Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
THE FIRST ALABAMA,
souE OF THE SERVICE SEEN 81
THE REGIMENT.
IN THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
s,.e Advance on Nashville and tho
Enruremcnt Therc-Genera1 Hood.
v,.t 70 the Grave of Noted and
Devoted Confederate Chaplain
other Confederate Matter.

-
n =. Memories writes 20 the Mont
sorsry Advertiser: When about tour
miles from Franklin our corps was de-
Moved to the right, formed in line adj
ysnced towards Franklin. and soon struck
the heavy skirmish line Of the enemy.
These were quickly driven through a
large cornfield and skirt Of woods to
heir defonces at Franklin.
Hardly an hour before sunset Hoods
army was drawn up in full view Of the
rne7,v entrenchcd behind two parallel
lines Of breastworks about $50 yards
apart The other line was an ordinary
ditch two or two and a half feet deep;
the inner line, a ditch three and half
feet deep and four feet wide. with thick
and strong embanl1nent along which
were portfolios for muskets and ernbras-
ures for artillery. AT one point of the
linc. in front Of an old gin house there
was a strong redoubt about fifty feet
long, whose ditch was five feet wide and
-four feet deep, and rampant four feet
high. making eight feet from the bottom
of the ditch to the top of the parapet-
The space between the two armies was
about GOO yards, from which all under
growth had been removed, leaving a park
of a few large trees. The surface in our
front towards the enemy was raVine,
gradual ascent through park 10 the outer
line; level old pasture to the inner line.
The army itself, of about 5000 ragged
ma half-starved men. With tattered ban
ners, having accomplished long and
arduous march Of 500 miles across the
mountains of Georgia and Tennessee, and
facing double its numbers, recalls wildly
The shattered army of Hannibal, when,
after fits terrible passage of the Alps,
1T was drawn up in line of battle before
the well-appointed lesions of Scipio on
4. The bank of the Ticinus.
While in this position. momentarily eI-
pecting the order TO advance. General
Forrest. mounted on his black charger,
hat in hand. down by his side, his face
radiant and dark eyes flashing, rode
flown our front. The men, already eager
Tor the fray, caught his enthusiasm.
cheered him TO the echo, and began adj
RANGING before the order was given.
Across the ravire, on through the park,
paicers in front. and men still cheering
rim, moved the army in unbroken pha-
,anx When about 100 yards from the
elter line we received the first volley
from the enemy. The command double
quick was given. cheers were changed
10 rebel yells, officers still in front, we
rharged the outer line. The rattle OF
muslletrv now drowned all commands OF
officers. and here Captain Dick Williams,
acting Northumberland of the regiment,
walking back to face the regiment, as Oh
fccrs frequently 90 on drill, would wave
bis sword right and left. and then thrust
i forward towards the enemy, indicating
thus by acts instead OF words what he
would have us GO. The outer line vas
quickly carried, from which very few
IF the enemy escaped to their inner line
Here perhaps, there was pause OF a
half minute until the outer line could
pc swept OF the enemy. and u realisnment
made. BY this time, owing TO the still
ness and rarity of the atmos-
phere. the smoke OF musRetry had
settled In such a dense bank over the
Held in front that friend could not be
distinguished from foe at a distance OF
few steps. The enemy, four lines deep,
behind strong intrenchnents, We're sweep
ing The old field Ietween us with mi2nie
tails, and a battery OF siege guns TO our
fight and beyond Big Harpeth river was
hearing up the ground and knocking trees
INTO fragments around Ii.
CHARGED INNER LINE.
Through a dense smoke and tempest
}f iron our officers stiil leading, and the
'ebel yell still ringing. the army III per-
.ect order charged the inner line. Of
The nature Of the works Of the enemy
we could have no conception until within
few feet Dead and wounded had fallen
at every step of our advance. and our
ranks were badly thinned. When the
number and position of the enemy stood
revealed every old Confederate saw that
It was To- be fight of one to two with
an enemy strongly entrenched; but de-
typising numbers or advantage OF posi-
ton, leaped down into the ditch, climbed
III, the embankment enVeloped in a sheet
Of fire, and from the ramparts discharged
their pieces in the face of the enemy,
and with butts of guns closed in hand
to-hand crapple with the foe. Here the
intrepid Clehulne. leading his division at
the head OF his old brigade CGovansD fell
across the breastworks With the reputed
dying words: u am killed, but my old
Arkansas brigade is glory enough for
one man." dying words worthy Of his
heroic life Major Samuel J.. Knox, the
bravo commander Of the First Alabama
was lying few steps away, having beer
mortally wounded at the head OF his
regiment. But of the field thickIy streHn
s'Ili anu "oulItp, anu VI TIC
most total annifilat ton of officers, ogr
men engaged in lie and death struggle
sao neither knowledge nor thought. The
enemy WAS brave and had every advant-
age. but men have never been made so
brave as 10 be wholly unnoved by such
ludacity as the confederates exhibited
Their line reelcd and staggered under
,ur heavy biows. and were saved from
utter route only by the most strenuous
Efforts Of their officers. One hundred
yards TO our left their lines and batteries
we're captured IL at this crisis John
ions division. held in reserve had come
10 CTR assistance. the field would have
been Instantly woa. AS 1t was, the I'M
Equal contest on the breastworks wos
maintained hardly more than a minute.
when our men took the ditch on the or
RoEte sde. &ad fought tho enemy ACCESS