The National tribune., 1906-05-31

the brilliant repulse Of the largely
outnumberfng enemy was q personal
victory for Gen. Rosec1ars. While Gen.
Grant paid Gen. Roseerans the highest
compliments for his courage and con-
duct OF the battle, yet he was greatly
dissatisfied with him for; not making
the pursuit, and there were other mat
ters which increased the feeling be-
tween the two commanders. OF this
the public knew nothing, and as Rose
Grams was the only man who had won
decided victory during months Of dis
asters to other Generals, he became a
popular idol. eclipsing Grant, Pope, Nc
Clellan, Buell. and Halleck,e who had
only a little while before held, one after
another, the center Of the stage. An
attempt was made to reconcile Grant
and Rosecrans. explanations were made
on both sides with which both seemed
satisfied, but all the same the aching
scars remained, and the brands needed
but little breathing upon to again flame
out. Nine days after ROsecrans re-
| turned to Corinth from the pursuit, he
was ordered to Cincinnati, where he
| Buell., and assumed command OF his
great army.
At Nashville
Upon taking command, Rosecrans at
once learned what every one in the
| Army Of the Cumberland knew, that
the first steps taken should be to Sc
cure the Capital OF Tennessee. This
| was alike vitality important to both
sides; for the Union side to give hopes
Of conquering Tennessee, and equally
to Bragg, who was compelled to fight
for it, else his army was without
function or object. Bragg1 abandon
ment OF Kentucky had had the most
depressing effect upon the Confederates
in the West, and this made it the more
fYnY or fryn hot H0 ot~ -
to redeem Tennessee.
Upon his retreat to Louisville, Gen.
Buell. had left Brig.-Gen. Negley in
command at Nashville, with his division
and some other troops. Bragg had left
Breckenridge with his division OF Ken
lucky troops to threaten the city. This
was one OF the grievances Of the Ken
tuckians against Bragg, He was afraid,
apparently, to trust them In their own
State, lest they should all desert and
then he would not make the battle for
the State that they felt he SHOULD have
done Breckinridge established his
headquarters at Murfreesboro, and had
under him some 5000 infantry and
5000 cavalry. With the latter he kept
up nominal siege Of Nashville by an
noying and driving back the foraging
parties sent out. In these conflicts the
Union troops were more often success
full than not. and they held pretty gen.
the State House, bringing in supplies
In such quantities that not at any time
were the troops nor the citizens seri-
ously pressed for food. Nor were the
Union troops content to act merely on
the defensive. Wherever they saw an
opportunity they to * d vigorous Of
fensive and at one time Palmer went
out With about $500 men. including
Col. John F. Miller's Brigade, to strike
Gen. s. r.. Anderson, whs. had estab-
lished himself with about 5000 men at
Lavergne., After sharp little night of
half an hour Palmer drove Anderson
in rout with loss OF SO killed and
wounded, It's prisoners. three cannon
and the cOlors Of the 32d Ala.
Lieut.-Col. Won Shrader, OF the 74th
Ohio, who was Inspector OF Eegley's|
Division. was an educated Prussian Of
ficer and q thorough soldier. He sur
rounded Nashville with complete sys-
tenn Of block-houses and other fortif-
cations for pickets, and devoted himself
personally to seeing that the pickets
did their entire duty. It was one of
Braggs many mistakes that he depict
ed his army to the extent Of 10000
men, who did nothing more important
than what Breckinridge accomplished
at Nashville. Had Bragg kept these
men with him he could have marched
against Buell. with much more conf
dence. Breckinridge at Nashville, as
well as everywhere else where he was
placed. was a severe disappointment.
Breckinridge, late Senator from Ken
lucky and Vice President Of the Unit ed
States. was a man Of most striking
personal appearance, which promised
everything. and his manners supported
the promise as far as manners could
But he was always falling to do what
was expected Of him, whether at Baton
Rouge. at Nashville, at Stone River, RI
Shenandoah
seemed to expend itself in good looks
and courtly bearing. leaving nothing
for the sterner triumphs OF action.
Rosecrans Arrives In Nashville.
Although the garrison at Nashville
had not felt that 1t needed help, 1t gave
the advance OF Rosecrans's army an
enthusiastic welcome when 1t entered
the city Nov. II, 1852. Rosecrans him
self arrived a few days later, and Is-
tablished his headquarters there. TheI
first work demanding his attention wasI
the reconstruction Of the railroad tol
Louisville. which was his line OF sup
plies. The army as 1t advanced to
Nashville had done great deal Of
work in repairing the line, rebuilding
bridges and culverts. ETC., but a rail-
road OF that Importance needed far bet
ter work than soldiers could do, and
Gen. McCallum was bringing to the
work corps of experienced construc-
uOn men. Inc most serious lob was
the tunnel south Of Mitcheliville, which
had only been too effectually wrecked
and barricaded by Bragg,s engineers
Tunnel work permits the use OF only a
few men at the actual working points
and consequently the repairs took up
weeks Of time. during which all the
supplies had to be hauled by wagons to
Nashville. a distance Of shout 35 miles
The railroad was finally opened through
between the two cities Nov. 26, and
then run to it's utmost capacity to bring
forward all that was needed to refit the
army for the Winters campaign, and
to accumulate months supplies in
Nashville against any further Interrupt
tion OF communications.
Bragg Mt MuFfreesh0rO.
While Rosecrans was employed as
described. Bragg was bringing forward
his men from East Tennessee to MUIR
freesborO. where 1t soon BECAME evident
he proposed to resist any further ad-
vance into Tennessee, and to watch for
an opportunity to recaptures Nashville.
Bragg believing that Rosecrans was GO
ing to put his army into Winter quar-
ters at Nashville, began doing the SAME
thing with his troops at Murfreesboro
constructing villages OF log houses for
J,nir