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I recently emailed historian and author Wiley Sword to see if he’d like to weigh in on the current discussion regarding Hood’s blunder-failure at Franklin. He offered this commentary.
There are a variety of modern viewpoints involving Gen. John Bell Hood’s performance at Spring Hill and Franklin,and there often is some merit with each opinion. On the positive side, Hood was a physically brave soldier, had a burning desire to succeed, and planned his operations on the basis of his considerable experience in combat.
From a negative perspective, Hood was not very adaptive of the innovation required in confronting a new era in the methodology of war, his stubborn nature disallowed constructive criticism , and being prone to blame others he could not accept responsibility for his mistakes. This led, in my opinion, to the ultimate disaster to his army at Franklin. Based upon my extensive research for my book Embrace an Angry Wind, Hood’s greatest critics were his own soldiers. Anyone wishing to explore this aspect should look at the sources listed in my book for each statement, which is based on contemporaneously written materials, not some “Lost Cause” postwar musings.
Hood at Franklin is perhaps best put into perspective by a modern observer asking himself: If I were a member of Hood’s army at Franklin, what would I think; would I willingly go; would I like my chances of surviving?
Or, would I rather have the likes of Robert E. Lee, Pat Cleburne, or Nathan Bedford Forrest calling the shots as to fighting that battle?
There are a variety of modern viewpoints involving Gen. John Bell Hood’s performance at Spring Hill and Franklin,
and there often is some merit with each opinion. On the positive side, Hood was a physically brave soldier, had a
burning desire to succeed, and planned his operations on the basis of his considerable experience in combat.
From a negative perspective, Hood was not very adaptive of the innovation required in confronting a new era
in the methodology of war, his stubborn nature disallowed constructive criticism , and being prone to blame others
he could not accept responsibility for his mistakes. This led, in my opinion, to the ultimate disaster to his army at
Franklin. Based upon my extensive research for my book Embrace an Angry Wind, Hood’s greatest critics were his
own soldiers. Anyone wishing to explore this aspect should look at the sources listed in my book for each statement,
which is based on contemporaneously written materials, not some “Lost Cause” postwar musings.
Hood at Franklin is perhaps best put into perspective by a modern observer asking himself: If I were a member
of Hood’s army at Franklin, what would I think; would I willingly go; would I like my chances of surviving?
Or, would I rather have the likes of Robert E. Lee, Pat Cleburne, or Nathan Bedford Forrest calling the shots
as to fighting that battle?
Dr. Woodworth is Professor of History at T.C.U.
On a recent post — Hood’s blunder-failure at Franklin? — Professor Steven E. Woodworth left this comment on Hood’s failure at Franklin. I think it worthwhile to bring it to our attention as a separate post.
A case can be made in defense of Hood’s battle plans at Atlanta, though not his execution of those plans. Such is not the case at Franklin. It’s true that frontal attacks were sometimes necessary and sometimes successful. It’s also true that every truly great Civil War general launched one or two such attacks that he would no doubt have liked to have taken back afterward but that seemed reasonable when he launched them. Yet there simply can be no palliation or excuse for Hood’s Franklin assault. it did not seem at all reasonable when he launched it. By that point in the war, the simplest drummer boy could see that it could not succeed and would lead to the slaughter of the army. Bad as Hood’s situation was, wrecking his army could only make it worse. His only reasonable option was to maneuver in such a way as to maintain his army, since it was one of the Confederacy’s last assets.
Dr. Woodworth has authored many respectable and industry-leading books on the Civil War: see his Amazon.com list.
I understand I’m treading on thin ice here with some folk when it comes to critiquing John Bell Hood, especially for his actions at Franklin. So let me clearly state my biases because we all have them; I’m just honest enough to admit them.
My biases and background?
- I was born in Kentucky, which was neutral in the Civil War officially.
- Until ten years ago (late 30s), I was very ‘pro-Southern’ and totally leaned to the so-called States’ rights side of the aisle. I espoused the Lost Cause ideology with conviction then, though I was not even aware how much I had descended into it.
- Today, I have completely shed the Neo-Confederate mindset and its accompanying arguments.
- I now believe that the American Civil War, at least for the last two years, was mostly (but not entirely) fought over the issue of slavery.
- I believe that human slavery was a moral scourge on this nation and wished it would have been effaced from our landscape without the shedding of blood.
If you still have an objective bone in your body I submit the following six items as evidence that John Bell Hood made at least six fatal errors at Franklin. These six are mainly related to his direct frontal massed assault at Franklin.
