Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-02-25
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
ACCOUNT OF AN EVENT TWENTY
YEARS AGO.
Fanny Courtney's Observation-Disclosures
Fighting on the Retreat to Nashville-
In the Midst of the Eighth
the Hospital.
Boston Glotel

Boston Globel
November 80 1854, the battle Of Franklin,
Tenn. was fought, and in the opinion OF
the lest military students, its success made
possible the defense of Nashville, as Hoods
army lad to halt after the battle to recuper.
ate. In response to request Of the United
States sanitary comm. ssion, who sought T.
gather all tue facts they could in references
to the battl,, the report, from which the fol
lowia., extracts are made, was written under
date OF March, 1865. 1t is Of especial inter.
est, as tie authoress of it, who was the
daughter of a Confederate then residing
there, is now the vile of Gen Z. c. Caring
ton, L. S. A, AMI resilient of Boston The
report wa addressed to E Root, Esq.
United States sanitary commission, Nash
vile
~On the morning of Nov 30, the retreat.
ing army arrived at this place, tired an |
almost exhausted; but, notwithstanding this,
they commenced immediately throwing up
breastworks Yoa would have been as
tonished 10 see how quickly the work was
completed, and with what strength. We
felt great uneasneis OF mind, fearing that
there would BE- a great battle. We asked of
almost every one passing Il that would be
the case. They repliel: We will only
skirInish with the rebels till We get our own
train away, AMI then we will invite them to
Nashville
But we were doomed to disappointment.
About $3.50 o'clock / was sitting at the din
ncr table, when hearl the roar of artillery.
l ran into the yard 10 listen There
was sSiI1nishing for a few moments
only, when with n tremendous yell, and
the rebels mads n charge along the
whole line. The bullets were falling so
thick it was unsafe to remain longer.
stool within the door, and in few minutes
all was in perfect confusion Men. women
and Children were running in every direction
tlgether with unmanagable teams, loose
horses anu mules Ny position was no longer
safe. FASTENED to the cellar with the rest
of the family and neighborS who sou ,ht pro
lection with us. The smoke was 50 denss
that darkness came on very soon. Oh, how
happy we felt when it was really dark: for
then, we thought, the fighting would be
over. But, alas, the charges were fearful,
AM made with reioubled fury the darker it
grew. About 10 O'Clock suddenly the firing
ceased for a few hours
"A.oth r d.sp rate charge. Suci wells,
/ newer can forget them, 1 ran again int
t4o cellar. In very short time three
wounded Federal soldiers came N from the
battlefield, AMI stopped in the yard, for
they couii so No farther. | callei to the
I-n outside to tring them into the cellar
Two were slightly wounded. The third WAS
struck in the arm, and the main artery was
cut He was bleeding profusely One OF
the neis hbori ran up at the risk of his life,
ami brought bucket of water. Ny
mother had some cotton near. ]
poured water On the wound for some
time. ten pat cotton on each side, where
the ball entered and came out, bound il NJ
with my handkerchief ami, with two Others
beion siIly 10 my sister and little brother,
male lo: him sling. He lay down to rest,
tn; ccuplainei OF being cold from loss OF
blood 1 had nothing To cover him with
What was | TO dot \ thought struck me.
l took off my WOODEN skirt and tucked il
round him. lie remained for some time,
though all the while bleeding little. HI.
comrade decided 10 try TO ovcrtake an am.
bulence with him, and | suppose they did,
as they did not return.
~Soon a fire broke on. in town 1t was
fearful enough, for We thought of nothing
else but being burned alive in the cellar, a.
to spread. The rebels could see
the position of our forces, and consequently
the fighting was more terrific Several
buildings were consumed, but, thanks to a
kind Providence, the fire was extinsuished
by the timely interference of sO!dierS, as
sisted by citizens. About thirteen charges il
all were made by the rebels At midnight
the Federal army began 70 retreat, the
wagon trains being safe, and gradually the
firing ceased OH how grateful We felt tc
God that it was over, as We thought OF the
dying and dead ON the battlefield
AT O'Clock, again, such cannonGding
What could it meant II shook the earth
the house, and everything seemed in motion
above and below. 1t was a farewell salute
sent by the rebels to the retreating army
now far away. 1 was So frightened u
sprang up and aroused every one 20 get {.
the cellar Immediately or We should Ia
killed. remained TO close the Lou5a, TO dc
which, though it took me but two minutes
seemed an age. Just as | reached the cellar
door outside the house, shell exploded
closely, and had been three seconds later il
passing l should have been struck by some of
the fragments which flew about In about
half an hour we knew that the batus had
ended
While we sat thinking and talking Of the
dreadful night we had passed We Eeard foot
steps at the door The Iell rang. and.
rs with strange, nervous feelings
opened the door, who should stand face L
face with me but my OWE dear brother and
cousin. They were Just from the field
Words are inadequate to express my happi-
hess. They had been in the rebel army over
hree years. We had not seen them for two
iears. There was CONSERVATION in the house |
or while. Ny mother was overjoyed that |
he was once more permitted to clasp her |
10Y TO her heart lie remained with u, one |
lay and night, and then rejolned his COM |
nand near Murfreesboro. We saw him nc |
more.
Early the next morning. after the battle, |
went to the field The sight was dreadful. |
I scanned that l could scarcely move for
ear o; stepping on men, either deal or
roundei My mother and | took charge Of /
- WOUNDED Men, who occupied the Pre- by
eriaE church, IL being the largest Federal /
ospital, and, with what time we could /
pare, assisted at another, which was in a |
ousc owned by my mother and near our
WI home When We first went 10 the hos
ital the wounied men told Us that they had
ad nothing u eat for two days. We first
furnished them with bread, meat, tea
nd coffee, and every little luxury we could
repare for several days. Then they drew
canty rations from the rebels-flour of
he color Of ashes and little poor beef, not
Itable for well men, much less for wounded.
III the cooking WAS done, and, in truth, ev-
ry thing eatabse Furnished at our house.
We fed the men twice day. Sometimes at
O'Clock at night we could carry them
omething prepared with our own hands.
Everything moved On in this way for
toUt two weeks, wheE the rebel army b.
an 10 retreat What happy set of mea
he Union wounded were when they heard
. glad news
Cider drinking is good for rheumatism
nj a sure preventive OF stone.
Failure and Success