The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-27

gathered guns by the dozen ana prisoners
by hundreds Hating only to reform his
lines, Wood took up the pursuit; but the
fhort Winter day was spent, and
DARKNESS FORCED HALT.
The different Federal commands hivouack-
ed on the ground they occupied, and Thomas
rode back to the city to tell his anxious Chief
and the country Of the days success, of which
15guns, 1000 prisoners, and arms and wagons
were the visible fruits. In portions OF the
Union lines the losses had been heavy-for
attacking fortified positions from open
ground is always costly; but from the Com
mander to the private soldier among the
Federal troops, all were confident of final
success, and waited only for the dawn to
finish the work so well begun.
But to the Confederate army the night
brought but little mental ar physical rest. 1t
had been forced from all the positions it had
held in the morning, except on Its extreme
right and must expect that it would he at
tackled vigorously on the coming day, and no
time could be lost in gaining the best possible
position to meet it, Its commander could no
longer hope for victory. He would do well If
he could effect such retreat as would leave
him anything having the semblance of an
army and instead of q tTiumphal march TO the
Ohio, be must expect to fight all the way back
20 the Tennessee. He must hold his line of
retreat-the Franklin pike-at every hazard !;
and drawing back and shortening his line,
be placed the right on OveTton's Hill, rounded
elevation, over the shoulder of which that road
passes, and extending il nearly west from that
point connected it with the works hastily
erected by the troops at the left at nightfall,
and also refused his right and covered it by
E,-fF oil glnr
slope of oyerton's Hill. and nearly parallel to
the pike.
AS HIS LEFT WAS HIS WEAKER FLANK,
and he had reason to expect that his foe would
repeat the tactics of the previous day, he put
Cheatham's whole corps on that flank, and
threw it back at right angles 20 his main front,
in order 10 meet the expected attack Of Scho-
fields Corps aud Wilson with his cavalry.
Forrest was ordered up from Murfreesboro, but
he could not reach the scene in time to take
part in the days battle; and, brave though he
was. il was with an anxious heart that the rebel
leader thought of the coming day. As the
Granny White pike connected with the Frank
lin only short distance beyond the Little
HaFpeth, and about half way TO the town OF
franklin, ii was necessary to hold that as long
ss it could be done, and the new line was ac-
cordinEly stretched across it 10 the westward,
but il could not be prolonged enough to pre-
vent il being turned by Wilson's troopers and
again was the absence OF his cavalry. with its
capable leader, regretted by the Confederate
chieftain. Scarcely had the day dawned before
the attack was renewed. Crossing the Chat
fanO0ga Railroad, Steedman moved out some
distance along the Nolensyille pike. and then
turning westward crossed the railroad leading
70 Franklin and Columbia, and keeping a
strong Ranking line Of skiTmishers out on his
left 20 guard against possible attack by For
rest from the direction OF Murfreesboro. about
noon halted his command in front Of the rebel
right at 0Terton's Hill, and on the left Tor east
Of the Franklin pike; having had no lighting
ourng the morning. In the center Wood was
equally prompt and his advance soon met the
rebel skirmishers, and pushing them steadily
back soon had the new lines in view and
was ready 20 assault Smith and Schofeld
were also pressing Cheatham, Bate, Nalthall
and Coleman; and the divisions Of Lowry and
Smith (f0Tmely Cleburnes) extending south TO
the Brentwood Hills, had their lines on higher
ground than that occupied by their assailAnts
and protected 20 some extent by works revet-
ted with logs. Still the flank Of this refused
line was technically in air" and already the
National cavalry were following their enthusi-
sstic leaders IN q wide detour, which would
put them far 10 the south of it, and squarely
across one OF its lines OF retreat Johns0n's
Division had come up from Bells Landing
where the rebel battery commanding the river
was located, and Joined the main body.
ecHOFIELDs BATTERIES OPENED TERRIFIC
FIRE
on Bates line and sooa leveled part OF his
works and shells passing over the ruins, fell
st the backs Of the extreme left OF bis division
where be had posted il at right angles TO his
center 20 endeaTOr 10 check Wilson. The Fed
ersl commander had personally inspected the
whole line from left TO right and as Steedman
had connected his right with the left Of Wood,
and The assault Of these bodies should be de-
LFeFed simultaneously, Wood had been or
cered 10 assume command Of the whole.
skirmishers were thrown out in bis front,
enc under cover OF their IRE Col. Post made 8
careful reconnaissance, aud declaring an as
ezuit feasible, was directed 10 make one
GrosyenoT's Brigade OF Steedman's Division.
formed oD his left, and the line was prolonged
10 the let By IhompsOIi's Brigade of c0lored
tToOpz Tie enemy had works Of fair strength
made Of trees felled leBgthEise Of the line and
banked with earth from the shallow ditch i'm
AIDE, while the brush was stretched along It's
front A. abatis Just east Of the franklin
pike vas fOur-gun battery in a lnnet. 50
placed that the guns could enflade the space
between the works and abatis. Preceding this
sttack le pieces Of artillery, posted far enough
20 the left 70 get an oblique FIRE on the rebel
main line and also on its refused portion.
opened terrific fire at a range Of about 500
yards Posts Brigade was supported by that
was formed under cover Of the timber, in the
Fourth Corps. and Of slight decliyity, by
cteedfaan's troops As the line advanced that
ef Woods troops opened dropping FIRE that
increased IA intensity till they ceased for the
Anal rnsh. but the cOloTed brigade did not halt
10 hre shot as il swept across the open field
which was soon strewn with its killed and
wounded As with the troops on the right IL
held lis formation splendidly till it reached
the sbatis, which forced halt
ALhosT Al TEE NuzzLEs or THE RIFLEs OF
THE EEEMY.
Some worked their way through and gained
The pzFaPct, only 70 be killed or captured there.
and the enAlading artillery soon cleared the
space between the two: and the line dfilted
10 the rear. itE retreat covered BIZ the reserve
h strong skirmish-line .as al once pushed out
On TIE abandoned ground 10 keep down the fire
Of the enemy and allow the wounded 20 be
carried OF. IhOmpsOn's left had reached mast
The angle At the rebel right, and the regiment
On that flank was subjected to q flank fire
which nearly annihilated IT,
But tie cavalry had gained the rebel rear on
She other flank, aud Bate and Cbeatham and
their assistants had been driven from their
positions, and already the Union right was
gathering prisoners Of all grades aud BY hun
dreds. Animated by the cheers Of their com
rades, the men Of Wood S and Steedman's COM
maud charged again, and, from right TO left. as
they reached the works, they were abandoned
by their dcfenders vino BtFeaDed IN wild dis
order 70 the rear. No halt was made bv the
ElclOEs Ill Darkness made moving away from