The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-04-05

| GEN ALEXANDER Med. McCOOK
his plans, and did not ask for cooper
alton. 1t Is to Gen. Buelrs credit that
he foresaw the possible military re-
quirements of this movement, and on
| his own motion sent Col. Crufts Bri-
gade and eight new regiments down
the river to where they would be avail
able in case Gen. Grant needed them.
He began movements of the troops
which he retained for the advance di-
| rectly upon Bowling Green, as the
President had urged him to do. He
was soon informed of the surrender
| OF Fort Henry, and that Grants army
had moved across the peninsula to at
tack Fort Doneson. Foreseeing that
he could not advance upon Bowling
Green with sufficient rapidity to pre-
vent Johnston from reinforcing Fort
Donelson from that place, he directed
| three Of his divisions toward Fort Dom
elson by water, while his other three
divisions continued the advance upon
Bowling Green. Halleck, fearful OF
what Grant might meet in his bold
| movement, had at last asked for aid
and cooperation. The wisdom OF
know from Albert Sidney Johnston
| himself that he had stripped Bowling
Green to reinforce Fort Donelson, and
that there were enough troops there,
| had they been properly handled, to
have driven Gen. Grant back.
| Part Of the reinforcements from
Buell. reached Fort Donelson on Feb.
IA, when Grant had learned Of the
gravity Of the task before him, and
the arrival Of additional regiments was
most welcome. Col. Cruft's Brigade,
which was attached to Lew Wallace's .
Division, received the brunt Of the Con-
federate attack after McClernand was
hoz
of Col. Thayer, Of Nebraska, finally
succeeded in checking the enemy in
the moment of greatest success, allow
ing the shattered troops to reform in
the rear, and later in the day also led
in the return blow by which the Con-
federates were driven within their in
trenchments, and the road for escape
again closed.
Gen. Johnston fought his battle for
the defense of Nashville at Fort Donel-
son, and when the issue of this con,
test went against him there was moth
i ing left for him to do but make a rapid
retreat from Bowling Green and aban-
don Nashville. The fall Of Fort DON
elson opened the Cumberland River
clear through to Tennessee to the
| Union gunboats and transports, and
nothing but the promptest retirement
by Johnston could save his army In
fact, Johnston had long been aware
that he was unable to resist either
Grant or Buell. In that exposed posi-
ton. and was ready to fall back the
moment he saw Buell. really meant se-
rious business. He actually began his
retreat the day Grant appeared before
fort Donelson, but hoped that the
troops he had sent there might stand
or Grant for long time, possibly
drive him back. When he learned OF
Grants overwhelming success, he real
ized that there was nothing left for
| him but to abandon Nashville itself
and take up shorter and stronger line
O. considerable distance In the rear
This Is the story officially given out by
the Confederates, but the panic that
reigned in Nashville clearly indicates
that the event had eliminated I'm q
way 10 greatly surprise and not a little
demoralize Johnston himself The de-
struction Of stores, the flight of people
from the city, the mad scenes in the
streets Of Nashville, did not at all sun
port the theory Of a preconceiyed and
ell-ordered retreat.
| Gen. O. NJ. Mitchell.
The studied, deliberate calmness y,
Gen. Buelfs mind was sorely disturbed
by the intense purposefuIness of one
or MS principal subordinates Gen
Buell. had divided his Army of the Ohio
INTO four grand divisions. which were
" po uhuer the command OF Brig
Gems. Alexander Mcdowell McCook
| George III. Thomas, Ormsby Mcknight
3 Mitchell and Thomas L. Critfenden. Nc
Cook. Thomas and Crittenden were
quietly subordinate. accepting their or
ders and the parts assigned them with
strictly military obedience. OF them
all Gen. Thomas was the one man of
the most vehement purpose, and his
heart was set on leading an expedition
into East Tennessee. for which a way
: was opened by his victory at Mil
|; Springs. Yet. when he received his Or
ders to draw back. relinquish this idea
and be ready to move to the main line
which Buell. was projecting against
Nashville he Obeyed without the slight
est sign OF reluctance.
Gen. Mitchell was a man OF quite dif-
ferent mold. While he was a West
!. Pointer. and had graduated with honor
In class OF which Robert q. Leo and
]. =. Johnston were members. he had
, imbibed little OF the Regular spfrif !"
In fact. he had never served with
troops. but upon graduation had been
at once appointed Assistant Professor
|, OF Mathematics at West Point, where
he remained two years. He then took
up the study Of law, and after admis-
sion to the bar practiced In Cincinnati
until 1884, when he was made Profes.
I see OF Mathematics. Philosophy Ana