The Elbert County tribune., 1920-01-16

\ y : : : !
egzs4zx< eszs4s<S Sssg
REPRESENTATIVE ISAAC r. SHER-
WOOD of Ohio made address in
the house the other day quite out
of the ordinary. Probably other
NAW living could have made just
WI4 XIN that speech. The house heard him
M MI with great interest and when his
W NV time had expired gave him addi-
M AH tional time In which to finish.
N$AdtZ1 Possibly his theme may be stated
V7/SWS as "Fightng Generals of the Civil
(L/nHS War" In general, the debate was
MN about the question whether not,
- 81 since the advent of longrange can
non. a generals place is on the battle 'front.'
whether or not the style of fighting has changed
since the Civil war and the Spanish American war,
and Sherwood moved to tell something about
the style of fighting he in the Civil war.
Now, Sherwood of Ohio n whole lot of fight
ing In the Civil war He enlisted private in
was mustered out brigadier general October
9, 1865 He was in 43 battles and was 123 days
under fire. He six times compmented in
special orders by commanding generals for gallant
conduct In battle. So few living men nave seen
what he has
Omitting the controversial parts, and emphasize
Ing the historical parts of real value General Sher
WOODS address was in part as follows:
Mr. Sherwood.-Now. as to the question of our
style of fighting in the Civil war. There stands
today, as 1t stood over half century ago In front
OF the town of Franklin. Tenn, the highest
point of the ridge, large linden tree 1t was half
past three in the afternoon of November 30 1854
when General Hood, commanding 10000 veteran
soldiers rode unattended to that tree, threw the
stump of the leg TINT was shot on at Chicka-
mauga over the pomrne of the saddle, drew out his
field glass, and sat looking the valley to the
position of the Union army. 1t was the silence
that always precedes great battle. Presently the
silence was broken by the soft strains of music
which foated mp from the town below 1t was the
Federal band playing Just before the battle
mother" The men In gray the hIIl and the
men In blue In the valley below listened There
were tears in many eyes, as the pathetic words
were well remembered
"Just before the battle mother,
am thinking most of you"
General Hood closed his field glass. wheeled
his horse. and rode back to General Stewart with
the command General. will charge the Fed
eral line in front" Stewart formed his corps on
the right. General Cheatham formed his cdfps on
the left and on the extreme right, the Harpeth
river. rested General Forests cavalry can
on the ridge sounded the signal, for the charge.
With bayonets fixed the heavy columns all vet
erans marched with stealdy and even tread down
the slope The fercesi and bloodiest battle of the
centuries was / say that because 1t is a fact
that more men lost In that battle in proper
ton to the number of troops engaged than In any
battle that was ever fought either continent.
Hoods losses were over 40 per cent.
The hottest part of the line a black-locust
thicket just at the right of the Columbia Pike.
was at that part Of the line. 1 have a distinct
recollection OF that locust thicket, and can see
now. as saw then that waving line of shining
bayonets as II rushed to the works with that de-
FAINT rebel YELL and the mad and murderous
fict that followed My horse, Firefy, coal black
that had ridden in many conflicts from Rocky
Face to Atlanta. shot But young and
spry then and at the front to witness the
elimination of the charge.
On the left of my command the Federal lines
gave way And this is something historical,
which historians and Horace Greeley. the Count de
Paris Governor Cox of Ohio. General Banks of
Mississippi. Gen. Basil Duke. and John Trotwood
Moore of Tennessee have written conflicting ac-
counts. / going TO clear that up. On the left
of my command the Federal lines gave way. Gen.