The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-12-07
THOMPSON'S STATION.
Fine Brigade Sacrificed by Generals Msmanagement.
Splendid Fighting Against Overwhelming Forces.
By cnAs. P. LINCOLN, Captain, 10Th Mich.

threw forward three regiments Of in
fantry and a portion Of his cavalry; as
| they advanced the rebels fell back, but
soon appeared on the high hills in front
and to our left and right. Gen. Forrest
appeared with a large force on the
Lewisburg road to our left, and 1t was
apparent to all that they greatly out
| numbered us. The fields. the road, and
the densely-wooded heights were
| swarming with their artillery. A mes
| senger was dispatched by Col. Coburn
to Gen. Gilbert giving full information
as to the situation, and our advanced
forces were ordered to fall back to our
first position, where we remained fully
three hours awaiting orders from the
General at Franklin. The order came:
II suppose you understand the object
OF the move; IL forage train is likely to
prove an embarrassment, send it back
and go ahead" The train was returned,
half Of the wagons having been loaded.
Jordan was sent to the left and For
rest fell back. Van Dorm improved the
opportunity Of estimating our strength,
and no doubt conceived the plan of
drawing us into the open field as far
as possible from support at Franklin,
where he could more easily effect our
capture.
Gilbert's Mfsmanagement.
Coburn had no option; his orders
were imperative to proceed to Spring
Hill. The column advanced two miles,
went into camp and slept under arms,
ready for any emergency. The intense
stiffness Of that night was broken only
by the occasional sharp crack Of rife,
and then the hush OF expectancy fell
upon the tired forces, very many of
them scarcely able to wait for the
morning to renew the strife.
With the dawn Of March came two
unusually intelligent negro lads, who
INo6 -
ness. to pass Van Dorn's pickets to our
camp, bringing valuable information of
the strength Of the rebels; stating that
they were this side Of Spring Hill, were
coming to take Franklin and, as they
had been told, were fully 10000 strong
These boys were sent by Coburn with
mounted men to Gilbert. Receiving no
response to the news they conveyed, at
8 o'clock the brigade advanced In close
column. cavalry in front, with line OF
skfrmishers on either side Of the road.
The country was hilly, broken and
wooded; dotted here and there with
farm-houses. from whose doors the wo-
men and children gazed at US with
blanched faces as we marched along
Few, we knew, II any. among them
entertained for US a kindly sentiment:
their sympathies and their prayers were
doubtless Tor the foes we were so soon
to encounter.
VhCu aOOuI LWo IullSS 1TOIn CAMP
an outpost Of the enemy's cavalry was
driven flying down the road toward
Thompson Station, now little more than
a mile distant.
Before reaching there the road
passes wooded hill to the left, with
a clear valley on the right; this valley
becomes narrower at the southeast and
ends in gap through the ridge.
This ridge traversed the road at right
angles and was covered with cedars
The turnpike and railroad pass through
this gap.
Beyond this is an open field, possibly
a mile wide; the station is about mid
way of this field. Beyond the station
the woods are dense and extensive, COW
ering an elevation. Here Van Dorn's
forces awaited our appearance. It was
soon evident that his object had been
to draw us through this gap, and he
had succeeded. He opened with artil-
lery upon the head Of our column from
the right of the road. Our battery was
brought forward, two guns to the right
nd three to the left, on the ridge some
SO feet above the fields and valley in
front.
The SD and 85th Ind. were sta
toned on the right; the 18th Mich. and
22d Wis in line on the left. Some of