The sun., 1909-02-14

II Ia Col. stones belief that had Hood
made bold assault he could easily have
overwhelmed Granger. and nothing could
then have prevented his marching at once
on Nashville and striking 1t while unde-
Tended except by it's regular garrison
The moment Sherman learned Of Hoods
presence at Decatur, Ala, on the Tennes-
see River, he ordered Gen, Stanley TO
proceed 10 Tennessee with the Fourth
Corps. Hood Withdrew from before De-
catur on October 20. and the next day the
advance divisions OF the Fourth Corps
we're started by Ray from Chattanooga.
One division reached Pulaski. Tenn.
almost half way from Decatur TO Nash
vile, on the afternoon Of November 1, 1884.
The whole corps. numbering $4,000 men.
mostly veterans, was concentrated there
on November 4. Hood meanwhile had
moved his army to Tuscumbia. Ala,
and had placed a division on the north
bank Of the Tennessee at Florence. The
only force which at the moment Thomas
could send TO oppose this movement
was Croxton's brigade of cavalry. less
than 200 strong, of whom. moreover.
only about 800 we're really effective
and trustworthy. Now that 1t was evident
that Hood might invade Tennessee Gen.
Sherman decided to send there also the
Twenty-third Corps. comprising about
10, 900 men. under command Of Gen. Soho-
field, who on October 81 was ordered to
report TO Gen. Thomas. 1t was not
however, until November Q that this
corps reached Tennessee. all the means
Of transportation being absorbed in for
warding supplies for Sherman's march
away from the enemy. Meanwhile how
ever Thomas was comforted with Sher-
mans assurance that "after the emer-
gency is passed and the enemy has done
us considerable damage reenfWcements
will pour in to you more than can be pro-
vided for or taken care Of" Fortunately
for the Union cause, Hood was not in .
condition to profit by the delay. He had
a month before urged the completion Of
the railroad from Corinth to Tuscnnbia;
on his arrival at the latter place il was
still untouched by the iron track and all
his supplies had TO be brought by wagon.
So instead Of sending an accumulation
OF stores he was able 10 live only from
day to day.
Col. Stone goes on 10 recount how just
as the advanced division Of Sohofield's
corps reached Nashville the Confederate
cavalry commander Forrest appeared
in front OF Johnsonville, Tenn the
Tennessee River at point whence a
railway ran to Nashville-exaggerated
rimors of what Forrest was doing reached
Nashville and Gen. Schofeld was sent
there with a division. 1t was too late,
however. The Union naval commander
at Johnsonville after a conflict in which
some Of his gunboats were disabled anx-
ious lest Forrest should get possession
Of them or OF the transports and 30 cross
the river set them on fire. The immense
were soon in flames and q
vast amount OF property was destroyed.
Forrest, however. who was on the west
side of the river. did not succeed in cross
ing. Schofield was recalled from John
sonville and sent down to Pulaski, where
on November IA he assumed command of
all the forces at the front. Gen. Stanley
indeed was the ranking officer. but the |
War Department decided in Schofield's
favor because he was a department COM
mander. The total force at Pulaski con- |
sisted OF four divisions OF infantry about
Ii 600 men. Moreover, Gen Edward |
Hatch. coming from Mississippi with a |
cavalry division numbering about 1000
men. brought welcome addition to |
Croxton's small cavalry force