The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-11-01

Galveston. gives the follosing description OF bis
personal appearance. and bis account Of the
Tennessee campaign sgAins; Gen. THoNAs.
A the boat left the land behind, We, the pas.
sengers, began 10 look At each other and nv
eye rested upon q man seated on chair, with
a crotch behind him, aud with his looks bert
upon the sea This vas ] r. Hood late Gen
ersl of the q :. A His dress wsss suit OF blue
flannel. With black ieli hat. On bis left hand
be Lid glove. aud his person was very
neat.
With 10 itle interest I went up 10 him. and
looked at his features. His face is oval and
fair, HE eyes light blue and steady, and his hair
brown. while long, ight-brown beard falls
from his chin. In person, he is tall and well
made. and his look is quiet cool and considerste.
His age IL only thirty -iour yesrs.
His quiet look led me 10 speak 10 him, OF
which | was very desirous first talked of the
boat were on. and the sea. then referred 20
the late war and his campaign in Tennessee be
said that very little was known OF the merits OF
his campaign. for report saw light only at
the bteak-np OF the Conlederaey. dis plan was
10 push into Kentucky. and there to increase
and supply his army III | had been able TO do
so" said the ex-GeueTal. 81 would have had
30, 600 men. and with that force could have met
any army sent against me. IL was necessary
for him TO 20 on be said, for tie men were losing
spifi, by falling back, and only some bold effort
could reanimate them IL Was with this view
that he stroye TO defeat the army under General
Thomas; and said he, Il ought TO have had
him al Spring Hill, but some of my officers failed
me In acting against the line of supply of our
army. the ex General sent force OF 500 cav
airy to break up the railroad This force found
the road covered by line OF strong block
houses, each with cistern inside and garrison
of fifty men. These were so safe for time
that. 20 use his words, "the cavalry could do
nothing with them though they took few by
display OF force Time VAS necessary 10 re-
duce the bock-houses. and that was wanting
The etiort made by the ex General 10 defeat
the force under General Thomas is described by
him as follows | must first say that the army
OF the former lett Florence Oh the Dist OF Nov
1864, to begin the movement. and that General
Thomas fell back on the 23d upon Columbia:
The want OF a good map of the country. and
the deep mud through which the army marched
prevented our overtaklng the enemy before he
reacued Coiunbia, bur on The 9th of November
our army was placed ia position IA front OF his
works at that place During lie night however.
he evacuated tie town, taking position on the
opposite side OF the river about mile aud halt
from the town, which considered quite strong
in front Late Ia tue evening OF the Is il 0f
November, General Forrest, with most OF his
command crossed Duck river. q lew miles above
Columbia aud followed early on the morning
of the 2Sth, with StewaTts and Cheathams
Corps, and Iohnson's Division of Lees Corps.
leaving the other Divisions of Lees Corps in the
enemys front at Columbia The troops moved
in light marching order, sith oniy battery 10
the Corps. my OBJECT being TO turn The enemys
hsnk by marching rapidly on roads parallel 10
the Columbia and Franklin pike at or near
Spring Hili ana 10 cut of that portion oil the
enemy at or near Columbia When | had got
tea well on his 4 ink. the enemy discovered ny
intention, and began to retreat on the pike toward
Spring Hill. The cavalry became engaged neA!
that place about midday, but his trains were So
strongly guarded that they were unable TO break
through tnem About p. NJ our infantry forces.
Major General Cheatham in the advance, com
menced 10 come IN contact with the enemy
about two miles from Spring Hill. through which
place the Columbia aud Franklin pike runs. The
enemy was 81 this time moving rapidly along the
pike. with some of his troops formed on the
ink 0t his coiuma 20 pt0tectit Mal0r General
Cheltham wa ordered 20 attack the enemv al
once, vigorously, and get possession OF this pike
and, although the5e orders were frequently and
earnestly repeated he made hut a feeble and psr
tiai attack, failing 10 reach the point indicated
Had my instructions been carried out there is no
doubt that We could have possessed ourselves of
this road. Stewards corps ana Iohnson's divi
attack. Though the golden opportunity had
passed Al daylight. l did not at dark abandon the
hope OF dealing the enemy a heavy blow. Ac-
cordingly. Lieut.. Gen. Stewart was furnished
guide. and ordered to move his corps beyond
Chestham :, and place 1t across the road beyond
Spring Hill. Shortly after this, Gen Cheatham
came 10 my headquarters and when Informed
him Of Stcwart's movement, be said that Stewart
ought TO form on his right. ] asked if that would
throw Stewart across the pike. lie replied that
IL would, and mile beyond. Accordingly. one
of Cheatasm's staff officers was sent 10 show
Stewart where his (CheAthams) right rested La
the dark and confusion. Stewart dad not succeed
in getting the position desired. but at IL r. NJ
went into bivouac. About l2 = NJ ascertainipg
that the enemy was moving in great confusion
artillery, wagons and troops intermixed-I sent
instructions 10 General Cheatham TO advance a
heavy line of skirmishers against him and still
further impede and confuse his march. This was
not accomplished. The enemy continued TO move
along the road in hurry and confusion within
hearing. nearly all the night Thus was lost a
great opportunity OF striking the enemy, for
which we had laoorcd so long the greatest this
campaign had offered, aud one of the greatest
during the war. Lieut.. General Lee. left in front
OF the enemy az Columbia, was instructed to press
the enemy the moment he abandoned his position
al that point. The enemy did not abandon his
works Al that point I'LL dark. showing that his
trains obstructed the road for fifteen miles during
the day, and great part of the night. AT day
light we followed as fast as possible toward
Franklin. Lieut. General Stewart ia the advance
Major-General Cheatham following aud Lieut.
General Lee with the trains. moving from Colum
bia on the same road. We pursued the enemy
rapidly. and compelled him 10 burn number of
his wagons. He made fent as ii 10 give battle
on the hills about four miles south of Franklin
but AS soon as our forces began to dcpoy for the
attack, and 10 flank him on the left, he retired
slowly to Franklin.
i earned from dispatches captured At
Spring Hill. from Thomas To Schoheld, that the
latter was instructed 10 hold that place till the
position ct Franklin could be made secure. indi-
eating tho intention of Thomas 20 hold Frank
lin aud his strong works at Murlreesborough
Thus knew that IL was all important 10 attack
Schohold before he could make himself strong,
and il he should escape az Franklin he would
gain hi. works about Nashville The nature OF
the pos ilou was such ~ TO render Il inexpedient
60 attempt any further flank movement. and
therefore determined 10 attack him in front aud
without delay On the 3Oth OF November
Stewart Corps was placed ia position on the
right, Cheatham on the left, and the cavalry
on either Hank main body on the right under
Forrest Johns, Division of Lees Gorps alec
became engaged ou the LEFT during the engage.
ment The line advanced al Z NJ, with
orders tO drive the enemy M the point of the
bayonel into or across the Biz Harpth River.
while General Forrest. il successful. was 10 cross
the river and attack and destroy his trains aud :
broken columns The troops moved forward