Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-05

had made deep study of Field FOrtl
hcations and the best works on the Ar
of War, which were of great value t.
him. He was of the opinion that if {
single soldier should be sacrificed II
consequence of his not knowing wha
he could and ought to know, he would
: be guilty of his blood, and hence ht
worked and studied night and day from
the beginning of the war. Further
says he, 81 have not, in all my life
drank a half tumbler of Intoxicating
liquors, nor have I used an ounce o.
tobacco in any FORM"
Nov. 30th, 1864, his Brigade was the
rear guard for the army under Scho-
field. Hoods bivouac fires were with.
in thousand yards of him during the
night, and before daylight he called
his Regimental Commanders around
him, and briefly informed them of the
task, and that it might be necessary to
i sacrifice the command TOT save the army.
He assured them, eve must stand to
the work at all hazards, and either die
or triumph together" The Brigade
reached Franklin in safety, having
fought nearly every step of the way.
The town of Franklin is on the south
side of the Harpeth River, and is near.
ly half surrounded by the bend of the
stream. Our line of breastworks ex-
tended from the river above to the
river below the town, and was on
ground considerably higher than the
village. To the front of this line in all
directions the ground was open and
unobstructed for half a mile. "Fort
Granger" which Gen. Opdycke had
helped construct in early '63, was on a
bluff Just north of the river, and pro-
tected our left. The Sd Division, 4th
Corps was north of the river also. The
1st Division, ,4th Corps was on the right.
the I'd Division, 23d Corps on its left,
and the Sd Division, 23d Corps Joined
its right to the left of the I'd, and form
ed the left Of our line in the works.
''Carter's HILL" on which Mr.. Carter
lives, was the most considable elevs-
ton in our line, and so related to it
as to make it the key to our entire posi-
tion south Of the river. The Colum-
bia Pike ran south across this hill,
where the right and left of the two
Divisions of the 23d Corps joined
The I'd and Sd Brigades of our DiVis-
ion were in line several hundred yards
10 the front of the hill, and Gen. OPP
dyeke's Brigade was massed and in re-
serve about 300 yards in rear of "Car-
ter's Hill" -.
The Division Commander, Gen. Wag-
ner, ordered him to "act on his own
Judgment, and fight when and where
he might be most needed" That is
the only order ne received until after
the battle, except request from Gen.
Cox to hold his Brigade in readiness.
which he received just before the bat
tie opened.
The day was clear. and the enemy
moved against us at 4 p. M, in magnif-
can't style and evident determination.
His heaviest masses were nraTshalled
against "Carter's Hill," and the two
advanced Brigades were hurled back
in utter disorder. We had eight pieces
of artillery on the hill, but they could
not waver the firm resolve of those
grim columns of attack. They came
on amidst the thunderings of the storm,
and soon reached our works at the
Columbia Pike. Our troops there be-
gan to break to the rear, the gap open
ing to the right and left of the Pike.
Gen. Opdyeke looked at his men they
had fixed bayonets, and were grasping
their guns with grit. The enemy's
flags crowned our works they came
over; took the eight guns. Now, was
the critical moment of the battle
He gave the order with all the power
he had, First Brigade! Forward to
the works !" The bsyonets cleaned in
the sunlight as they came down to a /
charge; loud cheers arose over the din /
of battle, and each regiment charged
grandly forward against the victorious
foe. Bayonets were soon bloody, ,muskets
were clubbed in this furious encounter.
Gen. Opdyeke fred all the cartridges
from his revolver, and soon broke the
barrel by using it as a club. He then
and used a musket in the
bloody scene. This contest was short.
The enemy was hurled over the works
by the stern warriors of this Iron Bri-
gade. Four hundred rebels were cap
.ured and ten battle-hags. The eight
guns were retaken, and worked with
awful havoc on the masses in front by
officers and men of this Brigade. The1
Brigade also captured from the enemy
he Regimental colors that belonged to
i friendly but less fortunate Brigade.
This charge was made at 4:30 o. m,
The lines were restored and the army
aYed. The enemy reformed, and
With fresh men again and again threw
leavy columns against the hill, with ,
II the fury of which mortals are eapa- !,
lie, and until long after dark the stars :
anne out over the scene but the First !
Brigade sent death to the front, and !
heir lines were unmoved. Rebel Gen. :
,arter fell mortally wounded, less than
hundred yards from where he was
'orn. "Pat Cleburn," the idol of the !
ebel soldiers, fell dead, his horse rest
ng his head on our breastworks. About
700 more of them were killed buried !
there they fell, and their graves are J
lowhere half so numerous as at Scar {
er's Hill" Generals Cox, Wagner, =
tanley and Thomas each asserted that
Opdycke and his Brigade saved the J
ay." The Corps Official Report says:
Col. Emerson 0pdycke, by this skill =
al maneuvering of his Brigade in the
ick of time, saved the day" 9
The second day after the battle, =
en. Thomas visited his command, q
nd warmly congratulated him while :
is trophies huttered about him in the .
reeze. His losses were less than the :,
umber of prisoners captured by the Z
all either killed or y
-T.s l,
In the battles of Nashville, Decem- a a
er 18th and 10th, 1864, he stormed \
ne enemy's works with his Brigade, =
nd captured three pieces of artillery, e
ne battle-fag and 300 prisoners. He =
len pursued the routed foe near to n
le Tennessee River. He had a horse :;
illed under him July 18th, in a fight a.
Nancy's Creek, Ga. Another was a,
lot under him at Franklin, and one n
-isoner we captured asserted that he q,
had taken deliberate aim and fred :;
Gen. 0pdycke six times in the bat II
g of franklin" n
Gen. Opdycke was confirmed BreVet ~
rigadier General to date from 4Febru- tr
y 7th, 1865, although strongly recon-
ended by all his superiors for the
IL grade of Brigadier.
As time went on his mind began to
ander, and he fancied himself in his ,a