The UDC hosted the annual memorial service for McGavock Confederate Cemetery today. Senator Mark Norris shared some remarks.
Here are some photos of the event (see the full gallery here).
Once a year the United Daughters of the Confederacy hosts a memorial service for the fallen Confederate soldiers at McGavock Confederate Cemetery, near the Historic Carnton Plantation.
This year’s service will take place at 2pm rain or shine.
Here are several pictures from the 2008 service.
I have created and published scores of videos related to the Battle of Franklin. Some of them are getting quite a few views on YouTube.
Here are the more popular ones.
The McGavock Cemetery “Going Home“ video has over 1,800 views
Bloodstains on the Carnton floors is up to 1,600+ views
Dr. Losson talks about the carnage after the Battle of Franklin (over 1,000 views)
Thomas Cartright describes action in the front yard at the Carter House (over 2,100 views)
You can see all my videos here.
The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) publishes an annual report [download 9.5mb]of the ten most endangered Civil War battlefields. Spring Hill (TN) made the list again for 2009.
The action that took place at Spring Hill between the Confederate and Union forces on 29 November 1864 set the stage for the Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864. It is important to preserve the battlefield at Spring Hill since it is part of the larger story of Hood’s late 1864 campaign in middle Tennessee.
As most rural areas are experiencing significant development in residential and commercial real estate, Spring Hill is no exception.
GM owns roughly 500 acres adjacent to the Rippavilla Plantation. The auto-giant is seeking to sell the property. GM is apparently stipulating that the development company interested in buying the property donate about 100 acres closest to Rippavilla. The entire transaction is unsettled as of April 2009.
See our Rippavilla Flickr folder of pictures.
Author Benson Bobrick has recently completed a biography on Union General George H. Thomas titled Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas.
It has been many years since an authoritative and reliable biography on George H. Thomas has been published. Bobrick’s work will fill that gap. The author considers Thomas to be one of the best Union generals.
Here is a link to a recent interview with Bobrick about his new book. Look for a book review coming soon.
General George H. Thomas
I recently acquired a letter written by a 117th Illinois Infantry soldier named Thomas A. Whitesides. It is dated Nashville, Tenn., December 6th, 1864. Whitesides wrote this letter to his wife who was living in Belleville, Illinois. This letter was written just six days after the Battle of Franklin (30 November 1864).
Thomas A. Whitesides enlisted August 12, 1862 as a Corporal. On September 19, 1862, he mustered into Company H of the 117th Illinois Infantry at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois. He mustered out on August 5th, 1865, having served nearly three years in the service for the Union.
Whitesides would have seen action with the 117th in places like Vicksburg (summer 1863); western Tennessee chasing after Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry (Dec 1863); the Red River expedition and the Battle of Pleasant Hill (Feb 1864); the Battle of Franklin (30 Nov 1864) and the Battle of Nashville (Dec 15-16th, 1864).
- *******************************************
Nashville, Tenn
Dec 6th, 1864
Dear wife,
I seat myself to fulfill my promise in my last [letter]. I told you I would write the first opportunity. Thies [sic] few lines leave us well and I hope to find all of you the same. We have moved our position to the left and thrown up breastworks waiting an attack. Skirmishing is kept us all the while night and day by the picket. Shelling is quite common all along the line. I suppose hood [CSA Gen. John Bell Hood] is going to seige us out of here as he don’t advance only at night. They have thrown up [breast] works every night and still getting closer. Their line and ours are one mile of each other. Hood sent a flag of truce [end page one] yesterday wanting to exchange prisoners that were taken in the late battle [Franklin: 30 Nov 1864]. I suppose he is short of supplies and don’t wish to feed men that are not fighting for him.
The prisoners say they don’t get fourth rations and if they don’t take this place before long they will be without any as they are so far from base of supplies and no railroad to ship on. It is rumored round camp that Rosecrans is commencing with reinforcements for us. I don’t credit the report though I would like for some good General to get in the rear of them and close in so they would have to get up and dust. I see in yesterdays paper that Sherman had got through to the coast. I would be pleased to know he had released our prisoners at Antietam [probably means Andersonville]. [end page two]
I hear that Don Morrison has gone to France as he couldn’t stand for the Stars and Stripes to float over him.
Olive, I have been tempted to ask a favor of you for some time past and I fear you will not be so free to grant it. I will make all fair promises imaginable. I wish your photograph. I will pray for a half dozen and I promise to return it if you should call for it. Tell me at once if I can have it.
I must close for present.
I remain as ever your affectionate friend,
Thomas Whiteside
PS
Our Co [Company] is on picket tonight. I guess we may have a good time with the Rebs.
- *******************************************
Copyright 2009, The Civil War Gazette. All rights reserved.
The 2009 version of Franklin’s Charge will take place June 18-20th. This year’s theme is “Franklin to Nashville: The last days of the Army of Tennessee“.
I blogged on last year’s event. Check out this link for that content.
The FC web site says:
Symposium scholarships are available for teachers and students. Contact us to learn more by calling 615-595-0636.
June 18, 2009, will feature a special teacher’s workshop.
June 19 will focus on the Battle of Franklin and will follow the footsteps of Gen. John Bell Hood. Attendees will visit the Carter House, Carnton Plantation, Winstead Hill and other significant Civil War sites.
June 20 will examine the Battle of Nashville. Attendees will visit Ft. Negley, the Capitol (Union Ft. Johnson) and other important historic venues, culminating a dinner at Glen Leven.
We’ve only had one light snow so far but previous Winters have brought us some beautiful pictures of snow covering the grounds in and around The Carter House near downtown Franklin.
The Carter House, rear view
The Carter House, front view
Artillery on Carter House grounds
Slave cabin on Carter House grounds
Perhaps one of the most beautiful scenes in Williamson County during a Winter snow is the farm where the Harrison House sits.
The Harrison House blanketed with snow.
Horses in the pasture at Harrison House.
It recently snowed in Williamson County, Tennessee.
Carnton historian Eric Jacobson took this picture of the McGavock Confederate Cemtery next to Historic Carnton Plantation.
McGavock Confederate Cemetery
Here are few other pics from recent years with snow blanketing the cemetery. All pictures below courtesy of the Civil War Gazette.
Recent Comments