The morning call., 1891-06-24
a STORY OF sCHOFIELD.

Among those who went to see General
Schofeld off yesterday not many recalled
the most exciting and romantic episode of
his career. 1t was late in the fall of 1864
General Sherman had fanked Joe Johnston
out Of position after position in Western
Georgia and was slowly forcing his way to-
ward Savannah. In his office at Richmond
the short-sighted President Of the Confed-
eTacY was raging at JOhnston'5 refusal to
give battle to his enemy. Letter after let
ter to the General, commanding him to fight
remained unanswered. Bis patience worn
out, JEFF Davis al last removed the prudent
soldier, and replaced him by a hare-brained
Texan named Hood, who was ordered to
march past Sherman and invade the North
by way of Tennessee. The order was
obeyed.
Hood moved North without meeting any
resistance. At Nashville General Thomas,
with General Schofrld at his right hand, lay
waiting for him with an admirably equipped
force, the remnant of the Army Of the Cum
berland which had not accompanied Sher-
man. But Thomas would not stir out of
Nashville. Day by day the telegraph re-
ported the steady advance of Hood. Every
day he drew nearer to the Union lines.
Neither the Northern people nor Lincoln
nor Stanton could understand why Thomas
let him get so near the border of Ohio Peo-
pie began to predict that the theater OF the
war would be transferred from the South
ern to the Northern country. Thomas would
not explain his purposes even to the Presi-
dent. Exasperated at last, Mr.. Stanton sent
Charles A. Dana. then Assistant Secretary Of
War and now editor of the New York Sun,
to Nashville with an order to Thomas to
transfer his command to another officer.
Dana was to use his own discretion whether
to present the order or not. After a brief
private consultation with Thomas he de-
cided to keep it in his pocket, and tele-
graphed his decision to his chief, who, know
ing Dana'S sagacity, could only wonder and
wait.
On November Both John NJ. Sehofeld, who,
though ayoung man, only 80, commanded the
Twenty-third Army Corps, marched out of
Nashville to feel Hood at franklin, twenty
miles south. His encounter, which is called
battle in the histories, was really recon
noissance IN force. At the close of tire day
SchOfeld fell back toward Nashville. Hood,
flushed with what he called victory, kept
moving north. BY December 18th he bad
got close up to the Union lines around Nash
vile. Then. but not till then, did Thomas
move out He fell upon Hood like a thun-
derbolt. The Union troops were in perfect
condition, well armed and full Of fight Scho-
fields command was in front. They struck
the rebels as hurricane strikes a field of
standing corn. At the close Of the short
winters day Hood was in full retreat. That
night fresh troops poured out of Nashville,
and on the morning of the 10th Schofeld
struck the enemy again, took some guns and
prisoners and drove Hood before him until
night stopped the pursuit On the day fol
lowing the same tactics were renewed they
were kept up for two or three subsequent
days. as long. indeed, as there was any
enemy to pursue. When Schofeld halted,
Hoods army had ceased to exist as an or
ganization. 1t had lost its guns, its colors,
its supplies Of food and ammunition, Ii had