The National tribune., 1890-02-06

/
side with the first Of the enemy. Those who
crossed where the Twenty y-third Corps stood
fast, dropped in with them and went to fight
ing. Let one of themselves tell the story for
those who crossed where the Twenty-third
Corps gave way. Lieut.. q. i. Hills, n gallant
officer of tho 51st ILL.,, himself wounded in the
| fight, says :" crossed the main limo to the
right of the cotton gin, our line there faced,
the troops holding (?) that line breaking and
! running in complete decentralization to the
rear. We made II partial rally at the main
line, Lieut.. Johnson of Co. T., 5lst regiment,
having tho regimental colors, and was most
conspicuous in his efforts to rally the men. We
offered a very light line of defense, and were
quickly overpowered then fell back OH the
First Brigade of our division, which was then
starting for the works the rebels being i'll
possession Many of our own regiment and OF
other regiments of our brigade went to the
main line with the First Brigade, and fought
as we'll and stubbornly as any men at Franklin
that day. The colors of the 5lst regiment were
carried by Johnson back to the main limo with
the First Brigade, aud the ColOTS of one rebel
command were taken in by the members of our
regiment in tho charge which resulted IN our
holding that line. My own observation was, OF
! course limited to that portion of tho line
between the cottin-gin and the Columbia pike
l was wounded at about 4:30 p m Lieut.. John
son few moments after being also severely
wounded"
When Opdycke's Brigade charged forward,
for few minutes the chances woro evenly
balanced, il is not extravagant TO claim that
but for the assistance rendered by the two
broken brigades the line never would have
been recovered 1t is also true that many brave
men of the Twenty third Corps, who had been
carried away by tho detection of their more
timid comrades rather than by any lack Of
courage on their part, rallied with Opdycfc and
fought gallanty TO recover the works. Never
theless the fact remains that in the chaos OF
confusion which prevailed in tho vicinity Of
the Carter house and was rapidly spreading,
Opdyckcs Brigade was the firm, unshakon
nucleus to which the broken fragments of Lane
and Conrad and of the Twenty third Corps at
taChed themselves. His brigade charged in
trepidly through the rout, and recovered the
breastworks tho Twenty third Corps had lost.
Not all the misrepresentation and special plead
ing which any member of that corps may now
indulge in, can change that saving incident in
the battle of Franklin. Had Opdy yckes Brigade
been out with Lane and Conrad, where SchO-
fields order had consigned it, our whole limo
would have been rapidly swept away in utter,
irrctrieyablo disaster.
From Capt. Schofcld's paper take this sug-
gestive admission: If our men in this part OF
the line could have had time TO fire two
three volleys. they would have rcgaincd the
nerve that they lost during this awful suspense,
and held the line without n wavcr" The Sec
ond Division also had some towards who lost
their nerve and tailed after those OF their tribe
from the Twonty-third Corps, who set the ex-
ample Of running to the town. but they were
individuals only.
1t would seem that tho writers ofthc Twenty.
third Corps had made an agreement 10 hold the
Second Division responsible. and punish IL for
the loss Of nerve displayed by that part Of their
Corps which opened that fatal gap in their
battie.iine. They not only bolittle
THE SERVICE RENDERED ny oPDYCKE's nRI.
GADE
in closing that gap, but they utterly deny the
important assistance. given Opdycke by the
broken brigades of Lane and Conrad. Having
ignored or misTcprcscutod What the Second
Division really did, they seem determined to
deny that 1t did anything worthy the mention
of brave men. Even so honorable n gentleman
as Gen. Cox. after the lapse Of years, has become
infected with this bad spirit and has permitted
himself to set down in his book this unworthy
statement; =" lie" tWagnerl rallied the dis
organized briRadcs at tho river, but they were
not again carried into action"
On what authority does Gen Cox base this
declaration, which deliberately dishonors two
gallant brigades? Certainly not on anything
he saw himself or can find in tho official re-
ports. On the authority Of Col. Lane, COM
mapding the Second Brigade; of Col Conrad,
commanding the Third Brigade of Capt.
W b4lt5lAth, n. A.~tHs OF iUC 1etOuu DIVISION
OF Maj Coulter, who was selected that night on
the battlefield for Acting a. 4. g. Of the Third
Brigade, on account OF his previous experience
ia that capacity on the staff Of Gen. liarker,
aud who, by reason OF that notable selection,
and Of the fact that he there conferred with
every regimental commander of the Third
Brigade, is the best living authority as 10 the
condition Of that brigade.
GA the written authority Of these gentlemen,
as well rs Of many other gallant officers too
numerous 10 mention Individually, ] declare
that every regiment Of the Second aud Third
Brgadcs reformed after the firing ceased i'm
mcdiateiy in rear Of the breastworks whore they
had been fighting ever since they got over.
But this is not ALL From copy Of an official
letter take this extract:
HDq'ns Third Dlyisios. TWENTY THIRD Conrs,l
NASHVILLE. TEEs., Dec. 3, 1864.
GEsKKAL: - / desire also To a. press my nd
mration Of the gailautry Of your whole command
Indeed excess OF bravery kept the two brigadcs
little too long ia front. that the troops the
main iine could not get 10 firing upon the Adyane-
/ Very truly and respectfully, your obedicnt sorv-
/ ant
(signedj J. D. Cox.
Brgadier- General Commanding.
/ To Brg-Gcn q. -. wAGsER Commanding
Second Division. Fourth Corps.
That was the voluntary tribute which Gen
! Cox himself paid 10 the conduct Of the entire
Second Division three days after the fight,
battle ieryor aud before he had time to coolly
reflect on his own relation 10 the needless way
/ in which the two brigadcs had been ex posed !;
before IL occurred 10 him that the pen was
/ mRhtier than the sword, aud with his pen he
/ might close that fatal gap IN the batto-line of
1 his command without the aid Of tho Second
| Division; nearly 20 years before lao had any
idea Of writing book which was to contain q
special plea TO save the reputation Of the Com
mapding General, 10 whom lac believed him
self 10 be under obligations.
IL may be we'll to refresh the memory Of our
friends Of tho Tweuty-third Corps who are
now maniieslug such strange fOrgetiuuess
concerning the most important event in the
history of their corps, by quoting from another
official letter which was written when that
event was new:
HDQEs THIRD DIVISION, TwESrY THIRD CoRrs
AAsnvILLE, TEsE,, Dee. ?, 1904.
Maj. Gen. THOMAS, Commanding the Army of the
| Cumberland, etc.
| GEEItAL: 3 In the early pnft of he al Dyupe
mcut portion Of the left of the Second Division
Iweuly-ttiird Corps, was somewhat disordered by
Misunderstanding the purpose of retiring through
the lines Of the two brigades Of Wuguer's Divls.
ton, which had been engaged In advance. IL wHa
at this time that Opdycke's Brigade was living in
upon, lac led them forward la the most brilliant
manner, charging the advancing rebels and rcstor.
/ ing the continuity Of our lines, which were moi
again dsordered in the slightest degree. "
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signedj j. d. Cox,
Brigader- General Commanding
To be strictly accurate, Gen. Cox should have
stated that the right Of the Third Division
Twenty-thiId Corps, also was somewhat dis
! pPlf NM hat tlte call It.,l