The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-22
The Battle of Nashville.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of September
13, 1883, read statement that General A. j.
Smiths corps did not make any assault on
either day of the fight at Nashville. I think
that the eomrade of the 4th corps is greatly
mistaken; for one of the brigades of Gen. A. ].
Smiths corps made the last assault that was
made on the last day Of the fight, just at sun
down. The last day we were at Nashville the Sd
division of the 23d corps was on the reserve
We lay, on the first part of the battle, between
the Franklin pike and the Granny White pike.
The last day of the fight we were moved
around to the extreme right We relieved the
cavalry that was fighting there. We saw the
cavalry take a battery on one of the hills; after
that they moved further to the right This
was late in the afternoon of the last day. When
the cavalry moved TO the right our brigade
moved in line of battle to the foot of the hill
and halted there, and just about shutdown one
of the brigades of the 10th corps charged the
works and took them. They teld us that it
was Gen. John McCarthy's brigade of the 18th.
/ saw this charge made at the time, being not
one-half mile away when the charge was
made. Our division at this time was on the
extreme right of the main line, and it was the
last of the fight. The next morning early we
marched to Franklin and followed Hood as far
as Columbus; there we lay three or four days,
and then marched TO Wilmington, n. @.
have seen and read several pieces written on
this fight at Franklin and Nashville, and the
whole credit is given TO the 4th corps think
that Matches cavalry deserves as much credit
as any, for they fought hard before we met him
at Pulaski, and fought him all the way TO
Franklin. / sometimes think thar we old SOL
dlers are apt to get selfish touching our stories
and exploits in the war, and some are anxious to
take more than their share.
I was a member of company 4, 65th Illinois
veteran volunteers, Sd brigade, Sd division, 23d
Army Corps, and came back from Atlanta after
Hood with the 4th Army Corps, but / have
never seen anything said about them, any fur
Their than if they were not in the field; how
ever, they did their part at Franklin and
Nashville. Hoping that this correction viii be
taken in good part, remembering also that all
of US were fighting in the same cause,
IR.,
Co. A, 65th Illinois Vet Vols.
Rock FALLS, ILL.
THE comrade is entirely correct The as
sault made by Smiths corps was on the right
of the main Gne.-ED.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
1 noticed an article in your issue of last
week under the heading General Smiths
Brigade at Nashville" General A. j. Smith
commanded the 10th corps at Nashville, and
commanded it we'll, too as he could. The first
charging at that battle, on the 18th day of
December, 1864, was done on the extreme light
by General McArthur's division. Our brigade
was the first to charge General William s. Nc
Millen's, which was on the extreme right. We
made two successful charges on that day, cap
turing a fort on our last charge, with two pieces
of artillery, which Captain Johnson, of COM
pany a, 1l4th Illinois, turned on the rebs, and
made it hot for their retreat. Colonel Thomas,
of 93d Indiana v. l., was struck with spent
ball in the forehead while watching Captain
Johnson's good work with the artillery, and ON
the 10th we were stationed in front of their
stronghold the big hill,-which our brigade
charged and captured about p. M, under
Generals Macarthur and William s. MeAIilIen,
with William S. McMillen in his shirt sleeves,
and as wild as an Indian. The last charge was
very hot, as our guards, guarding orr eolors,
did use their bayonets and the flags came out
of that charge full of holes The 10th Mime
sofa ". l. lost some forty men in that charge.
They were on our left. and did some good
work. And now should like to read the his