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Franklin's Bloody Field
Anniversary of One of Bloodiest Battles Fought During Civil War.
The Confederates Won
Hood's Gray-Coated Men Fought With a Courage Seemingly Born of Desperation

Five Generals Killed
    Forty-eight years ago today the terrible battle of Franklin was fought between Gen. John B. Hood, commanding the Confederates, and Gen. John M. Scofield, commanding the Federals. The battle opened about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and continued till 9 o'clock at night. It was one of the most desperate conflicts of the four years of war between the North and the South. On swinging loose from the defenses at Atlanta, Ga., Gen. Hood, who had but recently succeeded Gen. Joe Johnston under positive orders from the War Department at Richmond, marched his army, if army it could be called, straight for Nashville. Hood was disappointed that Sherman did not divide his army at least half to follow him, but Sherman felt that Thomas at Nashville was well able to take care of Hood and his ragged Confederates, and so took no serious steps to interfere with the movement beyond sending reinforcements to Nashville.
    On arriving at the Tennessee and Alabama line, Hood knew that Scofield with two full corps was between him and Duck River and maneuvered to get between him and Nashville. The movement promised success and as a bit of generalship was superior to anything Hood had ever accomplished. He caught the Federals in a trap, but at Spring Hill, Tenn., through a blunder, the enemy escaped and hurried to Franklin. Hood followed and during the early part of the afternoon of November 30, 1864, reached Winstead's Hills, from which he had a fine view of the topography of the land between that point and the little town of Franklin.
    Fine Bright Day
It was a fine, sunshiny day. From information furnished him by his most trustworthy scouts, Gen. Forrest reported to Gen. Hood that the town was well protected by formidable works, but that the place could be flanked and the enemy maneuvered out of position but Hood, after surveying the situation through his field glasses, decided that he would fight at Franklin. The Confederate commander probably reached this conclusion the more readily on account of a knowledge of the fact that Nashville was well fortified and could readily be re-enforced. His purpose was undoubtedly to rout Scofield's army at Franklin and drive it headlong into Nashville, trusting to the panic thus created to so disorganize Thomas' forces as to make an assault on his works with some hope of carrying them.
    Desperate charge
When Hood's battle line was formed to the hills, Scofield was preparing to evacuate to Franklin, having already sent his wagon trains across the Harpeth River, but was prepared to hold his ground till dark. There were twolines of earth works in front of the Federal position, extending east and went from near the Columbia Road to a point near the river. In front of the main works or trenches at one point was an osage orange pallisade fence. On reaching this fence the Confederates were delayed in their onward rush and suffered greatly from the Federals in the ditch and from a battery posted some distance in the rear. The officers of the charging line had to cut gaps in the tangled fence with their swords and knives before the men could pass. Along the whole line though obstructions did not deter the charge over the trenches and up to the parapet of the main works.
    Confederate Onrush
The Federals on entering Franklin that morning had left two brigades well out in front of the works. These men were the first to catch the onrush of the Confederates. It was at this juncture that Hood's men took up the cry, "Let's go into the works with them!" Many of these brigades were captured and even some of those in the trenches were overrun in the whirlwind charge over the earthworks. The battle was a particularly disastrous one for the Confederates, the dead and wounded being estimated at nearly 6000, exclusive of those captured. The Confederates fought with a courage that seemed born of desperation. For the numbers engaged, it was one of the bloodiest battles fought during the war. One of the most pathetic features of the battle was the loss of so many Confederate officers of high rank, Generals Cleburne, Strahl, Adams, Granberry and Gist being killed and Generals Brown and Carter wounded, the latter mortally.
    Battle of Nashville
The battle of Nashville was fought December 15 and 16. It could hardly be called a battle compared with Franklin, for Hood had only about 27,000 men, while Thomas had about 80,000, or nearly three to one. Hood had only three corps, Stewart's, Lee's and Cheatham's, neither of which amounted to more than a division. Thomas, good soldier as he was, exhibited a good deal of timidity in attacking Hood, but once his army was in full swing the issue was never in doubt, as the result proved, the Confederates being routed and narrowly escaping capture.

From the Old Johnny,
Letter from Comrade Carden from his home in Tennessee.
Still on deck

