The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20
THE FIGHT AT FRANKLIN,
TENNESSEE.

TENNESSEE.
-- ,I ID .egEy
Capture Of nearly Four Thou"
sand Men by the Rebels.
OUR FORCES LED INTO A TRAP.
The following extract of letter from
Lieut.. Col. Bloodgood, of the 22d Wis
consin, published in the Milwaukee WIS
consin, contains the only ineligible &C
count of the 9Th inst, that we have seen.
The telegraph has been singularly, reticent
about the affair. Col. Bloodgood writes
CAMP AT FRANKLIN, Tenn.
Thursday, March 9Th, 1863
Ny DEAR BROTHER before you
receive this you will probably hear of our
disastrous battle. So far as learned this
evening, the Major and myself of this reg
ment are the only:feld officers escaped
from the field of battle, neither of US re-
ceiving even scratch. We left the day
before yesterday on reconnaissance.
There were five regiments of infantry, six
pieces of artillery, and regiment of cav
airy. After proceeding but a few miles
the first day we met small body of the
rebels and drove them. They had but one
piece of artillery. During the day we
gained information that there were larger
forces back to support them. Col. Col
burn commanding the brigade, notified
General Gilbert of the fact, he having
command of the forces at Franklin. The
answer in reply was to move on. 1t seems
that General Rosecrans was to send a force
from MurfreesbOro to meet us at certain
point some twelve miles from Franklin.
We had not gone farther than about four
miles from this place, where we first
met the enemy, making our camp a little
beyond where we had the skirmish.
During several conversations With our
officers that evening, and also with Colonel
Coburn the day before, I remarked that it
looked as if the rebels were leading us on
into trap, for small bodies would stop
and give US little skirmish, and then re-
treat. This morning we struck tents
early, and moved on to the front, the en-
envy gradually retreating. Our cavalry
were deployed to the right and left, as
skirmishers, dismounted, their horses were
led in their rear, an advance guard of
cavalry on the pike, with two pieces of
artillery, then our regiment, three pieces
of artillery in the rear of us, and then
followed the rest of the infantry.
About noon was riding some distance in
advance of our regiment, just in the rear
of the cavalry, when shot from the ene-
my's battery struck in the pike among the
cavalry, causing quite scattering, but l
believe doing no damage. l immediately
returned to my regiment. Three pieces
of our artillery were Immediately planted
upon hill to the left of the pike, and
opened upon the enemy. Our regiment
and the 10th Michigan moved up in line
of battle on the slope to support them.
Two pieces were placed upon the right;
the Slst and SD Indiana to support them.
Our batteries then opened upon the ene-
my. We were answered by treble our
number-the hills on three sides of us
seemed to be alive with them. We were
they had good range on us from the flank.
The shell and round shot came thick
around US. Our two regiments had to
keep moving to get out of range, and
how we escaped being cut to pieces at
that time is wonderful Several balls
passed just over my head, and others
struck the ground only a short dis
tance from me. Not expecting to meet
so large force of the enemy, our bat
terry had not sufficient ammunition, and
soon gave out, as the day before we had
used six hundred rounds to cannon. Then
the enemy advanced upon us, hemming us
in a half circle. They had five regiments
to our one. Our men fought well-no
men could fight better-Our whole brigade
was driven down in a hollow, the enemy
closing in all around us. 1t is most wonder
full that escaped SO. for the balls pelted
about me like hail. My horse plunged and
reared and fairly groaned with fear. In the
confusion we could get no orders-eqch
regiment had to look out for themselves. l
was at the right of our Regiment the
Colonel was in the centre. I was notified
by several mounted officers, that large
body of the enemy was moving aronnd the
hill to cut US off completely. l sent word
down the line to the Colonel to move the
regiment in that direction by the flank,
and as he left me with the management of
right of the regiment, I gave the order, as
there was no time to hesitate, about $50
on the right moved according to my
direction. supposed the whole regiment
was moving, but when crossed the pike I
found they had not done so. The next mo-
ment the rebels came over the hill by thou
sands and drove them back, completely
them. Our cavalry and ar
tillery were just ahead of me. The enemy
following us six miles, trying to cut us off
Out Of our whole brigade we saved but
one hundred and seventy-fve men. The
artillery and cavalry came in, but they did
not belong to our brigade.
Kentucky Cotton.