franklin battlefield

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The Battle of Franklin occurred on November30, 1864, and it was significant in two key re-gards. First, the level of carnage was consid-erable based upon the numerous fruitlesscharges made by the Confederate Army ofTennessee, the effectiveness of the Unionforces, and the resulting casualties. Secondly,the battle marked the beginning of the end forthe Western Theater of the Civil War, asHood’s Army of Tennessee was crippled to anextent that it would never recover to performas an effective fighting force.

Despite the importance of this sacred land, ithas been carved away by development overthe past century, and now only random rem-nants survive. It is the purpose of this plan tosummarize the historic significance and keythemes of the battle, delineate the battlefieldarea, and lay out a strategy to preserve andenhance those portions of the battlefield thatcan still be salvaged or reclaimed.

Columbia Pike’s appearance could benefit fromdesign guidelines and streetscape improvements.

The following general goals will be followedby this plan:

! To prepare a plan based upon accurate historical research.

! To prepare a plan that reflects public input and a community consensus.

! To prepare a plan that identifies and pri- oritizes the most significant properties and resources associated with the battle.

! To prepare a plan that is economically and politically realistic.

! To prepare a plan that furthers both preservation and heritage tourism objectives.

“We won’t be able to save all of thesebattlefields. We won’t be able to savemany of the most important battlefields...But just as those armies of dedicatedmen went from a terrible defeat forwardwith a hope of victory, a success, be-cause they believed themselves to be inthe right, that’s what we have to do -march ahead, fight in the next battle,hopefully to win. So we’ll win, and we’lllose, but we’ll always keep fighting.”

- Brian Pohanka, Civil War Historian

New commercial development continues to steadilymarch forward on Franklin’s most hallowed ground.

This marker, identifyingthe Union entrenchmentsat Columbia Avenue,has completely lost theintegrity of its context.

The Franklin Battlefield was listedamong the country’s Top Ten MostEndangered Civil War Battlefieldsin 2004 by the Civil War Preserva-tion Trust.

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The study area for this plan includes all por-tions of Franklin that played a role in the No-vember 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin. Whilethe plan focuses on the actual battlefield areaas delineated on page 30 based upon historicrecords, it also addresses various scatteredsites, such as Ropers Knob and the many his-toric buildings that served as officers’ head-quarters and post-battle hospitals.

The battlefield is located on the south side ofFranklin approximately one half mile south ofColumbia Avenue’s intersection with the “FivePoints” area of downtown. Starting at the northnear the Carter and Lotz Houses, the battle-field extends south to Winstead and BreezyHills, west to Carters Creek Pike and east toLewisburg Pike and the Harpeth River. Bi-sected along a north-south axis by ColumbiaAvenue, the area is, topographically, relativelyflat with some gently rolling terrain.

The battlefield area also represents a widerange of existing land uses and developmentdensities. The northerly portion of the battle-field includes relatively high-density commer-cial and residential development, while thesoutherly portions are less dense and includeindustrial uses and some undeveloped openspaces. Mack Hatcher Parkway, a high-ca-pacity highway, traverses the southerly por-tion of the battlefield. It currently accessesonly the eastern half of the battlefield, but itwill soon be extended to the west. A railroadline, which has existed since before the battle,extends along a meandering north-south axisto the east of Columbia Pike.

Downtown Franklin

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The following four-step process was used tocreate this plan:

Task 1.0 Background ResearchTask 1.1 Project “Kick-Off” MeetingTask 1.2 History & Historic Resources ReviewTask 1.3 Development Context ReviewTask 1.4 Field Survey

Task 2.0 Stakeholder MeetingsTask 2.1 Heritage Foundation RepresentativesTask 2.2 City & County OfficialsTask 2.3 Property OwnersTask 2.4 Battlefield Preservationists

Task 3.0 Preparation of Draft Plan I. Overview II. Historic Significance of the Battle of Franklin III. Analysis of Existing Conditions IV. Battlefield Preservation &

Enhancement Strategy V. Plan Implementation

Task 4.0 Plan Review & RevisionsTask 4.1 Draft Plan SubmissionTask 4.2 Draft Plan PresentationTask 4.3 Plan Revisions

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“We used to have a brown cultural signon I-65 advertising the ‘Franklin Battle-field,’ but we got so many complaints fromtourists who were disappointed to find nobattlefield that we had to change it to‘Battle of Franklin.’”

- Herbert Harper, Executive Director Tennessee Historical Commission

• Tennessee Historical Commission /Tennessee Wars Commission

• Tennessee Civil War PreservationAssociation

• Tennessee Civil War NationalHeritage Area / MTSU Center forHistoric Preservation

• Central Franklin Area Plan BattlefieldCommittee

• Save the Franklin Battlefield, Inc.• The Carter House Museum• Carnton Plantation• The Lotz House• Local Real Estate Representatives• Property Owners

• Franklin Mayor and Aldermen• Williamson County Mayor and

Commissioners• Franklin Planning Commission and

staff• Williamson County Convention and

Visitors Bureau• Williamson County Chamber of

Commerce• Williamson County Historian• The Heritage Foundation of Franklin

and Williamson County

Stakeholder ParticipationThe following groups have participated inthe creation of this plan through eitherattendance at meetings or discussionswith the plan’s authors:

Project team member meeting with the CarterHouse’s staff to review maps.

“A crucial aspect of Civil War battlefieldpreservation is the fact that we have solittle time to accomplish what needs to bedone. We really have just a very fewyears before the urban growth that istaking place on so many key placesoverewhelms some of the best sites thatremain.”

- Gary W. Gallagher, Penn State University

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The map at right provides a visual over-view of the Battle of Franklin’s progres-sion near the Columbia Pike, minus theeast and west flanks. Prior to the Armyof Tennessee’s arrival in Franklin fromthe south, Union forces hastily errectedbreastworks in the form of an arch cen-tered on Columbia Pike on the south sideof town. Those works included both for-ward lines and more substantial innerworks to the north. The battle, which didnot begin until approximately 4:00 PM onNovember 30, 1864, consisted of a se-ries of frontal assualts by GeneralHood’s Confederate army over opengrounds. Although the charges lasteduntil well into the night, the Confederateforces were ultimately unsuccessful be-cause of fierce resistance by Unionforces. By the next morning Schofield’sUnion forces had slipped across theHarpeth River headed toward Nashville.The following pages provide more detailon the battle.

This map is pro-vided courtesy ofthe Civil War Pres-ervation Trust

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� ��Following the fall of Atlanta, Georgia, inSeptember 1864, Confederate fortunes in theWest were at a lower point than at any othertime in the war. In a desperate attempt toreverse the advantages gained by thesuccessful Federal summer campaign,Confederate General John Bell Hood,Commander of the Army of Tennessee, begana series of maneuvers in late Septemberagainst the Union line of supply andcommunications running from Atlanta throughnorthwest Georgia, north Alabama, middleTennessee, and into Nashville.

John Bell Hood had risen from the rank ofLieutenant in the Confederate Army to that ofLieutenant General by 1864. Hood had gainedprominence through a record of determinedassaults and hard fighting, and his reputationas an aggressive, determined warrior wasrightfully deserved. Hood had performedsuperbly as a division commander in the Armyof Northern Virginia. However, his relatively lowacademic standing at West Point suggestedthat he was not blessed with an imposingintellect. Additionally, he had sustained twograve wounds during the course of the war, acrippled left arm at Gettysburg, and the lossof his right leg at Chickamauga. Hisperformance as a corps commander with theArmy of Tennessee under General JosephJohnston had been less than stellar.

Nevertheless, because of his reputation as afighter, President Jefferson Davis hand-pickedHood as the successor to Joseph Johnstonin July of 1864. Promoted to the temporaryrank of full General, Hood had dutifullyassumed the offensive in a flurry of hard b

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General John Bell HoodArmy of Tennessee - CSA

casualties upon his own army. Hood waseasily outmaneuvered in late August byFederal commander William T. Sherman, andAtlanta was evacuated on September 1st.

Hard marches and occasional hard fightingin late-September and throughout Octoberhad failed to draw Sherman out of Atlanta orachieve any gains of substance. October 31stfound Hood’s Army at the Tennessee Rivercrossing at Tuscumbia, Alabama. Here, heavyrains and a dismal supply situation had furtherdelayed him for three long weeks. Thus, theobjectives of Hood’s subsequent operationswere born in his frustration to save Atlantathrough a summer of fighting, or regain itthrough a fall of maneuver. From Tuscumbia,Hood determined to continue his campaigninto Middle Tennessee.

This map is pro-vided courtesy ofthe U.S. MilitaryInstitute

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Hood intended to interpose his 32,000 manarmy between the 30,000 men of MajorGeneral John M. Schofield’s Union Fourth andTwenty-Third Army Corps located in thevicinity of Pulaski, Tennessee, and the roughly30,000 man garrison of Nashville underSchofield’s immediate superior, Major GeneralGeorge H. Thomas. Hood was confident thathe could defeat the two Federal forces in detail,resulting in the capture of the massiveNorthern supply depot at Nashville. With dualvictories to bolster his reputation, and with hisarmy re-armed and equipped at Unionexpense, Hood could then continue theoffensive into Kentucky and Ohio. Hoodsurmised that such an incursion into Federalterritory would result in a Confederateresurgence and a Northern panic, divertingresources from the siege of Petersburg inVirginia, and prompting a recall of Sherman’sforces from Georgia.

�� Hood’s initial series of flanking maneuversforced Schofield to precipitately retreat fromPulaski to the Duck River crossings atColumbia, Tennessee. Encouraged by this firststep of the campaign, Hood marched his armyaround Schofield’s left (eastern) flank and seizethe turnpike in Schofield’s rear at Spring Hill.Forrest’s cavalry had the first role in thismaneuver and crossed the Duck River tenmiles upstream at Huey’s Mill on November28th. In a series of feints and fights, Forrestdrove the Union cavalry towards Nashville andaway from Schofield, effectively removing theYankee horsemen from the scene. Havingaccomplished this, Forrest turned for SpringHill.

Leaving Stephen D. Lee’s Corps and the bulkof the artillery on the south bank of the DuckRiver to hold Schofield’s attention atColumbia, Hood’s remaining two corpsmarched east to cross the Duck at DavisFord, approximately three miles east of town.Hood had succeeded in slipping aroundSchofield’s flank, and began the race toSpring Hill on the Davis Ford Road, a badlyrutted country road abandoned even by localfarmers.

Although Hood had a lead in the “Spring HillRaces,” Schofield had not been completelydeceived. Receiving early morning reportsthat Hood’s infantry was crossing the river,Schofield telegraphed Thomas at Nashvilleand received orders to withdraw to Franklinto protect the Harpeth River crossings there.Schofield accordingly started his withdrawalby sending his 800 wagons and most of hisartillery up the Columbia-Nashville Turnpikewith a guard of Brigadier General GeorgeWagner’s division, the whole under thecommand of Major General David S. Stanley.

