Battle of Franklin – Google interactive map

I have been working on a Google interactive map of the Battle of Franklin. It is still very much a work-in-progress but many users have found it very helpful.

There are lots of maps on the Battle of Franklin.net web site. Click here to see all of them. Print them off for assistance on your visit to the area.

 It shows:

• Troops positions and movement
• Contemporary photos of key structures
• Authentic photos of soldiers
• Original written accounts from soldiers and eyewitnesses

It is accessible at www.FranklinBattlefield.com

If you have a basic understanding of how to work with the Google Map software then you’ll find my map easy to use.

Battle of Franklin – Google Map – shows location of key individuals killed

One feature of the Google interactive map of the Battle of Franklin [found at:  http://www.franklinbattlefield.com] is that we identify the location where key indidviduals were killed or wounded during the action; for example, where Gen Patrick Cleburne was killed near the Carter cotton gin.

 

We also include some video on some content items. In the example of Cleburne, we have a brief video of historian Eric Jacobson talking about the charge that Cleburne was killed at during the battle.

Battle of Franklin – Google Map – shows location of historic landmarks and markers

Another feature of the Google interactive map of the Battle of Franklin [found at:  http://www.franklinbattlefield.com] is that we identify specific historic landmarks like buildings or markers one can see when visiting the battlefield. 

Many of the items will have historic or period photos or drawings, as well as contemporary photos.

Here’s an example of a historically preserved home that can be viewed on a personal tour of Franklin today.

Boxmere House, 909 West Main, Franklin, TN

Battle of Franklin – Google Map – shows location of artillery and fortifications

Another feature of the Google interactive map of the Battle of Franklin [found at:  http://www.franklinbattlefield.com] is that we identify positions of artillery and fortifcations.

Ft. Granger looking south.

The view from Ft. Granger, looking south?

The Federal army, under Schofield, had the huge advantage of Ft. Granger, which sat just south of the Harpeth River, and east of Columbia Pike.

The picture below (click on to enlarge) shows the view from Granger. From the yellow pin designating Ft. Granger one can see Carnton at 12 o’clock (about a mile away), the Carter House at 2 o’clock (about a half mile away), and Winstead Hill at 1 o’clock (about 2 1/2 miles away.

Granger had several large guns in position during the Battle of Franklin. Loring’s and Wathall’s Divisions came from the southwest, crossing Carnton plantation. These Granger guns decimated these divisions from nearly a mile away.

The next map (click to enlarge) shows the Confederate Army of Tennessee as it approached the Federal lines at Franklin. Notice how the Federal position leveraged several geographic features. (1) Using the Harpeth River and the Nashville-Decatur Railroad as a natural barrier for their far left flank. (2) Position of Ft. Granger to protect that left flank. (3) The osage orange abatis also protected the far left flank, making it nearly impossible to penetrate.

Here’s a schematic of the design and layout of Fort Granger.

Map on file at UT Library

Army, United States. Civil War Maps. [Tennessee], 1863

Maps cover Civil War battlefields and troop positions in the vicinities of Brown’s Ferry, Charleston, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cumberland Gap, Decherd, Dover, Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Franklin, Gallatin, Johnsonville, Knoxville, Loudon, Manchester, Missionary Ridge, Murfreeborough, Nashville, Pelham, Pittsburg, Pulaski, Shelbyville, Shiloh, Tullahoma, Wauhatchie, and West Harpeth River

Tennessee.Map Library / Vertical file map: G3961.S5 svar .U55 1863 vf

West Harpeth Map from Romsey collection

Mobile, Ala. rebel defenses. McAlester, Miles D.; McGregory, Samuel E.; United States. War Department, 1895

http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps1100233-26934.html

 
Click for larger size

Full Title: Rebel defenses, Mobile, Ala., occupied by Union forces under Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby April 12, 1865. Drawn by order of Maj. McAlester, Chief Engineer, Army and Division West Miss. under direction of Lieut. S.E. McGregory … (with) Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Engineer Dept., June 18th, 1864. This map exhibits the lines of the enemy in our possession up to date. N. Michler. (with) Sketch of affair at Rappahannock Station, Va., March 28th 1862. (with) Position of the 3d Division, 23d Army Corps at Columbia, Tenn., Nov. 24th-29th 1864. (with) Operations from New Berne, N.C. to Kinston, of Provisional Corps under command of Maj. Gen. J.D. Cox, U.S. Army, March 1-20, 1865. (with) Sketch of the battle-field of West Harpeth River, Tenn., December 17th 1864. Bvt. Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, comdg. (with) E. no. 1. Sketch of the main line of the enemy’s works in front of Petersburg, Va., upon the advance of the United States forces, June 1864. Official: N. Michler. (with) Map accompanying the report of Maj. Gen. J.D. Cox … of operations of the 3d Division, 23d Army Corps and other forces under his command during the operations in front of Wilmington, N.C. in February 1865. (with) Sketch showing the disposition of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Miss. … James H. Wilson, commanding, at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864. By F. Tunica, Engineer … Julius Bien & Co., Lith., N.Y. (1891-1895)

