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which might arise, General Schofield directed General Wood to put the three brigades of his division in position tocover the flanks of the troops in front of the town, and toprotect the bridges in case of need. Wood accordinglyplaced Post’s brigade opposite Kimball’s flank, below thetown, Streight’s near the bridges, and Beatty’s above FortGranger, all on the high ground of the north bank of theHarpeth; and these brigades maintained their position inthe night till the rest of the infantry had passed throughtheir lines and marched to Brentwood. General Wilson,with the cavalry, had, during the afternoon, a warm skirmishwith Forrest, who tried in vain to cross the Harpeth beyondthe left of Schofield’s forces. Thomas sent a warm con-gratulatory despatch when the result of the engagement wasannounced to him ; but, as he thought three days would stillbe needed to prepare his concentrated army for aggressiveoperations, and as this was a longer time than Schofieldcould engage to hold the line of the Harpeth without rein-forcements, he directed the latter to retire upon Brentwood,and thence to Nashville . 1 Despatches had been sent toGeneral Cooper, who, it will be remembered, had beenstationed at Centreville, on Duck River, with a brigade of theTwenty-third Corps , directing him to fall back on Franklin,But unavoidable delays occurred, and when he approachedFranklin, the enemy was in possession. He was similarlyanticipated at Brentwood, but by coolness and good conductbrought in his command safely to Nashville .
1 For correspondence between these officers on November 29th and 30th, eeeAppendix D .