You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Carnton’ category.
One of my highlights every year is to attend the annual McGavock Confederate Cemetery Memorial Service, hosted by the United Daughter’s of the Confederacy, Franklin Chapter #14, at Carnton. Boy Scout Troop #137 will install a Confederate flag next to each of the 1,500 markers in the cemetery. The Boy Scouts have been doing this for 30+ years according to John Green, Commander.
The event kicks off at 2pm, rain or shine. There is always a guest speaker, Confederate re-enactors, and a babgpipe presentation.
Here is a link to last year’s service with a photo gallery.
“Hoofbeats in the Heartland: Civil War Cavalry in Tennessee” - a traveling exhibit with the Tennessee State Museum, will be coming to Carnton Plantation in mid November. The web site says:
Presented by the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, this traveling exhibit will be at Carnton in November and December of 2011. Tracing mounted warfare throughout Tennessee from 1861 to 1865, this exhibit explores the impact of war on the small communities as well as the large cities. Topics covered include military occupation, spies, guerillas, and highlights on major battles.
Funded in part by a grant from the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the traveling exhibition opened at Travellers Rest Historic House Museum in June of 2007 and continues to travel across Tennessee through the early part of 2010.
Drawing upon artifacts, photographs, drawings, and art from the collection of the Museum, the exhibition explores seven thematic areas: (1) Leaders (commanders such as Nathan Bedford Forrest, John Hunt Morgan, Samuel Carter, and John Wilder), (2) Troopers, (3) Horses and Mules, (4) Occupation and the home front, (5) Spies, Scouts, Partisans and Guerillas, (6) Battles in Tennessee, and (7) the Legacy. Each section includes photos, graphics, and artifacts explaining the role of mounted warfare during the Civil War era.
Due to mounted warfare, the home front often became the battle field as mounted soldiers skirmished on the streets of Memphis, Murfreesboro, Greeneville, and hundreds of towns and communities across the state. Indeed, every county of the state felt the impact of Union and Confederate cavalry thundering across the state as part of a raiding party, occupation force, or guerilla band. Each community had its unique experience with Civil War cavalry forces and the State Museum has encouraged each venue hosting the exhibition to develop a local history component to compliment the traveling exhibition.
For more information contact Myers Brown, Curator of Extension Services, at 615-741-2692 or by email at Myers.Brown@state.tn.us
The United Daughter’s of the Confederacy, Franklin Chapter #14, hosted the annual Memorial service today at Carnton. It was a blazing 94 degrees when Boy Scout Troop #137 arrived to install a Confederate flag next to each of the 1,500 markers in the cemetery. The Boy Scouts have been doing this for 30+ years according to John Green, Commander.
Just as the service began the wind whipped up furiously.
Here are a few sample pics of today’s service and here is the link to all 43 photos taken of the event.
Video from today’s event will be coming soon, check back.
Mississippi section at McGavock
Ronnie Mancrum
Boy Scout Troop #137 Commander John Green receives a plaque.
U P D A T E : 9:45 CST, Sunday, April 17th
Robert Hicks just posted on his Facebook page the following regarding the running of the CBS segment:
was informed yesterday that the story ran quite long & they simply didn’t have time in this week’s broadcast to accommodate it. Rather than make draconian cuts, they decided to wait until next Sunday (Easter Sunday) to air the piece. Stay tuned; we still have 4 years, minus this past week, to commemorate the American Civil War.
According to the Battle of Franklin Trust:
CBS Sunday Morning Segment Featuring Robert Hicks and Battle of Franklin Trust Sites
Robert Hicks, far right
Robert Hicks, the author of The Widow of the South and A Separate Country, will be featured on a CBS Sunday Morning segment about Why the Civil War Matters to Southerners. The segment is scheduled to air Sunday morning, April 17. Please check your local listings for the exact air time.
The segment was filmed in Charleston and other locations around the South with a full day of filming in Franklin at Carnton Plantation and The Carter House. The crew also shot some footage at the Domino’s Pizza site, which is now being purchased for battlefield reclamation.
