Freedom (Gone For Soldiers)
Page 34
“How many men does Hood have?”
“Twenty-seven thousand. With your division we’re about equal in strength.”
“All right. Who do I report to? You or Wilson?”
“How would you feel about reporting to me and fighting dismounted?”
“You’re in command here, John. But with Forrest’s cavalry out there, I suggest you need mounted cavalrymen more than you need foot soldiers.”
Schofield looked uncertain. “I’d better discuss it with General Wilson. I’m not sure where he is right now.”
“Some of McCook’s scouts bumped into us on the Columbia Pike and they told us where you were and that Wilson was with the rest of the cavalry, protecting the ford. Do you want me to go talk to him?”
“Damn. I told him that we were going to make a stand here instead of trying to cross. What’s he doing at the ford?”
“Let me go find him. I’ll tell him what you said and ask his opinion about the best use of my division, then I’ll report back to you.”
“The thing is that Wilson’s junior to you, Pug,” Schofield said apologetically. “And he’s got much less experience in the field.”
“I won’t say anything to bruise his pride, John. I’m not looking for glory or a promotion. I just want to win this war and then go somewhere to start a new life.”
“Good. Go talk to him then. That’ll give me some time to think too.”
Quincy stood up. “John, you might want to tell your men to use the local bodark trees for abatis. They have vicious thorns.”
“Bodark?” Schofield asked.
“That’s what we called them in Texas. They’re also called Osage-orange, hedge-apple or horse-apple. I saw a long row of them planted along the cotton field. They’re sharp-thorned and strong enough to keep cattle out.”
“Good. You’ll be going by the Carter house. Tell Cox about those trees and look over his fortifications.”
“Okay.”
~
General Schofield was seated at the head of the Truett’s dining room table, which had been moved into the front parlor. General Stanley was at the foot of the table with Generals Nathan Kimball, George Wagner, Thomas Wood, Jacob Cox, Thomas Ruger and James Reilly arrayed along both sides. The cavalry commanders, Generals James Wilson, Edward McCook, Edward Hatch, Richard Johnson, and Joseph Knipe were seated along the wall. “Where’s Pug Van Buskirk?” Schofield asked.
“He was complaining about a nonexistent salient near the cotton gin,” Cox said. “I told him it was fine and he cursed me and told me to go away.”
“That’s Pug.” Schofield sighed and turned toward Wilson. “Will you make sure he understands what we decide here, please?”
“Yes, sir,” Wilson replied. “But there is a salient in the earthworks at the cotton gin. I was with General Van Buskirk.” He looked at Cox. “It isn’t fine. Between that and the gap in the center you’re inviting a breach.”
“That gap’s for the Columbia Pike,” Cox said. “We had to leave a gap to let wagons through. We’ve built a retrenchment behind it.”
“Too far behind it and too narrow,” Wilson replied. “A battalion could march through there without breaking ranks.”
“General Cox,” Schofield said. “I want that retrenchment extended and the gap covered by artillery.”
“Yes, sir,” Cox replied grudgingly.
“General Wood,” Schofield said, “Fourth Corps and all of General Wilson’s cavalry will deploy north of the Harpeth to watch for any flanking maneuvers.”
“What if Hood doesn’t attack?” Wood asked.
“If he hasn’t attacked by 6:00 PM we’ll move the infantry across the river at the ford.”
“We’ll be exposed crossing the river,” Kimble said. “We should wait for the pontoons from General Thomas.”
“If Hood hasn’t attacked by 6:00 PM he won’t attack at all,” Schofield replied. “He doesn’t like to fight in the dark. If he does come before dark, he’ll demonstrate at our front with a small force and move his main body across the Harpeth to turn our flank.”
“What makes you think so?” Stanley asked.
“That’s what he did at Columbia,” Schofield answered. “Attacking our defensive line would be suicidal.” He looked up as Quincy Van Buskirk came in. “Did you get the salient straightened out?”
Quincy shook his head. “It’s better.”
“The cotton gin was enlarged since the original trenches were dug,” Cox said. “We had to dig a new trench in front of the new building and then connect it to the old trench that we cleaned out. It wasn’t very pretty but you could hardly call it a salient.”
“I’m not going to argue with you about it, General Cox,” Quincy said. “The way the trenches connected made it possible for the enemy to attack from three sides. That’s a salient by any definition of the word.”
“He’s right,” Schofield said, before Cox could answer. “I’ll see to it myself.” He got to his feet and the others around the table stood too. “If we’re attacked, I’ll be moving my headquarters back and forth between here and Fort Granger.”