Early in the afternoon, about 12:30 p.m., thelead elements of Wagner’s division beganentering Spring Hill from the south. ColonelEmerson Opdycke’s veteran brigade movedthrough the town, and occupied a ridge justnorth of Spring Hill. Colonel John Q. Lane’sbrigade came next, and continuedOpdycke’s line east of town. BrigadierGeneral Luther P. Bradley’s brigadeassumed the critical defensive position on aknoll south of town. The 103rd Ohio Infantryand a section of Battery A, 1st Ohio LightArtillery were placed across the Columbiaand Franklin Pike. Eighteen artillery pieceswere emplaced on a prominent ridge on the

southern outskirts of the town. With MajorGeneral Patrick Cleburne’s division of MajorGeneral Benjamin Franklin Cheatham’scorps in the advance, Hood gave Cleburneand Cheatham orders to cooperate withForrest’s cavalry, and “take possession of andhold that pike at or near Spring Hill.”Cleburne’s division moved west, from theRally Hill Pike, at approximately 4:00 p.m.Cresting the large hill just west of the pike,they crossed a light strip of woods and movedinto an open field.

The Confederate line of march took themacross the front of Bradley’s Union brigade,which raked the exposed right flank of Briga-dier General Mark Lowrey’s brigade with “avery destructive fire and somewhat staggeredthem in front.” Lowrey’s brigade was stunnedby the violence of Bradley’s initial fire, butmany of Bradley’s men were inexperiencedand poorly drilled recruits in their first fight,and they were opposed by hardened veter-ans who were among the toughest fightersin the Army of Tennessee. As Govan andGranbury wheeled their Confederate brigadesand came on line with Lowrey, Cleburne’sentire division moved forward en mass, andthe result was inevitable.

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Cleburne’s advance rolled north in pursuit ofBradley’s retreating brigade, which fled northof McCutcheon Creek to establish new linesat the southern edge of town. Cleburne’spursuit was brought to a sudden halt bymassive volleys from the artillery and the103rd Ohio Infantry positioned across theColumbia-Franklin Pike. Cleburne’s veteranspulled up short and sought cover under anintense and deadly accurate barrage from thewell positioned Union artillery. It was now

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�� plans began to quickly fall apart. Hoodappeared to be confident that Forrest heldthe pike north of Spring Hill, and thus wasnot unduly concerned with cutting the pikesouth of town. To add to the confusion,division commanders also began to receiveconflicting orders from Hood and Cheatham.While Cheatham’s orders were aimed at anassault on Spring Hill to the north, Hoodcontinued to issue orders directly toCheatham’s divisions orienting their actionswest toward the pike. After a number ofconfused attempts at continuing theiradvance, the entire Confederate army satdown for the night, cooked supper, and wentto sleep. Hood’s soldiers wereunderstandably exhausted, having marchedmore than fifteen miles on unbelievably badroads. A feeble attempt would be made byForrest late that night to cut the turnpike northof Spring Hill at Thompson’s Station, but theappearance of Federal infantry at thevanguard of Schofield’s column rapidlycleared the road. Confederate activitieshalted for the night as an inexplicable lethargysettled over their commanders.

While the Confederates rested on theirlaurels, real or imagined, the Federal armyperformed a well-planned and well-executed,albeit late, retreat. Schofield and hissubordinates made their headquarters in thesaddle, and issued clear, certain instructions.All that evening and past midnight the Federalwagons, artillery, and long columns of infantrymarched north toward Franklin on the darkroad. By dawn the last blue clad soldiers hadmarched north from Spring Hill. Opdycke’sBrigade of Wagner’s Division covered thewithdrawal. The Union army may have lostthe race to Spring Hill, but they had escaped

the trap unscathed.

The morning of November 30, 1864 foundSchofield’s army at Franklin, digging in tocover the Harpeth River crossings. John BellHood awoke to discover that the Union armyhad slipped through the trap, and he wasinfuriated. A Confederate staff officer wrotethat “He is as wrathy as a rattlesnake thismorning, striking at everything.” In a morningbreakfast at the Nathaniel Cheairs Home,Hood lashed out angrily at his commanders,heaping abuse upon them and condemningtheir failures.

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Major General John M. Schofield XXIII Army Corps - USA

nearly 5:00 p.m., sunlight had faded intosunset (sunset was 4:49 p.m.), and Cleburnehad run into unexpectedly heavy opposition.He called for support and instructions. Hoodestablished his headquarters at the AbsalomThompson House near the Rally Hill Pike. Inthe post-twilight darkness, the Confederate

Map provided courtesy of the U.S. Military Institute

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� �� On the morning of November 30th Hood’s armycontinued its march north. Climbing Winsteadand Breezy Hills astride the Columbia-Nashville Pike just south of Franklin, Hood wassurprised to discover that Schofield remainedin Franklin. The reason was the 800 wagonsof the two Army Corps. There were threecrossings of the Harpeth River at Franklin, aford, a railroad bridge, and the remnants of awagon bridge. The railroad bridge could notbe crossed by horses and wagons until it wasplanked, the sides of the ford were steep andwould have to be improved, and the wagonbridge would have to be reconstructed.Accordingly, Schofield had no choice but todefend Franklin until the wagon train couldcross the Harpeth River. Schofield’s 30,000men occupied entrenchments previouslyconstructed on high ground south of Franklin,with both flanks anchored on the Harpeth River.They rapidly improved their works, addingheadlogs and a formidable abatis.

Hood’s combat experienced officers carefullyviewed the Federal position and wereimpressed with its strength, so they wereamazed when Hood issued orders for ageneral assault. As an alternative, Forrestproposed a flanking movement, but Hood wasconcerned that this would be his last chanceto defeat Schofield in detail, before he couldjoin with Thomas behind the fortifications ofNashville. Additionally, Hood was in no moodfor flanking movements, as he believed infrontal assaults when facing suchcircumstances.

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At approximately 4:00 p.m. the Confederateadvance began. Two brigades of Wagner’sdivision were lightly entrenched forward of themain Federal line and were both outnumberedand outflanked by the rebel main line. Thesebrigades were badly broken, and were drivenback in confusion to the Federal main linenear the house of Fountain Carter. The Unionsoldiers occupying the main line wereunderstandably loath to fire on their own men,and the result was that their lines were brokenat the Carter House. For a brief, critical

moment it appeared as if Hood’s assault wouldsucceed, but a veteran brigade commandedby Ohio’s Colonel Emerson Opdyckesmashed into the attackers around the CarterHouse, and drove them back in turn.

Nowhere else did the Confederate soldiersachieve a breakthrough. The Federal fire wasdeadly accurate, heavy cannon emplaced inFort Granger on a hill north of the HarpethRiver swept the open fields, and the abatis

The brief Confederate break through at the CarterHouse was driven back by Opdycke’s troops.

Source: Don Troiani

Source: Don Troiani

Confederate General Patrick Cleburne was killedjust south of the Carter’s cotton gin while leadinghis division.

“Gen. Hood stopped close to where I wasstanding and took a long... view of thearena of the awful contest... His sturdyvisage assumed a melancholy appearance,and for a considerable time he sat on hishorse and wept like a child.”

- Bowers, Ferguson’s Battery

“The large female institute and femalecollege, courthouse, every church, and alarge percentage of the private buildingswere filled with the wounded.”

- Hardin Figuers, 15 year old Franklin resident

was impenetrable. The attacks were bravelycontinued until long after dark, but the onlyaccomplishment was the largest casualty rateof the war. Of Hood’s 20,000 infantrymenengaged, it has been estimated that nearly7,000 were casualties. Schofield’s casualtieswere barely a third of Hood’s, being 2,326. Bythe end of November 30th, the ConfederateArmy of the Tennessee was no longer acohesive, viable fighting force.

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� �� As the fighting died down along the Uniondefense line at Franklin, Schofield’s wagontrains crossed the Harpeth River, followed byhis infantry and artillery. By 2:00 a.m. thewithdrawal was complete, and Schofield’sarmy continued moving north to Nashville. Thedevastated Army of Tennessee followed slowlyin his wake, arriving on the hills south ofNashville on December 2nd. For the next twoweeks, Hood’s battered and decimated armywould “lay siege” to Nashville. Hood’s armynumbered only 21,000 men. They were fartoo few to actually surround and invest thetown. They lacked the artillery, tools, andmanpower to properly besiege the town. Theycould not prevent additional supplies andreinforcements from reaching Thomas, andtwo divisions of hardened western veteransdetached from the Army of the Tennesseeunder the command of Major General AndrewJackson Smith arrived in the city. Hood furtherblundered when he detached Nathan BedfordForrest with most of his cavalry and a brigadeof infantry to besiege a Federal garrisonfortified in the town of Murfreesboro.

The Union commander, Major General GeorgeH. Thomas, was forced to delay his attack onHood for two weeks. He had to re-organizeand re-equip his cavalry which had either beendismounted, or had been roughly handled byForrest north of the Duck River. Furthermore,many of Thomas’ soldiers had been ongarrison duty in middle Tennessee andnorthern Alabama, and they were notorganized into brigades or divisions. Thomashad barely made his preparations for an attack

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African American soldiers in his official report.

However, the final assault would be deliveredat Shy’s Hill by A. J. Smith’s tough veterans.The Confederate defenses on Shy’s Hill hadbeen hastily constructed in the dark, and thedefending units had been shuffled aroundfrequently. When Smith’s men stormed thehill the Confederate defenders only had timeto fire one volley, and the Union soldiers wereupon them. The rebel defense on Shy’s Hillcollapsed, and the inexorable Union advancerolled up Hood’s entire line. By nightfall, theArmy of Tennessee only existed as a fleeingmass of men, with only Lee’s Corps retainingany sense of order.

�� !"On the night of December 16th, the Confeder-ate rear guard under Lieutenant GeneralStephen D. Lee camped about seven milesnorth of Franklin. The soldiers were weary andpoorly supplied as in their rush to retreat fromNashville, many had abandoned their equip-ment and muskets along the way. On the rainymorning of December 17th, the Confederatesleft around dawn. As they marched towardFranklin, Lee’s men had two encounters withFederal troops. The first took place aroundHollow Tree Gap about five miles north ofFranklin and consisted of a brief volley of fireat a portion of Union Major General JamesWilson’s advanced cavalry. A more seriousaction occurred around 9:00 a.m. as twomounted Federal regiments attempted a fron-tal charge on the Confederate line. The Con-federate troops, however, were able to repulsethe attack, which resulted in twenty-two Fed-eral casualties and an additional sixty-three

on Hood when the weather turned terrible. OnDecember 9th a severe ice storm struck thearea, coating streets and bridges with a thicklayer of ice. The ice was accompanied by frigidtemperatures and cutting winds. Hood’ssoldiers, not properly equipped for even asummer campaign, suffered terribly.

