按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； in command of the Department of the Pacific。 He had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant…Colonel in the adjutant…general's department； May 11； 1861。 His appointment as brigadier…general in the volunteer force was made May 17； 1861。 General Buell was a graduate of West Point； and had been in the army all his life。 He was a thoroughly trained soldier； with great pride in his profession； a man of great integrity； with abilities of the first order； animated by high principle。 His long training in the adjutant…general's department； added to his natural faculty； made him a first…class organizer of an army。 Under his direction the soldiers of the Army of the Ohio received their training in the drill of the camp； the discipline of the march； and learned endurance under fire in the skirmishes and engagements during his command。 For all the soldierly qualities that the troops of the later organizationthe Army of the Cumberlandpossessed； they were indebted in large measure to their first commander in the field； General Buell。 He was constant in his endeavors for the care of the troops； and insisted on their camps being carefully selected and well drained。 His highest aim was to make good soldiers of his command； and everything that detracted from this； as straggling； pillaging； disobedience of orders； he regarded as unworthy of a soldier； and meriting prompt and stern punishment at his hands。 In the earlier days of the war； with the lack of the knowledge that the stricter obedience to orders the better for the soldier； General Buell seemed at times harsh and severe。 But as time brought hard campaigns and heavy fighting to the Army of the Cumberland； the older soldiers who were under Buell saw that he was actuated solely for their good and the good of the service in all he did。
The organization of the troops into brigades and divisions first engaged Buell's attention on assuming command。 On December 2d； an order was issued creating this organization and designating it the 〃Army of the Ohio；〃 consisting of six divisions。 The brigades were numbered consecutively throughout the army； and not as they were formed in the divisions。 General G。 H。 Thomas was assigned to the command of the First Division； consisting of four brigades。 The entire force of the First Division was at Nashville on March 4th。
The Second Division was organized at Camp Nevin； a camp established by General Rousseau； when left by Sherman in command after the latter assumed the command of the department。 General Alexander McD。 McCook； who had relieved Rousseau October 14； by order of Sherman； was assigned to the command of this division； which consisted also of four brigades。
The Third Division was placed under the command of General O。 M。 Mitchel； who had been in Cincinnati in command at the 〃Military Department of Ohio；〃 and who was relieved November 19th； after two months' service there； superintending the forwarding of troops to the armies in the field。 This division consisted of three brigades。
General William Nelson； on reporting at Louisville after his Eastern Kentucky campaign； was placed in command of the Fourth Division； consisting of three brigades。
The Fifth Division； consisting of three brigades； was placed under the command of General Thomas L。 Crittenden； a son of John J。 Crittenden。
In January； 1862； General Buell organized the Sixth Division； and relieving General T。 J。 Wood from the command of the Fifth Brigade； assigned him as commander of this division； which consisted of three brigades。
To each brigade was attached a battery of artillery。
In this organization of the 〃Army of the Ohio；〃 as the new regiments from the North reported； additional brigades and divisions were formed from time to time。 Thus organized； the army under Buell； in the early spring entered upon its first campaign。 There had been some slight skirmishing during the winter with portions of the command。 A detachment of the Thirty…ninth Indiana； under Lieutenant…Colonel Jones； met a body of the rebel cavalry a few miles beyond Camp Nevin； and routed it with slight loss to the enemy。
