April 22, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
Gen. BRAGG has moved his headquarters from Tullahoma to Shelbyville. A correspondent of the Savannah News, writing from the latter place, gives the following account of VAN DORN’S fight at Franklin.
On Sunday last a courier came from Gen. Van Dorn, with despatches containing a report of his engagement with a large body of the enemy’s forces near the town of Franklin. Of the details of the fight no one seemed able to ascertain anything, and the impression became very general that the ‘Little Dragon’ had met with some disaster. This morning I happened to the good fortune of falling in with an officer who was wounded in the engagement, and from whom I received the following particulars of the fight: On Thursday night Gen. Van Dorn was informed by his scouts that some three or four thousand of the enemy had moved on the Franklin pike, and were encamped in some three or four miles of the town. Orders were instantly issued, and before daylight the whole command was in motion. The object of the General was to surprise, attack and rout the enemy before he could get reinforcements; but it seems that by some means the enemy received information of his design, and were all prepared to meet him at his coming. Gen. Van Dorn soon discovered this; but, having gone so far, he resolved to give them battle anyhow. The enemy’s pickets were soon driven in or captured, skirmishers and flankers were thrown out, and onward advanced our brave men. Capt. Freeman opened with his battery of four guns, which were immediately replied to by guns of larger calibre on the side of the enemy. One brigade of our cavalry dismounts, and two others are posted, one on the right and the other on the left; and [….] the commander rings out !’
Capt. Freeman moves up, and from his four guns he rains a storm of iron hail upon the foe, and onward goes our cavalry on foot and our cavalry on horse. The enemy gradually give way and are falling back, when to the right is seen a large column advancing in battle line. Reinforcements from the enemy are there, and suddenly the whole scene changes. Gen. Van Dorn makes a new disposition of his forces, orders up his reserve, and now the battle rages with great fury. Captain Freeman – the noble, the brave Captain Freeman – falls at the head of his command, and his battery of four splendid guns are captured by the enemy. A momentpause – a desperate resolve – and a thousand horsemen come dashing headlong upon the enemyranks, utterly regardless of danger. The death of the gallant Freeman is avenged, and his fine battery recaptured. The enemy are falling back in some confusion, and Gen. Van Dorn retires, not whipped, but rather worsted. The casualties on our side are over a hundred in killed, wounded and missing; whilst the loss of the enemy is supposed to be considerably greater.