Philbricks and Philbrooks in the Civil War:

Historical Documents and Artifacts (Click on image to see larger version) The Civil War Letters of Capt. Alvah Philbrook, 24th Wisconsin Infantry Battle of Franklin – November 30, 1864 In the fall of 1864, the South was losing the war. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman had smashed through the deep South, into Georgia and was on his famous march to the sea. Confederate General John Bell Hood had replaced General Joseph E. Johnston as commander of the Army of Tennessee, by Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and Hood was determined to turn the tide of the war. For Hood, attacking Sherman's rear in Tennessee and threatening the Northern states above, would draw Sherman away from Georgia. Sherman knew he was vulnerable in Tennessee and sent orders for various Union forces to head to Nashville and gather under the command of General George Thomas. Among those units directed north was the 24th Wisconsin as part of 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Corps, Brigadier General David Stanley commanding. Also heading north was the 23rd Army Corps under command of Major General John Schofield that was comprised of two divisions, the 2nd under command of Major General Thomas H. Ruger and the 3rd Division under command of Jacob D. Cox. On November 14, 1864, Maj. Gen. Schofield took command of both Corps by order of General Thomas in Nashville. From Pulaski, Gen. Schofield moved his forces to Columbia and then to Spring Hill, Tennessee along a route that is now Highway 31 on current road atlas. Hood's Army of the Tennessee pursued Schofield's forces north until nearly surrounding the Union forces at Spring Hill. Here on November 29, 1864, Hood blundered and failed to block Schofield's forces from retreating further up the road heading north to Franklin. General Hood missed his greatest opportunity to destroy Schofield's forces, but he would get to try again the following day at Franklin. Map of Franklin Tennessee area (Click on image to see larger version) Schofield's 4th & 23rd Corps were not safe yet, and when his forces arrived at Franklin on November 30th, disaster began to loom. Schofield found upon arriving at Franklin that the turnpike bridge, which his forces would use to cross the Harpeth and escape to Nashville, had been damaged by the rising river. Another bridge near by had partially been destroyed by fire. Schofield new Hood was not far behind, and he knew it would take time to withdraw his Army from Franklin. His engineers began rebuilding the bridge over the Harpeth and started using planks to establish a "flat road" over the train trestle that sat slightly to the east of the damaged turnpike bridge. With these two links over the river, he should be able to move his Army, but it was going to be slow process and Hood could easily strike before they were gone. Franklin, Tennessee Battlefield (Click on image to see larger version) General Schofield ordered a defense of Franklin by placing 2nd and 3rd Divisions of 23rd Army Corps on the left and right of the Columbia Pike on the Union center and left. On the Union right, Schofield commanded General Stanley to place the 1st Division of the 4th Army Corps. This division took position from the Carter Creek Pike and defended all the way to the Harpeth River towards the north-west. The 3rd Division of the 4th Corps had already crossed the river and was now north of Franklin. Stanley's 2nd Division, under command of Brigadier General George D. Wagner, was placed about 300 yards in front of the main line of the Union forces. Wagner had three brigades under his command. 2nd Brigade, under command of Colonel John Q. Lane, was placed to the west of the Columbia Pike. 3rd Brigade, commanded by Colonel Joseph Conrad held the east side of the pike. General Wagner's 1st Brigade was commanded by Colonel Emerson E. Opdycke. 1st Brigade was comprised of six regiments: 36th Illinois, 44th Illinois, 73rd Illinois, 74th & 88th Illinois (combined), 124th Ohio and the 24th Wisconsin (which included Alvah Philbrook.) Col. Opdycke was the former commander of the 125th Ohio, and was well respected by many of the men in the Brigade. General Wagner had first insisted that Opdycke and his brigade take their place along with Lane and Conrad's two brigades, but Opdycke protested, stating (quite prophetically) that "troops out in front of the breastworks were in a good position to aid the enemy and nobody else!" As the two officers rode along the pike, discussing the matter, Opdycke's brigade simply followed their leader until they were inside the main Federal works near the Carter House (see map.) General Wagner, frustrated and perhaps convinced of Opdycke's argument, said, "Well, Opdycke, fight when and were you damn please; we all know you'll fight." Near by Opdycke's brigade stood the farmhouse of Fountain Branch Carter. It was here that General Cox, commanding 3rd Division of the 23rd Army Corp, made his headquarters. The Carter House sat on a hill that overlooked the surrounding area. From here, General Cox could see for several miles and easily observe any Confederate advance against his position. By early afternoon on the November 30th, 4th & 23rd Corps troops were busy reading breastworks and trenches that defined the Union line. South of the Union forces lay General Hood's Army of the Tennessee. Hood's Army had three Corps: Cheatham's Corps (Maj.Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham), Lee's Corps (Lt. Gen. Stephen Dill Lee) and Stewart's Corps (Lt. