The Homestead Manor Plantation restaurant will open the weekend of November 14-15th.

Today, Homestead Manor Plantation sits amid 50 acres preserved by a conservation easement through The Land Trust of Tennessee. It will be the centerpiece of The Thompson’s Station Battlefield Park, which will feature walking trails and signage commemorating the 1,800 casualties of Civil War battle.

The restaurant will be open Tuesday through Saturday. This historic home offers a Civil War period setting for lunch, tea and special events unlike anywhere else in Middle Tennessee. Offering a seasonal selection of Southern favorite soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts from 11 a.m. til 3:00 p.m.

Tea is served from 11 a.m. til 4:00 p.m. Choose from 100 varieties of Loose Leaf Teas, served with tea sandwiches or a light meal with desserts.

Nestled along Columbia Pike in the heart of the Thompson’s Station, Tennessee is Homestead Manor Plantation, a place that harkens back to an era of Southern hospitality. Open Tuesday through Saturday, this historic home offers a Civil War period setting for lunch, tea and special events unlike anywhere else in Middle Tennessee.

4683 Columbia Pike • Thompson’s Station, TN 37179 • Ph. 615-790-2309 • info@homesteadmanor.com

About 30-35 people assembled on the grounds of the Homestead Manor today to enjoy a first-class tour led by none other than our own Thomas Cartwright. The manor home was located at ground zero during the battle (March 4-5, 1863) and served afterward as a Confederate field hospital.

Here are some pictures from today’s tour. Check out the full gallery of photos here.

Thomas Cartwright led the tour. He is working on a book on the battle.

Homestead Manor

Prime battlefield land behind Homestead, looking north toward the position of the 85th and 33rd Indiana regiments.

It was a perfect day (mid-60s) for the tour today.

The National Park Service says this about the action:

In a period of relative inactivity following the Battle of Stones River, a reinforced Union infantry brigade, under Col. John Coburn, left Franklin to reconnoiter south toward Columbia. Four miles from Spring Hill, Coburn attacked with his right wing, a Confederate force composed of two regiments; he was repelled. Then, Maj. Gen. Van Dorn seized the initiative. Brig. Gen. W.H. “Red”  Jackson’s dismounted 2nd Division made a frontal attack, while Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s division swept around Coburn’s left flank, and into his rear. After three attempts, characterized by hard fighting, Jackson carried the Union hilltop position as Forrest captured Coburn’s wagon train and blocked the road to Columbia in his rear. Out of ammunition and surrounded, Coburn surrendered. Union influence in Middle Tennessee subsided for a while.

This is a series of posts based on an interview with Williamson County historian Rick Warwick.

Earlier posts include:

• Prominent people in Franklin (c. 1864)?
• Important businesses in Franklin (c. 1864)?
• What was the size of Franklin during the Civil War?

Here is a link to contemporary photos of historic Franklin homes, many near downtown.

How many homes or structures exist in Franklin today that were here in 1864?

I count 28 or 29 in downtown Franklin and add two more if you include the Truett House and Jasmine Grove. then you could add Wyatt hall and Creekside inside the Mack Hatcher.

Your favorite antebellum home in Franklin or Williamson County: no longer standing?  Still standing?

Everbright , Westview and the McNutt House are no longer standing. Clouston Hall and Carter House in Franklin.

Sources: Rick Warwick, Williamson County Historical Society

Click to see larger map

]]> http://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/homes/feed/ 0 tellinghistory http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2316586361_45bf23fdfe.jpg http://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/wiley_sword/ http://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/wiley_sword/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:24:02 +0000 tellinghistory http://battleoffranklin.wordpress.com/?p=1000 ]]>

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?

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.

The History Press is publishing a series of books called “Civil War: Sesquicentennial Series”. History Press just published a volume on Franklin by  James R. Knight, aptly titled “The Battle of Franklin“.

The books in this series are not known for breaking new ground when it comes to understanding or interpreting a battle. Rather, the chief value of this book is that it is short enough to allow the reader to get through it in a few hours and it exposes the reader to the bare essentials.

