The National tribune., 1888-04-05

COmrade Brown Thinks There We're Other Coed
Regiments at Franklin.

JOmrGde Brown Thinks There We're other coed
Regiments at Franklin.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Tn TIE Ma
TIONAL TRIBUNE of Feb 9 appears an article
on the battle of Franklin, which shows its au-
thOr-Lieut. Pettet, Of the 104th Ohio-tO be q
man with some sort of n grievance. His de-
scription ofthe battle and the part taken in itby
the Second Brigade, proves to Us that the 10th
Ohio had one Lieutenant who lost his head in
that battle lie says no rebels got inside cur
works, or made any serious attempt to, except
at the pike; and he very much doubts if the
Second Brigade Easements lost man or took
a prisoner during the battle. This is sHrprs-
ing news to the members of the Second Brigade.
We imagined we had some very lively fighting
on onr part Of the line. and saw some Confed-
crates make desperate attempts to get through
ii, and actually got clear over it by the aid of
Second Brigade bayOnets.
4 story has leaked out lately, that previous
to the attack Hood, and his principal subordi-
mates. assembled q hill to view the Union line,
and after carefully scanning the line through
his glass, said =" Gentlemen, there stands the
10th Ohio; they can be distinguished from the
rest OF the line By their superb soldierly bear
ing; you win mass all your forces and charge
that regiment: if you can whip it, and kill or
capture Lieut. Pettet, the rest will be easy and
the victory ours" As this story is not part
OF the official report, did not credit 1t unit!
read I.ieut Pettet's statement that no serious
attempt was made on any other part Of the
line The two stories agree so well that ! am
inclined to think the I.icutenant-from his
pOsitiOn-oye the instructions given as
above.
Gen Cox, in his account of the battle ION
page 81, Franklin and Nashyillel says: 3" On
Easements line, Walthall's and part Of Lor-
ings Divisions made tho assault, and as there
was here no obstruction in front Of the trench
wortR naming, the possibility Of carrying such
a line when properly held was fully tested.
Gen. John Adams led his brigade, riding
straight at the ditch, leaping it, aud mounting
the paTapct, when his horse was killed astride
Of it, and he himself pitched headlong among
Easements men, mOrta!ly wounded. Gems.
Scott aud Quarles fell with one or two other
BrigaGiers, and IN Quarlcs's Brigade a Captain
was the ranking officer at the close Of the bat
tie lWalthal's official reP0rtl Union and
Confederate accounts agree in this, and some
Confederate writers say that Easements Bri-
gaGe killed and wounded more COnfederatcs at
Franklin than were killed or wounded by 4
like number Of men in any other battle of the
war; and as they Lad ample opportunity to
view the field after the battle, we must
admit they had pretty fair chance
to form a tOlerably correct estimate.
We Of the Second Brigade have never sought
TO speak slightingly of the 10Th or their Briga-
der for what they did at Franklin. We saw
they could not fire At the enemy without firing
through the two brigadCs .COnrad's and Lanes
of Nagncr's Division, of the Fourth Corps We
felt pretty sure the line Of Reiiy's Brigade
must break, and as soon rs we had temporarily
checked the first assault on our own line we
found time to deliver one or two obique vol
lcys into the second and third lines Of Confed.
crates coming for ReilIy's line, and we thought
our obliquc volleys materially aided Opdycko
and White in closing up the break IN the line
At the pike.
1t is my opinion that Lieut. Pettct ought to
read Gen. CoE's account, or some one Of the
Confederate accounts. to find out what really
did happen at Franklin; but it is most surpTis-
ing that lie should continue to be so badly rat
tied at this late day as to call Gen. John 8.
Easement 4 brainless bufloon. Comrades Of the
1924 Ohio, how does that strike you? Aud
you, comrades Of the Goth Ind, did you see the
extraordinary s0ldieTly bearing Of the 10th at
Franklin, or were you asleep under the pile Of
CUtlOHsced the Lieutenant spoke abOutE And
did the Johnnics forget to wake You up Iy
recollection IS they did wake you up, and that
you convinced them they had woke up the
wrong passenger.
The Lieutenant says the superb drill and
general soldeTlv bearing Of Reillys fayorite
regiment tthc l04th Ohio excited the Jealousy
and petty spite Of the commander Of the Second
Brigade and some other brainless buttons
Bah. the qualities he mentions when they
The I04th Ohio was an average good regi-
mcnt and made a fine appearance, but / am
willing 10 leave it to a majority Of the Third
Division to say whether or not Gen. Easement
had at least equally well-driIled troops in his
Second Brigade.
! was a member Of the Twenty third Corps
from its organization to the close Of the war,
and l cannot remember ever having heard it
iatimatcd except by Lieut.. Pcttct that the
l04th Ohio was the only good regiment in the
corps, or that it was the crack regiment except
for brass band) neither have ! ever heard any
one dispute that it was an average good regi-
ment
Our regiment was complimented sometimes
for its drill, and ] think once or twice for its
staying qualities when away from the 'front.';
bot ] guess / viii wait for 4 disinterested mem
Der Of some other organization to tell what a
magniGcenuy superb regiment ours was, and if
such party don't come 10 the front soon |
shall conclude that ours was not so very much
better than other frst-cIass regiments after ALL
Now, in conclusion. Courade Pettet, let me
disabuse your mind by assuring you that the
only regiments that excited our spite by their
bearing were Confederate regiments-WI "
BROWN Private, Co. i, Goth Ill, Rockwell
City, Iowa.