The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-02

To the Editor of The Washington Times:
November %, 1858, and November 80, 1864,
are days OF special significance to members OF
the Army of the Ohio. The reasons are, briefly:
J. On the first date. which just forty
years ago Sunday, the Confederate forces under
command Of the distinguished Lieut.. Gen. James
Longstreet assaulted the Union forces under
command OF Mai. Gen. Ambrose f. Burnside
at Fort Sanders Knoxville Tenn. At o'clock
in the morning Of Sunday the bravest and
choicest men Of McLaw's division, that had
fought so stubbornly at Gettysburg and Chieka-
manga, were led by skillful and courageous Off
GERS against the uncompleted earthworks. From
stump TO stump on the incline leading to the
fortihcations treacherous wires had been drawn
in anticipation Of the assault. These unseen
wires caught the feet Of the charging columns
producing state Of INDISPENSABLE confusion.
Meanwhile volleys of musketry, charges OF
grape and CAMS er. hand grenades and other
missiles met the confused but oneoming assail-
ants 1t was. while it lasted. the fullest exhi-
bition Of pandemcnium. thousand men, the
flower OF LongstreeJ's magnificent army. were
killed, wounded or captured. The result is told
in a single paragraph by General Potter, ia
command of the Ninth. one Of the corps Of the
Army Of the Ohio AT that time:
ITO Benjamin's battery. with such portions
OF Buckley's and Roemer's as were with them
IN the fort; the Seventy ninth Regiment, New
York Volunteers: the Second Regiment, Sichi-
gan Volunteers. and detachment Of the
Twnty-ninth Massachusetts, Volunteers is due the
credit Of repulsing picked column OF the en-
envy, killing, wounding and taking prisoners
treble their number. besides capturing
three stands of oolors."
The Union losses were. all told. less than
fifty
p The second date marks the great battle Of
Franklin, Tenn, which occurred Just thirty
nine years ago yesterday, and which was cele-
brated 81 the Ebbitt House last night by the
Society OF The Army Of the Ohio.
In the latter case the Confederate army was
commanded By Gen. John b. Hood. the sue
eessor Of Gen. Joseph T. Johnston 1t was the
veteran army that had resisted Shermans great
sruy in the famous Atlanta campaign. 1t had
three corPs Of infantry aud Of cavalry. to-
gether with liberal supply Of artillery.
The Union army, consisting Of two corps OF
infantry the Fourteenth and TwenJy-third, ana
one Of cavalry. was commanded by Lieut.. Gen.
John " Scliodeld 4 classmate Of General Hood
1t Eesl PoinA
The result Of the battle. which began al 4
O'Clock in the afternoon and continued. with in
termissions. until 10 O'Clock at night. was The
crippling Of Hoods army 50 as to make It's de-
struction, TWO weeks later. at Nashville. com
parztiyely easy. The Confederate losses in
killed wounded and prisoners, were nearly 700,
as against about 2,30y on the Union side.
THIS battle, which. by both Confederates and
Unionists Of Intelligence j. considered. for the
time il lasted and faces engage! the heroesl
snd blOodiest OF the war. WAS the beginning Of
the end Of the in the West. ID needs 10 be
carefully studied to appreciate its importance.
J. FFRAISE RICHARD.
Secretary Army 81 the Ohio.
Washington, Dee. J. 1903.