Surgeon’s kit likely used at the Battle of Franklin

Here is a small surgeon’s kit that belonged to and was used by John H. Lyon’s, a surgeon with the 6th Texas Infantry (CS). There were at least seven surgeons that served with the 6th Texas.
The 6th Texas fought, among other places, at Chickamauga, the Atlanta Campaign, and the Battles of Franklin and Nashville.

At Chickamauga, the 6th TX fought with the 10th and 15th TX Infantries.  “Our whole loss was 20 killed, 95 wounded, and 28 missing.”

The following men were wounded at Franklin (11/30/64) and may have been tended to by Lyon’s:

• J.F. McGilton, severely wounded in right leg, amputated
• Steven E. Rice, was captured five times during the war; was a Captain
• John Stevenson, severe wound in right elbow

In July 1863, the 6^th Texas was assigned to Major General Pat Cleburne’s Division of the Army of Tennessee, Granbury’s Brigade.

Here are some pictures of the kit. It is part of the Kraig McNutt Civil War Collection.

Where is the glory?

“I feel like one who witnesses a bitter wrong; a monstrous injustice. Call it glorious to die a horrible death, surrounded by an awful butchery, a scanty burial by . . . [enemy] hands, and then total oblivion, name blotted out and forever forgotten – where is the glory?”

- Captain James A. Sexton, 72 Illinois Infantry, after viewing the hideously mutilated dead in the earthworks ditch at Franklin.

- Quoted in Courage Under Fire, Wiley Sword (2007): 26.

104th Ohio Federal soldiers describes firing at Confederates at Franklin

As mentioned in the last post, the Confederate Army of Tennessee marched across over open ground for over a mile before they finally reached the Federal line near downtown Franklin. A soldier in the 104th Ohio wrote about that scene.  Hess writes about this kind of troop assault movement then quotes the Ohio soldier:

When the terrain and vegetation allowed the troops to fire at longer ranges, they could maximize the damage done to attacking forces. At the battle of Franklin, Confederate division advanced over open, rolling ground for a mile before they attacked heavy fortifications. The Federals were ready for them and opened fire as soon as they could. Andrew Moon of the 104th Ohio scampered over the battlefield that night before his regiment pulled out of the works.

“Well, for 400 yards in front, I could hardly step without stepping on dead and wounded men. The ground was in a perfect slop and mud with blood and, oh, such cries that would come up from the wounded was awful.”

The Union Soldier in Battle: Enduring the Ordeal of Combat. Earl J. Hess, p. 156

Massed troop formation in the re-enactment of the Battle of Franklin.

Reporting of the losses at Franklin

General Hood reported the loss of the army of Tennessee at 4,500. The loss of Schofield’s army numbered 2,326 killed, wounded and missing. Of this number, 1,104 were captured by the Confederates, about 600 of them by Brown and Cleburne from the enemy’s line in advance of his intrenchments.

Gen. J. D. Cox says the Federal loss in killed was “trifling everywhere but near the center,” the point assailed by Cleburne and Brown. No report with list of casualties was ever made, and no data exist for the ascertainment of the actual losses of these two divisions, but it must have been 40 per cent in killed, wounded and missing. In Quarles’ Tennessee brigade of Stewart’s corps, the loss was just as great, and the death rate in Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps was out of the usual proportion. It was great enough to make Tennessee a land of mourning.

The attacks of the Confederates were repeated at intervals until dark, and on part of the line until 9 o’clock. At midnight the Federal forces were withdrawn and marched to Nashville.

After our dead comrades were buried and the wounded of both armies provided for, the army of Tennessee moved forward to the front of Nashville, where on the 2d of December a line of battle was formed and intrenchments provided. Smith’s brigade of Cleburne’s division came up, and Ector’s brigade of Stewart’s corps rejoined the army, which was now 23,053 strong, opposed to an army under Gen. George H. Thomas of more than three times that number.

Source: Confederate Military History Volume 8:
Tennessee Chapter X

Father and son with 12th KY Infantry fought at Franklin

December the 10th, 1864
Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Mother,

I seat myself this morning to answer your letter (that) I recieved last evening, dated Dec. the 3rd, which gives me great satisfaction to hear that you are all well. This letter leaves me well and I hope these few lines will find you the same. I told you (in) the other letter about Pap getting wounded, but don’t know whether you got the letter or not. He was wounded ( ) ( ), I haven’t heard from him. I packed him off the field. It was in the night. I could not tell how bad he was wounded. I don’t think it went to the holer. (?) I wanted to stay but I could not get to stay, but I think he will get well. The Rebs is payrolling (paroling) all the (Federal) wounded fast as they get so (well enough) they can travel. I got his money and started you one hundred dollars by William Marcum and I will send you some more as soon as I get the chance. I don’t know when I will get to come home, but I will come as soon as I can. You do the best you can till I get to come, and get some body to get wood for you. So I will close for this time, but remain your son till death.

From Willis Hansford
To Mary Hansford
Write soon.