This is the third time Robert Hicks has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning. He was featured first in September of 2005, soon after the release of The Widow of the South. Several years later, Hicks reappeared on the show after he joined a team of authors to fight to save the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut from closing.
In the field of historic preservation, Hicks has served on the Boards of Historic Carnton Plantation, the Battle of Franklin Trust, the Tennessee State Museum, The Williamson County Historical Society, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Hicks is founding chairman emeritus of Franklin’s Charge: A Campaign for the Reclamation and Preservation of Franklin’s Historic Battlefield. Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Trust, said “There is no close second in any community in the nation to match the success of Franklin’s Charge in preserving and reclaiming the battlefield at Franklin.”
Please support Robert Hicks and The Battle of Franklin Trust by tuning in to CBS Sunday Morning on April 17.
There is a new exhibit installed at the Historic Carnton Plantation (Franklin) called Remembering Our Bold Defenders: Civil War Veterans. The exhibit runs from March 1 – October 1, 2011.
About 3 million soldiers fought in the American Civil War from 1861-1865; about 2.2 million for the Union and 850,000 for the Confederacy. When the war was over there were about 2.4 million veterans who returned home. Many of these men lived 50-60 years after the war.
The veterans exhibit is a small but classy display of roughly 15 primary items, mostly buttons and badges, as well as some pictures of Civil War veterans and objects. By far, the most interesting object is the Franklin 1914 (50th Anniversary) Register List that was signed personally by roughly 110 soldiers, most of whom were Confederate.
There are also two original uniforms on display.
No photography is permitted and it only takes about 15-20 minutes to peruse the exhibit.
If you’re interested in reading more about Civil War veterans from Williamson County then pick up this book by Rick Warwick from the Williamson County Historical Society: Williamson County Civil War veterans: their reunions and photographs. Nashville, Tenn. : Panacea Press, 2007.
Amazon sometimes has a copy available. Also check Landmark Booksellers in Franklin. You can also order a copy from the WCHS for $20.00, plus $2.50 shipping.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO Box 71
Franklin, TN 37065
March 18-21
This weekend the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, Company D will host their annual Cavalry Camp of Instruction at Carnton Plantation. On Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, nearly 80 Confederate cavalrymen and their horses will be geared up from dusk until dawn, learning battalion formation and performing drills for spectators. On Sunday, March 20, the camp will come to a close at noon. Spectators can expect to see a realistic portrayal of Civil War cavalry techniques, including multiple mounted and dismounted drill sessions with bugle calls, combat simulation, and several other living history opportunities.
The Camp of Instruction is open to the public for spectators. The demonstrations are included in the regular tour admission prices of $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65+, and $8 for children 6-12. To view the demonstration without the house tour, the cost is $5 per person. For more information, please contact Tara Danley at (615) 794-0903 or at tara@battleoffranklintrust.org.
The Franklin Civil War preservation community was shocked to learn on Saturday that the Battle of Franklin Trust board is not renewing the contract of CEO Jennifer Esler. It was due to renew March 1st.
Esler, who previously held a leadership post in Virginia, worked in that capacity for just one year.
What is the BOFT be looking for in a new CEO?
I contacted the Trust to ask what they were looking for in a CEO, and what goals or objectives they want the new leader to focus on. They declined to provide anything more than the 2/26 brief statement.
The Battle of Franklin Trust Chairman of the Board of Directors Marianne Schroer announced today the Trust will not enter into a new contract with Jennifer Esler who served as the President and C.E.O. of the Trust effective today.
In making the announcement, Schroer said, “We appreciate the year Jenny spent working for the Battle of Franklin Trust, and we wish her well in her next endeavor.”
The Battle of Franklin Trust operates and manages Carnton Plantation and The Carter House in historic Franklin. Eric Jacobson will continue to serve as Director of Operations of the Battle of Franklin Trust managing the operations for both sites.
So looking back on the original December 18, 2009 press release when the Trust first announced they hired Esler, one can only assume the goals/objectives they disclosed then are still relevant today.
