The National tribune., 1911-01-05
Opdycke's Brisadc at Franklin.


Robert Simpson. Co. c, 74th ILL.,,
Rockford, ILL.,, writes:
In n recent issue of The National
Tribune is an article about the battle
of Franklin, by Capt Lyon, of the 23d
Mich. who says he was at the cotton
gin when the rebels broke thru our
lines at the Carter House, and that our
line was restored by the 10th KY. and
some other regiment-he thinks, from
Ohio-that moved quickly by the flank.
filed the gap and held the fort for the
balance of the day.
..As a member of Col. Opdycec's First
Brigade, Second Division. Fourth Corps
/ was completely taken by surprise hy
sucn statement. For a long time I
have known that our claim as rear
guard from Springhill has been knocked
out by others, who claim to have done
all the skirmishing and fighting between
SpringhilI and Franklin.
1t seems from this writer that we
were not a: the battle of Fra nklin at
all, and hal nothing to do in restoring
the lines at that place. Since reading
his letter i have been looking over old
letters that j wrote home at the time
| of these events, and / find that at that
time we cerainly were there. | will
here. give an extract from one:
From letter dated Nashville, Tenn,
Dec. 8, 1864:
ter have written home to-day, this be-
ing the first day ! have had an oppor-
tunity TO write for some time. 1t is
beautiful. warm, Sunshiny day, but was
little wet yesterday. But / must re-
turn to the affair at Franklin and the
part our brigade took in the engage
ment. As you already know, our bIi-
gade was held in reserve. across the
pike. Soon the stragglers came stream
ing down the pike, mostly recruits. The
pioneers were thrown across the pike
with fixed. bayonets to drive them back,
a difficult task, indeed. Our battalion
was moved to the left of the pike, and
we were ordered to lie down, as the
bullets were flying thick by this time
There was another reserve regiment
still in front of us, the 144th Ohio,
have heard. ] guess they were re-
cfuits. We had hardly lain down when
down came our men in a perfect panic
some minus hats, guns and sense. Ar
tiliery horses and caissons were flying
about in the widest disorder All
seemed lost when Gen. 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. Every man in the bri-
gade felt as If the fate of the army de-
pended upon him, and we rushed for
ward. regardless Of those. flying to the
rear. Up the slope to the works we
rushed, with a terrific yell, thru, a gall
ing musketry and artillery fire. None
too soon did we reach the summit The
rebels were already pouring over our
works at the pike. Some were several
rods inside our works but were in
stantly dispatched, and the tide of bat
tie was turned. Soon a great many of
the panic-stricken took courage and
came up to our support, until we had
nearly three battle lines behind the
works; but il made no difference to
Hood; he seemed determined to walk
over us or lose all of his men I'm the
attempt. Charge after charge, of three
or four lines deep. were made. The
bitches outside of our works were filled
with living and dead rebels. The liv-
ing dared not raise their heads saw
color bearer place his colors on one
or our cannon and seize the gun, but he
was Killed in an instant. One rebel
was attempting to crawl over the works
with "A fixed bayonet, when a soldier of
the lU4th Ohio put the muzzle of his
gun TO the rebels head and blew out
his brains. After awhile the fire slack
ened little, as the rebels had ceased
coming mp to the assault with fresh
troops, but the bitches were still filled
with men who were unable to stir, as
we kept poking our guns over the
works and shooting straight down at
them. After awhile the rebels became
tired of lying on the other side of the
works and being slaughtered, and as
they could not retreat they surrendered