Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-12-23
BATTLE or FRANKLIN.
Remini sconces or . Terrible
Engagement IN 1861.
"A * Confederate olIlser's Account Of she
BloOaiest Battle ii History

Gle Of Franklin, Tenn, was fought.
says: The good people Of FransNd
may enjoy the distinction Of having
furnished the locality Of the bloodiest
battle in history. ancient or modern
It is recorded that Grant in one hour
lost 10000 killed and wounded at Cold
Harbor. but he had nearly 100000 men
to lose that number from--ten per
cent. in sixty minutes. Gen. Hood
Just before sunset Nov. 80. 1864
moved about $4,000 confederates
against the strong breastworks at
Franklin, where his casualties were
reported $500 in twenty-five minutes.
The soldiers under Gen. Schoheld
were intrenched to the chin. A half.
dozen forts belched their thunder
from as many hilltops-long lines Of
Rbartis and chevaux-de-frise impeded
every assault --aIl around the works
shrapnel and grape swept down our
ranks from fiery embrasures.
The casualties in this'handful OF
men may be estimated when it 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, as
/ saw him then for the first time
mounted on fiery steed, his long hair
swept backward by the breath of bat
tie, as 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 Cleburne. the idol Of
his division as of bis State. Gen. John
Adams and his little bay both fell
dead together across the enemy's
breastworks. Gen. Thomas NJ. Scott
was endorsed by the explosion of a
she'll.
On the right Of the McGavock pike
stands the old gin where gathered the
central whirlwind of the storm. Across
the broad. open fields leading from the
McGavock residence our doomed bat
talions marched. Along that line Of
fence beyond his house the brave ranks
were formed. look back across the
tide Of twenty fateful years. recalling
the then light heart and thoughtless
words Of youthful ardOr as we moved
into the fight 1 see now, through
mist Of dnbidden tears, the unreturn
ing braves who, in the face OF that
leaden doom. with dauntless tread
passed "over the perilous edge Of bat
tie TO the harvest home OF death
swept in the twinkling Of an eye from
eur sight forever into the shoreless
gulf wonder now, as sit here and
BecalI that terrible day. how we could
be 80 thoughtless and unconcerned
As we formed in line to move upon
the foe, youthful eyes flashed fire and
downy cheeks glowed with the ruP
ture Of the coming fight. know this
surgeons rendezvous full well, fOr
along this pathway, after the surgery
we passed along to the friendly shelter
of Col. John McGavocl's house. There
it stands as it stood then--twentg
years agol How dear to the old "Reh
Ell heart Is the name Of Col. JOIN
McCavock and his family How tbs
asyluml Through all the long nigh
the good man. assisted By his wife and
daughters. bent iilxe ministering an
gels above the dying and the dead.
Everything they bad God bles
them) was devotea to their deeds
mercy. But words lose their NATIVE
force IS in memory 60 back to ths
night of ceaselesz ministrations.
There died Col Nelson of .
Twelfth Louisiana Both legs weis
crushed BY cannon bah and his boz
els torn By iron grape Poor fellOp
Such agony for several hours few me-
ever endured. His eyes. through e
hanstion caused By pain, sank deg
t...<.f ss<<<s kso fso~g f.op.ero death can,