The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
General SchofleId at Pulaski.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
One of the most interesting departments of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, in my opinion, is that devoted
70 military "reminiscences, contributed by officers
and men of the late war. Isuppose there is not an
article written but that is scanned and criticised
by hundreds who have some knowledge of the
events narrated. / observe that every letter pub
lished draws out various opinions and questions
The truth is that men IN different situations saw
things differently. For instance, one says that
Marietta. Ga, was burned another that il not.
understand them this way: One came to Marietta
sooner than the other. When the first came moth
ing was burned. The other came later and saw
the remains of the fire. Now, know that part of
the town was burned for was there after the war
was ended and found part of the square in ruins.
Whether it was destroyed by the Federals not
do not know. My business there to make
surveys and maps of the National cemetery. was
the engineer surveyor of all the National ceme-
teries from New Albany, Ind, to Natchez, Miss
1t was my practice after completing the survey to
make drawing OF the cemetery, and at Marietta
took my view from the corner of the square, on
the site OF the burned hotel. In The TRIBUNE of
March 18th l find some extracts from General
Capron's jonrnal, and from them get some in
formation that did not before possess and which
appears inexplieable to me. was at Pulaski at
the time General Capron refers to- making topo-
graphical survey of the town and surrounding
country. Iremember that on Monday it was known
to everybody that General Hood Was crossing the
Tennessee River. though exact information was
possessed by but lew. went on with my work
every day surprising that so long as General Scho-
fields army remained at Pulaski it was all right
and that it would be time enough for me to go
detail furnished by General johnson to aid in my
work withdrawn and the men ordered to their
commands. Wednesday morning went to Gem
eral johnson and asked for new detail, which
was given me, and went to work as usual. About
ii O'Clock we were near the camp when all at once
fires sprung up ali around US. The camp was COM
posed largely of sheds made from planks the SOL
diers had taken from sheds, stables and fences in
and about the town. Being about to vacate. they
astonishcd. and said: what does this mean "
Somebody said: I'VE are under marching orders and
every one is leaving" In haste gathered up the
instruments and hurried to town, getting there not
minute too soon, for the wagon train was leaving
fortunately was able TO throw the instruments up
into the last wagon, and said to those with me,
saaUe gus peut. Five minutes later and would
have been left and the Instruments lost. walked
with the wagons TO Columbia, and there was again
fortunate, for train Of freight just ieav
ing for Nashville, where was allowed to GO In
this way escaped the skirmishes aud fights at
Columbia and Franklin. L don't know that this
Is anything TO boast of but was not IN fighting
trina. had served two and a half years as a SOL
der; bad been honorably mustered out and was
Immediately afterwards employed in the engineer
department., where 4 continued until the last dead
soldier had been gathered into the National
teries and until had made the final maps of 6 900
graves. The saddest feature of the 50mie tramp
from Pulaski to Columbia was the numbers of
negroes who walked with the wagon train They
had been gathered in kraals at Pulaski, and when
the army left they had 10 leave too 1t would have
been death TO remain, for Forrest was known to
be with Hood, and Forrest was q terror The
negroes on starting took much of what they had
with them as they could carry. Some had pretty
large bundles As they toiled along and got tired
the bundles would be united and the least precious
part taken out and left on the road In this way
the road was strewed with rags for miles, and by
the time we got to Columbia very little left.
never could understand why General Schoiieid
remained at Pulaski from Monday to Wednesday.
He evidently knew Sill about Hoods movements
and route; knew where he WAS crossing the river
knew Lhat he was not coming by way of Pulaski,
but that he was making for Columbia by another
road. 1t seems to me that If he had wished to meet
Hood he might have moved two days before or
sooner, and met him at any good fighting position
between there and Nashville. As it was they had
to fight and march, fight and march, until they got
to Franklin, where sure enough, they did pitch
in The result Is matter of history The tactics
of some of our commanders during the war were
beyond my ken. p NJ. RADFoRD
Adjutant, Geo. III. Thomas Post.
NASHVILLE, TENN.