J. D. Cox, who commanded a corps in the Federal army
at the battle of Franklin, said in his report : "Gen. Hood
moved his men to the assault with less men than Scho-
field had behind his vvorks." Again the same writer



Thirtieth Georgia Regiment 45

said: "When the Confederates formed and marched for-
ward, no more magnificent spectacle was ever witnessed."
An open field of more than a mile separated the armies,
across the plain in open view of 24,000 yankees, who lay-
behind strong works with heavy artillery and double
lines of bayonets, the assaulting column of 16,000 Con-
federates marched, and succeeded in taking one line of
works and part of another. One writer said : "They con-
tended with a force one-third larger than their own
across the second line of works, with bayonets and butts
of guns for two long hours — a fight the like of which
has never been surpassed on this continent, and finally
forced the yankees to retreat from their trenches." At
midnight the enem'y began to withdraw in the direction
of Nashville. This was called a Confederate victory but
was dearly bought; in fact, it was a perfect slaughter of
many of the grandest and noblest men who ever went to
battle. Gen. Hood's official report showed that out of
the 16,000 men he had in killed and wounded and miss-
ing 4,500, more than thirty per cent. It was here that
brave Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, who had led his men
to victory in many battles, fell at the head of his column
across the enemy's works. Brigadier Generals Gist, Strahl,
Adams, Carter, Cranberry, and several others, fell while
leading their men. In this battle the Thirtieth Georgia regi-
ment and Jackson's whole Brigade bore a prominent part;
many of the men performed deeds of bravery which were
highly comm'ended by their officers. The loss of the
regiment in killed and wounded was heavy, for the num-
ber engaged, among the killed was the gallant A. O.
