You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2006.
The fighting soon became brutal and fiendishly savage, with men bayoneted and clubbed to death in the Carter yard. A Confederate soldier was bayoneted on the front steps of the Carter House. Men were clubbing, clawing, punching, stabbing and choking each other. The smoke from the canons and guns was so thick that you could not tell friend from foe.
During the five hours of fighting, the Carter Family took refuge in their basement. 23 men, women and children (many under the age of 12) were safely protected while the horrible cries of war rang out above them. The head of the family, Fountain Branch Carter, a 67-year old widower, had seen 3 of his sons fight for the Confederacy. One son, Theodrick (Tod), was serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield and saw his home for the first time in 3 years. Crying out, “Follow me boys, I’m almost home,” Captain Tod Carter was mortally wounded and died 2 days later at the Carter House.
After the battle, like so many homes in Franklin, the parlor of the Carter House was converted into a Confederate field hospital and witnessed many surgeries and amputations.
Around midnight, the Federal Army retreated to Nashville to join the forces of General George Thomas.
JESSE FULMER
Pvt., 11th Penn. Infantry
Capt., 15th US Infantry
Brevet Major, Battle of Stones River.
Enlisted on 4/24/1861 as a Private.
On 4/24/1861 he mustered into “A” Co. PA 11th Infantry
He was Mustered Out on 7/31/1861 at Harrisburg, PA
The 11th PA was a three month unit involved with defense of Washington in the first days of the war. DETACHED companies, formed of men hastily summoned from farm and workshop, rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, and were organized into the Eleventh regiment, April 26th, 1861.
On the 26th of July, the following order was received:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Harper’s Ferry, Va.,
July 24, 1861. (Special order No. 127.) 1. The Eleventh regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, Colonel Jarrett come mending, will, to-day, take rail transportation from this place to Baltimore, enroute for Harrisburg, where they will be mustered out of service.
It gives the Commanding General great satisfaction to say, that the conduct of the regiment has merited his highest approbation. It had the fortune to be in the advance at the affair at Hoke’s Run, (Falling Waters,) where the steadiness and gallantry of both officers and men, came under his personal observation. They have well merited his thanks.
By order of Major General Patterson. F. J. PORTER, Assistant Adjutant General. On the 19th of July, prior to the muster out of the regiment, the necessary measures were taken, with the approval of the Commander of the Department, to have it re-mustered for three years, service, and on the 25th, it was, by an order of the Secretary of War, accepted. It was permitted, by a general order of the Governor of Pennsylvania, to retain its original number. Hence, the Eleventh became the first regiment for three years, service.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 1
The 15th US were hard-fighting Federals of the Western Theater: Nashville, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Resaca, Kennesaw, etc.
Here are a few CDVs from some boys who were members of the 8th Iowa – fought at Nashville and Franklin.
Residence Kossuth IA; 18 years old.
Enlisted on 7/29/1863 as a Private.
On 9/2/1863 he mustered into “D” Co. IA 8th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 8/13/1865 at Macon, GA
Other Information: born in Iowa
Information about the 8th Iowa Cavalry
Organized: Davenport, IA on 9/30/63
Mustered Out: 8/13/65
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 3
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 2
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 37
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 116
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)
William Christy, born in Ohio, was a Capt. in Co, D, 8th Iowa Cavalry.
Residence Osceola IA; 22 years old.
Enlisted on 6/25/1863 as a Sergt Major.
On 9/30/1863 he mustered into Field & Staff IA 8th Cavalry.
He was Mustered Out on 8/13/1865 at Macon, GA
He was listed as:
* POW 7/30/1864 Lovejoy Station, GA
* Wounded 7/30/1864 Lovejoy Station, GA
* Paroled 12/15/1864 Annapolis, MD (Estimated day)
Promotions:
* 2nd Lieut 7/15/1864 (As of Co. D)
* 1st Lieut 1/29/1865
* Capt 6/24/1865
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 7/15/1864 from Field & Staff to company D
Other Information: born in Ohio
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
�
John H. Walkinshaw, from Macon, GA
Residence Linton IA; 19 years old.
