The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-12

made by the First Brigade. Second Division,
Fourth Corps, on the afternoon of Nov. 30, 1861,
at Franklin. Gen. George w. Smith, President
OF our Society, who commanded the cSlh H.,
which was consolidated with the 7lth, and was
a part Of said brigade on that evcntiul day,
stated publicly az our Reunion that there was
no order 10 advance; but that Col. Opdyckc
commanding the brigade, came 10 HIM when
the rebels appeared in force and drove the other
two brigades Of Wagner's Division back in con-
fusion, and said: +" Colonel. have no orders, we
viii have 20 do the best we cam Atthat moment
the destiny of the Nation seemed hanging in
the balance. The whole army was in the most
imminent peril. Retreat was impossible, be-
cause the Harpeth River formed an impossible
barrier. Fight or surrender were the only
alternatives. The former was quickly chosen.
Turing 10 his men Col. Smith ordered them TO
follow him, and not man failed him. The
charge OF the Ssth was quickly followed by the
rest Of the brigade SO there was brigade front
Of cold steel awaiting the on-rush Of the vic
torious rebels. Aud il might truthfully be said
Of them, as il was Of the MexIcans at Buena
Vista:
"On came their solid infantry,
Line marching after line;
Io their great standards la the sun
Like sheets 81 silver shine.
Win thousands upon thousands
Yea, with more thau -four 10 one,
forest Of bright bayuncts
Cleaned hcgcely la the sun.
Now. Illinois. stand ready,
Now, Ohio to her aid,
For portion % our line. alasl
Is broken aud dismByed.
Eight regiments of fugtives
Arc fleeing from the field.
Aud the day J. lost II Illinois
Aud brave Ohio yield.
Corporal Hood had boosted loudly
That before two hours were past.
His Rangers on through Franklin
Should pursue IA thick and fast"
But. like Santa Annals famous charge on Gen.
Taylor it did not turn out that way. The
attack was short, sharp, aud decisive; the line
OF works just evacuated were retalSen, and
many rebel died at short range. The men
fought with desperation that knew no such
thing ms fail; bayonets were freely used. az
there was no time 10 reload until the ordeal
was passed.
Thcirlinc Of battle was broken and destroyed,
but that was only the beginning of the bloody
scene that followed. New lines were quickly
formed aud charged the works repeatedly, only
10 melt away before the murderous and we'll
directed FIRE Of the boys. until the flower Of
Hoods army was placed h0rs dt combat. They
fought with heroism worthy Of a nobcr
cause, and the long lines Of slain told how
dearly they paid for their sublime exhibition
of courage and sclf-sacrifcing devotion TO the
Southern cause.
The army was saved from the destruction
that threatened IL. And the calm, unimpas-
stoned verdict Of the historian is that the
charge Of the First Brigade saved the day at
Franklin, and aided very materially TO bring
about the close Of the war. Defeat no that
time would have imPericd the North, and
doubtless prolonged the war. Its consequences
without doubt wonld have been far reaching
indeed, as Hood had promised his men they
should winter in Louisville and live Oh the
best the country afforded.
by writing this way Of cur brigade do not
wish 20 say one word 10 detract from the
effective work done by other brigadcs IN main.
tanning their line against the furious onsiaughts
OF the enemy. Had they not done So the
position Of cur brigade would have been un-
tcnable at once. Hoping this will draw some
Of them out-A. LANMEY, Secretary Of the
Society Of s5th H., Chicago, III.