The National tribune., 1884-05-01
FEN. 0. 0. How "REMINISCENCES.

FAST mean my staff officers and myself We
told her we should conquer IN the end. She
shook her head. smiled, and said: You will
have a 'Stoncwall 10 encounter, Hills to
climb and a Lonrstreet to wander through
before you can succeed" After our breakfast
and morning reading, seeing us start out with
as much cheerfulness as a merchant going TO
his business. or a rested workman 10 his shop,
she looked into my face and, as i bid her good
morning, said T" Now j fear you more than
ever, for | had understood that all Lineoin's
men were had. What so cheerful when going
straight into battleg"
Before entering upon description of the
roadways which formed the approaches of our
army 10 Lees front and TANKS; of the defensive
means aud dispositions resoTted 10 by General
Lee: Of our own movements in the terrific con-
test Of this day lthe 18th OF December) and its
results LET us first pay brief visit to the two
lower bridges which were placed close together
al Franklin's crossing.
About ii o'clock OF the Ilth Franklin re-
ported TO Burnside that the bridges were fin
ished Burnside directed him TO remain where
DE was for the present At in the afternoon
be was first instructed to cross his whole com
mand. Alter part of the force had reached the
south side of the river his orders we're changed,
be being then instructed 10 send over bnt one
brigade 10 protect the bridges. Franklin then
returned all but Devens'. This brigade held
above, carefully pcketing the front. At day
light Of the 10Th the two corrs,-Smith's and
Reynolds followed by a brigade of cavalry
under the youthful Bayard, were all across by
j O'Clock. Smiths corps put out two divisions
IN line of battle and held one in reserve, NOV
ing forward to the old Richmond road that
here ran parallel 10 the river, and a mile from
It, Reynolds corps formed IN the same style
on Smiths left, but nearly at right angles to
1a4+ lslsl
mock Franklin made his dispositions with far
less opposition than we had in the city, there
being some skirmishing and what he calls 3" a
spiteful though nearly harmless fire from his
1.-THE enemy's artillery"
Reynolds trout looked directly toward the
klassapOnax, and was about one mile from that
stream.
We have now brought Burnside's large army,
numbering according TO the reports $4,000
men. into position against the Confederate
army, then about $1,000 strong. Judging by
all the evidence at my command, Burnside 5
subsequent plans were not formed before the
night of the 18th. He says himself that at
that time ne visited the different commands
with view 20 determining as TO future move
ments." During his visit to Franklin, Frank
lin declares that he strongly advised General
Burnside to use his (Franklin's) entire grand d.
vision for d solid attack, assaulting the enemy IS
right with q column of at least 10000 men, and
to begin the assault ct daylight Of the 18th.
lie asked for two divisions Of Hooker's troops
10 be sent him during the night.
Burnside at first appeared to yield 10 this
good proposition, certainly the best under the
existing circumstances. He promised as he
left Franklin, about dark, 10 send him his
orders ia a short tiH8e-at any rate, before mid
night. Franklin not getting them. about mid
night sent an aid-de-camp for them. The re-
ply 10 the aid was that they would be ready
soon and sent, but they did not get to Franklin
till after Z O'Clock Of the 18th. And when they
came il was too late for the proposed movement
at the dawn. The divisions OF Hooker were
not sent. and no such attack as that recon-
mended by General Franklin was adopted OF
ordered.
] should judge that Burnside meant that
General Summers grand division should make
the main assault, and that for this purpose the
greater part Of Hooker's command was held at
the upper bridges for his support. Whatever
were the orders, the location Of the troops
indicated this design.
To he