The Mankato free press., 1923-12-21
Fight AT Nashville
BrokeSouth' S Back
BY ONE WHO WAS THERE

AFTER two days OF hard lighting
and the roar of big guns on Decem-
ber 15 and 16. 1864, the hills south
OF Nashville assumed one OF the
historic spots of the Civil war.
More gallant boys gave up their
lives on these hills and woods in two
short winter days, than were killed
in all the seven years of the Ameri-
can revolution.
Nashville was the decisive battle
of our four years war. Nashville
ended the military career of Gener-
al Hood, the most audacious fighter
Of the southern army, and immorta-
lized General George H. Thomas as
one OF the successful military STRAIT
egists of the Union army, a general
who never lost a battle. After Nash
Vile there was no formidable Con-
federate army between the Missis-
sippi river and the Atlantic ocean
except Lees army in front of Rich
mond.
Hood invaded Tennessee in NO
vember, 1864, with over 10000 SOL
diers. all veterans. After Nashville
he crossed the Tennessee river into
Mississippi with only $4,000 men.
The battle OF Nashville in Decem-
ber settled the fate of the Confeder-
acy in all that territory, west of the
Allegheny mountains, and on De-
cember 16, the day Hoods army was
defeated. Sherman completed his
historic march to the sea.
Nashville was not only the most
decisive victory Of the four years
war but II was the only great battle
that was executed without a failure
or mistake as originally planned
by the great master OF strategy,
General Thomas. =.
There was a dense fog the morn
ing of the fifteenth. as the Sixteenth
army corps, General A. ]. Smith,
moved out on the Charlotte pike and
moving to the left, beginning a
turning movement. On the next
morning the Sixteenth corps had
advanced so far that it was forced to
rest until the left could move for
ward in line and during this ad-
vance OF the troops to the left the
grandest view that has ever been
the privilege of man to witness, was
presented. That long line to the left
battling against a brave and stub
born foe. advancing little by little,
forcing him back until connection
had been made with the Sixteenth
corps. General Thomas and his
large staff was Immediately in rear
or the writers brigade, watching this
move, when the bugles sounded, the
charge, the whole line sprang into
action as one man. This charge end
ed the battle with the defeat and
practical destruction of the last
Confederate army Of consequence in
the west.
During the two days battle our
army captured 4.462 prisoners, 287
officers, about fifty cannons and
thousands of small arms.
The pursuit of Hoods army from
Nashville to the Tennessee river is
sad story. The long chase was
over roads, rendered almost impass-
abe by the winter rains, worked into
thick mud by the trains and artil-
lery or the defeated army. When
they finally reached the Tennessee
river and were hoping for a long rest
the order came for the Sixteenth ar
my corps to move to Mobile to take
and present that only remaining
stronghold to President Lincoln.
Mankato. December 15.-To The
Free Press: Fifty nine years ago to-
day. on December Is, 1864. in the
early morning four regiments OF
Minnesota volunteers. the fifth, sew
enth, ninth and tenth, stepped out
OF and over their intrenchments In
front Of Nashville, Tenn, all abreast
and in line OF battle, together with
about $4,000 other Union troops. and
attacked General Hood and his $4,000
Confederate veterans then In the
immediate front Of the Union lines.
| Not once before or afterward In
the history Of the Civil war were So
many Minnesota regiments battling
the enemy side by side.
Things had been going wrong in
Arkansas and Texas, Shilo, Muir
| freesboro, Chattanooga, and Chick
amauga had been claimed BY the Cor
federates as victories or drawn bat
Ties. Sherman's march to the sea
was as yet an unsolved problem, and
IT seemed then, what proved to be
true in fact, that upon this conflict
at Nashville hung the fate Of the
Confederacy in the west.
Ihat day from early morning un :
til late in the evening was a busy
tiresome and gruesome day. That
night there bivouaced on the ground
In the suburbs of Nashville thous
ands or men, some to arise in the
morning and again engage in battle
some to never arise again. The next
day was decisive, and when toward
nightfan General Hood concentrated
his. wornout Confederates in the
Brentwood Hills few miles out
from Nashville. and made his last
stand. and when they finally gave
way to Union assaults in utter panic
as was then sadly said by a good
old Confederate officer attached tc
General Hoods staff and engaged in
that battle: afterward, dear friend
OF mine. 'This is the last of the
Confederacy." A few years ago he
told me what he thought and said
when he saw that manic.
There were of killed and wounded
IN both armies in those two days T.
407 men.-Lorin Cray.