The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-02-10
MANIIOWOC, WISCONSIN.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1870.
Gen. Thomas and the Battle Of
Nashville.


clustered around the mlliary operations IN
Tennessee n November and December,
1864. Hood who was in COMMAND Of the
rebel army in the department Of the Gulf,
had penetrated Tcnnes. &c, and about the
LIST Of December had sat down before Nash
vile where the Union army under General
Thomas was encampcd. Thomas began
preparing his forces to attack Hood, and,
in that quarter as Hood had nearly al the
available rebel forces east Of the Mississippi
AMI west Of the Alieghan;es. Gen Grant,
who was then at City Point, Va, was box
ing anxiously for the result Of the battle to
be fought at Nashville, confident that if
Hood should be defeated grea. step would
DC made toward the crushing gu, Of the
rebellion When the 9Th of December had
arrived and no movement had been made,
Grant began to he anxious lest Hood should
fank,Thomas and march toward the Ohio
and thus the opportunity be lost tor fight
ing "a decisive battle; he therefore telegraph
ed TO Thomas to attack Hood without delay.
Thomas replied that he would obey the or
der, though he thought it dangerous, with
the SID all force OF cavalry which he then
had. The oh passed without the attack
having been made; meanwhile more tele
grams had been cent from Grant aud Hal
leck, urging that the attack be made At
once. Gen. Thomas hal made his arrange
ments g.: beginning the fight on the 10Th,
lut on the day before there came freez
ing rain that covered the ground with ice,
rendering !: almost impossible for man or
beast ia stand. The battle was again post
poned. Gen. Thomas insisting tina, it was
useless to attempt to tigh, battle when
men could with difficulty stand on level
ground. On the 9ih Gran, telegraphed to
halleck 10 Washington, ordering him to
relieve Thomas and turn over the command
- SchUt d; but on the same day, before
this order had been sent TO Thomas by
Halleck, the latter received dispatch from
the former, stating the impossibiIity OF
moving while the ice remained. llalleck
sent this dispatch to Grant, and he su<pen
ded the order OF removal.
On the lph Grant telegraphcd to Thorn
rs, showing what ruight be the consequence
Of further delay, and ordering him to wall
no longer for weather or achievements but
to fight at once To his Thomas replied
that be would obey ss promptly Is possible
On the l4th Haileck telegraphed Thomas,
urging that battle bc fought, and stating
that Grant had expressed great dissati,fac
ton that u movement had not been made
10 this dispatch Thomas replied that the
Ice having melted away, he would make
the atia,k next morning. the 18th, and he
did, aud the whole country is familiar with
the details of the splendid and overwhelm
ing victory that followed
Gen. Grant LETT City Point on the even
ing Of the lith for Washington, intending
Co 90 to Nashville and fight the battle hin>
self, but when he reached Washington the
news of the battle and victory met him
He at once sent dispatches congratulating
Thomas aud his army on the victory, and
urging him 10 push the enemy to the ex-
tent Of his ability, and to subSi>t On the
country while doing so. lie $50 told
Thomas that be had started to 30 to Nash
vile but that he should 40 no further-
During these anxious delays, Gen Logan,
who was on his way TO Join Gen. Sherman,
had stopped at City Poiut, when Grant
started him toward Nashville, intending
that he should relieve Thomas when he ar
rived there if the battle should not have
been fought He however had no positive
order TO this effect. Logan got to Louis
vile when he received the news Of this
victory, and at the comma nd of Grant re
traced bis steps, and proceeded to his old
command with Sherman. These We believe
are the main fact. in the case as we have
gathered them from couple of columns Of
the official dispatchc, just published
Asa matter Of history the facts in this
case are worthy u being placed upon rec
ord. They show the character of the two
PRINCIPAL actors III q most favorable light,
Gen. Thomas fidelity, caution and patience
under The most trying circumstances. He
knew that he was doing the best thing pos
sible under the circumstances yet lie
freely told GeLeraI Grant that if he wa
dissatisfied with his course he would SUBJ
mi: 10 removal without a murmur. Not
vithstandinc the numerous kilograms lie
received urging his immediate movement,
al Of them important and some hin,ing
thst be might he slower than there was any
necessity for and even questioning is
Judgment, he kept his ten per, sud did 40,
move until hi, il /, met tod him It was
hest, aud how sIei did'y did HE result
slndicntc bis jrd..ue'h
Grant, Oh the other hand, although be
vas most anxious tor ,hc movement, always
spoke IN warm tcguus ci Thomas ability
and .althiuincss. and when the great vic
tory Was Won was .rauk enough to lay ii.