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Williams brothers, 40th MS, die in each other’s arms

April 8, 2008 in Casualties, Confederates, Mississippi | Leave a comment

The Willilam’s Brothers of Co. C. 40th Mississippi. Lt. Joseph Green English Williams, age 24, and brother Lt. Enoch Henderson Williams, age 27.

According to a historian, one of the Williams brothers was mortally wounded in the belly and lay dying on the Franklin battlefield. He crawled over to his brother who also lay dying from the result of a wound which took off a limb. They both layed throughout the night comforting one another as best they could to keep warm from the below freezing temperatures and to stop the bleeding. They were found the next morning, stiff and cold, but clasped in one another’s arms.

Source: T. Burgess, Hendersonville, TN

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Summary of the Battle of Franklin

The Battle of Franklin was fought on November 30, 1864 in Franklin, Tennessee; in Williamson County. John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee (around 33,000 men) faced off with John M. Schofield's Army of the Ohio and the Cumberland (around 30,000 men). Often cited as "the bloodiest five hours" during the American Civil War, the Confederates lost between 6,500 - 7,500 men, with 1,750 dead. The Federals lost around 2,000 - 2,500 men, with just 250 or less killed. Hood lost 30,000 men in just six months (from July 1864 until December 15). The Battle of Franklin was fought mostly at night. Several Confederate Generals were killed, including Patrick Cleburne, and the Rebels also lost 50% of their field commanders. Hood would limp into Nashville two weeks later before suffering his final defeat before retreating to Pulaski in mid December. Hundreds of wounded Confederate soldiers were taken to the John and Carrie McGavock home - Carnton - after the battle. She became known as the Widow of the South. The McGavock's eventually donated two acres to inter the Confederate dead. Almost 1,500 Rebel soldiers are buried in McGavock Confederate Cemetery, just in view of the Carnton house.