The National tribune., 1898-06-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
MHNY Days OF FIGHTING.
Incidents of the Retreat from Columbis
Nashville.

| Incidents of the Retreat from Columbis to
| Nashville.
| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I was a
member of the 9th Tenn, First Brigade.
Third Division, Twenty-third Corps | wish
| to speak of the part my brigade took during
the retreat from Columbia to Nashville
On Nov. q, 1864, we were lying eight
miles south OF Columbia. on the Pulaski road,
where we were in pursuit Of Gen. Hood At
. O'Clock o.. N. we got orders to move, it be-
ing the first intimation that we were in the
| vicinity of the enemy.
| We fell in and started on the back track
| for Columbia on quick time, and were not too
soon. Marching across Columbia pike we
formed line-of-battle, just as our cavalry
out Of ammunition and closely pressed by
the enemy's cavalry, passed our line. The
artillery came into position, and with the aid
Of the infantry repulsed the rebel horsemen
We were ordered to iutrench ourselves, and
we lay there the remainder OF the ,!ay. Cur
artillery kept up fire until dark The
morning OF the 2Jth we fell in line The
enemy formed line, and in position com
menced to shell us We lay in line during
the day, infantry and artillery, fighting until
noon, when we were ordered to fall back
We marched very slowly through Columbia
crossed Duck River and camped.
On the morning OF the 26th we moved
back from the river, on a bill. The rebels
| made charge on our works on the south
side of the river and We're repulsed
AT dark the Sth Tenn. was placed at the
ford to prevent the rebels crossing Up to
this time there had been a few killed and
wounded, but none from our brigade taken
prisoners. On the morning of the 9th the
enemy began skirmishing and artillery firing.
| HoGd's mounted forces were on the move,
passing our right and left fanks during the
day, and at dark the remainder Of our forces
on the south side Of the river set fire to the
magazine, and, evacuating Columbia, crossed
the river, to the north side.
| Next morning we fell in line at O'Clock a.
m., and were ordered to hold the ford at any
sacrifice. We were reinforced by the 104th
Ohio, OF the Second Brigade, commanded by
Col. Gordon. The rebels made a charge On
our works on the south side, and found we
had left during the night. They came down
to the ford and opened up ON US across the
river. The Fourth Corps was holding the
ford down the river to keep them from cross
ing The rebels brought a battery down to
the ford We were holding, and commenced
shelling us, but were silenced by battery OF
ours. Early in the afternoon the rebel
masked battery within 300 yards of our
works at the ford. They knocked down our
works, and We were compelled to fall back,
with the loss Of several men,
! The Duck River at Columbia makes a bend
in the shape OF a horseshoe, and after we had
| been driven across the river from the south
side, were on the inside of the shoe So the
rebs, passing on onr right and left fanks, had
q complete crossiire on our men. During the
day they kept us continually engaged.
| On the 18th the rebS opened out on us in
the bend az lO O'Clock a. III. Gen. Hood had
| been sending heavy mounted force around
our tanks to take possess on of Spring Hill, on
the Columbia and Franklin pike II miles in
our rear, and cut off the way towards Nash
vile. AT noon Il portion OF the Fourth Corps
moved towards the rear The rebs forced
their way across the river under our fire. and
| forming under the banks, with their artillery
on either flank, made charge Those on
the TANKS on the opposite side of the river
cross-fired, their cavalry at the same time
charging over the river
| We were compelled to fall back. Our
brigade being front, suffered the loss of many
men, killed and wounded. The 18th and 10Th
Ky, OF our brigade lost heavily ATT o'clock
p. m. we received orders to withdraw, fell in,
and moved out towards Spring Hill.
We arrived at Spring Hill at midnight.
The Fourth Corps had come upon the enemy
at | O'Clock that day, in possession OF the
pike; had engaged and driven them from the
pike, after fighting till dark. As we passed
through Spring Hill we could see the enemy's
campiires, not over 600 yards from our line of
march.
On Wednesday, Nov. 80, we arrived at
Franklin, after marching "a miles without a
stop We commenced 1ortiiying, and soon
the enemy made their appearance all along
our front, four columns deep At O'Clock
p. IN. they came On as if on dress parade.