Report of the Proceedings of the Reunions of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee Volume 1-5 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 Excerpt: ...and perspicuous manner so characteristic of the man, unfolded his plans and told me his wishes, turned over to my command the entire mounted force belonging to the armies of the Cumberland, the Tennessee and the Ohio, gave me unlimited control of this splendid corps, and generously added, "Do the best you can with it, and if you make any reputation out of it, I will not undertake to divide it with you." At that time the bulk of this force was dismounted, and parts of it were scattered from Southwestern Missouri to West Virginia. McCook, Long and Kilpatrick commanded the three divisions from the Army of the Cumberland; Upton and Hatch the two from the Army of the Tennessee; R. W. Johnson that from the Armv of the Ohio, and Knipe, the last, made up principally of new troops from Tennessee and Indiana. Kilpatrick, with 5,000 men and most of the horses, went down to the sea with Sherman, while the rest of the force remained with Thomas to aid in the work of crushing Hood. The official reports have told how Hatch and Croxton kept watch and ward along the Tennessee for the six anxious weeks previous to Hood's passage of the river in his Northward march, how they were reinforced by Capron and Hammond, and struggled to impede the hostile advance, and how at last Hood and Forrest received their first defeat at Franklin. You all know how the country was held in suspense least the rebels should press Northward and flank us out at Nashville, while our imperturbable commander, secure in his position of strength, was gathering his force for a final and crushing blow. A cavalry officer himself, he knew that cavalry without horses were like sabers without hilts, powerless for offense and dangerous onlv to him who holds it. He, therefore, chose to wait while we ga...