davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

up to them they Iimbered up and
rushed to the rear. This left an OPEN
ing between the right of our regiment
and the other brigade on the o.het
side of the pike, and altho We stopped
the first line the second soon came up
like a mighty avalanche. My comT and
fired the last shot as they mounted our
works. and then commenced that race
for the main line.
In the Fall of 1882 I spent a day at
Albuquerque, n. NJ. with Gen. Stanley,
and j asked him why he left those two
brigades out there 70 be wiped out. He
said: My orders tc Wagner were to
form his brigade out there to mako
Hood develop his plan of battle and
then fall back to the other line" When
he saw Hood advancing and the lind
still stayed there. ne sent an Aid tt
Wagner to withdraw the line, and aS
the line still remained he sent an Aid
to the brigade commanders to fall back,
but before the order was received the
line was crushed.
Last October my wife and I visited
Franklin. The old breastworks aHS
leveled down, but the line can still be
traced. Residences are now built up
to the line. and my wife and | SGT on
the porch of a house in the ya-l Of
which Pat Cleburne fell. A corr iieId
covers the ground where the brigade
stood on that front line on the east sids
of the pike while on the west side is
a pasture In which horses and c.attla
were peace 'ully grazing. The old hedge
that prott cted Henderson's Bri ado
down by the railroad is gone, and out
in front of where it stood is the Con.
federate cemetery. containing Over s..
900 who wore the gray during thar
campaign.-J. g. Heaps, Captain, ca.
/, 21th III.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
The 5zth Pa

Editor National Tribune: I wish Won
would please give a small sketch of the
67th Pa.-John c. Whaley, Sharon, Pa.
The 57th Pa, one of the fighting
regiments, was organized at Harrisburg
Dec. Ia, 1861, and after serving out two
enlistrnents was mustered out June 90.
1865. 1t was commanded by Coils. VIM.
Maxwell, Chas. T. Campbell, Peter
Sides and George Zinn in succession. 1t
took the field with the Army of the Po-
tomac early in 1852, and at Fair oaks
lost IL killed, 4s wounded and one
missing, Maj. Culp being among the
killed. AT Fredericksburg, out Of 3l6
present, II lost IS killed, so wounded
and 81 missing, many of the latter be-
ing killed or wounded. Upon the dis
continuance of the Third Corps It be-
came part of the Second Corps. After
the Wilderness and Spotsylvania it was
go reduced by the hard fighting that it
was consolidated into battalion of six
companies. In January, 1866, it re-
ceived an accession of four companies
from the Sfth Pa. The 57th belonged
to Birney's Division, Third Corps, and
lost 181 killed and PIT from disease.
etc. Its total of killed and wounded
was 500. and so of its members died in
Confederate prigons.-Editor National
Tribune.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

duty, and all officers. It is felt certain
that he lost at least $500 at Franklin
of which 700 were prisoners in our
hands. The havoc among their officers
was particularly severe. Division Com
mander Brown and all four of his Brig
adiers were killed or wounded. Besides
Cieburne, Cranberry, one of his brigade
commanders, was slain. Gems John
Adams, Scott, Cockrell, Quarles, Mani-
gault, in all IL Generals and a long list
of Colonies, LieutenantC Colonies and
Majors fell.
More eloquent than any tabulated
figures as to the awful losses was the
sorrow carried to every part of the
South. There had been terrible battles
before, alas only too many of them,
from Shiloh to Chickamauga and from
Chickamauga to Peach Tree Creek and
Atlanta, but none had brought the
keen, AFFECT grief to SO many homes
over such wide sweep of country as
Franklin. In a greater degree than
ever before this battle seemed to take
the heart out of those indomitabIe
fighters who had rushed with such
fierce valor upon the Union lines The
author of Go. Aitch, I'd Tenn" says
THE ghost of Franklin never left us.
1t seemed hanging to every mans car
trioge box; 1t rode in demoniacal glee
beside the artilleryman on the timber;
II jeered at us from the Haunting flags,
and its lugubrious wall mingled with
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

