CHAPTER XXVI.

The Pursuit of Hood- The Pontoon Train Missent A Halt at Frank lin - Condition of Affairs in the Village-A Stern Chase - Delays at Rutherford's Creek and Duck River -- Last Volley at the Enemy - Floundering in the Mud - How Christmas passed - Waiting for Rations Forward Again - The Enemy Escapes Across the Tennessee - Results Achieved in the Campaign -- General Thomas' Congratulatory Order.

SATURDAY, December 17, the troops were early on the road and pursuing the flying enemy. All were in the best of spirits, notwithstanding that the rain continued. Wounded men were found in several houses about Brentwood, and numerous stragglers were picked up, most of them in a pitiable condition for want of shoes and clothing, and all professing to believe their cause now hopeless. Doubtless their punishment at Franklin, and their utter defeat at Nashville, made the outlook gloomy, and dreading the long march back to the Tennessee River and the possibility of other battles, these stragglers concluded to leave the service. The road was strewn with camp equipage for many miles. The cavalry in advance soon overtook the enemy's rear guard, and had a lively fight, capturing about four hundred prisoners and three stands of colors at Hollow Tree Gap. At Franklin there was another skirmish, but the enemy was soon in retreat. The NINETY-SIXTH reached the north bank of the Harpeth River shortly after noon. The cavalry was able to ford the stream and press on toward Spring Hill, but the water was too deep and cold for the infantry, and they were ordered to bivouac. By a mistaken order the pontoon train took the Murfreesboro pike, and had to be recalled, so that nearly a day was lost in the pursuit. The troops that crossed the river found a terrible condition of things in Franklin. All of the public buildings and many private residences had been turned into hospitals, and two or three thousand wounded were to be cared

for, although the resources at command were of the most limited character. The Federal wounded from the Franklin fight were quite numerous, but all were given such attention as was possible, regardless of the color of their uniforms, and many were removed to Nashville within a few days.

Sunday, December 18, a bridge having been laid during the night, the infantry again set out for the front. The approaches to the bridge were terribly muddy, and as a consequence the column was badly strung out. The NINETYSIXTH was near the rear of the Division, and as soon as the bridge was crossed was obliged to make an exceedingly rapid march. The roads were soaked with rain, and the pike, cut through by the trains and troops that had passed over it, was in a terrible condition. Through the town, although marching almost at a double quick, the soldiers noted many marks of the recent battle. On the plain just outside the village the graves covered several acres, and the unburied carcasses of the horses killed in the engagement were very numerous, many of them lying close to the breast works.

With occasional brief halts for rest, the column made its way southward over the familiar ground, many giving out because of the bad roads and the rapidity of the march. The recruits suffered most, but all were greatly fatigued, when a halt was made for the night in a muddy cornfield, about three miles south of Spring Hill. The Sixteenth and Twenty-third Corps followed, but were kept a day's march or more in the rear. During the night the camp was fairly inundated by the terrible storm.

Monday, December 19, the troops again moved out in the rain and mud, but only made about two miles, halting near Rutherford's Creek, where that day and a part of Tuesday were occupied in constructing a bridge; the troops succeeding in crossing Tuesday afternoon, marching to Duck River and camping behind their old works. The rains, which had been almost incessant, now gave way to a snow storm, followed by extreme cold weather. Much delay was experienced in bridging Duck River, and it was not until late in the evening of Thursday, December 22, that the Regiment reached the

south bank of the stream, and, after a march of two miles, went into camp a short distance south of Columbia.

Friday, December 23, Gen. Whittaker took leave of the Brigade and started northward on a leave of absence, Col. Moore, of the 115th Illinois, succeeding to the command. During the stay at Nashville, a fund was raised among the officers and men of the Regiment, amounting to one hundred and ten dollars, and an elegant gold-headed cane was purchased for presentation to Gen. Whittaker. There was a delay in having the proper inscription made, and the formal presentation did not occur until Christmas Day, when Colonel Smith met the General in a hotel at Nashville, and after a brief address handed him the testimonial,- as complete a surprise, perhaps, as the General ever experienced.