When the ice melted, Thomas began hisattack. Hood occupied a range of hills southof Nashville, extending from the Hillsboro Pikeon his left (west) to the Nolensville Pike on hisright (east). His troops were but lightlyentrenched, and were badly over-extended.The first shot was fired from Fort Negley toannounce the advance, and the bulk ofThomas’ attack fell on Hood’s left. Although adiversionary assault by Major General JamesB. Steedman’s United States Colored Infantrywas repulsed on Hood’s right flank, Hood’sleft flank was crushed in heavy fighting.Thomas’ right flank alone contained more menthan Hood’s entire army.

The night of December 15th, Hood withdrewhis army to a more consolidated position justnorth of the John Overton Home, “Traveller’sRest.” Hood’s left flank was anchored on aneminence today known as Shy’s Hill, just westof the Granny White Pike, while his right flankwas anchored on a hill due north of TravellersRest and east of the Franklin Pike, known asOverton or Peach Orchard Hill. Thomas’attack was slow to be delivered. On the Unionleft (east) flank Steedman’s division wouldlaunch another gallant attack. So determinedwas this assault, although only a diversion,that Confederate Brigadier General James T.Holtzclaw would openly praise the valor of the

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captured. As more Federal troops advanced,Lee’s rear guard withdrew around 10:00 a.m.to press on to the Harpeth River and intoFranklin.

Two bridges spanned the Harpeth Riveroffering quick passage into Franklin – atemporary pontoon bridge and a railroadtrestle bridge near Fort Granger. By 10:30a.m., the last of the Confederate wagons werecrossing the bridges over the Harpeth Riverand troops had begun to disassemble thepontoon bridge when Wilson’s cavalryattacked. Brigadier General Randall Gibson’sBrigade of 500 Louisiana infantrymen waspositioned near the river and the railroadoverpass at Liberty Pike. Assisting Gibsonwas a portion of Brigadier General AbrahamBuford’s cavalry and two field guns. TheConfederate soldiers were no match,however, for the nearly 3,000 Federal cavalry.Buford’s cavalry was driven “in confusion intothe river,” which was quickly rising due to therainy weather. Surrounded, Gibson’s menfought back and sustained forty casualtiesbefore escaping. Panic and confusion reignedas men fled across the pontoon bridge.

A Confederate battery positioned along FrontStreet in Franklin began to fire upon Wilson’scavalry causing them to temporarily drawback. Lee’s men rushed to destroy thepontoon and railroad bridges to prevent theFederal troops from crossing. Given this briefrespite, Lee ordered the immediate evacuationof Franklin. No longer having the bridgesavailable, Wilson’s men hastened to thenearest fords to beat the rising water.Meanwhile, additional Federal troops entered

Franklin from the west. Around 1:00 p.m., theConfederate rear guard under the commandof Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee beganto withdraw toward Winstead Hill south ofFranklin. As some of Wilson’s cavalrymenfired volleys towards them, a shell tore intoLee’s boot breaking several bones in his foot.Despite his injury, Lee remained in commandas the Confederates withdrew south downColumbia Pike. Wilson regrouped his forcesand sent troops down Carter’s Creek,Lewisburg and Columbia Pikes in pursuit ofthe Confederates. Federal troops travelingdown Columbia Pike quickly gained on theRebels who maintained a line of battle as theyheaded toward Spring Hill. Around 4:00 p.m.the Confederate rear guard formed a line aboutone mile north of the West Harpeth River.

Wilson ordered a frontal attack on theConfederate line and sent brigades to swingaround the line’s flank. Around 200 cavalrymenswiftly advanced south down Columbia Piketoward the center of the Confederate line in acolumn of fours, sabers drawn. With theflanking brigades, the Federal line stretchednearly one and half miles long. Some 700Confederate infantrymen were posted alongthe road under the command of Major GeneralCarter L. Stevenson. As the Federals attackedthe fighting was brief but fierce. “Theyswooped down on us with pistols, carbines,and sabers, hewing, whacking, and shooting,”one Confederate officer later recalled.Stevenson’s men repelled this charge andformed three ragged lines of a hollow squareas they withdrew with their bayonets drawn.

The Federal cavalrymen continued to strikeagainst Stevenson’s troops as they made

their way across the West Harpeth River. Asthe Confederates stopped to reorganize,Wilson’s men struck again. By this timedarkness had fallen and both sides wereconfused. The Federal cavalry were nearly ontop of the Rebel infantry when the firing began.The ensuing melee was brutal as most tookthe form of hand-to-hand combat with clubbedmuskets and side arms. The darkness andthe fact that many Confederates worecaptured Federal overcoats added to theconfusion. When additional units joined theFederals the Confederates were forced toretreat down Columbia Pike and abandonedthree 12-pounder guns along the way. Theysoon encountered Major General HenryClayton’s Brigade, who, after hearing thegunfire, had formed a line to assist their fellowConfederates. As Stevenson’s men joinedthem, the Rebels were attacked from the westby additional Federal cavalrymen. A quickround of fire from Clayton’s men soonrepulsed the Federals, and the Confederatescontinued to withdraw. Exhausted, theConfederates withdrew to Thompson’sStation where they camped with the remainderof Lee’s troops.

A series of skirmishes were fought from theWest Harpeth River south to the TennesseeRiver, as Wilson’s cavalry and the remainderof Thomas’ army pursued Hood’s army. Theretreat would finally end on January 1, 1865when Hood’s army crossed the TennesseeRiver. What was left of the Army of Tennesseewas eventually sent to the Carolinas to contestSherman’s advance.

See Appendix C for more on these sites.

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The many names, dates, actions and otherfacts related to the Battle of Franklin are ex-tensive and often difficult to comprehend. Totell the story of the Battle of Franklin to thepublic in a clear and interesting manner, it iscritical that key themes be identified to serveas the overall framework for interpretation.The story of the battle should always bethought of in terms of those key themes, andone example theme is the loss of the Confed-erate generals, as highlighted below.

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“I recognized the body ofGen. Cleburne, who, sofar, had been reported...missing. There was nota sign of life anywhere,and the deathly silencewas oppressive, I bentdown, and as I lookedinto the marble featuresof our hero, our idealsoldier, my first thoughtwas to have the bodytaken to a place ofsafety.”- John C. McQuaide, Featherston’s Brigade

“One of my men gave hima canteen of water, whileanother brought... apillow. The Generalgallantly thanked them,and, in answer to ourexpressions of sorrow...,he said, ‘It is the fate of asoldier to die for hiscounty,’ and expired.”- Lt. Col. Baker, 65th Indiana

“On visiting GeneralCarter,... my conversationwith him was exceedinglyinteresting. But hisparoxysms of pain werefrequent and intense andhe craved chloroformand it was freely adminis-tered to him.”- Dr. Quintard, surgeon 1st Tennessee

“De last time I seenMarse States he wuz onfoot... leading hiz men.[His horse] Joe had beenshot through de neck, enwuz rearing en plungingso he had ter dismount...When it got so hot, I wentback ter our tent.”- “Uncle Wiley” Howard Gen. Gist’s body servant

“...a ball struck him inthe cheek and passedthrough his brain.Throwing his hands tohis face he sank down onhis knees and remainedin that position...”- Lt. Mangum Cleburne’s aide-de-camp

“...General Strahl wasstruck; and throwingboth hands above hishead, almost to a clasp,he fell limber on hisface...”- Sgt. Maj. Cunningham 41st Tennessee

Patrick Cleburne

John Adams

John C. Carter

States Rights Gist

Hiram B. Granbury

Otho Strahl

The following key interpretive themes havebeen identified for the Battle of Franklin:

Hood’s RecklessnessBy late-1864, many generals concluded thatthe accuracy of modern weapons made fron-tal assaults against entrenched defenders ob-solete. General Hood’s multiple charges dis-regarded that painfully learned lesson.

Effectiveness of the Union ArmyWhile some credit poor Confederate decision-making for the Union victory, Schofield’s armyclearly performed bravely and efffectively indefending their lines. One example of theirabiltiy was the quick actions of Opdykes menin plugging the hole that developed in their linesat Columbia Pike.

The Level of CarnageThe casualties inflicted were substantial giventhe fact that the battle lasted only five hours.During that period, nearly 7,000 Confederatesalone were casualties.

The Loss of Confederate GeneralsFive Confederate generals were killed duringthe battle, not including a few others who diedfrom wounds from the battle some time later.Those losses were indicative of the overalllevel of carnage caused by the battle.

Western Theater: Beginning of the EndMost historians agree that the blow dealt toHood’s army at Franklin resulted directly in thearmy’s complete route at Nashville. After thebattles of Franklin and Nashville, the Army ofTennessee was never again a credible fight-ing organization.

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Community As HospitalHundreds of wounded soldiers, primarily Con-federates, were left in Franklin after botharmies moved on to Nashville. While somewere picked up as the Army of Tennessee re-treated south through Franklin after the Battleof Nashville, others were left to be sent byUnion forces by rail to Nashville hospitals. Stillothers that could not be moved spent severalmonths recuperating in Franklin.

Occupied FranklinWhile control of Franklin changed hands mul-tiple times throughout the war, the averagecitizen was most effected when the Federalforces controlled the community. Enemy oc-cupation could be harsh on residents, particu-larly with respect to having their property con-fiscated for use by the army. This theme fo-cused on average citizens is often more rel-evant to the typical heritage tourist or Franklinresident than are the stories of Civil War com-bat.

ReconstructionPost-war Franklin went through many of thesame political, economic and cultural experi-ences as that of communities all across theSouth. Many broad issues related to nation-wide Reconstruction can be interpreted inFranklin. One very tangible legacy of Recon-struction in Franklin is the historic NatchezStreet Neighborhood.

With the exception of African Americans being free,post-war agriculture in the South did not looknoticably different than prior to the Civil War.

Although Reconstruction brought some temporarypolitical clout to African Americans, the lives of mostdid not change dramatically following the Civil War.

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A small segment of Columbia Pike can be seen atthe far left of this circa 1884 view looking southtoward Winstead and Breezy Hills.

This circa 1884 view of the battlefield looks muchas it had twenty years earlier.

Source: U.S. Army Military History Institute


This circa 1884 photograph of the rebuilt cotton ginis viewed from the south, as Southern troops wouldhave viewed it.


The photograph above is looking north toward Ft.Granger from Carter’s Hill circa 1884.



