The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-12
rhe Fight at FRANKLIN.

CORRESPONDENCE OF Mr.. r.. n. wEsrFALL.
FRANKLIN, Tenn, June 9, 1863
Rebel covetousnees has again led the Spring Hin
army OF rebels attempt the capture Of this pretty vii
age and important strategic point They have succeeded
better than they succeeded in their first attempt two
months ago. They have wasted considerable powder and
several lives but they DO nearer Nashville the
Franklin pike than they when the excursion com
menced. - N fdo ta c Are
TIFF RECENT FIGHT AND REsuLrs-1m FORTS.
Although the fghtiug and clustering occupied two
days its history may be written in very few lines and
the result quickly summed up. General Granger lett
Franklin Wednesday morning last and moved ovcr 10
Triune to e command Of the United States forces there.
leaving garrison for two of the principal fortncations
under command OF Col j. p. Baird OF the Eighty fourth
Indiana infantry regiment with instructions 70 hold the
forts all hazards the General himself would have done
II he had remained. One Of the forts, situated the
apex Of Of earth known Roper's Knob two hun
dred and fifty fcet above tho level Of tho plain around
FRANKLIN, mounted heavy guns, garrscnsd by .
strong regiment Of infantrytne Seventy eighth Illinois
and was rightly considered mpresnabe. The other, the
principal fertilization for the defence the post stu
ated tho bank of the Harpeth overlooking the town.
and mile from the fort the knob. Monster guns
were mounted here ammunition plenty commissary
stores and forage in abundance and the garrison
numerous consisting Of the Indiana, Twenty
second Wisconsin and Nineteenth Michigan infantry regi
ments, and te Seventh Kentucky cavalry Colonel j. B.
Faulkner. fNn Ftaa
COLONEL BAIRD, gs BG
who commanded, was considered man Of determination
bravery having fought blei and been captured in
the Coburu fight last Marcs. His command the
Of Coburns old brigade, which escaped from the
Thompsons Station snare, and who have been recruit
ever since, till now they quite numerous vaorous
and formidable.
REBEL COMMANDER HIS ADVANCE.
This the situation tweny.four hours after General
Granger left when Major General N Bedford Forrest ap
peared before Franklin the Columbia pike direct from
Spring Hill with force OF seven thousand men, mount
ed and eight pieces Of artillery The Seventh Kentucky
cavalry, picket at the time, drawn up line
contest the passage 10 the town, which Forests
seemed bent on visiting. vigorous and noisy rebel
charge and the Kertuckians did not wait TO
receive it, They broke through the town fast their
horses could transport themthe rebels paying no atten
tion to the shells from the fort following closely that
when the clock struck three they ia complete DOS
session, without the loss Of The public square
nIed with rebels, who at commenced prepare
tions for protraced stay Colonel Baird threw three
four shes into town. but without doing much damage
the rcbes. Forrest visited Judge Narshall-a fat and
vicious old rebel-and exchanged congratulations while
dozens Of franklins fair daughters who days before
around with bouquets and benisons.
FoRrEsr's REHAyio,R IN FRANKLIN. r
tne presence 81 inc "a: Judge ard the ssr rebels
directly across the brook and taking the fort white the
While his soldiers we're not d stores and a
shops broken OPEN and every valuable thing taken
from them Strange a. It may appear the mercantile
men, aud the rebels looked upon their goods lawful
plumber. Young ca, son Of pr cG Union. maa, wide
ly known in Middle Tennessee, s'competev and
thoroughly skinned tho phrase Mr. Sinclair who
sold dry goods in small way, also robbed, many o.
