The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-12

that line Of approach. March Gill
bert sent orders to Col. Coburn, with
the SD and 85th Ind, 22d- Wis, 18th
Mich, and 124th Ohio, the 18th Ohio
Battery. I'd Mich, 9th Pas and 4th KY.
| Cav, in all about 5000. men, to go
south from Franklin withga train Of
100 wagons on foraging expedition,
and also reconnaissance Of the ene-
my's front. The detachmealts Of cav
airy were commanded by Col. Jordan.
It was expected that IL miles south OF
Franklin the force under Sheridan
would unite and move forward with 1t.
At that unlucky time VAN Dorm with
advancing to feel the Union Hnes JOr-
dams cavalry struck the enemy only
three miles from Franklin, and a smart
| little fight opened which ended with
the retreat Of the enemy to Spring Hill.
followed by our TROOPS. As he ad-
was confronted by q reany superior
force. which was evidently trying to
draw him into trap, end notified Gill
bert, who repeated his biInder OF Num-
fordville by ordering him to push o1,
his advance, which COhurn did. al
though he plainly saw the unwisdom u
that course. Along In the morning Co.
in line Of battle near Thompson's Sta
ton. Forests command was on the
extreme right, with the Texan Brigade
In the center and Armstrong; Brigade
In reserve. It was $3.50 O'clock when
Coburn threw his troops into line and
the troops Immediately in front Of him.
but Armstrong; and Whitheld's Bri-
gades began to turn his tanks. CO.
burn held his position for half an hour.
when he saw the hopelessness Of the
contest and ordered retreat. Jordan
tried In vain to cover this. but Van
Dorm passed around his tanks. broke
up attempts to make q stand. and al
though the attacks were repulsed suf-
ficiently to allow the artillery to es-
cane. the remainder Of the command
was at last compelled to surrender. CO.
burns loss was 40 killed, $50 wounded.
and some 1000 prisoners. The enemy
reported IS killed and 40 wounded.
The affair was a piece OF bad misman-
agement for which Coburn was held in
a large measure responsible and the
promotion OF that worthy officer Tor a
long time retarded In consequence. Ine
final verdict was. however. that Gill
bert was most culpable. and he very
soon passed entirely from the scene.
and the Army Of the Cumberland knew
him no more.
Gen, Carter's East Tennessee Raid.
The bold, enterprising riders Of the
Southern Confederacy did not secure all
the successes, by any means. While
much was made in the Northern press
and in the reports Of the commanders
OF their alarming exploits, considerable
less was heard OF quite as daring, DASH
ing achievements on the part OF the
Union troopers. One OF these led into
his native country by Gen. 8. 2. Carter.
la naval officer from East Tennessee,
was q particularly fine exhibition OF
what can be done by brave, energetic.
Iresourceful cavalry leader. Gen. Car
ter had all of these characteristics in
spite Of his long training In the Navy. to
which he returned after the war. dying
some years ago with the well-earned
rank Of Rear-Admiral...
As has been often stated before. the
possession of East Tennessee was al
most vital to the Confsderacy, since
through It ran the Virginia & East
Tennessee Railroad. the tnAin highway
Valley. This was the strong military
reason which added urgency to Presi-
dent Lincoln's desire tnat an advance
be made into East Tennessee to pro.
tect the splendid loyaif5essd q that coun-
try from the intolerable crDelties Of the
Lincoln's commanders in Nentucky, ex-
cept Gen. Thomas. cou3d, however, be
| brought to sympathize with this object.
They all believed that the vulnerable
point at which to strike was Chatta-
n0Sga. r.
After Gen. G. w. Nerxan's retreat
from Cumberland Gap I'm September.
1862. the Confederates felt entirely Sc
cure in the possession of East Tennes-
see. and stripped the country OF troops
to swell Bragg's army before Rose
Grams. knowledge OF this induced the
latter to recommend to and urge upon
Gen. II. G. Wright. the commander of
the Department OF Ohio, to make a
stroke at the all-important railroad.
Plans for this were begun In November.
but 1t took more than q month for them
to mature. and while Rosecrans was
getting In readiness to- move out OF
Nashville, Gen. 8. r. Cater was desig-
mated as conpander OF the expedition.
Great care was to be exercised in se-
lecting. small force OF the highest ef-
fciency to send with him. The best
horses and men were to he picked out,
formed into small detachments at vari-
Gus places and. finally concentrated at
the mouth Of Goose Creek. Clay Co..
Ky. They cona!stcd rs9 - .esf PARE
OF two battalions. I'd Mich. Cav. Lieut.
Col. Campbeli: 9th Pa. Cav. Mai. Rus
sell. and 1St battalion 9Th, Ol1to Cav.