The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-12

GENERAL CHEATHAM'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
l believe the story of the battle near this
place from a Confederate standpoint, has
never been written. General Frank Cheat
ham is no mean authority upon it. He was
a colonel of volunteers in the Mexican war
In every battle fought by the Army of the
Tennessee, from Belmont, Mo-, in 1861. to
Bentonvlle, n. c., in 1865, he bore a CON
spicuous part He was an old soldier when
he took part in this fight. He surrendered
with General Joe johnson after Appomat-
tox. He is now sixty-two years old, and
perfect type of a Tennessee farmer He
lives a retired life, and tills the soil He is a
blunt, honest, plainspoken man who deals
with facts. As we wandered over the battle
field together picked up thread by thread
his recollection of this battle. 1t is isn't al
together dramatic but it is a plain, straight
forward story of the war that is. for the pur-
poses of this review, timely and important.
ut was nearly 3 o'clock in the afternoon
when our advance reported the enemy in
position at Carriers Hill, just outside of
Franklin" said the old General, as we were
riding over the field. THE corps [ COM
manded halted until the Others came up.
General Hood then formed his line of battle
behind Winstead's Hill, about two miles and
half from the Federal position. | rode to
its summit, from which l had perfect view
of its line and the open fields between us.
The day was so clear and bright that 1 could
plainly see the Notifications on the
opposite side OF the Harpeth river,
more than four miles and a half
from where | stood. The quiet village
lay just under thef fort on the river bank, and
the Union line of battle at the Carter House,
as well as the position of the two advanced
brigades, looked almost within easy gunshot.
The field was all within close range of the
naked eye, and, as looked over it. l said to
myself: This is the only open battlefield of
the war where the Army of the Tennessee
has met the enemyp / could easily see all
the movements of the Federals, and readily
trace their line. l saw that they were well
fortified and in a strong position l felt that
we would take desperate chance if we at
pied to dislodge them. | therefore went
back to Hood and said: I don't like the
looks of this fight. The Federals have an ex-
cellent position, and are well fortified
81 prefer to fight them here, where they
have had only eighteen hours to fortify, than
to strike them at Nashville, where they have
been strengthening themselves for three
years and more replied Hood
Il turned without another word, and
ordered General Bate, who commanded one
of the divisions of my corps, to move off to
the left toward the Bostwick house and at
tack on the flank. had the largest corps in
that armv-something less than 5000 men.
was: the corps was directing on the left and
center Stewards corps on my right, and
Stephen D. Lees corps in reserve. My dis
position was: General Bate on the extreme
left General John C. Brown, with my old
division on the left of the Columbia pike,
with his right resting on that road; Cleburne
on the right of the same pike, with his left
resting on it. AS General Bate had long
road around to the left, | waited some time
after he started before giving the order to adj
vance. Finally the line moved forward
Brown and Cleburne were to stop as they
reached the open fields at the foot of Win
steads hill. l rode forward to the summit
as they moved, and established my head
quarters there, and waited for the troops to
pass over"
sit was the grandest sight l ever
saw when our army marched over the
hill and reached the open field
at its base. Each division unfolded it.
self into single line Of battle with as much
steadiness as if forming for dress parade,"