The National tribune., 1896-04-23
THE NATIONAL TRBNE WASHINGTON D. O. THURSDAY APRIL 49,

and reach the flanks of Hoods retreat
ing army if possible. The enemy were
discovered late in the evening in line-of-
battle in an open field about one mile
north of the West Harpeth.
Wilson ordered Knipe and Hatch to
charge the fanks of this force, and Lieut..
Hodges, with detachment of the 4th
u. S. Cav, to attack its center on the
road. The enemy opened with artillery,
but Wilson's men, undeterred by this
/ fire, charged center and hanks, drove
them from their position and captured
their guns Darkness prevented further
pursuit.
With this engagement of Wilson's
forces we leave him, as we now join his
forces with that of Gen. Woods of the
Fourth Corps, a description of which has
been given, until the pursuit of Hoods
forces was abandoned at Sugar Creek.
That the battle of Nashville was a
complete victory, and that Hoods forces
were followed closely and quickly and
with great results, there can be no
doubt.
Of Wilson's brilliant work on the
18th Gen. Hood, in his book, " Advance
and Retreat" says: During this days
march the enemy's cavalry pressed with
great boldness and activity, charging
our infantry repeatedly with the saber,
and at times penetrating our lines"
Why was the battle of Nashville de-
layed from II o'clock noon until $3.50
p. m.?
Gen. Wilson tells you that he was
ready to attack at noon and that he dis
patched Aid after Aid to Schofeld and
Thomas, and becoming uneasy, that
about o'clock he rode around Hoods
flank to see why the
ACTION WAS DELAYED.
Gems. Smith, Wood and Steedman say
they were ready at noon and waiting for
Schofeld to take the initiative. Gen.
Schofield, in his report, says that about
noon he ordered Gen. Cox to attack.
(See his report.) Gems. Thomas, Smith,
Wilson, Wood and Steedman tell you
the battle began about $3.50 p m, as
also does Gen. Hood. Why did not the
army advance at noon? Looking back
at the arrangements for the battle of
that day, we find that early in the morn
ing Gen. Schofeld became uneasy and
asked for reinforcements, and that
division of Gen. Smiths Sixteenth Corps
was sent him, and he (SchofeldD says
that he placed them in reserve. When
Wilson notified Gen. Thomas that he
was ready to attack Hsod's left and
Gen. Thomas ordered Schofeld at II
o'clock to take up the fight in co-opera-
ton with the cavalry, what did Scho-
field do? Asked for reinforcements
Gen. Thomas tells you that he was put |
out by this request, but finally ordered
Gen. Smith to send Schofeld another |
division.
This Gen. Smith besitated to do, and |
sent q staff officer to Schofeld, who |
finally said he did not need them; and |
Gen. Thomas, after an investigation, can
celled the order and rode to Schofeld's |
Headquarters, and requested him to ad-
vance upon the rebel works Then
Schofeld intimated that he would lose
men if he attacked those intrenchments, 7
and Gen. Thomas said, This battle
must be fought if men are killed." and,
looking to the left, saw Gen. McArthur's
troops on the move and Wilson's dis
mounted men carrying the works on Scho-
fields right. This was at $3.50 p. m. on
the 18th, and Hood tells you that about
4 o'clock p. m. his whole army was in
retreat.
Again, Schofeld says that Gen. Cox
in carrying out his orders was slow, but
that he accomplished all he expected
with his long and attenuated line. Why
was Cox's line attenuated? Schofield
tells you that he had one of Smiths
Divisions in reserve. Why was Cox's
line not strengthened?
1t is the first and only time that /
ever heard of Gen. Cox and his troops
being too slow, and / have no hesitancy
in saying that had Gen. j. ID. Cox been in
command Of the Twenty-third Corps at
Nashville the battle
WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUGHT AT NOON.
That the battle was not fought at noon
was clearly Schofield's fault. The proof
S conclusive of that fact. Had Scho- ,
ield advanced when notified by Wilson
md ordered by Gen. Thomas the battle
would have been fought and won before
| o'clock p. M, and Hoods army would
never have recrossed the Harpeth River
1t Franklin.
Itis fact, nevertheless, that Schofeld's
iorces did not advance until after Nc {
Arthur's and Wilson's men had carried
he enemy's works in their front in
,lain view of Schofeld's forces. | have !
10 wish to discredit the fighting quail I
les of the Twenty-third Corps, for they
,ravely proved their valor on many a
field, but believe in giving I
lonor to those entitled to it. {
A q b I