Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21

LETT. Fheir progress through the cor on
field was slow and disorderly. ana LOT ,, 1,p
yards they were under the n.e =, r,aes
and their dead and woundedu spIln a,@,,
we'll our ont. They came within twenty
yards Of our lines. and then zen. : nee he,
fore. About 2 p NJ. another assault was
made. but also repulsed, The main AT; at
tack had all day been direGtea asan ia
Battery on top OF the hill Ou- line at
Bates's Pattery turned a. right angles
due south along the top OF this ra1lse
gard this as the key to the situation:
There had been one continuous assault
on it from the beginning OF the paItle,
but was bravely defended by , a s1h hsS
kept extending their line south, from
Bates's Division on top Of the Hill, ana
by l. o'clock had reached point Whefe
pike and in our rear. 1t was plain tnat
the enemy's object was to extend thus
Ranking column to the Franklin PIKE
before night. and cut Off our re.re tad
specta tors of this hard ba tile on top OF
the hill distinctly marked by two parailel
lines OF fire; About 4 :. IN, NJ. .na ar1u
on the hill was about one fourth Oh
mile from the pike, Bates position ana
battery, after a most heroic ,r delcnce'
Cured in full view Of the First Alabama.
The enemy pouring through this opening
in our line began moving upon the
same time W., were charged by heavy
force in front We retreated down our
trenches to the right, loading and ilrIng
upon the charging force IN front. We
to check this thanking column on our lei
But in fact. he had none to spare. me
First Alabama went down the trencnes
one fourth Of a mile, firing as rapidly as
hardly ten steps away. Here it was clear
that we must surrender or at great peru
to our lives attempt to escape: y few
chose the former; others, throwing down
their guns cutting off cartrdge-boxes
and belts but keeping canteens. haVer-
sacks, and blankets, sprang up 1ro ,iho Inc
through the park for the hill in the rear,
400 yards distant over which LED their
only way of escape. Still under 1lre, we
places that we had to pull ourselves up
by switches projecting from assures or
rock. Some were killed and wounded in
this ascent of the hill. After crossing n;
tersscting it on the SOUTH, we reached
Franklin pike about dark. and just as
a slow rain began falling.
|, Nowhere else has such Injustice oe cen
done the Confederate soldier as at the
battle of Nashville. The facts and con on;
ditions considered, no battlefield OF the
quality as a soldier, contending, as ne
was with an enemy SO vastly superior
in numbers, appointments. and physical
condition. If we anaiyze MS nus con Goaou NC.
thing to censure. The fight of the bare
footed men made up of odds and ENDS
Q the army and under officers unknown
to them, could not be considered any DIS
Cheathf MS two divisions holding in
check a much larger force on the first
days battle was most f hrfe Seven hours
against Overwhelming odds, ana never
yielding until his little band We're dead
or wounded in the trenches. and DEAD
his front for fifty yards IS entltied 70
the highest admiration. Bates did the
hardest lighting of all that day. though
he was at last overcome by sheer physl-
cal force. Again, after our lines were
broken, the Confederates retreated IN Il
walk down the trenches, at the same
time firing as rapidly o as f freHt cos snrv
there was no evidence Of panic IN that.
The truth is at no time was there any
thing like a panic among the men. Ws assa
had to be made, some chose the tormf i
some the latter but in either case the
decision was made deliberately; and GER
tainly it took some courage 10 atte1 mp
popular impression is that soldier never
runs except when scared, but soldiers or
experience know that it often re Ee ara
Fort Again. we killed and wounded
many times more Federals at Nashville
than they did of Confederates.
This was the last battle OF the army
of the Tennessee fought under General
Hood as commander. and it is seen that
one unbroken series of disasters fuly
justifies the apprehension OF the army
when he took command. General Hood
vas one of the bravest Of the brave. and
we do not think his proven Incompetence
to command the army. detracts one Jot
from his distinguished service TO ms
nonrtry The same misfortune might
nave befallen any other subordinate gen
eral of the army.