The National tribune., 1897-12-23

town. the rIg.1t Oh our DflSSlue resting OF
the Harpeth River. Gen. Scott then gal
loped down the line. urging us to "hurry
up: that the enemy were retreatinG anC
Gen. Hood wanted 10 charge and capture
them before they could cross the river
When We emerged from the timber We
saw our men within SEQ yards of the works
advancing through the open field in two
and three lines, under the most deStruc-
tive fire | ever Witnessed. Although great
ganS were being cut in their ranks they
moved steadily forward and drove the
enemy from their first line of works then
on the second line, where a most deadly
conflict took place with nothing between
chem but the emhani.ment the Federals
had thrown UP for protection of their in
fantry.
The enemy had some batteries on a hill
tust across the little river, that fired over
their own lines until the opposing forces
got 50 close together that they endangered
their own men. Then they concentrated
All the guns on us, we heing the extreme
right and nearest T. them, with nothing
but m o31n space between us.
The infantry opened on as with terrible
volieyS, and II seemed rs II not one OF us
could possibly cscapc the STERN OF grape,
canister and minie-balls that were poured
into us.
Our brigade was in a single line, and !
presume not expected TO take the works
until a breach had been made by the
double and treble lines ia front. The
enenly'S line being in u semi-circie around
the town, We had To make a LETT wheel,
which brought us almost IN a direct line
with the batteries Oh the hill.
They e1Ialided Us at every shot. but we
pressed On until we came 10 a bois dare
hedge last in front of the works, which was
almost .npa SSable under any circUIa-
stances. BY his time Our single line had
become 50 thinned and nearly every officer,
from Gen. Scott down. killed or disabled,
that it seemed Ike EladreSs 10 attempt TO
70 farther; so, having nobody To command
or to lead with secrecy a respectable
SllirriSh-I line, one by one we began 10 fall
back.
Now came. if possible, a more terrible
ordeal than that through which we had
Just passed. To turn our backs Upon
u or - pieces of artillery and two or three
lines of infantry with Geo yards OF level,
open field before US looked like forlcrn
hope OF ever reaching q place of safety.
ON my retreat happened to pass rife
pit the enemy had dug, throwing the dirt
at the root Of a large oak tree about 500
wards from the works. II took but a mo-
ment TO decide that my chances would be
better behind this than to attempt 10 run
200 or 4e0 yards farther through such a
storm oi leaden hail as was sweeping the
field before and around me.
The sun was now about one hour high,
and from that time till dark il seemed ~
me the Yankees never ceased firing for
one moment. Many shells struck the
tree, cutting off limbs that fell around me,
but fortunately passed through IL all I'm
scathed.
When | stopped | observed that there
were a number of haversacks, overcoats,
etc. which the skirmiSherS in their haste
had left in the rife pit, so when it got dark
enough SO the enemy could not see me,
and the firing slackened somewhat. /
crawled over in the pit and secured
haversack full of bareback and bacon and
an overcoat 10 wrap up in If j should ever
be lucky enough to reach a place where |
could sleep.
| started in the direction whence we
came, passing many dead ard wounded,
and after a while began to meet up with
stragcie-s like myself inquiring for their
comrades; but not until 10 o'clock did
find any part OF my regiment.
OF the missing could not know how
many were killed and wounded, but sum
ming UP those known, We soon found our
loss was quite heavy among them Gen.
Scott wounded, Col. Ives shot in seven
places and supposed 10 be mortally wound
ed, Maj. Dixon killed, and many subordi-
nate officers and priyates.
On the Columbia pike the battle con-
tinued 10 rage with fury Cheatham's
men had got TO the works, but their ranks
were so thinred it was an imposeibili;y to
force the enemy Whose loss had been
comparatively light out Of the ditch They
could neither advance ncr retreat, and in
almost hand hand conflict the dread
full work OF carnage UaS kept mp till after
midnight, when The enemy silently with
Grew and evacuated the toxin. =
Franklin, Dec. 1.-The enemy are all
gone this morning, bat a sad scene met
oar ewes when il was light enough 10 see
Our dead were literally piled On ;or of each
other al the foot Of the emhankment that
alone separated them from the dead Fed
erals who were in the ditch on the OF
posite side; besides, the dead and wounded
we're scattered Ter hundreds of yards in
front Of ahe works.
our loss IS very heavy, estimated AT
5000, n large percentage OF The number
actually engaged-among them Gems
Cieblrne, Adams, and Strahl-killed, Scott,
halthali and QuaTles wounded, and many
Colonies and subordinate officers killed
or wounded.
n this is a victory IL is very dearly
hOught indeed, and nothing more accom-
Dlished than could have been done with
ottt the loss Of man; for the Tederais
were evidently forced TO fight against their
VIII, and would have evacuated during
the nigil:-
We spent the day burying the dead and
taking care OF the wounded as best VIC
cOhld, aAd late an the evening crossed the
liarpeth RIVER and went into camp
Dec 2.-Early this morning We got into
lnc and marched briSkly until u m
when We fled 10 the left and after rlsrIIy,
er.ng about til in the night took nos ltion
five or six miles from the city o! Nash
vile.
Dec. We remained quietly in line till
2 p. m. gllen We were ordered forward in
hne-ot battle charged the enemy's slir-
mishers and drove them back, advancing
within ssht Of the encmys works and
were ordered To lie down. I2eing in plain
view OF their line, the artillery opened on
us and gave IS severe Smelling during
which quite a number were killed and
wounded, and after n while getting so
destructive we were ordered under cover
OF q hill. where remained till night
when We moved short distance to the
LETT and began fortifs ing.
Dec. I've worked hard all niGht he
licving that the Smelling would be re-
newed with daylight and that our safety
depended IN large measure on the depth
10 which we succeeded in getting into the
ground Sure enough, as soon as il was
light enough 10 see the dogs OF war" were
let loose again and a terrific Smelling was
kept up all day; however, with but little
damage To US, as We were pretty well
sheltered by our bre8Stworks, the only
serious casualty in our regiment being that
OF Jack Nichols, who was MORALLY wounded
by fragment OF shell
The enemy have a strong position their
artillery being posted on commanding emf
nenceS, with nothing bat open fields be
tween as, while a line of earthworils for
the infantry extends as far as we can see
IN cither direction. II we are 10 storm
their works 1t seems to me il should be
zone at once, aS every hours DELAY is
adding TO their strength and no adya,,tare
10 US.