Why is the Battle of Franklin important to you?

I asked the BoF Facebook Community why is the Battle of Franklin important to you?  Here are some select responses.  Join in the discussion at Facebook.com/Franklin1864

I wrote an essay a while back entitled, “Why Franklin matters to me“.

Steve Cagle My ancestor Perry D Culver fought at Franklin and survived. He was captured during the Battle of Nashville. He was 15 years old. He was in the 34th Alabama Infantry in Manigualt’s Brigade.

Helen Mize My ggrandfather fought for the Confederate 6th Arkansas and lost the front part of his foot and was captured at the Battle of Franklin. He did survive and got home safely after the war.

Andy Halvorsen The Battle of Franklin is important to me as a transplant because it gives me the hope that the citizens of this nation will be reminded of our personal freedoms and what it takes to keep them. There was no greater soldier than the Confederate soldier, the last of the founding fathers to fight for the Constitution. We are still the greatest country in the world, but we can be so much greater.

Andy Halvorsen The Battle of Franklin is important to me as a transplant because it gives me the hope that the citizens of this nation will be reminded of our personal freedoms and what it takes to keep them. There was no greater soldier than the Confederate soldier, the last of the founding fathers to fight for the Constitution. We are still the greatest country in the world, but we can be so much greater.

Michael-Lee Anne Williams I had 5 relatives at The Battle of Franklin Is.com. My Great Grand Father Caleb H Lewis and his twin brother Moses Wheat Lewis was with the 46th Ala. I also had Great Uncles on

Donna Werner We’ll see if we can “win” with; we were led to know of Franklin and the War in Tennessee some years ago when we began researching our family’s histories. Of the over 3500 members of our family tree none from so many years ago are more vivid and alive today than two…my great-grandfather was on the far right of the Union flank and my wife’s was in reserve in the Lotz’ yard and moved up into the mayhem when the center collapsed. Just the discovery that these two men who grew up 20 miles from each other in Ohio, came here together and experienced Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville – yet never knew one another, has literally changed our lives. And, the place we now call home.

Patricia Brooks Roth My ancestor was mortally wounded there and we have been unable to find where he died and was buried also saw civil war reenactment battle there several years ago. Awesome experience!!!

Robbin Francis my gg-grandfather( Christopher Columbus Francis) was the chief surgeon for the 3rd Texas cavalry.I have read that he was decorated that day for his bravery in rescuing comrades under fire, but have not been able to confirm this.Thankfully he survived and went on to a distinguished career as a doctor in Cleburne Texas where among other things, he helped establish the first hospital.Yes the town was named after Pat. Cleburne.I live close by in Granbury Texas, in Hood County. Texans love their civil war heroes.

Kim Harrison My gggrandfather James H. Harrison was a Sgt. with the 24th Mississippi Infantry Co. F. He survived the Battle of Franklin and was later captured at the Battle of Nashville and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio prison camp until the end of the war. I think of him and what he must have experienced during the battle when I walk the grounds at Carnton, Carter House or looking below from Winstead Hill.

Joe Schwenz Sr. I have an ancestor, Thaddeus Waters. He was my maternal Grandfather’s, great Uncle. Thad was a Private in the 2nd Michigan Cavalry. His unit came down to Bowling Green, KY., I’m assuming they rode there on horseback, but they might have come there by train. 

From there, they came through Clarksville, were I now live, all of these areas, were at that time, under Union control. 

After leaving Clarksville, the 2nd MI. Cavalry participated in the Battle of Franklin, then the Battle at Stones River in Murfreesboro, and eventually on to the Battle of Chickamauga where Thaddeus Waters was captured by Confederate forces and then sent through a series of Confederate prisons before ending in the notorious prison of Andersonville. 

He barely survived that Hell hole and wrote a book about his experiences after the war. I have read that book a dozen times in my life and will probably read it a dozen more! It is a riveting account of Civil War action and life and death like nothing you’ll ever get in history books or movies. 

For me, a transplanted northerner, to be living in Clarksville, the place where Thaddeus Waters first entered the south and fought in his first engagement in Franklin, TN. is pretty awesome. When I visit Franklin, Stones River, Chickamauga, and Andersonville, because of Thaddeus’ book, and his real life history, I feel like I am almost there, back then!

Through the life story, as told by a real life ancestor, who was actually “there”, I get a personal connection to places like the Battle of Franklin, that ordinary tourists don’t.

