Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05

UNION CAVALRY S
Pulaski to Nashville, Tenn, the Union {
ed above below the town. Orders
were given to withdraw to the north side
on the night Of the 26th. but heavy
storm prevented. The next night the
was burned, and the pont0on boats were
scuttled. This was an all-night Job. the
last Or the pickets crossing at 5 IN the
morning. 1t was now the flfth day sipce
little army had been exposed day and
night to all sorts OF weather except sun
shine, and had been almost continually
on the move.
From deserters It was learned that
Hoods infantry numbered 10000. and his
cavalry. under Forrest, 10000 or 1000
But the Union army was slowly increas-
ing by concentration ana the arrival Of
recruits. It now numbered at Columbia
about 5000 infantry and some 5000 cav
airy. Gen. James III. Wilson. who had
been ordered by Gen. Grant to report to
Gen. Sherman-and Of whom Gen. Grant
wrote: 81 believe he will add 80 per cent
to the effectiveness Of your cavalry'-had
taken command personally OF all Gen.
Thomas cavalry. which was trying to
hold the fords east and west OF Column
bia.
In >spite Of every opposition. Forrest
succeeded in placing one Of his divisions
on the north side Of Duck river before
noon Of the 18th, and forced back the
Union cavalry on roads leading toward
Spring Hill and Franklin. respectively
nine and twenty miles northeast Of CO.
lumbia. At 1 o'clock on the morning Of
November % Gen. Wilson became con-
WINGED that the enemy's infantry would
begin crossing Duck river at dsylsht.
to Franklin. Gen. Hood In person &C
companied the advance.
When Gen. Schoheld was informed that
the Confederate infantry were crossing,
he ordered Gen. Stanley to march with
two divisions, Wagner's and KimbalPs.
to Spring Hill, taking the wagon trains
and all the reserve artillery. In less
than half an hour after receiving the
reaching the point where Rutherford
creek crosses the Franklin pike Kim
balls division was halted and faced to
the east to cover the crossing against
this position Kimbail remained ali day.
Stanley, with the other division, pushed
on to Spring Hill.
just before noon. as the head Of Stan
ley's column was approaching that
place, he met "a cavalry soldier who
seemed to be badly scared" who report
ed that Buford's division Of FORESTS
cavalry was approaching from the east.
The troops were at once double-quicked
into the town, and the leading brigade.
deploying as 1t advanced, drove OF the
enemy just as they were expecting, un-
molested, to occupy the place. AS the
other brigades came up, they also were
deployed. forming nearly q semi-circle-
Opdycke's brigade stretching In q thin
line from the railroad station north Of
the village to point some distance east,
and Lanes from Opdycke's right to the
pike below. Bradley was sent to the
front to occupy a knoll some three
fourths OF mile east, commanding all
Most Of the artillery was placed on a
rise south of the town The trains were
parked within the semi-circle.
From Spring HIN roads radiate to all
not only shut out the Union army from
the road to Nashville, but it would eff
fectually bar the way in every direc-
ton. Stanley's arrival was not q mo-
ment too soon for the safety of the
army.
Hardly had the three brigades. num-
bering. all told. less than 1900 men.
reached the positions assigned to them,
WHeu 0tAoiey WAS dSsaileQ by force
which the men declared fought too well
to be dismounted cavalry. At the same
time, at Thompsons Station, three miles
north. an attack was made on a small
wagon train heading for Franklin. and
dash was made by q detachment Of the
Confederate cavalry on the Spring Hin
station. northwest OF the town It seemed
as II the little band. attacked from ali
points. was threatened with destruction.
Bradley's brigade was twice assaulted.
but held Its own. though with consider
able loss. and only single regiment
third assault was more successful. and
he was driven back to the edge OF the
village, Bradley himself receiving a dis
abling wound in rallying his men. While
attempting to follow up this temporary
advantage the enemy; In crossing wide
cal case shot from eight guns posted on
the knoll. and soon scattered In c0nsid.
cradle confusion.
Except this one small division deploy.
ed In . long thin line to cover the
wagons, there were no Union troops
within striking distance. Thus night
closed down upon the solitary division.
on whose holiness OF action devolved the
safety of the whole force which sher-
man had spared from his march to the
sea TO breast the tide of Hoods inva-
sion. When night came the danger in
creased rather than diminished. "A single
Confederate brigade planted squarely
across the pike either south or north Of
Spring Hill would have e6ectualIy pre-
vented Schodeld's retreat and daylight