Historian and author Eric Jacobson describes John Bell Hood’s frontal assault at Franklin in it’s historical context for the Civil War and at Franklin.
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Kraig McNutt is the author and publisher of this blog. He has been blogging on Franklin for over five years and on the Civil War in general since 1995. Email him.
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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.
3 comments
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June 14, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Bob Watt
…….the assault was nothing short of murder. Hood was out of his mind.
June 21, 2012 at 5:02 am
B. Coats.
Gen Hood was my GGG-grandfather, while he wasnt a great Army Commander, he was better at being a Corps Commander. i think loosing the arm at Gettysburg, and leg at Chickamagua, messed him up. he shouldve never ordered the “Pickett’s Charge of the West” on Nov. 30,1864.
September 5, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Robert Collins
Hood was one of several who still believed that a direct frontal assault was the way to win. Thanks to the advancements in weaponry and trench fortifications this manuever had gone the way of the spear and slingshot. The sad thing about it is that it would take another blood-letting contest (world war one) before most military minds finally realized this!