Action in front yard at Carter house, Battle of Franklin

[TheJanLA]

The Battle of Franklin was obscene and vile. No soldier came away unscathed psychologically from the horror that they witnessed during this battle. My great great grandfather, Sebron Sellers, 50th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry, Co. C, fought bravely, but walked away forever maimed by what he saw. He was a part of Maney's Brigade. Relatives say that he went to war as a boy in high spirits and came home a broken man.

[Bhobbs1985]

I made it here back in 2004 and was a pretty good experience. Though, I must say that it’s depressing how the citizens of that community are letting their heritage be eaten up by commercial zones. It’s sad when you go to the spot in which Cleburne was shot and it’s in a pizza hut parking lot… do something about it people, stand up for your history and existence!

[40AcreMule]

Silly, overly dramatic, presentation. "Wap! Right between the eyes!" This may make the kiddies go "ooohhh" and "aaaahhhh" but it is a very unprofessional way to give a talk. Yes, Franklin was a "bloody battle" but five seconds at Verdun in World War One makes five hours at Franklin look like a picnic.

[FroaggaLaMajaga]

@40AcreMule Please explain why you think that? Is it because more people died at Verdun? I know Franklin was relatively un-costly in terms of casualties, with about 8,500. I still think it's worse than Gettysburg though because it was so barbaric. It's sad how it remains virtually forgotten with no monuments or commemorations. At least Gettysburg has thousands of people who come and remember the sacrifice. Franklin is just a brutal, dark, forgotten, pointless slaughterer . Like a dark secret.

[tcbtn1]

@40AcreMule How anyone can view this video and call it "overly dramatic" is beyond my comprehension. If you were one of the soldiers actually fighting in this battle, I think your view would be quite different.

[haynes1776]

Franklin was in my opinion the Confederate's version of Fredericksburg. 

[Butternut731863]

Absolutely a horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE battle. If someone asked me what the worst battle EVER fought was, I'd have to say this one.

[NachtJaeger88]

"the war would had a different outcome" can't agree. absolutely nothing the confederates could do in 64 to change the outcome of the war. After Gettysburg it was complete senseless to fight on, just like Germany in WW2 after the Invasion in Normandy

[Butternut731863]

Thank you for posting this movie! I'm reading a book about Franklin :)

It was such a dark day ;(

[1957thack]

Battle of Franklin is the worse Civil War Battle that you never hear about!

Unless your from the Nashville area..........

Forget them not.....

[haynes1776]

@1957thack Franklin was hell. I compare it to Fredericksburg. Hood should never had carried out that attack on the Union breastworks. It was suicide.

[darthroden]

Thomas Cartwright was also best remembered from that History Channel documentary "Eighty Acres Of Hell" about Camp Douglass, the Union Prisoner of War Camp in Chicago, Illinois, which was perhaps the most fair and balanced portrayal of Union prison camps and their brutal treatment of Confederate prisoners.

[haynes1776]

Thomas cartwright. Well done with Franklin. I see you doing tours at Stones River. The most endangered battlefield that i know of.

[HISTORYBUFFPA]

Love Thomas Cartwright and his passion for history.

[Oldirish88]

Thank you Mr. Cartwright! I use information from your presentation to teach my class. I visited Carter House a few years back and you were kind enough to conduct the tour, even though our group was very small.

[rtb2425]

Continued.....

And in fact, Hood would have been successful if not for Opdyke's Brigade, which unbeknownst to Hood, was in reserve and sealed the federal center after it had been breached by the Confederates. Hood has been much maligned by history, but I would argue that the man was dealt a bad hand in which he attempted to play as best as possible.

[haynes1776]

@rtb2425 Opdyke's brigade was at the right place at the right time to plug the gap made at the Carter house As for Hood, in my opinion, was a good commander but he made some bad blunders that cost him later.

[rtb2425]

Facts: Hood had little choice at Franklin. After the Federal escape from Spring Hill, Franklin (and the flooded Harpeth River) was the last obstacle before Nashville. As Hood and the Army of Tennessee arrived at Winstead Hill, Schofield was already crossing the Harpeth on the one available bridge. There was no time for a flanking maneuver;, not to mention it was late in the day; a frontal assualt was the only option. Considering the numbers, the Confederates should have been successful.

[haynes1776]

@rtb2425 Still, in my opinion, Hood was way over his head. The frontal assault should never had happen at Franklin. I would doing what i can to preserve manpower and keeping the Army of Tn supplied he should had never allowed Scholfield escaped at Spring Hill,Tn

[fwade20]

used to work there and now he's dating my mom haha best job ive ever had

[50TNCSA]

in my personal opion hood should have never been put in command of the AoT and cleburne should have been pu in command and probaly would have flanked hince saving the AoT from heavy causalties and possibly changed the history of the civil war

[pyrobunny1337]

@50TNCSA cleburne wanted to give guns to slaves. he ruined his chances at commanding an army cuz of one comment he made about having blacks fight, otherwise he probably could have recieved command of the AoT.

[haynes1776]

The attack on Union breastworks at Franklin should never had happen. it was suicide. I compare this battle to fredricksburg wiht the exception that confederate forces did breach the Union lines for a short time at the Carter House. vicious fighting: hand to hand, bayoneting,sabered, shot, and using rifles for clubs, smashing skulls like melons. Not a pretty site. Still, I would not attack. i would find another way by probing their defenses and looking for a weak spot in their lines

[Irish8594]

@haynes1776 yea it was suicide also that what the next union line was at the other side of the house it was a stupid plan it was a horrible plan

[Conor0071861]

My great great great grandfather, his son, and 3 of his nephews faught here...all but my great great great grandfather died.

[haynes1776]

It was Gen Hood's recklessness that destroyed the Army of Tennessee beyond repair at Franklin. 7,000 confederate casualties to the federals 2000. 6 confederate generals killed, among them was Gen Patrick Cleburne: the Stonewall jackson of the west, who was well loved by his troops. If hood had not allowed Union gen Schofield's 2 union corps to escape thru the night from Spring Hill,Tn, the war would had a different outcome

[Evocati2008]

doubt the "war" would've been different, the south was being overwhelmed by superior numbers across the board. But most assuredly it would have made this theatre of ops alot more complicated for the Union. Schofields troops would never have united with Thomas's at Nashville, and the horrible losses Hood had at Franklin would have been available if Spring Hill would have been "closed".

Some historians believe Hood ordered the assault on Franklin as punishment for the prior nights error.

[haynes1776]

from haynes 1776: I do agree. Hood should had taken that opportunity to smash Gen Schofield corps at Spring Hill,Tn. If I was Hood in his situation, I would strike the enemy were they were vunerable, attack their supply lines, communications, and do as much damage as possible before Union forces could react. I will use calvary to screen ahead and keep my flanks clear. Hood did not do that. I would had try to link up with other confederate units to better the numbers in my army.

[Irish8594]

@haynes1776 thats right about Gen patrick cleburne but at least he didnt get shot by his own men like Gen Jackson

[drummerlead]

I visited here 11 days ago...and my guide also told the stories so passionately that it piqued my imagination and curiosity. I love visiting historical places! :)

[TennesseeShine]

That's right, tell it like it was Tom!

[black1582]

thomas cartwright is great he turns you on not off to history

[rallytocleburne]

Thomas Cartwright is a passionate guy. I met him at the Carter House in 1990.

There just is no place in America quite like the Carter House grounds.

[iowapeacechief]

Horrible. My great-grandfather was there. (Abner Warner Graham, Co. A, 50th Ohio) --Daniel Graham Clark

[50TNCSA]

mine was in the 50th tenn co.E CSA we caught hell at franklin