Enlisted on 7/29/1863 as a Private.
On 9/2/1863 he mustered into “D” Co. IA 8th Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 8/13/1865 at Macon, GA
Other Information: born in Ohio
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com
The Regimental History
Eighth Cavalry. Cols., Joseph B. Dorr, Horatio G. Barner; Lieut.-Col., Horatio G. Barner, Majs., J. J. Brown, James D. Thompson, A. J. Price, Richard Root, John H. Isett, E. Shurtz, J. W. Moore, John Dance, George W. Burns.
The 8th cavalry saw little of real war until the spring of 1864, when it started with Sherman in the celebrated campaign for Atlanta. The regiment had been organized late in the previous autumn at Davenport. It left Iowa in the middle of October and by the middle of November was stationed at Waverly and other points west of Nashville, Tenn., where it remained on guard and garrison duty all the winter, with little opportunity for showing the pluck of its soldiers and no chance at all for distinction.
May-day, 1864, brought on the new campaign, and the 8th IA was made a part of the 1st brigade of McCook’s division of cavalry. In all that arduous campaign the regiment was constantly at the front, and when the Confederates, after weeks of constant skirmishing and battles, at last fell back behind the Chattahoochee, the 8th Iowa cavalry was the first troop across the river after them. So the fighting and the skirmishing went on around Atlanta, and then came that luckless raid of Gen. McCook’s to the Macon railroad, in which the regiment was captured near Newnan, only a few escaping through the woods to tell how heroically the command had tried to save itself.
The late autumn found Col. Dorr exchanged, and with his regiment, again ready for battle against Gen. Hood, who was then invading Tennessee. It was engaged near Franklin, but quietly fell back with the main army to take an important part in the great battle and victory of Nashville. It participated in a charge on the first day of the battle and in the rapid pursuit of Hood, in which the whole Confederate army was nearly annihilated, the 8th cavalry did its full share of hard riding.
Late in March, 1865, the regiment was at Chickasaw, Ala., eager to join the other Iowa cavalry there in the grandest raid of the war — the march of Wilson to Selma, Columbus and Macon. On Aug. 13, the regiment was mustered out at Macon and started for Iowa, its honorable and patriotic career complete.Its losses were as follows: deaths from battle, 16; deaths from disease 168; wounded, 15; discharged, 64.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4
To learn more about Iowa in the Civil War visit these sites:
Franklin: The Valley of Death
“(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, 1st Tennessee Infantry
Looking toward the north across the killing fields, south of the town of Franklin
Called “The Gettysburg of the West,” Franklin was one of the few night battles in the Civil War. It was also one of the smallest battlefields of the war (only 2 miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide). The main battle began around 4:00 pm and wound down around 9:00 pm.
Under Hood’s command, The A
rmy of Tennessee moved up through Georgia, Alabama, crossed the Tennessee River, and then entered Tennessee. November 30, 1864 had been a beautiful Indian summer day. At dawn, the Confederacy marched north from Spring Hill, Tennessee in pursuit of fleeing Federal forces. General Hood was determined to destroy the Union Army before it reached Nashville.
The Battle of Franklin has been called “the bloodiest hours of the American Civil War.”
Picture (right) The Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill
The small town of Franklin, Tennessee had been a Federal (Union) military post since the fall of Nashville in early 1862. Late in the 
summer of 1864, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced commander Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood (right). General Hood, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and known for his superb record with his “Texas Brigade,” suffered from a withered arm and amputated leg. A firm believer in frontal assaults, Hood begins to formulate his “Tennessee Campaign of 1864″ with the main objective to drive Sherman away from Atlanta and Robert E. Lee’s forces.
