The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-11

corps, under General J. NJ. schofelt
10000 strong, which he detached froI
his main army before starting for th
sea.
| In point Of fact, Hood went aroun,
the Federal army. supposed to b
guarding the southern border OF Ten
nessee. and once across the river mad
for Columbia, on Duck river. the dl
rect route to Nashville. The ever aler
Forrest preceded him and was OF
the point OF seizing the crossings o.
the river when the advance OF tho Fed
eral army under schofield, falling bach
by forced marches upon Nashville
came up 10 dispute the way. schofelt
held and fortified Columbia.
Meanwhile General J. II. Wilson, {
cavaIrymnn under Sheridan In Virginia
had reached Tennessee 10 lead Thomas
cavalry. When he reached the front
along Duck river he found his Troopers
coping with Forrest. who was bent on
crossing above Columbia. east, to seize
roads leading TO Spring Hill. in Scho.
fields rear, 30 as TO cut him OF from
Nashville. Wilson warned Scho6eld "a
abandon Columbia and, strangely
enough. drew back his own force by a
route farther east through Hurts Cor.
ners and Mount Carmel. leaving the
road open to Forrest TO dash on TO
Spring Hill.
But schofeld, for all, had the inside
track to the key point and. acting on
Wilson's warning. had sent General
Stanley with all speed back from Co.
lumbin toward Spring Hill. II was
the Goth Of November, the day OF all
others In 1884 when, II luck counts
at ali In war. the confcderacy had a
last chance At noon that day Stan.
ley's men double quicked into Spring
Iilll and soon began 10 fight with For.
rests troopers for the mastery. For.
rest was beaten, and Stanley held the
road open.
Yet Forrest was not Hoods best card
In this game. AT the head Of his lead.
Ing division. crack body OF men un.
der the intrepid General Cleburne. he
Ind crossed Duck river at Huey's and
az noon Of that day was marching bold.
ly northwestward 10 the pike between
Columbia and Spring Hill and between
stanley's Isolated division and Scho-
fields main force at Columbia. More
over, he had left the corps Of General
3. ID. Lee south OF Duck river and In
front OF Columbia to attack Schoneld
and push him along the pike into the
trip prepared for him at Spring Hill.
At that moment there was nothing 10
stay the march OF Hoods 10000 Con.
federates on Nashville, Louisville and
the north except stanley's band Of
1900 men at Spring Hill and mob
OF unorganizcd recruits and GONZALES
cents at Nashville with Thomas.
The hope OF the west lay with Scho.
field, and he was virtually surround.
ed and cut Off at Columbia Hoods
hope the forlorn chance OF the south
lay In placing a wall Of bayonets across
the pike and shutting Schoacld of at
Spring Hill, when the Federal army In
the west would be at his mercy Cali
ing Generals Cheatham and Cleburne
TO his side, Hood directed their eyes
upon the pike where Schoheld's wag.
ons and their infantry guards were |
moving from Columbia back to Spring
Hill. Said he to Cheatham: General,
DO you see the enemy there, retreating |
rapidly to escape usf Go with your
rorps, take possession Of that pike at
Or near Spring Hill. Do this
at once"
His subordinates moved away to
,bey this command and himself to or
Ter up another corps. and, this accom-
,lished, Hchoneld's army would be lost.
Forests cavalry held all Of the cross-
-oads from the pike north OF Spring
Iill, In line east and south, to Duck
liver, having bowled Wilson's men of
o the northeast out OF reach, From
,'clock until dark there were constant
and some heavy fighting
lear Spring Hill between Stanley's
men and those OF Cheatham and For
est, but Hood returned to the spot at
Iusk only to find that Cheatham had
lot put his line across the pike. Gle
,urnes division that had been relied
IN for that feat had blundered In the
Irst attempt and then come to dead
tandstill. Hood brought with him the