Burial of a Civil War Soldier

Franklin, TN, October 10, 2009: A Civil War soldier is laid to rest after being discovered in an unmarked grave south of Franklin earlier this year. It is not conclusively known whether the soldier was Union or Confederate. But, he was carried by procession with attendees dressed in period clothing, including many Union and Confederate reenactors who paid final respects. This soldier likely died during events surrounding the Battle of Franklin, which was fought on November 30th, 1864.

Included in attendance were two sons of Civil War veterans (elderly men whose fathers had them late in life). As a gesture and tribute, dirt from each of the states from which soldiers fought in the Battle of Franklin was placed in the grave in order to assure that the soldier was buried with dirt from his home state.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• civil
• war
• soldier
• franklin
• tennessee
• union
• confederate
• battle
• reenactment
• funeral
• procession

[UnseenVoices]

it ends too soon.

 The elderly men at the end both had fathers who fought in the Civil War on opposing sides and went on to live their lives after the war. The ceremony ended with both men speaking about their fathers' roles in the war, and the 2 old timers shaking hands over the grave.

It was something to see

[DCRTV1]

Thanks for the comments.

I didn't get as much recorded as I wanted because I was using a new camcorder that I had only bought that morning, and I didn't have time to charge the battery up very much. Toward the end, the battery was about dead, and it kept cutting off, which is why some of the scenes at the end are as short as they are.

[Ihateworking1]

Wow this stirs the imagination, I just read a short article on this exact funeral featured in USA Today a week or two ago. I wonder how the soldier would feel knowing that both flags would be placed upon his coffin? It really makes me sad most people aren't passionate about any enough

The 2nd Battle of Franklin is really a fascinating event. Its astounding to think what a terrible impact it had on the Confederate's in the West. The army of Tennessee was annihilated at this battle.

[DCRTV1]

Thanks. I have two ancestors I know of who fought in the Civil War. One was apparently wounded in the Battle of Franklin. I have ancestors and ancestral relatives buried in the old cemetaries in the area. So, this is of personal interest to my family history. I am blood related to the Carter family of the Carter House in Franklin, which was near the epicenter of the worst fighting on November 30, 1864.

[SOHrithal]

I live around the area of Franklin. I'm a huge history buff especially when dealing with the Civil War. Wish I had the time to go see it. I'm going to the Ag. Center of Williamson County on December 3rd. They are having a huge re-enactment. It's a little south of Franklin if anyone wants to go.

[SOHrithal]

@UnseenVoices Uhm... Thats impossible unless they were like 120 years old

[shadowchaser01]

They were marching with an Iowa flag there.

[50TNCSA]

@UnseenVoices alot of confederates did use captured buttons and equipment but your right more than likely he was a federal soldier

[50TNCSA]

@jamesgle because he might be a confederate soldier so the US army will not recognize him as a US soldier because he took up arms against the united states also alot of reenactors are vets .

[PhiloAmericana]

A terrible price to pay for true nationhood.

[50TNCSA]

SALUTE *stands at attention*

[rabuliz]

@UnseenVoices It was common for Confederate soldiers to take the pants from fallen Union soldiers if the ones they had were in rags. Either way I'm pleased this brave man was honored the way he was.

[jamesgle]

As a Vietnam Veteran, this stirs many emotions. Why not bury him with full military honors instead of having a bunch of "reanactors" play their own selfish game. This man was a Soldier. Give him the respect that he deserves! Do not make his burial a "Dog and Pony Show" for a group of people who live in a fantasy world. He should have been buried by real soldiers. Soldiers who are just like he was.

[sockettuem]

@mitre9 soil from 18 states, north and south were placed in the grave to assure the unknown would be interred with ground from his home state. The Iowa flag was carried by members of the 49th Iowa Infantry (re-enacted), Sons of Veterans Reserve of the Sons of Union Veterans of the civil war, who made the trip from from Des Moines, Iowa. People from thirty states and seven different nations paid their respects during the reinterment.