The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The Fight at Franklin.

To THE EDITOR: Ny brigade First Divis-
Ion, Fourth Corps was rear-guard from Spring
Hill to Franklin, Nov 80, 1864, and when we
reached Franklin we were sent to the rear of
the Carter House to get bite to eat, as we had
been skirmishing with Hoods advance all day,
and had not had time to eat. About sundown
the rebels made charge and drove our troops
out OF the works, and when Maj. Motherspan,
of my regiment, saw what was going on, he,
without orders ordered the 73d to fix bayonets
and charge. The rest of the brigade (Op-
dycke's) followed suit, and we re- took the works
aud took a battery that the rebels had cap
tured and turned on as. This battery stood on
each side of the Old log stable, just inside of
our works about 300 feet south of the Carter
House. When we made the charge, part of my
regiment went on the west and part on the
east of the Carter House, and as we were pass
ing l saw a Confederate officer about 100 feet
from the east door of the Carter House and or
dered him to surrender. He was about 10 feet
from me, and looked at me and said I" l will
die first" One Of the boys told me to take
aim, and il / missed, he would shoot him. My
comrade fired, but the officer paid no attention
to it, as he was not hit. l had 16-shooter
and fired The officer threw up his hands and
came near falling; l let him have another shot,
and he reeled, staggered on to near the east
door and fell. / pushed on with the rest into
the fight, and during the battle captured the
flag OF Tennessee regiment, but could not
take care of it, and gave it to an officer of the
125th Ohio, and told him to keep it for me till
the fight was over, and to give it to me, but he
kept 1t and claimed that the 125th captured it;
but our brigade captured Is rebel flags and
took them on to Nashville with US; the I'D
carrying eight of the 13.
After we whipped Hood at Nashville, on the
18th and 18th of Dec, 1864, and were going
through Franklin, some Of our boys that had
been wounded and captured, told me it was
Col or Capt. Carter l shot near the door of the
big white house, and that his father was living
in the house at the time. i have since seen in
history that Carter was killed in the field to
the south Of the house, so ! wrote to Mr.. NJ. B.
Carter FOR the facts in the case, and here is his
reply. So this will settle that dispute. Hero
is Mr.. Carter's letter:
j. D. REMINGTON
DEAR SIR: In reply to yours of the 18th inst,
lin, Nov 30, 1861. He was IA member of Gen. Tom
Smiths statl, with the rank of Captain. Was NOR
tally wounded, 300 or 400 yards from the house in
the field in front of the locust thicket and consd-
erably to your right. He was brought to the house
as soon as the firing ceased, and died about 81
hours afterwards
The man you refer to AS falling near the east
door, remember seeing there the next morning
lie was a Tennessee soldier, and was, think
from Robertson County. His name / heard but
have forgotten. The old cotton-gin still stands
but somewhat changed in appearance being much
improved. might add, the whole Topography of
the country, instead of a scene of desoiation now
smiles garden.
Very respectfully, M. B. CARTER
Allow me to thank you for doing so much
for the old soldiers. Long may you and THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE Iive-J. ID. REMINGTON,
Co. l, 73d Ill, National Home. Dayton, o.