The Federal (Union) Army consisted of 22,000 infantry / approx 5,000 cavalry
* 23rd Corps (Army of Ohio) commanded by Jacob Cox
* 4th Corps (Army of the Cumberland) commanded by David Stanley
The Federal Army had arrived in Franklin around 1:00 that morning. Major General John M. Schofield led the operation and woke up the Carter Family, commandeering their home as his headquarters. At that time, the Carter Farm consisted of 288 acres on the south edge of town bordering the Columbia Pike.
Their cotton gin was located 100 yards from the house where eventually the main line of Federal breastworks were constructed. The Federal line commander was Cox who supervised his army in a defensive position surrounding the southern edge of town. He used the existing breastworks built in 1863 and constructed others on the west side of Columbia Pike. About 60 feet from the Carter House, near their farm office and smokehouse, were the inner breastworks.
Carter House – site of the Battle of Franklin
The Confederate Army of Tennessee consisted of 20,085 infantry / 5,000 cavalry
Three corps of infantry:
* S.D. Lee’s Corps (9,700) – Clayton, Stevenson, Johnson’s Divisions
* Frank Cheatham’s Corps (9,300) – Cleburne, Brown, Bate’s Divisions
* A.P. Stewart’s Corps (8,000) – Loring, Walthall, French’s Divisions
Harrison Home is a short distance north of Laurel Hill, and two miles south of the Carter House. This home served as Hood’s headquarters during the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. Here is where Hood held council with his subordinates and officers Forrest, Cleburne and Cheatham argued against the attack. General John C. Carter was brought here after suffering a mortal wound at Franklin, where he lingered for three days before his death.
Report of General John B. Hood, C. S. Army, Commanding Army of Tennessee
Battle of Nashville [Franklin]
RICHMOND, VA.,
February 15, 1865.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.
GENERAL :
Forrest’s cavalry joined me on the 21st of November and the movement began, Major-General Cheatham’s corps taking the road toward Waynesborough, and the other two corps moving on roads somewhat parallel with this, but more to the eastward, with the cavalry under General Forrest in the advance and upon their right flank. The enemy’s forces at this time were concentrated at Pulaski, with some force also at Lawrenceburg. I hoped to be able to place the army between these forces of the enemy and Nashville; but he evacuated Pulaski upon the 23rd, hearing of our advance (our cavalry having furiously driven off their forces at Lawrenceburg), and moved rapidly by the turnpike and railroad to Columbia.
The want of a good map of the country, and the deep mud through which the army marched, prevented our overtaking the enemy before he reached Columbia, but on the evening of the 27th of November our army was placed in position in front of his works at that place. During the night, however, he evacuated the town, taking position on the opposite side of the river about a mile and a half from the town, which was considered quite strong in front.
Late in the evening of the 28th of November General Forrest, with most of his command, crossed Duck River a few miles above Columbia, and I followed early in the morning of the 29th with Stewart’s and Cheatham’s corps, and Johnson’s division, of Lee’s corps, leaving the other divisions of Lee’s corps in the enemy’s front at Columbia. The troops moved in light marching order, with only a battery to the corps, my object being to turn the enemy’s flank, by marching rapidly on roads parallel to the Columbia and Franklin pike, at or near Spring Hill, and to cut off that portion of the enemy at or near Columbia. When I had gotten well on his flank the enemy discovered my intention and began to retreat on the pike toward Spring Hill. The cavalry became engaged near that place about midday, but his trains were so strongly guarded that they were unable to break through them. About 4 p.m. our infantry forces, Major-General Cheatham in the advance, commenced to come in contact with the enemy about two miles from Spring Hill, through which place the Columbia and Franklin pike runs. The enemy was at this time moving rapidly along the pike, with some of his troops formed on the flank of his column to protect it. Major-General Cheatham was ordered to attack the enemy at once vigorously and get possession of this pike, and, although these orders were frequently and earnestly repeated, he made but a feeble and partial attack, failing to reach the point indicated. Had my instructions been carried out there is no doubt that we should have possessed ourselves of this road. Stewart’s corps and Johnson’s division were arriving upon the field to support the attack. Though the golden opportunity had passed with daylight, I did not at dark abandon the hope of dealing the enemy a heavy blow. Accordingly, Lieutenant-General Stewart was furnished a guide and ordered to move his corps beyond Cheatham’s and place it across the road beyond Spring Hill. Shortly after this General Cheatham came to my headquarters, and when I informed him of Stewart’s movement, he said that Stewart ought to form on his right. I asked if that would throw Stewart across the pike. He replied that it would, and a mile beyond. Accordingly, one of Cheatham’s staff officers was sent to show Stewart where his (Cheatham’s)right rested. In the dark and confusion he did not succeed in getting the position desired, but about 11 p.m. went into bivouac. About 12 p.m., ascertaining that the enemy was moving in great confusion, artillery, wagons, and troops intermixed, I sent instructions to General Cheatham to advance a heavy line of skirmishers against him and still further impede and confuse his march. This was not accomplished. The enemy continued to move along the road in hurry and confusion, within hearing nearly all the night. Thus was lost a great opportunity of striking the enemy for which we had labored so long–the greatest this campaign had offered, and one of the greatest during the war.
