The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-01-09
18TH
BATTLE OF FRANKLIN
IT was One OF the BloOdieSt and N1ost
Desperately Fought Battles OF the
War Between the states.

the Chatham Record. in the issue OF
Wednesday, November 29.)
Tomorrow is the forty-seyenth an
.nirersary Of one Of the
most desperately fought battles OF
the war between the States. 1t was
Tough at Franklin, Tenn, about
twenty miles south OF Nashville, on
the 3Oth Of NoVember, 1864, begin
ming about 1 o'clock in the afternoon
and ending about 10 o'clock at night.
most Of the fighting being after dark
ness.
The Confederate commander was
Gen. John +. Hood, Of Texas, who
had lost a leg while CALAMITY serving
in the army Of northern Virginia, and
a been placed in command OF the
army Of Tennessee in July, 1854, in
place Of Gen. Joseph +. Johnston,
| who had been removed by President
Davis. The latter had become dis
satisfied with Genera Johnston be-
cause of his continuous retreating be-
fore Sherman in the latter's march to
/ 11lidlltis anu 11Oou was lidtSu -
command for the purpose Of giving
battle to Sherman and arresting his
farther advance. TINS was done by
Hood. and the result was disastrous,
for Sherman defeated him and soon
captured Atlanta. After the fall Of
Atlanta. Sherman started on his ia
nous march to the sea, and Hood
decided to move to his rear and thus
force him (Sherman) to fall back on
Chattanooga. Accordingly Hood
started north towards Tennessee while
Sherman with the main body Of his
army marched to Savannah.
Gen. George II. Thomas, a Nir-
ginian, who had remained in the old
army, had under his command (after
being re~-enforCed) an army about
equal in numbers TO that under HOOD,
and to him was entrusted the task
Of opposing Hood Thomas contin-
ued 20 fall back before Hood, us the
latter advanced into Tennessee, unit
Franklin was reached. where battle
was Joined. Hood has been much
criticised for the result Of this bat
tie, and he laid the blame on General
Cheatham, who he alleged did not
carry out his orders and attack as
soon and as Vigorously as ordered
/ Although the Confederates captured
the first line Of the enemy's works
Hifi iotoiI iitoSt dtS pei dltiS 10 carr
the inner lines, Yet they were MOI
successful. but before daylight mex
! morning the Federal army withdrew
and retreated to Nashville. The Con.
! f~ederates followed and another battle
9 was fought on the 18th and 16tl
Of December, 1864, near Nashville
! in which the C~onfederates were de
: feated and forced 70 retreat south
SO disastrous was this defeat tina
the army of Tennessee, as then con
! stltuted, was almost ~disbanded, an
the remnant of it was sent to tni
9 state 20 General JOhnston's army an
Il participated in the battle Of Benton
Vile.
In no battle of the entire war di,
the Confederates night more des
perately than at the battle Of Frank
lin, and their courage deserved sue
s cess. AS the battle began at nearl
e shutdown most Of the fighting wa
o IN the darkness Of night. Our troop
r charged up to the enemy'S breast
is works and continued for two hours O
y longer firing from the outside Of tn
works at the enemy just a few Zee
q away ana engaged i'll a hand-to-han
death struggle. The rknes q
le night was %illurnined with the hashe
or the rapidly firing guns and tn
y dead Il wounded were piled j
e heaps on each side of the breast
a works. One Confederate generf
~ .Brlgad1er-General John Adams) wa
~ Killed on his horse SO near the breast
- WORKS that he and the horse bot
. Tell across the works. In no othe
c. oatlle OF the war We're 50 many Cor
Is lederate generals killed, six of the,
ia peils Killed, six wounded. and or
st captured. making q toal loss Of thi1
Teen generals in those few hours {
IN 1lShtlng. General Hood admitted
q loss OF $500 in killed, wounded an
es prisoners. while the Federals repor
r ca thelr loss at 1926. Gener:
An beauregard, who then commando
n the military division Of the west.
is ms offlelal report referred to I'll
I'd ~:eat loss and waste Of life at Franz
IN and. while criticising Gener;
ffood conduct Of the mpa ca
there was "never greater Gallant,
:: rrank That which was 50 general
o. The North Carolina troops in +
l. ! ia Of Ern n ~