Evening journal., 1910-12-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the "ROCk Of
ChiCkamauGa"
BY "HolIAnd.n
BY Holland"

Forty-six years ago to-day. after a
battle lasting two days, Major General
George III. Thomas, who. i'm Septem-
Der Of the previous year, had justly
gained the title of "rhe Rock OF
/ lChickamauga," crushed the Confed-
crate army commanded by General
John B. Hood so that il was not heard
OF Rgain in the Civil War. And it was
this great victory, which history
knows as the Battle of.Nashville, that
led to the immediate appointment of
Thomas as a majOr-general IN the
regular army and led Congress to give
him vote Of thanks.
General Thomass right hand man
in this conflict was Major General
Andrew J. Smith, one OF the most
gallant and able generals in the war,
the man who saved Bankss army Oh
the Red river, who was a terror TO
Price, Van Dorm, and other Confed-
crate chieftains, and who, at the bat
tie of Nashville, displayed such great
gallantry and merit that he was
brevetted major general in the regu-
! lar branch OF the army
Rosigning from the regular army in
1869. General Smith became post
master OF st. Louis, and while he was
a resident of that city he and James
/ ~ Brown, also a St. Louisan and q
surviving veteran of the war. many
times talked over their fighting DAYS.
II was on one of these occasions that
General Smith told his companion OF
his meeting with General Thomas
just before the battle which an
nihilated Hoods army.
81 was ordered 10 take my COM
mand, whicn was the Sixteenth Army
Corps, and go by boat from st. Louis
to reinforce Thomas" said General
Smith. when we got TO Horpeth
Snoal, in the Cumberland river some
lOrty miles from Nashville, We could
not get over on account OF low water,
SO ! landed my men and maj ched
tnem overland.
Going in advance, I reached Nash
vile day in advance Of my army.
had not met Thomas since we had
lett West Point and mad 10 introduce
myself to him. He grasped my hand
aud gave me a hearty, warm greeting
and at the same time asked whe. 0
my command was, which / said would
be up the next day.
with mucn concern I'm his voice be
replied: i wish they we're here now
Il inquired: Why the III gency?
They are giving me HI down in
Washington
"'What is the matterg / asked.
Stanton and Halleck have been
telegraphing me every day TO attack
Hood and drive him away, but I have
not been ready, and because believe
my force now here insufficient, l have
not complied with their orders, for
believe they do not understand the
situation. But, here is an order from
Grant to attack AT ONCE
Il asked Thomas what the situation
was and he explained his position and
forces by taking me up to Fort Neg
ley. where we could see tho lines of
both armies. After a careful examina-
tion OF the works and comparing his
army with Hoods, l turned to him
and said: Thomas, you are right and
Grant is wrong, and II Grant were
here he would say so.
Immediately, Thomas reached over
and grasped my hand, and the vigor
of his action convinced me that he
fully meant what he said as he an
swered: Nov, Smith, that I have
your approval we will take our time.
and when We go after Hood we will
be sure 10 succeed
And this is just what they did.
Copyright, 1910, by +. ]. Edwards.
All rights reserved.)