On December 10th； General R。 W。 Johnson moved onward his brigade； and occupied Mumfordsville； sending a detachment of the Thirty…second Indiana to Green River； where a temporary bridge was constructed。 On the 17th； four companies of this regiment； under Lieutenant…Colonel Von Trebra； crossed and took position at Rowlett's Station。 General A。 S。 Johnston had sent Hindman with his brigade from Bowling Green； with instructions to destroy the railroad as far north as Green River。 On the same day that the Thirty…second Indiana crossed the river； Hindman reached Woodsonville。 On the approach of Hindman； Von Trebra threw out two companies as skirmishers。 The enemy fell back with the purpose of decoying the Federals to the point where his main command of infantry and artillery was posted。 The cavalrya squadron of the 〃Texas Rangers〃 under Colonel Terrymade a spirited attack。 The skirmishers rallied by fours to receive this charge。 After repeated charges from the cavalry； which were resisted by the Thirty…secondin one of which Colonel Terry was killedColonel Willich re…enforced Von Trebra with four additional companies。 After maintaining their position under fire for an hour and a half； the Indiana troops repulsed the enemy in every charge； and Hindman's force then withdrew。 Colonel Willich had in the engagement only the eight companies of his command； with Cotter's battery。 The enemy attacked with a force of 1；100 infantry； 250 cavalry； and 4 pieces of artillery。 The Thirty…second Indiana lost 8 men killed and ten wounded。 After the fall of Bowling Green； the Second Division reached Nashville on March 3d。
The Third Division in February was ordered to make a demonstration； moving by forced marches against the enemy's position at Bowling Green； to prevent troops being sent from there to reinforce Fort Donelson。 The rebels had commenced their retreat from this place to Nashville prior to the arrival of Mitchel's command； but the shells thrown by his artillery on the 14th into the city hastened the movements of the rear guard of Johnston's army。 Before their retreat； the enemy burned both bridges over Barren River； and set fire to a large quantity of military stores； railroad cars； and other property。 Turchin's brigade； capturing a small ferryboat； crossed over the river； swollen above the high…water mark by the heavy rains； entered the city at five o'clock the next morning； and succeeded in extinguishing the fire and saving a portion of the railroad cars。 During the succeeding week Mitchel crossed the greater part of his command over the river； and without his wagons； reached Edgefield opposite Nashville on the evening of the 14th； at the same time that General Buell arrived by rail； the latter using some of the cars captured at Bowling Green。 At Edgefield Mitchel found both of the bridges into Nashville destroyed； and his crossing was effected on the steamers that brought Nelson's division to that place。
The Fourth Division was ordered in February to reinforce the Federal troops at Fort Donelson。 Nelson； with two brigades； moved from Camp Wickliffe to the Ohio River on February 13th； and there took steamer for the Cumberland River。 On his arrival at Fort Donelson； he found it in possession of the Federal troops； and he then proceeded by the boats with his command to Nashville； arriving there on the 25th。 Nelson's Third Brigade reported a few days later； having marched direct from Bowling Green。
General Thomas L。 Crittenden's command； organizing at Owensboro； had a skirmish with a force of 500 rebels at Woodland。 Colonel Burbridge was sent with some three hundred troops of his own command and a small force from Colonel McHenry's regiment。 Attacking the enemy； they routed him； inflicting a loss of some fifty killed； wounded； and prisoners。 On the 24th； the rebel General Breckenridge made a demonstration with 4；000 men at Rochester； occupying Greenville with his cavalry； Crittenden made such disposition of his troops that the enemy； without risking an attack； returned to Bowling Green。 Early in February General Buell ordered Crittenden to send Colonel Cruft with his brigade to report to General Grant。 Cruft； however； reached Fort Henry after the surrender； but his brigade was incorporated into Grant's army； and rendered effective service in the reduction of Fort Donelson。 Later； the brigade was transferred to General Halleck。 Crittenden； soon after this； proceeded by boat with the balance of his division； and reported at Nashville； arriving there at the same time as Nelson's division。
The Sixth division； after aiding in the repair of the railroad； arrived at Nashville March 6； 1862。
General A。 S。 Johnston； at no time prior to his retreat had sufficient force to meet or to resist the advance of the Federal forces。 His long line； extending from Columbus to Knoxville； invited attack； and wherever the attack was made his troops were not able to successfully resist it。 Concentrating his command at Bowling Green； after Mill Springs and the fall of Fort Henry； he found that； to save Nashville； it was necessary to make a determined stand at Fort Donelso