I always enjoy the pictures, maps and narrative layout of these books.

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 – Andrew J. Jones – musters in Union cavalry unit in June 1862

• Harold Becker’s father served in the 128th Indiana, saw action at Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson Williams (1845-1935) fought at Franklin with the 120th Indiana

• Capt George V. Kelley of the 104th Ohio captured the colors of the 1st Alabama

• 8th Iowa cavalry boys fought together, CDVs

CSA

• Hood’s blunder-failure at Franklin?

• Cleburne and other Confederate Generals are laid out on Carnton porch, video

• Patrick Cleburne is killed at Franklin; YouTube video

• From mystery to history: the story of Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne’s once-lost pistol

• Williams brothers, 40th MS, die in each other’s arms

• Todd Carter, 20th TN Infantry, mortally wounded at Franklin

• Salt print photograph of CSA Colonel Alexander McKinstry, 32nd Alabama

• 9th Mississippi fights at Franklin, Sharp’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division

• Adjutant Robert B. Hurt, Jr., 55th TN is buried in Tennessee Section 51, plot #2.

• The 15th Mississippi fought courageously at Franklin and suffered horrendous casualties

• 6th TN soldier, Thomas Lindsay Murrell killed at Franklin, buried at McGavock Cemetery

• Russell and Gray, uncle-nephew with the 6th Arkansas buried side by side

• Captain Starke H. Oliver, 24th Alabama, in his Confederate officer’s uniform

• Joseph Henry Mitchell, 23rd MS, Company I, fought at Franklin

• Pvt. John D. Jones, 39th MS, was killed at Franklin

• Pvt. Hugh Lawson Duncan, 39th GA, Cumming’s Brigade, Stevenson’s Division

• George W. Williams, 7th TX fought and died at Franklin

• Lt. Robert B. Hendricks, Henry County native, fought for the 46th/55th TN Infantry, mortally wounded at Franklin

If you enjoy learning about battles by studying maps then you’re going to really like the new Battle of Franklin animated map created by the CWPT.

The map is developed using Flash technology and is divided into four major sections: (1) Hood invades Tennessee, (2) the Affair at Spring Hill, (3) the Battle of Franklin, and (4) Preservation of the Battlefield.

The Franklin animated map is the sixth map the CWPT has created, including ones on Fredericksburg, Saving Bentonville, First Day at Chancelorsville, Chantilly and Cedar Creek.

CWPT’s Rob Shenk is the creative hand behind these superb web-based resources. Steve Stanley is the cartographer and flash animator. Carnton historian Eric Jacobson consulted with Shenk on the Franklin map.

The Battle of Franklin animated map incorporates these features:

a. Once the play button is clicked, the map auto-forwards through the slide show.

b. Period-authentic and contemporary photos are used.

c. Text-narration (not audio) is provided throughout.

d. Troop movements are simulated through use of forward and retreating lines and markers for brigades.

e. As troop movements are simulated one can also see the time-line advance (at the top). The user can click on a specific time-stamp on the time-line and the map will advance to the point in time of battle.

f. Regiment markers are keyed to the respective name of the Brigade it belongs to.

g. Artillery-piece markers are keyed to the number of pieces in that unit-placement.

h. If land has been preserved by private orgs or the CWPT, lines are drawn to illustrate land saved.

i. Each map is part of a larger section with an abundance of info about that battle (see: Franklin)

Check out The Battle of Franklin animated map .

I interviewed Rob Shenk ay CWPT about their animated maps.

1. How do you select what battlefield to animate?

CWPT’s Directors and I regularly meet to discuss which animated map projects make the most sense going forward.  We typically choose map projects based on the following criteria:

A.  Is there much natural interest in the battle or subject?

Not only is it important that we put our scarce resources against the larger battles which changed the course of the American Civil War, but those battles also tend to have a larger, pre-existing base of interested fans.  We hope that our animated maps not only educate the viewer, but also acquaint a larger audience with who the Civil War Preservation Trust is and what we do.

