The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-11
SEATTLE. SATURDAY. JULY IL.
yusrrcE DUE GEN. scHorIELD.

yUsrIcE DUE GEN. sCHoFIELD.
General Schofeld, who, with his bride,
Is now visiting our coast, will be in Seat
tie in few days, and it is good time to
remind the country of the very great SER
vices rendered by this very able soldier
and scholar to the nation, services for
which be has never received full historical
credit. because it has been exclusively
given TO General Thomas. On the ed OF
November, 1864, General Schofeld, with
but 5000 men, was at Pulaski, Tenn,
While the Confederate General Hood, with
5000 men, including 10000 cavalry, had
reached on his northward march Lawrence
burg, about sixteen miles due west
Of Pulaski, on road running di-
rect to Columbia, where the railroad
and turnpike to Nashville cross Duck
river, and where there were less than
go men 10 guard the bridges. Hood was
was thus fairly on Schofeld's flank when
on the I'D scho6eId ordered Gen. Cox
with two divisions to tall back to Column
bia, directing Gen. Stanley with the other
two divisions to follow the next day with
18th, reached Columbia, barely in time to
save the crossing of Duck river, for he
foand Forests cavalry there ahead of
him, and in another hour the only line of
communication with Nashville would have
been in the hands of the enemy, and Hood
would have planted his army between
Echofeld's $500 veterans and Thomas
1900 heterogeneous troops at Nashville.
As it was, Cox would have been ruined
had not Stanley by night march reached
Columbia by o'clock on the morning of
the oath and connected with Cox.
On the night of the 9TH schofeld crossed
his army to the n orth side of Duck river
and destroyed his bridges. By daylight of
the 18th Cheatham's corps of Hoods in
fantry crossed the river about five miles
east Of Columbia and were again on Scho-
fields flank. Schofield ordered Stanley
with two divisions to fall back to Spring
Hill with the trains and the reserve artil-
iery. When Stanley, with a single divi-
sion. arrived at Spring Hill, he found For
rests cavalry ahead of him, but drove
them of: had he been an hour later Spring
Hill would have been in Hood hands and
the Union army hopelessly cut of from
Nashville. Stanley, who was soon attacked
BY Cleburne's division of Cheatham's
corps, had less than 1000 men, while Gle
burne was supported by the other two di-
visions of his corps. II the Confederates
had seized the pike north and south of the
town Schofeld's army would have been
destroyed in detail the next day. STAN
ley fought with great courage and
repulsed Cleburne, and by happy
fate the attack was not renewed. Through
stupidity or neglect the opportunity of
daylight to destroy Stanley was wasted,
and the opportunity of darkness to seize
the pike was thrown away until it was too
late, although at p. m on the 10Th two
corps OF Hoods army were in line of bat
tie facing the Franklin pike. but half a
mile away. sehoheld joined Stanley with
Ruger's division and at p. m. began his
retreat. BY daybreak of the son Scho-
fields whole army had silently Withdrawn
from Spring Hill and was out of reach of
Hoods infantry in successful retreat on
Franklin, where il arrived at noon, threw
mp line Of hreastworks, and for the first
time in q week breathed free in the con-
seriousness that by extraordinary good
fortune and the wonderful GOODNESS and
skill of their commander they had
plucked the flower of safety out of the net
tie of extreme danger.
Hood was not long behind in reaching
Franklin, and he was so enraged at the
loss OF the great opportunities of the pre-
vious day and night to destroy Schofeld
that he attacked with reckless courage on-
entrenehed lines, and was repulsed with
the loss of $500 men. six general officer.
killed and seven severely wounded. Tha,
night Schotield retreated TO Nashville and
Hood, with his beaten army, recklessly
followed. On the 18th of December
Thomas, with over e0,ooo men, inclns;ns
10000 veterans of the finest quality un5sp
Schofield and A. ]. Smith. moved on
Hood, who had about 5000 Infantry and
10000 cavalry. smashed his lines, and the
night of the 10th found Hoods whole .rnv
IN full flight. Hood crossed the Tennessee
with $4,000 men, and when he re-crossed
he had less than $1,000.
Gen. Schofield was the real hero ~ tbi.
campaign. With 1900 men he resisted
and foiled Hoods $1,000, and inflicted .
terrible defeat at Franklin upon the
enemy. After this defeat, for Hood tn
rush his shattered forces on Nashville
defended by over q. 900 men, was military
and the defeat OF his shattered
army of $1,000 men by 90, 900 under Thomas
vas TO be expected.
The awful slaughter st Franklin had
taken all the fight out of Hoods men and
they knew they were greatly oatnumbered.
Any respectable general ought to have
beaten Hood before Nashville as disas-
srously as Thomas did. The difficult
work Of the campaign was done by scho-
heid, who with 2T,oco men foiled and re-
pulsed 5000, while Thomas had 6a.0o
men at his back to whip an army Of 30. 900
men, whose opportunity was hopelessiy
lost when they were repulsed at Franklin.
The fate Of the whole campaign turned
on the battle OF Franklin. fought and won
by schoheld. who Is the real hero of
Nashville" for had Schofield's retrea, been
cot on at Columbia or Spring Hill or his