Macon beacon., 1917-06-22
In camp near Springhill,
Tenn, April IL, 1898.

III camp near IllISuilit !
Tenn, April II, 1898 ] /
Dear Pa
!. Thinking you Will doubtless
hear of the terrible little battle .
n which Cosby's brigade was
Engaged on yesterday, and know
Nng that you will be exceedingly
ineasy until you can hear def
ktely of casualties in our Regi-
ent, | have concluded to en-
y race this the earliest Opportu-
.ty of giving YOU what informa-
/ lon ! have been able to collect in
NO the engagement and its re-
suits.
To dissipate your uneasiness, |
| will first state no one was seri-
ously injured in either Of the
NoXubee companies.
About 10 o'clock, on yesterday
morning our brigade being in ad-
vance, and supplied with two
days rations, and 40 rounds of
ammu lition, began its march in
the direction of Franklin, for the
purpose of of making a recon-
noisance in force, to determine
whether or not the enemy were
really evacuating their works on
Harpeth river, as had been re-
ported by urindependent scouts,
as we'll as by citizens. AS usual,
our Regiment was placed in front
! and assigned the duty of driving
in the Federal pickets, and other
\ forces on outpost duty. With
= in two and one-half miles
VT Franklin, we discovered
4 . small force of Federal cav
airy strongly posted on Winston
hills. We advanced on them at
gallop, and they fled precipi-
\ lately, almost witout firing gun
and without being fired on at all.
, We pursued them closely to with
\ one-half mile of town. Here they
rallied, supported by two or more
companies of infantry, and check
ed our further advance III that
direction. At this point one man
was killed IN Taylor's campan.
and one slightly wounded in
. Craven's. Col. Pinson, seeing
the strength of their position,
and not being able to learn their
exact numbers, concealed as they
were behind the brow Of bill,
Immediately dispatched courier
to state the facts to the General
and to demand reinforcements.
Orders then came for the Regi-
ment to move to the right, and if
ossible to turn the enemy's flank
and thus dislodge him, We had
gone about one-fourth mile ca st
of the Pike, when we were again
formed into line, to receive the
charge of a party of Federal cav
airy. As soon, as we began to
move towards them, they wisely
turned tail" and moved off at q
rapid pace in the opposite direc-
ton. At this time General Van
Dorm, attended by his own and
General Jackson's escort appear
ed on the field. Our regiment
was here divided; the majority
moving off somewhat further to
the east, under Major Wheeler,
were dismounted and placed in
position in a skirt of woods,
where they were for a time hasty
engaged, though escaped with
out loss, as each man was pro-
tected by tree or stump; the re-
mainder, consisting of parts Of
companies A D, | and G (about
Is from each Co.. led by Col.
Pinson in person advanced in q
charge across an open field, 400
Yards in width. for the purpose
of routing the enemy, supposed
to be only in very small force on
the opposite edge of the field.
The Federals concealed by a
slight elevation of ground awaited
until we were within Is or 100
yards of them, when they arose
(about 500 strong) and poured a
CALLING fire into our ranks, doing
dreadful execution, in regard to
horses. We halted and calmly
stood the fire without being able
to return it. las our guns had
previously been discharged until
ordered to retire, which was done
slowly and in order, for about
100 yards, when we were agair
halted and formed into line, pre-
pared for another charge upOE
the enemy. The order at length
was given, another desperate
charge was made, necessarily re
smiling as the first. Pinson dis
matched to Van Dorm, that it wa
impossible, outnum5ered as h
was. to dislodge the enemy, an(
received a reply q know this t.
he literal ly true, as Latt carried
the dispatches), to hold his posi-