The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-12

NOT HAVE HAD ANY CON
that before the breastwOrks were reached
the van of the Confederates had Overtaken
the rear of the Federals and the men were
striking at each other while they ran.
Meanwhile the men behind the breast
works along the entire front covered by
Lane and Conrad IN falling back were
helpless. They could not fire single shot,
on account of our presence in their front.
The first rebels crossed the breastwOrkS
side by side with the last of Wagner's
men. Having thus made an easy lOdg-
ment, and aided by the panicky conditions
produced by the way i'll which Wagners
men had come in, after a brief struggle
they captured an entire brigade front on
the west side, and almost brigade front
on the east side of the Columbia pike, in
Guiding two fourgun batteries which had
not yet been fired, and the key to the
whole position. The ground in their posi-
ton dominated the rest of CoX's line, and
unless they could be driven out before
their supports, then close at hand, and
hurrying forward, could come up, our
whole line would be quickly swept away
in hopeless disaster.
Opdycke's Brigade was directly in the
rear of where the break occurred. As soon
as 0pdycke saw that stampede was com
| ing from the breastworks without wait
! ing for any orders, he instantly led his
brigade forward. Charging straight
through the rOut, after a desperate hand
tO-hand encounter, his brigade restored the
line and recovered the lost position and
guns.
While Schofeld and Stanley were wait
ing for their dinner they were suddenly
startled by the loud roar of the opening
battle, and they then left the house of DIR.
Cliffe. Stanley rode to the front, which
he reached just in time to go in with
0pdyckes Brigade. His horse was shot
under him, and he got bullet through the
back of his neck. 1t was flesh wound
that bled profusely, but Stanley refused to
leave the front till after the fighting was
all over. He then went back to nave his
wound dressed, leaving Cox, the senior
officer, on the field.
When Stanley started for the front
| Schofeld started the other way. He
himself must tell why he went in that d-
rection, for | do not know. He crossed
| the river and rode TO fort which had
been built the year before on the high
bluff that formed the north bank. From
its elevated position the fort commanded
u good view of the battlefield, but was
SO far away-two miles by the road-that
a staff officer must ride to where Stanley
and Cox were, that he could not have
any control over the troops that fought
the battle. He had left the house of DR..
Cliffe in such haste that he abandoned in
| the room where he had slept his oyercOat,
| gloves, and a package containing the dis
| patches he had received from Thomas.
These articles were not reclaimed until
our army occupied Franklin after the bat
| tie at Nashville. In the meantime Mrs.
| Cliffe had saved the coat from being taken
by some needy rebel, by wearing it her
self, and she also saved the gloves and
dispatches.
| After our army had won a notable vic
tory, in which seven of the nine divisions
Of infantry composing Hoods army had
| been literally cut to pieces, Schofield or
dered q retreat to Nashville When Cox
received the order he manfully protested
against il. He explained the situation Ia
the staff officer who brought it, and de-
clared his belief that retreat was not
necessary, and would be q blunder. He
begged the officer to return TO Schofeld
and pursuade him to countermand the or.
der. He also sent his brother, Capt. Cox
to say that he would pledge his head he
could hold the position. When the Captain
reached the fort he found that Schofeld
had started for Nashville. He hurried in
pursuit, and overtaking Schofeld on the
pike and delivering his message, was in
formed that the order to retreat was per
emptory.
/ have no personal grievance against
Schoheld. / began my investigation &c
years after the battle was fought, witt
no thought Of him, but to secure evidence
to disprove statements printed about Coz
that knew to be untrue. My inyestiga
ton disclosed some great surprises, es
peciaIly as to the part played by Schofeld
believe l have told the true story OF
his services in the battle. l believe hi
order putting Wagner in front of the
breastworks violated military axiom never
to post a small body of troops In a way t.
hamper the action of the main body.
believe that his failure to give some per
sonal attention to the situation In from
was criminal neglect Of his duty as Com
mandiDg General. / believe that his con
eeited reliance on his ability to foretel
'what Hood would do, instead Of Using tn,
ordinary methods to get information, wal
the prime factor In producing q situation
that ended with the needless daughter o,