Anderson Daily Mail

April 24, 1914

BATTLE OF FRANKLIN, TENN

Part Taken in Fight by South Carolina Troops

The News and Courier

            Enclosed I hand you an extract from the official report of Col. (afterwards Brig. Gen.)Ellison Capers of the part his regiment, the 24th South Carolina, bore in the battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864.  It is taken from Volume XLV, Part 1, Series 1, Pages 733-39, of the “Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,” in the war department library.  As it refers to the heroism and gallantry of some of the officers and men of that regiment, I think it fitting that is should be published for the benefit of their descendants, as well as for the whole state.

            The 24th and 16th South Carolina regiments grandly illustrated your state in that battle, as well as in all others in which they participated, and I think the descendants of the men should be reminded of it.  The colors of the 97th Ohio volunteers, captured by Lieut. Tillman and his gallant men, I saw the morning after the battle and was told they had been captured by a lieutenant of the 24th South Carolina, but I did not know the officer’s name until I read Col. Caper’s report.

            I was a member of Company C, 2d Georgia battalion sharpshooters, in Gist’s brigade, and we led the attack in advance of the division that day.  I will be glad if you will publish this and that some one will send me a copy of that issue.  The extract follows:

            “About 10 or 10:30 o’clock Lieut. James A. Tillman of the 24th South Carolina, led his own company, (I) and men from other companies of the regiment in charge against the enemy over the work and captured the colors of the 97th Ohio volunteer infantry and some forty prisoners.  The regiment held its position, as did the brigade, against repeated attempts to drive it from the work, until about midnight, when the enemy retired and left our army in possession of the bloody field of Franklin.  I was shot down before reaching the last work, and have reported the facts occurring after my wound upon the statement of the men and officers who visited me at the hospital on the next day.            “At the close of the battle Capt. Gillis, of the 46th Georgia, was the senior officer of the brigade; of the general’s (Gist) staff, Capt. H. D. Garden alone remained.  Before we reached the locust abatis the ranks of the regiment were decimated by the direct and enfilade fire of the enemy, and the lieutenant colonel and myself had both been shot down, yet the company officers led their men forward, worked their way through the abatis and assaulted the main work.  Lieut. Gailey, of Company F, and Lieut. Padgett of Company I, with many of the men, were killed beyond the work.

            I would specially commend the gallant conduct of Lieut. James A. Tillman, commanding Company I, who led his company over the work and captured the flag and some forty prisoners of the 97th Ohio regiment.  Lieut. Tillman specially commends the gallantry of Privates J. P. Blackwell, Anderson Wallis and J. E. O. Carpenter in this affair.  I would also mention specially the gallantry of Privates Prewett and Mock, both of whom were killed on the last line of the enemy.  Lieut. W. M. Beckham of Company G, acting adjutant; Capt. Powers of Company D; Lieuts. Clause S. Beaty, Company F; Adrian C. Appleby, Company C; C. D. Easterling, Company B; McDaniel, Company N and Andrews, Company K, were conspicuous in the field for their gallant conduct.

            “The conduct of these officers came under my notice, but I have no doubt others acted with equal gallantry whose conduct did not come under my immediate notice.  Private Adam Carpenter bore the flag with courage and faithfulness, and Color Corporals Jones, Company B, and Morgan, Company K, were both wounded.  Lieuts. Weeks, Company C; Tatum, Company H, and Millen, company H, were severely wounded on the field.  I would specially commend the gallantry and devotion of the ____ corps, under Private Joseph Breland.  They kept up with the regiment and rendered prompt assistance to the wounded, several of them being themselves wounded on the field.”          

Frank Stowall Roberts

                                                Washington , D. C. 

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]