of 6s7 who went into the battle only
240 were left unhurt at its close. Lieut..
Warren, of the division, gives touch
ing view of the scene which presented
itself the next morning when he went
to look for his comrades:
When daybreak did come and the
fog and smoke of battle was lifted like
a curtain, such a spectacle as this field
/ may never witness again. Here, in
deed, was a Carnival of Death. There
must have been 1900 stiffened corpses
There may have been many more; I
places they were in heaps. The ditch
flied with the dead. Numbers lay
where they fell, on top and on the sides
of the embankment, and few were
found inside the works, shot and bayo-
neted
II found poor Caniff and Wat Mar
nell, the former lying close up to the
breastworks, the dead body of his horse
being near by. Marnell had fallen mid
way between the lines, and must have
been killed instantly. for the flush of
excitement was still on his face and he
looked as natural as he did in life. He
had received many wounds, there be-
ing II holes N his blanket, which I
took off to put around his body. But
1 imagine the wound in the left breast
was the first received, and the others
were made by those terrible volleys
that swept over the field after our lines
were forced TO retire to the outer
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

kacrifice at Franklin. The division be-
longed to Stewards Corps, and was
commanded by Brig.-GeB. Francis NJ.
Cockrell, who for many years after the
war represented his State in the United
States Senate.
In spite of their terrible Christening
of three years of fighting and the dreary
line of comrades graves which marked
their course for a thousand miles from
Pea Ridge, they attacked at Franklin
with all the fiery energy of their first
assault. They could see the work laid
out before them in the Union. troops,
standing with firm countenances behind
their defenses and the fearful array of
artillery which swept the field over
which they were to advance. Notwith-
standing this, their bands blithely play
ing The Benny Blue Flag" which was
the usual battle air of the Confederates
the gallant young Missourians rushed
forward under orders to drive the YAM
KEGS into the river at the point of the
bayonet.
Sad as had been their losses at Co.
rinth and on the Hatchie, they were
moderate compared with those which
now fell upon them. Never before had
they made an attack with such insstent
determination; never before had they
fought with such persistence. They
were a part of those troops who sue
ceeded In getting inside the works and
among those who were killed there. The
shells from Fort Granger plowed thru
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

works. Capt. Caniff was knocked from
his horse by a shot in the right shout
der, and it must have been while lying
on the ground that he was struck on
the top of his head, the ball coming out
under the chin.
MY heart bled when / first stood
over the rigid form of Lieut. Crow He
was a kind, true friend and q perfect
gentleman, as gentle and modest as a
woman and yet as brave as the bray
est"
The End of the Battle.
Gen. Cox fixes the end of the battle at
8 o'clock, when the last determined as
sault was made. After this there were
scattered volleys and alarms, arising
from the nervous tension on both sides,
but these became less demonstrative
and frequent, and some time after 10
o'clock quiet came, broken only by the
distressing means and shrieks of the
wounded in front. Such a slaughter as
the Union troops had inflicted exhaust
ed even the battle rage which had pos
sessed them. They quietly laid down
their heated muskets, but took the pre-
caution to refill their cartridge boxes
before doing so, altho il was apparent
to the dumbest man in the line that
the battle was at an end, and that no
enemy would resume offensive opera
tons after such crushing punishment
Many of our men went out. beyond the
lines among their fallen foes, and min
istered in such simple ways as they
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
Batteries G and II. list N. VI A.
Editor National Tribune: Please give
a little history of these batteries.-
Fletcher Odbert, Antwerp, N Y.

Editor National Tribune: Please give
a little history of these batteries.-
Fletcher Odbert Antwerp, N. Y.
The LIST N. Y. l.. A. was organized in
the State-at-large from Aug 30 to Nov.
10, 1861, had several additions made to
it, and after serving out two enlistments
was mustered out by batteries at differ
ent dates from June 16 to %, 1865.
Battery G was commanded by Capt.
John w. Tamblin, discharged Jan 81,
1852, succeeded by Capt Almont
Barnes. mustered out Sept. 5, 1864, sue
ceeded by Capt. David F. Richie. Its
battles were Fredericksburg, Chancel-
louisville. Lorsyille, Gettysburg, Kappa
hammock Station. Mine Run, Spotsylva-
MIA, North Anna, Totopotomay. Bethesda
Church, Petersburg and Weldon Rail-
road. II belonged TO the Fifth Corps,
and lost four killed and Is by disease,
etc
Battery II was commanded by Capt.
Joseph Spratt. promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel, 10th N. Y. Art, Feb. 4, 1863.
by Capt Chas. E. Mink. It's
battles were: Yorktown, Fair Oaks,
White Oak Swamp. Malvern Hill, Mine
Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North
Anna, Totopotomay, Bethesda Church
Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Preble's
Farm and Hatcher's Rum II belonged
to the Fifth Corps, and lost seven killed
and 10 from disease, etc.-Edftor Ma
tional Tribune. nsr 81
The National tribune., 1911-03-30

