The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-12
The Ratne ia FrnnklIn.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I see in your
valuable paper of May "a Capt. VOLTS, of the
l75th Ohio, replies to one Capt. Conner, ofSecoud
Brigade Headquarters, in regard to the position
occupied by the l75th Ohio and other regiments
belonging TO the Third Brigade, Third Diyis-
ion, Twenty third Corps, at the battle of Frank
lin, Tenn. 1t has been almost 81 years since
the battle of Franklin was fought, but it is as
fresh in my memory as though 1t was yester-
day. | was in that hard fought battle, and my
object is to defend the right While have been
reading the very interesting accounts of that
battle, l find some mistakes contained therein.
Capt. Wolf states that the 10th Ohos left ex-
tended nearly to the cotton gin. That is giving
the 10th Ohio exactly the position the Tooth
Ohio occupied before the battle began, and the
position the 10th Ky. occupied after the Tooth
Ohio abandoned their works. / will here give
the exact position of the Third Brigade, Third
Division, Twenty third Corps: The Tooth Ohio
occupied the front line Of works, with its right
resting on Columbia pike and it's left extending
to the cotton-gin; the 104th Ohio occupied the
front line on the left of the cotton-gn. In the
rear of the Tooth Ohio was the 18th KY. as
reserve, with its right resting on Columbia pike
on its left was the 18th KY. and Sth Tenn
The 80th Ind. occupied the front line, left of
the 104th Ohio. | cannot find any room for
the 175th Ohio in the Third Brigade ct the bat
tie of Franklin. 1t may have passed through
4
Capt Conner is mistaken in the regiment that
abandoned the works; it was the Tooth Ohio
instead Of the 104th Ohio The Tooth Ohio left
their works just before the battle began, and
in their sudden fight they lost their coors and
Lieut.. GauIt, of Co. G, 10th KY, carried their
flag back to the works. 1t is doing the 104th
Ohio great injustice in accusing them of such.a
coWardly act. The 175th Ohio certainly did
not occupy their position as Capt. Wolf claims,
as they stood nobly to the work and it is do
ing them great wrong to attempt to carry
away the honor and praise they so noby won
on that memorable day. We were with that
regiment too long not to know their good quail
ties; they were brave and generous boys. The
10th Ky. never was in the rear of the 175th
Ohio. neither was the 18th KY. in the rear of
the 10Th KY. in that battle. The 175th Ohio
may have been in the fight, but it did not hold
the position that Capt. Wolf claims. If it suf-
fered on that day it was not in front of the 10th
KY, nor that part of the line the I04th Ohio
! occupied. / would not for moment think of
doing the l75th Ohio particle of injustice, but
| / cannot allow them to get in front of the 10th
! Ky. in that fight. 1t did its duty nobly on that
/ day, and while so many of its noble boys lost
their lives in that hard-fought battle, we as
| old veterans cannot allow the 10th Ohio to
! get between us and the enemy and claim the
| honors we so dearly won. l trust have made
! it plain enough TO convince every one belong
! ing to the Third Brigade that were III the bat.
! tie of Franklin that l am correct in regard to
exact positions of the regiments belonging tc
/ the Third Brigade, and that the 10th Ohio did
| not hold the position as claimed by Capt Wolf
and the 104th Ohio did not abandon their works
as claimed by Capt. Conner.-CHAs. PUN
| PELLY, Co. A, 10th KY, Lost Spring Kan.