The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
THOMAS DEFEATS HOOD
NEAR NASHVILLE.
December Is.

Gen. John B. Hood. which had invaded
Middle Tennessee and established itself
in a strong position in the hills outside
of Nashville. the State capital.
This was the first OF two days fight
ing; on the morrow the final crushing
blows were delivered and Hoods army
was to be almost wiped out Of exist
ence-
Nashville was one of the most timely
Federal victories. 1t came when Sher-
mans great army was on its march
from Atlanta to the sea. and when wild
in the North; when Grants mighty
host confronting Lee at Petersburg
seemed checked. when the Federal
campaign seemed at a halt.
1t proved that the trust imposed on
Thomas, who more than a year before
had won the title, Rock Of Chica-
mauga," had not been a mistaken one.
By the victory at Nashville he vindi-
Gated his military judgment. in spite
OF the fact that his ability to meet the
situation in Tennessee had been doubt
ed by Gen. Grant, who had issued or
ders, conditional on Thomas not having
moved. appointing Gen. John A. Logan
TO supersede him. The battle halted
Grant at Washington and Logan at
Louisville. Ky.
Delay Aids Thomas.
The COnfederates had taken positions
at Nashville on December and g.
Hoods army numbered, at a low esti-
mate, 10000, including cavalry Gen
Hood expected re-enforcements from
the west OF the Mississippi, and be-
lieved that when Thomas should come
out from behind his defenses to attack
he would be able to beat him, with the
aid of the new troops, and follow him
into Nashville. So he posted his three
nrFNa in ,F l.
and waited.
On December 3 Thomas had about
$4,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. Ten
thousand of the former were civilian
employees of the quartermaster's de-
partment who had been hastily armed
and $500 OF the latter were without
mounts.
Gen. Thomas refrained from attack
ing the Confederates until his cavalry,
under Gen. James II. Wilson, a former
division commander under Sheridan
and before that one of Grants stan,
was recruited and remounted Then
fierce sleet storm had caused another
postponement.
Gen. Thomas delay, while weakening
the spirit of Hoods poorly fed and
half-clad army. strengthened his own
both in morale and numbers. BY stu
pendous labors recruits were brought
forward, supplies were replenished
ana the cavalry secured mounts and
re-enforcements as well
On December II Thomas army num-
bered approximately 47.O0O infantry
and 10000 cavalry. OF which 5000 were
mounted. On that day the ice melted
and Thomas announced to his COM
manders his plans for the attack the
next morning. Hoods expected re-en-
forcements had not yet come.
Hoods FIanks Eposed.
Hoods entrenched line. with 4. P.
Stewards Corps at the left, r. F.
Cheatham's on the right. and S D. |
Lees at the center. extending from the |
HillsborC Pike on the west to the Chat !
tanooga Railroad on the cast. each
flank resting on hills. and the whole |
facing north along the crest OF a con-
siderable ridge. In the rear Of his lines
were the higher elevations of the |
Brentwood Hills.
This line. more than five miles long
and from one to two miles in front Of |
Thomas defenses. did not extend to the |
river on either flank. The cavalry |
were trusted to cover the tanks. and |
Hood had erected several detached |
works as an extra precaution on his |
left 1t was planned to join these by |
defensive line. but it had not been |
done when Thomas moved to attack.
The Federal army comprised a pro-
n J B. L.
man, the Twenty-third Corps under |
Gen. John n. SchofieId, Fourth Corps |
under Gen. Thomas J. Wood Cits old |
commander. Gen. Stanley had been
wounded). Sixteenth Corps under Gen. |
Andrew J. Smith. and Wilson's Cavalry |
Corps.
'PrOves Manhood of the Negro"
Gen. Thomas written plan of battle
issued to his commanders on December
II was closely adhered TO during the
day. 1t provided for series of heavy
strokes against Hoods left nank by
nearly the whole Federal army, with
occasional attacks on Hoods right by
Gen. Steedman to conceal the import
ance of the main attack
wilson's cavalry was TO move in
mass on the extreme right OF the Fed
eral attacking line. This feature OF
the plan was unique in American war
rare. in that the cavalry was handled
as a fighting unit in a battle instead
OF as a mere protection for the tanks.
The morning of December Is found
the country veiled in 4 heavy fog that
made the movement of troops exceed
tngly slow, but by o'clock, when IL
began to clear. Thomas army was
coming into position outside its de-
lenses. Part of Steedman's men and
the Quartermaster's recruits had been
left to guard the inner line of works.
Gen. Steedman being ready, Thomas
ordered him to move forward in the
opening demonstration of the battle.
A bout $50 the negro brigade of Col.
J. Morgan and the white bri-
gade of Lieut.. Col. c. H. Grosvenor as
saulted a strong position on Gen.
Hoods right flank. A part of the
works were carried by the negro regi-
ments, but, finding the Confederates
to drive them out. Steedman
ordered the place evacuated
By the time this attack had ended
the firing was heavy along the rest of
the Federal line. which was moving
steadily forward to strike Gen. Hoods
left 1ank. At IL o'clock Hoods atten-
ton was again attracted to the right
of his line by heavy assault by the
two brigades of Steedman's troops
which had opened the battle. They
carried a commanding earthwork on
the Chattanooga Railroad. and a few
later Steedmans third bril-
gade. also of negro troops. under
Charles r. Thompson. attacked and
carried the left of the front line of
works of the Confederates on the
pike.
Deeming these attacks more serious
than they really were, Hood called
for re-enforcements from his left,
which was thus materially weakened.
When Thomas rode over this part of
the field the next day and saw the
bodies of the negroes lying side by side
with those of the white troops. he
said. This proves the manhood of the
negro"
Capture ROOd's First Line.