Every available piece of timber went
into the breastworks. The houses of
the slaves were taken, the old cotton
press with its heavy timbers and even
the weather boarding of the cotton gin
house was nearly all made available
The locust grove was used for stakes
and headlogs. The tops of these locusts
were left where they fell, making n
labyrinth almost impossible until our
bullets cut them into small pieces. There
was but the single line of works at the
pike. Col. Doty, of Gen. Stricklands
staff, having in charge the construction
of this part of the line, said to me:
There certainly was but one line"
All of The brigade on the east side Of
the pike reached the works simulta
neously. The 125th was delayed by
meeting the head of the victorious
charging party in the door yard and
garden of the Carter homestead. This
garden fronted on the pike south of
the house, and extended back about
half the width of the house, with an
alley between. The smokehouse was o
large brick affair. Many of our men.
after capturing all that remained of
the enemy after the first voliey in the
door yard, passed around the corner of
the house, thence along the line of the
garden to the smokehouse, and from
thence to the works. which were
reached by. rush charge Thus the
works in front of the garden were not
taken on the first charge. From four
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
What 125 Men Did.

Editor National Tribune: On our re-
treat we got 10 Columbia just before
dark on the evening of Nov. 81, and
before my company had time to stack
arms Gen. Wagner told me he would
send me 125 men and two Lieutenants,
and for me to take them out on the
Mount Pleasant pike until 1 found a
company of a Kentucky regiment, and
from that company to line my pickets
at right angles to the pike. We went
out about one AMI a half miles, and all
went lovely until about daylight of the
2Sth. Then the rebels commenced
Smelling the Kentucky company, shell
tered behind rail piles. The shells
struck those rails at close range, and
killed and wounded so many that they
scarcely had enough men left to carry
their dead and wounded back to Co.
lumbia. Five regimental rebel flags
advanced in our front and three more
regiments on our right flank. Our 125
D,en kept up such a fire that we
checked the advance for some time,
and slowly fell back quarter of a
mile to rifle pit, the best ever saw.
about a half mile long. We took pos
session of it without any orders, and
stretched our line the whole length of
the pit. l think there was more firing
from 125 muskets. The enemy checked
up. They must have thought that we
had 1000 men or more. The 125 men
held back the eight regiments all of
the 2Sth and the night following with
out being reinforced by single man
and without anything to eat.-D. c.
Sparks, Captain. Co. d, 5th Tenn,
Easements Brigade, Cox's Division
Twenty-third Corps, Kingston, Tenn.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
Not the Whole Corps,

Editor National Tribune: l have been
reading your Franklin and Nashville
campaign with much interest, and l
lind some things do not correspond with
the facts. You speak of the Twenty
third Corps leaving the works near the
cotton gin. Only two regiments left the
works, viz, the Tooth and 104th Ohio.
The above two regiments were of Ri
ley's Brigade of Cox's Division, Twenty
third Corps; the rest of that brigade.
the 10th Ky, 18th Ky. and 8th Tenn,
rose at CoX's command and filled that
gap. At Duck River the 18th KY. was
on the skirrnish line, and had the in
finite pleasure of receiving the rebel
force. AS they crossed the river We
gave them free light till we reached
a point where we had a masked bat
terry, and it opened up on them.-Alon-
20 T. A. Seaman, Guthrie, Okla.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
4 CayaIryman's View.

Editor National Tribune: My regi-
ment. the 8th Iowa Cav, came into Co
lumbia some time in the morning of
Nov. 28. followed by Hoods infantry.
and before we left the town we heard
Hoods artillery booming on Schofield's
front. We drew rations and ammuni-
ton, and about o'clock crossed the
river on pontoon bridge. The Frank
lin pike leo east to Spring Hill, where
we turned east, and made an all-night
march thru the cedar swamps until we
struck the mud pike called the Lewis
burg pike, where we ABOUT 4 in the
morning put out our pickets and lay
on our arms, completely worn out. 1t
was late in the afternoon when we ar
rived at Franklin The great wagon
train was punched up there. During
the forenoon 1 was down at the bridges,
and that conglomeration of army wag
ons, ambulances, negros and white ref
ugees and the whole riffraff of a re-
treating army was a sight 1 never will
forget.
Before noon the tired infantry of
Schofield commenced coming in. The
cavalry formed on our left of the In
fantry, and my regiments position was
on the right of the cavalry, and we oc-
cupied a bluff just east of the Harpeth
River. which commanded a good view
of our lines stretching to the west
across the railroad and the Columbia
pike and the slopes to the south.
Our cavalry stretched away to our
left, and Immediately in our front was
the rebel cavalry watching us, but all
was quiet in front of the cavalry. Very
few soldiers perhaps ever commanded
such grand view of the preparations
Of great battle as we had here.
Wagner's men maintained their adj
RANGED position in the face of Hoods
Wagner's men fired a
volley at the advancing reb-
lis, and then started for the rear dou-
ole-quick, closely followed by the reb-
,ls.
We could see Wagner's men leaping
over our works, and when the front
vas clear solid sheet of fame rolled
,ut from our works and we heard the
volley, and then the whole
inc was blotted out from our view by
he smoke. That was all we saw of the
,attle, but until long after dark the
oar of the conflict continued, and we
Knew from the position that we were
holding our lines firm.-Geo. Moniux, |
9TH Iowa Cav, Rock Rapids, Iowa.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
The 91St Pa.

