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On the 15th, the Federals renewed their assaults and during the morning were again repulsed.
About 3 P. M., they massed a large force under cover behind a hill about Hood's left centre, and under cover of a heavy fire of artillery made a gallant charge and carried Hood's line, which, seeing the disaster, broke in all directions, and all efforts to rally it failed.
During the night, Hood withdrew, losing 54 guns and 4500 prisoners. There was no return made of his casualties, but he reported them as ‘very small.’
Thomas reported: killed, 387; wounded, 2562; missing, 112; total, 3061.
Hood made good his retreat to Tupelo, Miss., where his army rested for reorganization on Jan. 10, 1865.
In the spring, it was transferred to N. C., where it served under A. P. Stewart and, about 7000 strong, was included in Johnston's surrender.
The battle of Franklin had proved its death-blow.
Besides the loss of Atlanta and the destruction of Hood's army, there remains a third sequence of the change of commanders which deserves notice among the ‘successes elsewhere,’ preparing the ground for Grant when he again became able to inaugurate a campaign.
This was the unopposed march of Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah between Nov. 15 and Dec. 25, with the capture of Savannah on the latter date.
It was preceded by the deliberate burning of nearly every house in Atlanta, only the residential portion being spared.
This was excused on the ground that ‘War is Hell.’
It depends somewhat upon the warrior.
The conduct of Lee's army in Pa. presents a pleasing contrast.
It had been hoped that the few troops which could be gathered in Ga., aided by the militia of the State, and by 13 brigades of Confederate cavalry under Wheeler, might effectively harass and delay such a march, but all such expectations proved utterly vain.
Though little was said in the press at the time, and our public speakers belittled the achievement, there is no question that the moral effect of this march, upon the country at large, both at the North and the South and also upon foreign nations, was greater than would have been the most decided
1907.
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