Author: McAlester, Miles D.; McGregory, Samuel E.; United States. War Department

Date: 1895

This historical cartographic image is part of the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, www.davidrumsey.com, a large collection of online antique, rare, old, and historical maps, atlases, globes, charts, and other cartographic items. Read more about the Collection. Or you can view the entire David Rumsey Map Collection in Insight.

Full David Rumsey Map Collection Catalog Record:

Author: McAlester, Miles D.; McGregory, Samuel E.; United States. War Department

Date: 1895

Short Title: Mobile, Ala. rebel defenses.

Publisher: Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office

Type: Atlas Map

Object Height cm: 43

Object Width cm: 70

Scale 1: 26,400

Note: Col. map with 8 ancillary maps. Relief shown by hachures. Includes 15 small plans and sections of redans, forts and redoubts including Fort Jeb Stuart and Fort Sidney Johnston.

State / Province: Alabama ; Virginia ; Tennessee ; North Carolina

City: Mobile (Ala.) ; Columbia (Tenn.)

Event: U.S. Civil War

Subject: Military

Full Title: Rebel defenses, Mobile, Ala., occupied by Union forces under Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby April 12, 1865. Drawn by order of Maj. McAlester, Chief Engineer, Army and Division West Miss. under direction of Lieut. S.E. McGregory … (with) Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Engineer Dept., June 18th, 1864. This map exhibits the lines of the enemy in our possession up to date. N. Michler. (with) Sketch of affair at Rappahannock Station, Va., March 28th 1862. (with) Position of the 3d Division, 23d Army Corps at Columbia, Tenn., Nov. 24th-29th 1864. (with) Operations from New Berne, N.C. to Kinston, of Provisional Corps under command of Maj. Gen. J.D. Cox, U.S. Army, March 1-20, 1865. (with) Sketch of the battle-field of West Harpeth River, Tenn., December 17th 1864. Bvt. Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson, comdg. (with) E. no. 1. Sketch of the main line of the enemy’s works in front of Petersburg, Va., upon the advance of the United States forces, June 1864. Official: N. Michler. (with) Map accompanying the report of Maj. Gen. J.D. Cox … of operations of the 3d Division, 23d Army Corps and other forces under his command during the operations in front of Wilmington, N.C. in February 1865. (with) Sketch showing the disposition of the Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Miss. … James H. Wilson, commanding, at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864. By F. Tunica, Engineer … Julius Bien & Co., Lith., N.Y. (1891-1895)

List No: 1780.105

Page No: pl. CV

Series No: 109

Engraver or Printer: Julius Bien & Co. ; Canby, Edward R. S. ; Michler, Nathaniel ; Wilson, James H. ; Cox, Jacob D. ; Tunica, Francis

Published In: Atlas to accompany the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. Published under the direction of the Hons. Redfield Proctor, Stephen B. Elkins and Daniel S. Lamont, secretaries of war, by Maj. George B. Davis, U.S. Army, Mr. Leslie J. Perry, civilian expert, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, civilian expert, Board of Publication. Compiled by Capt. Calvin D. Cowles, 23d U.S. Infantry. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891-1895.

Publication Author: United States. War Department; Davis, George B.; Perry, Leslie J.; Kirkley, JAW.; Cowles, Calvin D.

Publication Date: 1895

Publication Reference: LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), 99; Civil War maps in the National Archives, 8; Phillips, 1353; LeGear. Atlases of the United States, 266.

Publication Note: See note field above.

Publication List No: 1780.000

Publication Type: Military Atlas

Publication Maps: 158

Publication Height cm: 47

Publication Width cm: 40

Image No: 1780105

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Map showing location of Wilson’s Cavalry at Franklin (late Nov 64)

Map from Atlas for the Official Reports

Click for Larger version