Sketches of War History, 1861-1865

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE. BY THOMAS SPEED, Late First Lieutenant and Adjutant Twelfth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. On the 3d day of March, 1888, I visited the battle ground at Franklin, Tennessee. This was the third time it was my fortune to be there. The first time was in the battle, ' November...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE. BY THOMAS SPEED, Late First Lieutenant and Adjutant Twelfth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. On the 3d day of March, 1888, I visited the battle ground at Franklin, Tennessee. This was the third time it was my fortune to be there. The first time was in the battle, ' November 30, 1864. The second time was two weeks afterward, when General Thomas pursued Hood's broken army from the front of Nashville. My position in the army was adjutant of the Twelfth Kentucky Veteran Volunteer infantry, Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. Previous service, especially through the Atlanta campaign, gave opportunity for acquaintance with the troops of my own corps, and others, particularly the Fourth. My interest in the battle of Franklin has led me to read all accounts which have been published, and official reports on both sides. I have also conversed with many Confederates who were in the battle. My recent examination of the field, therefore, was made with a knowledge of the positions and services of the troops engaged, and with the close attention natural to one who took part in the battle. With these advantages for obtaining the facts, I will attempt an account of one of the most sanguinary engagements of the war. In order to understand the battle of Franklin, it isnecessary to review briefly some of the events immediately preceding. When General Hood lost Atlanta, he entered upon a stupendous flank movement. He moved rapidly northward through Northern Georgia and into Northern Alabama, where he equipped his army for an expedition into Tennessee. Thereupon Sherman started on his march to the sea, and General Thomas was left to oppose Hood. The force Thomas had for this purpose was curiously small, considering how formidable Hood's ..