The National tribune., 1906-01-11

Lall's Division of the same corps was
ordered 10 report to Gen. Cox, and was
b. him placed in line on the right oc
the Twenty-third Corps, with fits flank
resting on the Harpeth River. Two
brigades of Wagner's Division, Fourth
Corps Lane's and Conrad's), were
countermarched, and placed some
thing over 100 rods in our front.
across the Columbia pike, to watch the
approach of the enemy, and TO their
right and front. on little knoll, a sec
ton of Marshalrs Battery, supported
by all infantry regiment. Opdycke's
Brigade, of the same division. which
had been acting as rear guard from
Spring Hill, passed along our line. and
took up position in reserve behind Car
ter s Hill. The two regiments of Reii-
iyS Brigade that were left back in the
skirmish line at Duck River arrived
and formed the second line behind the
main works. The batteries of the
Fourth Corps were placed in our main
lire They were ordered to report to
Gen. Cox. to take the place of the
Twenty-third Corps artillery that had
been posted on the north side OF the
river. as it was the first on the ground,
and IL was the intention at that hour
TO have all the artillery pass over as IL
arrived.
BY the middle of the afternoon our
trains We're nearly all across the river,
and it was intended the troops should
n,
during the night toward Nashville. But
il seemed that Gen. Hood had another
program marked out for us. When
his sleepy army awoke at Spring Hill
and he found how nicely Schofield's
command had passed him during the
night. and an examination by daylight
showed how easily he could have cut
us in two at any time during the night
or headed US off entirely the previous
afternoon. if he had known our exact
situation, he was chagrined that he
cursed every body. nigh and low, CEN
s,red Cheatham, Cleburne and the en-
tire force that were present for not
taking possession of the road, and made
his whole army understand that they
must make up for that blunder at the
next opportunity, and that the time
must be soon. So he pushed on I'm
pursuit, their cavalry occasionally at
tacking our trains and burning q wagon
or two. until they came up with our
rear guard, about noon, at Winstead
Hills. Stewards Corps moved on to
the right. toward Lewisburg pike. turn
ing Opdycke's flank, when he fell slow
lF back TO the town. Gen. Cheatham.
with his corps. moved by the Colum-
bia pike and formed in line north OF
Winstead Hills. From our position the
officers and horses could be plainly seen
on this range Of hills little more than
two miles away, AS though studying our
position. Bates Division marched over
to Carriers Creek pike and formed be-
hind the Bostwick house. Stewards
Corps moved over to the McCavock
house. where the first skirmish- firing
as heard in the grove; it was by Rei1-
ly's men. who had gone there for logs
to put on the earthworks.
Firing Begins.
Firing Tow commenced over on the
right. where Yates was forming, and
the guns stationed on the pike poured
in yolley after volley with great rapid
tity. Gen. Cox rode over to StiIes's Bril-
gade, which was on higher ground. and
from the parapet, with his field-glass,
watched the advancing lines until they
ran over Wagner's men. He then
mounted his horse and pushed for the
center. where he arrived just in time
to go forward with Opdycke when the
break commenced. The suspense now
was growing, for we knew there was
to be battle; but oh. what a comfort
to know that We, who in the Georgia
campaign had to do most Of the buck
ing against fortifications, were on the
right side of the works. and in such
splendid position, with a gentle slope
away from US, and not even a mullein-
stalk to obstruct our fire for a good
third of a mile. Our men felt that now
was their time for wiping out many an
old score.
Gen. Cox's Engineer Officer, the writ
er. was standing on the parapet of the
Tooth Ohio, the first one on the left of
the Columbia pike, urging the men to
strengthen their works, and talking
with Gen. Wagner at this time. The
General was reclining on his elbow,
with staff or crutch in his hand: he
had fallen with his horse and was lame.
They remarked that the musketry fir
ing~was becoming more rapid. also from
the two guns in front. BY and by
staff officer rode fast from one of the
brigades, and reported to Wagner ex-
citedly:
1.-The enemy are forming in heavy
columns; we can see them distinctly in
the open timber and all along our
'front.'
Wagner said firmly. "Stand there
and fight them:" and then, turning to
the Engineer Officer, said, "And that
stubbed, curly-headed Dutchman will
fight them, too meaning one Of hts
brigade commanders.
But. General" the officer said. "tle
orders are not to stand except against
cavalry and skirmishers. but to fall
back behind the main line. If a general
enSa cement is threatened"
In a short time another officer rode
in from the right in great haste. and
told him the rebels We're advancing in
heavy force. He received the same or
der. The officer added: But Hoods
entire army is coming"
Then Wagner struck the ground with
his stick, and said: Never MIND; fight
them"
But even after this they had time to
come back in good order il they had
been allowed to- The artillery section
had fixed prolonge and fired as they
fell back to the advanced rifle-pits.
leaving their dead, but bringing in their
wounded.
The horses then brought the guns in
on easy trot. As they turned in
around the short earthwork covering
the gap across the pike. Alec Clinton.
one of the gunners, jumped off the
timber. his face black with powder
smoke. and said, with grim smile:
'Old - is let loose and coming
out there"
The Break.
In a short time we could see q COM
motion in our advanced brigades, but
only an occasional dropping back and
soon We noticed the right of Stewards
command wrapped around Conrad's
left, and then our men rose up and the
break commenced. The right of Cheat
hams Corps came sweeping over the
little rise of ground on which the low
rdmparts We're built, in what appeared
a solid human wave. And such a rack
ct, Their shouting seemed to show
SyIch confidence as men would have who