Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Thursday, December 1st.—Moved on to the edge of the battlefield; just then our batteries opened very heavy. Reported Federals are falling back. Day-light, Federals have retreated, leaving many of dead and wounded on the field. Went on to the battlefield at 8 A. M. Most awful of any battlefield I have ever seen. Confederates and Federals mingled in one promiscuous slaughter. Confederates charged first line about four hundred yards in front of main line, and drove it across an open field to the main works, following so close Federals could not fire for their own men, until the Confederates were very near the main line”, which was well fortified. For the last one hundred yards the ground was literally covered with dead and wounded. The Confederates rushing up to the works, where they remained, it being death to undertake to fall back. Here the two armies were with nothing but earth-works, ten or more feet wide, between them, all in darkness. Neither party dared to go over; but before day, Federals slipped away and crossed over the river. The Confederate loss was much greater because Federals had good earth-works for protection, while the Confederates charged through an open field. The loss of general officers in the Confederate Army was fearful. General Pat Cleaborn, riding horseback into the thickest of the fight, and actually riding over the breast-works, when mortally wounded; Brigadier-Generals Govan, Granbury and Gist killed. Part of army gone on. Orders to move at 1 P. M. Passed through Franklin; crossed Stone River and camped four miles out on the Nashville Road.