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart.) Hood, fearing that Schofield's army would escape the Rebel's again, ordered a frontal attack on the Federal positions. Hood felt that a flanking maneuver around Franklin to the north would take too long, and the Federal troops would escape by the time Confederate forces attacked. It is somewhat ironic that Hood would insist upon a frontal assault at Franklin. At Gettysburg, it was Hood who had argued to Generals Lee and Longstreet for a flanking movement, insisting that a frontal attack would doom his men to horrific losses. Hood was correct at Gettysburg, as were his subordinate generals at Franklin. Hood would not listen, just as Lee didn't and the battle was soon to begin. Though Hood would attack along the federal line of both 4th & 23rd Corps, it was Carter Hill that would see the greatest amount of death and destruction that day. At about 3 p.m., Hood's troops began their advance towards the waiting Federal forces. Over 100 Confederate regiments, a larger number than were involved in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, began their assault against the Union troops. In the foremost position of the Union forces at Franklin were Wagner's 2nd & 3rd Brigades (Lane and Conrad's). At about 400 yards from Wagner's two front brigades, the Rebels, comprising of Cheatham's Corps, stopped and formed into two battle lines. The first two lines were Major General Patrick Cleburne's Division on the right of the Columbia Pike and Major General John C. Brown's Division on the left. The sun glinted off the steel of fixed bayonets and the Rebel battle flags fluttered in the air. The "rebel yell" was screamed and the Confederates charged. Panic began to break out in Wagner's advance troops. Wagner had been instructed to pull his forces back at the first sign of any strong Rebel advance, but the plan had not been properly explained to the regimental commanders. Veteran troops were appalled that their officer's had left them so exposed to what would surely be total slaughter by the oncoming Rebels, and many began to fall back. The new recruits in many of the regiments, fearing being called cowards, held their ground. Some had heard the tales of other soldiers being shot for cowardice, so they determined to hold their grounds. As the first Confederate troops came within range, the Union brigades fired. Rebels fell dead and dying. At the apex of the advance Federal troops was Battery G of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery firing its 3-inch rifled guns at the on coming enemy. Under the command of Captain Alexander Marshall, his six guns fired a combination of rounds at the advancing Confederates, including 126 rounds of canister. Canister rounds contained over a dozen 1-inch diameter steel balls that had a devastating effect similar to a giant shotgun. This first fusillade halted the Rebels, but only for a moment before they surged forward again. With two Confederate Divisions of three to four brigades each, it wasn't long before Wagner's advance brigades began to fall back in confusion. Many of Lane and Conrad's men hopelessly held their ground and were either killed or captured while the rest ran for their lives back to the main Union breastworks near the Carter House. So closely did the Rebels follow that Federal troops in the main line could not fire for fear of hitting their own troops. Capt. Samuel Foster, a Confederate with the 24th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) wrote in his diary, "As soon as they break to run our men break after them. They have nearly one half mile to run to get back to their next line – so here we go right after them and yelling like fury and shooting at them at the same time. Kill some of them before they reach their works…" The Confederate troops felt that victory could soon be in their grasp, but ahead lay the main Federal troops, well entrenched and ready to fight. Map of the Battle of Franklin (Click on image to see larger version) At the main line, Alvah and his Union comrades watched in horror as the men of Wagner's 2nd & 3rd Brigades were overrun by the advancing Rebel onslaught. It wasn't too long before Wagner's men began pouring down the Columbia Pike and up and over the breastworks into the protection of the main Federal line. Strickland and Reilly's Brigades of the 23rd Army Corps were soon overwhelmed with their comrades and Rebels coming through at almost the exact same time. The tidal wave of fleeing Federals and screaming Rebels caused the front Union regiments in the line to break apart in the confusion. Retreating commanders of Wagner's brigades yell for their troops to "rally in the rear." The men of Strickland and Reilly's Brigades hear this and believe the order is for them too, and fall back also. The Confederates have now penetrated deep into the Union center and have begun to surround the Carter House. Disaster seems loom for the Federal troops. At this critical moment, Col. Emerson Opdycke (of Wagner's 1st Brigade that was held in reserve) sees the crisis and bellows to his men, "First Brigade, forward to the works!" A yell is let out from Opdycke's men, including Alvah Philbrook of the 24th Wisconsin, and the men charged with fixed bayonets towards the Rebels. They encountered the Confederates near the rear of the Carter House, Opdycke's seven brigades slamming into the Rebels and halting their charge. A small salient is created from the right of the Columbia Pike and west to the edge of the Locust Grove where the Rebels pour their troops into. This apparent victory, turns into a fatal flaw when the Confederates find that they are receiving enemy fire from the Union troops on the Rebels left and right flanks and from their front. The cross fire is murderous and the attack falters. Sam R. Watkins of the 1st Tennessee Regiment was one of the many Rebels caught in the crossfire. "I got to their works and got over on their side. But in fifty yards of where I was the