Franklin Battlefield
Encyclopedia
Franklin Battlefield was the site of the Second Battle of Franklin
, which occurred late in the American Civil War
. It is located in the southern part of Franklin, Tennessee
, on U.S. 31. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1960.
The Carter House, which stands today and is open to visitors, was located at the center of the Union
position. The site covers about 15 acres (60,702.9 m²). The house and outbuildings still show hundreds of bullet holes. The Carnton Plantation
, home to the McGavock family during the battle, also still stands and is likewise open to the public. Confederate soldiers swept past Carnton toward the left wing of the Union army and the house and outbuildings were converted into the largest field hospital present after the battle. Adjacent to Carnton is the McGavock Confederate Cemetery
, where 1,481 Southern soldiers killed in the battle are buried.
Adjacent to the 48 acres (194,249.3 m²) surrounding Carnton is another 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) of battlefield, which is currently being converted to a city park. Much of the rest of the Franklin battlefield has been lost to commercial development. The spot where Gen. Patrick Cleburne
fell, for instance, was covered until late 2005 by a Pizza Hut
restaurant. Although the restaurant was purchased by a preservation group and demolished, the Civil War Preservation Trust
continues to rank the Franklin battlefield as one of the ten most endangered sites. City officials and historic-preservation groups have recently placed a new emphasis on saving what remains of the land over which this terrible battle raged.
Fort Granger
is preserved in a 20 acres (8.1 ha) section that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The battlefield is now preserved as part of the 110 acres (44.5 ha) Eastern Flank Battle Park, which is operated by the city of Franklin.
Battle of Franklin II
The Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864, at Franklin, Tennessee, as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War. It was one of the worst disasters of the war for the Confederate States Army. Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee conducted...
, which occurred late in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It is located in the southern part of Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
, on U.S. 31. It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1960.
The Carter House, which stands today and is open to visitors, was located at the center of the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
position. The site covers about 15 acres (60,702.9 m²). The house and outbuildings still show hundreds of bullet holes. The Carnton Plantation
Carnton
Carnton is a historic plantation house and museum in Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee. Carnton is the setting for the novel The Widow of the South, by author Robert Hicks...
, home to the McGavock family during the battle, also still stands and is likewise open to the public. Confederate soldiers swept past Carnton toward the left wing of the Union army and the house and outbuildings were converted into the largest field hospital present after the battle. Adjacent to Carnton is the McGavock Confederate Cemetery
McGavock Confederate Cemetery
The McGavock Confederate Cemetery, , the largest privately held Confederate cemetery in the United States is located in Franklin, Tennessee. It was established on land donated by the McGavock planter family....
, where 1,481 Southern soldiers killed in the battle are buried.
Adjacent to the 48 acres (194,249.3 m²) surrounding Carnton is another 110 acre (0.4451546 km²) of battlefield, which is currently being converted to a city park. Much of the rest of the Franklin battlefield has been lost to commercial development. The spot where Gen. Patrick Cleburne
Patrick Cleburne
Patrick Ronayne Cleburne was an Irish American soldier, best known for his service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, where he rose to the rank of major general....
fell, for instance, was covered until late 2005 by a Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
restaurant. Although the restaurant was purchased by a preservation group and demolished, the Civil War Preservation Trust
Civil War Preservation Trust
The Civil War Trust is a charitable organization whose primary focus is in the preservation of American Civil War battlefields. The Civil War Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that...
continues to rank the Franklin battlefield as one of the ten most endangered sites. City officials and historic-preservation groups have recently placed a new emphasis on saving what remains of the land over which this terrible battle raged.
Fort Granger
Fort Granger
Fort Granger is a property in Franklin, Tennessee that is a City of Franklin park, in the central Franklin area. It was part of American Civil War fortifications of Franklin and includes trenches dug by Civil War soldiers.It was built in 1862...
is preserved in a 20 acres (8.1 ha) section that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The battlefield is now preserved as part of the 110 acres (44.5 ha) Eastern Flank Battle Park, which is operated by the city of Franklin.
External links
- [www.franklintn.gov/index.aspx?page=386 Eastern Flank Battle Park] - City of Franklin
- Carter House, 1140 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, Williamson County, TN: 12 photos, 6 drawings, 9 data pages and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- Battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864