The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-16
HISTORY OF THE 46TH
 ALABAMA.
Continued from Page 16.

eral Pettus halted. selected . position to prevent the enemy from interruption the laying of pontoons, and was subse- brigade and by Holtzclaw's brigade, of Cias Ion's division. The pontoon was then laid with all practicable expedition" (War Records. Series. l, Vol. 45, part l.
 ', nile the attention of the enemy was held by our forces at Columbia. a good part of the army under Hood had made . detour by which 1t was placed in the rear of the enemy at Spring Fill, to strike fatally his retreatinE columns, while he should be pressed by those fol- lowing him from Columbia, thus grind ing him to pieces between the two. The plan was well laid and executed except the striking part. The force that had made its way to Spring Hill staid by their camp fires, in full view of the road along which the enemy were moving, and never struck a blow. No one has ever acknowledged as to whom the failure be- longed. It was a criminal failure, for the advantages were all ours. Hood ac- 1t back on Hood, It is said that Gen. Ed Johnson begged Hood to let him throw his division across the road, confident that even that would have been suf1cient for an army fleeing in the night and closely pursued by another. The privi- leRe was refused. and the good trap, so well laid, was not sprung. Be the facts about the failure as they may, it is true
 
 planned to be done, and that was easy to have been done. A chase followed. and dead horses and men. and broken down wagons marked the way to Frank lin. Tenn. The enemy, thus pressed, took shelter behind his strong Qualifications at Franklin. and stood at pay till ne could set his trains and artillery across Big Harpeth River, near the town. This was all he proposed to do ln the way of a halt Hood threw his forces recklessly over the exposed ground upon these strong works defended by men made desperate by their environment The undaunted bravery of the Confederates caused them, in the face of such fearful odds to throw themselves without re- serve upon the foe. Supported by strong array of artillery and small arms, competed behind strong works the only result occurred that could have been reasonably expected. We were defeated and slaughtered-2.N N0 men lay dead on small field. corresponding number of wounded were groaning in their suf- ferings. Fourteen generals were wound- ed or dead. Among the latter. the dash ing. gallant Gen. Pat Cleburne. the Stonewall Jackson of the Western army. l am sure there was no more bloody field during the war and all to no pur. pose. Fortunately for the 46th, being in the rear of the pursuing column. it did not get into the brunt of the fight, and so did not suffer as those who did. The next day was spent in burying the dead of both armies in the uncivilized way Ol UlBkHHS IOuB tTeuCHeS anu IllinE mem with corpses.
 Nashville was reached and invested, as hest we could, for about two weeks until from the rich resources of the Federais, Thomas had gathered all the men and munitions needed for driving Hood back to Dixie. On the 10th of December ls64 he fell upon us with strong force and drove us back a niile or two. On the 18th he poured upon us his avalanche of men. He moved around our flank to the left, threw line upon line upon our frqHt until we were broken, scattered, and each man not killed. wounded or captured, was taking care of himself as best he could for the time. It was a new experience to us. For the 18th, 1t can be said 1t did not leave its place until both to its right and its left there was no support. Half our forces were gone, mosly by capture. the rest with out organization, and with confidence in our leader gone. During the afternoon and night many of the stragglers were gotten together, so that the morning of the 17th found something like organzla- ton again. Pettus and Cummings brlg- ades. with Clayton's division, were as- signed the honor of covering the re- treat, moving in alternate lines the two brigades forming the first. the division the second. The cavalry. which had heen sent back. before day, to hold the enemy in check, were early routed. and the way left open for the enemy to fall upon our line. Early in the morning we were attacked, but we gallantly repelled them,