Episode 9: PVT Edward Young McMorries and the 1st Alabama at the Battle of Franklin
Feb 21, 2024
William Coghlan
At the Battle of Franklin, 30 November 1864, Private Edward Young McMorries and the 1st Alabama Infantry, on the eastern side of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, advanced upon the Union Army of the Ohio's defensive lines. After successfully carrying the first line of defenses, the Confederate Army reorganized and charged the second line. Here, PVT McMorries and the 1st Alabama become caught in an intense cross fire of musketry and artillery, as they tried to carry the second line of works, but to no avail. PVT McMorries survived the battle unscathed, but takes grim stock of the casualties the next morning.
Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., and Kirkley, Joseph W. War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Ser. 1, Vol. 45, Pt. 1: Reports, Correspondence, etc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077743031&view=1up&seq=3.
Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., and Kirkley, Joseph W. OR. Ser. 1, Vol. 45, Pt. 2: Correspondence etc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077723009&view=1up&seq=3.
"McMorries, Edward Young. 1844-1906.” Accessed 18 February, 2024. https://www.lib.ua.edu/Alabama_Authors/?p=1752.
At the Battle of Franklin, 30 November 1864, Private Edward Young McMorries and the 1st Alabama Infantry, on the eastern side of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, advanced upon the Union Army of the Ohio's defensive lines. After successfully carrying the first line of defenses, the Confederate Army reorganized and charged the second line. Here, PVT McMorries and the 1st Alabama become caught in an intense cross fire of musketry and artillery, as they tried to carry the second line of works, but to no avail. PVT McMorries survived the battle unscathed, but takes grim stock of the casualties the next morning.
Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., and Kirkley, Joseph W. War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Ser. 1, Vol. 45, Pt. 1: Reports, Correspondence, etc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077743031&view=1up&seq=3.
Davis, George B., Perry, Leslie J., and Kirkley, Joseph W. OR. Ser. 1, Vol. 45, Pt. 2: Correspondence etc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1894. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077723009&view=1up&seq=3.
"McMorries, Edward Young. 1844-1906.” Accessed 18 February, 2024. https://www.lib.ua.edu/Alabama_Authors/?p=1752.
hello. My name is bill Coughlin and welcome to first person civil war podcast, which retails the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground in the battles of the civil war. Episode nine is entitled private Edward Young MC mores, and the first Alabama at the battle of Franklin. Private McMorris wrote history of the first regiment, Alabama volunteer infantry, C S a. In 1904. Which serves as this episode's source. Edward Young memoriz lived in payroll, Alabama before the war began. And his preparation for the civil war was earlier than most. In 1859. Memoriz and other men in the town formed an infantry company called the payroll guards. The state of Alabama mustered the guards into service. On 13, February, 1861. And was incorporated into the Confederate army on one April, 1861. The guards were now company C first, Alabama infantry. All of this occurred before the firing on Fort Sumter. The first Alabama saw service in the Western theater of the war. Present at battles such as Pensacola and island. Number 10. Along the Mississippi river. The Confederate Garrison surrendered at island. Number 10. And private Mick Maury's was sent to camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois. As a prisoner of war. War. On seven, September, 1862. The first Alabama was exchanged with private memoriz now in company G and joined the fighting at port Hudson. We're at again, surrendered in July of 1863. This time being paroled. The first Alabama reconstituted again. And fought in the Georgia campaign. In late 1864. Rather than engaging Sherman's army, as it marched towards Savannah, Georgia. General hood now in command of the army of Tennessee. Decided to advance towards Nashville and engage union forces in that state. Private memoriz. And the first Alabama advanced into Tennessee from Florence, Alabama on 20 November, 1864. As part of Brigadier, general William, a quarrels, his brigade and major general Edward C. Wall falls division. Of Lieutenant general Alexander P stewards core. Which pursued the union army of the Ohio. Under major general John M Scofield. Northeast toward Nashville. At Columbia and spring hill, Tennessee. The army of Tennessee. I almost blocked the army of the Ohio's route of retreat. On 29 November. Private memoriz and the first Alabama. Raced to support the Confederate units already engaged. Our core was on a forced March to pass the enemy. And throw itself across the Franklin pike in front. Thus cutting off his retreat. And he continues. At about 9:00 PM. We were halted one quarter of a mile from the Franklin pike, north of spring hill. And in rear of Scofield. Who was then being