Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-10-09
FEARFUL FRANKLIN.
Some "Reminiscences orthe Bloodiest
Battle ia History.

GHIoN tAt Glht4uCtlNn hA D0NiNN lOf-
nished the locality of the bloodlest
battle in history, ancient or modern.
1t is recorded that Grant i'm one hour
lost 10000 killed and wounded at
Cold Harbor, but lac had 100000 men
to lose that number from 40 per cent.
IN sixty minutes Gen Hood. lust
before sunset, Nov. 80, 1864, moved
about ~, GOO or 10, 600 eonfederates, all
told, against the strong breast-works
at Franklin, whore his casualties were
were reported 6,S00-or about so per
cent in twenty-five minutes. J have
not read Gen. Hoods history Of hs
campaigns, bat the above is the esti-
mate as given by participants on
either SIDE
The soldiers under Gen. Schoheld
were entreuched to the chm. \ half
dozen forts belched their thunder
from as many hill tops long lines of
abb It's and cheyeaux ,,e frise impeded
evciy assault all round the works
shrapnel and grape swept down our
ranks from fiery cmbrasures.
The casualties in this handful of men
may be estimated when il is stated
that we lost thirteen generals killed
wounded and missing. Down this red
valley of death rode no Drawer soldier
than Gen, George w. Gordon, the
youngest brigadier in our western
army can see him IN fancy now,
Us saw HIM then for the first time,
mounted on atiery steed, his long hair
swept backward by the breath of bat
tie, rs he rode into that maelstrom of
iron hail ! believe he went over the
works and was captured There fell,
his noble breast pierced through, the
invincible Pat. Cleburnc, the idol of
his division as Of his state. Cen John
Adams and his little boy both fell
dead togethee across the enemy 5
breast works. Gen. Thos. nj. Scott
was unhoresd by the explosion OF a
she'll
On the right Of the McGayoclS pick
stands the old gin where gathered the
central whirlwiud of the storm.
Across the broad, open fields leading
from the McGavock residence our
doomed battalione marched Along
that line of fence beyond his house
the brave ranks were formed ] look
back across the tide eff twenty fatcful
years, recalling the then light heart
and thoughtless words OF youthful
ardur as we moved into the dght ]
see now through a mist OF uubiddeu
tears the unreturuing brave, who in
the face Of the leaden doom, with
dauntless tread passed over the
perilovs edge of battle to the harvest
home OF death, swept in the twilak
ling Of an eye from our sight forever
into the shoreless gulf. | wonder
now. as ! sit here and recall that ter.
rible day, how we could have been SO
thoughtless and uncoBcerned. AS
we formed in line and moved upon
the foe, youthful eyes flashed fire
downy cheeks glowod with the rap
ture of the coming fight All as we
/ looked upon our loved ones then fol
the last time, as brave John Weller
says, knowing that death lurked iusi
over the hill, why did we not CLASP
one another in long embraced
Pardon the egotism, but, although
it has been twenty years since the
stormy day although looked upon
these sweeping plateaus then FOR the
first time, and only for few minutes,
and had never looked upon them
since until last Monday evening, il
seems | recall almost every spot We
passed over in the fight as one gathers
mp the fragments Of a broken dream.
Surely, yondcr is the very spot whore
| was wounded Eere, without doubt,
beneath this friendly oak, the minnie
was cut from the flesh, WEere ''oul
friends, the enemy, had imbcded 1T.
/ know this surgeons rendezvous
/ full well, for along this pathway,
after the surgery, we passed along t.
| the friendly shelter OF Col. John Nc
Gavock's house. There it stands as II
stood then twenty years ago! How
dear to the old "rebep heart is the
name of Col. John McGavocS and
his family How many torn and
bleeding kOdics were born into this
asylum Through ali the long night
the good man, assisted by his wife
and daughters, bent like minister
ing angels above the dying and the
dead.
Everything they had God bless
them D was devoted TO their deeds OF
mercy. But words lose their native
force as ia memory I 90 back TO
that nightof ccaseless ministro6ous.
IN this room died Col Nelson, Of
the Twelfth louisiana Both legs
were crushed by cannon ball and his
bowels torn By iron grape Poor fell
low Such agony for several hours
few men tver endured. His eyes,
through exhaustion caused by pain,
sank deep back into his head before
death came 70 his relief Give me
forty grains Of morphine" he called
out all through the night give me
forty grains Of morphine and let me
die. Oh, can't d:el Ny poor
wife and child-my poor wife and
child"
Hard soldier as he was, your cor
respondent went down the steps
and far out beneath the silence of
the stars 10 escape bis piteous pray
ers.
AS we drove back toward peaceful
Franklin day before yesterday we
met the grayhaired man whose hero
o. 4 L. ~