Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/358

 352 Southern Historical Society Papers.

one of the delusions that has survived the war. No circumstance or incident that his strategy developed can be found that justifies Hood's attack on the military reputation of General Cheatham." The truth is plainly brought out in the letter of Governor Isham G. Harris, addressed to Governor James D. Porter:

Governor JAMES D. PORTER :

DEAR SIR * * * General Hood, on the march to Frank- lin, spoke to me, in the presence of Major Mason, of the failure of General Cheatham to make the right attack at Spring Hill, and cen- sured 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 him if he had communicated the fact to General Hood. He answered that he had not. I replied that " it is due General Cheatham that this explanation should be made!" Thereupon Major Mason joined General Hood and gave him the in- formation. 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 him with the failure to attack. Very respectfully,

ISHAM G. HARRIS. Memphis, Tenn., May 20, 1877.

The communication referred to in the letter of Governor Harris was received by General Cheatham, and was read by Governor Har- ris, General Porter, Major Cummins, of Georgia, and Colonel John C. Burch ; but General Cheatham, as he says, "not having been in the habit of carrying a certificate of military character," attached no special value to the paper, and lost it during the campaign in North Carolina.

The story of his military career is yet to be written, and this Com- monwealth of Tennessee will have no brighter page in its history. I must write briefly of the close of the great chieftain's life.

On the 23d of January, 1866, it was my privilege to receive him by Holy Baptism into the church. On the i5th of March following, I officiated at his marriage to Anna Robertson. Subsequently they both renewed the vows of Holy Baptism in the Rite of Confirma-