hard-pressed at spring hill by forest. Who was the cavalry commander? This day's March of 28 miles by the route we traveled. Which he described as fields and Hills and not roads. Was the greatest the regiment had ever performed stacking our arms and eating. We spread down our blankets upon the ground, and we're soon asleep. Feeling sure that we had the enemy bagged. We supposed our core extended across the Franklin pike. This posting across the turnpike was not completed. The entire army of Tennessee camped just east of the road. But did not block it. That night, the entire army of the Ohio. Departed by the turnpike. And somehow managed to make little to no sound. While marching past the sleeping Confederates. And astonished private McMorris woke the next morning to see no enemy to their front. The extreme, right? Wasn't 200 yards of it. Meaning the pike. As we saw next morning. Why were we halted? Just there, leaving away for the enemy to escape after all of our hard marching. The reason if there was a reason and it was not a blender. Is unknown to us. Private memoriz and the first Alabama joined in the pursuit on 30 November, 1864. And by that afternoon, the army of Tennessee arrayed itself for an assault upon the union defenses, just outside of Franklin, Tennessee. With both union and Confederate armies, roughly equal in terms of soldiers. Private MC mores and the first Alabama. Posted on the Eastern side of their army. And he took stock of the ground before him. Hardly an hour before sunset hoods army was drawn up in full view of the enemy. Entrenched behind two parallel lines of breast works. Uh, about 150 yards apart. The outer line was an ordinary ditch, two or two and a half feet deep. The inner line, a ditch three and a half feet deep and four feet wide with a thick and strong and bank mint along, which were port holes for muskets and embrasures for artillery. At one point of the line in front of an old gin house, there was a strong redoubt about 50 feet long. Who's ditch was five feet wide. And four feet deep. And Rampart four feet high making eight feet. From the bottom of the ditch to the top of the parapet. These outer and inner lines with the two main defensive lines of the army of the Ohio. The outer line, which was closer to the Confederate army. Was also smaller than the inner or mainline. At 4:00 PM. The army of Tennessee advanced against the army of the Ohio. When about 100 yards from the outer line we received the first volley from the enemy. The command double quick was given. Cheers changed to rebel yells. Officer's still in front. We charged the outer line. The rattle of musketry now drowned all commands of officers. And here, captain Dick Williams, acting Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. Walking backwards to face the regiment as officers frequently do on drill. Would waive his sword right. And left, and then thrust it toward the enemy. Indicating this by acts, instead of words, what he would have us do. In short order, the outer line of the army of the Ohio was carried. The regiment that the first Alabama advanced against was the 65th Ohio. And it's commander major Orlow Smith. Remarked about their fight and retreat to the Interline. Only the bravery energy and determination of both officers and men. Saved the brigade from capture or destruction. But after severe fighting with the enemy, the 65th with the rest of the brigade. Fell back to the works. It was desperate fighting indeed. And it would soon become even more intense. Private memoriz and the first Alabama realigned itself and advanced upon the main line. By this time. Owing to the stillness and rarity of the atmosphere. The smoke of musketry had settled in such a dense bank over the field in front. That friend could not be distinguished from foe and at a distance of a few steps. The enemy four lines deep behind strong entrenchments we're sweeping the old field between us with many balls. And a battery of siege, guns to our right and beyond big Harpeth river. Was tearing up the ground and knocking trees and defragments around it. Through a dense smoke and Tempest of iron, our officer's still leading and the rebel yell still ringing the army in perfect order. Charged the inner line. The first Alabama was now advancing toward the 65th, Illinois and the 65th Indiana. And private McMorris was caught in a hail of gunfire and artillery in front of the union. Works. Dead and wounded had fallen at every step of our advance. And our ranks were badly thinned. When the number and position of the enemy stood, revealed. Every old Confederate saw that this was to be a fight of one to two. With an enemy strongly entrenched. But despising numbers or advantage of position, they lets down into the ditch, climbed up the embankment and felt in a sheet of fire and from the ramparts, discharged their pieces into the face of the enemy. And he continues. 