The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26

Nv NiNO hAA NAAtAN
day and aftorward:until a.bullet laid him low
on Nov. 20. 1884. Kenesaw turned out a
slaughter pen for officers. but Macarthur es-
capped through the aid OF q package OF letters
whether from mother or sweetheart tie all
tho same whore a brave fellow Ia concerned
which he carried In his breast pocket. There
Ia n tradition among the survivors OF the
Twenty-fourth to the effect that a commits
slon as Major was also In the pocket and that
the bullet left It's black lead mark right over
the name where the document reads: To Ar
thur Macarthur. greeting Thanks to the
bundle OF letters and the fair hand that penned
them, the missile got no further. and we kept
our boy leader until we came TO the hottest
fight, as We think, OF the series, the battle OF
Franklin. Tenn.
There has been no end OF discussion
among men OF every rank and grade over that
battle. and especially the part played in II BY
our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cluster Of seven
regiments numbering only 1000 men. You
can see that our regiments had been fought
down TO a FRAGILE as the Southerners say OF
themselves. Franklin was a decisive battle.
and books have been written to show who
made IL 30. but I only speak OF what the
Twenty-fourth did that day under its gallant
young leader. Our brigade had been rear
guard In q twelve-hour march and fight from
hplihiiS Ahih W tuLlhlih, INV bOOlA iOch
entered the inclosure Of breastworks held by
the Twenty-third Corps and part OF the Fourth
to protect the crossings Of Harpeth River, back
OF the village OF Franklin. We were entitled
to be In reserve and marched back o few hun
dred yards from the gap we had passed
through on the Columbia pike. We made cof-
fee and rested beside our muskets. expecting
a respite from fighting until shutdown at least.
Suddenly. about 4 o'clock, the picket firing
in front increased TO battle proportions, and
we saw a column OF Confederates rushing over
the works In front where we had come in
shortly before. or course we knew what war
meant. especially with a leader like Hood at
our heels. 80 there was no speculating upon
what to do nor any monkeyshines to get into
military shape for business. We simply blew
the half-munched and half-moistened crumbs
OF bareback from our mouths. dropped our cof-
fee tins and seized our rides. There has been
much talk OF orders from this one and that.
but neither l nor my comrades heard any.
We did hear the cry from a hundred Threats:
Let US go to the works! Let us go to the
works. We started and aligned somewhat as
We rushed forward.
II saw Macarthur swing into his saddle.
draw his sword and start for the works. and
that would have been order enough. anyway.
But there were difficulties ahead in the shape
Vi bollO Vi az . Nv
scans, who had swept our front line away the
length Of a brigade and were coming pel-mell
for the second.
Our regiment was on the right OF the third
line Of our brigade. as we lay at rest, but l
know that when Yank and Johnnie met that
day around the Carter house we were in tho
front line and Macarthur was sabring the
men in gray In order to cut a road to the front.
That was my last view Of him. We forged our
way to the works. using our rifles as clubs and
getting the same from the Confederates. Our
flags on the ~parapets were defended by bayo-
net thrusts and one OF our Sergeunts was cut
in the head by a sabre blow from the other
side Of the wall. But We STAYED there until
Cleburne had been killed anu the enemy
backed away. satisfied.
when we came to look for our boy leader
we found him lying helpless. wounded. where
we first struck the enemy. and n little further
in toward the works was acting Major Phil
brick dead. Our division commander. Gen.
Stanley. said: I will not say that the Twenty
fourth Wisconsin had all to do with saving the
day at Franklin. but it had a large part in it.
and in this feat 1t was led by IT'S gallant boy
Colonel. Arthur Macarthur
We'll. they couldn't commission Arthur full
Colonel. because we didn't muster men enough.
but they gave him the brevet rank with the
CDiii vi ulu iiC Y
was who took the regiment home. in 1865. to
Milwaukee,. He Immediately entered the
regular army and fought the Indians for
twenty years. At the outbreak OF the Spanish
war he was commissioned Brizadier-Genera
and sent 10 the Philippines. where. with his
brigade. he :'captured at a blow the own and
bridges OF Malate and formed the enter
ing wedge for the taking OF Manila. /
smoke OF Major hibbard's prediction Of a
bright career for the boy Adjutant after
Stones River. hazard another for the young
MAJOR General now holding the Filipinos in
check at Manila. and that is that if he lives he
will one day command the United States
Army. He is not yet "a years old. and. with
ten years ahead Of him. when Generals and
Colonies are being retired at the rate OF one a
month and moro. he will reach the rank Of SEN
Tor Major-General before he is past the age OF
soldierly activity. 1t sounds like romance.
but all l have told YOU is true and what l pre-
diet is not only possible. but probable"