Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-16

safety oil the country, would have
dared to go to battle with powerful
foe, earlier than did General Thomas
at Nashville
A portion of our East Tennessee
readers well understand some OF the
causes of the delay. Early in No
vember, 1864, General Forrest at
tackled the Federal forces at John
sonville, on the Tennessee. River. At
that time the LIST Brigade of the I'd
Division, 23d Army Corps, had just
arrived at Pulaski, having gone there
by rail, by way of Nashville, from
Resacca, GA. This brigade was made
up in part of the Sd and 9th Tennes
see infantry, commanded then by
Colonel VIM. Cross and Lietenant
Colonel Edward Maynard. They had
scarcely arrived at Pulaski when they
were ordered to proceed as speedily
as possible to Johnsonyille to aid In
checking Forrest. They arrived
there on November 7th. Thus at
that time, just as Hood was preparing
to advance into Tennessee, it became
necessary for General Thomas to d.
vide his already scattered force, in
order to protect his line of supplies
from the raids of Confederate Cav
airy.
This brigade, commanded by Gen
eral Joseph A. Cooper, remained at
Johnsonville two weeks and left there
November Oath, with orders to march
to Boards Ferry, Oh Duck River, and
await further orders. The brigade
arrived there just as Hood was
marching on Columbia, and had been
there but two days when orders were
received to march to Franklin. This
was found in few hours to be i'm
practicable, as the Federal troops
had crossed Harpeth River and were
rapidly retreating to Nashville Gen
eral Cooper then determined by a
forced march to lead his brigade
into Nashville. The troops were
marched all day, December
I'd, and arrived within eight
miles of Nashville on the Hardin
pike, only to find that Hoods strong
lines were between him and the city.
He had a choice of two movements.
One was to attempt to cut his way
through Hoods lines, which would
have been an exceedingly rash under
taking, and the other to fall back and
come in by way of GAINESVILLE and on
the opposite side of the Cumberland
river. This was hazardous moves
ment on the part of General Cooper
but it was skillfnIly and successfully
executed. It was accomplished
however by continuous march of
thirty-six hours duration, running
through dark and stormy night,
and with but single stop made for
any purporse until the troops reached
Charlotte, in Dickson county, in this
State. After resting there one night
the brigade was pushing rapidly on
to GAINESVILLE, arriving there De-
cember 5th. Untilits arrival at Clarks-
vile, the brigade had been given up
as lost. It was believed to have been
captured by Hoods forces. This is
one ofthe remarkable infantry march
es of the war, and did credit to
General Cooper as commanding Off
Ger of the brigade, and reflected
honor upon the officers and SOL
diers who displayed so much pluck
and endurance and overcame such
great difficulties. The command ar
rived at Edgefeld on December Sth
crossed Cumberland river into Nash,
vile the next day, and took position
in General Thomas lines, while q
snow storm was prevailing.
Those present there viii
remember that for severa
days afterwards, the weather
was very cold, and that the eartf
was covered with a sheet of ice, sc
that it would have been impossible
for General Thomas to lead his army
across the hills around Nashville in al
aggressive movement against Hood
army. The thaw came on the 13tl
of December. On the 14th, Orders
weio s:~e.- by General Thomas pre-
paratory to the attack, and on tn
next morning the attack was made
The result is too we'll known to neet
repetition. It was one of the mos
complete and decisive victories O
the war. It was clear and sweep
ing answer to all that had been sal,
i AGAINST Gaparal Thoroc opJ olda,