“Fort Granger?” Quincy asked.
“Northeast of town,” Schofield said. “It’s not much of a fort, but it provides good firing positions for our batteries. I’ll be directing artillery fire from there.”
Wilson walked out with Quincy. “General Schofield says you’d be willing to put your cavalry under my command. Is that true, General?”
Quincy nodded. “You’re the Army of Ohio’s Cavalry Commander and I’m a division commander on temporary duty with the Army of Ohio.”
“But you outrank me,” Wilson said.
“If that doesn’t bother you it doesn’t bother me.” The other generals were calling for their horses and joining their staffs, so Quincy perched on the porch rail and took out a cigar. “Want one?”
“I don’t smoke,” Wilson said. “Guess who’s riding with Forrest.”
“No. Tell me.”
“General Abraham Buford.”
“John Buford’s cousin,” Quincy said through a cloud of smoke. “Why should that matter to me?”
“Didn’t you serve with Buford under McClellan?”
“No. That was my cousin Paul. I’ve been in the West for most of the war.”
“Oh. Sorry. I always seem to mix you Van Buskirks up.”
“We’re a confusing lot.” Quincy looked up at the overcast sky. “A nice day for a fight. Where are you gonna want me?”
“On the river, with Four Corps and the rest of the cavalry, watching for Hood to try to turn our flank.”
“You mean for Forrest to turn our flank. Hood will come straight at that gap in the fortifications.”
“Schofield doesn’t think so. He says Hood will feint at our front and try to turn our flank.”
Quincy shrugged. “Well, if he’s wrong and I’m right, we might make history today.”
“How’s that?”
“We might whip the devil out of Nathan Bedford Forrest.”
“We might at that. We managed to push him back at Spring Hill, and that was before we had you with us.”
Quincy nodded. “He still outnumbers us a little, but he’ll be overconfident. If he comes, we’ll whip him.”
“If he comes,” Wilson said. He looked up at the sky. “According to the almanac, sunset’s at 4:30 today.”
Quincy looked at his watch. “It’s not quite noon.” The other generals and their staffs had all moved out, so he hopped off the rail and went down the steps. “See you at the river.”
~
Hood arrived at 1:00 PM and established his headquarters about two miles south of Franklin on Winstead Hill. Contrary to the advice of his generals, he immediately ordered a frontal assault on the Union fortifications. It took until 4:00 PM for the attack to be launched. Cheatham’s corps on the left moved off smoothly, but Bate’s division in Stewart’s Corps got hung up on the right and delayed the assault.
~
“There’s nothing subtle about John Bell Hood,” Quincy said to Wilson. Both generals were mounted, with Quincy’s division spread out to his right and the rest of the cavalry to Wilson’s left.
“He’s going to wish he was.”
“No artillery support either? This is the Pickett’s Charge of the West.”
“There,” Wilson pointed at a puff of gun smoke from Winstead Hill.
“But only two batteries,” Quincy said. “He must have launched his attack before his artillery caught up. I wonder who else he’s missing.”
“His cavalry,” Wilson said.
Quincy chuckled. “We wish.”
“I don’t see them.”
“You’re not supposed to. They’re crossing the river somewhere upstream.”
Wilson turned to look at him. “Do you really think so?”
“I’d bet my next month’s pay on it – if I was getting paid,” Quincy replied.
“Go see,” Wilson said.
“That’ll be my pleasure.”
~
Hood struck the Union forward position capturing hundreds of new recruits and dragging them along toward the gap on the Columbia Pike. For fear of killing their own, the Union artillery and infantry held fire until the Rebels were in their midst. As Hood’s troops poured through the breach, fighting became hand-to-hand with everything available used as a weapon. The Union reserve brigade, commanded by Emerson Opdycke, moved forward on line from Carter house, along both sides of the pike. Soon the counterattack was joined by the 12th and 16th Kentucky Infantry and rallying survivors. Together they sealed the breach.
The Rebels had much less success on the Union left where they became stalled by the thorny abatis of downed bodark trees and were enfiladed by the batteries at Fort Granger.
On the Union right, Confederate General Bate had been delayed and didn’t make contact until well after the rest of Hood’s army. His initial engagement with Federal sharpshooters positioned at Everbrite Mansion delayed him even further so that by the time he’d moved past, Quincy had engaged Forrest’s cavalry which was screening his flank. Discovering that his reserve was heavily engaged, Bate withdrew.