Editor National Tribune: Please pub
hsh short history of the s1st Pa
Charles Beaver, Harrisburg, Pa.
The 91st Pa. was organized at Pbila-
delphia from Sept. to Dec 4, 1861.
and after serving out two enlistments
was mustered out July 10, 1865. 1t was
commanded by Col. Edgar NJ. Gregory
all thru It's service, belonged to Ayres's
Division. First Corps, and lost 116
killed and 81 from disease. etc. The
principal battles in which it was en-
gagged were Antietam, Fredericksburg,
charlottesville, Gettysburg, Rappahan-
mock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness.
Spotsylvania. North Anna, Totopotomay,
bethesda Church, Weldon Railroad.
Preble's Farm and Hatcher's Rum
Editor National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
(To be continued
The 173d n. Y.

Editor National Tribune Please give
a short history of the 173d n. geo.
Goidbronson. 2140 Polk street, Chicago,
Ill.
The 1l3d n. Y. was organized at New
Y ork CITY during October and Novem-
Der, 1852, and mustered out Oct. Is.
1865. 1t was also called Fourth Ma
tional Guards, and was commanded by
Col. Chas. B. Morton. resigned March
10, 1853, succeeded by Col Louis M.
Peck, in command at time of muster
out 1t belonged to Dwight's Division,
Nineteenth Corps, and lost "A killed
and 1S1 from disease. etc-Editor Ma
tional Tribune.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
WASHINGTON THURSDAY MARCH 80 1911


the notes of the bands ON parade"
The sight. of that grueSome field in
the gray light of the leeembepe morn
chilled the heart of every man In
Hoods army as they MARCHED lin pur-
suit of the retreating Yankeesu They
marched because they were dutifAl SOL
diers, faithful to the end, but hone had
departed, sanguine dreams weraf shat
tered and Southern independence had
become Dead Sea apple As good SOL
diers they marched on to whatever was
before them, but their lseuls had the
sadness Of these who mourn without
hope. The marvel is that Hood should
have ordered his army forward After
such a bloody defeat byi al portion only
of Thomas's army behind slight de-
lenses what could he expect awaited
him in the heavy Notifications of Nash
Vile, behind which Thomas was assem-
bling a powerful host? Hood certainly.
no matter what his grave faults. pos
sessed at least soldierly courage in the
highest degree.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
The 5th PA. Cav.

Editor National Tribune Please give
little sketch of the 5th Pa. CAV, 1 was
Second Lieutenant in Co. C.-TJames
II. Filburg, Genessce. Pa.
The 9Th Pa. Cav. also called Cameron
Dragons and 65th Pa. was Organized
at Philadelphia from July to Septem-
Der, 1861, and after serving out two
enlistments was mustered out Aug. Z,
1865. Its first Colonel was David Camp
bell, who resigned Oct. 16, 1852, and
succeeded by Col. Max Fredmsin, who
also resigned March O., 1863. At the
time of muster-out Col. Robert M. West
was in command. 1t belonged to
Kautz's Division, Cavalry Corps, and
lost ~ killed and ZIG from disease, etc.
National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
With ondycke at Frankin.

