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found himself within the
Federal lines; that the troops were in great confusion, a part of them were marching in the direction of
Franklin, others had turned toward
Columbia, and that the road was blocked with baggage-wagons and gun-carriages, rendering it impossible to move in order in either direction.
Upon the receipt of this report,
General Hood directed
Major Mason to order
General Cheatham to move down on the road immediately and attack the enemy.
General Hood and myself remained in bed. I went to sleep, and I supposed that
General Hood did the same.
At daylight on the following morning we learned that the
Federal army had left
Spring Hill and was being concentrated at
Franklin.
On the march to
Franklin,
General Hood spoke to me, in the presence of
Major Mason, of the failure of
General Cheatham to make the night attack at
Spring Hill, and censured him in severe terms for his disobedience of orders.
Soon after this, being alone with
Major Mason, the latter remarked that ‘
General Cheatham was not to blame about the matter last night.
I did not send him the order.’
I asked if he had communicated the fact to
General Hood.
He answered that he had not. I replied That it is due to
General Cheatham that this explanation should be made.
Thereupon
Major Mason joined
General Hood and gave him the information.
Afterward
General Hood said to me that he had done injustice to
General Cheatham, and requested me to inform him that he held him blameless for the failure at
Spring Hill.
And, on the day following the
battle of Franklin, I was informed by
General Hood that he had addressed a note to
General Cheatham, assuring him that he did not censure or charge him with the failure to make the attack.
Very respectfully,
