Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-03-07
WARS HORRORS.
A Vivid Description of the Battle of
Franklin,


A Vivid Description of the Battle of
Franklin.
1t was the Seth of November, 1864.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the line
Of battle was formed, Stewart on the
right, Cheatham on the left, their right
and left fanks, interlocked like Par
THAN shields, composing the center.
General Stephen D. Lees corps was
held in reserve. Cleburne's position
was in the center; his division formed
in three battle lines, and he at its head.
Thus arranged, Hoods line was nearly
two miles long, advancing, curved like
a Mussulman's cimeter, with the blade
to the foe. But let us follow Cleburne.
Bugles were blowing, drums beating,
and bands playing. A courier dashed
up to Cleburnes presence, and soon the
word attention" was given, then
"ForWard, march, and the column
passed over a hill and through the little
skirt of woods. Soon they emerged
into an open field and steadily they
passed on with proper cadence to-
ward blood and death. The Federal
batteries began to open. First came
solid shot bounding over the earth and
tearing crashing through the ranks,
the shrieking shells flew through the
air on the wings of destruction, burst
ing under and above and around the
men, and, at every explosion unbinding
more evils than ever flew from Pando-
ra's box. Twilight was coming on.
Forward men" was repeated all along
the line. A living sheet of fire was
poured into thel ranks. But the men
pressed forward until the terrific roar
ran from center to flank, from wing to
wing.
Night came and the two armies
fought like two blind giants in despair.
Cleburnes old war cry rang out above
the din of arms: "Follow me, boys"
Once again, and again, and again seven
times, Cleburnes division, and, in
deed, all of Hoods army, charged the
breastworks. And once again, and
again, and again, seven times were
they repulsed. Every time they formed
and reformed under a most CALLING fire.
At one time, just after dusk, Cleburne
captured portion of the works and
turned the guns of Federal battery
on their former owners; but it was
only for few moments--a little silver
rift in the battle clouds that enveloped
him in darkness. 1t was the hottest
fire Cleburne had ever met. 1t was
but one stream of blazing hades. Con-
federates were on one side Of the breast
works and FederalS on the other. Men
fell flat on their faces and fired from
behind the bodies of their dead com.
rades. Dead soldiers filled the intrench-
ments Blood made the earth as Slip
perry as an ice-pond. Thus the firing
was kept up until after midnight, and
gradually died out. But both armies
held their own. The Confederates
passed the night where they were, Just
outside the breastworks. The Feder-
ais, only a few feet off, held their cover
until near daybreak, when they quietly
marched back to Nashville.
But when the morrows sun began
to light up the sky the surviving sol
diers looked out upon sad battlefield.
The dead were piled one on top of the
other in awful heaps, and wounded
seemed thicker than the uncounted
stars. Horses, like men, had died
game upon the defenses. Cleburne's
body lay there on the top of the breast
works, ghastly in the sleep of death,
pierced with forty-nine bullets, through
and through. His mare had her fore
feet on top of the works, dead in that
position.
Not far from where Cleburne lay was
seen the dead body of General Adams.
His horse had his forefeet on one side
of the works and his hindfeet on the
other, dead. The general seems to
have been caught so that he was held
to the horses back, sitting bolt upright
in his saddle, as if living, riddled and
torn with balls. General Stahl lay by
the roadside and his horse by his side,
both dead, and all his staff. General
Gist from South Carolina was lying
with his sword, reaching across the
breastworks, still grasped in his hand.
He, too, was dead. General CRANBERRY
of Texas and his horse was seen. horse
and rider, right on top of the breast
works, dead. All dead. Four thou
sand five hundred soldiers all living
side by side in death. Thirteen Con-
federate generals were killed and
wounded. Six brothers, members of a
Mississippi regiment. were all dead.
"This was the bloodiest picture in the
hook of timao