Although this is a personal letter a good many Boone people are interested in Comrade Carden and we take the liberty of publishing it.
    Hillsboro, Tenn. Oct. 31, 1912.
P.D. Swick. Dear Comrade, I have rented my farm and am now living with a daughter here. I have been poorly for some time but seem to be doing better now. My son has gone to Jasper county, Iowa to stay this winter with his brothers.
    I see from your paper and a Newton paper that you have been there again and that Dr. H. had an old rebel on tap again and that Comrade Lucas and you took dinner with the Doctor. I would like very much to have been one of the boys to have been there at that for I know you had a fine time. Doc is a dandy when he likes a fellow, and when he don't the fellow had better take to tall timber.
    Say, P.D. I have got it in my head that in asking you to let me follow that old Yankee boy's experience in Andersonville prison with some Rebel experience in Northern prisons has caused a lot of old soldiers to kick against your publishing my articles that I furnished and was to. I see that you have never commenced the articles of the Northern soldier. If I am right in my conclusions, you just go ahead and publish the old Yankee boy's sketches and it will be all O.K. with me. The reason that I cared to have published the Rebel experience in Yankee prisons was that but very few of the Northern soldiers or the people generally knew anything of how our prisoners fared in Northern prisons. I just wanted them to know that Andersonville was not the only tin can in the alley. I used to care some about the war and things pertaining to it, but I thank God that I am over it now and can shake hands with an old Yankee with as good grace as anyone. I don't wave the bloody shirt now.
    The election is red hot down here now, and Wilson will carry the state by the same old Democratic majority, but the race for Governor is very much mixed. Hooper, the candidate for governor, is a republican, but will get the Ind. Dem. vote. He got that two years ago and was elected by about 13,000 votes. The Bull Moose party, has a candidate but he will get only the liquor element of the republican party, the question being Liquor vs. Temperance. I am an Independent Democrat but will vote for Hooper. I will close this by wishing you and yours the best of health and success.
R.C. Carden Shelbyville, Winter Quarters of the Army Fifty Years
by C.R. Wallace     At the commencement of the civil war there was not another county in Middle Tennessee so evenly divided on politics as Bedford. The town of Shelbyville was known as "Little Boston," There were a large number of influential citizens who stood for a strong Union and non-secession sentiment, and argued strongly with those who were becoming impatient to resent the seeming danger of having their slaves freed, advising the latter to wait, at least, until the new party had fully declared its policy, in case they should decide to abolish slavery, no doubt a satisfactory settlement would be offered, etc.
    The seccessionists were for taking up the issue and pushing it through, which meant "war". While Bedford County responded promptly and liberally to the call of the South for troops, there was a smothered sentiment, with no opportunity for expression, until the Federals occupied that section of the state. Afterwards quite a number of companies were organized, equipped, and reported at Nashville for service in the United States army. They were then known as "Home Guards." One of the cavalry regiments was commanded by Col. Robert Galbraith of Shelbyville, which was under Gen. Stokes, and was known as "Stokes Cavalry."
    In the winter of 1862, previous to the Stone's River battle, one corps of Gen. Bragg's army stopped over at Shelbyville for a month or two, and recruited in that section. After the battle, which was fought December 31, 1862, to January 2,1863, the army fell back upon Tullahoma and Shelbyville, and it seemed to be generally understood there would be no further demonstrations for the winter, so the armies went into winter quarters, one corps at Tullahoma and the other at Shelbyville, the cavalry watching the movements of each army along the front.
    So we were under "marshal law". Next to the General himself, the Provost Marshal was the "biggest man in town". In case one went beyond the guards, he must have his passport; if to do business, he must have his permit, and the Provost Marshal was supposed to know as to one's loyalty and all about him.
    I will not recall the battle, only to say the wounded were placed in hospitals at both places, Shelbyville and Tullahoma, and given the very best medical attention and nursing.
    The surgeons in charge of the hospitals, the commissaries, Quartermaster, the Signal Corps, their assistants and clerks, found board in private families; there were visitors coming in to see their husbands and sons who had to be cared for; so we had a fine opportunity to show our Southern hospitality.
    Dr. Lynch of South Carolina and his assistants were taking their meals with us, the Doctor prescribing for us the same as our family doctor when any of us were sick. Pathetic Picture     Company B, a remnant of a gallant Confederate command, participated in the ceremonies, and it was a pathetic picture these old soldiers presented as with tear-bedimmed eyes and bowed heads they looked silently on as the soft hands of tenderly nurtured women placed the emblems of purity on the rounded mounds that covered the mortal dust of those who dared to battle for the right.
    The Industrial School Band furnished the music for the occasion and while the flowers were being placed on the graves played several Southern airs.
    After a fervent prayer by Rev. J. H. McNeilly, D.D., himself a veteran Confederate, followed by the song, "How Firm a Foundation," by a quartette selected by the Confederate Daughters for the occasion, Mr. Porter McFerrin, a son of a Confederate and orator of the day was introduced by Mr. M.A. Spurr, master of ceremonies. Flowers From the Sunny South     R.C. Carden, the Tennessee Confederate soldier who visited with his two sons, Huse and Jack CArden here last spring, and attended our Decoration Day services, last week sent a large box of beautiful flowers, furnished by the Tennessee "Daughters of the Confederacy," to Dr. Hammer, with orders that they be used to decorate the grave of the late S.H. DeVaughan, in our cemetery, who served in the Sixth Virginia Confederate Infantry and in the Mt. Vernon Guards of Alexandria, Va. Mr. DeVaughan was the father of Mrs. Fannie Hughes, near this city, whose husband was also a brave Union soldier--the good woman being proud of the memory of both of them. Her son Samuel Hughes, reverently placed the flowers on the grave of his grandfather. The box also contained flowers to be placed on the grave of the late James Callison who served in the 27th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A., of Stonewall Jackson's Brigade. U.D.C. Sends Flowers to Iowa     The Manchester Chapter U.D.C. recently sent a box of flowers to Newton, Iowa, to decorate the graves of two Confederate soldiers. The following letter has been received:
To the Daughters of Confederacy
Manchester, Tenn
The beautiful flowers which you sent to be placed on the grave of S.H. DeVon, Captain of Alexandria Guards, were received. They were placed on his grave Decoration Day morning.
    We, his daughters wish to extend to your chapter, our appreciation for the thought and effort shown in thus honoring his memory.
Sincerely, Mrs. F.V. Hughes
Mrs. I.R. Sharp, Newton, I. Grinell, I
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