The Yale expositor., 1894-12-21
ABOUT THE CAMPFIRE
LOSSES AT THE BLOODY BAT
TIE OF FRANKLIN.
by Some Considered the Most Desperate
Fight OF Modern Times-A 7 ale of the
Death of LincOln-lhe Stat Iowa
John A. Logan.
rankin.

A writer in the National Tribune
Jays in regard to the loss of re bel gen.
erals at the battle of Franklin; "In
Browns division, Brown and his four
brigadiers were all killed or wounded;
In Cleburne's division, Cleburne and
Cranberry. in Loring's division,
Adams and Scott; in Frenchs division,
Cockrell; in Walthalrs division,
Quarles, and in Johnson's division,
Manigault; total 12.
ION 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 com
mand Of brigades. 1 agree with you
most emphatically in what you say
regarding Fox's 300 losing regiments
| think the fighting qualities of a
regiment are better established by a
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, l find in n copy of the Nash
Vile World of 1854 an article by Cap
tain G. +. Morrell c. S. A., and give
the following extracts from it:
THE good people of Franklin may
enjoy the distinction of having fur
nished the locality of the bloodiest
battle in history, ancient or modern.
1t is recorded that Grant in one hour
lost 10000 killed and wounded at
Cold Harbor. but he had nearly 1O0,-
900 men to lose that number from
10 per cent in 60 minutes. General
Hood, just before sunset, November
30, 1864 moved about IL, 900 or 1900
Confederates, all told. against the
strong brcastworks at Franklin,
where his casualties were reported
G. S0o-or about so per cent in % min
utes. have not read General Hoods
history of his campaigns, but the
above is the estimate as given by par
Elephants on either side.
"The casualties in this handful of
men may be estimated when it is
stated that we lost thirteen generals
killed. wounded and missing. Down
this red valley of death rode no drawer
soldier than General George W. Cor
don, the youngest brigl Ter in our
Western army. l can see him in
fancy now, as | saw him then for the
first time, mounted on a fiery steed,
his long hair swept back by the
breath of battle, as he rode into that
maelstrom of iron hail. l believe he
went over the works and was cap.
tured There fell, his noble breast
pierced through, the invincible Pat
Cleburne, the idol Of his division AMI
of his state. General Joha A lams
and his little bay both fell dead to-
gether across the cnemy's breast
works. General Thomas NJ Scott
was endorsed by the explosion of
she'll.
"On the right of McGavocll pike
stands the oil gin where gathered the
central whirlwind of the storm.
Across the broad, open fields leading
from the McGavocli residences our
doomed battalions marched. Along
that line of fence beyond his house
the brave ranks were formed. i look
back across the tile Of twenty fateful
years, recalling the then light heart
and thoughtless words of youthful
ardor as we moved into the fight.
see now through mist of unbidden
tears, the unreturning brave, who, in
the face of that leaden doom, with
dauntless tread passed over the
perilous edge of battle To the harvest
home of death, swept in the twinkling
of an eye from our sight forever into
the shoreless gulf. / wonder now, as
| sit here and recall that terrible dav,
how we could have been so thought
less and uneoncerned. 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. All, as we looked upon our
loved ones then for the last time, as
brave John Weller said, knowing that
death lurked just over the hill, why
did we not clasp one another in 4
long embrace?"
Think of it, thirteen Confederate
generals lost in one battle! A corps
commander and four other general Is
killed. seven generals wounded and
one taken prisoner. Instead of hav-
ing 1000 men in this terrible charge,
when the CDnfe lerates admit to n
loss (see abovs) of 6,s1), they had
nearer to 25. 0oo
Now, Pickctt's division at Gettys-
burg numbered about 10 600 men, his
strongest brigade (Corse's) having
been left at Gorlonsville for the d.
Tense of Richmond. There were four
brigades in Pickett's division. Corse's
consisting of the 18th, 18th, Goth and
3Oth Virginia. Pictett's division of
10000 men charged across an open
plain upon the center OF our army of
100 900 men, when 100 guns and TO-
600 muskets vo;nited death against
their ranks, an yet their loss was less
than 3, 600 killed, wounded and pris-
oners.
At Franklin four divisions of $4,000
Confederates male a terrible rush
from cover behind n ridge across a
narrow valley upon force of less
than their number sustained by but
n few batteries, and met with re-
pulse and the loss of $500 men, in
GLIDING thirteen ont of the seventeen
| generals LEADING them. and half their