The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04

self and several other officers were for leav-
ing, not wishing TO be captured, which was
certain did we remain until daylight. We
concluded TO abandon the place. and we had
not a minute to lose, as there was some
movement in the rebel camps, their fires
being replenished, and ali indicated an early
| movement.
We had proceeded but short distance on
the road when we met courier with orders
to join our brigade. He had been looking
for US for some time, but had missed the
place.
We reached franklin about noon Nov. 80,
and the regiment did excellent service in
| this battle, occupying the position where
the hardest fighting took place Our loss
was very severe. Lieut.-Col. Clark was
| killed at the first charge made by Gen.
| Cleburne's troops in rallying break in the
regiment at p int where the fighting was
the hardest. He received mortal wound
through the head. He knew that he wonld
| be killed. During our guarding the road be
| had lain down and taken compile hours
rest, as he had been without sleep for two
| nights and l did his share of the work while
| he rested.
As we were riding along the road towards
Franklin he came alongside me and said :
Major, if we have q battle tomorrow
shalI be killed. l had this presentiment
while slept last night" He told me what
to do in sc he was killed; told me all his
personal ;.ifairs, and what TO do with his
body. He was noble fellow. He had been
Captain in the 7th Ohio in the Army of the
Potomac, and was considered one of the
bravest soldiers in that regiment.
/ tried to persuade him from such
thoughts and cheer bim up, and partially
succeeded, and / sincerely hoped that no
battle would take place that day, but des-
tiny had it otherwise.
On our arrival at Franklin Gen. Ruger
sent to Col. Hoge an order 10 detail one of
the field officers to act as Division Field
Officer for the day, and 10 proceed at once 10
take charge of the skirmish- line then quite
active. Clark asked as special favor that |
should go, and therefore | mounted my
horse at once to obey the order and went to
the front and took charge of the skirmsh
line On being driven in by the desperate
charge of the rebel attack joined my regi-
ment just in time to see poor Clark fall and
die on the spot. Poor fellow! | shall never
forget him, gentleman, soldier and scholar,
kind and gentle, and liked by all the regi-
ment
1t gave me great pleasure when visiting
Cleveland last Summer during the meeting
of the Society of the Army of the Cumber-
land to find that Col. Clark's bust in bronze
is to be placed on pedestal in the soldiers.
monument which is just about to be finished
in that city. The bust is well executed, and
very lifelike. A more appropriate figure of
a great soldier could not be thus placed, and
none more deserving in the State than that
OF Col. Mervin Clark, of the 193d and the
9TH Ohio.
1t is useless to describe the battles of
Franklin and Nashville, which followed
each other, and with the destruction of the
rebel army and the end of Hoods invasion
of Tennessee. While that great hero, Gen.
George II. Thomas, deserves SO much credit
for this great event, we should not forget 10
give credit 10 the officers who directly fought
the battle of Franklin. The credit OF this
battle belongs 10 Gems. Schofeld, Stanley,
Ruger, Cox aud Opdycke. These men, by
their bravery, daring and skill, gained the
greatest, fiercest and most desperate battle
of the rebellion.
/ hope this article has thrown some light
on the so-called lost opportunity of the rebel
army and if so. the question may be settled.
"A. G. HAIRY. Lieutenant-Colonel 163d
Ohio, Pittsburg, Pa.