Lieutenant-General Lee, left in front of the enemy at Columbia, was instructed to press the enemy the moment he abandoned his position at that point. The enemy did not abandon his works at that place till dark, showing that his trains obstructed the road for fifteen miles during the day and a great part of the night.
At daylight we followed as fast as possible toward Franklin, Lieuten-ant-General Stewart in the advance, Major-General Cheatham following, and General Lee, with the trains, moving from Columbia on the same road. We pursued the enemy rapidly and compelled him to burn a number of his wagons. He made a feint as if to give battle on the hills about four miles south of Franklin, but as soon as our forces began to deploy for the attack and to flank him on his left he retired slowly to Franklin.
I learned from dispatches captured at Spring Hill, from Thomas to Schofield, that the latter was instructed to hold that place till the position at Franklin could be made secure, indicating the intention of Thomas to hold Franklin and his strong works at Murfreesborough. Thus I knew that it was all important to attack Schofield before he could make himself strong, and if he should escape at Franklin he would gain his works about Nashville. The nature of the position was such as to render it inexpedient to attempt any further flank movement, and I therefore determined to attack him in front, and without delay.
On the 30th of November Stewart’s corps was placed in position on the right, Cheatham’s on the left, and the cavalry on either flank, the main body of the cavalry on the right, under Forrest. Johnson’s division, of Lee’s corps, also became engaged on the left during the engagement. The line advanced at 4 p.m., with orders to drive the enemy into or across the Big Harpeth River, while General Forrest, if successful, was to cross the river and attack and destroy his trains and broken columns. The troops moved forward most gallantly to the attack. We carried the enemy’s first line of hastily constructed works handsomely. We then advanced against his interior line, and succeeded in carrying it also in some places. Here the engagement was of the fiercest possible character. Our men possessed themselves of the exterior of the works, while the enemy held the interior. Many of our men were killed entirely inside the works. The brave men captured were taken inside his works in the edge of the town. The struggle lasted till near midnight, when the enemy abandoned his works and crossed the river, leaving his dead and wounded in our possession. Never did troops fight more gallantly. The works of the enemy were so hastily constructed that while he had a slight abatis in front of a part of his line there was none on his extreme right. During the day I was restrained from using my artillery on account of the women and children remaining in the town. At night it was massed ready to continue the action in the morning, but the enemy retired.
We captured about 1,000 prisoners and several stand of colors. Our loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was 4,500. Among the killed was Maj. Gen. P. R. Cleburne, Brigadier-Generals Gist, John Adams, Strahl, and Granbury. Major-General Brown, Brigadier-Generals Carter, Manigault, Quarles, Cockrell, and Scott were wounded, and Brigadier-General Gordon captured.
The number of dead left by the enemy on the field indicated that his loss was equal or near our own.
The next morning at daylight, the wounded being cared for and the dead buried, we moved forward toward Nashville, Forrest with his cavalry pursuing the enemy vigorously.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. HOOD,
General.
