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critics。 These admirers held him blameless throughout for the
blunders of the campaign； but the greater number laid every error at
his door； and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty
in a mild way； but they particularly charged incompetency at
Perryville； where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly
30；000 Union troops were idle on the field； or within striking
distance。 With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident
stood in the way of his activity； nor that he did not know that the
action had assumed the proportions of a battle。 The physical
disability was denied or contested； but even granting this； his
detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true
condition of the fight； and finally worsted his champions by pointing
out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so
jeopardized the Confederate army； that had a skillful and energetic
advance of the Union troops been made； instead of wasting precious
time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres； the enemy could
have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky。
CHAPTER XII。
MOVING TO BOWLING GREENJAMES CARD； THE SCOUT AND GUIDEGENERAL
SILLCOLONEL SCHAEFERCOLONEL G。 W。 ROBERTSMOVEMENT ON
MURFREESBORO'OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER。
My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy
marches； reaching this place November 1。 General Rosecrans assumed
command of the department October 30； at Louisville； and joined the
army November 2。 There had been much pressure brought to bear on
General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy
of East Tennessee； and the clamor to this end from Washington still
continued； but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River； in a
position threatening Nashville； which was garrisoned by but a small
force； it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the
situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle
Tennessee。 So； notwithstanding the pressure from Washington； the
army was soon put in motion for Nashville； and when we arrived there
my division went into camp north of the river； on a plateau just
outside the little town of Edgefield； until the movements of the
enemy should be further developed。
While in this camp； on the plantation of Mr。 Hobson； there came to my
headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card； who
offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they
might be made useful。 This offer； and the relation of his personal
history； were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in
a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose。 He was a
small； active； busy man； with a determined way about him； and his
countenance indicated great intelligence。 He gave minute information
that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle
Tennessee and northern Georgia； for； with a view to the army's future
movements； I was then making a study of the topography of this
region； and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee； for all knew this
would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was
resumed。 This man； like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met；
was intensely loyal and patriotic； and the interview led in a few
days to his employment as a scout and guide； and subsequently to the
engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers； who were good
men； but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was。 Card had
been a colporter； having pedled books； especially religious tracts；
over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia； assisted by his
brothers at times； and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these
regions； their roads and inhabitants。 He also preached to country
congregations occasionally； when ministers were scarce； and I have no
doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the
mountain district。 Thus his opportunities were great； and the loyal
people in every section of the country being well known to him and
his brothers； the three began； at this time； a system of scouting and
investigation which bore its first…fruits in specifically locating
the different divisions of Bragg's army； with statements of their
strength and condition； and all with so much accuracy that I
thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure
such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for
any contingency that might arise。
By the middle of November the enemy； having assembled his forces in
Middle Tennessee； showed considerable boldness； and it became
necessary to rearrange the Union lines； so my troops were moved to
the south side of the river； out on the Murfreesboro' pike； to Mill
Creek； distant from Nashville about seven miles。 While we were in
camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized； and General Joshua W。
Sill； at his own request； was assigned to my division； and took
command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade。 My division became at
the same time the Third Division； Right Wing； Fourteenth Army Corps；
its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively
commanded by General Sill； Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan
McCook； but a few days later Colonel George W。 Roberts's brigade；
from the garrison at Nashville； was substituted for McCook's。
General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy； having
graduated in 1853。 On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance
Corps； and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance
depots throughout the country till early in 1861； when he resigned to
accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the
Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute。 At the breaking out
of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government；
and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty…Third Ohio Volunteers；
and afterward to the rank of brigadier…general。 I knew him well； and
was glad that he came to my division； though I was very loth to
relieve Colonel Greusel； of the Thirty…Sixth Illinois； who had
already indicated much military skill and bravery； and at the battle
of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran。
Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had
already been demonstrated in many practical ways； and his untimely
death； almost within a month of his joining me； abruptly closed a
career which； had it been prolonged a little more； not only would
have shed additional lustre on his name； but would have been of
marked benefit to his country。
Colonel Schaefer； of the Second Missouri Infantry； had been absent on
sick…leave during the Kentucky campaign； but about this date he
returned to duty； and by seniority fell in command of the second
brigade。 He was of German birth； having come from Baden； where；
prior to 1848； he had been a non…commissioned officer in the service
of his State。 He took part as an insurgent in the so…called
revolution which occurred at Baden in that year； and； compelled to
emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection； made his way to this
country and settled in St。 Louis。 Here the breaking out of the war
found him； and through the personal interest which General Sigel took
in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers。 He had had a
pretty fair education； a taste for the military profession； and was
of tall and slender build； all of which gave him a student…like
appearance。 He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating
a crisis； but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the
critical moment came。 With such a man I could not be less than well
satisfied； although the officer whom he replacedColonel Laiboldt
had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent
campaign。
Colonel G。 W。 Roberts； of the Forty…Second Illinois Infantry； also
came to me in the reorganization。 He was an ideal soldier both in
mind and body。 He was young； tall； handsome； brave； and dashing； and
possessed a balance…wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of
action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best
results。 But he too was destined to lay； down his life within a few
days； and on the same fatal field。 His brigade had been performing
garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while
Buell's army was in Kentucky； but disliking the prospect of
inactivity pending the operations opening before us； Roberts had
requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field。 His
brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's； the latter reluctantly joining
the garrison at Nashville； every one in it disappointed and disgusted
that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their
relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our
depots and line of supply。
I was fortunate in having such brigad