The National tribune., 1888-10-11
THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN,
As Seen by One of the 1s5th Ohio.

Them Over" is well and timely taken. 1t is |
we'll known fact that efforts are being made to /
blot out those pages, that the record OF those |
terrible years may linger only in the memory |
of those who took part. Thus If we do not |
sing our own praise, who will?
Probably there was no battle fought during |
the rebellion the result of which could have been
of more interest to the Confederacy, or was OF
more Importance to us as Nation. Had Hood
succeeded in destroying the army of Schofeld,
the capture of Nashville was then easy and
inevitable and thus the whole country south
of the Ohio River and west of the Cumberland
range would have been again in the hands OF |
the Confederacy. Lee and Johnston could then
easily have consolidated by the way Of Cum
berland Gap, with friendly Macmillan close at
hand, and some of the Old World only too anx-
ious for an excuse to grant recognition; and
with such probabilities hanging in the scale of
victories, it is plain to see that at least three
years more war was pending. Yet, with ali
its Importance, with the terrible fighting done
there, but little is known of and but little
significance given to this battle. Abbotts his
tory is so meager and destitute of facts that the
reader loses all interest One reason for this
is that army correspondents found no safety
nearer than Nashville, 18 miles away. Neither
Gems Schofeld nor Stanley were ambitious
enough to keep reporters as staff attaches, aAd
the old soldier was man of deeds, not WORDS.
Greeley gives us far better account, and is, in
general way, complete.
l have read with much eagerness and some
curiosity the numerous letters appearing from
time to time in your columns written by men,
bers of the 104th, Tooth and 175th Ohio; how
they fought and where they fell on the battle
field of Franklin. Comrades from old veteran
regiments have frequently called my attention
to these letters, and in alluding to them here
have no desire or inclination to take one jot or
title from honors fairly won, and would be sat
led n 0I1r aC bqG
now even the place given by Greeley is likely
to be effaced. In the Spring of 1863 the 125th
Ohio, commanded by Col. Opdycke, was sent
down from Nashville to Franklin to do out
post duty. We were around about there for
three or four months, and become familiar with
all the points in that vicinity. Our company
stood picket around about that cotton-gin
many days, and therefore we are positive about
those "land marks"
Opdycke's old brigade crown their achieve
ments with the battle of Franklin. No other
Yankee troops got before US then, and we will
not allow them to do so now. Opdycke's Br-
gade led the advance of the Infantry into Spring
Hill the day before, stood picket that night,
and were rear-guards on the Columbia pike
from Spring Hill to Franklin on the day
of the battle. There were none of the 10th
Ohio between us and the enemy. A few strag
glers from some new regiment were overtakcn
by us, who, by reason of being overloaded with
more fortunate comrades. Our boys cut the
straps, and as soon as they could recover their
equilibrium they made haste to leave US.
About 3 o'clock p. N. we reached the first line
around Franklin. Wagner's old brigade held
the advance line and across tbe Columbia pike.
l remember we'll their appearance. Their line
was a very weak one, and although Hoods
| great army was laundering along like an ava
| lanche, yet we had but little fears for Wagner.
| They had been in such places before, and would
! not be found asleep at such time. About 200
| yards farther on we came TO the main line
| a well-bnilt earthwork. This crossed the pike
about 100 feet south of Carter's house. The
cotton gin referred to was about 200 feet east of
| the road.
Climbing over the breastworks we found
! the line well filed with new troops, many
| having on white shirts. Upon inquiry we
| were told that il was the 104th Ohio. / cannot
now tell their extent, but it always seemed TO
me to have reached from Carter's house to the
cotton-gin. We passed down the road about
| 100 yards and then filed off the road, stacked
arms, and began getting breakfast, dinner
and supper. That meal was never cooked.
| With the frying-pan on the fire, our meat was
nearly cooked in another kind Of fire.
Hood, without any civility or regard for
our comfort, without halting, formed and
| charged our lines. Wagner's men stood
| not on the order of going, but were only wait
| ing to fight some other day. Those new troops
| seemed TO think that they too might be in some
| body's road, and they too came away. In less
! time than it takes to write all the troops in
our front were rushing pellmell toward US.
/ Our brave General quickly formed US for a
| charge. Going forward on the double-quick
we met and tried TO stop the stampede,
but they were beyond control. They passed
/ through our lines, and seemed willing then to
allow US the privilege of occupying the front
! line. Following close on their heels came the
rebs As soon as the runaways were out of our
| front we fired a volley into the enemy. We
met them in Carter's dooryard. The volley
we gave them and the sight of our solid front
was too much for Southern whisky. The COM
| pany which / had the honor to command capt
ured go men, Our front was the dooryard.
| We passed on and drove the enemy back over
the works. The left Of my company and regi-
ment came to the pike; but across the pike,
and fin the vicinity Of the cotton gin, other
| regiments of our brigade were fighting on the
same line with us, and were equally successful
| remember distinctly while making this
charge of seeing Gen. Opdycke on horseback
| (he never got off his horse in battle) over on
the other side of the pike and near the cotton
| gin; and also that the line in front of us from
| q point considerably to the right of Carter's
| house to the cotton-gin at least gave way
do not pretend to be positive as to the regi-
ment or regiments that occupied this line, and
presume this fact never will be definitely set
tied am sure the 1O4th Ohio was there
somewhere.
/ notice in recent number of your paper the
letter of comrade who gives them place to
the left Of the cOttOn-gin. My impression is
that this comrades head was little turned,
then or now, because he says in the same con-
nection that Wagners men had just returned
from reconnaissance" Wagner's men had not
been out; no reconnaissance was needed.
Again, he accounts for the break in the line by
saying, Like gate they opened their line to
let Wagner's men through" Wagner's men
did not require any open lines to get through.
Our brigade passed over the works easily with
out any break in the line They opened UP a
lively gait and before Wagner's men reached
them. Such manuver as Opening up gate /"
in front of the enemy, especially as they were
in close proximity, would be a dangerous manu-
yer. / also notice that there is yet another
regiment-175th Ohio--that now claims promi-
nence in restoring the line. This regiment
may have been on the field somewhere but GER
tsinly was not between Opdycke's Brigade and
the enemy, and we claim to have covered the
line where this breach was made. / do recol-
lect that after the line was restored, other
troops came to our assistance
| The 175th may have been among them If
any of the 175th, Tooth or 104th Ohio were in
that charge, they can remember and describe
just when and where Gen. Stanley was wound
ed; also where the horses Of Gems. Adams and