Chapter XII
- After the battle of Franklin -- Tie arrival at Nashville -- General Thomas's greeting -- a refreshing sleep -- services of the cavalry Corps and the Fourth army Corps -- Hood's mistake after crossing Duck River -- an incident of the Atlanta campaign bearing on Hood's character -- an embarrassing method of Transmitting Messages in cipher -- the aggressive policy of the South.
early the next morning (December 1), after receiving at Brentwood oral orders from General Thomas to continue the retreat to Nashville, I lay on the ground until the main body of the troops had passed and I had learned from the cavalry and from the infantry rear-guard that nothing could occur in the rear which would require my attention. I then role forward and reported to General Thomas, whom I found waiting for me at the place he had selected for the Twenty-third Corps in the defensive line about Nashville. He greeted me in his usual cordial but undemonstrative way, congratulated me, and said I had done ‘well.’ I have often thought that I may not have shown due appreciation of his kindness at that moment, for I did not then feel very grateful to him; but he gave no indication that he thought me unappreciative of his approbation. On the contrary, he said in the kindest manner that I appeared ‘tired.’ To which I replied, ‘Yes, I am very tired.’ That was about all the conversation we had that day. As soon as I saw that my troops were moving into the