Clayton McMeen I grew up in Franklin, my Great Grandmother’s house was on the corner of Columbia Pike and Battle Avenue. I had 5 ancestors that fought in the Battle of Franklin, that I know of. As a child I grew up hearing tales about the battle from people whose grandparents either witnessed the battle or had been in Franklin at the time. One of my earliest school field trips was the the Confederate Cemetary at Carton we went there every year from 1st grade to 6th grade and learned of the brave CS Army and Todd Carter was held up to all us children as the example of a real hero

Stephanie Yancey Phelan I am very proud to share that my GGGrandfather, Calvin Lee Mooney was in the Alabama 29th Infantry, Company E. They had become a part of the Army of Tennessee and fought their way in Georgia where he was wounded three times before arriving in Franklin. From his obituary in 1906, I quote, “At the long to be remembered battle at Franklin, Tenn., his color bearer was shot down; he seized the battle flag from his dead comrade’s hand and bore it aloft until his own strong arm was shattered, and not until he fell bleeding did he let it fall.” I am convinced that some of the blood stains that remain at Carnton carry my own DNA from this brave soldier.

Jimmy Campbell The battle of Franklin is important to me because my ggggrandfather fought there, he was a member of the 8th Georgia Battalion, Co. C. I know what your saying, the 8th GA was not there. Question? If that was the case my ggggrandfather didn’t know the hell he went thru and we need to know where those 3 marked grave in Carnton came from. So the Battle of Franklin is important to me because I want those brave souls of the 8th Georgia Battalion given the credit that is due them. GOD Bless Them and the Souls of those who survived, we OWE them so much!!!!

Mike Maude My gggrandfather, Benjamin Newman, served with the 88th Illinois at Franklin (plus Perryville, Stones River, Spring Hill and Nashville), suriving the battles and the war. The ORs document that he captured the battle flag of a combined Arkansas regiment at Franklin; I understand that its flagstaff was on display at Carter House for a period of time.

Barry Dunagan I felt the warm wind blow across me in the late Tennessee afternoon, closed my eyes and imagined the horror that my grandfathers and their brothers felt as hundreds of their fellow soldiers fell. As smoke and darkness closed, the horror intensified until they moved only on instinct as soldiers of Tennessee. Load and fire or load and pass the rifle forward, continuously until shot down or commanded to try to escape into the night. This is what I believe the members of the 47th, 48th, 11th Tennessee Infantry Regiments endured November 30, 1864.

Larry Hicks Andrew Jackson Hicks, 29th Al.Co.H my gggrandpaw was shot in the shoulder and jaw broken on the Confederate right, fortunatly he survived and raised 21 children.

James DuMond My deep interest in Civil War history began hearing stories told by my great aunt about her grandfater (my gg-grandfather) Henry Meiser of the 111th OVI. His company was in the left flank of that regiment and when the Confederaderates made their breakthrough to the Carter House they were ordered to refuse the flank. Many years later he would personally show my young aunt where he was that day and point out some of the bullet holes on the west side of the Carter House he probably made

Jay Mc My GreatGreat Grandfather was in Co. K 31st Mississppi,,,,wounded in the side with a minie ball. Lived to be 90 years old.

Travis Devine Im a reenactor in the 8th tn US inf, and my 6th great grand dads step was a pvt in said unit, they were stationed in the 2nd line near the cotton gin and they helped plug the breach in the federal center

Angie Adams Hipp I believe my mother’s ancestors met at Camp Douglas, both one captured at Franklin and the other at Nashville within a few weeks of each other, and both were sent to Camp Douglas. Being from two different states, they both end up in the same small, tiny town in Texas, their children marrying. Too much of a coincidence to be random…both survived. One gx3 grandfather, however, was in the hospital when he was paroled at the end of the war. I would love to find out if they were housed in the same barracks,, or barracks near one another. Do you happen to know if there is a list of POWs and what barracks they resided in?

Elaine Hearon Everett Shelton My gg grandfather, Asa Minor Laney, was killed in front of Carter Cotton Gin in the Battle of Franklin. He was in the 5th Mississippi.

Rayna Steven My great great grandfather, Capt. James A. Sexton, 72nd IL., fought in the Carter Garden.
Here’s a quote by him:

“Franklin was the private soldier’s battle, the sum of its strategy being to hold and occupy the few square feet upon which the soldiers stood to the last.” Capt. James Andrew Sexton

We recently found out my husband more than likely had two gg granfathers who fought for the union at the BOF. One would have been near the Lotz House.

This is very strange, since we are from Arkansas and Oklahoma…..yet, we both had gg grandfathers who fought for the union at the BOF. And even more strange, we ended up moving to the area a couple of years ago from Chicago.

Support the Battle of Franklin story and join the Facebook Group

Happy 148th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin!

I launched the Battle of Franklin Facebook Group in October 2009.  It has grown, in just three years, to be the single largest Civil War battle-focused Facebook Group in existence that is run by an individual.  It has over 4,200 members. It’s easily accessible at ( http://www.Facebook.com/Franklin1864 ).

The Battle of Franklin Facebook Group receives visitors from around the world as this list (right) shows visitors in just the past 3 months.

Some of the National Park Service battle sites are a little larger but the Battle of Franklin Facebook Group is larger than most of the NPS groups as well.