The Battle of Franklin Trust appears to be looking for a CEO who can provide leadership and direction in these areas:
- to further enhance the visitors experience of the historic Battle of Franklin and the sites related to the Battle.
- developing the museum sites.
- guide the Trust in the planning, development, and construction of a newly planned Carter House Interpretive Center & Museum related to the Battle of Franklin held November 30, 1864.
Since the Trust is not providing any further statements on what went awry, one is left to conclude that Esler apparently fell short of one or all of the above stated objectives.
This blogger and historic tourism supporter is curious of the following:
1. Are the above-stated objectives still current? If not, what would the updated objectives be? I think many of especially wonder if there are still plans to build a Carter House Interpretive Center.
2. Which objective(s) have the highest priority?
3. How long does the Trust expect the search for a new CEO to take?
General Forrest at Carnton
General Forrest at Carnton
General N.B. Forrest, Major J.P. Strange & Mrs. Caroline McGavock
November 30, 1864 – Franklin, Tennessee
Visit Strain’s web site.
Strain’s likness of modern-day Carnton is pretty accurate. Here’s a picture of the the same basic view of Carnton that Strain interpreted for his painting.
“Civil War Flags” featuring Greg Biggs and Eric Jacobson will be February 24, 2011 at Carnton Plantation’s Fleming Center at 6:00 p.m.
The lectures are free to members of the Battle of Franklin Trust and there is an optional $5 donation for the general public.
Space is limited to the first 100 people.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Leigh Bawcom at leigh@battleoffranklintrust.org.
Saturday December 11th & Sunday December 12th. 2010
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The tour includes stops at:
- The Carter House – 1140 Columbia Avenue
- The Franklin Flower Shop (Saturday Night Only) – 1152 Columbia Avenue
- St. Philip Catholic Church – 613 East Main Street
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Saturday Night Only) – 510 West Main Street
- Stites and Harbison (Refreshment Stop) – 604 West Main Street
- Campbell-Westbrook House – 819 West Main Street
- Mapledene – 908 West Main Street
- LilliHouse – 930 West Main Street
- Whitehall – 1101 West Main Street
- Vaughan-Maher House – 1014 Fair Street
- Courtney-Sheridan House – 1006 Fair Street
- Page-Hardcastle House – 904 Fair Street
- Galeenie Hall – 901 Fair Street
- The House of Stone – 704 Fair Street
Ticket Prices:
$20 – Adults in Advance
$25—Adults Day of Tour
$20—Senior Citizens
$10—Children 6-12
2-for-1 Active Military and their Family (Military discounts can only be processed in person or over the phone. We apologize for any inconvenience)
For more info and buy tickets online visit this link.
More to come
Carnton Plantation - Featuring the Photographs of Bruce Wolf with Foreword by Robert Hicks
A new look at Carnton Plantation will be available November 1st, 2010.
Carnton Plantation Featuring the Photographs of Bruce Wolf with Foreword by Robert Hicks is a visually stunning study of the plantation, its founders and its place in history. Photographed by renowed photographer Bruce Wolf with selected photographs from other artists the book is anchored by a foreward from New York Times best selling author, Robert Hicks (The Widow of the South, A Separate Country).
This book is the first high quality collection of printed photographs of Carnton Plantation; once home to Carrie McGavock, witness to one of the bloodiest conflicts in our nation’s history, and the final resting place for hundreds of Confederate soldiers who fought and died close by.
$24.95
For more information contact Rebecca Mogan.
I recently sat down with Joanna Stephens, Collections Manager of the Battle of Franklin Trust, which oversees the items in the Carter House and Carnton archives.
What is the purpose of Brothers in Arms?
Our exhibits normally focus on the Battle of Franklin or a related aspect like our recent Hood exhibit.
We wanted to tell the story of the common soldier so our guests can develop a broader understanding of the Civil War and we wanted to showcase some of our own pieces from the Carter House collection that haven’t been on display before.
Eating utensil.
So you have lots of typical items a soldier carried?
To think what a soldier carried is really amazing. We’re showing people what the Civil War soldier carried in his knapsack. They had a lot more technology than we usually give them credit for. They weren’t cavemen.
