The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-12-13
LOST BY AN ERROR.
The 5Oth Ohio Kept the Enemy from Their
Front, but was not Responsible for the
Gap at Franklin.


The 5oth Ohio Kept the Enemy from Their
Front, but was not Responsible for the
Gap at Franklin.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: notice in
some accounts of the battle of Franklin
that there are some misstatements as to how
the Union line came TO give way immedl-
ately on the Columbia pike. The 50th
Ohio was placed in the front line TO the
right of the Columbia pike looking south,
with the left of the left company, b, rest
ing at the edge of the pike. The width of
the pike, some 60 feet, was left unfortified
earlier in the day to allow troops and
wagons to pass through from the south on
retreat from Columbia, Tenn, and later be-
cause of the lack of n proper appreciation
of the result should the Confederates charge
en- masse at that point, which was just ex-
actly what they did. and one of the best
regiments in the service was almost ami
Inflated.
The works of the 50th Ohio were the
best-constructed and most formidable of
any they had ever manned. equipped with
headlog and broad ditch on the north side.
When the battle commenced we on that
part of the line had to reserve our fire to
allow the troops of Gen. Wagner's Brigade,
thing like oue-fourth Of mile, 10 come
back from our front in the open field. But
none of the enemy came over our works at
the same time. l was not out of sight of
the front line of works over 80 minutes
at any time until darkness.
When the NEST of Wagner's troops had
come in firing began. / was so occupied in
front l did not notice the Coniederates
pouring in through the gap in the works
made by the pike, and indeed was aware of
their presence in orr rear only few seconds
before they demanded our surrender. Those
who did not lie down, or play postum, were
marched out through the gap at the left of
the works.
/ do not think any other entire company
of the regiment surrendered. Owing to my
liking for the good old army cracker and
salt horse, decided not to accept the invita-
lion to sciOuin in any of the internal hostel
ries of the Confederacy, so / Immediately
started for the rear, which could only be
reached by going someways west.
| saw no reserves whatever, but good
many Coniederates. / reached he west end
of the Carter House, went along the north
side to the street in front of the house, and
had Just turned into the street, when / was
caught up in that irresistible charge of Col.
Opdycke's and carried on with the column
to reinforce the line. The men of Col. OPP
dycke never reached the front line of
works, although they cleared the space be-
tween where The so h Ohio had been almost
annihilaled and the Carter House. The
captured of the enemy in this charge | un-
derst0Od at the time to be 500 aud three
battle-hags.
This charging column established their
line some 20 PAGES In rear of the original
line and parallel with the south yard fence
of the Carter House. l know this to have
been their position, for OH two occasions dur
ing the evening of Nov. 80, 1864, | dis
trihuted ammunition along the line from
where it rested on the Columbia pike west.
do not claim the front line of works to
have been manned at this time. They were
not occupied but by the dead and wounded.
The south side of these works was occupied
Of urging from their officers to keep up the
sharp firing that was SO incessant during
the evening. Their shots, however, flew
high, because the ground declined to where
our men were.
The 50h Ohio, at the battle of Franklin,
numbered less than 2O0; Of these so were
marched ont as prisoners Of war, 30 left dead
upon the field, and twice as many more Sc
verely wounded. f. EMERT, Co. b, 50th
Ohio, Dawson, o.