The National tribune., 1900-05-31


and pushed on, firing as we went. The
powder smoke hung ON the field; through
riffs in it we could see the Federal gunnerS
spring nimbly to and fro from the Napoleon
guns, the responsive fash of guns as the
ianyards were pulled would be followed
by the rip of canister as it flew past and
through us, tearing great gaps in our
ranks, cracking mems bones as pipeStems
and knocking brave men dead with great
holes in their bodies. The zip, zip, zip of
flying rifle-balls was n mighty ard steady
hum, as though the empty cylinders of
volving at full speed all around US.
Steadily the veteran Yankee infantry,
who had to hold their line of earthworks
or take water loaded and fired. Our
men fell by hundreds. We staggered on
through this storm of bullets for five
minutes. We had not reached the Union
line. Then we heard eXultant shouts to
our left, and through the drifting smoke
caught glimpse of our battle-flags planted
on the Federal breastworkS on the HILL
and as we saw the men clad in gray Chamber
over the works and disappear, we redoubled
our efforts to take the line in front of us.
Its fire did not slacken n particle. It's de-
disaster that had overtaken them, drew
nearer the parapet. redeemed in the smoke
of the fire, resembling the fury of hell in its
intensity. Then loud above the battles
roar sounded the charging cheer of the
Yankees, and we knew that they who had
broken the Federal center were being
called upon to make good their success by
meeting the charge of the Yankee reserves.
Could they withstand it? Promptly came
the answer. There was a solid crash of
musketry on that portion of the line. and in
an instant the remnants of the victorious
ConfederateS Swarmed out OF the captured
works and ran for cover.
Instantly the earthworks was manned
by double line of blue-coated infantry,
who shot down the flying Confederates by
scores. We pressed on. We were so
close to the works that some of our men
fell in the ditch and we could see the eyes
of the Yankee infantry as they looked over
their rifle sights. Their faces We're pallid,
their jaws were set. and their eyes blazed
with battle-light. | never saw such rapid
handling of artillery. 1t seemed to me
that 1 could hear No. 1 impatiently tap
with the sponge-staff on the blackened
muZZle of the brass guns, as he called for
canister. Hooked back; we had not advanced
far. The dead lay in windrows, wounded
men were staggering over the field, and
falling in ones, tWoS, and threeS, as
they came together for aid, between the lines
of dead. The men hesitated. They real
lied that they could not carry the works.
Their line officers tried to hold them. They
staggered few feet nearer the Federal
lines. firing wildly the while, to be scorched
by the hot breath of cannon and rifles.
They wavered badly, tried to hold on,
then broke and ran for cover. We We're
one third of our division Reynolds's 50 was
killed or wounded. Stunned, bewildered
and horribly disappointed we gathered in
protected position and were speedily
reformed"
SCHOFIELD'S VICTORY.
The Union loss in this battle was ofIici-
ally reported at 2,326, nearly one-half Of
which was sustained by Wagners two
brigades, that were out in front. and nearly
all Of which was directly chargabe to the
failure of Wagner to withdraw his men
without fighting, as had been ordered;
The Confederate loss in killed, wounded
and prisoners could not have been less
than 10000, while some place it much
higher, but this estimate is certainly moder-
ate.
Twelve OF Hoods best Generals were
killed, among them. Pat Cleburne, who
was shot while spurring his horse forward
heroically leading his division on its sixth
charge.
The battle of Franklin has been Justly
claSSed as one of the five desperate COM
bats of the war. The formation of the
lines and concentration OF the Union forces
necessitated similar concentration Of the
Confederates, and thus circumscribed to
a narrow and compact front, We're furiously
hurled against the Union forces in solid
phalanx, and for six hours the roar OF
cannon, the rattle Of musketry, and the
shouts of combatants made up n scene that
utterly battles description. The earth
trembled; the battle smoke obscured the
heavens, and the Nations rich red blood
flowed in torrents. Pickctt's famous
charge at Gettysburg did not exceed it.
No battlefield of the war can show more
desperate fighting.
Hoods army, whipped and disheartened,
was Withdrawn out Of range of our guns
about 10 o'clock at night. and Schofield's
army continued its retreat unmolested to
Nashville, where we arrived the following
day amid the enthusiastic cheers Of the
soldiers concentrated at that point.