Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-09
GEN. CHEATHAM's DEFENSE.
A Criticism by a Soldier ON the
Federal side Who Was With
Gen. wood.
Columbus (O1 Dispatoh.l

Columbus (O.) Dispatch.l
General f. b. Cheatham, ex- Con-
federate, has published an elaborate
defense of his conduct at Spring Hill,
Tenn. 1t will be remembered that
Gen. Hood, in his history OF the war,
charged that Chestham had disobeyed
orders, and thus permitted the Fed
eral army to escape on the famous
night march from Columbia to Spring
Hill in November, 1864. The writer
of this article feels considerable per-
sonal interest in that affair. as he was
riding at the head of the column Of
Union troops, with General I. j.
Wood, when the discovery was made
that the rebels were in line of battle
less than 200 yards of the turnpike
upon which the Federals were march
ing.
We have always regarded that night
as one of the crises OF the war of the
rebellion. That the war was fortunate
for the Union cause, is due net SO
much 10, the good generalship on our
side as it was to criminal laundering
on the part of the rebel commanders
Practically the forces of General
Schofeld were cut in twain, with the
entire army Of Hood between the two
sections. The failure Of the Confed
crate army to seize and hold the turn.
pike, made possible the junction OF
the Union army. Had Hood placed
his army between the divided Union
forces, he could easily have destroyed
them in detail captured their artillery,
baggage wagons and entire equipage.
There would have been no
destructive battle of Franklin,
and Nashville, feebly garrisoned, with
its immense stores and its important
strategic position, would have fallen
into the hands Of the Confederates.
Sherman was then in the heart of
Georgia, and could not have rendered
any assistance. Grant would have
been compelled to detach large forces
from the Army of the Potomac to save
Kentucky, and possibly Ohio; the
campaign in Virginia would have
been impracticable and the war would
have been prolonged indefinitely.
"Appomatox" would never have been
famous, and Lees army, encouraged
and reinforced, might have again made
an advance into Maryland and Penn
sylvania.
Whether or not General Cheatham
was responsible for the blunder on
that famous night, we are not pre-
pared to say. 1t is simply a question
Of veraeity between Hood, dead. and
Cheatham, living, in which, of course,
the latter has the advantage. There
was bad generalship somewhere. Any
commander, even OF brigade, who
would rest his flank within a qusrter
of a mile Of broad highway, upon
which an army could be readily moved
free to strike him in the flank or rear.
without even a picket force to hold
the road, deserves to be dismissed
from his command. Had even a small
force been stationed on the road, when
the head Of the Federal column came
up, the effect would have been bad for
the latter. They had been marching
in an irregular sort Of way. There
are number of small streams cross
ing the turnpike at various points, and
they we're so easily fordable
that the men tried to cross
them without getting their feet
wet. In doing so the regiment were
badly scattered, and the men, tired
and weary with a long days march,
we're struggling badly, When the dis
covery was made that the forces upon
the right Of the turnpike were Rebels
the writer was sent to the rear by tn,
commanding officer with instruction.
to the brigade and regimental com
manders to close up their columns ant
be ready for trouble" He found thl
condition above described. The nigh
also was dark, and even small fore
of Rebels at vital point might hov
played havoc with the advancing I, i
erals, who had no thought Of an enem
being on their flank and front.
Hood never recovered his prestig
after that night. He tried to remod
his blunder by his fierce assault a
Franklin the following day, but faile
disastrously. The Union army iel
| back to Nashville, was reinf'rced, an
, General Thomas wiped out every yes
, tige Of Hoods army two weeks after
ward. As an organization it neve
was known again.