Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-02
Ten. EiOmis's Account of the
ksaGtte OF Nashville.

| Ia accepting the gold medal presented to
him at Nashville on Saturday by Gov. Blown
| low, N behalf OF the Legislature of Ten
Bessee, as mark of their appreciation of his
services 10 defending Nashville and driving
the rebels fro Tennessee, Gen. Thomas gave
the following interesting outline of the ciT
cumstances which led to the battle of Nash
vile and the strategy which resulted in the
triumph Of the Union arms on that occasion.
Alter victorious advance into the heart
OF the enemys country, our great leader,
Gen. Sherman, SIT down ID take little rest
immediately the enemy assumed the offensive
and attempted 10 drive him back. Seeing into
Their plans, Gen. Sherman detached me To Ten
nessee 10 attend 20 afi4sTs IN the rear Of the
army end keep open M communication with
him. Even on my arrival IN Tennessee an
advance force OF the ea9mY had attacked our
c044mu aic4tI9ns and had d0ne some damage,
~ut he was soon driven ou1. Very soon alter
ward Gen. Sherman conserved MS pl,.n OF
marching = the aud I-t. me 20 defend
lie anes.ee in case the enemy .ould advance on
that State and attempt 80 90 further north
AM IN case the enemy should follow Gen.
Sherman L Was 10 pursue with what troops L
could gather up and harass his rear and de-
stroy his communications.
Gen. Sherman's main army, and the main
army of the enemy, remained quietly obssEy-
iag each other Oh the borders OF Alabama
aud GeorgiI, winnie / eudeagored ID meet the
emergency th-t Ms appr0 1cbl1g ~ the OF
ginIz4tlCn OF returned iuGl0u4 heI mea a1d
c5lVAl55cants, anu concentrated them In such
a manner IS 10 be able TO defend The post II
py=>.bla. Bua L was n9t Pegml.Ced 20 remain
IlIe u j. -4y operation. Ine enemy, perceiy
> fa1 Il.
nessee, " Lie Gen. Sherman, just about tie
| same time, started i,r Savannah. Thus there
was then nothing ieiE ior me but To delay his
approach as long p ssibie without riskiDg
d aide until army could be assembled
sufficiently large to meet the enemy. Alter
the utmost exer.lOns ON the psrt OF myself
anu part OF my staff. and also Ga the part OF
che Commanders ot different bodies of troops,
! We finally succeeded In getting an army of
some $4,000 men OF Nashville on the lst day
of December, bus they needed clothing and
| transportation they also needed horses to
enable them to DO something more than simply
fight a battle. Ii was necessary then 10 delay
until these would come. In the meantime the
weather became very disagreeable, and it was
almost impracticable TO move troops. This
further delayed some four or five days
but finally, about the 18th of December, all
preparations being made, the order of battle
and every thing prepared for the conflict next
morning.
BAD weather delayed until the 18th, and
on that day Gen. Steedinan with a small band
OF convaiescents and men ano had been on
| parole, and were but rs,aliy organized, com-
menced the battle On the left, and contrived
50 to occupy the attention of the enemy thai
ne appeared entirely to forget the other pOr-
| ton of his line, and concentrated heavily al
that poinE, evidently expecting battle there
This was expected in my programme, anc
| after General Steedmsn had opened battle
and had been eng ged about half hour, ths
| troops were moved into their respective posi-
| ton, and almost like men on review, and tool
post alter post, and drove the enemy to sh'
hills (CheeTs.) The next day, by skillfu
movement of the cavalry commander, the enc
my'u lefs we entirely turned, a, d this by on,
OF the most gallant assaults have ever wit
messed, the entire line OF the enemy wa
swept from lett to right. tApplause.) S,
ended one OF the strongest and most daring
armies the enemy ever equipped. (Renewe,
applause) This army was pursued two hun
dred and fifty miles, and finally received il
last blow at the hands of the cavalry com man
der. 1t is with the greatest pleasure that
avail myself to-day of the opportunity 0
speaking in praise Of these gallant men ant
officers then under my Command