nfantry could not reach that place over a wretched
country road much before night, and Stanley, with one division and
our cavalry, could easily beat off Forrest. Hence I retained
Ruger's division and one of Stanley's, and disposed all the troops
to resist any attempt Hood might make, by marching directly from
his bridges upon my position on the north bank of Duck River, to
dislodge me from that position. That was his best chance of success,
but he did not try it.

Stanley arrived at Spring Hill in time to beat off Forrest and
protect our trains. Then he intrenched a good position in which
to meet Hood's column when it should arrive, which it did late in
the afternoon. They had a hard fight which lasted until about
dark. Much bitter controversy arose between Hood and some of his
subordinates because of their failure to dislodge Stanley's division
and get possession of the turnpike at Spring Hill. While I have
no wish to take any part in that discussion, I must say that I
think the mistake was Hood's. I think he attempted a little longer
march, over a very bad road, than could be made in so short a time.
The 29th of November is a very short day, and the march of troops
across pontoon bridges and through deep mud is very slow. If Hood
had turned down the north bank of Duck River, across the fields,
which were no worse than his road, he could have got into a fight
about noon; but he thought, according to his own account in "Advance
and Retreat," that he was deceiving me by his thundering demonstrations
at Columbia, and that I did not know he was marching to Spring
Hill. He thought he was going to "catch me napping," after the
tactics of Stonewall Jackson, while in fact I was watching him all
day. Besides, Hood went to bed that night, while I was in the
saddle all night, directing in person all the important movements
of my troops. Perhaps that is enough to account for the difference
between success and failure, without censuring subordinate commanders.
Mine did all I could have asked anybody to do that night.

THE AFFAIR AT SPRING HILL

As soon as I was satisfied that Hood was gone to Spring Hill and
would not attack me on the bank of Duck River, I took the head of
my troops--Ruger's division--and marched rapidly to Spring Hill,
leaving staff officers to give orders to the other division commanders
to follow immediately in proper order as then formed in line.