Editor National Tribune: Opdycke's
Brigade was composed of seven regi-
ments, the 36th, 44th, I'D, 74th and
sSth ILL.,. the oath Wis. and the stu
Ohio. 1t was the First Brigade, Second
Division, Fourth Corps The Twenty
third and Fourth Corps were north Of
the river at Columbia. Tenn. when
Hoods army tried to force a crossing.
Early on the morning of Nov. % word
was received that Hood had crossed the
river above Columbia and was march-
ing to cut our army off. About 8
O'Clock we received orders to march.
We were soon on the way, and T.Ide
quick time to Spring HILL Our s;liria
mishers on arriving at Spring Hill en-
countered Forests cavalry. They
opened fire on us, and Gen. Wagner
came dashing up. Seeing the situa-
ton, he ordered the brigade up on tha
double quick, and the enemy fell lack
into the woods and disappeared our
brigade advanced about one-haIf mile
and halted. This was about O'CLOCK
p. m. AS the other troops of the Fourth
Corps came up they were put in line on
our right. Towards night there was
considerable firing towards the south
end of the line, but no serious fighting,
The baggage and supply train was corr
raled in town as it came up. As soon
as it got dark this train was formod in
double column on the pike, and ordered
to Franklin under whip and spur. AZ
dark our brigade put a few pickets a
short distance in front. and remained
all night in line without fires.
Soon after dark a large body of the
enemy's troops went into camp i'll the
woods in front of our brigade. As they
started their campfres we could see
them moving around their fires. About
midnight Gen. Schofield arrived at
Spring Hill with the Twenty-third
naI hrf4S Lnt
then moved on to Franklin. As soon as
the Twenty-third Corps were all past
the troops of the Fourth Corps fol.
lowed.
Opdycke had orders to remain ill
daylight. then to follow the arm to
we moved into Spring Hill, and formed
line of battle in the north end of the
town. 1t was 6reary-looking place.
The town had been stripped bare Out
side of our line not living thing could
be seen. We had not been allowed to
make fires, had no supper or break
fast. We knew we were at the mercy
Of Hoods army. Shivering, hungry and
tired, we felt as IL we had been de-
serted by our army. At sunup we
moved toward Franklin
Small squads of Hoods men would
ride up on the hills behind us or on
either side, and amuse themselves by
firing at us at long distances. With
more or less skirmishing we arrived ON
The high hills south of Franklin about
1oon. Here we found some of our
roops in line, with batteries on each
tide of the pike. We formed line Of
)attle on the west side of the pike.
changed around some and remained
here nearly two hours; could see
1ood's men coming up and piling ON
Either side of the pike, getting ready
or battle. About p. m. we moved
tut of line, and took the pike for
AS we came TO Wagner'S
position outside the works Wagner
oined Opdycke and rode to Franklin
With him.-John ". Sherick, Second
lieutenant, 73d H., Camp Point, Ill.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
The 18th n. Y.

Editor National Tribune:s Please give
snort sketch of the 18th N Y.-Ja-
COD Riegle, Eaton Rapids. Mich.
The 18th N. Y. was organized at Uti-
ca and New York City from January to
1O2d n. Y. June 90, 1854. The regiment
was also called Cameron Highlanders.
and was commanded by Col Daniel
llllman, promoted Jan. 10, 1863. to
Brigadier-General, succeeded by Col.
Herbert Hammerstein, in command at
time of muster-out. 1t belonged to
Geary's Division. Twelfth Corps, and
lost IS killed and 73 from disease, etc.
National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1911-03-30
Gen. Ruger's Report.

oS"' ItcIIoht.
Gen. Ruger's report is somewhat more
specific and detailed than those of the
other commanders He formed his line
with the works broken in places to
avoid an enfilade and reverse fire, and
placed his artillery, the Goth Ohio Bat
terry, in a position to command the
approaches to the center and right of
the line, and could also crossfire with a
battery in position on the Carter Creek
turnpike by Gen. kimball.
Kruger threw out his skirmishers from
one-half to three-fourths of q mile in
front, commanded by Col. Zollinger,
129th Ind. The enemy was discovered
advancing in three lines. covering the
whole front of the division, and the
skirmishers retired slowly, firing in the
line was soon assaulted in force with
great spirit and determination, but
everywhere, except on the left of the
division, checked within 100 yards by
the steady fire of his men. The enemy
came upon the knoll, and were SO
clearly defined against the sky that Ru-
ger could see the effect of his fire by
the gaps in the line, its gradual vast
Ing away and final disappearance.
On his extreme left the 50th Ohio
and I'D III. were pressed back from
the works, but halted within so yards,
and continued an obstinate resistance
until the arrival of Opdycke's Brigade.
Gen. Kruger speaks in high terms Of
the conduct of Gen. Cox at this time in
helping to restore order and reform
the line. After this there were other
attacks, but as darkness was coming On
the Confederates made another lnCst
determined one, reaching the breast
works in some places and attempting