The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-06-24
James X. Merrifield.

sword with me. These | presented to
the Historical society at st. Louis
through Gen. Harding of Jefferson
City.
The flag was of the First Missouri
infantry, and was destroyed in the big
fire in Chicago. The sword was the
property of Col. Hugh Garland COM
handing the First Missouri regiment
in that battle. Col. Garland was I'M
doubtedly killed where he lay after I
LETT him, as he was in the line of the
firing. have no doubt that | was the
last person to whom Col Garland ever
spoke. | have often wondered if any
of his relatives were living. If so. |
wish could see them. | was glad to
be able to give him a drink of water"
short time after the publication
OF Mr.. Merrifield's article in the Con-
federate Veteran, he received an in.
teresting letter from an ex-confeder-
ate who saw the water incident. The
letter is dated at Washington, and
says:
Dear Sir; | notice in the Confed.
crate Veteran very interesting ar.
Side at Franklin" which reminds me
so forcibly of what | saw and heard
myself on that bloody battle field
November 30, 1864 | was captain OF
Company B, Second and Sixth Mis-,
souri, infantry, Gen. Cockrells brig.
ade. In the famous charge made by
the Missouri brigade | was seriously
wounded in my right leg (Which was
amputated next day on the field near
the federal breastworks close to the
cotton gin, and not far from the Car.
ter house. My wound was so serious
that / could not crawl or get away.
and while thus Frustrated on the
ground | was shot through the fore.
arm, shattering both bones, and a few
minutes thereafter | was again shot
In my left shoulder. In this awful
condition, with my clothes saturated
with blood, and with hundreds of dead
and wounded confederate soldiers ly.
ing almost in a heap about me. | be.
held the dead body of Col Hugh Gar.
land, commanding the First Missouri
regiment in this battle, who was
killed by second shot, and while
Frustrated on the ground, and many
other wounded confederates were
Killed all around me while lying on
the ground weltering in their own
blood. | was not more than six feet
from Col Garland when q federal
soldier Ito me unknown did give
Col. Garland water from his canteen
and straighten him out on the
ground, relieving him somewhat from
the weight of other poor dying com.
rades. History will state that the
battle of Franklin, Tenn. Novem.
per So 1864, was the worst slaughter
pen and the most bitterly contested of
all OF our battles with greater loss OF
life on the confederate side for tha
number engaged than any battle of
-he civil war. Franklin has an inter.
est that no other battle field Possesses.
win the surrender of Gen Lee at An.
)cmattoN almost in sight the hero.
SIN OF the confederate soldier at the
'attle of Franklin has added another
star to the shining crown of her
Many confederate sol.
liers are anxious for the govern.
nent TO erect a monument IN
ne yalor OF the soldier that wore
ne blue and to the soldier that
wore the gray at the battle of Frank.
IN. WIN be pleased to hear from YOU
~ this important matter. | am with
reatest respect, j. NJ. HICKEY.
'aptain late Company B and sixth
Infantry T. 9