Williamson County TN Archives News.....James McCord writes letter to brother John McCord, about Battle of Franklin, Tn 12-3-1864 November 9, 1924 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 November 6, 2011, 3:21 pm The Atlanta Constitution November 9, 1924 The Atlanta Constitution Sunday, November 9, 1924 Page Five Bloody Days of Civil war Brother of Atlantan Writes of Battle Related in Letter of ‘60’s A distinctly personal and interesting description of the famous Civil War battle of Frankin, Tenn., is contained in a letter written by James A. McCord to his brother, Captain John William McCord, who was wounded in the battle of Jonesboro. Both men were members of the 30th Georgia regiment. The letter, which bears a Franklin, Tenn. Postmark and is dated December 3, 1864, was turned over to the Constitution by the son of James A. McCord, Henry Y. McCord, well-known Atlanta business man and member of the firm of McCord- Stewart company. Mr. McCord’s description of the battle of Franklin, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war between the states, pictures the fight in a personal light that cannot be found in the ordinary historical account of the event. Plugged in Foot The trend of events all are described in the letter before McCord tells of how “one of old Abe’s boys plugged me in the right foot, making it a severe wound, tho’ not a serious one I hope.” Mr. McCord takes the larger portion of General Bates’ division severely to task when they “acted very cowardly in the first of the fight,” telling how Tyler’s, Finley’s and Jackson’s left would not charge the works. I was skirmishing in front of Tyler and Finley and they ran three times and left me on the hill begging them to come back. On the other hand, Mr. McCord says: The country never knew a braver man than General Bates. I am proud to say that there was no one between me and the Yankees when I was wounded. Mr. McCord describes to his brother, who was at his home in Jackson, Ga., recuperating from wounds, the fortune of mutual friends of the brothers. He informs him of the death of Hall and John Tom Gillispie and of how Lieutenant McKibbin was wounded in the left arm and Troy Saunders slightly wounded in the arm. Franklin citizens, especially the ladies, were highly praised by Mr. McCord for their treatment of the wounded. Text of Letter Following is the letter in full: Franklin, Tenn., Dec. 3rd, 1864 Dear Brother: After a long and very hard march we arrived at this place the 30th day of November, about 4 o’clock, when we went immediately in to a fight and every one says that it was the hardest fought battle that has been fought during the war. There is no telling what our loss. We lost ten (10) generals killed and wounded. Generals Cleburne, Granburry, Gist, Adams, Sthrall, and I forgotten one man, were killed and four that were wounded. Granburry’s celebrated brigade left this place yesterday morning with one hundred and thirty seven (137) guns, all told. Hall and John Tom Gillispie were both killed dead on the field, and nearly every one of the company fared the same fate. The larger portion of General Bates’ division acted very cowardly in the first of the fight. Tyler’s and Finley’s and Jackson’s left would not charge the works. I was skirmishing in front of Tyler and Finley and they run three (3) times and left me on the hill begging them to come back when one of old Abe’s boys plugged me in the right foot, making it a severe wound, tho not a serious one I hope. I am well cared for. I do not know any place where I could fare as I do here. Ladies Highly Praised The people are the kindest in the world, especially the ladies. The world does not know their superiors, and I doubt that their equal can be found. Lieutenant McKibbin wounded in left forearm; Troy Saunders slightly in arm (gone back to the Co.) John Mays and Ben Deason were wounded but not dangerous, I believe. I do not know how your company suffered (but little I believe). No country knows a braver an than General Bates. I am proud to say that there was no one between me and the Yankees when I was wounded. You will have to excuse this short letter as my foot pains me a great deal and I do not know when I will get a chance to send it off, though I believe I will put I in the p.o. Give my love to all, Truly yours, Jas. A. McCord P.S. – The fight lasted (11) eleven hours. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/williamson/newspapers/jamesmcc19nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/tnfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb