The National tribune., 1903-09-24
WITH THE 81
WESTERN ARMY.
Continued from flrst page.l

Corps to Huntsville, Ala. preparatory to
renewal OF the campaign against the
enemy in Mississippi and Alabama.
And thus ended in utter defeat the
great offensive campaign of Gen. Hood.
1t was a bold undertaking, and to GER
tain point was conducted with consnm-
mate skill. At Spring Hill on the night
Of Nov. 20 the advantages were greatly
favorable to the Confederate forces. Gen.
Hood had largely-superior force. and
planned to throw Cheathams Corps
across the Franklin pike, in front of Gen.
Schoield's forces; but instead of doing
this that corps was drawn up in line east
of the pike, thus allowing Gen. Schofield
to perform the remarkable feat of with
drawing his army in the. night time in the
acutai presence of the enemy.
The next day, at the battle of Frank
lin, Gen. Hood massed superior force
against the Union line. and although he
had 125 pieces of artillery in his three
corps, he fought that battle with the
musket, relying upon superior numbers
and the acknowledgements and fortItude
of his army to carry the works and over
whelm Gen. Schofelds forces. The two
veteran armies fought with a valor never
excelled. The Union forces held their
works and inflicted terrible loss upon
the Confederate .afsly. On that day di-
vision, brigade, regimental and company
officers exposed themselves with a reck-
less. abandon induced by absolute conf
dence of victory. The Confederate loss
in officers was almost irreparable.
Unappalled by the defeat mt Franklin,
Gen. Hood moved boldly against Nash
vile. His chance of success was thrown
away on Dec. ) when he sent Gen. For
rest with his cavalry and Gen. Bates
Division against Murfreesboro and de-
cided to wait and allow Gen. Thomas to
take the initiative.
Time was what Gen. Thomas wanted.
to make suclI preparations as in his opin-
ion We're necessary to his success. Re
markable as it may appear, Gen. Hood
gave Gen. Thomas all the time he re-
quired; indeed. it's, quite clear now that
the attack might have been postponed a
week longer. and Sstih Gen. Hood would:
have remained in his works awaiting an
assault.
CONGRATrEATORT ORDERS.
After the sreatsyictory of the 18th Gen.
Thomas issued the following order:
"(Generaf Orders No. 167)
Headquarters. Department of the Cum
berland, near Nashville. Tenn,
~ - Dec. Is. 1864.
"The Major-GeneraI Commanding with
pride and pleasure Publishes the follow
ing dispatches to thes- army and adds
thereto his own thanks to the troops for
the unsurpassed gallantry and good con-
duct displayed by them. in the battles of
yesterday and to-day.
"a few more exanpless0f devotion and
courage like these. and the rebel Army
OF the West, which you have been fight
ing for three years will be no more, and
you may reasonably expect an early and
honorable peace. - ..Iir~~
Washington d. Co. Dec. &c. 1864; II 80
n. H.
"'MIaj.-Gen. Thomas:
"'Please accept for yourself. officers,
and men the Nations thanks for your
good work of yesterday. You made i
magnificent beginning.
"a grand cOnsummation is within
your easy reach; do not let it slip.
"a. LINCOLN
Washington, D.. c., Dec Is, 1864;
midnight.
"'A1aj-G Thomas:
I rejoice in rendering to you and the
gallant officers and soldiers of your COM
mand the thanks of this Department for
the brilliant achievements of this day,
and hope that it is the harbingcr of n de-
cisive victory. and will crown you and
your army with honor and do much to-
ward closing the war. We shall give you
an hundred guns in the morning
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of
War - 4--~' @'r- 9
Washington, d. c., Dec. 10, 1864;
IL :45 p. III. .-a" t-s.
'Maj.-Gen. Thomas:
"'Your dispatch OF this evening just re-
ceived. / congratulate you and the army
ulder your command for to-day's opera
| tons, and feel conviction that to-mOr-
row will add more fruits to your victory.
"'U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.'
"By Command of Maj.-Gen. Thomas:
"WM D. WHIpPLE, Assistant Adjutant
General"
On Dec. 90. at the close of the CAM
paign. Gen. Thomas issued the following
graphic order to his army:
"General Orders No. 1907
Headquarters Department of the Cum
| berland.
Pulaski. Tenn. Dec. %. 1864
Soldiers: The Major-General Com
handing announces to you that the rear
guard of the flying and dispirited enemy
was driven across the Tennessee River
on the night of the 9th instant. The i'm
passable state of the roads and the con-
sequent impossibility to supply the army
compels closing of the campaign for the
present.
Although short. it has been brilliant
in its achievements and unsurpassed in
| its results by any other of this war. and
is one of which all who participated
therein may be justly proud That vet
eran rebel army which. though driven
from position to position. opposed a stub
born resistance to much superior num-
bers during the whole of The Atlanta
campaign, taking advantage of the alb
sence of the larger portion of the army
which had been opposed to it in Georgia,
invaded Tennessee. buoyant with hope,
expecting Nashville, Murfreesboro, and
the whole of Tennessee and Kentucky
to fall into its power an easy prey. and
scarcely fixing limit to its conquest. af-
ter having received the most terrible
check at Franklin. on the Both of Noyem-
Der. that any army has received during
| this war, and later met with signal re-
pulse from the brave garrison of Muir
| freesboro in its attempt to capture that
place, was finally attacked at Nashville,
| and although your forces were inferior
| to it in numbers, it was hurled back from
the coveted prize upon which it had only
been permitted to look from n distance.
and finally sent flying, dismayed and dis
| ordered, whence it came impelled by the
| instinct of MISREPRESENTATION, and thinking
only how it could relieve itself for short
intervals from your persistent and har-
| usSino -nursuit nv BURNING fhe bridges