The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-17
FIGHTING, THEM OVER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
TH0NHS CHECKS HOODS INVASION
Gen. Il. w. Johnsonis Graphic Story of the
Nashville Battle.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Sherman's
march to the sea was so dependent upon the
success of Thomas at Nashville, that the
two seem to be parts of one great campaign.
When the march to the sea was agreed upon,
Sherman selected two of the strongest
corps and all the cavalry to accompany
him, and left with Thomas the Fourth and
Twenty-third Corps to look after the rear.
Sherman thought that there would be
little to do, and therefore shelved Thomas,
as it were, placing him practically in COM
mand of territory unoccupied by an
enemy. Hood, knowing that he could not
successfully oppose Sherman, decided on
| the invasion of Middle Tennessee and the
capture of Nashville. He moved his army
to Florence, Ala, where he remained some
weeks to refit his men, who were in great
need of clothing, shoes, blankets, ETC.
In the meantime Thomas concentrated
his small force at Pulaski, under command
of Gen. John M. Schofield, remaining in
Nashville to collect all the available troops,
and have them organized and ready for ser
/ vice by the time Hood reached the vicinity
of that city, which was evidently his object
| i've point.
When Schofeld fell back to Franklin,
temporary breastwOrks were thrown up,
and against these Hood rashly threw his
entire force, and a terrible battle was the
result, in which seven of Hoods general
officers were killed. l think of all the Gen
erals l met during the war, Schofeld was
the coolest and most selfpossessed. / never
saw him excited and never failed to see in
| him MANY points in common with Gen.
Geo H. Thomas.
| After this battle Hood detached division
to cross the Harpeth and place itself on
SchoGeld's line of retreat, but when Scho-
field was ready to fall back he gave the
order, and his troops marched through the
enemy's camp, while they slumbefed and
slept. 1t is claimed that some of our men
lighted their pipes at the Confederate camp
fires.
At last our entire army was concentrated
at Nashville, with the exception of Rous-
seaus Division, which was left in the fortfi-
cations at Murfreesboro. 1t was not long
before Hood appeared and encamped around
the city, in full view of our Qualifications.
| His regimental bands about shutdown united
in playing Whose been here since I've been
gone 2" Mercer who edited the Union,
piled in his issue of the following morning:
"The Yankees have been here, marrying
y
wives and sisters" etc.
Thomas did not wish to offer battle until
he had his forces in hand, and felt reasonably
certain of "a victory, Notwithstanding he was
urged day after day by the War Department
to fight at once His uniform reply was:
81 will do SO as soon as can get my forces
organized"
When he was about ready sleet fell, and
as our cavalry and artillery horses were
smoOth-Sod it was impossible to move
either On Dec. IA, 1864. the ice and sleet
had disappeared, and Thomas ordered
movement against the enemy on the follow
ing morning.
At the appointed time our army swept
out of its Qualifications and actually and
utterly annihilated the veteran ranks of the
enemy. Not, perhaps, in all the history Of
authentic war is, there another case where
the beseged, gathered as was this command,
On the spur of the occasion, from every di-
acknowledgements, raw recruits, drafted
men, new regiments, with the Fourth and
| Twenty-third Corps as the nucleus of organ
ization-throwing down every barrier, and
laying aside every artificial defense, rushed
out upon an outnumbering foe, versed in all
the strategy of war, and beat him face to face
and front to front in fair and open contest.
Never was victory more complete or defeat
more crushing or overwhelming
The result of the battle of Nashville con-
tributed in a large degree to the success of
military operations in the East. Had it
been different the rebellion would have re-
ceived new lease of life, and other and
bloody campaigns would have been the
legitimate consequences. Richmond would
have been reinforced and the rear Of Sher-
mans army would have been endangered,
while but fimsy line of outposts would
have interviewed between the rich cities of
the Northwest and the sack and pillage of
Hoods desperate and needy squadrons.
In this battle commanded division of
cavalry on the extreme right. At the close
of the first day my command encamped
eight miles south of Nashville, and on the
following night about 10 miles farther
south. Here | received an order to push
forward, cross the Harpeth, and move up
the stream to Franklin.
When we reached the river it was rising
very rapidly, and before it became impass-
able all were safely over to the south side,
including the battery under Lieut.. F. G..
Smith (now Major, D. S. Az We moved
up the river, and when we reached the
summit of hill overlooking the town the
whole rebel army was In full view.
| | saw at a glance that no other portion OF
the army had crossed the river, and that l
was alone on the south bank. There was
but one of two things to do-run or fight.
In the first case, there was no place to seek
safety, for l could not join any portion of
our army; so, putting on a bold front, had
Smith get his battery in position and in
structed him to fire volley.
The enemy fell back in great confusion,
imagining, l suppose, that the entire Fed
eral army was on their flank, whereas had
only about two thousand men. Had they
known we were cut off from our army they
might have killed or captured my whole
command.
But suppose Hood thought that he was
outnumbered three to one. 1t is astonishing
how commanders are apt to over-estimate
the strength of their opponents in battle.
A delegation of ministers called on Mr..
Lincoln during the war, and one of them
asked him how many. men Mr.. Davis had
under arms. Mr.. Lincoln replied:
"Three millions, sir" Can that be posi-
ble?" queried the divine. "Oh, yes" said
the President, have, the figures for it. We
have one million under arms, and all of my
Generals report in every engagement that
they are outnumbered three to one. Ad-
hitting this, it is clear that the rebel army
must be three times as large as ours, and
hence ! assert positively that there are three
millions Of men trying to break up the Gov