The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-29
Spring Hill to Franklin.


To THE EDITOR: have been watching the
communications in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
for some time past in regard to who acted as
rear guard from Spring Hill to Frank lin. was
on the staff of Gen. J. c. Starkweather, vino
commanded a brigade of cavalry under Gen.
Wilson, and had good opportunity to observe
the movement of the army at that time. While
the Fourth and Twenty third Corps were cross
ing Duck River at Columbia we were sent mp
the river Oh the north side TO prevent Forrest
Cavalry crossing and getting at our trains be-
fore the infantry could get up. Bat before we
had travelled far we learned that he had already
crossed the river farther up, and was heading
for Spring Hill. We were then fastened on
toward the latter place. keeping south OF the
pike, and near enough to it to hear our wagon
train as it rumbled along and occasionally got
a glimpse of it until night shut out the view.
Referring to a communication from Blue
Shield" in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of July
80 last, where he says that the loss OF our cav
airy on the night Of the 29th of November, etc,
! will say that in reading that | got the first
knowledge ever had that our cavalry was lost
on that march. Although we were sometimes
mixed in with the enemy during the night we
came out all right the next day. And IN the
same communication | was also first made aware
OF the fact. as Blue Shield " alleges, that Gen.
Wilson committed a blunder on that campaign.
] am pretty thoroughly convinced from his
all about the position that our cavalry occupied
during the retreat from Pulaski to Nashville.
We marched all night the Doth with the pike
and our trains on our left and Forests cavalry
on our right. The night being a very dark one,
and marching almost parallel with the enemy,
il is not to be wondered at that we did get
mixed up little, bat it seems that daylight
brought us out in very good shape, for we found
ourselves along with Pap Woods Division of
the Fourth Corps and about o'clock in the
forenoon, as we were crossing nigh null, we
saw the enemy's cavalry TO our right and rear.
We were then formed into line, and light bat
terry belonging to the same corps was placed IN
position, and we gave them a few rounds, when
caused them to get under cover of a small hill,
which lay between us, on top of which they
placed some SIX irmishers, who did us no harm.
In this position we held the enemy until our
infantry had gone some distance ahead, when
We were ordered to move on until we reached
another prominent point, when the same thing
was repeated. This kind of running fight was
kept up until we got near Franklin.
The cavalry took a position up the river
south of town, and held Forrest in check dur
ing that battle, and after the battle had race
with him to see who would get to the pass IN
the Brentwood Hills first, and as we got there
first, Forrest pulled out and left Us the field.
Now as there was running fight kept up
from the time we left Duck River until we ar
rived at Franklin, l am pretty well satisfied
that no one, or dozen men, acted as rear guard
south Of the pike and on our left flank. will
agree with Blue Shield that the retreat from
Pulaski to Nashville was one of the most bril-
liant campaigns on record and one of the very
few military movements that nearly every prl-
vate soldier seemed to understand. Since so
many wish to claim the honor of being rear
guard from Spring Hill to Franklin, who will
rise up and claim the honor of being rear-guard
from Franklin to Nashville? Blue Shield "
lost his cavalry at Spring Hill. l would like
to know where he found it again, for it seemed
to turn up IN Hoods rear just after the battle
of NashvIie.-J. II. DAWSON, Co. C, Goth ILL.,,
North Auburn, Neb.