scene seemed like hell itself. Dead soldiers filled the entrenchments…" As Alvah and the men of the 24th Wisconsin attacked the Rebels, their regimental commander, Major Arthur MacArthur is severely wounded in the chest, shoulder and left leg. The young MacArthur, whose son Douglas MacArthur would lead American forces to victory in the Pacific during World War II, turns command of the 24th over to Captain Alvah Philbrook. The men are shocked at the loss of their brave young Major who a year before had lead them to victory on Missionary Ridge. Now it was Alvah's turn to inspire his men to once again fight bravely to victory. Alvah turns to his regiment and says, "Boys there is the new moon. Look over your right shoulder for it is the sign of good luck." Alvah's men rally and continue their charge, retaking the second line of works in front of the Carter House and near where the 20th Ohio Light Artillery had been overrun. At the breastworks, the fighting is frantic. Smoke from the cannons and hundreds of muskets have clouded the battlefield in a haze of gunsmoke. Visibility is poor and the Confederates fatally continue to charge their men into the deadly salient in front of the 24th Wisconsin's position. The Rebels believe that their men are opening the gap and that they have overrun all the Federals, but what the men didn't know is that all of their comrades were being killed or captured as they entered the deadly killzone just past the main Federal line. Adding to this horrific Federal fire are two men from Company F, Sergeants Felix McSorley and Thomas Toohey who work the guns of the 20th Ohio Light Artillery. They frantically reload and fire the 12-pound guns using spherical case and canister rounds. Nearby lay the mortally wounded commander of the 20th Ohio L.A., Lt. J.S. Burdick. Three of his gunners lay dead and nine others are wounded. Alvah watches as Minnie Ball's and canister rounds take a toll on the Confederates. There are several brief lulls in the battle as the Rebels reform and charge the works again. Opdycke's brigade has saved the Federals from total defeat. To the right of the 24th Wisconsin, the 125th Ohio and 36th Illinois were fighting just as hard. The 36th Illinois would take the brunt of the losses on the far right. Their commander, Lt. Col. Porter C. Olson is mortally wounded and is evacuated to the Carter House and then to the Federal rear inside Franklin where he dies. On the left, Opdyceke's 44th & 73rd Illinois regiments have recaptured the main line by the 1st Kentucky Artillery. Alvah's final moments are recorded by Sergeant Thomas Ford of Company H in his memoirs, "With the Rank and File" in 1898. Ford writes, "In one of the many rebel surges during the next several hours, Captain Philbrook noticed one of his Company D privates, an Irish immigrant with a thick brogue, dodging and ducking from the noise of rebel bullets whining past. 'Mike,' the 34-year-old broad-shouldered railroad man admonished, 'quit dodging your head there. Stand up and take it like a man.' The final word had not left the captain's mouth when a bullet struck him in the middle of his forehead." With Alvah dead, and MacArthur severely wounded, command of the 24th Wisconsin falls to Alvah's good friend, Captain Edwin Parsons of Company K. Parson also sees Alvah struck in the head and knows that he is dead. During the battle he collects Alvah's personal effects, but doesn't find the Masonic emblem given to Alvah by his wife or the small bag of gold that Alvah kept to use "for the purpose of relieving his wants if he should ever be taken prisoner or if he returned to keep as a Relic." Also by Alvah is his Lieutenant, Draper D. Goodrich, who removes Alvah's letter of commission as an officer. Into the night there are several final desperate charges by the Rebels, but the battle is lost. Around 11 p.m., Schofield's army crossed the Harpeth and escaped to Nashville, burning the bridges behind them to prevent Hood from pursuing. Hood would not, and could not pursue Schofield. For the Confederates, the Battle of Franklin all but destroyed the Army of the Tennessee. Their losses were horrific. In five hours the Rebels lost 7,000 men including 1,750 killed. Hood lost six generals and one captured during the battle. As for the Federals, they lost 2,300 men of which 439 were killed. In all, the Battle of Franklin was a Union victory. As the Federals retreated north, their dead were left behind on the battlefield, including Alvah's body. The withdrawal was orderly, but apparently many of the dead could not be removed. The body of the 36th Illinois regimental commander, Lt. Col. Porter C. Olson, is also left behind in the town of Franklin where they had gathered many of the wounded. After the battle, the Confederates piled the Union dead into the trenches and little to no effort was placed on identifying the fallen men. Some men were originally interned at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia and then later removed to the Stones River National Cemetery at Murfeesboro, Tennessee. Over half of the Confederate dead are buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery at Carnton Plantation. No one knows where Alvah's body is buried, but he could well be among the "unknown" dead at Stones River National Cemetery in a special section listed as those who died at Franklin. The battlefield at Franklin is gone now; houses and streets now stand where so many gallant men fell. Only the Carter House remains and is now a Historical Landmark. In next month's issue, we will have the letters written by Alvah's widow, Caroline and those by his daughter Caroline Alice. In them are the poignant words of loss and the mention of a daring search for Alvah's body after the battle by the men of his unit. – R.W.P.