The National tribune., 1882-09-09


house to escape the bullets and who swung
to and fro as the battle surged around the
building. These were the towards whose
claim to manhood was that they were
hipeds-had each two legs to run with.
LONG LINES OF HEROES.
Looking from an opposite window on the
other hand, he saw in the dusk line of con-
federates dash upon the earthworks with the
fury of devils. Men iabbed with the bayonet
at each other over hedge and fence and hun
dreds were slain in his sight. Gen. Adams,
riding with head bare and sword uplifted,
spurred directly against the abattis. A sharp
fenoe-rail pierced the horses belly, transfix-
ing him dead in air, and Adams-veteran
comrade of Scott at Vera Cruz--was himself
lifted dead from his saddle by Federal bayO-
nets. AS darkness came on fresh battalions
swept over the plain. The light they fought
by was the red glare artillery. Midnight
| saw no cessation, and when at last Hood
sank aghast at the slaughter, with Generals
Cleburne, Adams, Strahl, Gist, and Gran
berry, hundred line officers and many bare
footed braves dead around him, Colonel
Carter heard a familiar whirr overhead and
then counted two tinkles upon the little
clock. Between that hour and daybreak
Schofield unhurt, crossed the Harpeth with
his trains and left on the field victor who
had broken his own arm, his prestige, and
his heart in the frantic and ffuitless blow.
WHEN THE WAVE HAD ROLLED BY.
After the battle the farm, like others adj
joining, was in utter wreck. The house
alone stood. All the fences were down. Mud
was knee-deep in the yard. Dead men and
horses were thick about. Hoods first
charge was made at o'clock" said Colonel
Carter, "and it fell upon this point, as did
all the heavy assaults. You see this locust
thicket on our right. That thicket then
covered five acres, but after the fight it was
a forest of tOothpicks. In that vegetable
patch to our left General CIeburne fell dead.
| There is nothing to indicate the exact spot,
but it is within twenty yards of where we
stand. The cornfield to the left of the pike
was filed with dead and dying and the corn
field TO the right of the pike was counter
part of the other. In this yard and in that
garden I could walk from fence to fence on
dead bodies, mostly those of confederates
In trying to clear up l scraped together a
half bushel of brains right around the house,
and the whole place was dyed with blood.
Nothing in the shape of horse, mule, jack,
nor jenny was left in the neighborhood. In
fact, remember that it was not until Christ
mas, twenty-five days afterwards that I was
enabled to borrow a yoke of oxen, and
spent the whole of that Christmas day haul
ing seventeen dead horses from this yard"
There was big rain storm not long after
the battle, and as the earth was washed out
of the trenches he saw a line of human
hands sticking up-sone with fingers shut
tight, some pointing and all so CHASTITY that
they were covered htirriedly. Before the bod
les got to be bones, and it was not long, because
this was among the last of the terrible bat
ties, they were removed to the cemeteries
Now bones are uncommon sights and the
plowman is not startled as at some wilder |
grounds which have visited.
cLEBURNE's FACE FRAMED IN LEAD.
There are many minor objects on this |
Carter farm worthy in themselves of lengthy |
mention. A grain fan with just 125 bullets
in it would be a curiosity in any museum, |
and there once was taken from the place |
wooden post so heavy from its battle-break- !
fast of lead that it sank to the bottom when |
placed in pond of water. Some time ago |
q soldier who had served under Cleburne |
addressed letter "To any ex-confederate |
in Franklin, Tenn.," requesting a billet of |
Cleburne died to make frame for picture |
of his old commander. As that gallant |
Irishman, who rests under the cedars at |
Helena Ark, fell in the open field, an oak |
plank was torn from an old sin-house few
feet away. In cutting the plank so that it
could be placed in box and sent by express
the saw struck dozen or more bullets And
by this time very likely Cleburne's picture
is framed in rebel oak set with the Yankee |
gems that cost him his life.
POLITICS IN BATTLE-sMoKE
1t was within ten yards of this historic
spot that in the thick of the fray rebel
soldier in trying to leap the Federal breast
work, fell wounded in the trench.
Union officer who visited Franklin a few
weeks ago. and who was behind the breast
work at the time Of the incident, saw the
injured rebel beckoning to him and gave
ear. It's so hot" said the rebel II be-
leve if you'll help me over I'll surrender"
The smoke was binding, the earth was
shaken under artillery and the air whistled
in the tracks of countless mimic balls, but in
pity the wounded man was lifted over. 1t
was found that one leg had been shot al
most away.
"Yank," he said I'm obleeged to ye, but
what l cum in furr was to larn who's
lected."
Elected! what do you mean?" asked
the officer, astounded at such question at
such a moment, when trembling earth and
lurid sky seemed merged into the hot quar-
ters of hell itself
who's 1ected President, Little Mac or
old Abe Lincoln?"
Mr.. Lincoln
"Old Abe still; then, by God, stranger,
this damned wah is gwine to last foah yeahs
moah!"
EARTHWoRKs AT HARD-BARuAIN