The National tribune., 1900-05-31

headquarters at Fort Granger, on the north
side of the Harpeth River, which point
affords most admirable view of the entire
field.
j. D. Cox commandingihe Twenty-third
Corps, was in command Of the troops on the
south side Of the river, and he utilized every
moment Of the brief time allotted him i'll
preparing for the desperate contest soon to
begin. and after it burst with all its fury
upon the heads of his intrepid followers
he was constantly moving from one
portion of the line to another encouraging
his men by his presence and example to
deeds Of valor
Stanley was in command of the Fourth
Corps. Kimball's Division Of the Fourth
was upon the right, with its right resting
on the river below the town.
The Second Division of the Twenty
third, commanded by Ruger, and CON
eisting Of two brigades, extended from
Kimball's left to the Columbia pike. The
First Brigade of Ruger's Division, COM
panded by Col, Strickland, was on the
left and extended to the Columbia pike.
The Third Division of the Twenty-third,
under the temporary command OF Gen.
Reilly, of the First Brigade, was on the
left Of the Columbia pike and extended
from the pike at Stricklands left to the
railroad near the river above the town.
The right Of Reilly's own brigade-the
First-rested on the pike at Strickland's 8
left, while Henderson's Brigade-the
Third, temporarily commanded by Col.
Stiles, was on Easements left, and ex-
tended quite to the railroad near the river
on the left.
The entire line from Kimballs right TO
Stiles's left was amply protected by strong
fntrenchments hastily thrown up by the
men after reaching the town on their re-
treat from Columbia: Cox, in the selec-
ton OF his line Of defense, and in the dis
tribution OF his forces preparatory TO the
battle, certainly displayed the very high
est qualities of generalship.
IN THE FRONT LINE.
The First Brigade ReiIly's of the Third
Division, Twenty-third Corps, consisted Cf
the Tooth and 104th Ohio, Sth Tenn. 18th
and 10th KY, and these were stationed
in two lines. the right Of the Tooth OHIO
resting on the Columbia pike at the LETT of
Strickland's Brigade. and the i0itsi Ohio
on It's Lift connecting with the right oi
Easements Brigade These were the
only regiments Of this brigade that oc-
cupied a position III the front line Of works
when the action began.
The 18th and 10th KY. ard Sth Tenn.
had arrived from Columbia but a shor,
time before the engagement commenced
and. there beng no room for them in the
front line. too X a position about 80 or a.
yards in the rear Of the lire. on the left a
the Columbia pike, the 10th Ky. at the real
OF the 1OUth Ohio, with Its right resting OF
Of near lLe PIKE. aIF lie I'm nv. 3uf
9Th Tenn. on the left Of the 1Gth XIV and i!
the rear Cf lac 10th Ohio The 18th and
10th Ky. ard Sth Tenn blIsily occupied
the brief interval between their arrival and
the approach f Hoods forces in hurriedly
constructing light line Of works the fUi
length Of t.lc three regiments. designed
simply to protect them from the spent balls
coming from the front line.
Inc 10th ONO was stationed some
distance IN the rear Of the 18th and 16tf
KY. and Sth Tenn, and had been thai
afternoon temporarily attached TO Reillv's
Brigade. Col. Opdycke's Brigade o.
Wagner's Division Of the Fourth Corps
was stationed in reserve on the right OF the
Columbia pike. and considerably in the
rear OF Srickland's Brigade, while the
otner Two Drgades OF Wagner's Division
Conrads and Lane's-with a section O.
artillery, were stationed away out in front
nearly half mile from the first line, in :
perfectly open field, with orders not (.
engage Hood, but TO retire within the line.
upon his approach.
The Third Division of the Fourth Corn
tWood's), consisting Of three brigades
was on the north side of the river, Post!
Brigade on tie right, Streight's on tn
center. and Beatty's on the left. wilson
Cavalry was also on the north side of tn
ytver, on the left OF Wood, guarding tn
ford above the town.
II seemed that every available spo
within our lines was occupied by our artil
!ery. An old cotton-gin stood in Reilly
Front line about 100 yards or more to tn
teft OF the Columbia pike, and the spac
between the cotton-gin and pike was oc
cupied by the Tooth Ohio and about tw
companies of the right of the 104th Ohio
Four guns of the 1st KY. battery were ais
In this space, and placed near the pike
where the works had been constructe,
with suitable embraSure. There was ais
q battery along the works on the opposit
side OF the pike. A gap about 40 feet wild
bad been left in the works on the Columbi
pike between Stricklands left and Reilly
slght, to allow the wagon-train and artil
lery and troops to pass through.
Cox, in giving the formation Of Hood
orces as they advanced upon the works
says: Hood had placed Cheatham'
Corps upon the Columbia pike, with Gle
burne's Division on the east Of the road
Browns on the west Of it, and Bates il