This circa 1884 view of the Carter House illustratesnew brick construction in the roof gable of the dam-aged north facade.

Taken sometime in the late-19th century, this frontview of the Carter House includes a reconstructedfence along the building’s Columbia Pike frontage.


Late-19th century photograph of the rebuilt cottongin.

Source: Five Tragic Hours: The Battle of Franklin, McDonough & Connelly (1983)

“I could not tell for several minutes whichwere prisoners, the rebs. or ourselves, eachordering the other to surrender, and manyon each side clubbing their guns andchasing each other around the houses.”

- Major Huffman, 73rd Illinois

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The map at right was prepared during the early-1890s by the U.S. military as a supplementto the Official Records of the Great Rebellion,commonly referred to today as the “O.R.s.” Itis based upon the recollections and numer-ous offical accounts of the battle by variousfederal generals involved with the Battle ofNashville. Because most of the key physicalfeatures of the battlefield, such as streets, therailroad and the river, have not changed withrespect to their locations and general align-ments, maps such as this one are valuable indetermining how the historic battlefield relatesto modern Franklin. The next several pageswill examine the current physical condition ofthe core battlefield areas.

Although its orientation with the south at the top isconfusing, this US military map from General JacobCox’s book shows the full width of the battlefield,including the McGavock property on the east flank.

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The small black dots on this 1908 map representbuildings.

The Union main defensive lines are illustrated above superimposed over a modern tax map. The lines andadjacent areas of the heaviest fighting now traverese four separate historic districts.

The map below (left) illustrates that, even ahalf century after the Battle of Franklin, thetown had not grown extensively compared totoday’s Franklin. For example, althoughneighborhoods were starting to spring uparound the Carter House, it was still essen-tially located on the southern edge of the com-munity.

On the other hand, the vast majority of thebattlefield has been developed approximately

one century later. While the southerly portionof the battlefield contains commercial, indus-trial and residential development built withinthe past 50 years, most of the developmentclosest to the Union defensive positions is his-toric and significant in its own right. In fact,the area’s four historic districts include theHincheyville district, the Natchez Street dis-trict, the Adams Street district and theLewisburg Avenue district. Even if enoughfunding and willing sellers were available toacquire and clear land of post-Civil War de-velopment, such action would be inappropri-ate and likely not approved by the City.

This house sits on or near the Carter cotton ginsite. Unlike most houses in the area, it has beenmoved to the site and could be moved yet again.

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�!!�� %#� ("��!"�� *� ��To the west of the Columbia Pike, BatesDivision of Cheatham’s Corps attacked alonga front between what is now Natchez Streetand West Main Street (Carters Creek Pike).This terrain was characterized by open fieldsexcept for a dense grove of locust trees tothe southwest of the Carter House. The locustgrove was a dense thicket of vegetation andwas a natural barrier to the attackingConfederate troops. Advancing after sunset,Bate’s three divisions temporarily broke theUnion line but were driven back with heavylosses. Later that evening around 9:00 P.M.,Edward Johnson’s Division of Lee’s Corpswas ordered to attack and they hit the Unionline between the locust grove and NatchezStreet. This assault was also unsuccessfuland cost Johnson’s Division over 500casualties.

�%$�+,'� ��$'��-�The landscape comprising the West Flankremained largely open farmland until the late19th century. By the 1870s several brick andframe dwellings were constructed along FairStreet and West Main Street in the vicinity ofthe Union earthworks. These dwellings werebuilt within the Hincheyville subdivision and arepart of the Hincheyville Historic District.

During the first decade of the twentieth century,a number of new subdivisions were createdin the West Flank area. The largest of thesewas between Columbia Pike and Carter’sCreek Pike. Appropriately named BattleGround Park, this 1911 addition consisted offifty-four lots along two blocks directly west of

Columbia Pike. The land north of thesubdivision was owned by Battle GroundAcademy, which was established in 1889 asa boys school, and land to the south wasdevoted to the fair grounds. In 1909, theLynnhurst subdivision consisting of eleven lotswas established just west of Carter’s CreekPike (now West Main Street) by the AmericanLand Company. Just north of this, the thirty-six lot Thorner and Cannons Addition wascreated in 1911 between what is now WestMain and Natchez Street. Here Bates’sDivision of Cheatham’s Corps and Johnson’sDivision attacked the Union front sufferinghundreds of casualties.

By the late 1920s, the area along NatchezStreet and adjacent streets were lined withdozens of dwellings. The 1928 SanbornInsurance Map of the city shows most lotsdeveloped in this area. During the 1940s, atotal of sixty-six lots were developed for theEastview Subdivision along W. Main Street,and a few blocks to the northwest forty-sixlots were created for the West End Circlesubdivision. Two lots in the Eastviewdevelopment allowed for a market, gas station,or similar business. Infill construction in thisvicinity continued well into the late 20th century.

�--%�!&��!��'� #%�� ! � % �The West Flank of the Franklin Battlefieldoffers little in the way of realistic reclamation.There are no large undeveloped parcels in thisvicinity and the character of this area is thatof a dense residential community. The onlyway to reclaim any part of this section of thebattlefield would be the purchase and removalof existing buildings. This would be not onlycostly, but there would also be adverse effects

on historic properties. A number of buildingsalong Main Street are located in theHincheyville Historic District which was listedon the National Register of Historic Places in1982. A large area along Natchez Street wasalso listed on the National Register in 2003for its architectural and historical significance.This district’s history can be linked to the Battleof Franklin by virtue of Franklin’s experiencewith Reconstruction, as it is a historicallyAfrican American neighborhood.

Reclamation of the battlefield should not beat the expense of properties listed, ordetermined eligible for listing, on the NationalRegister of Historic Places. Given the extentof development and number of historicproperties along the West Flank, it isrecommended that reclamation efforts befocused elsewhere.

“I began to reflect upon the role of thebattlefield’s caretaker. Not just co-owner,but caretaker. The battlefield neededsomeone to look after it if it was toremain meaningful in the onslaught of afuture that all but dismissed its non-commercial value. It needed a personalinput, something akin to love, the surestmethod of preservation, but by no meansthe easiest or the cheapest.”

- Peter Svenson, land owner and author of “Battlefield: Farming a Civil War Battleground”

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The map below illustrates the attack of Batesand Johnson’s divisions against the Union rightflank. This portion of the battlefield was pri-

land uses. The street system is a mixture ofgridded sections and random alignments, butit generally follows the historic developmentpatterns of the area. Area “A” on the mapbelow, circled in yellow, is the Carter Houseproperty.

marily to the east of Carters Creek Pike andwest of the action that centered around Co-lumbia Pike. Today it consists of relativelydense and historic residential development,as well as some commercial and institutional

This view of the area immediately west of the Carter House reveals a combination of public facilitiesand housing..

Carter House

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�!!�� %#� (��&�� *��%.�,'� ��/�'�%�'Some of the battle’s most intense action tookplace along the Columbia Pike whenCheatham’s Corps attacked the federaldefenses. Two divisions, led by MajorGenerals John Brown and Patrick Cleburne,advanced northward from Winstead Hill alongeither side of the Columbia Pike. Thesedivisions first encountered the two advancedUnion brigades of Brigadier General GeorgeWagner, which were posted on a rise southof the main federal defenses. These twobrigades hastily retreated to the main defenseline with the Confederate troops in hot pursuit.After breaking the main Union line along theColumbia Pike, heavy fighting took placearound the Carter House as Wagner’s thirdbrigade under Brigadier General EmersonOpdycke counterattacked to blunt theConfederate advance. Cleburne was killed,Brown was wounded, and thousands oftroops in their divisions became casualtiesduring the fighting, which lasted into the night.

�%$�+,'� ��$'��-�As the town of Franklin grew during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, thearea along the Columbia Pike graduallybecame subdivided into a series of largelyresidential neighborhoods. Developers weretypically prominent local businessmen andland development companies who sometimespurchased family lands from heirs.Subdivisions often bore the names of thedeveloper or original land owner, butsometimes the land’s Civil War history wasacknowledged through the naming of streets.Many, such as Cleburne, Stewart, Adams, and

Gist Streets, honored Confederate officers,while others, such as Cannon Street andBattle Avenue, reflected the combat itself.

The heaviest fighting along Columbia Piketook place on the Fountain B. Carter farm. Inthe early 1890s, Fountain’s son, Moscow B.Carter, subdivided the area north of the houseinto residential lots. In 1889, Battle GroundAcademy was founded and constructed alarge brick building at the corner of ColumbiaPike and Cleburne Street. This building wasdestroyed by fire in 1902, and the school wasrelocated to its present location alongColumbia Avenue. During the 1920s, the landeast of Columbia Pike and south of CleburneStreet was divided into fourteen lots as theCleburne Addition.

During the late 1930s, five more subdivisionswere created along either side of theColumbia Pike. The majority of this acreagewas east of Carter’s Creek Pike near thealready developed Battle Ground Park. Here143 residential lots were drawn in theEverbright, School Manor, and Sunset ManorSubdivisions between 1937 and 1939. Alsoin 1937, the Hillcrest and BattlefieldSubdivisions, with seven and sixteen lotsrespectively, formed east of Columbia PikeThe Hillcrest development was north ofCleburne Street and the BattlefieldSubdivision consisted of two blocks east ofColumbia Pike north of Gist Street.

In 1949, the Hill Addition added twenty-fourlots one block east of Columbia Pike nearthe Carter House, and the MeadowlawnSubdivision with thirteen lots was formed oneblock east of Columbia Pike along AdamsStreet. Following a few more small

developments in the 1950s, residentialhousing covered most of the main battlefieldarea along Columbia Pike. In addition to theresidential development, several commercialbuildings were also constructed in recentdecades, most notably the commercial clusterat Cleburne Street and Columbia Pike.

�--%�!&��!��'� #%�� ! � % �Although there is little open space along theColumbia Pike in the core battlefield area, thereare two primary areas which hold promise forsubstantial reclamation. One of these is theOld Franklin High School gymnasium sitenorth of the Carter House. It was from thispoint that Opdycke’s Brigade launched theircounterattack which halted the advance ofBrown’s and Cleburne’s Divisions. This parcelpresently contains school buildings from themid-20th century. Their removal would allowfor a substantial parcel of 2.6 acres to beincorporated into the Carter House site andreturned back to its appearance during thebattle.

