THE REGIMENT'S REPUTATION.

645

the

In the meantime the 88th Illinois was formed on next ridge in a favorable position, through which the 36th retired, with orders to halt at the first defensible point, and act as Col. Olson should direct or as circumstances should require. Thus was portions of the brigade alternately halted and formed in secure positions from whence the head of the Rebel column was assailed. The latter halting, would bring up artillery, deploy in force, and when on the point of storming the hill, the detachment holding it would hurriedly retire-often hotly pursued by squadrons of cavalry. In this manner was mile after mile of the road stubbornly fought over, and more than one graybacked trooper was made to bite the dust.

The sturdy resistance offered by Opdyke greatly retarded the advance of the Rebel center. His force was too small, however, to check the flanking columns, which were usually in advance of their center, and once or twice, by doubling upon the road, they came near cutting off the rear detachment. Alternate fighting and retreating consumed the earlier hours of the day, and gave time for the construction of defensive works at Franklin and enabled the trains to cross the Harpeth without being molested.

For the judicious manner in which the retreat was conducted, Col. Opdyke and his troops, comprising the rear guard, were highly complimented by Gen. Scofield. Their intrepidity; the energetic measures adopted for getting forward the worn-out men, and their stern resistance to the advance of the Rebel army, closely dogging their footsteps, richly entitled them to the encomiums so lavishly bestowed. The confidence reposed in the 36th was evidenced by their being put in places of greatest danger. It was the 36th that led the headlong dash into Spring Hillrepulsing the Rebel charge and scattering Forest's Cavalry to the winds. When Bradley's Brigade was being roughly handled

and on the point of giving way, the 36th hurried to its relief, and restored the battle which was nearly lost. In the delicate, as well as dangerous, duty of clearing the pike and holding it open to enable the troops from Columbia to pass without interruption, the 36th was selected; and to the cool courage of Col. Olson and the gallant 36th, in checking and delaying the march of Hood's army until the works at Franklin were strengthened, was Gen. Scofield indebted in a large measure for his successful resistance and victory at the battle of Franklin.

CHAPTER XLI.

BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.

T IS with many misgivings that we attempt a detailed account of the battle of Franklin-as fierce and bloody in proportion to the numbers engaged as any of the many fights that occurred during the war of the Rebellion. The details when truthfully written and fully understood, give birth to both pride and sorrow to those of the 36th who survived the terrible ordeal of fire and blood. Pride at the gallantry and heroic devotion displayed by every man of whatever rank or station, who fought in its ranks, and sorrow for the num

THE ARRIVAL AT FRANKLIN.

647

bers who sealed their devotion to their country by their blood! Sorrow and weeping for the brave Olson, who was among the first that fell with his face to the foe. Words are feeble in commendation of him, one of the noblest of the country's heroes, and feeble in expressions of a country's gratitude to those who sacrificed so much for its salvation.

As has been stated, Gen. Scofield, with the 23rd Corps, then temporarily under the command of Gen. Cox, proceeded direct to Franklin. The trains followed under the immediate escort of the divisions of Wood and Kimball, of the 4th Corps. The troops marched by the side of the wagons, and repulsed every attempt of Forest's cavalry to break the line or destroy the train.

So through the long dark hours the column made its way, and just as morning was stepping out of the shades of night, gilding the trees and hill-tops with golden light, the head of the column entered Franklin. But few doubted that the rising sun was ushering in a day of blood. From the celerity of the enemy's movements, the characteristic persistence and energy of Hood, at times approaching to rashness, it was generally believed that his purpose was to strike in detail and destroy the separate Federal detachments, then concentrating at Nashville; and no one doubted his purpose of attacking as soon as his army, then closely pressing our rear guard, could be brought up and formed for the

onset.

Recent rains had raised the Harpeth River, and the fords were in such bad condition as to be nearly impassable. No wagon bridge spanned the stream, and a detail was at once made, and the town ransacked for planks to put the railroad bridge in condition for crossing. At the same time a foot-bridge was built, which fortunately proved available for wagons. The time occupied in the construction of the bridges, and the delay attending

the passage of the trains and public property, rendered it impossible to move the army to the north side of the river before the enemy could come up with a force sufficiently powerful to make an attack. Accordingly the troops were placed in position as they arrived, on the south side and in the suburbs of the town. The 23rd Corps on the left and center, covering the Columbia pike; its left resting upon the Harpeth, above Franklin. Gen. Kimball, with the 1st Division of the 4th Corps, arrived soon after nine o'clock, and took up a position on the right of the 23rd Corps, its right flank extending to the river, below the

town.

At various times Franklin had been occupied and slight entrenchments thrown up in its southern outskirts. But these, by neglect, had become partially obliterated, and at this time were of little account as defences. Long before the men comprising this army had learned the use of pick-axe and shovel, and regarded them as among the most effective weapons of warfare. They no more thought of prosecuting a campaign successfully without them, than of winning a battle without powder and bayonets. Of the 4th Corps, it had passed into an axiom, that they were "always prepared." On this occasion, the men worked like badgers. The thud of the pick and the clinking of shovels succeeded the tramp of marching squadrons, and in an incredibly short time, a winrow of earth and logs, a mile and a-half in length, encircled the town, of sufficiently formidable proportions to withstand a stout assault.

Wood's Division (the 3rd), as it filed into town, was directed to proceed to the river and assist in crossing the wagons to the north bank and take favorable positions for watching the fords, resisting the passage of cavalry, which it was apprehended might attempt to interrupt the line of march to Nashville.

RESISTING HOOD'S ADVANCE.

649 The town of Franklin is situated in the midst of a valley surrounded by an amphitheatre of wooded hills. Opdyke with the rear guard reached these heights about noon, finding the balance of the Second Division, under Gen. Wagner, halted a mile or more south of town, and forming in support of these, prepared to resist the advance of Hood. Soon after, compact masses of confederates were observed streaming over the hills like dark thunder clouds gathering for the tempest, and made immediate preparations for attacking in force. The position occupied by the Second Division was too extensive to be successfully held, and the country being open and favorable for the movements of the enemy, Gen. Wagner was obliged to abandon his position.

Coming down into the valley two of his brigades were deployed a few hundred yards in advance of the main works-Lane's to the right and Conrad's to the left of the pike, with instructions to hold it and keep the enemy in check as long as possible, and not to retire until forced to do so at the point of the bayonet or pressed to the rear by the weight of numbers. Here the men in accordance with their usual custom, excavated shallow rifle pits, or constructed slight barricades of rails, to aid in what proved to be a fruitless attempt to stem the Rebel tide, which it was now quite evident would descend from the hills upon them.

When the Second Division abandoned the heights, the First Brigade passed to the rear of the entrenchments, and at about four o'clock P. M. halted within the town in reserve, Col. Opdyke receiving instructions to use his own discretion as to position, but to remain within supporting distance, keeping his men well in hand, and to act as circumstances should require. The march from Spring Hill had been hurried, and the tired and hungry men very naturally appropriated the contents of sundry cracker