The second largest Civil War battle-focused Facebook Group is one dedicated to the Battle of Gettysburg and it has just over 2,000 members. This is interesting because Gettysburg is no doubt THE first Civil War battle most people think of, yet the Battle of Franklin Facebook Group is more than twice the size of the Gettysburg group.  It attests to the interest and intrigue behind the Franklin story. More than 75% of the visitors to the Facebook group come from outside of the Nashville-Franklin area.  In fact, hundreds of people access the Facebook group from other countries, especially the U.K.

I use my Battle of Franklin blog ( http://battleoffranklin.net ) to serve as the content foundation for the Facebook group. The blog launched in late 2006 and receives around 300-400 visits a day. Anywhere between 10,000 to 15,000 visitors a month visit the blog.

If you’re not a member of the the Battle of Franklin Facebook Group then visit the site and “like” it today. Join in the fun!

Battle of Franklin Facebook Groups gets 2,000th fan!

How appropriate that the Battle of Franklin Facebook Group (www.FranklinMatters.com) got our 2,000th registered fan on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010.

Professor Derek W. Frisby from MTSU signed up to become the 2,000 fan of the group. It was also ironic that we celebrated our 1,000th registered fan on November 30, 2009 – the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin.

The group averages over 500 visits per week and interactions (e.g., comments, posts, links, replies, etc.) range from 100-400 per week.

I launched the Facebook group in October 2009.

Are you missing out?

I started a Battle of Franklin Facebook Group – easily accessed at FranklinMatters.com – back in October. That group is already up to 1910 fans. If you like this blog then you’ll love the Facebook group that compliments it. Come join in the discussion. We’re having a lot of fun.

Who has inspired you?

On our Facebook Group - FranklinMatters.com – we are answering this question below. Here are some responses so far. Join in the discussion with us.

For many of us, there have been key people who influenced us and inspired us to learn more about the ACW (e.., parent, teacher, friend, etc.). Pick one and tell everyone in the group who has been a key influence for you. Explain why.

Kraig
The biggest influence on me has been author-historian Steve Woodworth. We became friends in 2004. He’s a first-rate historian and has served as a sounding board for me often. How about you?

Greg Piklapp
My dad, growing up when I visited him on weekends he kept his whole series of Civil War Time Life books in my room and I spent whole days just reading and asking questions on the whole War with him.

K Scott Mullins
My grandfather from Philadelphia. In 1969 he gave me a set of Britains, Confederates…been hooked on learning more ever since.

Cassandra Michelle Fisher
Dr Duane Smith’s civil war america class at fort lewis college

Harrison Bond
Forty something years ago when I was a kid my dad used to take me to Franklin on Saturday morning and give me the Civil War tour. I would imagine a lot of the places he showed me are no longer there. How sad. I loved it and remember it so well. I wish my dad was around to take me now!

Marsha Walton
finding out some of my ancestry from my grandparents of ancestors who fought in the War–most lived through it, one died in Battle in Arkansas. From then on I was hooked on how the War affected the lives of people who lived–soldier & civilian!

Rick Boone
It was a short-lived TV show that lasted less than two full seasons back in the mid-60s. It was called, I believe, “The Americans” and featured two brothers, Ben and Jeff Canfield, of whom the former fought on the Union side, while the latter joined the Confederates.

Bryant Roberts
Lee White.

Jackie Fosdick Vohlken
My dad instilled the fascination for the Civil War, I was upset as a kid that there were no battlefields to visit in Michigan where I live. Then, Ken Burns documentary came along and bam, I was totally taken in…

Robert W. Spahr
As a former history teacher I can tell you it is much appreciated!

David Thomas
My dad. When we lived in West Tenn. he would take me to Shiloh, Donaldson, and Henry. Then we moved to Chattanooga and went to Chickamauga a lot. When I was in 4th grade he brought me my first Civil War book “Heros in Blue and Gray” and a bag of Civil War soldiers. That was it.

Tedra Powers Ulmer
My parents. My mom, who hated history, bought me some sort of kid’s version of the Time-Life books at the grocery store. (I know I have two volumes–one for 1862 with Antietam, and one for 1863 with Gettysburg) way back in the ’60′s. My dad took me to Mansfield Battlefield when I was four, then to an old church with a slave cemetery. I was hooked.

Linda Edwards
My grandma, she knew the Wallace Family and shared their family stories with me. The family were great supporters of Quantrill, Cole Younger and all the Boys who tried to take care of the Southerners in western Missouri.

Although, Grandma did not think much of my loyal feelings to the South, all of her family wore the blue……Grandma told mestories told, to her, by Mrs. Wallace and stories of The Quantrill Reunions held at Wallace Grove. I have always felt a kinship with William Clarke Quantrill. The Wallace Family had Quantrill’s picture over their fireplace. It was the picture used at the Reunions. Later they gave the picture to the Jackson County Historical group in Independence, MO. It is now at the 1859 Jail.

Kraig
These are great stories. I got to host a living Civil War son - Harold Becker – in my home last October. I was able to bring a true Union and CSA son together (both in their 90s) for a reunion. I blogged on it: http://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/category/reburial/