Telegrams related to the Battle of Franklin
Here are all the Union-Federal telegrams that took place related to the Battle of Franklin. They are in order of earliest to latest. Most of the telegrams in the Official Records are between Maj-Gen George H. Thomas and Maj-General John M Schofield (his subordinate).
Nov 29th, 1 pm – Pontoons down
Nov 30th, 5:30 am – troops [...]
Telegram: Wagon bridge out at Franklin
(Telegram.)
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO,
FRANKLIN PIKE, TENN., November 28, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS, Nashville, Tenn.
GENERAL–I am informed the wagon bridge at Franklin has been carried away. Would it not be well to replace it by pontoon bridge during the rainy season?
(Signed)
J.M. SCHOFIELD,
Major-General,
—————————————————————————–
(Telegram.)
NASHVILLE, November 28, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL SCHOFIELD:
You can send some of the pontoons you used at [...]
23rd Corps (Union)
The 4th and 23rd Corps (U.S.), respectively served at Franklin.
Here’s some background the 23rd Corps during the Civil War:
Lenoir; Blue Springs; Campbell’s Station; Knoxville; Mossy Creek; Dandridge; Walker’s Ford; Strawberry Plains; Rocky Face Ridge; Resaca; Cassville; Dallas; Pine Mountain; Lost Mountain; Culp’s Farm; Kenesaw ; Chattahoochie; Decatur ; Siege Of Atlanta; Utoy Creek; Lovejoy’s Station; [...]
50th Ohio men captured at Franklin
The 50th Ohio went into position and built works on south side of Franklin, and were attacked by the enemy in force at 3.20 p.m., and fought them till 12 p.m. losing; Commissioned officers-wounded, 3; missing, 2. Enlisted men- killed, 7; wounded, 33; captured, 10; missing, 57. Total loss, 112.
The following 50th Ohio soldiers who [...]
50th Ohio men killed or mortally wounded at Franklin
List of 50th Ohio men killed or mortally wounded at Franklin.
Went into position and built works on south side of Franklin, and were attacked by the enemy in force at 3.20 p.m., and fought them till 12 p.m. losing; Commissioned officers-wounded, 3; missing, 2. Enlisted men- killed, 7; wounded, 33; captured, 10; missing, 57. Total [...]
72nd Illinois men killed or mortally wounded at Franklin
American Civil War Database lists at least 16 72nd Illinois men having been killed at Franklin. The Union Army, Vol. 3 says, “in the fight at Franklin it lost 9 officers of our 16 engaged, and 152 men, who were either killed or severely wounded.”
The 72nd Illinois was part of Strickland’s Brigade [72nd Illinois, 44th [...]
183rd Ohio men who died as POWs, having been captured at Franklin
My last post detailed the 23 men of the 183rd Ohio who were killed or mortally wounded at Franklin.
The 183rd Ohio had 23 men killed or mortally wounded at Franklin. Part of Strickland’s Brigade, the 183rd was a newly formed Regiment and had not seen any action prior to Franklin. The 183rd was on the [...]
Profiles of soldiers who served at Franklin
Over years past, I have posted numerous profiles on various soldiers who fought at Franklin. Most of the profiles include a period photo or image of the soldier(s) profiled.
Union
Capt Russ B. Davis, 10th Tennessee Cavalry (U.S.)
William B. Douthat served with 12th TN Cav (U.S.), fought at Franklin
Gen David S. Stanley served at Franklin
Gen Ruger, served at Franklin
Franklin resident – [...]
Gen Ruger, served at Franklin
Civil War Union Major General. The son of an Episcopal minister, he was born in Lima, New York, and at the age of 13, he and his family moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. Entering West Point in 1850, he would graduate 3rd in the class of 1854, however only nine months later he would resign from [...]
Statements by Gen Ruger related to Franklin (Nov 1864)
Cowan’s recently auctioned off several items related to Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, who commanded at the Battle of Franklin.
In the first week of November, Ruger was offered command of a Division in 28th Corps in Tennessee under George Thomas unless Sherman and Slocum (who did not want to have him leave their [...]
New book on Thomas adds to Franklin-Nashville understanding
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 [...]
Union Order of Battle, Fourth and Twenty-Third Army Corps
FOURTH ARMY CORPS. Brig. Gen. THOMAS J. WOOD.
FIRST DIVISION.
Brig. Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL.
First Brigade.
Col. ISAAC M. KIRBY.
21st Illinois, Capt. William H. Jamison.
38th Illinois, Capt. Andrew M. Pollard.
31st Indiana, Col. John T. Smith.
81st Indiana, Maj. Edward G. Mathey.
90th Ohio, Lient. Col. Samuel N. Yeoman.
101st Ohio, Lieut. Col. Bedan B. McDanald.
Second Brigade.
Brig. Gen. WALTER C. WHITAKER.
96th Illinois, Maj. [...]
Gen. George H. Thomas’ report of the Battle of Franklin
O.R.–SERIES I–VOLUME XLV/1 [S# 93]
NOVEMBER 14, 1864-JANUARY 23, 1865.–Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee.
No. 1.–Report of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Cumberland.
[The following section of Thomas' report relates specifically to the action at Franklin on 30 November, 1864.]
The withdrawal of the main force from in front of [...]
How is the McGavock Confederate Cemetery laid out?
Here is the layout of the McGavock Confederate Cemetery.
Lt. Gen. A.P. Stewart’s Corp
Loring’s Division: Maj. Gen. William W. Loring – 126
Scott’s Brigade: Brig Gen Thomas M. Scott – 15
27th Alabama – 4
35th Alabama – 2
49th Alabama – 0
55th Alabama – 3
57th Alabama – 2
12th Louisiana – 4
Featherston’s Brigade: Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Featherston – [...]
“101 Stuff”
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 Cumberland (around 30,000 men). Often cited as “the bloodiest five hours” during the American Civil War, the Confederates lost between 6,500 [...]
