The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-12-27

M
,,~z7-ss.. - 81 s e from the old bat
tssNM sa =,tlefeld Of Mill
4..aXl(4- - Springs, where
IW Nlgl'' sssSal three years be-.
ficted upon them Bull Run disaster.
Thomas victory at Mill Springs, KY,
Jan, 49,, 1862, was. the first clean and
decisive Union triumph Of the war.
Nashville wiped out for good Confed-I
crate army which for 100 days in front
Of Atlanta had baffled Sherman, with
his immense columns Of battalions and
squadronsi Only in these two battles
did Thomas WELD the supreme COM
mand. Both were fought to finish,
and what was more-a thing rare in
this war-in both cases the enemy was
thoroughly routed and his active capac-
titles destroyed.
Hoods army was at q disadvantage
before Nashville, it is true, but chance
might play into the hands Of that bold
leader. Thomas closed every loophole
against chance. He fortified the hills
south of the city in a manner that
would enable an impfovised corps Of
noncom batants to hold them and prepar-
ed his active force to compass Hoods de-
struction. The Confederate leader drew
up his lines in range Of. hills corre-
spending to those fortified by Thomas
and opposed redoubt by redoubt, breast
work by breastwork. He was in posi-
tion Dec. 8, and the Union authorities
at Washington, including Grant, as
sumed that Thomas was intending to
stand SIEGE sss
Almost hourly Thomas received from
Washington or from Grants headquar-
ters impatient and nagging kilograms,
with suggestions and appeals to do
something and raise the siege, but
Thomas army was an improvised one,
made up Of Smiths division from west
Of the Mississippi, Sohofeld's Twenty.
third and Woods Fourth corps, partly
from Sherman s column and partly from
garrison camps, with Wilson's cavalry,
a new command, lacking horses and
equipments as well as perfect organiza-
tion and drill. 1t was upon this latter
arm that Thomas counted for finishing
blows when the time came So while
Hood was adding to his earthworks and
parapets and vainly hoping for re-en-
forcements, and urgent demands We're
made from Union headquarters hun
dreds Of miles away that Thomas should
act, the Rock of Chickamauga said:
'Let Hood fortify; let Washington
howl. I'll act when am ready"
His plan of campaign had been set
tied upon by the 9th and orders given
to move. Hoods operations, however,
led to brief delay in order to shift po-
sitions of Union troops on tho long lines
and mass the strongest battalions OH the
Union right. The day fixed for attack
opened with a storm of freezing sleet,
which in time covered the earth with
crust of slippery frozen mud Or ice A
campaign to the death was ont of the
question under such circumstances.
Hood $ troops and artillery could stand
in their fixed firm tracks, while Thomas
would need to struggle and climb up
the icy slopes and over CLASSY lakes in
order to dislodge them. Thomas said
again in answer to renewed demands
form headquarters, 81 will act when
ready"
Grant wired that he must move
against Hood or turn over his command
to the next in rank. The grim old vet
eran replied that he would submit to
removal and to the charge of disobedi-
ence to orders without a murmur, but
move against Hood he would not until
all was ready. A successor General
Logan, had been placed at call near by,
and Grant himself started for Nash
vile. But the ice blockade gave way
before melting weather on the 14th,
and Thomas hastened to notify his chiefs
that the enemy would be attacked at
once.
The antagonists were about equal in
numbers and aggregated 40, 1000 side.
Thomas had three corps besides Will
sons cavalry lying in this order from
left to right Woods. Smith, Schofeld,
Wilson. Hood also had three and For
rests cavalry. Stewards corps opposed
Soho6eld, Lees opposed Smith, and
Cheatham's Wood. The first stroke by
Thomas was to launch Wilson and
Schofeld, whose lines adjoined. around
Hoods left flank to envelop it. Stimuli
taneonsly Steedman' s division Of color
ed troops on the Union left charged
upon Hoods right. flank, breaking
through the, line. Wilson'S and Scbo-
fields men went on irresistibly, taking
outworks and storming hill redoubts
~,