The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-21


advancing column.
Farther ALONG on the road we found
lien. Stanley at his headquarters in thu
dooryard of mansion, and from whom
we leaHRcd the whole situation. Will,
mingling with the staff officers. we founf
them quietly commenting on the less OF
one of their pumber, who, accompanied b,
an Orderly, had been sent with orders tt
j the line, and then pushing out on q quie
reconnaissance, was captured by the rebe
pickets; the Orderly. fortunately escaping
reported the circumstances.
i The proximity, of the two armies wa.
such tint it seems incredible there were
not frequent clashes during the night. OF
even a general attack to3 break our lint
on the night march.
/ Gen. Schofield, arriving at this time
from Thompson's Station. ordered an i'm
mediate march to Franklin, and Gen
Cox's Division to lead the advance. Keep
ing up the long, steady stride Of -four
miles an hour. in the clear starlight, with
out meeting a soul on the road, we reach
ed Winstead Hills about 8 o'clock in the
morning.
The. General and staff then pushed OF
rapidly to Franklin, awoke Col Carter
and made headquarters at his little brick
cottage, the last house in the southern
suburbs of the town, on the Columbia
pike. -
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.
In the absence of the Inspecting Officer
| who was with the rear-guard, the writer
was instructed to place the troops in posi-
ton; and while sitting out in front of the
| house, waiting for the head of column to
arrive, everything was as still as the
grave. and there was time to ponder on
what the following day would bring forth.
did not realize, and very few, perhaps.
anticipated, the dreadful and bloody out
| como; but, rather, looked for another flank
(N~1.s .r DE- Il -
tramp of horses in the distance and the
rattle Of tin cups against bayonet clasps
foretod the coming of the troops. First
the brigade oaicerS, mounted, appeared.
and they were led off to the right Of the
road. where a hasty inspection Of the
ground was made in the darkness; then
the weary men came marching by the left
flank. The night tramp had been wear
ing to those on foot, for they had been
pressed to unusual speed, and their
anxiety about the train, that was strung
along by their side. kept them peering ont
into the dim distance, lest Forests cav
airy might strike them at any point, al
though every regiment had company de-
ployed in the fields to our right The
Third Division of the Twenty-third Corps
WAS led into position on the east side OF
the pike-Stiles. commanding Henderson's
Brigade, first, Easement next. and Riley
last, all facing the south. Col. Hender-
Sun was tehipVIafHy unWelI, ana mao re-
quested Col. Stiles, Of the Esd Ind, to re-
lieve him OF PERSONAL command Of his
brigade; but he remained with the brigade
during the Engagement, and watched ey-
| cry movement with as mnch solcitude as
| though he were giving the orders direct
| to the regimental commanders. Gen. Cox
was placed in command Of the two divi-
| sions, his own and Rugeris. and was in
structedl-as soon as the troops could ges
short breathing spell, few winks of
| sleep, ana their morning, coffee--to strong
u intreBeh themselves.
| 1t wasGdeeined expedient by Ger. Scho.
i 2eld 20 make our stand. on the south side
Of the tbwh and river, so that the trains
could mass III the streets and open spaces
in the Village, while ,wagonroad bridge
| was being built and planks laid on the
| sleeDerS OF the railroad bridge for their
I trAnsfefn across. GEM SchOfeM had the
previous day sent an urgent request to
Thomas to ship by rail a pontoon bridge to
| franklin for the Uarpeth crossing, and
expected ITO find it there, but in this was
disappointed. 1t had instead been sent
| by the iwagOnroad, in charge of Mai
Jenny, Of thel Engineer Corps, and did not
arrive in time to be of service.
/ DIN this embarrassing situat ton there was
/ nothing TO- do but construct The bridges
with the meager facilities at hand; so
with his Engineer Battalion and details
Of troops, the work was performed, re-
| qniring his constant personal attention
| He remained in this position up to the
time of tire engagement, 50 as 20 better
| superintend the crossing. and at the SAME
4 time be near the railroad and telegraph
station; while from Fort &c ranger, on the
bluff east of the railroad and near the
river he had perfect command during
| the battle of the entire field, and to direct
| tho FIRE OF the artillery stationed there
with him. During the forenoon the troops
in close order, kept pouring in, the in
fantry on the right side of the road and
wagon trims and artillery to their left.
The march was not so rapid as during
the night, for they were continually har
| assed by Forests cavalry attacking in
weak points on the road. Woods Diyi
sion Of the Fourth Corps passed through
the town and formed in position on the
north Of the Harpeth; KimbaIl's Division
/ OF the same corps was ordered to report
to Gen. Cox, and was placed by him or
the right of the Twenty third Corps, will
its right flank resting on the Hnrpeti
River. Two bridages Of Wagner's Divi
sion, Fourth Corps flames and Conrad's)
were conference.-the. and placed some
thing over 100 rods In our front, acr0s.
the Columbia pike, to watch the approach
of the enemy, and to their right and front
on a little knoll, section Of Marshall.
Battery, supported by an infantry regi
ment. -.
/ Opdycke6 Brigade, or the same diyi
sion, which had been acting as rear-guart
from Spring Hill, passed through our line
and were ordered by Gen. Cox to take III
position in reserve behind Carriers Hill
Il The two regiments of Reilly's Brigad,
that were left back in the skirmish lin.
i at Duck River arrived, and formed tn,
second line behind the main works. Th,
batteries Of the Fourth Corps were placed
in our main line. They were ordered Il
report to Gen. eek, TO take the places O
the Twenty Third Corps artillery that hat
been posted on the north side Of the river
as 1t war the first on the ground, and /
was the intention, at that hour, to hav,
all the artillery pass over as it arrived
BY the middle of the afternoon our trains
were nearly all across the river, and i
was intended the troops should follow af
Iter dark, and accompany them during til,
night toward Nashville. But it SCENE,
that Gen. Schofeld's plans were to b.
somewhat interfered with, to the exten
that the continuation of our march wa
some hours later.
Go be continued.)
i ksuni6n Of the aetn MASS.
i Survivors ,@ 28th Mass. held their An
nNaI Ncn vD.-