Hood’s blunder-failure (i.e., his frontal assault) at Franklin can be summed up thus:
a. His assault had virtually zero artillery support.
b. He had too large an army to perform an assault that only had roughly 1.7 miles of width-to-width from flanks once the works were reached. His columns were terribly constrained and inter-mixed.
c. He went against the better judgment of his subordinate commanding generals.
d. His cavalry played virtually no role in the assault strategically.
e. He started the assault too late in the day.
f. He apparently had very little true knowledge of the topography of Franklin, and/or had the knowledge and ignored it.
John Bell Hood
a. His massed assault had virtually zero artillery support.
b. He had too large an army to perform an assault that only had roughly 1.7 miles of width-to-width from flanks once the works were reached. His columns were terribly constrained and inter-mixed.
c. He went against the better judgment of his top subordinate commanding generals.
d. His cavalry played virtually no role in the assault strategically.
e. He started the assault too late in the day. By the time his men reached the works it was nearly dark.
f. He apparently had very little true knowledge of the topography of Franklin, and/or if he had the knowledge, he ignored it.
I’d love to know your opinion. Please comment.
However, I will NOT approve any comment that descends into plain silliness and ad hominem attacks. I revealed my biases so fair-play suggests you will too , then lay out your arguments.
Let the readers make up their own minds.
By the way, don’t forget the Hood Legacy Discussion at Carnton coming November 6th.
Carnton will host a Hood panel discussion on Friday, November 6 at 6 p.m. in the event room of the Fleming Center. It is FREE to the public and will last about 1 ½ hours. Panelists will include Eric A. Jacobson (author, historian), Sam Hood (Hood expert, descendant), Sam Elliot (author, historian) and Brandon Beck (University of Mississippi).
I blogged earlier about the John Bell Hood exhibit at Carnton. Hundreds of people have seen the exhibit and the feedback has been very good.You can read all my previous posts related to John Bell Hood by clicking on this link.
I recently sat down with Carnton collections manager Joanna Stephens to ask her a few questions about the exhibit.
Drawing of Hood courtesy of artist Andy Amato.
BoF: How long did it take to get this exhibit installed from it’s inception?
Stephens: It took about a year, which is really not all that long for an exhibit. We wanted this exhibit to coincide with the opening of the Fleming Center. We were originally trying to find enough items on Gen John Schofield (U.S.) and General John Bell Hood (CSA). But there just weren’t many accessible artifacts belonging to Schofield so we ended up just with Hood artifacts.
BoF: How does this Hood exhibit compare to previous Hood exhibits around the country?
Stephens: This is the largest exhibit of John Bell Hood artifacts ever assembled for a museum exhibit.
BoF: What is your favorite item in the exhibit?
Stephens: I like the personal items best. I like daily-use things best. My favorite Hood artifact in this exhibit are the gauntlets. It is not too hard to imagine his withered left arm still wearing the glove!
I love personal artifacts . . . Those kind of things . . . but to really see a picture of what a person was like in daily life is really important.
BoF: What does this exhibit tell us about Hood that many people might be surprised of?
Stephens: My goal was to inform people that there was a lot more to this man than the decision he made at Franklin. So much before and so much more after. He’s a whole man. You have to take everything into consideration.
John Bell Hood's coat on display in the Museum of the Confederacy.
Accompanying this exhibit will be a panel discussion about Hood. This discussion will be held Friday, November 6 at 6 p.m. The panel will include Sam Elliott, biographer of Confederate General A.P. Stewart, Sam Hood, a descendent of General Hood’s grandfather, and Eric Jacobson, Carnton’s Interim Executive Director. Topics to be covered include the early life, military career, Tennessee Campaign, and legacy of General Hood. More information about the exhibit and panel discussion will be available at www.carnton.org or 615-794-0903.
A Separate Country by Robert Hicks
WASHINGTON POST
“Robert Hicks’s riveting new novel takes up Hood’s life after the war. Anyone who has ever lived in New Orleans must be prepared to be made homesick, and the bizarre cast of characters, including a dwarf, a burly priest and a boy of mixed and mysterious par entage, wouldn’t seem right in any city but this one. I read “A Separate Country” with breakneck speed for that most old-fashioned of reasons: I wanted to see what happened next. And then I eagerly read it a second time to make sure I got the complicated twists and turns. Is there a better recommendation?”
