The National tribune., 1894-02-01

Franklin pike north of Spring Hill. After
stumbling around in the dark until nearly
midnight Stewart went into bivouac where
he was, without reaching any where near the
pike.
1t was not until the next morning, after
Schoiield had escaped to Franklin, that the
Confederate army learned what q golden
opportunity they had missed. No doubt
the reckless manner in which Cleburne and
Brown had led their divisions in the assault
on the breastworks of franklin was largely
due to the remorse they felt over their re-
sponsibility for having defeated Hoods plan
at Spring Hill. They were determined to
retrieve that error or die in the attempt
and Cleburne was killed while Brown was
wounded in the futile effort. With couple
of incidents which were related to nae by
trustworthy men, and which will show what
Schofield himself thought at the time about
the opportunity he had given Hood, Tll
have done
Comrade Elias S. Bartlett, Of the 36th Ill,
was at the picket-post on the pike south OF
Spring Hill, and halted Gen. Sehofeld's
party as it came riding up the pike from
Drck River after dark. Bartlett says when
it was learned who he was, Schofeld him
self rode forward and began eagerly to
question him as to what had happened.
Schofield said he had feared they all had
been captured at Spring Hill. While they
were talking a Confederate picket, near
enough to hear the sound of their voices,
fired at them, and Scbofieid then rode on
into the village.
In 1864 MIR. o. J. Hack, who now resides
on farm near Humboldt, Iowa, was serv-
ing as conductor on the military railroads
running out Of Nashville. On the 29ih of
November he arrived at the Spring Hill sta
tion about noon, coming from Franklin IN
charge of train loaded with military stores
and suffers goods He then met another
train coming from the South, and learned
from the trainmen that the army was re-
treating from Duck River.
The two trains stood on the track all the
afternoon while the fighting was going on.
After dark, when the firing had ceased,
Hack concluded that if he could get guard
he would try and run his train back to
Franklin. About o'clock he walked over
to the village and inquired for Headquar
ters. He was directed to house, and in
large room in that house he found Gems.
Schofield and Stanley.
Schofield had arrived a short time before,
and had just been getting from Stanley his
account of the situation. Hack states that
Schofeld was in state of great agitation
walking the floor and wringing his hands"
At that hour both Schofield and Stanley IN
doubtedly believed that Forests cavalry
was holding the pike north Of Spring Hill I;
that they were caught in a trap, and that
the only way out was to cut ont by night
attack, the dangers of which Col. Hairy has
so graphically described.
When Hack made known what he wanted,
Schofield sharply replied that he could not
move bis train, for if he pulled out it would
be captured. Hack then returned to the
station. The two trains stood on the track
all night. When the gray dawn was break
ing detail of soldiers came with orders to
burn the cars. While they were kindling
the fires the Confederates came, and, driving
them away, extingushed the fires before any
material damage was done. The detail and
the trainmen ran and joined the rear-guard
of the army, which was then withdrawing
along the pike north Of Spring Hill.
After the war, while Hack was still running
on the road, he met some of the Confederates
who had captured the trains, and heard them
relate what high old time they had had.
Many of them had not enjoyed good square
meal for IL months or more, and they stuffed
themselves with the suffers goods TO the
point of bursting Hood made use of the
transport alton captured here in bringing up
supplies for his army from the rear while
he was lying in front of Nashville.