The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-08

orsble nght wnen blood truly moved like
water
A Post reporter, having learned that MIR.
Mckinney was in the Franklin night, called
on him at his office and asked him for a
story of the fierce fighting that occurred
on the old Franklin pike while the Confed-
crate forces were striving to gain possess
sion Of the town.
81 fought at Chickamauga, Missionary
Ridge and in other big battles. but 1t was
at Franklin that I saw what ! believe Ia
he the Aercest fighting of the civil war,
was with company 3, Twenty fourth
Texas dismounted cavalry, Hiram p. Gran
bury'a brigade and Pat r. Cleburne's dl-
vision. army of Tennessee When we left
Columbia on cold october day many OF
our boys marched barefoot over snow
covered macadsm road. leaving bloody
footprints in the snow We crossed Duck
river at Davis ford, six miles from Column
bia. skirmished at Spring Hill until dark
and csmped in field Three ears Of corn
were issued as rations to each man, and
the major portion Of our boys went into
the battle OF franklin with nothing but
parehed corn in their haversacks.
- will not attempt anything like de-
tailed description of the dght hut will
say that it was the most terribly fatal
fight that I saw during the war. and
saw several very hard fights The hercest
fighting occurred around q glnhouse and q
brick residence on either side of the
Franklin pike and very near the Federal
breastworks, the residence and the gin
! being inside the Federal works, The brick
residence was owned and occupied by a
Mr. Carter ana his family. II Is stiil
standing and has not been repaired since
tho tight, its owner refusing to allow one
scar OF that great battle to be effaced
/ Mr.. and Mrs. Carter were still living in
! this house three years ago The Clubhouse
| Is no longer standing, but a large pile oil
stones mark the spot where the Yankee.
| found cover while they moved down on,
brave boys by the hundreds.
"Out of ten regiments that fought IA
the battle OF Franklin Lieutenant Bell OF
company Y, Twenty-fourth Texas, was
! the ranking officer after the battle, the
remaining officers having been killed in
| the fight
| Generals Cleburne and Granbury both
4 fell at Franklin and | am the only SOL
/ der now living of those who carried Cen
! eral Granbury's body from the feld Phil
S Quincy. now living at Brookshre, was
/ struck by General Clehurne's horse as II
/ fell
1T would take some time and thought
TO prepare detailed account OF the battlc
saw the fight. which is correct with thr
/ exception OF few unimportant details.
The story follows
When the Confederate army under Gen
| eral Hood crossed the State line from Ala
bama into Tennessee. in October. 1864, it
was showing, aud young though we were
I at the time, numbers Of us were somehow
/ gloomly reminded of the Russian cam
| raien OF Napoleon. Suspended over tho
State line was in large letters, the legend,
"A Free Home or Grave" And al
though there was not much vocifcrous
| cheering. there was a grim determination
in every heart there to fight to the death.
/ If II need be, in the accomplishment OF the
rescue OF Tennessee from Federals,
a little later on and we were at Column
bia, where felnt was male OF crossing
/ the river near the town, In order to cover
a flank movement to the south and up the
river. That flank movement was certainly
skilfully planned and should have sue
ceeded, for II resulted in placing a lare.
part OF the Confederate army within two
or three hundred yards OF Spring Hlll by
the middle OF an afternoon which il does
seem might have been utilized In the oc-
INupauoh OF tue Federal line OF retreat
there. II is true that. parallel with the
pike from Columbia TO Franklin, running
through Spring Hill, there was small
stream with swampy approached between
the Confederate army and Spring HIM.
But II must be remembered that Spring
Hill was held by comparatively small
| force, and flank movement down the
pike into Spring Hill, while apparently
desperate would doubtless have succeeded.
and would have resulted In the destruc
ton 81 the Federal army In front OF Co
iumoia, which had been detained there
by skiltully devised. and executed series
OF pretended crossings Of the river. lawns
lot pontoons, artillery duels and othar
activities well calculated 10 deceive Rut
+ " was not 10 be- and General Browns al
vision remained inactive south Of the
morsss. While General stewar.s corns
vas ordered TO move 10 tho right unit,
you can mud crossing OF the ereAk. then
cross and occupy the pike WHY his
movement was not expsditiousiy carried
npi . Is possibly IDLE nov to aue,tinn
( There hsv. been many theories attn rel
sren'e TO u. u Is ssid tina, General