The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-10
NASHVILLE CAMPAIGN.
Defense OF Gen. SchOReld and the Twenty
Corps,


Corps.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have read
with great interest aud some amusement Com
Tade John X. Shellenberger's history of the
Nashville Campaign. His object appears to
be twofold. First, to have Schofeld reduced
TO tho ranks, and, second, TO boittle the ser
vices of the Twenty. Corps, though he
does give our brigade credit for standing up to
its work at Franklin.
Comrade Shellenberger displays great inge-
nuity in classifying history, and quite little
ignorance regarding the disposition of our
army on the evening of Nov. %, 1864. Our
division was the last to leave Columbia, so we
had some opportunity to SEQ the disposition OF
the balance of Scho6cld's army as we passed it
during tho night on our march to Franklin,
and wo know that Comrade Shcllenbcrger is in
correct in many of his statements, and in nearly
all his differences regarding it. So far ms Scho-
field is concerned, l challenge Comrade Shell
lcnberger to cite an instance whcro his supc-
rors found fault with him for being too slow
to advance or too prccipitate i'll retreat. lilo
(Shclenbergcrl win probably meet the chal-
lenge by saying Srhoield pulled the wool over
tho eyes of his superiors, rs " he claims he did"
over the eyes of the War Department when ho
secured his promotion.
As regards the Twenty third Corps, | have to
say that il took its full part in the marching
and pounding, and challenge Comrade Shell
lonbCrger to cite an instance in its history when
it was driven from its line during an action.
He says the 1881 Ohio happened along at
Spring Hill, but rdicules tho idea that it had
anything TO do with tho result there. ! will
say the 103d Ohio was well known by us, it
being part of our brigade. and we have known
il TO happen along number of times at tho
right moment and it always happened to give
n mighty good account of itself. IL was regi-
mcnt that would do to tic TO in n tight place,
and think about as good a one rs there was in
the service Except our own, of course and
! will say the Same of the 65th Ind. which also
belonged to our brigade.
Again. Comvade Shellenbcrger concludes If
his command had been defeated ut Spring Hill,
SCnofeld'sarmy (meaniug, suppose. tho Twon-
ty-thifd Corps would have been lost or de-
stroyed but much as We dislike to dispute so
great a historian, we of that corps beg leave 10
differ with him. Nashville might have been
LOST do not say or think il would have been, -
but the Twcnty-third Corps could and would
have taken care of itself; in fact, its situation
would not have been nearly so desperate rs the
situation IL occupied about year previous ut
Knoxville.
In describing the fighting at Franklin. Com
rade Shelcnberger would have us believe that
his command aid about all of it, thus again
saving the Twenty third Corps from destruc-
ton. 1t seems TO me he would have it mp.
pear that his command was acting as an cs-
cort of safety for the Twcnty-third Corps, and
that they had to fight like tigers in order TO
bring us through in good shape and deliver us
at Nashville right side up with care" The
most ridiculous part Of his story, however, is
the claim that after they had whipped tho en-
envy at Franklin, the men Of the Twenty. third
Corps hoped onto them and took away from
them the trophies they had captured.
Ho goes on TO prove that they did nearly all
the fighting by the fact that thoy suffered tho
greatest loss. Now, as to that will say right
hero that their greatest loss was sustained
when they were not ilghtiug ut all. j will say,
too, that in our command wo had not learned
to establish the quality of our fighting so much
by the number of men we lost as by the num-
Der the enemy lost in our front.
While / am at il. / wish TO say n word To
C0mrade Andrew GongweT, who. in The Ma
TIoSAL TRIBUNE Of March 6, volunteers cor.
roboration OF every word Comrade Shellen'
berger wrote, yet in the same article admit.
that he was ut no time nearer than IL miles Of
the field of operations. lie wants 10 know
what effort Scho6eld made TO save their
(Cooper's) brigade. ! ask Comrade GonRwer
in all candor what effort would you have had
him make2 Would you have had him with
draw his little army from Hoods front to go and
escort your brigade 10 place Of greater safety
If so, wish to remark that IL was not neces
sary. history proves that ben cooper was
capable Of making all the effort necessary e
keep that brigade out of tho way of harm
aud IL also proves that the best effort Schofield
could make for the safety Of your brigade a
we'll as the safety of the country, was to vel
come Hoods army with bloody hands 10 hos
pitable graves at Franklin. just rs be did.
Again You blame Schoield because II o
your brave boys who could not keep up witt
the command were picked up and shot lik,
dogs by guerTillas. want to remind you tha
such was often the fate OF straggers from "a large
army as well as from a brigade, aud when, il
addition to handling small army in th'
presence Of greatly superior foe. you should
claim that SchoHcid ought TO have acted NJ safe
guard both for your brigade aud your stragglers
miles away, you are simply unreasonable.
/ was "a member Of the Twenty. third Corp
| from its organization 10 the end of tho war
and under all its commanders aud take thi
occasion 10 say that while Scho1eld marched
and fought us rs hard, he cared for rs in othe
| respects better than any of our previous corp
| commanders / think no had the confidence O
| his superiors, aud it 10 my opinion he has no
! received n promotion which hc had not iairl.
| carncd.-WM. n. BEowN, Co. H. Goth Ill., Op
| dyckc Post, Rockwell City, Iowa.