The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-04-22

clded TO flank il on the east. tn
Sappers and Miners were sent up III
r1ver To Davis Ford on the 2sth. an
made good approaches on both bank
for the pontOon bridges. which wer
successfully laid that evening an
night without interruption by tn
Federal cavalry pickets at Huey
Mill, two or three miles below. Som
of Forests cavalry had crossed a
Davis Ford, but most of them haC
been sent further up the river, anC
had effected crossing on the 2sth
securing Judgement on the Lewisbur
and Franklin pike. Capron S Bridge
of Federal cavalry was guarding tn,
approaches at Hardison' Mills anC
the fords in the vicinity, holding thu
peninsula south from Orr's eros,
Roads. By some missap this fore,
was allowed to escape north up the
pike, although the Confederates had
them as it were in a cul de sac, with
nothing to do but pull the string and
bag them. The escape of this com.
mand had a depressing effect on the
Confederates, and the Federals were
correspondingly elated next day on
the retreat TO Franklin.
OonIederateS CIOsS the River.
Leaving Stephen d. Lee with part of
his corps to make demonstrations and
TENTS at Columbia, and thus help con-
ceal the flank movement, Hood moved
to the right early on the morning of the
18th. He deemed this movement of such
importance that he had crossed the
river about daylight with his staff,
and was in personal command. Cheat
ham s corps was in the advance, followed
by Stewards and division from Lees
corps, all in the lightest possible march
ing order, with only one battery of
artillery tc the corps. These crossed
Duck River on the pontoon bridges
near Davis Ford, the small body of
accompanying cavalry fording or swim
ming the river, and by nine or half past
nine O'Clock this entire force was across
Duck River without discovery or inter-
-uption by the Federals.
Following the Old Davis Ford Road
north, the command pressed rapidly on,
moving by the right flank, the column
occupying the road and the woods and
ields adjoining, for there we're precious
ew fences left 10 Maury County. The
weather. had turned warm, the day was
bright and sunny, and the troops were |
q good spirits. The Duck River Rifle |
men were pressing on in the advance
With Strabl ard Cleburne, and passing
Trough u country that was home; yet
one dropped out Of RANKS, although
hort furloughs had been given to most
t the troops from this sertion but
Ii seemed animated with the desire
( the command to complete this move
lent.
Schofieid Yves Awake.
The hills east of the Nashville pike and
est of the Davis Ford road, it was
lought. would partly screen this move
tent from the observation of the
ederals, and with Lees feints and
ssaults at Columbia, would prevent (,
lem from moving until their line of :
could be cut in the rear.
ut Schofield was far too experienced a
'ldier to be caught mapping quite that :
ably, and Posts Federal Brigade being !
ut up what is now the Bear Creek :,
re to reconnoitre, reported the move !,
ent of infantry in force. The Federals !
began evacnating the :
'ninsula north OF Columbia early in the =
ternoon, and another race-this time =
|
Lee Crosses Duck River.
Lees orders at Columbia were that y
soon as the enemy showed signs of n
treating, to cross the river and press p
IN north. He had posted Col. j. M. -
,dman s Alabama regiment on the e
lffs up the river about the lime-kiln, n
lille Greenwood cemetery and the n
lff where the Jail is now, fairly &
armed with sharpshooters. Col. r. k
Beckham, Gen. Lees Chief of r,
tillery, superintendent the planting n
the batteries on the bluff. and WAS W
,rtally wounded on the Goth, linger- h,
: until the 10th of December He h,
S in an honored grave in historic St. m
hn S churchyard at Ashwood. where a
many of his gallant brother officers o,
re buried after the battle of Frank r.
The CIR pe-Vine" Pontoon Train.
But Lee had to lay pontoon bridge u
ore the infantry could cross. And r.
en- that reserve pontoon train came %
o town it was followed by scores of Tn
rs who were attracted by the novelty On
the sight-and such sight it was &C
ose huge canoes, probably twenty re,
} feet long, only one on each ram w
ckle wagon with load after load of VI
dye thinkers on a little better Tn
CONS; drawn by the first land Tn
rest long -horned Texas steers ever an
a here. and instead OF leather, or IN
es, or chains, to draw the wagons, oe
rape vines. an
me of these pontoon boats had been MT
down to the river in advance, and -
lough the men in charge of it were VA
az constantly fired ON, they pushed pa
nto the river, and commenced car ev'
* the soldiers over. After the no
t had been launched. the troops
were being carried over We're Y
paratively snfe. the north bank of FIRE
river protecting them from the fire Ho
he rifie-pits, After getting to the To-
h side, these troops remained under On
bank until II great many loads had hel
! carried over, and then they do,
We'd and scrambled up the bank, son
led in line, and charged with FIRE,
] yell, driving the remaining Fed ami
! back to the line of works at the If
WI house. The pontoon bridge %
then laid in few hours. The co,,
n