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This is a picture taken in 1951 of the home used by CSA Gen. John Bell Hood for his headquarters just before the assault of the Federal army at Franklin, 30 November 1864. This home sat near Winstead Hill.
Image credit: The Williamson County Historical Society
“The position we occupied was just in front of the Carter House, and the 50th Regiment [Ohio] actually tore down the Carter barn to help build our breastworks. It had been built of hewn logs, and we even put on a row of head logs. Our second line of works joined on to the Carter smokehouse, which lay west of the house.”
Lt. Thomas C. Thoburn, 50th Ohio, Strickland’s Brigade
Citation source: Eyewitness at the Battle of Franklin, Logdson, p2.
The Carter house (below) as it looks today.
Larger picture
Flickr folder of Civil War pictures related to Carter House and the Battle of Franklin; Williamson County, TN
In Camp Near Farmout Virginia
Nov 29th 1862
114th P.V. Zouaves de Afrique Corps H. Capt. Robinson
Dear Wife and Children (excerpt]
We are laying opposite to Frederick’s for the present waiting to shell and then storm the city at any moment, but as near as we can understand there has binn (been) an armistice (signaled?) for 30 days to see what action will be taken upon in (Congress?), then there will be peace made or there will be bloody work there after we pray to God it may be peace. May God cast His blessing upon you and the children forever. Write as soon as this comes to and remain your well wishing husband and father .
Harvey Marshall
J.P. Cannon, a member of the 27th Alabama Infantry, wrote in his diary on November 30, 1864
[The 27th was in Spring Hill the evening of the 29th of November.]
We were awakened before daylight and our mortification was even greater than it was last night to find that the game had flown; every last one of them had walked right out of the trap and was hurrying on towards Franklin.
Source: Bloody Banners and Barefoot Boys: A History of the 27th Regiment Alabama Infantry.
Camp Burnside, 15 November 1861“I am seated in a tent barely large enough to accomodate three persons but containing six� Yes I am here to participate in the vindication of my country’s honor to oppose armed rebels who seek the subversion of this, the only republican government that deserves the admiration of the world. We are all anxious to meet the enemy of our beautiful country and the spirit of ‘76 dwells in the bosom and strengthens the arm of all who join in the cause. In my God is my firm reliance and should I suddenly be ushered into the unknown world while fighting beneath the Stars and Stripes, I trust all will be well� I am healthier than ever before it seems to me. Our rations have along back consisted of two crackers, a small piece of meat and a cup of coffee. Nice meals to grow fat on! We expect soon to go south and I doubt not but we shall see hard times within the month. Charleston is reserved for us. God is with us and there at Charleston victory awaits�”
The 51st New York saw action at Roanoke Island, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg and the Wilderness. Willis mustered into service on 20 September 1861, reenlisted on 25 February 1864 and was discharged for wounds on 1 March 1865 at Douglas Hospital, Washington D.C. He was severely wounded at Petersburg, and had his right leg amputated as a result.
Source: Nate Sanders online auction
Columbia, Tenn.
Nov. 23rd 1864
Dear Sister,
Since I commenced the letter on the other page circumstances prevented my finishing it. We started immediately from Franklin & when we got here I was sent away & in the mean time the cars which had my things on were sent back before they were unloaded. A man was with the whole of the luggage & he just returned to us the other day. So I concluded to write on the same sheet nevertheless. Nearly all I care about writing at present is that I am perfectly well and doing well for a soldier. Cold weather has commenced. Day before yesterday we had a little spotting of snow just enough to be seen on the ground, when it cleared off the ground froze hard so that now we consider ourselves embarked in the winter campaign. Yet winters with the exception of a few days are not so very disagreeable and soon you know almost before we are aware of it spring will come & its heels another summer which will let us out of the service even if the war is not as I hope it will be ended. How I wish a few of the northern democrats or Copperheads for there is very little difference between them were in the place of some of these Rebs so that they could try the effect of our bullets. George writes that his house is burned down. He takes it hard! P Shah! I could whistle over such misfortunes as that. Haven’t I seen thousands of such buildings burned in the South. Black smoking ruins where the house once stood. Every fence burned down, every particle of corn potatoes etc. destroyed & every part of the farm rendered so barren that even a rat would not be secure from starvation. I like to see it done here for the South has sown the wind & they should reap the whirlwind. The worst men that God ever suffered to live are in my mind the Aristocrats of the south. And side by side with them are their sympathizers in the North. Have your heard from Thomas lately. According to my understanding his time will be out in ten or fifteen days. He enlisted on the first of December & I the following August. I have nine months & a few days yet. We have been notified several times since we have been here to look out for Hood & [Nathan Bedford] Forrest. They have not paid us a visit yet & I hope will not attempt to at present. We don’t care about fighting them but can & will if they come this way. Our regt. is in excellent condition though small & we hope may be able to go out without losing many more men. Excuse this letter which was hastily written & though in two parts, may perhaps be as good as any I could write were I to commence anew. Remember me to all the friends. Write the news as soon as possible.
Your Brother
A.M.Weston
Nov 27th We have had quite a battle here I am well & unhurt
Asa M. Weston, a member of the 50th Ohio. Weston was a sergeant in Company K.
Charles W. Gooch of the 27th Maine Infantry, Company I.Camp Seward, Virginia
Nov 20th 1862,
You think God is everywhere and so he is and willing to have mercy and save all them that call upon his name. But I do not believe a man could lead a Christian life and be into war all the time. But I feel in hopes God will protect me and let me return safe home again and then I can speak and act myself.
Note: Gooch had only been in the service for five weeks when he wrote the above.
