The battle of Franklin, TN.

[Grey Ghost]

November 30, 1864. The Army of Tennessee is shattered in Franklin, TN with horrific losses. At 4 pm, the two-mile long rows of battlelines stepped off across the frozen fields. Their destination was the federal line two miles away, consisting of triple layers of fortifications, abatis, and intersecting fields of fire. They immediately came under fire from federal artillery. Upon reaching a portion of Wagner's federal division less than a mile in front of the works, these were routed. As they retreated into the works, fire was held to keep from hitting them, which enabled Confederates to slam into the center of the line, breaking a hole and pouring into it. The fighting here near the Carter House devolved into brutal hand-to-hand and face to face killing. Thousands were pinned down against the works, unable to advance and unable to retreat. As darkness fell, the killing subsided. In only about the span of of two hours, over 6000 Confederates had fallen. These included the loss of 6 generals killed, 7 wounded and 1 captured. 55 regimental commanders also fell. Union losses were reported to be less than 3000.

The battalion numbers after Franklin and Nashville do not list a number. Handwritten are two words--------

"a handful"

[GentleBen]

The annals of war may long be searched for a parallel to the desperate valor of the charge of the Army of Tennessee at Franklin, a charge which has been called "the greatest drama in American history." Perhaps its only rival for macabre distinction would be Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

A comparison of the two may be of interest. Pickett's total loss at Gettysburg was 1,354; at Franklin the Army of Tennessee lost over 6,000 dead and wounded. Pickett's charge was made after a volcanic artillery preparation of two hours had battered the defending line. Hood's army charged without any preparation. Pickett's charge was across an open space of perhaps a mile. The advance at Franklin was for two miles in the open, in full view of the enemy's works, and exposed to their fire. The defenders at Gettysburg were protected only by a stone wall. Schofield's men at Franklin had carefully constructed works, with trench and parapet. Pickett's charge was totally repulsed. The charge of Brown and Cleburne penetrated deep into the breastworks, to part of which they clung until the enemy retired. Pickett, once repelled, retired from the field. The Army of Tennessee renewed their charge, time after time. Pickett survived his charge unscathed. Cleburne was killed, and eleven other general officers were killed, wounded or captured.

"Pickett's charge at Gettysburg" has come to be a synonym for unflinching courage in the raw. The slaughter-pen at Franklin even more deserves the gory honor.

The Confederate military leadership in the West was decimated, including the loss of perhaps the best division commander of either side, Major General (MG) Patrick Cleburne. Fourteen Confederate generals (six killed or mortally wounded, seven wounded, and one captured) and 55 regimental commanders were casualties. The six generals killed or mortally wounded were MG Cleburne, Brigadier General (BG) John C. Carter, BG John Adams, BG Hiram B. Granbury, BG States Rights Gist, and BG Otho F. Strahl. The wounded generals were MG John C. Brown, BG Francis M. Cockrell, BG Zachariah C. Deas, BG Arthur M. Manigault, BG Thomas M. Scott, and BG Jacob H. Sharp. Brig. Gen. George W. Gordon was captured.

I went to school in Franklin, less than two blocks from the Carter House and passed it twice daily for three years. My school's campus had two Confederate 6-pound smooth bore cannons in front of the Administration building, several Confederate uniforms (two infantry and three cavalry) on display in the hallway leading to the library along with rifles, swords and other miscellaneous items.

[Skia]

:BADRACR1: :BADRACR1: :BADRACR1: :BADRACR1: :BADRACR1: :BADRACR1: :sadangel:

[C5SilverBullet]

I used to live a few miles from the battlefield, great area.

[Grey Ghost]

The annals of war may long be searched for a parallel to the desperate valor of the charge of the Army of Tennessee at Franklin, a charge which has been called "the greatest drama in American history." Perhaps its only rival for macabre distinction would be Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

A comparison of the two may be of interest. Pickett's total loss at Gettysburg was 1,354; at Franklin the Army of Tennessee lost over 6,000 dead and wounded. Pickett's charge was made after a volcanic artillery preparation of two hours had battered the defending line. Hood's army charged without any preparation. Pickett's charge was across an open space of perhaps a mile. The advance at Franklin was for two miles in the open, in full view of the enemy's works, and exposed to their fire. The defenders at Gettysburg were protected only by a stone wall. Schofield's men at Franklin had carefully constructed works, with trench and parapet. Pickett's charge was totally repulsed. The charge of Brown and Cleburne penetrated deep into the breastworks, to part of which they clung until the enemy retired. Pickett, once repelled, retired from the field. The Army of Tennessee renewed their charge, time after time. Pickett survived his charge unscathed. Cleburne was killed, and eleven other general officers were killed, wounded or captured.

"Pickett's charge at Gettysburg" has come to be a synonym for unflinching courage in the raw. The slaughter-pen at Franklin even more deserves the gory honor.

The Confederate military leadership in the West was decimated, including the loss of perhaps the best division commander of either side, Major General (MG) Patrick Cleburne. Fourteen Confederate generals (six killed or mortally wounded, seven wounded, and one captured) and 55 regimental commanders were casualties. The six generals killed or mortally wounded were MG Cleburne, Brigadier General (BG) John C. Carter, BG John Adams, BG Hiram B. Granbury, BG States Rights Gist, and BG Otho F. Strahl. The wounded generals were MG John C. Brown, BG Francis M. Cockrell, BG Zachariah C. Deas, BG Arthur M. Manigault, BG Thomas M. Scott, and BG Jacob H. Sharp. Brig. Gen. George W. Gordon was captured.

I went to school in Franklin, less than two blocks from the Carter House and passed it twice daily for three years. My school's campus had two Confederate 6-pound smooth bore cannons in front of the Administration building, several Confederate uniforms (two infantry and three cavalry) on display in the hallway leading to the library along with rifles, swords and other miscellaneous items.

Western Theater always plays a second fiddle to the ANV. Even the reenactments we do today. Gen. Cleburne is in my top 3 of favorites. My 2xgrandfathers unit fought at Franklin. He died a few months before the battle. His regimental flag (65th GA. Inf.) is on display at a museum in Kennessaw, GA. The very one carried at Franklin and other battles. Still has bullet holes in it.

http://270c81.medialib.glogster.com/media/3f/3fffa9f41d03d22fe7ba5fa58c59dcbcdcf1d44ec1f564fb0187ffef2253c5e2/images-jpg.jpg