The sun., 1909-02-14

VII.
1t was now evident that the most serious
work Of the campaign which had opened ir
May, 1884, was to fall on Gen, Thomas's
shoulders. On October 10 Gen. Sherman
had telegraphed him; Hoods army may
be set down at 10000 men Of all arms III
for duty; they may follow me or turn
against you. You can defend the line
Of the Tennessee in my absence Of three
months; il is all 7 ask" As a matter OF
fact no sooner had Hoods 10. 900 veterans,
who for five months had baffied an enemy
twice as strong. crossed the Tennessee
River than they were reinforced by For
rests cavalry. comprising at least 10 900
men. To oppose this force Thomas had
in hand the Fourth Corps. 1900; the
Twenty-third Corps. 10000; Hatch's and
Croxton's cavalry. 8 500; or in other words.
not counting the permanent garrisons
before mentioned. an available force OF a
little over 2S,0O0 veterans to meet Hoods
$4,000. Yet in a letter to Grant on No
vember Gen. sherman said: Il have in
Tennessee force numerically greater
than Hoods, well commanded and we'll
organized, This misrepresentation Of
Gen, Shsrman's. on which Grants per-
mission TO undertake the march to the
sea was conditioned and on which was
based his belief that Gen. Thomas must
be able TO take care Of Hood and destroy
him. is in Col, stones opinion the source
of the unjust criticism to which Thomas
was subsequently, subjected by Gen.
Grant, whose anger at one time was so
infiamed that he directed that the COM
mand should be turned over to Gen.
Schofield and Gen. Thomas be made
subordinate.
The battle of Franklin, a town lying on
the railway between Decatur and Nashville
and not far south of the latter city, took
place on November 1890. 1884. Hood did
not succeed in capturing the Union force.
and at midnight of November 30 Scho-
field. who nominally had been in COM
mand. withdrew his troops and in the
Of December they were well
on their way TO Nashville. Col. Stone
says that perhaps no battlefield Of the
war can show such relative results. The
Union soldiers killed ten times as many
as their own dead numbered. and wounded
four times as many as their own wounded.
II was not until after the capture of Frank
lin by the Union forces fortnight later
that the awful losses Of the rebel army
were made known. Then it was learned
that six general officers had been killed.
I've wounded and one captured. One
thousand seven hundred and fifty Con-
'ederates we're buried on the field, $500
we're found wounded in the hospitals
and 702 were made prisoners--a total loss
II 6.252 men ia seven divisions The
Union loss was hut 2,29o. more than a
luarter Of which were captured. Co.
Stone thinks that there is little TO be said
ibout the generalship on either side OF
his fight. Hood merely sent in his men
With tremendous vigor and persistency,
without the slightest exhibition Of any
trategy or tactics. Gen. Schofield had
10 more 90 do with the battle than II he
lsd been with Gen. Thomas in Nashville.
lie saw it, or a part Of 1t, from fortress
mile and half or two miles away; and !
iter turning over his command 10 Gen. |
OK in the morning of November 80 he |
vent in considerable haste about half |
'ast 2 O'Clock in the afternoon across
he river and there remained until toward |
morning, when he Joined the retiring COL
INNS OH the way to Nashville" IL is
'ol. Stones conviction that to Col. Op-
yoke. afterward made Brlgadier and
'revet Major. General for sailsntry. more