Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-12-07
THE WAR NEWS.

of the battle at Franklin and It's anteeedents,
has been received, which must be chronieled
as one of the most brilliant, in It's general
results, of the war
For three days sharp sbirmishing was
kept up during the retirement of our army
from Duck river to Franklin, during which
time a multiplication Of exploits and suces-
ses resulted to the national arms General
Cox conducted the rear guard on the 29th
ult., and achieved a splendid victory over
the rebels at SpringhilI. while General VII
sons cavalry gained a series of important
successes over Forest advance under Roddy,
on the Pike between Truine and Springhil
During the afternoon of the 30th ult, the
rebel army sorely pressed US, under Hood,
who had Cheatham and Stewart a corps,
and portion Of Dick Taylor's command,
numbering in all over %, 900 men. Owing
to Cox gallant check at SpringhilI, a por-
ton of the 4th and 9th corps were enabled
to. gain Franklin early in the day, where
they threw up line of breastworks, extend
ing from one end to the other of the curve
in the river, behind which our entire infant
ry command took position.
At presisely P. NJ, the entire force
made charge, and succeeded in making a
temporary break in our centre, commanded
by Wagner. With characteristic impetuosi-
ty, the soldiers composing Cheatham 5 corps
dashed into the breastworks, cooperating
Il, ,l, ,rr ,,orA,- ~, ON. lof+ or1
attempted to envelope and destroy our right.
In the nick of time, the troops of Wagner
were rallied. and throwing their whole force
upon the rebel column, drove back the
storning party in great disorder, capturing
several hundred prisoners. -Four times af-
ter the rebels charged iu three lines but
were repulsed as often, with great slaughter.
The rebels numbered at least two to our
one, as nearly half of the 4th and 23d corps
were in the reserve. Our breastworks were
only knee high, and the rebel loss in killed
is three times our own, while their wounded
is at least six times more than ours, most of
our men being wounded i'll the head, arms,
and body The artillery fire of the enemy
was made with great precision, but their
ammunition consisted chiefly of shot and shell,
while for two hours immense quantities Of
more mnrderous missiles were hurled with
fearful fury into the rebel lines. All at
tempts of the rebels to gain a permanent
advance were frustrated, and at dark the
Federal position was unchanged, while the
rebels retired under cover of the woods
south of the Columbia pike.
The rebel loss, as before stated, is fully
1000, including 900 prisonsers, an unusu-
ly large number Of whom are officers. Our
loss reached a total of about 1000.
Our forces also captured thirty stand of
colors, which is a fair index of the extent of
the victory over Hood s rebel troops.
An artillery duel was kept up till near
midnight when our troops commenced cross
ing Harpeth River, bringing all our trains
and paraphaneIia over in safety before day
light The army then retired to within
four miles of this city, at which point our
front line confronts the enemy. The falling
back of the army is in accordance with the
programme, and the battle at Franklin, was
an impromptu affair and was braught about
owing to the necessity to check the rebel adj
vance and insure the safe crossing of the
river by our troops.