Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-11
HOODS CHARGE AT FRANKLIN.
One of the Thrilling Scenes of the

one of the Thrilling Scenes of the
Battle-A Desperate Struggle.
Elated by the easy victory at the outer
line, Hoods men sprang to their feet with
a genuine ''rebeP' yell as the command
"Forwardv' once again ran down the
lines, writes D. T. Smith in the PhiladeI-
phia Times. At the same instant a cloud
OF white smoke rolled forth from the top
OF the bank OF earth third of mile
away. The leaden missiles fell short, but
the iron hail from front and flank did
deadly execution. With silent mus
kets the gray-clad veterans advanced
to the charge, closing steadily as
nile after file was stricken down.
and in 80 perfect an alignment that even
now l remember IL with wonder. The
smoke thickened and deepened till 1t
formed great cloud, resting on the earth
and shrouding everything from our view
put the towering cotton press. Blended
In the roar, like that ola cyclone, was the
crack OF the Federal musketrv. Not even
the twelve-pounders could be distinguish
ed in that volume of sound, though the
great tongues OF smoke and flame
from their brazen mouths pierced the
the bank of smoke.
1t was not till the Confederates were
within fifty yards that the musketry be-
gan to tell on their ranks. A few yards
further on and they ran into the abattis of
locust and Usage orange hidden till then
by the smoke from their sight. 1t was
not serious obstacle, but the thorny
brush was sufficient to break the force of
a charge that till that moment seemed
certain to sweep all before it, ana in the
momentary delay the ground was thicklY
streWn with dead and dying by the re-
peating rifles of Easements brigade.
Inc ditch was reached at last. Some of
the assaulting columns still had strength,
after the run Of mile, to mount the para
pet and with fixed bayonets or dubbed
muskets to struggle hand to hand with the
foe. Many others or the halt-fed, worn
out veterans sank exhausted in the ditch.
In few minutes half of those who had
started IN that gallant charge had received
their leaden billet, either in the ditch, on
the parapet, or within the works.
A gallant officer of my own regiment,
Lieut.. Cryes, was killed inside the works
while waving his sword in that din no
command could be heard to encourage
his men to follow. One of my OVID com
pany was Drained with a musket on the
works. This was the situation to the
right of the Columbia pike.
To the left of the pike Gordon's brigade
had in the meantime driven Strickland
from the works, and men and caissons
were rushing wildly down into the viii
lage. For moment victory seemed sure,
but the officers on eacn side of the gap
held their men firm, while Opdycke led
his 1000 fresh men, with ranks unbroken,
against the Ihinned and somewhat scat
tered brigade of Gordon, now numbering
not over 700 or 800 men. Swinging around
on each flank the blue almost encircled
the gray. and, after desperate hand to
hand melee, captured, killed and wounded
nearly all the gallant men. StrahI and
Carter, Browns reserve, now came up
too late to save Gordon, but in time to &C.
cupy the outside Of the captured breast
work and prevent the enemy reoccupying
it. Strickland and Opdycke hastily threw
up barricade across the gap and Scho-
fields line was again restored.