The Orphan Mother – new novel by Robert Hicks

Robert’s latest novel, THE ORPHAN MOTHER, is an epic tale of one remarkable woman’s quest for justice.

In the years following the Civil War, Mariah Reddick, former slave to Carrie McGavock – the “Widow of the South” – has quietly built a new life for herself as a midwife to the women of Franklin, Tennessee. But when her ambitious, politically minded grown son, Theopolis, is murdered, Mariah – no stranger to loss – finds her world once more breaking apart. How could this happen? Who wanted him dead?

Mariah’s journey to uncover the truth leads her to unexpected people – including George Tole, a recent arrival in town, fleeing a difficult past of his own – and forces her to confront the truths of her own past. Brimming with the vivid prose and historical research that has won Robert Hicks recognition as a “master storyteller” (San Francisco Chronicle), THE ORPHAN MOTHER is the unforgettable story of one woman’s heroic struggle in the face of overwhelming adversity and the undeniable strength of a mother’s love.

Order it now!

2012 Blue Gray Days at Carnton Plantation

The Battle of Franklin Trust is proud to host our annual Blue and Gray Days event presented by SunTrust Bank.

This year’s event will begin on Friday November 2 and run through Saturday November 3. Friday morning from 8:00am-12:30pm will be reserved specifically for school groups and will open to the general public at 12:30.

Guided house tours will be available on Friday afternoon at both the Carter House and Carnton Plantation, and will end with our last tour at 4:00pm.

Saturday both homes will open at 8:00am and will close at 5:00pm. The last guided house tour will be at 4:00pm. Blue and Gray Day events will end at 2:00 pm on Saturday.

Each site will feature a variety of living historians that visitors can talk to and learn more about life during the Civil War era. Visitors can meet with Dennis Boggs as Abraham Lincoln, learn about Civil War photography, and interact with a surgeon, a flag demonstrator, and a blacksmith, in addition to re-enactors.

Grounds Fee $5

House Tours: 
Adults: $15
Seniors $12
Children (6-12): $8
Children Under 6: Free

Please contact Megan at
615.794.0903 ormegan@battleoffranklintrust.orgwith any questions.

McGavock Confederate Cemetery Annual Memorial Service coming June 3rd

One of my highlights every year is to attend the annual McGavock Confederate Cemetery Memorial Service, hosted by the United Daughter’s of the Confederacy, Franklin Chapter #14,  at Carnton.  Boy Scout Troop #137 will install a Confederate flag next to each of the 1,500 markers in the cemetery. The Boy Scouts have been doing this for 30+ years according to John Green, Commander.

The event kicks off at 2pm, rain or shine. There is always a guest speaker, Confederate re-enactors, and a babgpipe presentation.

Here is a link to last year’s service with a photo gallery.

New exhibit coming to Carnton in mid November

“Hoofbeats in the Heartland: Civil War Cavalry in Tennessee”  – a traveling exhibit with the Tennessee State Museum, will be coming to Carnton Plantation in mid November. The web site says:

Presented by the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, this traveling exhibit will be at Carnton in November and December of 2011. Tracing mounted warfare throughout Tennessee from 1861 to 1865, this exhibit explores the impact of war on the small communities as well as the large cities. Topics covered include military occupation, spies, guerillas, and highlights on major battles.

Funded in part by a grant from the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, the traveling exhibition opened at Travellers Rest Historic House Museum in June of 2007 and continues to travel across Tennessee through the early part of 2010.

Drawing upon artifacts, photographs, drawings, and art from the collection of the Museum, the exhibition explores seven thematic areas: (1) Leaders (commanders such as Nathan Bedford Forrest, John Hunt Morgan, Samuel Carter, and John Wilder), (2) Troopers, (3) Horses and Mules, (4) Occupation and the home front, (5) Spies, Scouts, Partisans and Guerillas, (6) Battles in Tennessee, and (7) the Legacy. Each section includes photos, graphics, and artifacts explaining the role of mounted warfare during the Civil War era.

Due to mounted warfare, the home front often became the battle field as mounted soldiers skirmished on the streets of Memphis, Murfreesboro, Greeneville, and hundreds of towns and communities across the state. Indeed, every county of the state felt the impact of Union and Confederate cavalry thundering across the state as part of a raiding party, occupation force, or guerilla band. Each community had its unique experience with Civil War cavalry forces and the State Museum has encouraged each venue hosting the exhibition to develop a local history component to compliment the traveling exhibition.

For more information contact Myers Brown, Curator of Extension Services, at 615-741-2692 or by email at Myers.Brown@state.tn.us

Photo gallery of 2011 McGavock Confederate Cemetery Memorial Service

The United Daughter’s of the Confederacy, Franklin Chapter #14, hosted the annual Memorial service today at Carnton. It was a blazing 94 degrees when Boy Scout Troop #137 arrived to install a Confederate flag next to each of the 1,500 markers in the cemetery. The Boy Scouts have been doing this for 30+ years according to John Green, Commander.

Just as the service began the wind whipped up furiously.

Here are a few sample pics of today’s service and here is the link to all 43 photos taken of the event.

Video from today’s event will be coming soon, check back.

Mississippi section at McGavock

Ronnie Mancrum

Boy Scout Troop #137 Commander John Green receives a plaque.