The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-18
JOHNSONviLLE.
Did the Garrison al that Place stamped

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In justice to
the troops engaged, please allow me 10
correct "A statement made by Capt. Henry
Romeyn in his article, I" Hoods Campaign in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE OF June 9. Speak
ing of Forests movements on the Tennessee
River. he says: " Passing up the stream, still on
the western bank. he next appeared before
Johnsonville, at that time the terminus of the
Nashville & Northwestern Railroad, aud by
vigorous cannonade stampeded tho garrison,
burned large quantity OF stores rs well as
eight steamers aud several barges, The gar.
rison retreated hastily TO Nashville announcing
that Forrest had actually crossed the river
and Gen. Thomas hastily dispatched Scho6eld
TO meet him, only to find that the report was
incorrect, and that the rebel trooper bad gone
10 join his chief at Tuscumbia"
This account is incorrect, as Forrest did not
stampede the garrison he did not set fire 10 the
Government stores aud steamers, aud the gar
rison did not retreat to Nashville, nor move
from their lines about the town. The Nash
Vile IL Northwestern Railroad was nj that
time an important source for supplies, connect
ing Nashville with Johnsenyille on the Ten
nessec River, a miles away, The stations and
numerous bridges Of the road were guarded by
the 18th, 18th aud Tooth y. \. G.. T.. I'd Tenn.
MID Inf. ADD Wis. and lat Kan. battery,
under the command Of Col. Thompson, OF the
18th u. s. C. T., whose headquarters were Mt
consisted of the LIST Kan. battery, we'll intTench-
ed on hill commanding the town and river,
the 4Jd Wis, two companies Of tho I'd Tenn.
MID Inf, and one company Of the 18th u. y.
G. T.. There were 900 muskets for use of
Government employees. but when the fight
came on only g few could be induced 20 take
them. Before Forrest arrived opposite John.
sonyIle reinforcements had been gathered
from the line OF the railroad, consisting OF about
300 employees from Nashville, armed with
muskets and four brass 6pound cannon; about
200 were from the 18th, $50 from the 18th, and
$50 from the Tooth u. $. G. r. Three gunhoata
had also arrived, with transport aud %
pound Parrot gun. which they had reeapturcd
from Forrest, and the Parrott gun was soon
added To the artillery on the hill.
Forrest placed his artillery in two dctach.
ments in plain sight on the opposite bank of
the river, one just above aud Tho other lust
below the town, and directed a er0ss-fire on the
gnnboats, and IN short time cut sttam-pipe
In one of them killing aud w0unding Il few
which so frightened the officers aud men that
they set IRE 10 their boat and came ashore with
their small boats deserving their wounded !;
and IL was said they left their cham bermaid--
q white woman-to the mercy Of the flames
Then followed the most cowardly aud disgrace
ful scene | ever witnessed during the war. The
panic spread 10 the other two Runboats ieither
one Of which ought 10 have been able TO cope
WIN llEisi HTlitiHFy, ESPECIALLY with
| the aid Of the artillery from the fort which
was now actively at work } aud they also set
! fire 10 their boats and came ashore. This
/ frightened the officers Of tho nine steamers
| and several barges lying at the wharf 10 be un-
/ loaded, and IL was said the Quartcrrnnster in
charge ordered them ret ON fire. The fire from
| these soon extended To acres Of supplies on the
leyee and 10 a large warehouse, aud in a few
| hours Government property estimated at $10,-
100000 was in ashes all set on fire by our own
c0wardly officers aud men
1t was the officers aud men Of these gunboats
/ and the Government employees who retreated
| hastily on Nashville on foot spread the false
reports about Forrest crossing the river, utterly
| refusing 10 stay and fight with u.s. though offer.
! ed arms the former actually throwing away
their side-arns, for fear they would be captur-
| cd In "A belligerent condition.
| 1t has always been a mystery 10 mo why
| such c0wardly conduct and criminal destruc-
ton of property has never been investigated ;
but quite likely Hoods movements absorbed so
much attention that no time could be given to
| this The Tennessee River here is at least 400
yards wide. Forrest did not have so much as
a canoe 10 cross with. His field artillery ought
| 10 have been soon driven away by the gunboas
and the post artillery or, these failing, the
commanding officer ought to have drive them
| away with the infantry AS slfarpshooters in
stead Of keeping them idle In the trenches
The feasibility of the latter method was
demonstrated the next day by the writer who
without orders from the commanding officer,
with my own company as sharpshootcrs, drove
| the rebel artillery away twice when they made
attempts TO renew the attack on one warehouse
that was not burned in the first panic. With
this exception the infantry was not used. The
garrison Of the town did all 1t was called upon
To do, and " held the fort"; but IL was gener,
ally believed that better commanding officer
would have prevented such useless destrue
tion OF property. Our own incompetents hay
ing ACCOMPLISHED all the destruction Forrest de
sired, he had already gone to join his chief al
Tnseumbia when Gen. Scbofeld arrived Will
renforeemeHts-C. w. BENNETT, Captain and
Brevet Major, 18th u. s. q. T., Quincy, Mich
The whole system is built up and reinye