Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-15
The Rebels Were Already Pouring
Over Our Works at the Pike.

Is a beautiful, warm. sunshiny day. blu!
was a little wet yesterday. But ]
must return to the affair at Franklin
and the part our brigade tool in the
engagement. AS you already know,
our brigade was held in reserve. across
the pike. Soon the stragglers came
streaming down the pike, mostly re-
cruits. The pioneers were thrown
across the pike with fixed %bayonets to
drive them back, a difficult task, In
deed. Our battalion was moved to
the left of the pike, and we were or
dered to lie down, as the bullets We're
flying thick at his time. There was
another reserve regiment still in front
Of US. the One Hundred and Forty
fourth Ohio, | ave heard. | guess
they were recruits. We had hardly
lain down when down came our men
in a perfect panic. some minus hats,
guns and sense. Artillery horses and
caissons were flying about In the wild
est disorder. All seemed lost, when
General Stanley rode up and ordered
us to stop the panic-stricken men
pouring down the hills. No sooner
did we rise up to advance than the
green regiment in front of US broke
and ran like a flock Of sheep. To
stop them was impossible. and no
time was to be lost.
Up the slope to the works we
rushed, with a terrific yell, through a
calling ~musketry and artillery fire.
None too soon did we reach the sum
NIT. The rebels were already pour
ing over our works at the pike. Some
were several rods inside our works,
but were instantly dispatched, and the
tide of battle was turned.
After awhile the fire slackened a
little, as the rebels had ceased com
ing up to the assault with fresh
troops, but the bitches were still filled
with men who were unable to stir, as
We kept pOking our gum over the
works and shooting straight down at
them. After awhile the rebels be-
came tired of lying on the other side
of the works and being slaughtered,
and as they could not retreat, they
surrendered and came over the works
by hundreds, and were sent to the
rear without any guard. Darkness
came on, and many Of them hid away
about the town and were lost to US.
About 1000 were sen through to
Nashville under guard.
On the right Hood still made per-
sistent attempts to carry our lines
after dark. and finally succeeded in
occupying a small portion, but by a
heavy crossfire from our troops was
prevented from taking advantage Of
it. Soon after dark we began to grad.
ually withdraw from our line to be-
gin the retreat to Nashville.
The men were terribly exhausted,
especially the recruits; numbers of
them were lying down on the pike
asleep.
We reached Nashville about 10 a. m.
of December l, having marched from
Duck river, 40 miles by the pike, be-
sides marching and countermarching,
and fought two battles. without any
rest, and with scarcely time to eat,
from before the battle of Franklin un-
til we reached Nashville. On Deem
Der 2, while we were lying In mass
In front of Nashville, Generals Thorn
as, Wood and Wagner rode into our
brigade. The boys soon congregated
around "Old Sandy and General
Wood told him 1T was the brigade that
saved the army and day at Franklin,
Thomas proposed three cheers
for the First brigade, which the brt-
gade returned by three cheers each
Thomas, Wood and Wagner