Franklin, TN
Nov. 30, 1864
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HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Army of Tennessee died at Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864.
"(Franklin) is the blackest page in the history of the War of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it."
Sam Watkins - Tennessee 1st Infantry Regiment
Battle of Franklin, by Kurz and Allison (1891).
Having lost a good opportunity at Spring Hill to hurt significantly the Union Army, Gen. John B. Hood marched in rapid pursuit of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield's retreating Union army. Schofield's advance reached Franklin about sunrise on November 30 and quickly formed a defensive line in works thrown up by the Yankees in the spring of 1863, on the southern edge of town. Schofield wished to remain in Franklin to repair the bridges and get his supply trains over them. Skirmishing at Thompson's Station and elsewhere delayed Hood's march, but, around 4:00 pm, he marshaled a frontal attack against the Union perimeter. Two Federal brigades holding a forward position gave way and retreated to the inner works, but their comrades ultimately held in a battle that caused frightening casualties. When the battle ceased, after dark, six Confederate generals were dead or had mortal wounds. Despite this terrible loss, Hood's army, late, depleted and worn, crawled on toward Nashville.
TIMELINE
OFFICIAL RECORDS:
Volume XLI - in Four Parts. 1893. (Vol. 41, Chap. 53)
Chapter LIII - Operations in Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi States and Territories. July 1-December 31, 1864.
Part I - Reports
Part II - Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc.
Part III - Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc.
Part IV - Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc.
FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS:
Franklin by Sam R. Watkins - PDF
Excerpted from Company "Aytch" A Sideshow of the Big Showby Sam R. Watkins
Franklin by John M. Copp - PDF
Excerpted from A Sketch Of The Battle Of Franklin, Tennessee; With Reminiscences Of Camp Douglasby John M. Copp
An unknown Yankee soldier's account
FORCES ENGAGED:
Confederate Order of Battle
Federal Order of Battle
CASUALTIES:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
General Histories
First Hand Accounts
Regimental Histories
Miscellaneous
General Histories
REFERENCE:
The Battle of Franklin
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Franklin
CWSAC Battle Summaries
- http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/tn036.htm
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