The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-09
FRANKLIN.
The 10Th Ohio Heard From.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Let me oon-
tribute short story, to many told, of the battle
of Franklin, leaving all the history of the army
movements THAT have so often been told ont.
Let me say our regiment arrived at Franklin
about daylight from Columbia having passed
the rebel pickets during the night almost with
out suspecting it, and arriving at Franklin
after having been without sleep for three nights.
/, with comrade, crawled under portion of
the old cotton-gin and lay down under pile of
cotton seed for an hours sleep, but were ordered
up to get breakfast and build works. The right
of our regiment was in front of the famous gin,
and extended to the left or east about 100 yards,
connecting with the Second Brigade On our
left. Between our right and the pike was
fragment of the Tooth Ohio; and truer men
never shouldered musket. / am not able to
say what troops occupied the pike or to the
right of it, as officers and men of the line knew
but little of the disposition Of troops before or
after battle, The company (K) which / had
the honor to command, of course, was the third
from the left and built and occupied about 100
feet of the line; being about go strong. About
3 o'clock our works were finished, and as all
seemed quiet, sat down to rest. / feel quite
sure that not one man Of all that host except
those high in command, suspected that any
thing OF Importance was going to happen that
day at least; but in about an hour, or about
o'clock, we discovered that some disturbance
was going on at the picket-line from 600 to 800
yards in our front, where Wagners Brigade was
posted. It did last long, for in less time than
it takes to tell it the whole line came back in
the utmost disorder, with the rebs closely fol-
lowing. The excitement was intense. Our
line stood with fingers on their triggers, but dare
not fire until our men were inside.
Right here / want to correct some misrepre-
sentations that have been made. The rebels, in
making their first assault, and in fact one or two
Others concentrated the attack on the center
or pike, and no rebels got inside our works or
made any serious attempt to, except at the pike
and there they came over by thousands, firing
down and leaping inside our works in over
whelming force, and it would have been sheer
madness for single line to attempt to stay the
assault; consequently, about three companies
were forced back, but with some assistance soon
righted and held their line until the battle was
over. And here say, without fear of contra
diction, that at least six companies Of the regi-
ment never for moment left the line during
| the whole progress of the BATTLE That the men
and officers Of the line of the Second Brigade
wereas brave and true as in the service would
not for moment doubt But / very much
| doubt If they lost man or took prisoner dur
ing the battle. am not going to disparage or
| try to speak slghtingly OF any regiment or COM
| pany of men in the service; but will say, how
ever, that the hard, common-sense of "Old
| Kelley" could entertain nothing but the most
profound contempt for the shallow brained buff
| foonery of Jack Easement, and the superb drill
| and general soldierly bearing which he had
enforced upon his favOrite regiment, excited
| the jealousy and petty spite Of the commander
| of the Second Brigade and some of his staff,
especially one who lost compauy."-IIEUT
| S. PETTET, Co. K, 104th Ohio, New Lisbon, O.