From Minty and the cavalry: A History of Cavalry Campaigns in the Western Armies, by Capt. Joseph G. Vale (1886), pp. 145-48 --
On the 9th of April, Forrest made an attack upon Franklin. General Stanley, with the Fourth United States cavalry, being on a scout in that vicinity, crossed the Harpeth northeast of the town and engaged the enemy, under Colonel Starnes, whose force on that part of the field consisted of his own brigade and Freeman's battery of four pieces. The Fourth cavalry dashed upon the center of Starnes' line, broke it, driving it demoralized from the field; then charged upon the battery. A short but desperate encounter took place over the guns. Freeman, knowing that Forrest's whole force was at hand, encouraged his men to fight to the last, and, when completely overpowered, endeavored to retreat with two of his guns. Lieutenant Rendlebrook, with two companies, dashed after, and soon overtaking him, demanded his own, and the surrender of the guns. Freeman refused, urged his horses on, firing his revolver almost in the face of the lieutenant. At his third shot, Sergeant Major Strickland, with a single shot from his revolver, laid him dead on the road. The guns were then brought back to where the other portion of the battery was in the possession of the Fourth.Forrest promptly rallied his command, and attacked the Fourth with Armstrong's brigade. The Fourth, being entirely unsupported, retreated, when nearly surrounded, to the north side of the river, abandoning, after disabling the captured guns. The rebel loss in this engagement was fifty-seven killed, and over one hundred and fifty wounded and captured. Most of the wounded prisoners were re-captured when the regiment retreated, but the Fourth brought out forty-eight unwounded. The Fourth lost five men killed and eighteen wounded. As was the custom of the rebels, after meeting a misshap, they, in this instance, invented a cock and bull story to the effect that Captain Freeman was murdered by an officer of the Fourth, after he had surrendered and while a prisoner in their hands, on their retreat; the object being to give a color of excuse for atrocities committed by themselves, and to create a bitter, blood-thirsty feeling on the part of their soldiers against efficient cavalry regiments in general and the Fourth regulars in particular. Sergeant Major Strickland killed Captain Freeman in a fair fight, and Captain Freeman's bravery required no false statement, such as made, to perpetuate his memory.
The report was, however, assiduously circulated, and generally believed in Forrest's command, and on two notable occasions afterwards Forrest's men refused to take any of the Fourth United States cavalry prisoners. They in some way learned that it was the sergeant major of the regiment who killed Freeman, and threatened to hang him if they ever caught him.
During the Atlanta campaign, Strickland's term of service expired, and he was discharged. He was a perfect penman, and was at once engaged as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, soon after which he was taken prisoner, and sent to Andersonville, Georgia. He claimed to be the sergeant major of the Fourth Michigan cavalry, in order to prevent being identified. He escaped from Andersonville seven times, three times he was pulled down by bloodhounds, and, if living, carries the marks of the hounds' teeth on his shoulders and arms to this day. The serenth time he arrived at Atlanta, where he expected to find Union forces, but Sherman having gone on his "march to the sea," the rebels were in possession. He procured a Confederate uniform and supplied himself with a furlough and passes, and, in a few days, started for Chattanooga. When within sight of that place, he was picked up by a rebel cavalry scout and taken before the major commanding, to whom he presented his furlough and passes. The major looked at them and laughed, saying: "I know the signatures of these officers. These are well done, but they are forgeries!" Strickland broke down at this, and, sitting down on a stone, cried like a child. He then said: "Major, I am the sergeant major of the Fourth Michigan cavalry. I have been a prisoner at Andersonville. This is the seventh time I have escaped. I have been run down three times by bloodhounds, and three times before this captured in other ways, and now, within sight of a Union garrison, I am captured the seventh time. I tell you it is enough to unman any one." The major looked at him a moment, and said: "I have been fighting for the Confederacy for nearly four years, have met your regiment often. Your men are good soldiers, and treat your prisoners well, and I won't send you back to that place again; besides, the war is nearly over, and you cannot do us much harm any way;" and, writing a pass, handed it to him, and told him to go on his way! Strickland reached our lines in safety, but regrets that, having lost the pass, the name of the major thus befriending him cannot be furnished.
Is this a reasonable account of the action at Franklin on April 10, 1863? Does the captain's account raise any questions or contain any errors?