The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-24
NASHVILLE.
What was Done by Fourth Corps battery In that
Action.

What WINS Done by u Fourth Corps Battery In that
Action.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBuNE: From the
military point of view, as we'll as from % moral
standpoint, the risk or sacrifice of human life
in action is Unsuitable or praiseworthy only in
so far ~ it influences tho decisive fortunes of
battle by contributing to tho success or safety
of the army. The glory dhe to heroic exploits
in the progress of its movements is to be gagged
by this standard. Bravo deeds for mere notori-
ETY., without influence on the general result
are nothing more than brave Jolly.
Measured by this rule. il seems to mo the
luster of that exploit, Stewards Battery B
at Bethesda Church is dim in comparison TO
that won by its deeds at Gettysburg, or by
Stevcns's battery at Cedar Creek, or Reeds bat
terry at Nashville, as we'll as other instances that
might be mentioned And Gen. joe Bartlett
appears TO be of the same mind when he says,
las reported in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Jan.
30) that the affair at Bethesda Church twas a
good thing for Stewards boys to crow over"
| agree with Gen. Bartlett that IL was seldom
that battery had so conspicuous n chance TO
show its mettle, but beg leave to enter quail
fed dissent TO tho remark Of Gen. Doubleday
that 1t is without "A parallel in military an
nails" ] recall an instance of artillery practice,
which was not merely an episode between the
lines OF two armies, without material influence
on the movements of either" like two gladi-
atOTs joining battle in the Roman Ampthea-
ter"--but part Of the eliminating movements
Mt the very crisis of a great battle. will sketch
the event as 1t appeared to me, and leave IL to
your readers TO say whether il does not deserve
to be rescued from oblivion and ranked as
parallel to that exploit mt Bethesda Church.
1t happened III front of Nashville during tho
first BATTLE Dec. ID, 1864 at the moment when
McArthurs Division Sixteenth Corps, after
beating back Hoods left flank, by repeated
assaults, until it was turned almost perpen-
i'm ri IN hp IF 10
bent on finishing the job by running over this
refused flank in such n way as to take the
balance of Hoods line in REVERSE and was
rapidly forming for the decisive onset, with
Garrards Division, of the Sixteenth, and tho
Fourth Corps, extending around the anglo and
eastward opposite his main front, already
formed and awaiting the signal TO attack.
Now this angle in Hoods position rested on
high ground in a belt Of forest, which extended
down the slope In its front 10 the bottom OF the
narrow valley that skrted both faces of his
line. His position may be represented by tho
arms OF an extended letter V, with the eastorly
margin of this strip OF woods projecting down
toward ouI lines in the shape Of tho stem re-
quired TO make 10 Y. The forest accordingly
screened the angle from cross fre-and, in
fact from any accurate or very effective fire
from tho batteries in our lines; yet Hoods
guns there were in position TO sweep not only
down front, through the timber, but also right
roction, at least toward our left, over which
his assailants were preparing to cross. How to
bring his cannon TO bear on the artillery posted
In this commanding and to US very dangerous
position, so rs 10 counteract its deadly work
upon the assailing lines. was tho difficult prob
lem presented 10 Thomas.
That this iuncture was considered critical.
aud even frought with great danger, even by
Gen. Thomas himself is evidenced from the
fact that u tremendous column OF assault. seven
lines deep had been stealthily mnssed IN the
lower end of the belt of timber already de-
scrbgd. close up 10 the angle as possible
without disclosing its purpose or strength,
while the general line of the Fourth Corps
across the open to tho left of the timber was
held back at considerably greater distance from
the enemy, This formidable column comprised
a large detachment Of the Fourth Corps, prob
ably division, aud Garrurd's Division of the
Sixteenth, and was evidently expected To carry
the position at the angle by the momentum of
its sudden assault whatever else might happen.
Now. In the moment of eager waiting that
ensued when these dispositions were COM
pleted. battery breaks from Woods line some
200 yards 20 the left and rear Of the belt of
timber, and dashes Mt wild galiop down the
open slope. straight ont toward the enemy.
Across the bottom Of the valley. over tho
shoulder, and then on, up tho rising slope, 1t
keeps ON its hcadlong way, past the flank OF
haps $50 yards to their left front, until IL rises
"A slight. comparatively level plateau. whore II
wheels into position within 200 yards of the
enemy and IN clear range OF his guns. Then,
almost as soon as the wheels stop aud before
the enemy has time TO comprehend or get in
shot, its guns, trained right oblique, directly
on The angle fash forth the flames OF a stimuli.
ianeous volley. Then they repeat with such
rapidity that tho army stands too entranced
even 10 cheer. But the thunder seems 10 shake
loose the impassive lines, for presently they
come following down tho slope like an ava
| lancbc. and then sweep up toward the works,
catching the heavy column IN the timber in
their double quick. forward" as they come
abreast, aud and over and beyond in
pursuit OF the broken foe until darkness covers
his flight.
The battery had done lbs work ehcctualy. /
cannot tell precisely how many Of tho enemys
| guns were knocked out for in accompanying
! the charging lines over the ground did not
! got opportunity AT tho time 10 make an in-
| veutory OF damages. But | know that their
artillery got in very little if any effective work
/ anywhere on the assailiug lines and certainly
| no storm Of kissing shell or rafting canister
/ was hurled down through the woods upon the
column charging there. Indeed. this startling
| prelude 10 the crashing storm appeared to para
lyZc the defouse at the angle to tho extent that
1 the assault which IN anticipation portended
I
! lively little loss. Aud on examining tho posi-
! ton next morning, although the other evil
| dences Of tho shock were removed | found
ample aud vivid witnesses Of the terrible effect
! OF those riAed shells delivered at short range
| ia the shattered log cribs filled with stones
with which The guns of the enemy were COW
| cred. They were torn and tossed and plowed
through in a way that told how to tho storm
of bursting shell was added To complete their
CONSERVATION storm Of flying stone aud tim
ber raised 10 the very faces OF the enemy by
the destruction OF their own deienses.
| have never been abIo TO learn the name or
number Of that battery as we parted company
with the Fourth Corps after the next day s
| BATTLE and / do not remember seeing tho ex.
plot mentioned in history or in any of the
reports Of the battle 10 which have had ac-
cess. VIII some reader of THE NATIONAL
| TRIBUNE who knows kindly furnish tho miss.
ing information "A. w. CLYDE, 27th Iowa,
| Ashley, NJ d.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.