The National tribune., 1883-10-11
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
lnafher Aconunt OF De na.sIe Of FrankIin.

Another Account OF the Rattle OF Franklin.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
I am very much interested in the many let
fers you publish, giving descriptions Of army
life battle scenes, etc, and, in particular, those
relating TO the battle Of Franklin, Jenn of
which good deal has been said and written,
and if you VIII permit, VIII do likewise from
NV observations, and I hope it viii be the
means of drawing out Others from the Second
division of the Twenty third Army Corps.
On the morning OF November % we retired
across Dsck River at Columbia aud tried TO
burn the railroad bridge, butt for some reason,
it wouldn't burn. Shortly after we crossed,
the Johnnies put in their appearance on The
other siGc. and we kept up skirmIsh ire the
balance of the day. Oar division fell hack
about 4 O'Clock in the afternoon, leaving the
skirmish-ine ,of which was one to watch the
rebs. and taev would frequently call over and
ask why we didn't leave with the others, IS we
might get raked in. We left the line about
dusk, under command of the major OF the
Seventy second Illinois II think; don't
know his name A short time after, we heard
firing on our right, and understood il was Cen
eral Cox division disputing the crossing OF the
river l,y the rebs.
when SIC reached Spring Hill we came upon
our wagon train and at the same time, saw a
long line OF fires short distance to the right
OF the road, which we supposed was our al u.s.
ion. We moved to the left of the road to rest,
the major in command standing guard while
we slept. but our sleep was short; we We're
Weakened by firing in our 'front.' when the rebel
cavalry made a dash our train and burned
number of wagons We moved forward the
best we could, Zigzag among the wagons as
they had stopped and blocked the road. /
well remember overhearing the teamsters say
they liked To see those with guns go forward.
Little did they Tor wel think there was more
r.-r~ar laa ral,S
saw fit to attaclz,-and why they didn't was
always a mystery 10 me. Our little command
soon got scattered, the three detailed for skir-
nish from my company remaining together.
WereachCd Franklin about noon. The boys had
iush finished the works and were issuing ra-
fiOns. Some were on the works wishing the
rebs would come, now that we were prepared
10 give them warm reception, and al pre-
dieted they would never cross that open field,
as we could have fine target practice as soon as
they came in range, and we think so yet, had
it not been for those two bTigades in our front,
which we ali understood, were instructed 70
fall back when they saw the main line ad-
vancing The section of artillery that were
out with them come in on ZINE. and you could
hear the question asked ali around: Why
don't they come I'M" Bat when they did
come in the rebs came in with them, and. in
stead of our Gne target practice, We had time
TO fire but two rounds, when the rebs rushed
IN through the gap At the pike and over the
works at the same time aud before we could
realize what had happened, we were between
two reb lines and compelled to surrender.
John PennOck, of the Thirty-third Illinois,
is mistaken in his letter TO you stating that his
regiment occupied the front line, just west of
the pike and the right Of his company rested
on the pike The front line of works Just west
OF the pike was occupied by the Fiftieih Ohio
volunteer infantry, the left Of the regiment
resting at the pike. On our right, 1 think. was
the Twenty-seventh Kentucky. There was no
works across the pike as il was left open for
those outside TO come it. but back thirty or
forty feet was a short line built across and
occupied j think by company Of the One
Hundred and Eighty-th Ohio. Just across
the pike from as was General Cox division, and
the general sat on his horse. close up 10 the
line, directing affairs until the rebs were right
on US and didn't have time TO see how he
got away for the jOhnnies had me and about
sixty OF my regiment. They murdered our
first heutenant, James Lucas, after he sur
rendered and delivered his sword and revolver,
but, at such a time, men were not responsible
for their acts. Such mob fighting as took place
at the pike don't think was ever witnessed
on any battlefield Of the war. and VIII never be
forgotten by those who took hand in il, and,
although The rehs were very careful what they
said IN orr hearing we heard enough 10 know
Ii was a fearful day to them. But have said
more thaa ] intended Al some futare tine !
NAV tell what became Of us after leaving
Franklin for the South under the care OF john
NJ Reb. Respectfully,
JouN J.. WALKER,
Co. 3, 50th o. V. l., ID div, 23d A. c.
HAMILTON, O.