MIAMI HERALD
“After the War, Hood scampered down to New Orleans in order to try to live as fully as possible. That’s where Robert Hicks enters in his marvelous new book, which looks back on the legendary and monstrous general of the Civil War with a brand new set of eyes. Hicks doesn’t ever let us forget that this was once a man who “cared very little for the men [he] ruined.” Yet at the same time, this is a work which seems designed to remember Hood neither as a legend nor a monster but as a man.”
DAYTON DAILY NEWS
The 10/9 edition of the Dayton Daily News said that A SEPARATE COUNTRY “builds momentum from the instant Hood dies. The author rolls out a cast of fascinating characters who slide in and out of the story as it is related by our three narrators. Hicks immerses us in a steaming gumbo of racism, gambling, class struggle, pride, forgotten massacres and poignant memories.”
Wow.
Maybe because it was on the heels of the reburial of the unknown Civil War soldier this past weekend, or maybe because Monday Night Football was unappealing – whatever the cause . . . some 120+ people came out to Carnton plantation tonight to hear and participate in a lecture with Carnton historian and author Eric Jacobson, and professor and author Thomas Flagel.
Thomas Flagel is an energetic and provocative speaker.
They came to learn about the “cause(s) of the American Civil War.” And learn they did. The historians laid the ground-work for the evening by taking 5-7 minutes each – for the first 45 minutes – and hitting topics like; the major political events prior to 1860 in America that influenced the environment for a divided country in 1860; the demagoguery and manipulations of the politicians in the mid 19th century; the political principles and values of the politicians who were protecting the interests of the wealthy elite in the South, and many other pertinent issues.
The discussion was balanced, rational, and moved quickly through the evening. After the historians talked for 45 minutes combined, they opened the floor for Q/A. Hands immediately flew up. Many hands were raised by young people in their 20s and 30s. In fact, the demographics of the 120+ crowd had as many under-30s as over-30s. There were excellent questions asked as the historians spontaneously responded through a generous give-and-take style.
Carnton will host a November lecture on the 6th; the topic? John Bell Hood!
Get there early, the seats will fill quickly.
Historian Eric Jacobson engages the 120+ person standing room only crowd at Carnton tonight.
In a recent book signing in Nashville, novelist Robert Hicks made this statement, “The difference between my new novel – A Separate Country – and most written accounts about John Bell Hood is that I put ‘novel’ on the front cover.”
Hicks went on to explain how he believes John Bell Hood has gotten a bum wrap from most historians. It is Hicks’s hope that his new book, though a novel, will inspire a new generation of writers and thinkers to give Hood a new look, and a fairer examination.
“Hood’s greatest mistake was not Franklin,” Hicks mused, “it was writing his memoirs (Advance and Retreat).”
Novelist, Robert Hicks
Novelist Robert Hicks is a charmer. His presence, and most importantly his stories, weave a magic spell upon his listeners and audience. Those of us who are fans of his novels know this to be true.
One thing that struck me about listening to Robert tonight at Landmark was the power of the words he did NOT say. His delivery is deliberate yet richly interrupted by serendipitous comments or statements that make it clear to everyone in the audience that he is “off the teleprompter”.
Robert Hicks
That is his charm. He knows when to allow his words to steer off course and take us to places where our hearts and minds find surprise, hope, and even pain.
Robert is vintage Robert when he starts to blush as he digs into the deep well of his personal life experiences and tells us another story (and perhaps even again) of how he found himself in the living room of Shelby Foote one afternoon several years ago; or how he found himself terrified of a dwarf running side-by-side in the Charlotte airport; or how he found his way into the former John Bell Hood home in New Orleans when only minutes before the owner would not even give Robert a modicum of respect or time.
Robert talked about many things tonight in the Q/A time that really spoke to me. I asked him. “Robert, I once heard the writer David McCullough say that on a good day, he’d produce 500 words (which is one good page). What is a good day for you?”
Robert’s reply was poignant and revealed the man. He basically said, “I write at night, not in the day, but a good night (eight hours of work) will usually yield about 120 or so words for me.”
Wow. That means it takes Robert Hicks about 4-5 days to write one good page for a novel. Some days are probably better than others, but I’d surmise that a good month yields the fruit of several solid pages, maybe even a chapter.
Robert read tonight for ten minutes or so. Probably read five pages or so. We all sat enthralled with this writer’s craft, charm and passion, under the tent at Landmark.
When he finished he told us “thank you”.
Wait. Thank us?
No Robert. You just shared a good week of your life, burning the late midnight oil, in the few minutes we listened to you read an excerpt from your novel tonight.
So Robert, we thank you!
