The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-06-18
JUST sEFoae The eATTLE.


Il
Song, Interrupted by Muskstry, Il
Finished feyersi Months Later.
Rev. DIR. Henry II. Field, editor o.
The New York Evangelist and the au
thor OF recent volume entitled bright
I Skies and Dark Shadows" compila
tioD OF war "reminiscences, In a letter
suggested that the hero of one Of hi,
best chapters Was now residing in Kan
sas CITY The story was that Just be
fore the battle Of Franklin CTenn. q
Federal officer was being entertained
10y the family Of Col. McEwen, then,
as now, a prominent citizen Of that
place. One Of Col. McEwens daugh
tiers was singing to the officer the al
that time popular melody, Just Be
fore the Battle, Mother" The song
was interrupted ut 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.
lie OF Franklin Was not completely
healed until 1884, when the last piece
OF bone was taken out.
The battle Of Franklin has not oc-
cupied my thoughts for at least TWEEN.
ty five years" said Col Waters. but
~ l look back upon that day in No
vember, and remember the hospitality
accorded he by the family Of Col. Ne
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.
~ We had been busy all day perfect
ing our Entertainments We had but
hse 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 TANKS resting on Harper's Ferry.
In the afternoon Of that day Gen.
hnnbail and went out prospecting for
something 10 eat We had had no
breakfast or dinner and were conse.
quentls very hungry Col. McEwen's
residence Was fine old property stu
aied on slight elevation. We asked
IA native who lived there. lie told us
af the saine time informing us that he
Was lawyer by profession, and that he
was nj that time at home Arriving at
the house We were greeted pleasantly
10y 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 "A sub.
stantial cold lunch. He also introduced
US 10 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 com
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 b.. this and
she began; Just Before the Battle,
Mother, which, though old 10 them,
was new 10 US.
she had finished the first verse
when We were startled by the rattle Of
muskeiry. the enemy attacking Wag.
right We dared out Of the
house leaving the young lady sitting at
the piano The battle was on when
We reached the field About 9 80 that |
night ! was shot through the shoulder |
and was lief, for dead /, was the fol |
owing April when we were returning |
through Franklin that Gen. kiinball |
and ! again called upon Cob. McEwcn |
% thank him for his hospitality and to |
apologize for our abrupt departure on |
he day Of the battle Of Franklin. | |
sill had my arm in sling. While we
we're enjoying the colonel's hospitality |
told the young ladies that now would |
'e an excellent time 10 complete the
-onG which had been ~ suddenly brok
m on the date Of the battle, six months
'cforc, kansas City Times