look led me to speak to him, of
which was very desirous. [ first talked of
the boat we were in, and the sea, then refer
red to the late war and his campaign in Ten
nessee. He said that very little was known
about the merits of that campaign, for his re-
port saw light only at the breakup of the
Contederacy. His plan was to push into
kentucky and there to increase and supply
his army. eff 1 had been able to do so,'
ty thousand men, and, with that force, could
have met any army sent against me-" 1t was
necessary for HIM to go on, he said, for the
men were losing spirit by falling back, and
only some bold effort could reanimatc them
1t was with this view that he strove to defeat
the army under General Thomas; "and, said
he, lought to have had him at Spring Hill,
but some Of my officers failed NO." In act
ing against the line of supply of our army,
the eX>General sent force Of 4,60O cavalry
to break up the railroad. This force found
the road covered by line of strong blocks
houses each with cistern inside, and a gar
rison Of fifty men. These were so safe for a
time, that, to use his words, &C the cavalry
could do nothing with them," though they
took a few by display of force Time was
necessary to reduce the block-houses. and
that wanting. The effort made by the
ex-General to defeat the force under Gen.
Thomas is described as follows. [ must first
say that the army of the former left Florence
on the 21st of November, 1864; to begin the
movement, and that General Thomas fell
back on the 23d upon Columbia:
The want of gooi map Of tho country,
and the deep mud through which the army
marched, prevented our overtaking the enc:
my before he reached Columbia, but on the
77th- OF November, our army was placed ii
position in front of his works at that place.
During the night, however, he evacuated the
town, taking position on the opposite side of
the river, about mile and half from the
town, which was considered quite strong in
front. Late in the evening of the 2Sth No.
vcmber, Gen, Forrest, with most of his COM
mand, crossed Duck river few miles above
Columbia, and | followed early on tho morn
ing OF the 2Sth, with Stewards and Cheat
hams corps, and Johnsons division Of Lees
corps, leaving the other divisions of Lees
corps in the enemy's front at Columbia. The
troops moved in light marching order, with
only battery to the corps, my object being
to turn the enemys flank ty marching rap
idly on roads parallel to the Columbia and
Franklin pike, at or near Spring Hill, and to
cut off that portion of the enemy at or near
Columbia.
When [ had gotten we'll on his flank, the en-
emy discovered my intention, and began to re
treat on the pike toward Spring Hill. The
cavalry became engaged near that place about
midday, but his trains were so strongly guard
cd that they were unable to break through
them. About p. NJ, our infantry forces
Major General Chcatham in the advance
commenced to come in contact with the
enemy about two miles from Spring Hill.
through which place the Columbia and
Franklin pike runs. The enemy was at
this time moving rapidly along the pike,
with some Of his troops formed on the
flank of his column to protect it. Major
Gen. Cheatham was ordered to attack the
sion of this pike; and, although these Or
ders were frequently and earnestly repeat
ed, he made but feeble and partial attack,
failing to reach the point indicated. Had
my instructions been carried out there is
no doubt that we could have possessed our
selves of this road. Stewards corps and
JOhnsOn's division were arriving upon the
field to support the attack. Though the
golden opportunity had passed at daylight,
did not at dark abandon the hope Of deal
ing the enemy heavy blow. Accordingly,
Lieutenant General Stewart was furnished a
guide, and ordered to move his corps beyond
Cheatham's, and place it across the road be-
you'd Spring Hill.
Shortly after this General Cheatham came
to my headquarters, and when informed him
OF Stewarts movement, he said that Stewart
ought to form on his right. l asked if that
would have thrown Stewart across the pike.
He replied that it would, and mile beyond.
Accordingly one of Cheatham's staff officers
was sent to show Stewart where his (Cheat-
ham's) right rested. In the dark and con-
fusion Stewart did not succeed in getting the
position desired, but about IL P NJ. went in
to bivouac About II p. NJ, ascertainins
that the enemy was moving in great confusion
artillery, wagons and troops intermixed-1
sent instructions to General Cheatham to ad-
vance heavy line of skirmishers asainst him,
and still further impede and confuse his
march. This was not accomplished. Tho
enemy continued to move along the read with
hurry and confusion, within hearing, nearly
all night. Thus was lost great Opportunity
OF striking the enemy, for which he had las
bored so long, the greatest this campaign had
offered, and one of the greatest during the
war. Lieut. Gen. Lee, leftin front of the en-
emy at Columbia, was instructed to press the