From Duck River south the chase was as vigorously pushed as the weather and roads would permit. The cavalry were compelled to take the pike, so deep was the mud upon the dirt road and in the fields. They pressed forward as rapidly as possible, but Gen. Hood had organized a strong rear guard of his best forces, and could readily delay the advance, for any movement in the fields was exceedingly difficult. The infantry did not break camp until noon, and within a few miles came in range of the enemy's artillery. The Rebels had halted, and were stubbornly resisting the advance, when the NINETY-SIXTH and the 115th Illinois were deployed, and pushed gallantly forward in line-of-battle. The enemy stood their ground for a time, and the firing became spirited on either side. The men of the Regiment never faltered for an instant, but swept across the open field and up the ridge, killing a Rebel captain and capturing five prisoners, when the opposing line gave way and fled precipitately through the woods in their rear. Here were fired the last shots at the enemy by the Regiment as an organization. The pursuit was continued until dark, the Regiment being kept in line until a guard detail could be organized, when it was relieved and went into bivouac for the night. Next day the march was resumed at noon, and was without incident.

Lynnville was passed and a halt made two or three miles south of the diminutive village, after dark.

Sunday, December 25, the Regiment left camp at eight o'clock. The enemy was pressed back rapidly through Pulaski. Here the Corps left the pike and marched southwesterly over terrible roads. By a quick movement on the part of the advance, the bridge over Richland Creek was secured and the troops thus saved from a long delay. The cavalry made a vigorous fight, and were once driven back with the loss of one piece of artillery, but quickly rallied and succeeded in capturing a few wagons and a considerable number of prisoners. The afternoon was rainy, and the roads were bottomless. Five or six miles southwest of Pulaski a halt was made, about nine o'clock at night, the Regiment going into camp on a hill-side, where the ground was so sloping and the stones so numerous that it was almost impossible to sleep. The Christmas had been strangely passed. Instead of the holiday feast there had been a positive shortage of food. The rations issued three days before were meagre at best, and active campaigning, then, as always, made the men extremely hungry. A few had absolutely nothing left, and were dependent upon the generosity of their comrades, who had been so prudent as to save a hard tack or two. The country had been stripped of every article of food for miles on either side of the road, and it being impossible for the army to proceed, the pursuit was practically abandoned at this point, although the cavalry followed the enemy to the Tennessee River.

Monday, December 26, the infantry lay idly in camp, awaiting the arrival of the supply train. A cornfield, which had been carefully harvested, was visited by hundreds of soldiers, and every nubbin secured. An ear of respectable size was regarded as a valuable prize, even though it might have been trodden in the ground, or besmeared with mud, for it could be washed and made "clean enough for a soldier." This corn was parched in the universal frying-pan or skillet, and served to partially appease the hunger which had taken possession of every man. The wagons did not arrive until.

after dark, and the early hours of the night were occupied in issuing, dividing and consuming rations. The recruits had looked pretty doleful during the day, but cheered up as the coffee-pots began to boil and the pork to sputter over the ruddy camp fires, their happiness being increased by the arrival of a large mail.

Tuesday, December 27, the march was resumed at daylight, over the terrible roads, and in a pitiless rainstorm. The country was broken and timbered. At three o'clock P. M. the columns halted and went into camp, a mile south of Sugar Creek.

Wednesday, December 28, the command left camp at ten o'clock and halted at five, in the neighborhood of Lexington, where it was ascertained that the Rebels had succeeded in crossing the river. The Corps remained at Lexington until Saturday, December 31, when it marched nearly to Elk river, a distance of fourteen miles. This long delay-from Wednesday until Saturday was necessary in order that rations might be brought up, the deeper streams made passable by the construction of bridges, and plans for the future partially perfected. The country was scoured for forage and considerable amounts secured.

The twenty-seventh saw the last organized force of the army under Gen. Hood cross the Tennessee river in discomfiture. With pleasant weather and better roads it is probable that the Federal Army would have captured or dispersed the greater part of them, but considering the conditions the pursuit had been as vigorous and as fruitful in results as could have been reasonably expected.* Exclusive of stragglers who voluntarily left the command, Gen. Hood's Army had lost, in their final invasion of Tennessee, more than thirteen thousand men by capture alone, including seven general officers, sixteen

*Major Sanders, of the Confederate Army, writing of this campaign in the Southern Bivouac, of September, 1885, said: "General Wood, commanding the Fourth Corps, pursued the rear-guard with idomitable resolution and untiring energy. He was incited to make his wonderful infantry march to Pulaski by the indications of demoralization, distress, and the hopeless condition of the retreating army that abounded all along the line of Hood's retreat. * * ** His troops responded to the demands made on their endurance, and achieved for themselves a reputation that will live forever in the military annals of their country."