The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1896-07-04

SchOtield kept his wagon trains out OF
the hands of the Confederate leader.
Gen. J. H. Wilson, who commanded
the Union cavalry, had nothing like
the mounted force that Forrest had.
yet kept him Oft Schofeld's TANKS. 1t
has often been written that war is
succession of accidents. A glance at
the march from Columbia to Franklin,
veri6es the truth Of this declaration.
From some reason Schofeld delayed
his departure from Columbia on the
10Th so long that when Hood reached
Spring Hill eight miles from F-ank-
lin, Schotield was behind him. Hood
had marched around his enemy with
out knowing it. All day he had
marched his men almost beyond hu-
man endurance. Browns division OF
Cheatham's corps had been pushed off
the road and marched all day in the
woods and over open fields, so as 10 be
ready for attack or defense at no
ments warning. Hood thus forced his
men to extra: hard service. for he seem
ed convinced that he would strike
Schofeld's force some time during the
day. he did not know when. He had
no thought that he was leaving it be
hind him. Therefore, when he heard
the calvalry engaged in his front near
Spring Hill, he ordered Cheatham to
put his corps into position, move for
ward at once and ascertain the where
abouts of the enemy and bring 'on an
engagement. Cheatham ordered
Cleburne's division. which was in ad-
vance, into line, and sent it forward TO
battle. Cleburne moved rapidly, and
was accompanied by Col. James u.
Porter. General Cheatham's chief OF
staff, with courier to keep Gen. Cheat
ham informed of the operations in
front. Cleburne soon came upon por-
tion OF FORESTS calvalry. having an
irregular fight with Gen. D. 5. Stan
ley's advance. The calvalry accident
ly misled Cleburne as to the position
of the Federal infantry, and as they
were out OF ammunition they retired.
AS he moved forward he exposed his
right flank owing to the mistake, and
and Stanley took advantage of it TO
punish him severely. He righted his
line however, in an instant, when
Stanley retired his advance, with
which he struck Cleburne upon his
main line near Spring Hill
When Gen. Bate came up he threw
his division into line. and Cheatham
ordered him to advance to the support
Of Cleburne's, and he went up and
directed him to make his formation on
Cleburne's left and move forward.
Just as Cheatham returned from put
ting Bate into position Brown arrived
with his division. and Cheatham di-
rected him to move over the range of
hills and attack on the right of Gle
burDe. Stanley from the start handled
his small force with such tact as TO de-
ceive the Confederate commanders as
to his real strength. When he fell
back after striking Cleburne so hard,
he continued the deception by hand
| ling his troops so as to show a line
long enough to reach beyond Browns
formation to Cheatham, who informed
Hood of the situation and urged him
to press Stewards advance forward to
his assistance. Hood. from Stanleys
show of strength, thinking he had come
upon the main body of the union troops.
ordered Cheatham to bivOuac for the
night, and hold his command in readi
ness to attack at daylight. Cheatham
had put his whole corps into position
ready to fight. and reluctantly obeyed
the order Hoods troops were weary,
and soon were asleep upon their arms
waiting to attack at dawn. This acci-
dent made it possible for Schotield to
come up during the night march
past their camp fires and reach Frank
lin without serious molestaton. Star-
ley's strategy and stubborn fight with
out single division. and Hoods lack
OF information as to the movements OF
the union troops after they left Colum.
bia. saved Schotield's army from cap
ture. or a crushing defeat In other
words, it was sa,el by an accident.
Hood learned. when too late. that
Stanley had deceived him as to his
strength, and that Schofield had pass
ed him in the night. He was not only
chagrined at his failure to crush the
Federal force while it was literally at
his mercy. but was out of humor with
most of his generals, upon whom he
sought to lay the blame. He quarrel
ed with Cheatham and Cleburne on
this account early in the morning, and
wheE he started his troops from Spring
Hill towards Franklin. he was fretting
over his lost opportunity. All his
generals. and even the rank ard file OF
his army. shared in great measure
his chagrin and disappointment. When
they found the enemy posted at Frank.
lin that had escaped them by miracle
they were ins pired by the double pur-
pose OF recovering lost opportunity
and intlict a deadly blow upon tie frag-
ment OF Thomas army under SchOtielu
before il could reach Nashville.