Source: eBay, June 2007
Gooch was from Kennebunk ME; 33 years old. He enlisted on 9/30/1862 as a Private. On 9/30/1862 he mustered into “I” Co. ME 27th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 7/17/1863 at Portland, ME
According to The Union Army, volume 1: They left on Oct. 20 for Washington, arriving there on the 22nd. On the 26th it marched to Arlington Heights, where it remained doing picket duty until Dec. 12th, when it was ordered to the south of Hunting creek.
More letters by Gooch from the Civil War
Letter on U.S. Christian Commission stationary
Jeffersonville, Indiana
November 17, 1864
Dear Mother,
I set down this morning to let you know that I have been moved further north. I got here last night about 9 o’clock. I feel as though I had got into America again. The town and everything looks so much different from what they did in Dixie. Our hospital is situated on the banks of the Ohio River so I can set and watch the boats play up and down the river. Sometimes there is as many as twenty to be seen at a time. [end of page one]
Last night they looked very pretty with their lamps all lit up. I am in hopes that this letter will reach you before [Rable] starts from home for you wouldn’t like to send those Yankees to N[ewark] While I am here at Jeffersonville. I don’t know but this letter will be rather late. You need’nt send that box until I write again for here we have to get the consent of the Doctor before we can get any which thing in here. Maybe we won’t need it here. I don’t know whether we get any sanataries here or not. I will wait and see before I write for them.
[Picture below of Jefferson General Hospital during Civil War]
I suppose that Mrs Harriet has commenced her school and that Father has got his [end of page two] corn picked by this time has he not, and you are trying to find something to do on Thanksgiving. Ain’t it most time for [initial indecipherable] Tremain to get home. I think so if they don’t keep him over his time which they are very apt to do. I notice how are all the neighbors today and I get that letter that letter that I sent to him without the stamps on. I am most out of stamps. I expect I might have some if they would let me stay in one place long enough. I expect I will let me stay here now till they send me to the front and I don’t know for sure that will be. [end of page three]
Well I want this letter to go out in this mornings mail so I will stop writing. Give my love to all and write often.
From your boy Franklin
Jefferson U.S. General Hospital
Ward 17
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Franklin A. Whitney
Post-war photograph of Franklin A. Whitney, 36th Illinois Infantry. He was listed as from Mission, Illinois, when he enlisted as a Private on 2/29/64. He mustered into Company F, 36th Illinois infantry 3/19/64. Mustering out 10/8/65 in Washington, D.C.
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Content and images copyright protected.
Items in the Kraig McNutt Civil War Collection.
Unidentified Union soldier
Camp on Meridian Hill, Washington D.C.,
Nov 17 /61
letter reads in part:
”Bill Brant and all the Chathan boys are well and hearty and in fact the boys in our company with the exception of 3 that was not well when they came and they are going to be discharged and sent home soon. There is some talk of our going down to South Carolina soon but I can not tell now any thing about it for there is so much talk around camp about this thing and that so we wait until we hear it from the headquarters and that is not generally heard until the time is ready to start. I do not doubt but that we shall go down that way and perhaps soon for they do not mean to attack the enemy in their dens in Virginia right away, that is the opinion here. They are not prepared down south as they are Virginia therefore if we go below them we can come in behind their fixings. I hope this war may soon be brought to a close and peace and prosperity once more reign in our midst and we all be permitted to return to our homes in good health and strength as we now enjoy but we can not tell what may befall us but I hope we may be able to meet what ever it may be our lot to meet with our nerves calm and our hearts relying on god for support and strength and feel that we are doing our duty to god and to man and to never cause a blush of shame to come over our dear friends faces that we have left behind.”
Source: eBay, June 2007
Frank I. Willis
51st NY Vols., Co. A.
51st NY Vols., Co. A.
Willis writes to his aunt
Camp Burnside
15 November 1861
”Yes I am here to participate in the vindication of my country’s honor to oppose armed rebels who seek the subversion of this, the only republican government that deserves the admiration of the world. We are all anxious to meet the enemy of our beautiful country and the spirit of ‘76 dwells in the bosom and strengthens the arm of all who join in the cause. In my God is my firm reliance and should I suddenly be ushered into the unknown world while fighting beneath the Stars and Stripes, I trust all will be well.
I am healthier than ever before it seems to me. Our rations have along back consisted of two crackers, a small piece of meat and a cup of coffee. Nice meals to grow fat on! We expect soon to go south and I doubt not but we shall see hard times within the month. Charleston is reserved for us. God is with us and there at Charleston victory awaits us?”
Source: eBay, June 2007
Notes:
Residence was not listed; 21 years old.
Enlisted on 9/13/1861 at New York City, NY as a Corporal.
On 9/20/1861 he mustered into “A” Co. NY 51st Infantry
He Re-enlisted on 2/25/1864
He was discharged for wounds on 3/1/1865 at Hospital, Washington, DC
(Douglas Hospital)
He was listed as:
* Wounded 7/30/1864 Petersburg, VA (Severely wounded in right leg, amputated)
Promotions:
* Sergt 8/30/1863
* 2nd Lieut 3/19/1864 (Not Mustered)
51st history
The 51st regiment contained six companies of the Shepard Rifles, two companies of the Scott Rifles and two companies of the Union Rifles and was organized in New York city, where it was mustered into the service of the United States July 27 to Oct. 23, 1861, for a three years’ term.
It left the state for Washington on Oct. 31, with 850 members, was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, Gen. Burnside’s North Carolina expedition, and embarked at Annapolis Jan. 6, 1862, for Roanoke island. The first active service of the regiment was at Roanoke island, where it fought with courage and steadiness.