What is the importance of displaying everyday items the soldier carried?
At some point we need to connect with a person. Life in a Civil War camp was “organized boredom” according to Bell Wiley. You rarely hear about things like the plays the soldiers put on, or the games they played.
Game box of dominoe chips.
How did the items in the exhibit come together?
I wanted to use the tremendous resources from the Carter House collection that haven’t been viewed in some cases in over 130 years. We also partnered with a private collector, Bruce Hohler – owner of Franklin Relics – who provided items in this present exhibit that weren’t in the Carter House collection.
How are these kind of items part of understanding the story of the Civil War soldier and the Civil War itself?
People come here because they want to see the old house. So what we try to do here is to get them introduced to the story and wrap them into it in a personal way. If you can get people interested in a part they can connect to, that can expand their interest. This exhibit is about the common experience, not the specific story of any one soldier or unit.
Game pieces like poker chips, dice and marbles.
Do you have a personal favorite item in the exhibit?
The “housewife”. If you kook at it you can see how it was used. You can tell what was stored where. You can see where the needles were. It was something the soldiers were using all the time. I debated where to put it in the exhibit; next to the accoutrements or next to the uniforms? I decided next to the uniform because it was almost part of the uniform. The ‘housewife’ is also from Nashville.
A 'Housewife' or sewing kit.
What was an important item you wanted in the exhibit?
The haversack, because it was with a soldier all the time. It’s sole purpose was to carry other things. An item like that is often overlooked.
A Union soldier's knapsack.
How many people would you expect to see this exhibit before it ends December 31st?
We expect at least around 30,000 to 35,000 people to see this exhibit in person.
Confederate canteen inscribe J. Williams. Nashville.
Why is it important for the Battle of Franklin Trust to work with people in the community like Bruce Hohler?
That is the whole goal of this organization. Our goal is not just to educate our guests, but to reach out to the community. Many people have wonderful private collections and those items could never be seen by as many people unless they are on display here. It’s important for people to understand that the Trust is not an island unto itself. There are people in the community that care about the Civil War and what happened here at Franklin in the 1860s.
A soldier's writing desk.
What were some of the items you discovered in the Carter House collection that really excites you?
A lot of stuff was in storage. Much never before seen. We have a photograph of Jefferson Davis inscribed to a friend. A letter written by Robert E. Lee. A whole collection of family war letters. Swords, sabres, uniforms. The roster book for the 20th TN CSA. The authentic roster of the veterans who attended the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin in 1914, signed by each man with their regimental unit notated to the side. Boxes and boxes of reunion ribbons.
Confederate kepi
The Battle of Franklin Trust is opening a new exhibit in the Fleming Visitor’s Center at Carnton, Friday May 7th entitled, “Brother’s in Arms.” This is the initial post in a series about the exhibit.
The exhibit is in the room right behind the gift shop and is divided into two main sections of displays of equal size. Titled “Brothers in Arms,” the exhibit is designed to tell the often unknown and even more commonly misunderstood experience of the common soldier in the Civil War (1861-1865).
One display section is dedicated to items telling the story of Johnny Reb – the Confederate side – and the other display section, directly across, tells the stoty of Billy Yank, the Union/Federal side.
A sewing kit or "housewife" carried by a Union soldier
There are scores of objects in this exhibit which runs from May 7th through December 31st, 2010. It is thoughtfully designed and the objects selected are authentic and true to the experience of the common soldier. You will see everything from a Federal “housewife” (i.e., sewing kit) to a Confederate wallet and set of dominoes playing pieces.
I will be making additional posts about this exhibit in the upcoming days that will spread out through the month of May.
Game pieces and a pipe carried by Johnny Reb
The exhibition is included with the purchase of admission to Carnton Plantation which is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 65, children ages 6-12 are $6, and children under 6 are free.
“The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501 (c) (3) management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to a greater understanding and enrich the visitor experience of the November 30, 1864 battle. It’s organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle so as to preserve an important part of the nation’s history. Learn more at www.battleoffranklintrust.org.”
Recent Comments