The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-04-14

hook, made swoOp with = band of cav
airy from Grenada, Miss, to Holly Springs,
cut the telegraph by which Grant kept up
his correspondence with Washington and
with his subordinates on the lines north of
him, and for several days, with one enemy
raiding in the rear and another lowering
about it's camps, the Army of the 'Tennes-
see was in Il state of isolation as great rs
though steam roads and telegraphs had
never been invented. Van Dorm also de-
stroyed military stores valued at 1000
to 81 10000 and misled the troopers sent
out by Grant to intercept him. So rapid
were his movements that Grants outlying
scouts were beaten in the race to camp.
PROFESSIONALLY Van Dorm dash was q
godsend to Forrest, for it diverted atten
ton from his movements III the direc-
ton where his danger was greatest. 1t
was the first brilliant success to come to
the Confederates out of Mississippi, and
Van Dorm became the hero of the hour,
past i'll fortunes being forgotten. Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston had become the Con-
federate leader in the west, the superior of
Bragg and Pemberton. He sent for Van
Dorm and recognized that his true place in
the army by reason of his past experience,
his temperament and training was in the
cavalry. He was, moreover, a full ma Or
general, and the cavalry brigadiers would
not demur at coming under his orders.
Johnston placed him at the head of corps
Of cavalry, with Gems. Forrest, w. II. Jack
son and Armstrong under him.
With this force Van Dorm entered upcW
, campaign in central Tennessee, ON tt y
flank of Rosecrans' army, in support oE
Bragg. Early in March, 1868, he lay as-
Spring Hill, skirmishing in the direction
! Of Franklin, an important Union outpost.
Rosecrans sent the .brigades of Sheridan
and Col. Colburn against him, and in a
sharp fight at Thompscn's Station on the
| 5th Colburn's brigade was routed and
nearly all captured. Early in April rumo-s
reached Van Dorm that the Union troops
were evacuating Franklin, and on the 10th
he moved his whole command boldly for
ward to the attack. But instead of evacua-
ting, the Union commander was strength
sning the position, and the impetuous Con
federates were met in front with fortified
batteries, while strong bodies of cavalry
fell upon their TANKS. Van Dorm again
drew back to Spring Hill.
MEANWHILE Rosecrans and Bragg stood
at arms length in central Tennessee scowl-
ing and doing nothing, ard Van Dorn's
movements were subordinate to Bragg's.
His cavalry lay idly in camp, and then that
oane of the soldiers leisure, dissipation
crept in to enervate and destroy what the
weapons of honorable warfare had spared
One day while Van Dorm sat in his head
quarters comforting with his staff, a promi-
nent citizen of the neighborheod pushed
his way in and demanded satisfaction for
personal wrong which he charged upon
The general. With an impressive wave Of
The hand Van Dorm ordered him out of his
presence; q shot with a ready revolver was
The answer, and an assassin's pistol cut
Down in second the hero of scores of bat
lies and OF twenty years Of martial strife
His last act was characteristic-reckl
Indaunted, haZarding all upon a single
chance Yet his career as Il cavalry com
nander was just opening, and with a
'prinkle of caution, which was certain to
ollow his failures, his destiny might have
been high one. GEORGE l.. kILMER.