The National tribune., 1890-10-30
Read "Better than Pension on page Z.
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
A Michigan Comrades Account Of How the Gap
Was Filled.


A Michigan Comrades Account OF How the Gap
Was Filled.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While have
been very much Interested In reading in your
valuable paper the accounts OF comrades of the
many battles in which the writers claim to have
participated / have also been somewhat amused
with tho often widely conflicting accounts Of diff
feFcnt comrades OF the salno battle, aud some
times persons, members Of the same company
or regiment, will differ more or less ia their
accounts of the same engagement, aud as ], too,
was there" have been deeply interested in
the various versions Of tue battle Of franklin,
Tenn, and If you will kindly allow me q small
space 10 THE TRIBUNE wish TO correct some
few errors, more particularly in the versions of
Comrades James Davis, First Sergeant, Co. c.
23j Mich, aud that Of Comrade Shollenberser,
who he Davis justly criticisea.
AS shall COnluc my relation entirely 10 the
pnrt taken by the Second Division, Twenty
third Corps in order TO make all plain We viii
20 back to the evening of Nov. %, 1864. Tho
Second aud Third Brigadcs. all that VAS pres
ent OF tie Second Division rs train guards, had
q slight brush with the enemy about three
miles south Of Spring Hill, driving them back,
aud successfully eyadug large lorce OF rebel
infantry then posted ia line OF battle near
Spring Hii moved on with our train reach
ing Franklin about sunrise on the morning of
Nov. 20 After taking our breakfast We moved
out, taking our position on tho line TO the right,
or west side, of the Columbia pike, aud The COM
1lud forming TelieG went 10 work on our
/ light Notifications. which were scarcely FIN.
ished, when Hood advanced in his nrst cHarge,
about 40 p. IN. In forming our brigade limo
the works we had built were longer than we
bad men to liil. and there b5ing "a short space
left between the ed Mich. aud the 10Th ILL.,,
this space was filled by two computes of a
new Ohio regiment think the Io,jd. There
| bad also been d regiment posted on an advanced
| line TO check the advance Of the enemy. thus
| giving those on the main limo time TO bc in
| perfect readiness 10 give our friends the john
| MES a proper reception. This regiment was
| Of course, driven back on tho main line. the
| enemy following close upon their heels. This
| regiment. instead of hating on tho main line,
were moving OF 10 the rear, in good order
| however, when / heard Col. Moore command
| ing the Second Brigade, direct one OF his Aids
TO halt that regiment and move them back on
the line, which he promptly did, and TO their
credit DO 10 said that TO IA man they about
| faced and moved back 30 the line aud remained
until the close of tho action materially aiding
the nth Ohio and 10Th III. in maintaining
their position. / know not what regiment thi
was. but had the impression at the time thai
| IL was that same new Ohio regiment (lsjd)
Now for that wonderful gap" in the line
what caused the gap, and how and by whom Il
| MAS closed. At the frat charge OF the enemy
| when that advanced line was driven ia aus
Hoods sefried hosls were rushing on afte
| them, those two companies of the new regi
ment left their position and ran 10 the rear
aud these two companies were no doubt thu
troops which the imaE ination of Comrado Shell
| lcnberger maguiied into 1.-TWO brigades," "A
they were the only troops that vacated th,
Second Division lines until the close of th,
battle. Now, kind reader, do not eensure 10,
severely the action Of those two companies o
raw material"
10 their inex perenced eyes unaccustomed 4
such scenes as were now suddenly thrust befor
them, the array ia their immediate from
no doubt had most formidable appearance
aud AS self.preservatOn is said to be tho frs
law of 0nr nature, who blames them for gettin
out Of that and trying To save their bacon 4"
Now, supposing this 10 be the gap la tn
line referred td by C0mTadc Shellenberger.
must differ both with hni aud Comrade Davi
as to how and by whom it was closed. From
my perfect knowledge Of the character q
Coinrade Davis, / am aware that he woul
not knowingly misrepresent single ileu
concerning Franklin or any other battle, u
] think either le was misinfprmed ut Tia
time, or was so excited on reading Shelen
) berger's version Of the affair that his min
Was confused or at fault In some way IA
this gap which was immed lately at the left q
.
Davis has IL, by the 1Ilth Ohio, Tor il was nc
8 | closed at all until after the second or thir
{ | charge Of the enemy had been Tepulsed an
/ darkness had settled down upon the scene.
I We at the left OF the 23d Mich, had di
covered that portion of the euemy's force, il
O stead Of falling back with the rest TO refori
, their lines, had steaIthily taken position in Oh
trench outside our breastwoTk in front Of Oh
e gap, and watching opportunities, would elm
g To the top OF the breastwOrk and give us raj In
fire right and left, and were at that time doin
! us more harm than all the rest Of Hood s arm,
h This matter was reported TO Col. Moore.
Il think by Capt. Hamilton, Of the sd, and @
o bis stating that the s0th Ind on the right
h the brigade, had nothing much to do-onIy
g single line of battle TO h0ld-the Colonel d
:. rccted him to go to the 60th and request Il
n Major TO send TWO companies over to tho left
}. close up the said gap. which was immediatel
g done And while these com panes were moyiu
Q quietly along IN rear of our line, my position
y rs iile-clOser, brought me directly in the lii
a Of their march, and when tho Captain lead in
l. them Il think it was the Captain of Co. III
= the s0th) eame up TO me. he asked: where
that gap In the liner" said, Only a fe
}, steps TO the left, Cap; I'll 40 with you," an
d walking with him TO the vacant space sal
;. Here is the gap, Captain; good-by," and r