The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-06
SCORING SCHOFIELD.
Another Acconnt of the FranklIn CampaIgn.


pressed i'll the articles which have appeared in
THE NATIONAL tribune, from the pen of
John X. Shellenberger, of Humboldt, Iowa
| concur in everything that he has said for ]
know from sad experience through Atlanta and
Franklin campaigns rs n member OF the Twenty
third (Schofeld's) Corps that ho is right; and
my prayer is rs his, that tho brave boys of
GIGS will not be called upon to witness the
humiliating sight of seeing man whose every
action throughout these campaigns branded
him ms one whose worth did not entitlo him TO
even the rank of Brigadier, raised to tho rank
once held by such world renowned heroes rs
Sherman and Grant. God forbid that the fire
of patriotism in the old soldiers breasts and in
tho breasts of our sons, should be dampencd by
tho sight of his elevation by the Nation to
position To which he is not entitled, and of
which he is not worthy. Ii was sad enough
TO have him promoted to the rank of Brovet
Major General for gallant and mertoriouS
services At the battle of Franklin, Tenn II
promotion 10 which he was not entitled, but
saddor yet it will be to the old soldiers who
were III those campaigns, TO see him occupy
position equal with such men sherman,
Grant and Sheridan, while scores of minor
officers who did noble work, far in excess Of
anything he ever did, arc forgotten by the Ma
ton which they so nobly served.
] want TO speak briefly i'm the present article
of the part taken by the First Brigade. Second
Division, Twenty third Corps. / am sure that
C0mrade Shellcnberger would have said moro
of this brigade in his article, had he been able
to gather sufficient data upon which to base
any comments, but such data appears to be
lacking in Schoield's reports. for the same rea-
son, no doubt that we hear of some people try
ing TO Danish hell, for their own benefit
] will begin with the time that the First
Brigade was rushed to place on the Tennessee
River called Johnsonvilc, some 10 days prior
10 the battle of Franklin. After remaining ut
Jacksonville few days. we received orders TO
move with dispatch TO a point on Dnck River
somewhere in the vicinity of ConterYllc, and
i think about - miles from Franklin. Wo
were accompanied by section of q battery OF
four guns We had as a train two ambulances
and five or six wagons. Quitc a number of our
men were ailing, and one day Nov 26) during
this march, II of our brave boys were not able
to keep up with the main body, and falling in
the rear the few wagons and ambulanCcs being
full of sick comrades), were picked up by
guerrillas, taken aside into the woods aud shot
down like dogs by these cowardly devils. Two
were only wounded, but left for dead, who
came into camp couple of days later and
told of their terrible experience.
Arriving at Duck River, we found that we
were expected to guard ford and prevent
Hood from crossing This single brigade with
four gun battery was stuck out here, entirely
beyond support from the main body, and these
are the troops that Schofod referred to in bis
dispatch 10 Thomas, dated Nov. 30 ut i m,
when lie says fear tho troops which were
stationed on the river below Columbia will be
lost" We will sec how much of an effort he
made TO save these troops before this article is
ended.
On tho evening of Nov. 20 we distinctly
heard tho cannonading and tho roar of battle
IN the direction of Franklin, and thereby
knowing that our services at this point were no
longer necessary We waited anXiously through
the night for the messenger with orders for us
TO join the main body. But in this we were
disappointed, and not until about y. M. of the
following day did we hear from tho uoighhor.
hood of Franklin, and then through a squad Of
seven men who were sent to us on foot, with
orders, and who had lost their way the night
before. The orders wero 10 join the main force
at Franklin. While IL was quito evident that
the Union troops had loft their position OF the
night before as the noise Of battle had ceased
about 10 o'clock the previous evening, never
thcless, we started for Franklin
After marching toward the latter point until
about dark, we met citizen in a carriage, who
informed us that the Union troops had retrcated
toward Nashville the night previous, so orr
course changed, and we headed for tho
latter city, with the rebels on our right flank
aud front, our line, OF course, facing 10 the
north. | think we stopped to rest "A few hours
but took up the march early the next morning
IN the hope that we would yet DO able TO slip
around the eBemy's left flank aud into the city
before he would DO able 20 get into position
However. about 9 o'clock p. m, when within
five or six miles Of the city. VIC discovered that
we were directly in the rear Of the encmy's
lines, which was evident by the long limo of
camp6rcs stretching 10 the right aud left of
the pike, upon which we were travelling. About
this time, also, VIC captured an OUTPOST Of four
rebel cavalry. Gen. Joseph +. Cooper who
was in command of the brigade Immediately
halted the column, and held consultation with
bis stall aud the regimental commanders, as 10
what was best to 40. We were in a lx, aud as
one Of the stat officers put it, We smeIed
Libby prison pretty plain"
IL WAS at first proposed to make a dash
through the rebel lines. II should be borne in
mind that tho rebels were not aware that Il
whole brigade Of Yankee infantry, with "A sec.
ton OF artillery, was in their immediate rear
aud II the first proposition had been carried out
and the dash for Sashvile'uade, these Johnnies
would have been for the time being the most
astonished fellows in rcbeldom. We were not
very sure, however of the reception that We
might receive at the hands Of our friends after
we should succeed In breaking through the
rebel lines The result was that an order 10
abont-facc was given, and we marched back
about three miles 10 "A mud road, aud left the
pike and struck across the country for another
PIKE. distant IL miles. This latter pike led 10
Clarksvile point on tho Tennessee River So
miles below Nashville IT took us all night to
got over these II miles to the other nike In
turning the wagons, one was upset aud left
lying where it fell. IL contained the head
quarters baggage. One man died from ex.
haustion during the night. After reaching the
GAINESVILLE pike, we stopped about 80 minutes
for breakfast, and then trotted on until about
10 o'clock that night. when we dropped down
IN the road until daylight. We reached the
river opposite ClaTksyilie the third night after
leaving the iifst pike where wo lost the wagon
We crossed the river the next morning. rested
a few days, and then proceeded toward Nash.
vile. where we were on hand TO take part In
the battle which was fought on the 18th aud
10th Of that month. We had made a march of
over I'D miles to accomplish a distance of abant
five. but we we're not 10 blame, as there was an
obstruction IN the way.
Had the First Brigade been lost, as schofcld
feared IL would be, whose fault would il have
been How much Of an effort did he put. forth
10 save these troops? Not an el'ort.-ANDRgw
GoEGWER, Go. D. 25th Mich, Lansing Mich.
Woodruff-s Horse BATTERY w.
EDITOR NATioSAL TRIBUNE: In your
edition Of Jan. 30, 1880, under the heading
Cofee-CoaIers Of the Light Artillery" an.
pears the following:
Several batteries were captured. guns and
ALL as Murray's, Il, "a u. S. captured at AT.
lauta July % aud Wood rrnvs IInrs.. u,,t,...