Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-09
THE FRANKLIN FIGHT.
ONE OF THE BLOODIBST CONFLICTS OF THE
WAR.
Brave Deeds Of Gallant Soldiers Led by Hood and
SehOfsld--A Battle in Some Respects Uupar-
alelsd During the Rebellion.
Dmici 7. Smith in Philadelphia Times.

IlOOl IaeSScl -uislly CstCeS UdltlOOICu
veterans, ut Franklin, formed in line of
battle on the afternoon of November 30,
1861. Franklin lies on the south side OF
Harpeth river, in an open bend, twenty
miles by the pike south of Nashville, Tenn.
The crest of Carriers hill, extending across
the heel OF the bend, OverlOOEs the village
and commands the approaches from the
south. Three miles south of the village
are the WindStcad hills. On the north
side of the river, commanding the bridges,
village and defences, is Figures hill; on
this ut the time OF the battle was strOng
redOubt, armed with heavy siege guns and
known rs Fort Granger. Three pixies enter
the village from the south, the LewiSburg
pike, to the east; the Columbia pike, near
the centre, and Carter's Creek pike, to the
west.
1t was nearly o'clock, and the winters
day WAS fast drawing to a close rs the order
Attention. ran along the Confederate
lines. For nearly an hour the men of our
brigade lQuarleS'D had been in line, lying
or sitting on the ground. Not much had
been said, all knew what was before them,
for there was hardly man in that line
who had not time and again been under
fire. Many bore scars, still red, OF battle
wounds, and the laggards and towards had
long since gone 10 the rear. Some of the
veterans, with an eye to the future, had
been industriously cleaning the scattered
dry beans from field in our front; Others,
less hopeful, were rs induStriOuSly eating
every crumb of the scanty ratiOns in their
havcrsacks. demonstrating with one Of
my company he replied: Il am going to be
killed and don't want any one else to
eat my ratiOns." Poor fellow, an hour
later he was dead.
Elk bayOnetsr THE blood in the
chilled bodies of the thinly-clad men beat
a tritle faster. "FOrward-dOuble quick
and we were off through an old corn field,
the dead stalks of which, the size Of ones
wrist and bent in every direction, sent
more than one wet" to mother earth.
'By the left flank for 100 or 500 yards
and we came out in full sight of the enemy.
This flank movement, made to avoid deep
cut, brought Walthall in front OF French.
Here for few minutes we halted while
Cheatham came up and connected with
Stewa1t's left.
In front of US was an open grove Ofsugar
naples. The ground slOped somewhat
abruptly for a hundred yards to a small
brook, and then rose gradually to where
the fresh-turned earth Of the Federal breast
works marked the crest of Carriers hill.
Halfway between was q lower earthwOrk,
behind which crouehed Bradley's and
Lanes blue coated brigadeS, and in front
of this small mounds of earth marked the
Federal rifle pits.
Attention! SkirmiShers to the frontn'
As If on drill, line of men ran forward,
loading and firing awaiting themselves OF
the shelter Ofthe great naples. Forward,
guide left, double quickr the supense was
over, and we were off, down the slope,
across the brook, over the railroad track
aud ND the hill. Shell and shrapnel from
Schoheld's guns across the river made many
an ngly gap, but the grays steadily closed
to the lett. 1t seemed but moment be-
fore we were in the midst Of the rifle pits
and then over the advanced works. The
Larger portion of Bradley's and Lanes bril-
gades fell back, rs they saw themselves
about to be thanked by Stewards right,
which, owing to the formation, was well
advanced. About 1000, however, lay
down in the shallow ditch and surrendered.
Elated by the easy victory ut the outer
| line Hoods men sprang to their feet with
| a genuine rebel yell rs the command For
wardr' once again rang down the lines. AT
the same instant q cloud of white smoke
rolled forth from the top of the bank of
earth q third of mile away. The leaden
missiles fell short, but the iron hail from
front and flank did deadly execution.
With silent muskets the gray clad veterans
advanced to the charge, closing steadily as
! file after file was stricken down, and IN so
perfect an alignment that even now l re-
member il with wonder. The smoke thick
and deepened, till it formed great cloud
resting on the earth and shrouding every
/ thing from our view but the towering cot
| ton press. Blended in q roar like that OF
the cyclone was the crack OF the Federal
musketry. Not even the twelve-pounders
could be distinguished in that volume oil
sound, through the great tongues Of smoke
and flame from their brazen mouths pierced
/ the bank of smoke.
II was not till the Confederates were
within fifty yards that the musketry began
\ tn 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 ola charge that
till that moment seemed certain to
sweep ali before it, and in the momentary
DELAY the ground was thickly strewn with
dead and dying by the repeating rifles Of
| Easements brigade.
/ The ditch was reached ut last. Some OF
the assaulting columns still had strength
after the run of mile to mount the para
net and, with fixed bayonets or dubbed
muskets, to struggle hand-tO-hand with the
foe. Many Others of the half-fed, worn
ont veterans sank exhausted in The ditch.
In n few minutes half of those who had
started in that gallant charge had received
their Ieaden billet either in the ditch, on
the parapet or within the works. A gallan,
officer of my own regiment, Lieutenant
Crymes, was killed inside the works while
waving his sword-in that din no command
could be heard-to encourage his men Il
follow. One of my own company wa