The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-05
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The Battle ct Franklan.
CINCINNATI, Dec 3.-The Cincinnati
6asetss has the following special from
Nash vile: sy -
The plan Of battle IVES very simple In
deed. We had no time TO get up com
plete plan, - the enemy pressed US too
sorely, and obliged us to fight Oft hand, Is
I have already stated. Our plan was orig.
inally to withdraw the force Of General
Schofield until meeting our reiDforcements,
We should give battle in the vicinity of
Nashville. But the over sanguine rebels
pressed u too hard; and when General
Schofisld perceived he could not well svoid
contest, he drew up his little army in line
of battle in front of Franklin, and prepared
for the snemy's onset. South Harpeth
river, running northwestwardly, makes q
bend to the north in the neighborhood Of
franklin, and within this bend the town is
situated. Across the neck of the Psninsu-
Ia formed by the bed of the river our Line
of battle was formed, consisting of four di-
visions only. Oox's and Ruger's OF the
23d corps, and Kimball's and Wagner's Of
the 4th corps. Kimball was on the right
of the line, Cox in the centre and Ruger on
the left, Wagner's had nothing of any con
sequence to protect them, but the other
three divisions had tolerably good line of
earthworks behind which to fight. The
rebels begun pressing US as early As two
o'clock.
By three We were in position behind our
works, and at half past three the assault com
mencsd. When the enemy 6rst advanced
to attack, he had Oheatham's corps on the
right and Stewart's on the left. 8. D. Lees
corps was held az reserve on the centre,
ready to assist Cheatham or Stewart, as &C.
casion might require. 1t was half past
three, a. have said, when Chsatham threw
his corps upon Wagner with great impetu-
osity. Wsgner's men fought desperately
for half an hour, until the superior numbers
Of the enemy compelled them to fall back
in some haste to . second line. Hating
behind this line, they became to some ex-
tent mingled with Cox's and Rugsr's men
on our left and center; but this did not pre-.
vent them from fighting with obstinate and
bravery until the end of the
battle. The rebels, encouraged by seeming
success in driving Wagner back advanced
with srdor and loud cheers to the assault
on the second line.
The order in which they advanced to the
assault was very peculiar. A ssmi-circle,
two regiments in depth, extended oil round
our line, and behind esch alternate regi
ment were placed four others, so that the
assaulting columns were really six regi,
ments deep. Hood himself appeared, about
P. NJ, ct the heads of bis columns.-
Pointing toward our lines, he said, "Break
those lines, boys, and you have finished the
war in Tennessee them, and there
is nothing to oppose your march from
Nashville to the Ohio river" Loud cheers
answered the rebel leader, and immediate
ly the whole space in front Of our lines was
crsmmed with the advancing multitudes.
Capt. Lyman, commanding the artillery
brigade of the Fourth Corps, had placed
bis eighth battery in the most favorable
positions around our lines, and from these,
storms of shot and shell were hurled into
the charging ranks. With most reckless
bravery the rebels rushed on, and when
they were within Q few hundred yards of
,ur works our boys opened upon them with
10 terrible fire Of musketry that it seemed
Is if nothing could live before it; but no
wsvering was perceived in these advancing
ines. On they came. They rushed up to
the very parapet of our works, and stuck
th cir muskets under the heads of the logs
,n our battlsments.
On the Columbus pike the pressure was
10 great that some Of Oox's and Wagoner's
men temporarily gave way. Up to this
time the brigade commanded by the gal
liant Col. Opdyke, of the l25th Ohio, hid
been held in manner in reserve. When
our line gave way on the Columbia pike, it
not long in reserve. "Col. Op.
DYKE" said Gen. D. 8. Stanley, "our line
d broken yonder; it must be restored" "lt
shall be restored" replied Opdyke, and
bis brigade rushed boldly into the open.
ing. The rebels, who had crowded over
our works, had not time to retire, and Cox's
and Wagoner's men, broken but minute
before, rallied and attacked the enemy On
the flank, while Opdyke charged them in
front A close hand to hand fight ensued,
With bayonsts and butt ends Of muskets.
Hundreds of rebels were captured here.
For two hours and q half the battle ragged
al along our line. The men of the 4th and
23d corps We'd with each other in bravery.
RELAYS brigade of the latter fairly covered
the ground in front Of it with the rebel
dead.
The rebel Gen. Adams was killed, and
he and his horse fell into the ditch togeth-
or, in front of the l04th Ohio. Seventeen
distinct attacks of the enemy, some Of them
real, some feints, were rspelled.
On Kimball's front the fighting was not
20 severe, the rebels charging but twice.
By dusk they were repulsed at all points,
but the firing did not cease till nearly nine.
At least Eve thousand rebels were killed,
wounded and captured, while our own loss,
which is greater than at first reported, will
probably reach fifteen hundred. Some cal