The National tribune., 1894-11-01
FRAN KILN.
Considered by Some the Most Desperate
Fight of Modern Times.


Fight of Modern Times.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIM. n.
Brown, Treasurer of Calhoun County, Iowa,
Co. E, Goth H., Tweniy-third Corps,
writes me regarding the brief note on the
battle of Franklin in the issue Of Sept 6:
al think you come little short of the
facts in regard to loss of rebel Generals. In
Browns Division, Brown and his four
Brigadiers were all killed or wounded; in
Cleburne's Division, Cleburne and Gran
berry; in Loring'S Division Adams and Scott;
In French's Division, COckTell; in WalthalFs
Division, Quarles, and in JOhnson's Diyis-
on, Manigault total, II.
On our side Stanley was wounded. No
other battle of the war shows such loss in
General officers. There were also large
number of Colonies killed and wounded
while in command of brigades l agree
with you most emphatically in what you
say regarding Fox's 800 losing regiments
I think the fighting qualities of a regiment
are better established by large number of
the enemy lying dead and wounded in its
front than would be by the deaths of all the
members of the regiment"
Now, | find in a copy of the Nashville
World of 1884 an article by Capt c. E.
Morrell, c. S. A, and give the following
extracts from it in confederation of my own
statement and that of Comrade Brown:
The good people of Franklin may enjoy
the distinction of having furnished the
locality of the blocdiest battle in history,
ancient or modern. 1t is recorded that
Grant in one hour lost 10000 killed and
wounded al Cold Harbor, but he had nearly
100000 men to lose that number from-10
per cent in 60 minutes. Gen. Hood, just
before sunset, Nov. 80, 1864 moved about
1900 OF $4,000 Confederates, all told,
against the strong bTeastworks at Franklin,
where his casualties were reported $500
or about 80 per cent. in % minutes. / have
not read Gen. Hoods history of his cam
paigns, but the above is the estimate as
given by participants on either side.
The casualties in this handful of men
may be estimated when it is stated that we
lost IS Generals killed, wounded, and miss
ing. Down this red valley of death rode
no Drawer soldier than Gen. George W. Cor
don, the youngest Brigadier in our Western
army. / can see him in fancy now, as / saw
him then for the first time, mounted On a
fiery steed, his long hair swept backward by
the breath of battle, as he rode into that
maelstrom Of iron hail. believe he went
over the works and was captured. There
fell, his noble breast pierced through, the
1nvincible Pat Cleburne, the idol of his di-
vision as of his State. Gen. John Adams
and his little bay both fell dead together
across the eneny's breastworks. Gen. Thos.
II. Scott was ENDORSED by the explosion of
shell.
"on the right of the McGavock pike stands
the old gin where gathered the central
whirlwind Of the storm. Across the broad
open fields leading from the McGavock resi-
dence our doomed bsttalions marched.
Along that line of fence beyond his house
the brave ranks were formed. look back
across the tide Of 90 fateful years, recalling
the then light heart and thoughtless words
Of youghtful ardor as we moved into the fight
j see now through a mist of unbidden tears
the unreturning brave, who, in the face of
that leaden doom, with dsntless tread passed
over the perilous edge of battle to the
harvest home Of DEATH swept in the twink
ling OF an eye from our sight forever into
the shoreless gulf wonder now, as I sit
here and recall that terrible day, how we
could have been so thoughtless and uncon-
cerned. As we formed in line to move upon
the foe, youthful eyes flashed fire and downy
cheeks glowed with the rapture of the COM
Ing fight Alb, as We looked upon our loved
ones then for the last time, as brave John
Weller says, knowing that death lurked just
over the hill why did we not clasp one
another in long embrace?"
Think of it, 13 Confederate Generals lost
in one battlel A corps commander and
four other Generals killed, seven Generals
wounded and one taken prisoner. Instead
Of having $1,000 men in this terrible charge,
when the COnfederates admit to a loss (see
Rbove) of $500, they had nearer to 25 900.
Now, Pickett's Division at Gettysburg
numbered about 10000 men, his strongest
brigade (Corse's) having been left at Cor
louisville for the defense of Richmond.
There were four brigades in Picketts Divis-
Ion, Corse's consisting of the 18th, 18th,
29th. and 30th Va. Picketl's Division of
10000 men charged across an open plain
upon the center of our army Of 100000 men,
when 100 guns and 10000 muskets yomited
death against their ranks, and yet their loss
was less than 1900 killed, wounded and
prisoners.
At Franklin four divisions of %. 600 Con-
tederates made a terrific rush from cover
Dehnd ridge across a narrow valley upon
force Of less than their number sustained
by bat few batteries, and met with repulse
and the loss Of $500 men, including IS out
OF the u Generals leading them. and half
their field and line officers Their loss was
almost entirely IN killed and wounded; the
McGavock House, within gunshot of the
temporary breastwOrks OF the Union troops.
being used as a Confederate hospital, where
Co. Nelson, Of the 18th La, and numbers of
other CoDiederates died.
AS at Cbickamauga the rebels met with
the heaviest loss in killed and wounded OF
any battle of the war so at Franklin they
met with the bloodest repulse at the hands
Of Gen. Thomas army. The strong breast
works" Capt Morrell mentions above as
being at Franklin were OF the most hasty
construction, and consisted mainly of q
couple OF feet Of earth thrown out Of a trench.
forming defense about breast deep when
you stood in the ditch. You could ride over
them as the rebel Gen. Gordon did in the
battle. The imped iment to Hoods grand
charge was the steady and deadly fire Of the
Western men, Injured to guns from youth
and the elan and determination with which
they counter-charged the enemy when they
swarmed over the rihe-pits, driving them
out in disorder with the fatal fire rafting al
their backs-WN. f. DOYLE, Adiutant
18th Ind, Steyensburg, Va