Quincy had divided his cavalry in two wings, striking Forrest’s front with half his troops on horseback and sending the other half, dismounted, at Forrest’s exposed right flank. Cut off from the infantry by the river, Forrest had no choice but to retreat.
As his troops limped back, Hood began planning for the next day’s battle, but at 11:00 PM, Schofield began crossing the river at the ford with his infantry. Hood was told that Schofield was vulnerable while crossing, but he refused to authorize a night attack.
The Confederates suffered over six thousand casualties including fourteen generals, and fifty-five regimental commanders.
December 2, 1864
City Point, Virginia
Grant was pacing the length of his office and back. “I cannot understand why General Thomas made no effort to reinforce General Schofield at Franklin.”
Robert Van Buskirk sat back in his chair and crossed his legs, listening patiently to Grant’s tirade.
“He’s allowed Hood to move upon Nashville, and to invest the place without interference. Thomas is strongly fortified in his position, and had troops enough to annihilate Hood in the open field. His delay is unaccountable.” He looked at Robert. “Can you imagine that? Thomas just sitting there and permitting himself to be invested so that, in the end, to raise the siege he’ll have to fight an enemy posted behind strong fortifications? Does it make any sense to you?”
“He says that the weather’s very bad,” Robert offered. “Freezing rain isn’t an ideal condition for troop movements, let alone for launching an attack.”
“I’m just afraid that Hood will find the means of moving while Thomas is sitting there behind his fortifications. If Hood gets north of the Cumberland River we might even have to send troops from here to head him off.”
“If you’re that worried, Sam, send Thomas a wire and tell him to get off his ass.”
“When Sherman first proposed his march to the sea, I was afraid that Hood would use the opportunity to invade Tennessee,” Grant said without acknowledging Robert’s suggestion. “But Sherman dismissed me with some snide comment about letting Hood march north to Ohio and supplying him with rations. Now look what’s happened.”
“Nothing dire’s happened, Sam. Send a telegram to Thomas and tell him what you want him to do.”
“I will, by God.” Grant sat down at his desk. “I will.”
CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville Tenn.
If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will lose all the roads back to Chattanooga and possibly have to abandon the line of the Tennessee. Should he attack you it is all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he fortifies. Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster employees, citizens, etc.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.–1.30 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville, Tenn.
With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon ground of your own choosing. After the repulse of Hood at Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy where he was. At this distance, however, I may err as to the best method of dealing with the enemy. You will now suffer incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily disposed of. Put forth therefore every possible exertion to attain this end. Should you get him to retreating give him no peace.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
December 5, 1864
City Point, Virginia
CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville, Tenn.
Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to where he can cross it? It seems to me whilst you should be getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is. Time strengthens him in all possibility as much as it does you.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
December 6, 1864
City Point, Virginia
CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864–4 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville, Tenn.
Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your cavalry. There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign back to the Ohio River.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
December 8, 1864
City Point, Virginia
CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.–8.30 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville, Tenn.
Your dispatch of yesterday received. It looks to me evident the enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are scattered. Why not attack at once? By all means avoid the contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat to the Ohio. If you think necessary call on the governors of States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he should cross the river. You clearly never should cross except in rear of the enemy. Now is one of the finest opportunities ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the enemy. If destroyed he never can replace it. Use the means at your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that will resound from one end of the land to the other.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
December 11, 1864
City Point, Virginia
CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.–4 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
Nashville, Tenn.
If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find
. Let there be no further delay. Hood cannot even stand a drawn battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores. If he retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of his army. I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day announcing that you have moved. Delay no longer for weather or reinforcements.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
December 15, 1864
City Point, Virginia
“What’s wrong?” Betty Van Buskirk asked as Robert came back into the bedroom.
“Nothing.” Robert sat down on the bed to pull on his trousers. “Thomas has finally launched his attack against Hood.”
She rubbed his back affectionately. “That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then why don’t you come back to bed?”
“Because I have to send urgent wires to stop Grant and General John Logan before they get to Nashville.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Grant’s on his way to relieve Thomas of his command. Logan is Thomas’s replacement.” He pulled on his boot and stamped his foot. “I know that Grant was still in Washington last night and that Logan was in Louisville. I hope I can catch them. Thomas doesn’t need any distractions while he’s taking on the second largest force in the Confederate army.”
December 15, 1864
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville was built on a dogleg of the Cumberland River which provided a natural barrier to any threats from the north and east. The south and west sides of the city were protected by a fortified defensive entrenchment, seven miles long.