The National tribune., 1903-12-10
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
Little That One Busy Comrade Was Able to
See.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have
been requested to relate my experience at
| the battle of Franklin and to tell what I
saw Of that fight. 1t would ne far easier
| for me to tell what | didn't see on that
| memorable Both day of November, 1864.
| That | was at Franklin is fact | had
been constantly in the saddle for "a hours
with the exception of about two hours
spent in an army wagon after getting clear
of the enemy at Spring Hill. The wagon
| chose for retiring place was the rear
one Cf the train, and all was going along
smoothly until somewhere along towards
the morning, when my peaceful slumbers
were rndely disturbed by volley of mus
kerry. | jumped ont of that wagon in Il
hurry and found that my train had been
attacked by the enemy from a raxine on
our right. 1t was very dark. and for a
I.time | thought they would surely capture
the whole train. but the bulk of the train
had passed that point some time before
and it was only a small section that was
attacked. The rebels managed, however
to destroy several of my wagons. and
would undoubtedly have soti the rest had
it not been for the fact that we had in our
rear section of artillery which opened on
the enemy with one gun and drove them
away. We We're not mOlested again, and
arrived at the river during the morning. |
Immediately crossed the river and hunted
up headquarters, which found located on
mound to the right. l reported to Col. J.
A. Campbell. and was told TO get the train
on the road to Nashville as soon as pos
sible. CThe Commissaries were then issuing
ations from the wagons.) BY noon, or
very shortly after noon. had all the wag-
ons except the ammunition train on the
road From the Top of the hill where
headquarters were established one could
see the whole length of our line and every
L.. So .1,A \ al At L
was chance to see fight and see it all.
but my hopes in that direction were soon
blasted. Col. Campbell came over to where
| was standing and said: Lyon, who is in
charge of the ammunition train!' I told
him Lieut.. Palmer. well" he said.
.the General thinks that you had better
90 over there and attend to that ammuni-
ton train in person. He wants at least
four wagonloads of ammunition kept at
the foot of that cottonpress over there all
day, or as long as the fight and the am
munitiOn lasts
The cottonpress was nearly in the center
of our lite, and / should judge about 40
rods in rear of the works, and while it was
an excellent place to hear fight, it was
an extremely unpleasant one to be in and
the most unsatisfactory place to see any
thing one could imagine. Well, | had
hardly established myself when the concert
commenced. l should judge that it was
about p. m. There had been considerable
firing before the ''grand entry" but at
about 3 o'clock the ball opened with a ven
geance. | remember taking a peep at the
field, when the cry ran along our lines of
Here they come" and they did come and
kept on coming, and in less time than it
would take to tell the story the space be-
tween my cottonpress fort and our works
was full of howling rebels, for they had
broken through our center and came in
like flock of sheep. They did not get out
again, however, as the 18th Ky, under
Lieut.. John S. Commonly called Sam
White, and. I think, an Ohio regiment.
gap and held the fort for the balance of
the day. l well remember Sam" White
coming to the rear with his cheek torn
open, having the wound dressed near
where was stationed, and despite the pro-
tests of the Surgeons returning to take
command of his regiment, where he stayed
until the fight was over. Well, the circus
was kept up until after nghtfull, when fir
ing partially ceased. l stayed by my press
till along toward 9 o'clock, when 1 thought
that would crawl up to the works and
see what was going on. To my surprise
found them nearly empty. | walked up the
ditch a little ways, and ran against my
own company CID of the Odd Mich. Capt
Jack Garland, who was in command. was
at lDSS as TO Wnat ne should DO. having
received no orders to fall back and know
ing the enemy was swarmng into the
works to the right and left of him. / ad-
vised him to get out of there as soon as
possible, as | was sure that orders to that
effect had been sent along the lines. which
had failed to reach him. He took my adj
vice. and l went with him. The bridge was
on fire as we crossed the river.
My wagons by this time We're well on
their way to Nashville, where what was
left of us arrived early next morning very
tired, very sleepy. and very hungry. Now
that is about all can remember of what
saw at Franklin.-GIDEoN A. LYON,
Captain, Odd Mich, Washington, d. C.