100 yards to our left, their lines and batteries were carried. And now he describes the regiments in front of him. As it was the unequal contest on the breast works was maintained hardly more than a minute. When our men took the ditch on the opposite side and fought the enemy across the ramparts muzzle to muzzle. The enemy soon began inflating our lines and after half an hour's fighting in this position. And hoping in vain for Johnson's reserve. This was a Confederate division. Not yet engaged. It was plain that we must escape by flight back to our lines or be captured or killed. They're brigade commander of the 65th, Indiana and 65th Illinois. Was Colonel John S casement who summarized albeit sparingly. Of receiving the Confederate advance. The enemy attacked in force at about 4:00 PM. Engaging the whole line. The firing was kept up with great vigor until dark. During which time the enemy made several distinct charges. But we're repulsed each time with terrible slaughter. Private memoriz. And what remained of the first Alabama fell back to their original positions. And the next morning found the battlefield devoid of the army of the Ohio. It was already on the March to Nashville. Where it would concentrate with major general Thomas's army of the Cumberland. The two armies that faced each other at Franklin. Approximately matched in size. But in terms of casualties, the Confederate army of Tennessee suffered heavily. While an exact number differs on what source you look at. Private memoriz saw the aftermath that morning as such. The bodies of our dead lay thicker and thicker as you go from the outer to the inner line. And in the ditches, they were literally banked up three or four men deep. The immense ditch in front of the redoubt was nearly full of the dead. Which were the briefly carried works to his left. And he describes where his brigade advanced. There were also men lying along the top of the breast works. And some, even within the enemy's lines. Six Confederate generals died in the assault. And several more were wounded. The charge of the army of Tennessee that November day. Proved to costly. But John Bell hoods general field orders. Number 38. Published on one December. Solve a heavy loss of life in a different light. Each regiment that day heard the following. The commanding general congratulates the army upon the success achieved yesterday over our enemy by their heroic and determined courage. The enemy had been sent and disorder and confusion to Nashville. And while we lament the fall of many Gallant officers and brave men. We have shown to our countrymen. That we can carry any position occupied by our enemy. Though the army of Tennessee pushed the first union line from its positions. The second line of the army of the Ohio. Held relatively firm with limited Confederate success in the center of the battlefield. To say that union positions were carried was a bit of a stretch. The Confederates did command the field on one December, but there was no army of the Ohio to contest them for it. Private memoriz having her general hoods field orders. And writing his book in 1904. Still held general hood in high regard. I shall not pause to refute the absurd story that general hood next morning spoke disparagingly of the conduct of his army at the battle of Franklin. General hood was incapable of either falsehood. Or in propriety. Though depleted by the battle of Franklin, the first Alabama continued toward Nashville with the army of Tennessee. Where it's suffered a major defeat. In March of 1865 is saw fighting and avers. Borough and Bentonville North Carolina before general Johnston surrendered, the first Alabama and the rest of his army. To Sherman. Edward Young McMorris became a teacher after the war. In several locations in Alabama. And he also founded the Clayton university training school. And got an honorary doctorate from the university of Alabama. Edward Young memoriz wrote history of the first regiment, Alabama volunteer infantry, C S a. In 1904. And did it rather reluctantly. It is well-known that for 20 years, I have resisted urgent appeals of surviving comrades to write a history of the first Alabama regiment. Even now I yield my consent to undertake this sketch. Only after fully realizing that, unless I write it. The regiment will be left without any record. And that it will be better for the regiment to have a poorly written record. The nun, whatever. It was at the behest of Colonel Steedman, the regimental commander. And Thomas M O N director of the department of archives and history of Alabama that Edward Young Mick Maury's wrote this book. And I must say. As I researched and worked on this episode. I couldn't help, but wonder how many men refuse to write either regimental histories or their personal experiences? And because of this, so many soldiers stories went with these men when they died after the civil war. Thank you for listening to the ninth episode. The link to private MC Maury's book is now available on the podcast website. First person, civil war, podcast.com. On Facebook, Instagram, X. And LinkedIn this week. As a picture of private Edward Young memoriz. Please like comment and subscribe to the podcast and tell your friends about it. The podcast also received one donation this week. Thank you for your support. First Lieutenant Michael H Fitch regimental adjutant of the 21st Wisconsin provides next week's first person account. At the battle. Of Perry Ville. My name is bill Coughlin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.
