The National tribune., 1899-03-16
HOLDING DUCK RIVER
Interesting Episodes as Told
by a 14th Ill. Cav. Man.

Editor National Tribune: In the'inter
est of true history | had designed replying
to Comrade ID. b. Spencer, 9Th Hi. Cav.
In the Nov. 10 number, and 10 Conrad
Capt Allen, 18th Ohio Cav, in a previou:
issue, by giving full account of th'
operations on Duck River on Nov e
1861, quoting fully from the official reports
all found in Serial 80 of Vol 10, Serle:
1st. But find the account too volum
nous for one or even two articles, 81
shese comrades must be content Will
taking this volume and reading for the m
selves my condemnation, II state the
facts incorrectly.
Comrade Spencer thinks | made some
mistakes in my article of Sept y, ana Sc
/ would IL | had stated, as ne says tha'
"Capran's Brigade was the only cavalry
force that prevented Forrest fEom- iaiflne
in Schofieid's rear and cutting OF ms
army" Ii Comrade Spencer viii put on
ais Spectacles he can read with me mat
said that ''Capron'S was the only cav
airy force that prevented Forrest, win
his three divisions, from falling IN Scho,
field's rear and cutting off his army, ana
If Comrad., Spencer will read the reports
cite to him he also will say The same
The position of SciIofiefd'S $ army Is lulIy
described in his report, beginning on page
333 On page 34l we learn these 1actS.
The infantry was withdrawn from Column
bia 10 the north side of the river the night
of the 27th and were posted on the Column
bia and Franklin pike to resist the cross
ing OF the river by Hood. Ruger DIVISION
of Infantry and Stewards Brigade oh CaVai-
~ were stationed on the river below Column
bia, and Cox s Division on the river ABOVE
and near to Columbia, with Wilson's cav
n T..lt trr,,hl l.
ing as far up as to the Franklin tor Nash
viIIel and Lewisburg pike, about IA miieS
above Columbia. .
Schofield says road from Huey's
Mills fabout seven miles above) ied mo
the Franklin pike 1T Spring Hill. quote
The crossings below Columbia, were
guarded by Gen. lfuger'S infantry ana
Gen Wilson had all his cavalry, save
one brigade, TO guard the rlver above
The troops rested in this position during
the 2Sth, and had strong hopes OF being
able to hold the line of Duck River until
reinforcementS should arrive
Gen. Thomas was gathering forces as
rapidly as possible and sending forward;
already the cavalry force was augmented
above the 4, 800 Which, under Gen. hatcl,
Gen. Croxton, and Col Capron, had SO
heroically resisted the advance ol ltood
and Forrest over n line which at hrSt was
over 50 miles long, with numerous parai-
lei IOdUS anu kilt SCNtiui VI
Hatch and Capron entirely beyond sup
porting distance, and with no intervening
deep river 10 hinder the advance OF the
enemy History records no more glorious
record than was made by those noble
cavalrymen under Hatch, CroHton, ana
CaprOn.
| will make a single quotation of one
engagement. not because it exceeded any
others but because ComTade SpencerS ;
regiment was concerned in It. tbs regi-
ment was assigned to the brigade com
manded by Col. D&tus l.. Coon, but TINS
account is found in the report OF Cen
Hatch, which begins on page 515. In de-
scribing his engagement with the enemy
at Campbellsviile Nov. "a he says.
3'ln the first part of the engagement the
First Brigade, composed OF the 3d H.,
18th Mo, and eth III. Cav, whipped Blu
ford's Division, turning his left and dIlV-
ing the division two miles. IN CONFUSION
onto infantry supports.
The rebel account differs from this, but
nothing can lessen the reputation OF Gen.
Hatch's men, nUF CrOxton's nor Capror 5
soldiers never did better service.
Alter this the 7th III. was assigned 10
the Second Brigade, commanded by Col. |
Coon. His report begins on page ooO l
Schofield knew OF the brave and skliliul
service of his cavalry in resisting Hood > |
advance to Columbia without the presence
OF their cavalry chief, Cen Wilson, and |
over so long d line OF defense and without
an impeding deep river: and now, with
his cavalry force Increased IN number,
and with the presence of their chief, and
the line of defense shortened to IA miles,
with two divisions of infantry TO aid in
guarding a deep river, which Gen. Wilson |
and Gen. johnson had decided TO be I'M |
passabie except by swimming, even at
the foTdS, except one or two, Gen. ocho- |
field had good reason to entertain the |
\ L 4, fta.afE gf
River Till reinforced. But let US see how /
" ell he held that line.
We will now refer to Gen. Forests |
(rebel) report, beginning on page 15l. On /
page 752 he says he Was ordered 10 cross |
the river on the morning Of the 18th, and
then says ChalmerS's Division crossed at
Cars Mills, seven miles above Colum-
bia. This was the distance TO Huey's |
Mills, doubtless the same.
Jackson's Division crossed at Hollands.
Ford and Forrest himself at Ovens
Ford and not one word of mention OF the
least opposition 10 his crossing. All know |
very well that if they had gained any
laurels in that service they would have
mentioned it.
Nov, how was it in regard to Buford's
Diyision1 Forrest says "At II o'clock at
night 1 received a dispatch from Gen.
Buford, informing me that the enemy had
made such stubborn resistance to his
mand until the morning OF the 18th"
IL is plain that Forrest could not go
with his three divisions on the 2S;h fthe
day | referred to- TO Spring Hill, in the
rear of Schofield's army. If all his cav
airy had been with him at Cars or I
Huey's Mills, where he crossed about
noon or very shortly after, he could easily /
have gone, without any opposition, on the
road from that point to Spring Hill, and |
could have reached there before night,
and would have had from that time until |
nearly noon Of the 29th 10 intrench him
self; for Schofield in his report says that
on the morning OF the 18th, having learned
that Forrest had crossed, he rushed Gen.
Stanley forward 10 Spring Hill. Stanley
says on page 1l3 that he started at a. m,
and at IL 80 the head of his column was
within two miles Of Spring Hill, where
he says he encountered both cavalry and /
infantry.
On page 731, in Itinerary OF Cheatham's
Corps zone Of Hoods Corps is this rec
ord "NoV. 29.-Crossed the river above
town with Cheatham's and Stcwart's
Corps, and moved toward Spring Hill TO
cut the enemy of" On page 657 Gen.
Hood speaks Of this movement. my OBJ
iect being 10 make rapid march on roads
parallel TO the Columbia and Franklin
pike, and by placing the troops across
this pike at or near Spring Hill TO cut of |
that portion OF the enemy"
ii Comrade Spencer served long in the |
army he must have learned Of the vast |
advantage gained by a half days work in |
fortifying, and can easily understand that
L. L..