The National tribune., 1903-07-09

night came on. Stanley. as has been sem
with Wagner's Division. held Spring Hill
protecting the wagon trains and reserve
artillery. Gen. Schofield with RuSer
command-two brg:rdes-was three mics
from Spring Hill. where he struck a pur
tion of Forests cavalry hold ng the tnrn
pike. He engaged them Mt oace brushed
them aside, and reached Spring Hill ut I
o'clock.
At this same hour Gen. Cox drew oui
from his works in front Of Columbia anu
took the road for Spring Hill. leaving MS
skirmishers and the 18th and lNth NY {,
keen up show of streHgt, along the
Union line and to GLOW at midnight. Zen
Wood with the Third Division OF the
Fourth Corps followed Gen, Cox. ana nSi
KimbaI with the First Div sion of the
Fourth Corps took the road following Gen;
Wood as soon as the leading divisions had
crossed Rutherford Greek bridge.
Gen. Wilson with his command OF cav
airy was on the north side OF iiafpc.h'
River near Franklin out of touch with tn 2
balance of the army. He had heen cul
off from communication with ten. ocho-
field and had no advices of the movements
of the Union forces.
Gen. Forrest with his entira command
was in front of Spring Hill. Gen
Cheatham's advance division was IN front
of Spring Hill, having arrived at o clock
in the afternoon, followed closely by tae
balance of his corps.
Gen. Stewards Corps and Gen. john
sons Division of Lees Corfs We're. IKE
the Divisions of Cox. Wood. and hIm-
ball. marching upon Spring Hill. Each
army was bent unnn reaching that place IN
advance OF the other.
Gen. He0d made his headquarters at Dr.
Thonlrson's, two and Il half miles from
Spring HILL short distance east of the
Columbia and Franklin pike.
Gen. Lee with Clayton's and Steven
sons Divisions and the artillery and teams
of the army, remained at Columbia.
HOODS LOST OPPORTUNITY.
At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of Nov.
%. the Confederate forces in front OF
Spring Hill, under the command OF zen.
Cheatham and Gen. Forrest, Outnumber-
ed the Union forces under the command
of Gen Stanley by at least 1000 men
The Confederate troops were constantly
arriving and this disparity in numbers
was constantly increased for three hours
Gen. Hoods plan was to throw his
army north of Spring Hill, and in between
the Union forces and Franklin. Cen
Cheatla on arriving on the ground was
ordered to attack the Union forces at once
and vigorously, and get possession of the
turnpike. These orders were frequently
and earnestly repeated. Gen. Cheatham
did attack and drive Gen. Bradley's line,
and with a small force did attack Gen.
Stanley's line. but was repulsed by artll-
lery fire. No concerted effort was made
to plant a strong Confederate force on the
pike north of Spring Hill and fortify and
hold it. The golden opportunity for the
creation of which this important and sue
cesSful flank movement was made was
not embraced For three hours Gen.
Stanley stood on the defensive, hold ing his
line at Spring Hill for the protection of
the trains and artillery of the army, with
out receiving any reinfOrcements. what
ever and without a man to spare to hold
and defend the turnpike north of him: and
yet neither Forests cavalry nor Cheat
hams infantry seized and held that road.
At Z o'clock at night Gen. Schofield
reached Spring Hill with Gen. Ruger's
command. He consulted with Gen. Stan
ley. and learned the situation at once. He
instantly recognized the fact that Spring
Hill possessed no military advantages to
justify him in risking a battle with his
force, which, when concentrated. would be
less than half that of the enemy.
Gen. Stanley reported to Gen. Schofield
that his pickets had observed the move
ment of a rebel column east of his posi-
ton passing northward as if to get pos
session of the hills at Thompson's Station,
and the question arose whether they could
force their way through to Franklin. 1t
was determined to make the attempt. Gen.
Schofeld in person pushed forward with
Gen. Ruger's command, then consisting of
one brigade and two regiments; Gen.
Whitaker, with his brigade of seven regi-
ments, having been halted and stationed
south of Spring Hill opposite the left
flank of the rebel line, and a short dis
tance east of the turnpike, for the pur-
pose of protecting the troops then march
ing toward Spring Hill.
Gen. Schofield reached Thompson's Sta
fion in due time. The place had been oc-
cupied by a large force of the enemy's
cavalry. but they had withdrawn before
his arrival, leaving their campfres burn
ing. Gen. Ruger took possession of the
crossroads without opposition, and held
the place. Gen. Schofield at once returned
to Spring Hill.
Gen. Hood, although much disappointed
at the fact that Gen. Cheatham had failed
TO secure the turnpike north of Spring
Hill, did not abandon this project; so when
Gen. Stewart arrived with his corps Gen.
Hood ordered him to move his corps be-
yond Gen. Cheatham's and place it across
the pike north of Spring Hill; guide was
furnished Gen. Stewart to conduct his
troops to their position.
Soon after Gen. Hood had issued these
orders Gen. Cheatham called at his head
quarters, and when informed of Gen.
Stewards orders, stated that Gen. Stewart
ought to form on his left, and when asked
II that would throw Stewart across the
pike. Gen, Cheatham replied that it would,
and a mile beyond. Accordingly one of
Gen. Cheatham's staff officers was
sent to show Stewart where Cheatham's
right rested. In the dark and confusion
this officer did not succeed in getting the
position desired. About II p. m. Gen.
Stewart, having moved to the right of
Cheatham's Corps, then in line near the
pike from Columbia to Franklin, BIZ
xouacked in rear Of his right, and parallel
with the turnpike instead of across it. So
that by this fortuitous circumstance the
design OF Gen. Hood to seize and hold tie
turnpike between Spring Hill and Frank
IN, was frustrated
from Gen. Lees Corps were put in line
parallel to the turnpike and from 600 to
500 yards east of it, with a strong picket
line thrown out in their front.
The advance of Gen. Cox's Division
reached Spring Hill at midnight. Gen.
Cox was met by Gen. Schofield, who in
formed him of the program to make
night march with the whole army to
Franklin.
GEN. scHoFIELD wITHDRAws BY NIGHT.
And now the most extraordinary and
hazardous movement of the war began.
NrTnhlQfn xva IN Inl,