Category: Artifacts

Diorama of the Battle of Franklin, the Federal Main line of Breastworks

These diorama shots of the Federal main line and breastworks at Franklin were created by Rob Rhodes. Make sure to scroll to the bottom to read the poem, Echoes of Sorrow.

Although the main Union line was restored, the Confederates around the gin refused to step down their attacks. They continued to throw themselves at the Federal works with a wild and almost reckless abandon. A Northern soldier recalled how they tried to “shove the headlogs over on our line…” Between the gin and the pike, where so many Federals units converged, the blue-clad soldiers stood five and six deep. Soldiers from Joseph Conrad’s command who had not fled to the rear also joined in to help. Since there was not enough room for all of them along the works, the men in the rear loaded muskets and handed them to the front. The men in front “did nothing but fire.” Once a rifle was fired it was handed back, and the process began anew. For the Confederates on the outside, the relentless fire was more than they could endure. Casualties were appalling. Wounded men gasped for air beneath the piles of dead. Because the Union troops at the front could lean up against the wall of the breastworks, they only had to expose a hand or arm when they fired. On the other hand, the Southern troops cowered in a ditch on the outside and faced an embankment that sloped down at a convex angle. Thus the Rebels had virtually no protection from the enemy fire. Moreover, if they tried to scale the works the men had to expose their bodies just to fire into the enemy trench, and that was possible only if they could get to the crest of the parapet. Many who attempted this were hit on the way up by bullets from beneath the headlogs or gashed by bayonets. Others could fight no more and chose instead to stay in the blood-soaked ditch where they prayed for the horror to pass.

Jacobson, Eric A.. For Cause and Country: A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill & the Battle of Franklin . O’More Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

I have estimated that between 1,000 and 1,200 Confederate casualties occurred in this two acre area, with somewhere near 200 Confederate’s outright killed.

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Modern-day location of the gin with extant foundation.

Echoes of Sorrow: The Tragedy of Franklin

In the realm of tragic strife, they stood,
The Union line restored, their spirit grim.
But Confederates, relentless, with wild abandon,
Threw themselves at the works, their hopes so dim.

A soldier, of Northern stock, recalled with pain,
How they sought to push the headlogs o’er.
Between the gin and pike, convergence of fate,
Blue-clad soldiers, five and six deep, they bore.

Joseph Conrad’s command, unwavering in despair,
Joined the fray, no thought of flight in their minds.
But space was scarce upon those battered walls,
So the rear loaded muskets, a duty that binds.

Muskets passed from hand to hand,
Frontline soldiers, their hearts ablaze,
Firing, firing, in endless repetition,
A symphony of destruction in the haze.

For the Confederates, besieged and lost,
The relentless fire a torturous toll.
Appalling casualties, gasping for breath,
Beneath piles of dead, their spirits dole.

Union troops, finding solace on the breastworks,
Leaning against the wall, exposing but a limb.
Their shots rained down upon the foe,
While the Southern troops, cowering, faced a grim.

In the ditch, they sought refuge, the embankment their bane,
No protection from the enemy’s wrath.
To scale the works, a perilous dance,
Exposing bodies to bullets’ deadly path.

Some, attempting the ascent, met their fate,
Beneath headlogs, bullets found their mark.
Bayonets clashed, leaving gashes and wounds,
Their dreams shattered, left in the dark.

Others, weary and drained, could fight no more,
Chose to stay in the blood-soaked ditch.
Prayers whispered amidst the horror’s roar,
Hoping for respite, an end to this wretched pitch.

In this tragic tableau of sorrow and despair,
Where lives were lost, and pain ran deep,
We remember the fallen, their sacrifice so dear,
And the haunting echoes of battles that forever seep.

Source: Kraig McNutt, Copyright 2023.

125th Ohio flag (flown at Franklin) sold at auction

Source: Cowan’s Auction

Lot of 2, featuring 12 x 9 in. section of cotton, machine-stitched regimental flag identified in ink to the 125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and inscribed with the names of the battles in which the flag had been used by the regiment. The flag is inscribed as follows (original spelling retained): 125th OVI / Chickamauga – Mishionary Ridge – Dandridge – Rockey Fase Ridge – Resackey – Mudy Crick – New Hope – Kenasaw Mountain – Peachtree Crick – Front of Atlanta – Jonesburow – Lovejoy Station – Franklin – Nashville / 1862-1865.

Accompanied by letter, 1.5pp, from Private Edwin C. Woodworth, written from Camp of the 125th Ohio, Huntsville, AL, dated July 14, 1865, in which he refers to the piece of the regimental flag upon which he wrote the names of the battles, noting that 187 men felled under the flag. He also advises his mother not to wash the flag or the ink will come off. With original envelope.

Edwin Woodworth enlisted as a private in September 1862 and mustered into Co. B of the 125th Ohio Infantry in November 1862. Under the command of Colonel Emerson Opdycke, the 125th OH was initially involved in long marches and skirmishes until taking part in the Battle of Chickamauga. The regiment, which gained a high reputation for its fighting qualities, then participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge and joined William Tecumseh Sherman in his Atlanta Campaign. It fought all the way until the end, at the Battle of Jonesborough, and then preceded to follow Confederate Lieutenant General John Bell Hood North to Nashville, TN. Private Woodworth remained with the 125th OH through June 20, 1865 when he mustered out of service.

Great description by 100th Illinois solider (Lane’s Brigade) at Franklin, and artifacts

Pvt. – Sgt. Andrew W. Johnson
100 Illinois Infantry co. D. His Residence Plain field Illinois Enlisted 8/1/1862 as a Private. Promotions Sergt. He mustered out on 6/12/1865
Here`s some great information about Sgt. Johnson at the battle of Franklin Tennessee,
“We arrived at Franklin about noon, the enemy closely following us. Schofields corps were then behind a good line of works, our division was placed in line in front of them, and some slight works thrown up hurriedly. We could see Hood`s army marching over the hills, south of us. and watch them form their lines. Then commenced the battle, the enemy charging us in great force about four o`clock. We were compelled to leave the first line, falling back to the second line of works. and there the battle raged till almost nine p.m. The enemy charged the works five times, some of them being killed close on them. Gen. Clayborne and his horse fell right on our works. The fighting was terrific. We were now behind the works, and the enemy in the open field, almost the first battle in which the 100th had this advantage. There was a small grove of young locust trees just in front of part of our line,  every tree of which was cut off by bullets. The enemy withdrew having been repulsed each time. Clayborne`s division was nearly annihilated. Our list of casualties was again a sad one, for we lost one of the most valued of our remaining officers. Maj. Rodney S. Bowen was wounded in the thigh, and was placed in the last ambulance that started for Nashville, and died at that place three days after.  Michael Murphy our brave color sergeant, Co. C. was shot down while planting the colors in the face of the foe. and when Murphy fell, Andrew W. Johnson of co. D. sprang forward and snatched the colors and saved them from capture, for which he was made color sergeant.”
Source for excerpt and image: