Confederate account of the battle of Franklin.
The first Confederate account of the
battle at Franklin,
Tennessee, which has yet been published, appears in the Macon
Telegraph, derived from an officer who left
General Hood's army on the 1st instant:
‘
"It appears that the enemy, after being driven out of
Columbia, evacuated
Murfreesboro'; and, uniting all their forces, took up position on the high cliffs south of
Franklin.
General Hood pursued them closely in their retreat, and when they formed line of battle on a series of hills below
Franklin, he flanked them out of their position.
They then fell back to their fortifications on the edge of the town, where they formed a strong line of battle.
Immediate dispositions were made to assault their works, which was done in front, chiefly by
Cheatham's corps, with spirit and vigor, the various commanders leading their columns, the bands playing and the men huzzahing.
"
Stewart's corps was on the right, and
Cheatham, aided by some of
Lee's corps, formed the centre and left.
The remainder of
Lee's corps had been detached to create a diversion.
Forrest's cavalry defended our right and left flanks.
The enemy opened a very severe and destructive fire upon our assaulting line, and it was in this charge the heavy loss of general officers occurred.
The irresistible bravery of our men carried everything before them.
The lines were occupied by our troops, several of our generals — among them the heroic
Cleburne —— being shot on the breastworks.
This attack was made at 5 o'clock P. M. Despite the terrible losses, the army entered the enemy's lines in the highest spirits, with bands playing and flags waving.
It was then discovered that the enemy had a second line, where they had rallied.
There they were quickly assailed by our men, and a severe and close fight ensued, wherein the comba tants were separated by a ditch and breastworks.
"It soon became a hand-to-hand fight, which was continued into the night until the enemy gave way and retired to the third line.
The fight was again resumed on this line, and kept up until about 2 o'clock in the morning, when an escaped prisoner informed our commanders that the enemy had evacuated this line and retired to
Nashville.
Our army then occupied this line; and early the next day pushed on towards
Nashville; and on the 1st of December, when our informant left, the rear corps was at Breatwood, eight miles from
Nashville.
"The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained, as they had removed most of their dead.
Our loss was heavy — between two and four thousand.
The distressing mortality among our generals is confirmed.
There were five killed--
Cleburne, Strabl,
Granberry,
Gist and
John C. Carter.
There were five generals wounded — Quaries, not mortally, as first reported;
Brown, slightly;
Johnson, and the names of the other two were not remembered by our informant.
General Gordon was captured.
A large amount of stores were captured, especially at
Columbia.
Recruits are joining
Hood's army in numbers more than sufficient to supply all the losses, and the army is in high spirits.
General Pillow arrived at his plantation in time to capture large stores."
’
