Life in Dixie during the war

30 November 1864

Battle of Franklin (1864)

DURING THE WAR.

Of Thomie’s recall to join his command at Dalton; of his arrival at home the next February, on his way to “the front of his participation in the hard-fought bat- tles that contested the way to Atlanta; and of his un- timely death at the fatal battle of Franklin, Tennessee, I may speak hereafter.

DURING THE WAR.

had brought inspiration and hope to her sensitive, tender heart, and given support to a checkered life ; but now no day-star of hope shed its effulgence for her. As I mentioned in a former sketch, her only son had fallen mortally wounded upon the sanguinary battle-field of Franklin, and she had never recovered from the shock.

LIFE IN DIXIE DURING THE WAR.

Miss Gay’s volume is full of interesting incidents, showing the heroism and sublime faith and endurance of the women of the South during the terrible ordeal. Like all Southern women, she was intensely devoted to the Southern Cause, and often exposed herself to great peril to serve the Confederacy. More than once she took her life into her hand to aid the hopeless cause in which the Southern armies had engaged. It was principally by her efforts that money was raised to entomb the Confederates that fell at the bloody battle of Franklin, Tennessee. Her name is engraved on a silver plate that is mounted on the entrance gate of the cemetery, and there are few who will not become readers of

DURING THE WAR.

To-day is the anniversary of the death of her brother, killed in front of our works at Franklin. When I re d of his death the whole bloody scene was revived, and how useless and fool- hardy that charge of Cleburne’s over the open cotton fields at Franklin upon our works. The dead were almost countless, and one long grave was dug for all. I well remember this immense trench where the Confederates were laid side by side. I com- manded the 1st Batallion that day at the battle of Franklin, and we had a very warm time of it. We retreated on Nashville the following day, and I was cut off from the Regiment for a while, but we finally made a big detour and regained our lines. After the battle of Nashville we occupied the Franklin battlefield, and I went carefully over the whole field. Hood’s charge upon our Franklin works, if successful, would have been a moderate victory only, but unsuccessful it was a most terrible loss to him.