The second potential site for reclamation isthe area around the site of the Carter CottonGin north of Cleburne Street and east ofColumbia Pike. An undeveloped lot of just overone-half an acre is located at the dead end ofParkview Drive. This lot encompasses partof a swale which was just to the northeast ofthe Carter Cotton Gin site. Accounts of thebattle suggest that this swale helped to shelterwounded soldiers and Confederates takenprisoner. To the south and southwest of thislot are three dwellings facing Cleburne Streetand a ca. 1960 commercial building atColumbia Pike. The building at 109 Cleburnewas moved to this site, and 111 and 113

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Cleburne Street are bungalows that do notpossess notable architectural or historicalsignificance. These four buildings are locatedon the site of federal earthworks, the CarterCotton Gin, and the approximate location ofthe death of Major General Patrick Cleburne.

The purchase and removal of these buildings,along with the existing lot on Parkview Drive,would create 2.5 acres of land which couldbe returned back to its 1864 appearance. Thisinitiative could include the possiblereconstruction of the Carter Cotton Gin nearits original location, as well as reconstructionof federal earthworks. The reclamation of thisland would also compliment the Carter Houseproperty across the street and create a greatersense of the era of the battle along ColumbiaPike.

A third area of potential reclamation was thesubject of a study completed in 2003 for theWilliamson County government. This study,“Phase I of an Interpretive Plan for the Battleof Franklin,” was intended to create a conceptplan for the interpretation of the Battle GroundAcademy (BGA) property owned by theWilliamson County government. The BGAproperty contains a large portion of theadvanced Union earthworks which wereoccupied by two brigades of Wagner’sDivision at the onset of the battle. While mostof this property was developed in the early 20th

century for BGA, some open space remainsalong Columbia Pike. The plan called for theremoval of a number of buildings to make wayfor an area of reconstructed earthworks, andthe rehabilitation of the BGA library into aninterpretive center. As of June of 2004, these

recommendations have not been adopted bythe County, and a new public library wasrecently developed on the site. The future ofthe rest of the BGA campus is currently underreview. If this site is further developed, it isrecommended that some open space bepreserved and interpreted with waysidemarkers and exhibits that describe the actionat the advanced Union line.

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While it would be expensive, the acquisition andclearance of these commercial buildings on thecorner of Columbia Avenue and Cleburne Streethas been a long-term objective of many battlefieldpreservationists in Franklin.

This small green space at the end of Parkview Driveis located just northeast of where the Carter cottongin is believed to have stood.

This old frame house at 109 Cleburne Street sitson or very near the Carter cotton gin building, a keylandmark during the Battle of Franklin. Becausethe building was moved to this site, it could bemoved again without significantly impacting its his-toric integrity.

This mid-20th century house on Cleburne Streetsits just southwest of where the cotton gin is be-lieved to have been.

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The map below illustrates the attack ofBrown’s and Cleburne’s divisions against theUnion middle. This portion of the battlefieldconsists primarily of older residential buildingsand newer commercial buildings, as well assome commercial uses in historic residentialbuildings. It also includes institutional build-ings such as the old BGA campus, the newCounty library, and the old brick Franklin HighSchool gymnasium. Area “A” on the map be-low is the Old Franklin High School buildings,area “B” is the Cotton Gin site, and area “C”is the Carter House property. All three sitesare circled in yellow.

The area around the Carter House features a vari-ety of commercial uses, including large parking lots.

Another view of the Carter House area on ColumbiaPike.

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�!!�� %#� !�.��!,'( % � - 'To the east of Cheatham’s Corps, the threedivisions under the command of Lt. GeneralAlexander P. Stewart formed south andsoutheast of Carnton and advanced northwesttowards the federal line. As they marched pastCarnton, Stewart’s troops began takingcasualties from the artillery fire of Fort Grangeron the east side of the river. As theyapproached the Union line, Stewart’s threedivisions crossed the railroad and advancedon either side of the Lewisburg Pike. Stewart’smen ran into intense rifle and artillery fire asthey encountered an Osage Orange hedgeand abatis in front of the Union line. Takingheavy casualties, Stewart’s Divisions wereunable to achieve any success in penetratingthe federal fortifications.

�%$�+,'� ��$'��-�The land containing the heaviest fighting alongthe Lewisburg Pike was subdivided at the turnof the century into residential lots. The earliestsubdivision established in this area was theMcEwen Addition, which consisted of twenty-seven lots west of Lewisburg Pike and southof what is now Fowlkes Street. Prominentbusinessman John B. McEwen subdivided theproperty in the late-1890s and by 1900 hadsold at least eight lots. The plat for the propertyrecognizes that the addition is “Over TheBattle Field.” Additional lots were subdividedlater on the east side of the pike. In 1903, thissection of Lewisburg Pike and Adams Streetwas sufficiently developed to warrant itsinclusion into the city limits.

By the 1920s, almost all of the lots in this areawere developed and no remains of the Unionfortifications are known to exist. The EastFlank of the battlefield is now characterizedby residential areas containing historic homesfrom the early-20th century. The area iscomposed of two historic districts: theLewisburg Pike Historic District, listed on theNational Register in 1988, and the AdamsStreet Historic District, listed in 1999.

�--%�!&��!��'� #%�� ! � % �The East Flank provides the greatestopportunities for battlefield reclamation in thecity. The area that was the site of the mostintense fighting along the Union fortificationshas been lost due to residential developmentin the early-20th century. The Union lineextended through areas that are now theLewisburg Pike and Adams Street HistoricDistricts. However, four large open tractsremain extant, and they offer opportunities forinterpretation and recreation of a true“battlefield.”

The first of these tracts is a 4.9 acre parcelcomposed of an open field and woodlandsbetween Adams Street and the railroad. Thisparcel is owned by several adjacent propertyowners and it is currently open space. Thebrigades of Major General Edward Walthalladvanced across this land during the battlesustaining casualties from artillery fire. Thistract is not readily accessible. However, aclosed alley is shown leading to this propertyfrom both Adams Street and Stewart Avenue.The parcel is bounded on the north, west, andsouth by the rear yards of adjacent houses,and on the east by the right-of-way of therailroad. While offering some opportunities for

wayside exhibits and signage, use of thisproperty poses constraints due to its difficultaccess. The present owners are to becommended for keeping this land preserved.The tract’s acquisition through purchase oreasements is recommended in the future ifthe property is ever offered for sale.

The second of these tracts is the formerWillow Plunge property located at LewisburgPike and Carnton Lane. Willow Plunge,opened in 1924, was the largest outdoorconcrete swimming pool built in the South.The pool was closed in 1967, and all of thebuildings and structures associated with thisproperty were removed. Located in the floodplain of the Harpeth River, this large tractcontains open fields and a tree line. Thedivision of Major General William W. Loringadvanced across this property and sustainedcasualties from artillery fire from Fort Grangerand the main Union line. The Willow Plungeproperty offers an opportunity for anautomobile pull-off with wayside exhibits. Theproposed pedestrian path connecting theFranklin Country Club property and the CollinsFarm would go through the north edge of thistract.

The third and fourth tracts on the East Flankare the Collins Farm and the Franklin CountryClub. Because of the importance of thesetwo tracts, they are examined in more detaillater in this plan.

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The map below illustrates the attack ofCleburne’s and Loring’s divisions against theUnion left flank. This portion of the battlefieldconsists primarily of both older and newerresidential neighborhoods, as well as a fewcommercial buildings along Lewisburg Pike.There are also some light industrial uses im-mediately south of the Collins Farm property.

The railroad, which is aligned along a north-south axis, is another key feature, and thereare some isolated open spaces flanking ei-ther side of it. Two such spaces are circledin yellow in the map below, in addition to Wil-low Plunge, located to the southeast of thosespaces. Areas “A” and “B”, both circled by ablack dashed line, are the old Franklin HighSchool property and Cotton Gin site, respec-tively.

This field is part of the 4.9-acre tract left undevel-oped between Adams Street and the railroad (la-beled on the map as “Fields & Woods”).

The former site of the Willow Plunge swimming poolconsists of open space adjacent to Lewisburg Pike.

This open space is the westerly portion of the CollinsFarm property and is bound on the west by the rail-road tracks.

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Development pressures remain strong within thebattlefield area, especially along Columbia Pikewhere “big box” retail is currently locating.

General Battlefield Area

Based upon the battlefield’s existing land uses,it can be segmented into three general areas:commercial, residential and industrial. Whilethere are plenty of exceptions with respect toother land uses within these various areas,below is a general overview of each:

(%�� Commercial land uses are most concentratedalong Columbia Pike along the segment thatwas within the Union lines (between the CarterHouse and downtown). Unlike the other twoland use areas, commercial developmentdoes not tend to extend much beyond Colum-bia Pike. Most of the development is in theform of relatively small scale retail and ser-vice businesses. Its physical character is amixture of pre-1950s urban form in which thebuildings front closely onto the street in con-trast with post-1950s development that is more“strip commercial” in nature with large signageand parking in the front. Landscaping is veryminimal in the commercial area. Develop-ment pressures in this area appear to be mini-mal, and the limited new development that hasoccurred here in recent years appears to re-inforce the existing patterns.

��'�$��!�� Along Columbia Pike, this area extends ap-proximately from the Carter House to DownsBoulevard, and it consists of older single-fam-ily homes dating between the late-nineteenthand early-twentieth centuries. The exceptionto this pattern is the subdivision near CarntonPlantation and the Franklin County Club, whichis more recent and suburban in character.

��$&'!�� Most of the lands flanking Columbia Pike southof Downs Boulevard feature light industrialuses. Lands extending further from eitherside of Columbia Pike include residential, ag-ricultural, vacant land, a golf course, and a his-toric house museum (Carnton). The newlydeveloping retail center at Columbia Pike andMack Hatcher may impact land uses in thatarea by causing a shift toward more retailuses.

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��$��&�'Land values in an area such as the battlefieldare a challenge to determine. Their value isdetermined by many variables unique to them,including their specific location, zoning, size,environmental constraints, and current stateof development. Because property tax valua-tions are not always consistent with currentmarket values, sales comparables are the bestway to evaluate land values. Two large par-cels within the study area are examined belowas comparables.

Sample Tracts

Werthan TractThis 64-acre tract is currently undeveloped. Itis located on the west side of Columbia Pikeand south of Downs Boulevard. Because theproperty is on the market and has not yet sold,only the asking price can be used as a landvalue basis. It is quite likely that the ultimateselling price will be less, but that price cannotbe predicted. Below is a per-acre value esti-mation:

$6,220,000 @ 64 acres = $97,188 per acre

Franklin County ClubThis 110-acre property was sold to a newowner in 2003. At the time of its sale, it wasalready developed with an 18-hole golf course,club house, tennis courts, various outbuildings,and parking. It is located on the south side ofLewisburg Pike and accessed off of CarntonSquare. Below is a per-acre value estimationbased upon its recent purchase price:

$5,000,000 @ 110 acres = $45,455 per acre

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These two value comparisons underscore themany variables noted previously that can im-pact values. There are four likely reasons forthe Werthan tract’s much higher value com-pared with the country club: 1) It is zoned in-dustrial rather than residential, 2) It is locatedon a key commercial street on which a majornew retail development is occurring, 3) It isonly an asking price and may not actually bepurchased for that amount, and 4) Much ofthe country club site consists of floodplains. The Werthan tract is in the path of development

currently marching down Columbia Pike.

