The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-10
Some Remini,oences Of Cen. 0pdycke.

To THE EDITOR: On a recent number Of TIE
TRIBUNE ] saw notice Of the death Of our
beloved brigade commander, Gen. T. Opdycke
"a man that all the rows Of the First Brig.
Second Div. Fourth Corps learned 10 love-
and as brave as the bravest- ! well remember
that the First Brigade had been the rear guard
all day Oh Nov. 80, 1864 1t skirmished with
the rebels from Spring Hill TO Franklin, Tenn,
and when we got 10 Franklin the works were
full Of the troops which had marched in ahead
of US. We were ordered 10 the rear and told
TO get our supper, for il was Iate-near sandown.
We soon got supper, for we knew we would not
have long t. stay. a. Hood was forming to
charge and we could see his troops preparing
for il. Some 81 US did not get an opportunity
10 eat before We were ordered to fall in / bad
q tin can Of coffee and slice of pork, but not
the time 70 eat il then. handed the can of
coffee 70 a c0nrade and we were soon In line.
awaiting orders TO right face and march
through the city and cross Harpeth River, for
some OF orr division had already crossed
When the enemy made the charge and drove
The troops out OF the works on the turnpike in
'front.' Of Carriers mouse, Maj. Motherspan gave
this command, I'D, TX bayonets and charged
We cld So, and the rest % the brigade with
the I'D gave a yell, and we All charged at the
same time, Gen. Opdycke ia the lead We all
went ln-eVen Mzj.-6en. Stanley, commanding
the corps As he rode past as some one near
me yelled CUT in the language Of Alarmion.
On Stanley, on" ] wonder if Gen. Stanley
remembers the incident, for be raised his hat
and said, Come on, boys.
j wish 10 say a word about Capt2in-for he
was mol Genesal--CarseT, Of the Confederate
army. II was not a hundred yards from
his house that he was killed. but on lis
own doorstep Garter's house was inside of
our lines The enemy had charged and got
inside our Ines and Carter had almost got 70
the house, Wien q c0mEade At my side ordered
a. 80 4
first This co1rade told ME in case be missed
the Johnny ] @as 10 shoot at him. by c0mrade
fired and The rebel kept RAINING towards the
house. / raised my Is-shooler and fired. and
As he got 70 the door he fell. From some OF
he boys who were wounded and captured ne
learned Afterwards that Carter fell dead ca ais
doorstep with two bullets in him. Truly did
ne come h0aae 10 die, Gen. PAT Cieburne rode
a. the he'd q his troops. his horse was killed
on Gus works, and, as the horse fell, Cleburne
pitched hesdlUIg into our woi ks and was NOR
tally wounded. lie died IN about 10 minutes
lie lei isear the cotton gin east OF the pike
Gen GeDurae's home was IN Nashville Car
ters house was on the west side OF the pike
II the beginning 81 the lght the I'D lay west
OF the PIKE, but was crowded to the east. AT
the time Cleburne was killed the I'D Law on
both sizes u the pike. The First Brigade
captured IL rebel flags. instead Of 10 Gen
Opcycke dfa fight VITA the men, and the men
soyed and hoacred him. After we got to Nash
vile, and were wandering around in the rain
looking for place 10 eamp, some Of the boys
tore some boards % OF q fence The man wio
owned tie pi4ce-an old. crippled up butternut
told Gea. 0pdycke about i and wanted him
20 stop them, 10 which the General replied
GO in the house and shut your mouth OF
viii turn my brigade loose ON you. They are
heroes, every one Of then Look at those
10 rebel haGs they captured at Franklin last
night" The old man went IN the house aud
said no more 10 Opdycke.--J. ID. REMINGTON.
20. ], I'D H.. Soldiers Home, Milwaukee, Wis.