The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-01-19
VOL. XIV.-NEw SERIES.
THE DEATH OF CLEBURNE.

formed Stewart on the right, Chchhrm on the
left, their right ami left fiuks, intcrlockcl like
Parthian shields, composing the centre. Gen.
Stephen ID. Lees Corps was hell in reserve -
Cleburncs position was in the centre, his divis-
ion formed in three battle lines IA he at its
heal. Thus arranged IIopIs line was ne,rly
two miles long, advancing, curve like Mus
sulmans scimitar, with the blade to the foe.
But let us follow Cleburnc. Bugles were blow
ing, drums beating and blnls playing. 4 cou-
ricr dashel up to Clchurncs presence an soon
the word "Attcn.ion - was given. then For
ward, march ~ aul the column passed over n
hill AMI through q little skirt of woods. Soon
they emerged into an open field AMI steadily
they pressed on with "proper cadence" toward
the rampant of blood AMI death The Fc lcral
batteries began to open. FIRST came solid shot
bounding over the earth and tearing anl crash
ing through the ranks then the shrckng shells
flew through the air the wings of destruction,
bursting under and above anl around the men,
and at every explosion unbin ling more evils than
ever flew from Panlcra's box. Twilight was
coming on. Forward men :" was repeated
oil along the line. living sheet of fire was
poured into their ranks. Bu the men pressed
forward until the terrific roar ran from centre to
flank, from wing to wing.
Night came and the two armies fought like
two blind giants in despair. Cleburnes old war
cry rang ont above the din ofarms: Follow me-
boys - Once again, and again, and again. sew
en- times, Clcburnc's division, and, inlecl, all
of Hoods army, charged the brcastworks. And
once again, and again, and again, seven times
were they rePused. Every time they formcI
and re formed under a most CALLING fire. At
one times, just before dusk, Clcburnc captured
a portion Of the works and turned the guns of n
Federal battery on their former owners but it
was only for a few moments-a little silver rift
in the battle clouds that envclopcl him in the
darkness. 1t was the hottest fire Clcbnrne had
ever met. 1t was but one stream of blazing hell.
Confc'!cratcs were on one side of the breastworks
and Fedcrals or. the other. Men fell flat on their
faces and fired from behind the bodies of their
dead comrades. Dead soldiers fllel the en-
trcnchmcnts. Bio d made the earth as slippery
rs an ice pond. Thus the firing was kept up
until after midnight, and gradually died out.
Bu, both armies held their own. The Coufcder-
atcs passed the night where they were, just out
side the brcastworks, The FeIcrals only few
feet oil, held their cover uAil near daybrcak,
when they were quietly marched away and re-
treated back to Nashville.
HOW CLEBuRNE DIED.
But when the morrow's sun began to light
up the sky the surviving soldiers looked out
upon sad battlefield. The dead were piled one
on top Cfthe other in awful heaps and the woun
dcd seemed thicker than the uncouutcd stars.
Horses, like men, had died game upon the de-
fences. Ccburuc's body lay there on top of the
brcastworks, ghastly in the sleep Of death
pierced with forty-nine bullets, through aud
through His marc had her forefcct top Of
the works, dead in that position.
Not far from where Clcburne lay was seen the
forcfcct on one side of the works and his hind
feet 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,
rs if living, rIllcl and torn with balls Gen.
Stahl lay by the roadside and his horse by his
side, both dead, and all his staff. Gen. Gist
from South Carolina was lying with his sword,
reaching across the brcas.work, still graspeI in
his hand. lie, too, was dead. Gen. Cranberry,
of Texas, an his horse were seen-horse and
rider right on top of the breastworks, dead.
All dead Four thousand five hundred soldiers
all lying side by side in death Thirteen Con-
federatc Generals were killed and, wounded.
Six brothers, members of Il Mississippi regiment,
were all dead. "This was the bloodicst picture
in the book Of Time -
The route over which Clcburnes command
had marched the day previous to the battle Of
Franklin lay through some Of the richest and
lovclicst country in all the South. The roads
from Mount pleasant to Columbia run through
Grass region of Kentucky, and in the highest
state Of improvement. Six miles from Col
umba is what is known the "Polk and
Pillow Settlement as it is now called,
Ashwool. Here the distinguished and wealthy
families bearing those names lived in a style
of elegance and ease but few baronial estates
of Europe could afford Gen. Lconidas Polk,
the Bishop; was born; here SO, too, was ex Pres
ident James X. Polk, Gen. Lucius Polk, Col.
William Polk, Col. George Polk, Col Andrew j.
Polk, Gen. Gideon 5. Pillow, Col. Jerome Pillow,
and other prominent and famous persons. Near
ly all Of these gentlemen owned large plantations
in Arkansas, Mississippi or louisiana, and had
princcly incomes from their cotton and sugar
crops; but here, at Ashwood, they had their
superb homcStcads, mansions each with manor,
and their surroundings in keeping with
everything refined taste coui suggest and
almost unlimited purses could purchase.
CLEHURNEs ROMANTIC GRAVE.
Being Jealous church people these gentlemen
had built a beautiful Protestant Episcopal chap
ell, and hard by was The family buryug ground
1t waa u very romantic place and the ncighbor-
hood quite typical of the flush days of our sunny
Southland. The chapel was in the purcst Goth