Although the country club is located in a strong residential area, much of the site consists of floodplains.

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� � � � 'Several plans have been prepared during thepast decade that impact historic resources re-lated to the Franklin Battlefield. Below is achronological summary of each, starting withthe most recent.

Central Franklin Area Plan (2004)This plan lays out a strategy for the downtownarea and surrounding historic neighborhoods.Chapter 6, entitled “Battlefield Preservation,”focuses specifically on the battlefield. Thethree “Priority Actions” recommended include:• Develop an organizational strategy that places battlefield preservation efforts under a single entity led by the City• Identify funding sources for battlefield preservation and establish a network of sites to tell a coherent story of the battle• Develop and implement a battlefield preservation plan

Franklin, Tennessee Land Use Plan (2004)This plan, adopted by the City of Franklin inFebruary of 2004, addresses the entire areawithin Franklin’s designated Urban GrowthBoundary. It does not specifically address thebattlefield beyond the page on historic preser-vation within the “Guiding Principles” sectionof the plan. The majority of the plan consistsof defining various “Character Areas” and pro-viding a concept for each. The battlefield issplit up among several different character ar-eas, and there are no specific recommenda-tions that are substantially more impacting onthe surviving battlefield resources than thecurrent land uses and zoning.

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Phase I: Franklin Battlefield Interpretive Plan(2003) This plan was commissoned byWilliamson County and prepared by a con-sultant. The focus of the plan is the County-owned former site of Battle Ground Academy,a private school which has since relocated.Located south of the Carter House and ap-proximately where General Wagner’s forwardline existed, the site is developed with sev-eral institutional buildings. Most recently, thenew County Library was constructed in thenortheast corner of the site. The plan pro-poses demolishing all buildings on the siteexcept the new library and the Old BGA Li-brary, which would be used as an interpre-tive center. Residential buildings to the southwould also be demolished, and the site wouldbe interpreted with several wayside exhibits.

Historic Preservation Plan (2001)This document addresses all aspects of pres-ervation in Franklin. While it does not focussubstantially on the battle and its resources,the plan does give it limited attention through-out the plan. The plan’s recommendationsparticularly relevant to the Franklin Battlefieldinclude the following:• Develop a “community heritage center,” which would focus primarily on serving residents, but also serve as a visitors center• Improve the appearance of Columbia Pike given its concentration of historic resources

Columbia Avenue Design Guidelines (2000)Although this document is not technically aplan, because it has never been adopted aspublic policy, it is addressed on this page.Commissioned by the Heritage Foundationof Franklin and Williamson County, theseguidelines attempt to rebuild the historic ur-ban fabric that once characterized the north

ern segment of this corridor, while providing agreen edge to the southerly industrial end.

U.S. Highway 31 Battlefield Corridor Protec-tion Plan (1996) This plan was commissionedby the Heritage Foundation of Franklin andWilliamson County and funded by the NationalPark Service’s American Battlefield ProtectionProgram. While the 42-mile “Battlefield Cor-ridor” extends between Nashville and Colum-bia, the “Planning Area” was limited to a pointtwo miles north of Franklin to Spring Hill justnorth of the Saturn Parkway. The plan exam-ines a variety of issues along the corridor, in-cluding historic resources, natural features,zoning and visual qualities. It also prioritizesproperties and offers a variety of techniquesfor preserving and enhancing the area. Keyrecommendations include several interpre-tive wayside pull-off areas along Highway 31and master plans for specific Civil War sites.

Winstead Hill and Fort Granger Study (1995)This study included separate plans to physi-cally enhance these two important sites. Is-sues included parking, pedestrian access andinterpretation. Portions of this study have beenimplemented incrementally over time.

Excerpts from the HistoricPreservation Plan (2001)

“The Heritage Foundation is enhancingits advocacy efforts on behalf of pre-serving the remaining battlefield lands...This... should receive the strongestpossible support by the City andCounty... Finding ways to stem the lossof Franklin’s cultural landscapes,particularly remnants of the FranklinBattlefield, should be a high priority.”

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General Battlefield Area

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The battlefield area’s zoning patterns are rela-tively consistent with the existing land use mapon page 23. Below is a summary of the zon-ing categories most prevalent on the battle-field:

General Commercial (GC)This zoning classification is limited to fournodes in the battlefield area: north end of Co-lumbia Pike (around the Carter House), nearthe Columbia Pike and Downs Boulevard in-tersection, near the Columbia Pike and MackHatcher Parkway, and on West Main Streetnorth of Downs Boulevard. The zone permitsa variety of commercial uses, the maximumpermitted floor area ratio (FAR) is .30, mini-mum front yards are 30 feet, and maximumbuilding heights are 35 feet. GC encouragesthe type of “strip commercial” development thatmany consider to be in stark contrast to thedesired character for a historic landscape.

Light Industrial (LI) & Heavy Industrial (HI)These two classifications apply to most battle-field lands located south of Downs Boulevardand west of the railroad line, and much moreland is designated LI than HI. LI permits thesame types of commercial uses as the GC,in addition to light industrial uses. HI does notpermit most small-scale commercial uses, butdoes permit all types of assembly and manu-facturing. The maximum permitted FAR forboth zones is .40. The minimum front yard is75 feet in the LI zone and 30 feet in the HIzone. The maximum building height is 35 feet

in both zones. Unlike commercial develop-ment, which insists on high visibility from thestreet, there are often opportunities for screen-ing industrial sites with landscaping.

High Residential (HR) & Med. Residential (MR)The HR zone dominates the area north ofDowns Boulevard and west of the rail line,while the MR dominates the area east of therail line. Both zones are limited to single-fam-ily houses. HR permits 3 units per acre, andMR permits 2 units per acre. Setback require-ments are based upon the street type, andmaximum building heights are 35 feet in both.

The City of Franklin recently adopted devel-opment standards that apply city-wide and areintended to raise the quality level of new de-velopment. The standards also attempt toreinforce a more urban and historic develop-ment form within the city’s older (pre-WWII)areas. The most significant aspect of thesestandards for the battlefield are their potentialto enhance the appearance of commercial cor-ridors such as Columbia Pike. However, theydo not go as far as the Columbia Avenue De-sign Guidelines would in enhancing that corri-dor if they were adopted by the City.

Source: City of Franklin Zoning Map

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("��)�'The following key challenges currently existfor the battlefield and preservation efforts:

Development PressureThe current development of the shoppingcenter at Columbia Pike and Mack HatcherParkway underscores the tremendousdevelopment pressures existing throughoutFranklin, and particularly on Columbia Pike. Itis likely that this new development willreposition this corridor in the broader realestate market and encourage furtherdevelopment in the area.

Lack of Connectivity for ResourcesThe Civil War resources that have been wellpreserved, such as Fort Granger, the CarterHouse and Carnton Plantation, aregeographically scattered and lack the kind ofconnectivity that lends itself to a cohesiveunderstanding of the battle.

Lack of FundingAs is the case for many worthy causes, thereis limited funding for battlefield protection.Public sector grants are very limited,particularly for land acquisition.

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� - - % � ! & � � ! � � 'While the battlefield’s challenges areconsiderable, there are many reasons foroptimism, including the following:

Recent Golf Course AcquisitionA descendant of the McGavock Familypurchased the 110-acre Franklin CountryClub in 2003. Although it presently continuesto be used as a country club, the owner’s long-term goal is to transform it to its historicappearance to the greatest extent possible.Its adjacency to Carnton Plantation and theConfederate Cemetery will add tremendouslyto the site’s interpretation. Furthermore,because fighting occurred on this property, itcan fill the void of a bonafide “battlefield” sitefor visitors to experience.

Strong Political SupportAlthough this plan was commissioned by theHeritage Foundation, it has received strongsupport from the local and stategovernments. Key officials representing allof these entities participated enthusiasticallyDevelopment pressures are the number one threat

to the Franklin Battlefield.

in the project’s various meetings. Also, theCity of Franklin is in the process of approvingthe issuance of a $10 million bond, for which$2.5 million is earmarked for acquiring theFranklin Country Club site from the currentowner. While another $2.5 million must beraised, it is the owners’ reported intention touse their replenished funds to target otherbattlefield sites for preservation.

Effective Preservation OrganizationsThere are many groups that support thepreservation of the battlefield, most of whichare listed on page 3 of this plan under“Stakeholder Participation.” In particular, theHeritage Foundation, this plan’s sponsor, hasa strong track record of preserving sites, suchas Roper’s Knob. The Save the FranklinBattlefield Association is another especiallyimportant and capable group for this project.

Key Preserved SitesAlthough much of the battlefield has been lostto development over the years, a handful ofjewels have survived. Sites such as theCarter House, Carnton Plantation, FortGranger, Winstead Hill, and numerousindividual buildings, such as the Lotz House,each tell a different and important story of thebattle.

Potential for Site LinkagesWhile the “lack of connectivity” is cited as achallenge for the battlefield, the potential existsto more strongly tie together the various sites.In addition to the potential to aestheticallyenhance main corridors and providedirectional signage, greenway linkages arepossible. In particular, land along the HarpethRiver and rail lines can be used to link sites.

The recent acquisition of the Franklin Country Clubprovides a major boost for battlefield preservationefforts.

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rtsThe Battle of Franklin was fought on the edge

of an urban area, and by the time nationalcommemoration efforts were underway at theturn of the century, much of the landscomprising the battlefield had been developedor were highly valued. As a result no formalnational “battlefield” was ever established.When ceremonies were held at Franklin in1914 to commemorate the 50th anniversaryof the battle, much of the battlefield wasalready subdivided for residentialdevelopment. Over the next several decades,no extensive efforts to preserve the FranklinBattlefield would take place.

The significance of the battlefield was finallyrecognized by the State of Tennessee when itpurchased the Carter House in 1951. TheCarter House, Carnton, Fort Granger, andWinstead Hill were all recognized as NationalHistoric Landmarks in 1966 for their role duringthe battle. In 1978, the Carnton Associationacquired the remaining land of the CarntonPlantation and began restoration of theproperty. Since the early 1990s, interest inpreserving and reclaiming sections of thebattlefield has increased significantly. Theseefforts include:

Franklin Battlefield Conferences (1992,1993, 1994) - These three conferences weresponsored by the City of Franklin, WilliamsonCounty, the Heritage Foundation and other localgroups to bring together business and historicalgroups to discuss methods of preservingbattlefield resources and establishing heritagetourism. The conferences generated muchinterest for preserving Franklin’s Civil War sites.

