The National tribune., 1901-05-09
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN,
Viewed From the Standpoint of an 'opdycke
Tiger"

3lSCIs
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I notice
in your issue of April II a cOmmunica>
ton from Comrade J. X. Merrifield in re-
gard to Opdyckes Brigade at Franklin,
and / want TO add my testimony that the
brigade did get to the front then and
there. We headed the rear" all the way
from Spring Hill, and were the last OF
Stanley's army to reach Franklin, about
2 p. m.
As we had been on duty all night, and
skirmished most of the day on the retreat
without a chance for rest or for coffee,
we were tired and hungry. The brigade
was marched inside the little breastwOrks
and halted for rest and q cold lunch in Il
churchyard nearly opposite Gen. Stanley 8
HEADQUARTERS. There we heard the roar
of battle begin, but paid no heed to the
Emusic of the little spheres" which We're
taking their fight over our heads, until
someone in my own regiment yelled out
Look, there" The whole brigade of nine
regiments, numbering in all about 300
men, as | recolect, rose TO their feet from
a recumbent position, and taking in at
glance the critical situation, seemed to re-
aIize their peril. We were several rods
down gentle slope to the bridge over
the Harpeth, our only chance Of retreat.
What we saw as we looked up to the
front was a line of gray coming over
those works like a flock of stampeded
sheep over a fence. 1t needed no word
of command to tell those trained veterans
what must be done, and done instantly.
Nor did we wait. One, FIVE or 10 minutes
of inaction on our part would undoubt-
edly have given Gen. Hood the bridge,
the army and Nashville. The little hand
full of tired men seized their arms and
rushed to the works, drove back the tide
of victorious troops, and held their ground
till the battle was won. There was no
stop to form line or segregate the differ
ent commands; no attempt to march in
battle array; no formal commands from
anyone, and the only order l heard given,
or heard of, was from Gen. Stanley, when
| he came rushing out of headquarters with
out hat or coat, and swinging his sword,
he shouted, That is right, boys; go III and
give them -" But / did not hear the
rest, though / do know we went in, met
the rebs inside our works, drove them out,
many of them falling into the ditch out
side the works, and remaining there till
| after nightfaIl, when they surrendered.
| And do know that | fired more than 2OO
| rounds of ammunition over those works
and tired out two Springfield rifles that
afternoon and evening.
Some amusing things happen even IN
| battle. We had two little heldpleces
placed one each side of the pike, which
| the rebs captured, but did not hold. Inc
| Lieutenant in command and one Sergeant
were about all there were left to handle
one gun The Sergeant was little man,
| and while on his knees loading (tor it was
not healthy to stand up) big reb who
| was among those who dropped into the
ditch on the outside reached over through
| the embrasure and yanked the Iank into
| the rebel line After the surrender the
| little Sergeant remarked to his big captor:
'Well, Johnnie, you didn't get me, did
you?" mo, he replied; but thought
| did," At II o'clock we started with our
| Vile, leaving the dead and many wounded
in the hands of the rebels.
| When we reached Nashville, and the
| facts had been reported to Gen. Thomas
| he came out with Gen. Opdycke, and call
| ing the brigade around him, not in formal
parade, but in the same indiscriminate
manner as we had met the rebs at Frank
lin, and told US in a few simple words
| that we had done our duty and done l,
| we'll He said we had rushed fearlessly
| into the breach and probably saved the
day at Franklin, saved the army, anc
saved Nashville.
| always believed old Pap Thoma:
knew what he was talking about, and tha
he meant what he said; and, you may be
| Iieye those modest words OF commenda
tion from our beloved General touched
the hearts of those war-worn, loyal boy'
as nothing else could have done. IL Gen
| Opdycke gave an order it must have beer
| TO close up, as he was not with the 6ri
gade when the charge began, nor did
hear him give command that day, fol
none was needed. We drove the rebs out
of our preserves and kept them out
though they tried several times to come
in~CHAs. NJ. MALTBY, Sergeant, Co. X
125th o. V. l., 1912 Western Ave, Seat
| tlo Wash