If you were there tonight how about leaving your comments and feedback to Robert.
Memphis may have Shelby Foote, but Franklin has Robert Hicks.
Robert will be signing his new book – A Separate Country – in the greater Nashville area:
9/26 at Border’s in Brentwood, 2 pm
9/27 at Costco in Brentwood, 1pm
10/7 Barnes and Noble in Brentwood, 7 pm
10/8 Vanderbilt University Bookstore, 1 pm
10/10 Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, 10:30 am
Joel Tomlin, owner of Landmark Booksellers
I counted at least 50 people downstairs at Davis-Kidd tonight to enjoy the first book signing of Robert Hicks’s new book, A Separate Country. Robert spoke for 15-20 minutes at first, entertaining the crowd with numerous anecdotes and stories we have all come to expect and adore from our great story-teller who can’t stop writing about the battle of Franklin and the major figures who shape the story.
He then read from the book for several minutes and then generously took several questions from the audience.
Set in New Orleans in the years after the Civil War, A SEPARATE COUNTRY is a novel based on the incredible life of John Bell Hood, arguably one of the most controversial generals of the Confederate Army–and one of its most tragic figures. Robert E. Lee promoted him to major general after the Battle of Antietam. But the Civil War would mark him forever. At Gettysburg, he lost the use of his left arm. At the Battle of Chickamauga, his right leg was amputated. Starting fresh after the war, he married Anna Marie Hennen and fathered 11 children with her, including three sets of twins. But fate had other plans. Crippled by his war wounds and defeat, ravaged by financial misfortune, Hood had one last foe to battle: Yellow Fever.
A SEPARATE COUNTRY is the heartrending story of a decent and good man who struggled with his inability to admit his failures–and the story of those who taught him to love, and to be loved, and transformed him.
Get your personal copy signed!!
Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00 pm: Davis-Kidd, Nashville
Thursday, September 24th at 5:30 pm: Landmark Booksellers in Franklin
Robert Hicks poses with his dog Jake at his Franklin home. The author of the bestselling Widow of the South has a new book about Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood coming out in late September. (SAMUEL M. SIMPKINS / THE TENNESSEAN)
Carnton is set to host the largest John Bell Hood exhibit in history! Carnton has gathered a variety of artifacts that once belonged to Hood.These items including his coat, hat, saddle, sword, and writing kitwill be on display at Carnton in the new Fleming Center. The exhibit entitled “Hood’s Legacy” willshowcase the items on loan to Carnton and provide information about the General’s life. Carnton Plantation will explore the man and his complete story, as well as his legacy. Well known in Middle Tennessee for the disastrous frontal assault of the earthworks at Franklin, Hood has a long and prestigious military career. He graduated West Point class of 1853, and fought Indians in the southwestern United States prior to the Civil War. When the Civil War started in 1861, Hood resigned his position in the U.S. military and joined the Confederate cause. Hood served in the Army of Northern Virginia and fought under General Robert E. Lee. By the summer of 1864, Hood had been elevated to command of the Army of Tennessee. While the results of the Tennessee campaign in the fall of 1864 were devastating, Hood never wavered. His reputation as a brave and daring commander held true. Accompanying this exhibit will be a panel discussion about Hood. This discussion will be held in two sessions both beginning at 6 pm: Friday, November 6 and Saturday November 7. Topics to be covered include the early life, military career, Tennessee Campaign, and legacy of General Hood. Please join us for both the exhibit and the discussion about this controversial figure in Civil War history.
Where: Carnton Plantation, 1345 Carnton Lane, Franklin
Admission: $12, $10 for ages over 65, $5 for ages 6-12, free for ages 4 and younger
Info: www.carnton.org, 794-0903
And check out my recent interview with the Carnton collections manager about the Hood exhibit.
- Hood’s uniform seen here on display at the Museum of the Confederacy
Raleigh, North Carolina
April 20, 1865,
Nov. the 28th
We was ordered to Nashville to defend the place against Rebel [John Bell] Hood. December 1 we got there and dug trenches 2 days and 1 night.
Dec. the 4th & 5th
considerable skirmishing.
The 6 & 7
considerable firing on picket with a little fight. We lost several….
The 15th
Thomas went for them and it was a hard fight with a loss to the Rebs of 12 hundred prisoners 18 pieces of cannon 8 battle flags which we got.
The 16th
the fight gets harder our loss 1000 killed and wounded. Rebs loss 600 hundred killed & wounded. We captured 5000 prisoners 30 canon and several battle flags.
