Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-07-18
JUST BEfoRe THE BATTLE.
A Song. Interrupted by Musketry, Il
Finished several Months Later.

Finished severai Months Later.
Rev. DIR. Henry NJ. Field, editor OF
The New York Evangelist and the au.
thor of recent volume entitled Bright
Skies and Dark Shadows" compila-
ton Of war "reminiscences, in a letter
suggested that the hero of one of his
best chapters was now residing In Kan
sas City. The story was that Just be-
fore the battle Of Franklin CTenn.) a
Federal officer was being entertained
by the family of Col. McEwen, then,
as now, prominent citizen of that
place. One of Col. McEwen's daugh-
tiers was singing To the officer the at
that time popular melody, Just Be
fore the Battle, Mother" The song
was interrupted at the conclusion of
the first verse by the roll of musketry.
The officer hurried to the battlefield,
was there desperately wounded, and
for long time wavered between life
and death. On his return through
Franklin, nearly seven months after
that desperate battle, he called at the
mansion of Col. McEwen and asked
the young lady to complete the song
left unfinished when the battle began.
Col. !. II. Waters, of this city, was
the Federal officer mentioned, and the
terrible wound he received at the bat
tie of Franklin was not completely
healed until 1884, when the last piece
Of bone was taken out.
THE battle If Franklin has not oc.
cupied my thoughts for at least twen-
ty-five years" said Col. Waters, but
as l look back upon that day in No
vember, and remember the hospitality
accorded me by the family of Col. Nc
Even, can see the events of that
time as in a mirror. was colonel Of
the Eighty-fourth Illinois under Kim
ball, and on the day in question, Nov.
80 We had been busy all day perfect
ing our intrenchments. We had but
five divisions to oppose Hoods entire
army and we were rushing to get our
defenses completed. Our lines took
in the town of Franklin, our right and
left Hanks resting on Harper's Ferry.
''In the afternoon of that day Gen.
Kimball and went out prospecting for
something to eat. We had had no
breakfast or dinner and were conse-
quently very hungry. Col. McEwen's
residence was fine old property, stu.
ated on a slight elevation. We asked
a native who lived there. He told us,
at the same time informing us that he
was a lawyer by profession, and that he
was at that time at home Arriving at
the house we were greeted pleasantly
by Col. McEwen, and on our informing
him that we had eaten nothing that
day, not because of want of appetite.
but lack Of viands, he gave us sub
stantial cold lunch. He also introduced
us to his daughters, of whom he had
three, all Of whom believe were single
at that time. Gen. Kimball suggested
that the young ladies entertain us with
some music and the request was CON-
piled with.
"'As you are hourly expecting to
meet with Hood, said one of the young
ladies, perhaps the most appropriate
song we could sing would be this, and
she began: Just Before the Battle,
Mother. which, though old to them.
was new to u.s.
''She had finished the first verse
when We were startled by the rattle Of
musketry, the enemy attacking Wag
goner's right. We darted out of the
house leaving the young lady sitting at
the piano. The battle was on when
We reached the field. About $50 that
night was shot through the shoulder
and was left for dead II was the fol-
lowing April when we were returning
through Franklin that Gen. kimball
and again called upon Col. McEwen
to thank him for his hospitality and to
apologize for our abrupt departure on
the day of the battle of Franklin. |
still had my arm in a sling. While We
were enjoying the colonels hospitality
l told the young ladies that now would
be an excellent time to complete the
song which had been SO suddenly brok
en- on the date Of the battle, six months
before. kansas City Times.