in the operation Twelve or fifteen rebels visited the
Seminary Hospital ia the village took tew shirts aud
paper co,rs ram surgeon Ccary . ya''se Telling MIN
few unmporant papers aud ronscckine things general
~. The sick had been removed 70 Nashville there
DmrosrroN or rw RwnsL roREs. HN1
Tho rebel General was next engaged in disposuz his
thus end the bali Armstrong; brigade sent to the
right and Stearns brigade to tho left for this purpose
Lieut. Hopkins white signal flags working flag OF
truce to Colonel Baird The flag was borne by an ex-
trencly courteous young rebel officer whose first sauta
ton was, "Ah you've surrendered have you. God damn
your" Colonel Bards officer. Under the influence Of pas
sion, with regard for strength than beauty 10
reply remarked TO the REBEL "No much you God damned
fool This ended the peaceful conference and warlike
operations were at once resumed General Armstrong,
with his rebels. fifteen hundred strong. proceeded
to turn Colonel Bairds left by crossing the Harpeth
at Hughes Ford, three miles east from the fort,
in the direction OF Murreesboro, nea- the scene OF
General stanleys SIGHT during Van Dorns attack on
Franklin.
CAVALRY ugBr
Armstrong fell In with Colonel A. p. Campbels
brigade Of cavalry which had been sent from Trine by
General Granger he learned OF the attack.
Colonel Campbes command was composed Of the Second
Michigan this own regimcnt) the Ninth Pcnnsy vana,
Colonel Thomas Jordan; the Sixth Kentucky, Colonel
y. Watkins; the Fourth Kentucky, Colonel wickline
Cooper, and the First Fast Tennessee, commanded by
Colonel Brownlow-a fighting son Of the fighting parson.
The Unionists riding hard the Sixth Kentucky In
So but
an hour high and objects were scarcely disnguishabe
at q distancee Of three or four hundred yards. Arm
strongs force lay concealed in the wood between the
Burreesboro and the Harpcih until the Sixth Ken
tucky had passed and the head OF the Second
ed are, expecting TO throw the blue coats into
confusion. Majors Cooley and Ben. Smith were
attempt failed Six companies Of the Second and four
companies OF the Fourth Kentucky dsmounted and
brought up, when the fight commenced in good earnest
Rebel prisoners say Armstrong recognized the revolving
rifles Of the Second ard admitted his for the
safety OF his force The firing rapid and deadly and
finally broke and fed leaving seventeen killed. twenty.
i've wounded and eighteen prisoners
cArruRE oY ARMSTRONG; REBEL RATTLE FLAG.
Armstrong himself narrowly escaped His beautiful
battle flag In possession Of the Michigan men, and the
prisoners are nearly all members q his body guard
dashcd past the rebels and resumed his march toward
Franklin, which place he reached at eight o'clock COL
Campbell, after having destroyed an ammunition
~ az ana ,s ss gscseS
OF casualties the FIRST day; and to Colonel
Campbell ID due the credit OF saving Franklin that day.
Acting Brigadcr Stearns whose TO Bards
right succeeded in penetrating the OF the Frank
I'm forts and encamped that night between Baird and
Nashville. company Of rebel cavalry hurridy visited
Brentwood which was abandoned by forces several
days ago. The telegraph wire cut and few rails
torn from the lies the railroad in that vicinity, but
little mischief was done. N III Flo GAi9n
IA f,r.s. "a NOBODY HURT. -. LII 49,,
came over 10 Franklin from Trune during the night,
with company f. First Missouri cavalry, General Gran.
gers body guard expecting TO witness quite scene OF
destruction deeoation and dead bodies, dis
mounted and ruined houses In and around Frank
lin. The trip was exceedingly hazardoue. considering
that armed rebels beeet every approach 70 the town,
willingly undertook the job In the service Of the HERALp
reached the fort at midnight rode In without challenge
found molly crowd Of refugees and soldiers standing IN
the RAIN and learned with surprise that nobody bad been
hurt. N JfH4 h.N0W 7t Fi Nnl Tllgf s. 1
"a, ~ -.ftr,t Z. THE SECOND DAY. -
again beyond the town on the Columbia pike, In their old
position. Colonel Baird commenced playing them al
long taw h great rined cannon, and they came no
nearer. skirmishing continued all day, and Colonel