The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-18
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
Story OF Great Fight Told By 0no vino
Participated In 1t.

20, 1864. The day had been ugly;
the march long and chccrloss. Con-
ditions indicated rain, and consc
qucnt night of slecplessness and gen.
cral discomfort.
The command had been resting half
an hour when dozen or more wagons
came in sight In short time, the
commissarics were busy, doling out
"corn on the cob an ear to each
map, At best. this meant supper,
and breakfast too, if pcrchance facili
ties for parching the grain were af-
fordec.
The first thought of every soldier
was as to fire; for it looked as though
the night would be spent there. There
was not dry twig in all the country
round. That seemed to be the situa-
ton. Nothing daunted, attempt after
attempt was made to fire dead trees
that we're prone on the ground. In
the midst of this expenditure Of ener-
gy and resources, the command "fall
in" rang through the woods and down
the line.
In less than ten. minutes, the corps
was enroute to Spring Hill, eight miles
distant, but, by the oircuitous road
taken, FULL fifteen miles.
With an equability Of temper and
cheerful, optimistic acceptance Of tho
situation which come Of discipline,
the soldiers, sleepy. weary and hun.
CRY, trudged on through water and
mud, through the darkness and the
thickening mist. By and by, Spring
Hill was reached, q line of battle form
ed, rest ordered and silence strictly
enjoined. Fire ? 1t was never more
needed, but the enemy was close at
hand and the corps mission was to
prevent the escape of Cen. Scho6eld
from Columbia.
Our environment was dismal-that
reeking night. The line of battle
stretched through oornfields which
were mudpuddles. Sleep was impos-
sible. The men munched the few grains
of parched corn left from the rations
Of the day previous and patiently
awaited the command: "Charge,"
"ire" or forward, march"
The hours sped slowly. Past mid
night, wagons begun to move, foot
steps hurrying along the Columbia-
Franklin pike were heard, but never
word of command or change IL posi-
ton on the Confederate side.
SNOW, the day begun to break, but
two hours elapsed ere orders we're is.
sued and the troops marched out to
the pike, and, 'husriedly, on toward
Franklin.
ALI along the road were disabled
vasols-wagons fred and abandoned.
General Sohofeld and his corps had
escaped capture and were two hours
ahead Of us.
After the war, I met General Cheat
ham, and, recalling the foregoing facts
asked him how General Schofield was
permitted 70 pass his front without
hindrance.
Somebody was drunk" was the
reply.
On to franklin. A battle was i'm
minent. A shors rest gave eopportuni-
ty to psrch small supply Of corn.
The men were hungry and fatigued,
but in the highest epirits and in the
very best humor.
About 2 p. M, November 30, Gen.
Hood summoned his generals to o
council Of war at residence on the
roadside. There was, as usual, free
interchange of views. The council
over, Gen. Hood proceeded to put
into execution his own preoonoeived
plans.
About $50 p. M, Gen. Pat Gle.
burne opened the battle on the right
Of the pike, as one looks toward Frank
lin from Columbie. Cheatham's 8 corps
occupied both sides Of the pike. At
4 p. M, the entire corps was on the.
firing line, and o general advance or
dered.
The Twenty-fourth South Carolina
and the Second Georgia sharpshooters
were short distance from the pike,
Gel. Ellison Cspers, later general. now
bishop. was In command Of the TWEEN.
ty-foursh South Carolina. We were
Watching Cleburne's onward sweep on
the right aud atudying conditions on
our left and front. A battery on .
hilltop, Tor in our immediate 'front.',
was en6lading Cleburne. In i mo-3
| ment an aide camp dashed up to Gen.