The Washington herald., 1915-01-03
HOODS ARMY DECIMATED
BY FEDERALS.
December 2S.

defeated at Nashville December 15-16) by
Gen. James H. Wilson's Federal cavalry
ended at the Tennessee River, which the
Contederates had crossed the day before.
The fight Of the Confederate army
from the field Of Nashville had been al
most unparalleled for disorder in the
history Of the war. It transcribed the
shorter rush Of Federal troops toward
the safety of the Washington defenses
after the first battle of Bull Run in 1861.
All sernbIance Of military organization
was lost for a few days. Each man
struck out for himself, throwing away
his gun, and whatever else might tend
10 hinder his progress. Luckily for the
Southern troops the roads were in such
condition and the Federal army was so
worn by heavy fighting that the pursuit
by the infantry was effective only in the
day or two following the battle.
However. the well organized Federal
cavalry Of Gen. Thomas victorious
army, numbering close on to 1000 men,
hung upon the Confederate rear in the
interval between the close Of the en-
gaEement Of December Is and the cross
ing of the Tennessee River on December
Il. Breaking down almost every attempt
to check the pursuit, Gen. Wilson'S
troopers succeeded in capturing several
thousand prisoners and a large quantity
Of munitions OF war
Defeat Confederate RearEuard.
Having driven back the Confederate
cavalry under Gen. James r. Chalmers
which had sought to impose itself be-
tween the retreating infantry and the
Federal pursuers on the night Of De-
cember 16 Wilson had halted for a few
hours rest. At dawn his command took
the road and after a sharp engagement
crossed the Harpeth River and drove
the Confederates through the town OF
Franklin, seventeen miles south of Nash
willie.
Previously Gen. Johnson's cavalry di-
vision had been sent TO cross the Har-
peth lower down in an effort to block
the Confederates' line of retreat Meet
ing unforeseen obstacles, he was delayed
and did not reach Franklin until the
enemy had swept beyond it
Gen. Wilson had now with him COM
pact mass of cavalrymen. This force
confidently pushed along the pike to-
ward Columbia and late in the even
ing Of the 18th, when six miles south
OF Franklin, overlook the Confederate
rear guard posted in a strong position
across the pike This was composed Of
infantry and dismounted cavalry, the
last being part Of Gen. n. B. Forests
command. which had been away from
Nashville at the time OF the battle and
which had come up from the south
fresh and confident to meet the Fed
erals battery of two guns was placed
to sweep the turnpike.
Covered by the fire of the battery, Will
son ordered his men to charge. the d.
visions of Hatch and Enipe to attack
the tanks while the Fourth Regular
Cavalry, 800 strong, under Lieut.. Joseph
Hedges, was TO assail the front.
With drawn sabers these troops
charged the enemy. breaking through
their lines and driving them of into the
gathering darkness.
Cross Tennessee at BainbridEe.
The following day the weather changed.
II came on cold with heavy rain, which
changed to sIeet and snow. The streams
rose rapidly. overlooking their banks,
and impeding the pursuit more success
fully than had the Confederate rear
guard.
At Rutherfords Creek, north Of Column
bIa, there was a long delay, and again
at Duck River, where all bridges were
down.
At Franklin a Confederate hospital
containing about 500 of Hoods wounded
and some 300 wounded Federals had been
captured by Wilson At Pulaski, thirty
three miles south OF Columbia, on the
Duck River, a second hospital containing
200 men was taken.
The retreat OF Hoods army was so
rapid that the Federals were unable to
catch up with the main body. The bulk
Of the fleeing troops reached the Ten
nessee River near Florence, Ala, on De-
cember 26. A few miles upstream, Oppo-
site cambridge, a Federal pontoon
bridge which had been cast adrift from
Decatur. about forty miles up the river.
shortly after Hood moved north in De-
cember. and which the Federal gunboats
had failed TO take in tow, was fortu-
nately secured by the Confederates.
This was thrown across the river and
large part Of Hoods army crossed in
{, the afternoon and night OF December 26.
BY carly evening of the following day
the remaining troops. with the few
pieces of artillery and scant wagon trains
that had been saved in the precipitous
retreat were on the south bank. Active
pursuit OF the Confederates practically
ceased when Wilson's cavalry reached
the north bank OF the river fifty years
ago today.
Hoods Losses at Nashville.
The Confederate losses in the two DAYS
battle at Nashville and in the subse-
quent retreat are difficult to determine
Gen. Hood had started north with ap-
proximately 5000 men. His shattered
army reached Tupclo, Miss. on January
10 numbering not more than 24.O0O. Thus
in the campaign. he had lost 2l.OOO men
Hoods loss in the battle Of Franklin,
November 90 had been about 1900 killed.
wounded and captured. It appears that
the remaining 1900 OF his total loss Of
q 900 I'm the campaign was sustained
at Nashville and subsequently. Gen.
Thomas reports account for 12,D76 pris-
oners and deserters Cmany Of them
wounded taken from Hoods army in
November and December. Hence Hoods
dead AZ Nashville probably numbered
close to 1900.
The total Federal losses were 3s7 killed.
25s2 wounded and III captured, total
OF 3,O6l
The Confederstes taken prisoners in
cluded Maj. Gen. Edward johnson and
Brig Gems. Thomas B. Smith, Henry R
jackson, and Edmund w. Rucker. Be-
sides a large number Of battle flags and
seyenty-two pieces OF artillery the Fed
erals captured q great quantity of small
arms and ammunition.
Gen. Hoods command was practically
to cease existence as an army In later
months its remnants weer to be further
weakened by wholesale desertions and
distribution TO other parts OF the Con-
federacy.