The National tribune., 1905-11-23

hit.
the most important, could not safely be
abandoned.
Such reinforcements as were avail
able in the West were being hurried to
Thomas's aid. the most considerable
force OF this character being two divi-
sions Of the Sixteenth Corps under Gen.
A. ]. Smith. numbering about 10000
men, which had recently concluded a
hard campaign in Arkansas and Mis-
sourf.
Attached to this command were the
9Th, 7th, 9th and 10th Mfnn. This force,
which was designated In Gen. Thomas's
reorganized army as detachment Of
the Army Of the Tennessee, was hur-
riedly forwarded from st. Louis via the
Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland Riv-
ers, its vanguard arriving in Nashville
on Dec. /, 1864. The Minnesota regi-
ments were attached to the First Divi-
sion Of this detachment, which was
The division consisted Of @ three . brieades
The First Brigade. being composed of
114th Ill. and 93d Ind, and an Illinois
battery, was commanded by Col. w. L.
McMillen, OF the 95th Ohio. The Sec
ond Brigade, composed Of the 5th and
9Th Mimi, 18th Mo. and 8th Wis. and
the I'd Iowa Battery, was commanded
by Col. L. #. Hubbard. Of the 9Th Mimi.
The Third Brigade, composed of 7th
Mimi. 18th and 35th Iowa and 33d Mo.
and I'd Mo. Battery, was commanded
by Col. s. G. HILL Of the 35th Iowa.
position on the right Of the line OF de-
Tense, with which Gen. Thomas had
enveloped Nashville, and at once pro-
ceeded to intrench their front.
Battle OF Franklin.
Pending these dispositions Hood had
steadily advanced northward without
he reached the vicinity of Harpeth Riv-
er. Gen. ]. M. Schofield and Gen D. S.
Stanley, in command respectively of
the Twenty-third and Fourth Corps,
had united their forces at Pulaski,
Tenn, both now being under command
of Gen. Schofield as the senior officer
This force retired toward Nashville on
roads parallel with Hoods advance, and
reached Franklin, on the Harpeth Riv-
er, where the roads converged, ahead
of Hood, where the latter evidently in
tended to cross that stream Gen. i
Thomas had ordered Schof1eld to dis
pute Hoods passage of the Harpeth,
and accordingly dispositions were made
for this purpose. Schofield hurriedly
fntrenched his position which was I'm
mediately attacked by Hood. Here Or.
CURED on Nov. so one of the most
numbers engaged that Is recorded in
the history Of the rebellion. Hood made
several desperate assaults on SchOfield'S
intrenched lines, and suffered much
punishment in their repeated repulse.
losses were also considerable,
but he accomplished the purpose of
holding Hoods army at bay Cor the
moment, and gave Thomas more time,
which was most essential, to enable
him to strengthen his position at Nash
vile and gather the reinforcements
within his reach. Schofield leisurely
who soon recovered his wonted audacity /
sufficiently to present bold and de- |
fant front upon his arrival before |
Thomas's defenses, Dec. 4, 1864.
Thomas at Nashville.
Gen. Thomas had strengthened his |
position at Nashville, and was in condi- /
ton to make a successful defensive |
fight, but he felt that he was hardly |
ready, with his inferior numbers, to |
take the offensive, and hence awaited |
Hoods further movements, while he
improved the time in making more eff
fective the army he had created out Of |
the odds and ends that had been gath
cred at Nashville. Thomasrs army in
Nashville, as has been stated, was in
ferior to that of the enemy in point Of
numbers, and he was particularly de-
fcient in cavalry. He had 5000 men
at Murfreesboro, a position it was i'm
portant to hold, and considerable de-
tachments were employed elsewhere.
in protection Of his COM
to the rear.
The authorities at Washington and
1T the Headquarters of the Army became
very impatient at the delay in moving
against the enemy, and sent Thomas
many peremptory orders to attack
Hood, and I'm his failure to promptly
respond as directed 1t was determined
to relieve him from his command. First,
Schofield was designated to supersede
him, then Logan was sent West for the
purpose, who got as far as Louisville. /