December 25, 1864
Tower, Zealous Bates, 1819-1900
Autograph letter signed
Title: to William P. Fessenden
General Tower, chief engineer of Union defenses at Nashville, describes the Battle of Nashville to Fessenden, Secretary of the Treasury. He relates the strategies of Union Generals George Henry Thomas, Andrew Jackson Smith, James Harrison Wilson, and John McAllister Schofield, among several others. He reports on the actions of Confederate forces commanded by General John Bell Hood. he states "Probably at this date we have 8,000 prisoners. Hood's Army must be sadly demoralized & broken up. His force was counted at 40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. If he escapes with half that number he…
GLC00849.01