Original research produced battlefield maps anda Battle of Franklin Driving Tour Map.

Profiles of America’s Most Threatened CivilWar Battlefields (1993 / revised 1998) -National Parks Service - American BattlefieldProtection Program - a survey of the Nov 30,1864 and April 10, 1863 battlefields in WilliamsonCounty. The maps defined the area that wasstudied, and the boundaries of the corebattlefield areas. This study encompasseddozens of Civil War Battlefields in several states,and is planned to be updated.

Winstead Hill Park and Fort Granger Study(1995) – The City of Franklin sponsored a studyresulting in land being purchased on the northface of Winstead Hill. Fort Granger had beenpurchased by the City in the mid-1970s, andthe Winstead Hill acreage was purchased bythe City for a park. Interpretative signs wereplaced at both of these public parks.

US Highway 31 Battlefield CorridorProtection Plan (1996) - Sponsored by theWilliamson County Heritage Foundation with agrant from the American Battlefield ProtectionProgram, this study identified all historic sites,including battlefield parcels, along US Highway31 from the Mack Hatcher Parkway north ofFranklin to Saturn Parkway near Spring Hill. Thestudy addressed preservation priorities,identified resources, land use and zoning,highway frontage, set-back requirements, andother characteristics. This plan has not yet beenadopted as a guide by the City or County.

Roper’s Knob Purchase (1996) - The Stateowns 22 acres of this important site, while theHeritage Foundation purchased 26.3 acres.The Heritage Foundation gave a conservation

easement that is held by the Land Trust forTennessee. The Heritage Foundation hasfuture plans to donate their holdings to the Cityof Franklin.

Cotton Gin Site Purchase (1997) - TheHeritage Foundation purchase an approximatelyhalf acre portion of the area known as the siteof the Carter’s cotton gin, a key battlefieldlandmark and close to where ConfederateGeneral Patrick Cleburne was mortallywounded. The Heritage Foundation hopes toadd to this site with adjacent land acquisitionsso that the story of the battle and the cottongin’s role can be better told.

Preservation and Interpretation Plan forCivil War Resources in Tennessee (2000) -Sponsored by the Tennessee WarsCommission, this plan is both an overall statestrategy and a “how-to” preservation guide forlocal governments and organizations. This plandefines five regional themes and six statewidethemes. The regional theme for WilliamsonCounty is “Hood’s Tennessee Campaign.”

A Master Plan for the Tennessee Civil WarNational Heritage Area (2002) - In 1995,Congress established a National HeritageAreas program as part of its National ParksService. In 1996 Congress funded theTennessee Civil War National Heritage programwith the goal to establish a strategy, coordinatedwith local governments and preservationgroups, for preserving and interpretingTennessee’s Civil War era resources. Afterpublic meetings across the state, this resultantMaster Plan helps local governments andgroups become part of the statewidepreservation effort.

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Purchase of the Collins Farm (2001) - TheSave the Franklin Battlefield Associationpurchased the Collins Farm on Lewisburg Pikein 2001. This 3.2 acre tract contains a historicdwelling and open space crossed by Loring’sDivision during the battle.

Phase I of an Interpretive Plan for the Battleof Franklin (2003) - This study wascommissioned by the Williamson Countygovernment to assess the preservation andinterpretation of the property it owns at theformer site of the Battle Ground Academy. Thisplan recommended the removal of numerousbuildings, the re-creation of Federalfortifications, and conversion of the existinglibrary building into an interpretive center.

Purchase of East Flank of Battlefield (2003)In 2003, a descendant of the McGavock Fam-ily purchased the 110-acre Franklin CountryClub with the intention of eventually transform-ing the property back to its Civil War-era ap-pearance. The owner hopes to recoup hisinvestment by selling the property to the Cityand other battlefield supporters so it can be-come a public battlefield park.

Franklin Country Club golf course

Collins Farm

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“We have to renew a commitment inourselves in this generation to preservethe battlefields of this war, the same kindof commitment that the veterans had thatshed the blood on these places, and thencame back and then shed tears ofcamaraderie and memory in later years.”

- Kathleen Georg Harrison National Park Historian

Battlefield protection efforts can employ a widevariety of measures, depending upon theresource types and their circumstances. Thefollowing preservation methods are the typesmost often relevant to Civil War battlefields:

• Fee-simple land purchases • Conservation easement purchases • Public policy measures (zoning,

development codes, etc.) • Landscape restoration (earthworks,

historic vegetation, etc.) • Building restoration

While fee-simple land purchases andconservation easements are the two mostcommon tools for land acquisition, it shouldbe noted that there are several other legalinstruments available for controlling the rightsto real estate. Also, in addition to measures topreserve and restore battlefields, mostplanning efforts include strategies forenhancing the site for visitation, such asimproved access and the creation of parkingfacilities, as well as interpreting the battlefieldthrough features such as wayside exhibits,tour brochures, and interpretive centers.

Fee-Simple Land PurchasesThis land acquisition method is the mostcontrolling and costly, as it extends the entire“bundle of rights” to a land owner. Under feesimple ownership, there are no limitations onthe landowner’s ability to use their propertyother than those imposed by governmentalregulation. In light of battlefield protectionefforts, fee simple acquisition provides thegreatest level of control of historic resources,

but it is also the most costly approach,especially in areas that have experiencedinflated land values because of developmentpressures. Regardless, fee simple purchaseis the most common form of battlefieldprotection used across the country.

Conservation Easement PurchasesConservation easements, sometimesreferred to as scenic easements, are a toolthat can be used to control one or moreaspects of property development withouthaving to actually purchase the parcel outright.To protect historic resources such as abattlefield, an interested party may purchasea conservation easement so that a piece ofproperty remains in agricultural use or someother undeveloped state. The easementowner or “holder” purchases the developmentrights to the property. The landownercontinues to own the property. The propertyremains in private hands and on the tax rolls.

Conservation easements “run with the land”and are, thus, binding on subsequent owners.A property owner may benefit from the saleof an easement through a lower property taxburden. By limiting the development potentialof a parcel, a conservation easementreduces the property’s market value and, insome cases, the associated tax liability. Anexception to this rule in Tennessee is landalready benefiting from “green belt”designation. The advantage of an easementpurchase is that it is typically less expensivethan a fee simple purchase, depending uponland values. On the other hand, owners ofconservation easements generally lack mostof the other land rights gained through feesimple purchases, such as unrestrictedaccess to, and use of, the land.

Examples of some of the most successfuluse of conservation easement purchases canbe found in Maryland. The MarylandDepartment of Natural Resources, throughits Program Open Space (POS), haspurchased easements for numerousproperties comprising those portions of theAntietam Battlefield peripheral to the NationalPark holdings.

Public Policy MeasuresIn most cases, public policy measures, suchas zoning, are of limited value for protectingbattlefields. It is extremely difficult in mostjurisdictions to generate the political will to“down zone” property, in which the allowedresidential density or commercial intensity isactually reduced from the current zoning.

Cluster ZoningOne tool that is useful in some cases is clusterzoning or “Open Space Development,” whichshifts development densities within a site sothat development is geographicallyconcentrated so that more open space canbe preserved. Franklin’s zoning hasprovisions for such approaches. Even thatapproach, however, can still result insubstantial damage to battlefields, and it is

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best reserved for maintaining viewsheds thatare adjacent to battlefield lands.

Special Corridor ZoningThe zoning tool having the greatest potentialfor being effectively implemented is specialcorridor zoning. Because this type of zoningfocuses on what can be viewed from the road,it sometimes permits substantialdevelopment to occur on a given property solong as it is set back considerably from theroad and screened with dense vegetation.One exception to applying this approach isshallow parcels, in which case specialcorridor zoning can result in a legitimatehardship and “takings” claim. While thisapproach provides limited value forpreservation, it is very beneficial for enhancingthe visitor experience. Special corridor zoningis particularly appropriate for roads leading tohistoric sites. Another type of corridor zoningcan be applied to more urban commercialareas. These standards do not attempt tovisually screen development, but rather toenhance the appearance of gateways tobattlefields. This type of approach wasproposed for the Columbia Avenue DesignGuidelines that were prepared for the HeritageFoundation in 2000, but never adopted by theCity.

GIS MappingWith respect to the planning program of thelocal government, simply getting them toinclude the location of battlefields within theircomprehensive plans, Geographic InformationSystem (GIS) or other mapping systems is aworthy starting point for heightening the

awareness of local planners to resourceprotection issues. The NPS’s CulturalResources GIS Facility (CRGIS), which wasinitiated in 1990 to map battlefield features,utilizes Global Positioning Systems (GPS) asa high-tech means of transferring fieldobservations into a spatial database that canbe electronically manipulated. The CRGISmay serve as a good source of technicaladvice for the City of Franklin in mappingbattlefields.

Archeological Survey RequirementAt present, the City has no requirements forarcheological survey work prior todevelopment approval. One option is for theCity to require a survey for developmentswithin the delineated battlefield, or perhapsonly the “core” battlefield area. An alternativeto requiring such a survey for alldevelopments is to limit the requirement todevelopments of a certain magnitude, suchas 10 acres or more. It is important torecognize the difference between techniquesapplied to prehistoric habitational sitescompared to a nineteenth century battlefield.

Landscape RestorationWhen considering landscape restorationefforts, it is recommended that The Secretaryof the Interior’s Standards for the Treatmentof Historic Properties with Guidelines for theTreatment of Cultural Landscapes (1996) beconsulted. A major challenge to restoringhistoric landscapes is successfullyresearching its original appearance. TheStones River Battlefield in Murfreesboro, forexample, has benefited greatly from researchinto historic maps and eyewitness accountsof the battle that allowed the NPS to create arelatively accurate historic landscape map

those that are, such as the Franklin Battlefield,buildings that were used as officersheadquarters, post-battle hospitals, andsimilar functions provide one of the mosttangible and vivid snapshots of a battle. Whilesome such structures are used as privateresidences, those that are income producingcan benefit from the federal investment taxcredit for the rehabilitation of historicstructures should a major restoration beneeded. This program provides a 20% taxcredit for qualified rehabilitations based uponthe following standards:• National Register designation or eligibility• Rehabilitation follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation• Project costs exceed the property’s adjusted cost basis (cost of acquisition and rehabilitation work to date)• Property must be income producing (i.e., commercial use or residential rental)

While a non-profit organization cannot benefitfrom the credit, income-producing venturessuch, as bed and breakfasts, can.

