gh, but that the least mistake on his part, or the fault of
any subordinate, might have proved fatal, and he did not want to get
into such a tight place again; that a worse position for an inferior
force than the one at Franklin could hardly be found; that he had no
doubt Forrest would be in his rear next day, or doing some worse
mischief, and that he ought to fall back to Brentwood at once. In short,
his Franklin dispatches, read by the light of Stanley's report and of
Hack's statement, clearly show that his mind was still dominated by the
fright of Spring Hill, and that he could feel no security short of
Brentwood, where he would be backed up too close to Nashville for Hood
to have room to repeat that terrible flank movement. Not even the
wrecking of Hood's army on the breastworks of Franklin that evening
could reassure Schofield. He insisted on retreating to Nashville that
night when thousands of the men were in such a condition from more than
forty hours' of incessant marching, fortifying and fighting that they
dozed on their feet while they were walking, and in spite of the manly
protest of General Cox, who was so urgent in his efforts to persuade
Schofield no more running was necessary, that he offered to pledge his
head he could hold the position.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Battle of Spring Hill, Tennessee, by
John K. Shellenberger

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