Carnton Plantation, The Eastern Flank Battlefield Park, and Battle of Franklin

In 1826, Carnton was built by the McGavock Family. The family owned 700 acres of this Plantation and before 1864, the family lived peacefully with farming and other various contributions the family would make to the area. The Plantation Home is located just a mile southwest of the town of Franklin, and today, it's open to the public for guided and self guided tours of the area. The home is also part of a bigger event that occurred on November 30th, 1864.

On November 30th, 1864, two weeks after the Battle of Nashville, Confederate forces began forming at the Eastern Flank by Carnton Plantation that morning. Union forces early on the morning of the 30th began building defensive positions, including trenches just south of downtown Franklin to prepare for the Confederate advance. The Union Army was led by John Schofield, who later would eventually become Commanding General of the United States Army from 1888 until 1895. Schofield was the General of The Army of the Ohio for the Battle of Franklin.

The Confederate Army was led by John Bell Hood, who was General of the Army of Tennessee. Hood would begin his advancement on the Union army that day with 27,000 soldiers. He was hoping that success in this battle would eventually reverse what occurred at the Battle of Nashville.

Hood's forces began their attack on Union forces at 5 PM. The Army of Tennessee was met with a strong cannon fire from Union Forces while advancing across the fields along the Eastern Flank towards the town of Franklin. From the starting advancement to the Union defense, it was a mile. Heavy casualties began with the Confederate Army, which was similar to that of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. The fighting was heavy between both sides, eventually leading to hand to hand combat. As the fighting occurred, bodies of those wounded began being brought to the Carnton Plantation which served as their Hospital for the Confederacy. The battle would eventually be a disaster for the Confederacy with over 6,700 casualties. The Union Army suffered 2,300 casualties. The fighting would end around 9 pm. With a Confederate loss and considered won of the worst disasters of the Confederate Army.

To put this in comparison to American Casualties more American Soldiers were lost in the Battle of Franklin than that of the D-day attack on Normandy. The eventual impact on this battle led to the fall of the Confederacy with eventual the surrender of Lee at Richmond who at the time of the Battle of Franklin was surrounded. Soldiers who were asked about the Battle of Franklin said it was a battle that wish to forget because of the amount of Casualties.

Today you can walk along the self guided tour by Carnton Plantation in the area that Hood's Army began their advance. The paths include signs that indicate what was occurring that day and a view point from the Confederate side. Additionally, you can tour the Carnton Plantation. Tickets are $27 and highly recommend ordering your tickets in advance. Also, the property offers several different packages for various tours for the Plantation, battlefield, and town of Franklin. This is a great area to check out with the history it has to offer for Franklin and the State of Tennessee.

https://boft.org/carnton