B.  Is there a relevant or interesting preservation angle to the subject?

Most of our animated maps feature battlefields where CWPT or other preservation organizations have saved significant sections of the battlefield.  By showing how the fighting  coursed over and through these battlefields we can help to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of the land that we seek to save.

C.  Do we have access to accurate time-phased maps of the battle?

Creating an accurate animated map requires that you have detailed time-phased information on how the various units fought and moved at the battle.  Therefore it’s critical that we locate pre-existing time-phased maps and/or work with battlefield experts who have that knowledge.  Unfortunately, not every battle that we would like to tackle has this level of information.

D.  Does the battle have an interesting tactical flow to it?

As you might imagine, animated maps tend to be much more exciting when there is much more movement and action.  Grand, sweeping tactical movements are much more captivating than static sieges as a for-instance.

2. How long did it take to make the Franklin map(s)?

Longer than we would have hoped!  Our Franklin Animated Map project took us roughly 4 months to produce.   Sometimes scripting the complex unit movements takes the longest amount of time.  In other projects the basic historical research can be the long pole in the tent.  Fortunately for this Franklin Animated Map project, Eric Jacobson played an integral role in providing us with detailed troop movements and other historical information. I’m not sure how we could have done this Franklin map without him.

3. How much assistance do you rely on outside of your own resources to create a map?

Outside assistance is almost always a necessity.  CWPT, despite being the largest Civil War battlefield preservation organization in the United States , is still very modestly staffed.  First and foremost, we rely upon the talents of Steve Stanley, who is our crack CWPT cartographer and battlefield animator.  Secondly, we usually require the input and guidance of historians who have a detailed knowledge of the subject battlefield.  Throw in some proof reading, web page production, and photo editing and…. Voila!

4. What are 2-3 features of these animated maps that users seem to like the most?

What we tend to hear most from viewers is that they greatly appreciate seeing the precise tactical actions of the various units – to see all the units in action at one time can be very illuminating.  Many viewers will tell us that despite having an in-depth book-level understanding of the subject, that their understanding of the battle was greatly improved by watching the animation.

What we are finding is that many of us are truly “visual learners” and when we can see how the battle ebbed and flowed we are more likely to have an improved understanding of that battle.   In the past, animation like this was available via the celebrated electric maps, such as the one that inhabited the Gettysburg Visitor Center for many years.  Our animated maps strive to be the 21st century version of those great lighted offerings.  But unlike those visitor center electric maps, our animated maps can be viewed from anyplace in the world where you have an internet connection.  We do know that schools, the military, and various round tables have used our maps as a teaching aid.  That kind of news really excites us.

One other feature that I love is the ability to toggle between the topographical map and a modern satellite overhead view.  Having a chance to see the battlefield landscape as it exists today can produce a powerful reaction with the preservation-minded viewer.   You can see this dichotomy – between the historic battlefield and its modern incarnation – most clearly in our Battle of Chantilly map.  After watching the Union attack through the farms and fields of Chantilly , you can then watch that same tactical action as the attacks pour over modern townhouses, parking lots, and highways.  In some of our map offerings you can also toggle to an early aerial overhead – an in-between view of the battlefield.   Unfortunately we do not have this “Now and Then” type toggle for our Franklin Animated Map, but we intend to add that in soon.

5. How many more maps are slated for launch in 2010 and on what battles?

We are right now discussing a number of potential animated map projects.  We would definitely like to do an animated map offering focused on the Seven Days Campaign outside of Richmond , Virginia .  We are also looking at other Western Theater battlefields of interest and will likely develop an animation offering focused on some segment of the Gettysburg battlefield in the not too distant future.

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Who were some of the prominent family names in Franklin (c. 1864)?

McEwen, Ewing, Clouston, Wooldridge, Figures, Marshall, Carter, McGavock, Bostick, McNutt, Perkins, Park, Hanner

Who was the mayor of Franklin in 1864?

Probably John B. McEwen. He was in 1861, ‘62 , ‘63.

Source: Rick Warwick, Williamson County Historical Society