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Thursday, May 07, 02:03:07pm [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4 ]

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Date Posted: 09/28/04 4:43:35pm
Author: Doug Cooper
Subject: Lt Collins quotes on Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville

Dang - wish I had found this book a few months ago - fantastic content on the regiment and a truly enjoyable and witty writing style.

Apparently their feet were in VERY bad shape at Nashville, many of them were unable to wear shoes because of a condition similar to trench foot from the cold and wet. They either cut slits in the shoes or tied their feet up in blanket pieces.

Rations at Nashville consisted of "unbolted flour, pork and beef."

Rations at Franklin: "biled pork and parched corn."

On Hood's decision to attack at Franklin: "Why Hood made this fight, when he could have flanked the enemy out of his position in 3 hours is a mystery that will be satisfactorily explained when we all shall have crossed to the other side. Gen. Hood was doubtless a brave, good man, but he lacked a great deal of being a military genius."

On the screw-up at Spring Hill: "...the easiest and most charitable way to dispose of the whole matter is to say that the gods of battle were against us and injected confusion into the heads and tongues of our leaders."

Several Yankees marching by on the Columbia Pike the night of their escape at Spring Hill (not 60 yards from our brigade) were captured when they went to light their pipes in the brigade camp fires, assuming they were friendlies. Amazing.

And on their attitude toward the campaign prior to Spring Hill: "The boys were all as gay as larks. All seemed to be rejoiced that at the idea that a decisive blow was going to be struck." Even with snow pouring down they went on "as light hearted to all appearances as school boys."

You get an idea from this book just what effect the terrible blunder at Spring Hill and the slaughter at Franklin had on the men...followed quickly by the disaster at Nashville.

Collins and McCracken (me) were wounded at Atlanta and spent a painful but altogether fun time recuperating and chasing girls at the hospital in Forsythe, Georgia. When wounded, Collins was wearing a pair of "gray Georgia jeans pants" (Georgia Relief and Hospital Association trousers? - an original pair of these was worn by a Georgia Lt and is in the Atlanta History Center). Anyway, I may have some stories to tell when I get back to the company.

Doug

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