Firm as an Iron Pillar: A Hoosier Describes the Battle of Franklin

John Hetfield of the 129th Indiana recorded the horrors of the Franklin battlefield on the night of November 30, 1864. "They were killed in such great numbers that acres of ground before our works were covered with the dead and wounded," he wrote. "They were piled in the ditch on some parts of the field four to six men deep, the dead on the living and the living on the dead. These poor misguided wretches in their misery called and pleaded for help, for mercy, for water, but no helping hand could be found for they still charged and recharged our works, running over their dead and wounded. We could not help them but attended to the living Rebs yet before us giving hot lead and cold steel until 12 o’clock at night."

    The 129th Indiana was part of Colonel Orlando Moore's Second Brigade of General Thomas Ruger's Second Division of the 23rd Army Corps. The Hoosiers served alongside the 107th Illinois, 80th Indiana, 23rd Michigan, 111th Ohio, and 118th Ohio regiments during the battle. Hetfield's account of the Tennessee campaign first saw publication in the December 15, 1864 edition of the Northern Indianian newspaper published in Warsaw, Indiana. 

 


Nashville, Tennessee

December 7, 1864

 

          After sending you my best respects and well wishes, hoping you may prosper in your work for freedom and humanity, I desire to give you a small history of the part the 129th Indiana Volunteers took in the campaign in Tennessee up to the present time.

          The regiment was ordered to move from Decatur, Georgia on the 4th of October last in pursuit of Hood, who had some days previous left Jonesboro and moved around to the right of Atlanta on the railroad running from Chattanooga to Atlanta, thus falling in the rear of Sherman’s army and cutting our communications. According to orders, the regiment with the 23rd Army Corps moved and pursued the Rebels through a part of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee for some five weeks while traveling 350 miles. Finally Hood went where Sherman wanted him and the pursuit was abandoned, and the regiment ordered to Johnsonville, Tennessee. We remained there some 20 days when orders came to march to Columbia, Tennessee to reinforce a part of the 23rd Corps who had been previously sent to that place.

After traveling 130 miles by rail, we arrived at Columbia and found our troops falling back before greatly superior numbers. The regiment joined the Second Division of the 23rd Corps and fell back a few miles to the Duck River and erected works and held them for two days, fighting more or less all the time. We held these works two days beating the Rebel hordes back when orders came to cross the river which was done about midnight under the fire of the enemy. After crossing, strong picket lines were formed along the river and the Rebels prevented from crossing for two days during which time the teams and baggage were sent to the rear.

Colonel Charles Zollinger, 129th Indiana


We received orders to fall back to Spring Hill in the dusk of evening and found the Rebel cavalry and some infantry had flanked us and were fighting for the pike on which we were retreating. They were driven away, and the road opened. We commenced to fall back 1-1/2 miles as a rear guard to the balance of the 23rd Corps who had not yet come up. We took our position and remained until all had passed and were then ordered to march for Franklin, Tennessee. We arrived at daylight in the morning and were then ordered to build works which was done. The works were done, but our work was still to do of another kind, the pick and spade exchanged for our guns.

About 4 o’clock in the afternoon the Rebels came in great force with three battle lines formed, drove in our pickets, and charged our whole line with great fury. Our noble regiment withstood the shock like veterans of a hundred battles; not one from the highest in command to the most humble private gave way or manifested any fear in the terrible battle raging around them, but all stood as firm as an iron pillar and were fresh as the morning. Amidst the sound of battle the shouts of the patriots could be heard all along our lines and we needed no messenger to tell us how the battle would terminate for the victor’s shout was in our midst and all around us. The events of the battle never paused for a moment as the Rebel hordes rushed on us from 4 o’clock in the evening until 12 o’clock at night. It was only to meet death which they so richly deserve.

Federal soldiers used whatever tools they could find to build the works at Franklin including common items such as tin cups and plates. 


They were killed in such great numbers that acres of ground before our works were covered with the dead and wounded. They were piled in the ditch on some parts of the field four to six men deep, the dead on the living and the living on the dead. These poor misguided wretches in their misery called and pleaded for help, for mercy, for water, but no helping hand could be found for they still charged and recharged our works, running over their dead and wounded. We could not help them but attended to the living Rebs yet before us giving hot lead and cold steel until 12 o’clock at night. It was on this field that 7,000 Rebels bit the dust, many of them to rise no more forever to fight against their country.

Praises well-merited are due Colonel Charles Zollinger, Lieutenant Colonel Delan, Major McGuire, and Lieutenant J.W. Runyan, acting adjutant- all of these officers showed personal bravery and skill on the battlefield. Our loss was 1,500. We are prepared for any emergency and if Hood don’t come soon, we shall give him a call with the number of 100,000 blue coats.

         

 

Source:

Letter from Private John S. Hetfield, Co. G, 129th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Northern Indianian (Indiana), December 15, 1864, pg. 2

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