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

federalS, ana II was countless apparent
10 him that the weakest points we're at
the extreme right and left. The army
deployed as indicated in order. and NOV
ing forward like veterans as they were.
down into the rolling valley. Possibly
about $50 yards from the Federal main
line, A line of battle of Federals was en-
countered. A portion Of them being be-
hind stone fence. Immediately in front
of Cheatham's corps This line OF battle
delivered a volley and retired. whereupon
the Confederates followed them rapidly
and closely. they constituting a sort OF
movable breastwork. until this line of
Federals broke through and passed over
the fortificstions. The Confederate en-
deavor was 10 take advantage of the con
fusion incident to such movement and
crush the entire Federal line There
was break in the Federal works AT ths
pike. where, Just IN rear of the regular line
Of works, there was a short line across the
pike. erected some ten feet in rear OF the
front works. so as to allow for passage
Chestham's division on this occasion
was commanded by General John C.
Brown. General Chea ham being at the
time in command of the corps embracing
bis and General Bates division, The
right brigade of Cheathams division was
commanded by George W. Gordon, who
was supported by General Gist. To the
left Of Gordon was Carter's brigade, sup
ported by Strahl the only 0hioan | ever
knew in the Confederate service, and GER
tainly one of the most gallant men who
ever lived.
Through the opening in the pike I have
mentioned, General Gordon, with a mum
her Of his old regiment, the Eleventh
Tennessee, passed. and they were cap
tured. The shock of battle probably was
greatest at about 1880 in the afternoon,
and the struggle from that time on until
the Federals vacated the works and re-
tired, at about 1 o'clock in the morning
was almost continuous. Some five differ
cut attempts were made by the Confed-
crates who had occupied the ditch on the
outside OF the Federal intrenchments, TO
possess themselves of the works. Several
times the works We're carried at various
points, but most ndomitable defense
compelled the Confederates each time TO
return to the ditch on the outside of the
works The wings We're not crushed In,
as General Hood hsd intended because,
first, the Federal left wing in front OF
Forrest was protected by an Usage orange
hedge. the encounter of which proved as
disastrous to the Confederates as the
sunken rode of ohaine did to the cohorts
OF Napoleon at Waterloo. And with re-
spect TO the Federal right wing. although
the works were comparatively slight to-
ward the extreme right wing the Confed-
crate line was not long enough to sufh-
ciently cover 1t there,
Although the numbers engaged at
FRANKLIN were not so great as at Muir
ireesboro. Chickamauga, Gettysburg, An
tletam, Chaneellorsvlle and many nther
battles OF the late war. yet the percentage
ot loss on both sides was probably greater
man IN any other great battle of the war
! me Confederates lost thirteen general Of
hcers. Cheatham's division lost every
general officer 1t had. Carter, Gist and
strahl were killed. Gordon was captured,
ana Major General Brown was wounded
In the thigh and disabled, The next morn
ing the division was under the command
OF a colonel.
How well do / remember. in looking
over the battlefield the next morning.
seeing the well known old bay horse OF
General Cleburne lying dead twelve or
nlteen feet from the Federal breastworks
HOW he could ever have gotten there IL
! impossible TO say, when We consider
the impediments that he must have passed
me dlteh he must have jumped, the fear
ini artillery and infantry FIRE he must have
some through. IL was there, so tradition
says, that Clehurne was wounded. Gem
eral Hiram b. Granbury was killed be-
tween the temporary line and main line
in the edge OF the town.
me next morning presented ptiable
sishl' Lying Tor q long distance on both
sldes OF the pike there were substantially
TWO lines OF battle dead, one in the habilI.
aments of the blue, aud the other in The
gray.
we had won great victory. nut am
other such victory would have annihilated
US We were IN possession of the held aud
we mad captured number OF prisoners
10 say nothing OF the cannon and small
arms. The little city was ours. aud tn.
Federal army was in full retreat TO Nash
vile, Houses near the line OF battle ana
other convenient places OF retreat close nv
Were filled with Federal malingerers. who
were captured. A great many az thsm
could not speak English and IL did in
deed, look strange that in contention be-.
tween brothers. here in the United states
coneerning purely family question thsra
should have been so many FOREIGNER. in
VOWED, Nearly thirty ave years hav,
passed Since then. and have neve, Wis.
tied the locality since. but | can navsr ,or-
sei the blood red sun going down thrones
smoke At our bscks while We moved for
Narn 70 me Federal fire at Franklin: NOR
bow later In the evening. when re ~
oesNcref TO cross TIE works, for the see