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


the conflict went on it was hand-to-
hand fight; charge and counter charge
on both the right and the left on the
Columbia road. Men fought like demons
over stray pieces of artillery that
were of little or no value where
men were fighting in such close quarters,
Often they were close enough to each other
to use dubbed muskets and the bayonet.
The first desperate charge by Cheatham's
corps was repeated again and again, and was
as often repulsed Stewart, too threw his
force upon the Federals in the intrench-
ments, and they fought with just as much
daring and determination as Cheatham's men
had shown. 1t would require a volume to
record the instances of individual gallantry
that was shown by men on both sides. Men
who had fought well on many fields fought
even better to-day, and the minutes length
ened into hours, and yet the hand to hand
conflict was continued just where it begun.
The roar of musketry would sometimes sub
side for a minute, only to be renewed again
as new troops took hand or more ammuni-
ton was brought up. While the infantry
was engaged, fighting i'll a pen, as it were,
Wilson with his cavalry away to the left,
was having hand combat with Forrest to
keep him off the flank or rear Of Schofields
force, and it is a wonder to all who look at
the ground how he succeeded in doing it.
The frightening shadows OF the afternoon,
betokening the coming of night, brought no
relief to the tired yet determined combat
ants. The sun went down in the thickest of
the fight with the smoke of battle covering
the field like pail, The twilight drifted
into the cleaning, and it in turn gave way
to the darkness of night, and yet the strag-
gle continued. The flash. OF the guns from
one side would furnish the light by which
volley was directed at the other. Thus the
two lines at several points within easy reach
of each other kept up the fusilade until both
were literally worn out. The horrible din
ceased about o'clock, but random shots
every now and then admonished the weary
men that both sides were still on the alert.
At about IL o'clock comparative quiet
reigned, and the Union forces took advant-
age of it to slip away from their position.
Shortly after midnight they crossed the river,
marched rapidly toward Nashville, and the
battle of Franklin was over. Itseems almost
fiction to record the number of men lost in
this fight. Eight thousand were killed
wounded or missing during this two-hour
battle. Union, 1926. The Confederate rolls
bore the names of the other 5000.
The Carter House, hard by the pike, which
was the focus of the battlefield, still stands,
as full of bullet-holes as the lid of a pepper
box. Mr.. Carter, who was in the house
with his family when the battle ragged, gave
me very vivid picture of the fight as he saw
1T. He also told me the saddest story of the
war l ever heard His younger brother
who was a staff officer in Bates division,
was found next morningby sister, MORALLY
wounded within short distance of his faith
er's home. He lived only few hours not
long enough even to tell the story of that
portion of the battle in which he had been
engaged
There has been great deal OF gush and inn
agination written of this battle Cleburne's
death has been colored to please the fancy of
many who did not know the facts. 1t was sad
enough, but there was little romance about
it, He died as, l have no doubt, from what
learn of his character, he would have pre-
ferred to die-leading his men in a
desperate assault. The loss in the bat
tie, on both sides, of itself indicates
that it was, in many respects, the
most stubbornly contested battle of the war
Men never faced each other in the history of
modern strife with more determination than
upon this open field, on the outskirts of this
village, now garnered with che fruits of
peace. Death harvested a larger crop than
he ever before gathered from so few acres
in this country. 1t was the severest test
taking it all in all, that men on either side
wthstood during the late rebellion. In the
long future, when men shall read the history
of the war for the Union, they will close the
book with a feeling of mingled pride and
sorrow after reading of this battle.