the large numbers of prisoners continually coming in, under guard, from the front, among whom were the notorious rebel leaders, Marmaduke, Cabal, and many other officers of inferior rank. The whole Union army, after these successful operations, commenced moving back to St. Louis by easy marches, and the Ninety-fifth returned with Major General A. J. Smith's command, to that place, by way of Jefferson City and Hermann, arriving there November 11th. On the following day, General Smith's troops were assigned quarters at Benton Barracks, five miles out from the city. These were not to be their winter quarters, however, for the grand military movements then progressing in Tennessee demanded the immediate presence of General Smith's command in that State.

CHAPTER VIII.

Operations of Hood in Tennessee - His Advance on NashvilleBattles at Columbia, Spring Hill, and Franklin - General Smith's Command ordered to Reënforce General Thomas at Nashville Leaves St. Louis on Transports, and proceeds to Cairo — Voyage up the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers -Safe arrival at Nashville - Detachments of the Ninety-fifth rejoin the Regiment - Account of the Georgia Detachment during General Sherman's Campaign - Active preparations made around Nashville to receive HoodHis Army in sight-The Ninety-fifth holds an important Position in the Defenses of the City - Work on the Fortifications - Thomas moves his Army out to attack Hood - Great Battles of December 15th and 16th, 1864- Hood's Army defeated and driven back in confusion - Part taken by the Ninety-fifth-The Pursuit to the Tennessee River— General Smith's Troops ascend the river and go into Winter Quarters, at Eastport, Miss. - Expedition to Corinth -The Hard-tack Famine at Eastport — Corn issued to the Troops -The Boys desire to draw Halters - Arrival of RationsPreparations for another active Campaign-Transports arrive to convey the Troops to New Orleans.

THE rebel General Hood, at the head of a large army, liberated as he supposed from General Sherman's grasp, who, leaving him to be looked after by General

Thomas, had commenced his great march to the seacoast, was now concentrating near the southern boundary of the State of Tennessee, and initiating a campaign northward, with the view of capturing Nashville, and sweeping forward successfully to the banks of the Ohio river. Major General Thomas, commanding the army and department of the Cumberland, with headquarters at Nashville, was assigned by General Sherman to watch Hood's movements and defeat his designs. He had under him the 4th and 23rd Army Corps, together with a cavalry force, and about the middle of November, 1864, these Federal troops, then occupying position on the Tennessee river, near Huntsville, Alabama, watching the approach of the rebel army of invasion, commenced withdrawing gradually before Hood's advancing columns, now superior in point of numbers, in the direction of Pulaski, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville.

Hood, emboldened by this giving way, and apparent weakness of Thomas' retreating army, followed rapidly in pursuit, and promised his soldiers that he would soon lead them victoriously into the city of Nashville. At Columbia, on the Duck river, thirty miles below Nashville, the Federal army, under the immediate control of General Schofield, made a stand and gave the enemy battle to retard his movements.

Shortly afterward, at Spring Hill, another engagement took place, in which there was heavy loss on both sides. The Union forces resumed their line of retreat on Nashville, and Hood, flushed with what seemed to him important successes, hurried forward his army, and recklessly hurled it upon the Federals, now strongly fortified at Franklin. Both armies here fought with indescribable desperation, and each suffered terrible loss. It was one of the bloodiest and greatest battles of the war. The regiments of Hood's army were frightfully mown down, as they charged and recharged the works held by our troops, who would not surrender them.

The victory at Franklin was with the troops of General Schofield, but in accordance with orders from General Thomas, who planned all the movements, the former subsequently retreated to Nashville with both the 4th and 23rd corps.

It was the desire and plan of the veteran Thomas to draw the impulsive rebel leader as far north and as near to Nashville as possible, even to its very gates, before dealing him a decisive blow. Thus he had employed the forces under General Schofield in enticing Hood a long distance from his base of supplies, in retarding, worrying, and severely punishing his advancing rebel hosts, until heavy and important reën

forcements could arrive at Nashville, whence he then intended to hurl forth his combined force upon the

rebel army.

It was to participate in these stirring scenes, and to reënforce General Thomas' army at Nashville, that the regiments under General A. J. Smith were sent forward soon after rendezvousing at Benton Barracks. They were allowed to rest there but a few days, for the men to receive pay and obtain clothing, when the order was received to prepare immediately for an active campaign in the field, which indicated that our destination would be Nashville. Every preparation was accordingly made to leave for the scene of military operations now culminating near that place. On the 23rd day of November, 1864, Colonel Moore's division of General Smith's command, embarked on transports at St. Louis, the Ninety-fifth being assigned to the steamer "Isabella." The river to Cairo was filled with floating ice, making navigation somewhat difficult and dangerous. After coaling at Cairo, the fleet ascended the Ohio river, passing Paducah, Kentucky, and arrived at Smithland, near the mouth of the Cumberland, on Sunday, the 27th of November. To this point the boats conveying the troops of Colonel J. B. Moore's division had the advance, and a halt was here made until the remainder of the fleet, containing the