Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-14


four miles south of franklin, but as soon as
our forcesss began to deploy for the attack, and
to flank him on his left; lie retired slowly to
Franklin. | learned from dispatches cap
tured at Spring Hill, from Thomas to Scho-
field, that the latter was instructed to hold
that place till the position at franklin could
be made secure, indicating the intention of
Thomas to hold Franklin and his strong works
at MurfreesborOugh. Thus 1 knew that it
was all important to attack Schoficld before
he could make himself strong and if he should
escape at Franklin he would gain his works
about Nashville. The nature of the position
was such as to render it inexpedient to at
tempt any further flank movement, and l
therefore determined to attack him in front
and without delay On the 30th of Novem-
ber; Stewards corps was placed in position on
the right, Cheatham on the left, and the cav
airy on either flank, the main body Of the
right under Forrest Johnsons division of
Lees corps also became engaged on the left
during the engagement. The line advanced
at p. NJ, with orders to drive the enemy,
at the point of the bayonet, into OF across the
Big Harpeth river, while Gen. Forrest, if
successful, was to cross the river and attack
and destroy his trains and broken columns.
The troops moved forward most calamity to
5
of hastily constructed works handsomely
We then advanced against his interior line,
and succeeded in carrying it also, in some
places. Here the engagement was of the
fercest possible character. Our men pos
sessed themselves of the exterior of the works,
while the enemy held the interior Many of
our men were killed entirely inside the works.
The brave men captured were taken inside
his works, in the edge of the town. The strug-
gle lasted till near midnight, when the enemy
abandoned his works and crossed the river;
leaving his dead and wounded in our posa
session. Never did troops fight more gul-
lantly.
The works of the enemy were so hastily
constructed that, while he had slight Adults
in front ola part of his line, there was none
on his extreme right. During the day vas
restrained from using my artillery, on account
Of the women and children remaining in the
town. At night it WAS massed ready TO con-
tinuc the action in the morning, but the
enemy retired. We captured about 1000
prisoners and several stands of colors Our
total loss in killed, wounded and prisoners
was 1900. Among the killed was Major
Gen. 2. r. Cleburne, Brig. Gems. Gist,
John Adams, Strahl and Granbury, Major
Gen. Brown, Brig Gems. Carter, Mani
gault, Quarlcs, Cochrell and Scott were
wounded and Brig. Gen Gordon, captured.
Tho number ofdead let by the enemy on
the field indicated that his loss was equal or
near our own. The next morning. at day.
light, the wounded being cared for and the
dead buried, we moved forward toward Nash
vile, Forrest, with his cavalry, pursuing the
enemy vigorously"
Such is an accutint of his famous effort in
his own words. In his short but very inter-
estihg talk with me, Gen. Hood gave me the
impression that he is u man OF high courage
and reflection. He thinks over every word
he speaks, as he did over every move he
made when prominent actor in the late great
war. He told me that he intends to write
some account of the operations i'll the form of
his memoirs. The book will be one of inter-
est. | was pleased to hear this brave man
say, that on the downfall of the Confederacy,
he advised all those with whom he had in
flucnce to accept the new order of things.
Among other things, he said that an army of
go, 900 or 1000 men was fine thing, and
that they (thc Contcderates) never had more
in any fight. In quiet burst of feeling he
said it was "thc most glorious thing he could
think of, to be in actiOn," and this be thinks,
though he is now mamGd for life. [ nav
state Ihumorous thing said by him about
cavalry. asked him if a square in two ranks
was fit to meet a charge, and he said it was
not fit to meet charge Of good cavalry, ad-
ding with light laugh, 'lf the men would
only cut their rcns, the horses would charge
over the line Of baJonets;" at which 1 said
that would be charge with looscncd reins"
The home of the ex-Genernl is San Antonio.
Texas, and he is on his way to New Orleans
to learn how his case is to tie disposed of.