The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-02

gained but little in the way OF actual captures, as
the rebels had been enabled to remove or destroy
the immense stores they had gathered. The
bridge across the river had been destroyed, and
tho water was too deep to be forded. At length
a loyal citizen informed General Mitchell that
some two miles below there was @ small flat
bottomed boat that was used az a ferry. That
night Turchin vas sent with his brigade to cross
this ferry. The night was dark and the road
exceedingly rough, and the approaches TO the
river dangerous, as the banks were very .preclp-
ltious, but by daylight Turchin had crossed
nearly his entire brigade. and he at once moved
upon the town. A scene of deSolation awaited
HIM. The people had deserted the place. The
rebels had fired the railway station and the
residences of several of the loyal citizens. Vast
piles Of corn and other stores were slowly burn
ing.
This rapid movement of Mitchell prevented
the sending Of reinforcements to Fort Donelson
and thus precipltated its capture, compelled the
rebels to destroy immense quantities of stores
and to abandon one of the strongest points on
their line. This success, reaching the North
simultaneously with the capture Of Donelson.
electrified the loyal people of the Nation, and
gave a new impetus to the cause of the Union,
while 1t correspondingly dishearte ned the South.
The South was wholly unprepared for these
disasters, and the CONSERVATION the news of
them conveyed could be Illustrated by numerous
anecdotes. Pillows famous dispatch from Don
eison tnat the federalS had been repulsed and
were rapidly retreating northward, with the
victorious confederates following closely
in the rear, had been received at Nash
VILE. and posted all over the city, and the
people were all rejoicing. On Sunday morning
the churches were crowded, and al! seemed full
OF Joy, when the news came that DonelsOn had
fallen and Its garrison were prisoners. 1t was
a terrible blow. There was not a fort, not even
a battery not an armed confederate between
NasEVllie and the forces Of General Grant, and
as soon as the fact was realized, terror. seized
upon all, and he great effort was to escape to
the South. The rebel Governor and his Legisla-
ture hastily left the city. Merchants, believing
all would be confscated, threw open the doors of
their Store-houSes and told the people to help
themselves.
But we must return to General Mitchell. We
lett MN at Bowling Green, where, on the 10th
of February, he began the work of rebuilding
the bridge destroyed by the rebels. The work
was prosecuted amid "a drenching rain, and was
completed on the 2lst. The next day the march
was resumed, and we started for Nashville,
seventy five miles distant. The roads were in
bad condition. but Mitchell believed that
success was to be won by the legs of his soldiers,
so he urged US forward with the utmost speed.
On we went through Franklin, Mitchellsville and
iyree, and on the evening of the Oath reached
Edgetleld. opposite Nashville. The advance
cavalry had reached the city the night before
and had partially restored order. When the
troops entered the city all Was anarchy and con-
fusion. The rebel forces had destroyed the great
suspension bridge and large amounts of other
public and private property. Pillow and Floyd.
who were III command, seemed only htted to de-
stroy property and then fly from before the
loyal troops. At Nashville ended the first part
OF General Mitchells expedition to Tennessee
and Northern Alabama. In this part he had. it
is true, been the advance guard of Bueil's
army, but he had displayed an energy and ceier-
lty OF movement, and a comprehension of the
real grammar Of strategy that was as surprising
to those in authority as it was confusing to the
enemy. In the second part Of his campaign.
although still nominally under tbs command Of
Buell., he moved upon an independent basis, and
developed a system of warfare that, if it had
been practically and energetically adopted by
other commanders. would have ended the war
IN 1868. Shortly after the assembling Of BueiI's
army at Nashville, General Grant visited the
city, and the two commanders, accompanied by
the generals of divisions, paid q visit 10 the ven
cradle widow of President Polk. This visit
caused a good deal Of excitement, As Mrs. Polk
was known TO be heart and soul in favor of Seces-
sion. The distinguished guests were received
kindly, and nothing was said to mar the pleasure
Of the occasion. although the gentle hostess took
occasion to let it be known where her sympathies
stood.
Early in March ii was agreed between Halleck
and Buell. that the forces under their command
should unite in a movement against Johnston at
Corinth and Savannah, and the east bank of the
Tennessee river was chosen as the place of Juno
ton. When Johnston fed from Nashville, he took
position at MurlreesbOro, but soon started to
join Beauregard at Corinth. On the 28th of
March, Buell. left Nashville for Savannah. and
he left Mitchell behind with work cut out for
him. He was to protect the left flank of Hal
leck, and. taking advantage of the confederate
concentration, penetrate as far south as pos
sible.
On the 18th of March he left Nashville. and
from that time until he was finally halted in front
Of Chattanooga, his blows fell with such sudden
ness as to carry CONSERVATION and diSmay even
to the very door OF Richmond. His first stroke
was at Murfreesboro. There he had TO stop
awhile, AS the rebels had destroyed all the
NrJG paC y the yIpInjtU and thnu bod 70 be on
paired before he could be supplied with the mu-
nitions of war. for his further march. SO rap
idly did his men work that they built twelve
hundred feet of heavy bridges in ten days. On
the 4th of April he was at Shelbyville,a and on the
7h started on q rapid march to Fayetteville. But
he hardly stopped there, but pressed on, and on
the evening of the 10th arrived at a
point within a few miles of Huntsville. A few
hours rest were given the exhausted troops, and
at midnight they were on the march again.
About dawn of the 18th they entered Huntsville.
The people were not dreaming of danger. They
had no idea ar enemy was near, and they could
not have been more astonished had The little
army dropped from the clouds. At Huntsville
we captured a number of locomotives and cars,
besidts a vast amount of stores. The rapidity
OF the marching of the division had never been
excelled, even on good roads; but over the roads
of southern Tennessee and northern Alabama it
was more than wonderful. General Mitchell did
not rest. He had other work to do. Other
blows were to be struck. With the captured
locomotives ana cars he dispatched troops east
and west as fast as steam could carry them, and
before the North and South had realized the i'm
portance of the success at Huntsville, Stevenson
to the east, and Decatur and Tuscumb ia to the
west, had fallen into our hands, and General
Mitchell had extended his front more than one
hundred miles. His restless activity did not
permit him to stop, but as soon as Decatur was
reached a force was sent still farther southwark,
and occupied Russellville. He had thus placed
his army midway between Nashville and Cor
NTH and controlled the paVICatiOD of tha Ton
nessee for more than one hundred miles.
Having done this much, Mitchell did not want
to stop, but urged that reinforcements should be
sent to him so that an advance might be made
on Chattanooga and Knoxville. Negley's forces
were indeed put under his command but he
was ordered to retire across the Tennessee
river. His movements had seriously alarmed
the COnfederate authorities. and Kirby Smith