The 17th
Hood has left our front and skedaddled. Thomas after him.
The 19th we was ordered to move we marched to Murfreesboro 2 days….went 9 miles the other side of Huntsville, Alabama the track being torn up. We had to march the rest of the way.
The 27th
we crossed the Tenn. River on transports and run the rebs out of Decatur . Our cavalry captured 4 canon then we started after Hoods pontoon train but hearing that he had made a crossing below we lay at Cortland a few days.
I recently acquired a letter written by a 117th Illinois Infantry soldier named Thomas A. Whitesides. It is dated Nashville, Tenn., December 6th, 1864. Whitesides wrote this letter to his wife who was living in Belleville, Illinois. This letter was written just six days after the Battle of Franklin (30 November 1864).
Thomas A. Whitesides enlisted August 12, 1862 as a Corporal. On September 19, 1862, he mustered into Company H of the 117th Illinois Infantry at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois. He mustered out on August 5th, 1865, having served nearly three years in the service for the Union.
Whitesides would have seen action with the 117th in places like Vicksburg (summer 1863); western Tennessee chasing after Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry (Dec 1863); the Red River expedition and the Battle of Pleasant Hill (Feb 1864); the Battle of Franklin (30 Nov 1864) and the Battle of Nashville (Dec 15-16th, 1864).
- *******************************************
Nashville, Tenn
Dec 6th, 1864
Dear wife,
I seat myself to fulfill my promise in my last [letter]. I told you I would write the first opportunity. Thies [sic] few lines leave us well and I hope to find all of you the same. We have moved our position to the left and thrown up breastworks waiting an attack. Skirmishing is kept us all the while night and day by the picket. Shelling is quite common all along the line. I suppose hood [CSA Gen. John Bell Hood] is going to seige us out of here as he don’t advance only at night. They have thrown up [breast] works every night and still getting closer. Their line and ours are one mile of each other. Hood sent a flag of truce [end page one] yesterday wanting to exchange prisoners that were taken in the late battle [Franklin: 30 Nov 1864]. I suppose he is short of supplies and don’t wish to feed men that are not fighting for him.
The prisoners say they don’t get fourth rations and if they don’t take this place before long they will be without any as they are so far from base of supplies and no railroad to ship on. It is rumored round camp that Rosecrans is commencing with reinforcements for us. I don’t credit the report though I would like for some good General to get in the rear of them and close in so they would have to get up and dust. I see in yesterdays paper that Sherman had got through to the coast. I would be pleased to know he had released our prisoners at Antietam [probably means Andersonville]. [end page two]
I hear that Don Morrison has gone to France as he couldn’t stand for the Stars and Stripes to float over him.
Olive, I have been tempted to ask a favor of you for some time past and I fear you will not be so free to grant it. I will make all fair promises imaginable. I wish your photograph. I will pray for a half dozen and I promise to return it if you should call for it. Tell me at once if I can have it.
I must close for present.
I remain as ever your affectionate friend,
Thomas Whiteside
PS
Our Co [Company] is on picket tonight. I guess we may have a good time with the Rebs.
- *******************************************
Copyright 2009, The Civil War Gazette. All rights reserved.
We recently asked Dr. Woodworth this question: Did Hood’s Tennessee Campaign ever have a chance?
With Lincoln’s reelection, the North had demonstrated that it had the will to continue the war, if necessary, for another four years. Can anyone imagine that the Confederacy could possibly have resisted that long? Or, to put it another way, what would have had to happen, after Lincoln’s reelection, for the Confederacy to win its independence? Can we come up with any plausible scenario in which Hood’s Tennessee campaign could have started a chain of events leading to Confederate independence? If Hood had trapped and annihilated Schofield at Spring Hill, it certainly would have been an unwelcome development for the Union, but would it have enabled Hood to defeat Thomas in the fortifications of Nashville? I can’t imagine that it would have. What if Hood had pressed on into Kentucky or even Ohio? Would Union morale have collapsed, prompting Lincoln to sue for peace? Again, I can’t imagine such a reaction. And how might Hood’s ill-clad troops have fared in Ohio in December?
Here are some other posts on the CWG related to Professor Woodworth.
Check out the books on Amazon Dr. Woodworth has authored.
Dr. Chris Losson, an author and teacher, provides a brief overview of the action from Spring Hill to Franklin in late November 1864.
This is an excerpt from a lecture Dr. Losson gave at the June 2008 Franklin’s Charge symposium in Franklin, TN. Listen why.
Video credit: 2008 Franklin’s Charge symposium
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