NOTES: Willis Hansford and his father, Thomas (“Pap”) Hansford, both served with the 12th Kentucky Infantry Regt., U.S. — their enlistments were up on November 29, 1864 – the day before Thomas was mortally wounded at the Battle of Franklin. Thomas had to be left behind in Franklin along with other badly wounded Federals, and Willis never saw his father again. His burial place has never been determined.

— This letter has been edited for clarity, and is printed here through the courtesy of the Carter House Museum.

[This letter was found on the STFB web site.]

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Willis Hansford mustered into Company B, 12th Kentucky 1/1/64 as a Sergeant. He originally mustered in 10/12/61.  He was listed absent (sick) on the same day his father mustered in.    Thomas Hansford (father) mustered into Company B on 1/30/62.

William Marcum is mentioned in the letter.  An Arthur Marcum  is listed as a member of the 12th KY, perhaps the same person or William’s brother.

December 3rd New York Times account of the Battle of Franklin

FROM NASHVILLE

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The Position of the Opposing Armies.

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NO FIGHTING SINCE WEDNESDAY

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Hood Demonstrating Toward Murfreesboro

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Further Details of the Battle of Franklin

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THE REBEL GENERAL CLEBURNE KILLED

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The Rebel Loss Fully Six Thousand — Our Loss One Thousand

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GEN. THOMAS MASTER OF THE SITUATION

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Nashville, Friday, Dec. 2

I have received full accounts of the late battle at Franklin, and its antecedents, which was one of the the most brilliant in its general results of the war. For three days sharp skirmishing was kept up during the retirement of our army from Duck River to Franklin, during which time a multiplicity of exploits and successes resulted to the Federal arms.

Gen. Cox conducted the rear guard, and on the 29th ultimately achieved a splendid victory over the rebels at Spring Hill, while General Wilson’s cavalry gained a series of important successes over Forrest’s advance, under Roddy, on the pike between Turner’s and Spring Hill.

During the afternoon of the 30th ultimately the rebel army was sorely pressed under Hood, who had Cheatam’s and Stewart’s corps, and a portion of Dick Taylor’s command, numbering in all over 22,009 men. Owing to Cox’s gallant check at Spring Hill, and portion of the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps were enabled to gain Franklin early in the day, where they threw up a line of breastworks, extending from one end to the other of the curve in the river, behind which our entire infantry command took position.

At precisely four o’clock (afternoon) the entire rebel force made a charge, and succeeded in making a temporary break in our centre, commanded by Wagner. With characteristic impetuosity the soldiers composing Cheatham’s Corps dashed into the breastworks, and cooperating with the attacking party on their left, attempted to envelop and destroy our right. In the nick of time the troops of Wagner were rallied, and throwing their whole force on the rebel column, drove back the storming party in great disorder, capturing several hundred prisoner. Four hours after the rebels charged on these lines, but were repulsed as often with great slaughter.

The rebels numbered at least two to our one, as nearly half of the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps were in reserve. The rebels loss in killed is three times ours, while their wounded is at least six times as large as ours. The wounded of our men are mostly in the head, arms and body.

The artillery fire of the enemy was great precision, but their ammunition consisted chiefly of shot and shell, while for two hours immense quantities of more murderous missles were hurled with fearful fury into the rebel lines. All the attempt of the rebels to gain a permanent advantage were frustrated, and at dark the Federal position was uncharged, while the rebels retired, under cover of the woods, south of the Columbia pike.

The rebel loss, as before stated, is fully 6,000, including over 1,000 prisoners, an unsual number of whom were officers. Our loss reached a total of about 1,000.

An artillery duel was kept up till nearly midnight, when our troops commenced crossing Harpeth River, bringing all our trains and paraphernalia over in safety before daylight.

The army then retired to within four miles of this city, at which point our frontline confronts the enemy. The falling back of the army is in accordance with the programme, and the battle at Franklin, although of the most brilliant kind, was an impromptu affair, and brought about owing to the necessity of checking the rebel advance to secure a safe crossing of the river by our troops.

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LATER

Nashville, Friday, Dec. 2

Additional reports received increase the magnitude of the late victory at Franklin. Thirty stands of colors were captured by our forces. The Forty-ninth Indiana captured five, the Eighty-eighth Illinois three, Reilly’s old brigade eight, and the Twenty-third Corps captured four.

Gen. Stanley, commanding the Fourth Corps, had a very narrow escape, having had a horse killed under him, and was shot in the right shoulder, the ball travelling the back and going out of the left shoulder. He is in the city, and though suffering considerably, is still attending to duty.

It is confirmed that Gen. Cleburne, of Tennessee, is killed.

Gen. Kimball, commanding the Second Division of General Stanley’s Corps, in the heat of the battle passed a rebel Major-General, who told him he was mortally wounded. His men succeeded in carrying off his body.

It is believed that Hood’s main army is threatening Murfreesboro. Forrest’s rebel cavalry is demonstrating on our front and right flank.

Commander Fitch is here with a fleet of boats and Iron-clads. Sufficient forces have arrived to insure not only the safety of Nashville, but another Union victory, is case of a battle, under any circumstances.

The military men all unite in the opinion that Gen. Stanley and Schofield conducted the retirement from Pulaski in the face of the enemy with admirable skill, and crowning all with a magnificent Union victory at Franklin.