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during the 1960s. Most sites, such as theFranklin Battlefield, are not as blessed withsuch valuable materials. The restoration ofearthworks, such as those at Fort Granger,must be done with extreme care and underexpert supervision. Otherwise, attempts mayresult in more harm than good.

Building RestorationWhile the primary emphasis in battlefieldpreservation tends to be on historiclandscapes, surviving buildings can also becritical resources in telling the story of a battle.Many battlefields are not so fortunate as tofeature surviving buildings. However, for

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“As the Confederate army began to file inbetween the two hills and to deploy rightand left and take their positions in line,the Confederate bands began to play“Dixie,’ and a shout ... went up ...”

- Hardin Figuers, 15 year old Franklin resident

“The Confederate army just below us waspassing along the [Columbia] pike, onepart filing to the right, the other to the leftat the foot of the hill.”

- Dr. G. C. Phillips, surgeon, 22nd Mississippi

For the purposes of this plan, the battlefieldhas been delineated into two different areas,as explained below and as illustrated on a mapon the following page. It is noteworthy that,because it is impossible to pinpoint the exactlocation of where the battlefield and core com-bat areas begin and end, the map has inten-tionally obscured those boundaries.

��!!��#��$� ��Battlefields are typically defined as the area inwhich opposing armies became aware of eachothers’ presence and began strategicmanuvering in order to gain a competitive ad-vantage for the ensuing combat. The battle-field area includes troop staging areas, bat-tery positions, rear field hospitals, and the com-bat areas. It does not, on the other hand, in-clude the routes over which armies traveledto reach the battlefield area. The battlefieldarea is often thought of as the “chess board”over which the opposing generals moved theirrespective armies in the game of warfare.

In the case of the Franklin Battlefield, a recentcommercial development called into questionhow far south the battlefield extended. As thetwo quotes above to the far right verify,Franklin’s battlefield area undoubtedly ex-tended as far south as Winstead and BreezyHills. It was from those hills that the Confed-erate commanders deployed their troops. Infact, the battlefield area extends a consider-able distance south of Winstead and BreezyHills because fighting occurred there when theConfederate advance forces first encounteredUnion troops prior to the main fighting later inthe day. The “Battlefield Area” can be thought of as the chess board on which opposing armies manuvered.

�%�� %��!� ��In addition to the area under artillery fire, the“Core Combat Area” is generally consideredthe area of musket fire between the opposinglines. A rifled musket could typically shoot withsome level of accuracy a distance of 300 yardsIn the case of Franklin, the opposing linesshifted, as the Union “forward line,” which ex-tended just south of Battle Avenue, waspushed back toward the Carter House early inthe battle. Franklin’s core combat area is alsodefined by artillery fire from Ft. Granger intothe Confederate right near Carnton Plantation.

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Note: Battlefield element labels surrounded by ablue dash-lined box are no longer existing intact.

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The following central ideas of the master planare explained on the subsequent pages inthe order listed below (unrelated to priorities):

Develop a 1) Visitors Center for the city’soverall history and an 2) Interpretive Cen-ter for the Battlefield.

Expand the 3) Carter House site by linkingwith adjacent properties.

Develop a 4) Battlefield Park next to 5)Carnton Plantation by reclaiming and in-terpreting the existing golf course as an im-portant part of the battlefield.

Enhance and interpret the 6) Collins Farmsite.

Expand the 7) Winstead Hill trail system andprotect 8) Breezy Hill from development.

Improve access, vistas and signage for 9)Fort Granger.

Enhance access and interpretation forRopers Knob and Cedar Hill (both northof the area shown in the map at right).

Interpret the many Downtown Buildings as-sociated with the Battle of Franklin.

Link Franklin’s Civil War sites through aGreeway System, Directional Signage forroadways, reprinting the existing DrivingTour Brochure, and adopting the Colum-bia Avenue Design Guidelines.

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It is recommended that a Visitors Center bedeveloped for both visitors and Franklin resi-dents to enjoy. Given the city’s rich and di-verse history, the center should primarily in-terpret Franklin’s broader history, in additionto addressing the Civil War in order to give theBattle of Franklin a context. Ideally, the Visi-tors Center should include the following fea-tures:

• Parking for at least 25 vehicles • Bus loading area • Public rest rooms • Interpretive exhibits • Orientation film • Staff to answer questions • Maps and brochures

It is recognized that a more limited visitorscenter may be necessary because of fundingconstraints. A bare minimum should at leastinclude rest rooms, interpretive exhibits andbrochures, with no staffing.

It is recommended that the Visitors Center belocated in or near downtown to be centrally

located to the city’s various sites and to lever-age economic benefits for downtown’s busi-nesses. Downtown needs public rest roomsanyway, and the Visitors Center can directvistors to the proposed Battlefield InterpretiveCenter (see the next page). While selecting aVistors Center site will require a specific siteselection and feasibility study, the following ex-isting structures should be considered foradaptive reuse, and they are listed in order oftheir perceived suitability based upon prelimi-nary considerations (see the map below):

1) Vacant County Library at Five Points2) Historic County Courthouse3) Historic Railroad Depot

One additional option might be the brick GreekRevival antebellum bank building located onthe north side of Main Street across from St.Phillips Catholic Church. It is privately owned(see page 53 for a photograph).

It is acknowledged that the County’s currentplans for the vacant library do not appear toaccomodate a new visitors center. However,given the building’s favorable attributes, it isworth an effort to strike an agreement with theCounty for a downtown visitors center.

The former County Library is modern enough toaccommodate state-of-the-art interpretive exhibits,and its location benefits downtown and is conve-nient to the Carter House.

The fact that the historic County Courthouse servedas a hospital after the Battle of Franklin adds toits appeal as a visitors center. Its location wouldalso leverage economic benefits to downtown.

Although the depot is currently occupied by a busi-ness, it has many merits, including its Civil Warhistory, proximity to nearby retail and Fort Granger,and plenty of space for parking.

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Source: Central Franklin Area Plan (2004)

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The Club House’s design eludes to the vernacularrural architecture of 19th-century Franklin.

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It is recommended that a Battlefield Interpre-tive Center be developed on the currentFranklin Country Club adjacent to CarntonPlantation. As described in more detail on page41, it is recommended that all buildings com-prising the country club be removed, with theexception of the Club House. It is proposedthat the Club House be adapted into the Inter-pretive Center. The Battlefield InterpretiveCenter should include the following features:

• Parking for at least 40 vehicles • Bus loading area • Public rest rooms • Interpretive exhibits • Orientation film • Staff to answer questions • Maps and brochures

There are several reasons why the proposedlocation is well-suited, including its location onthe eastern flank of the battlefield and its po-tential availability within the near future.

Proposed InterpretiveCenter

The only facility proposed to remain is the ClubHouse for adaptation into an Interpretive Center.

“It’s the visitor that completes the circleof memory, because every historic site issimply dead without the visitor whobrings their own sense of what this placemeans and wanting to extract somethingfrom it, and it’s in the interplay betweensite, and monument and visitor that theseplaces become alive.”

- Edward T. Linenthal, author of “Sacred Ground”

Living history demonstrations, such as militarymanuvers, add greatly to the visitor experience.

In addition to featuring high-quality facilities, theBattlefield Interpretive Center should be pro-grammed for a wide range of activities thatserve as a constant draw for visitors. Livinghistory demonstrations might include camplife, military drills, arms demonstrations andsimilar activities.

The Battlefield Interpretive Center’s exhibitsshould combine authentic Civil War artifactswith high-technology interpretive approaches.An emphasis should be placed on interactiveexhibits, including hands-on opportunities forchildren and computer stations for research-ing geneology associated with the Battle ofFranklin.

Although high-quality exhibits will require a mini-mum number of artifacts, the emphasis should beon the interpretive approach.

PhotographSource:AtlantaHistory Center

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“Lieut. Frank H. Hale, of CompanyH., succeeded in scaling the worksand crawled about twenty feet insidethe Federal lines to the framehouse... that stood in the yard of theCarter house, where he was killedwith bullets from the guns of his ownregiment.”- W.J. Worsham, 19th Tennessee

“Serg’t. Lum Waller, of Com-pany H, scaled the works andtook shelter behind the bricksmokehouse, just in the rear ofthe dwelling, where he waswounded...”- W.J. Worsham, 19th Tennessee

“The Carter Hill was the keyto any strong system of de-fence in front of the town...The house was of brick,... butnot very high, as it was built ofone lofty and airy story...”- U.S Brigadier General Cox

“The position we occupied was justin front of the Carter house, and the50th Regiment actually tore downthe Carter barn to help build ourbreastworks... Our second line ofworks joined on to the Cartersmokehouse, which lay west of thehouse.”- Lt. Thomas Thoburn, 50th Ohio

Fountain BranchCarter, the Patriarchof the Carter Family,stayed with hisfamily in the CarterHouse basement asthe battle ragedoutside.

Theodrick “Tod”Carter, a Captainwith the Army ofTennessee, wasmortally woundedapproximately 150yards southwest ofthe Carter Housesmokehouse. Hewas found after thebattle and carried tohis home, where hedied.

Because of its strategic location at the centerof the Union lines on Columbia Pike, the CarterHouse is considered to be the single most piv-otal location for the Battle of Franklin. Eyewit-ness accounts of the battle reference theCarter House and the associated Cotton Ginmore than any other landmark of the battle-field. Adding to this significance is the historyof the Carter Family, particularly the family’sordeal in their basement during the battle, aswell as the death of Tod Carter from woundsinflicted in the battle.

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This historic sketch of the Carter House property is consistent with historic accounts.

Based upon a completed land trade deal, the schoolproperty to the immediate north of the Carter Housewill soon become part of the Carter House site.

Should the owners become willing sellers, the twoproperties immediately south of the Carter Housewould be tremendous additions once cleared.

If the properties south of the Carter House cannotbe acquired, the strip of land on the south side ofthe frame office and brick smokehouse should bepursued for an access and conservation easement.

The following recommendations are offered forthe Carter House area:

�� 12Once this site becomes part of the CarterHouse site, the following measures shouldbe followed:

• Demolition of the gymnasium and associated parking areas • Restoration of the historic landscape, including removal of vegetative buffering between this site and the current Carter House site. • Installation of historic fencing • Provision of one or more reproduction cannons to interpret the artillery battery positioned on this site during the battle.

��%-��!��'� !%� !"�� %&!"The two parcels between the Carter Houseand Strahl Street should be a secondary pri-ority for the Carter House, as follows:

• The first priority of the two should the property directly adjacent to the Carter House site. • Once acquired, the existing structures should be relocated given their post-Civil War architectural significance. • If acquisition of the property to the immediate south is not possible, it is recommended that the strip of land between the Carter House property and the adjoining structure be controlled through either feesimple purchase or the purchase of an access and conservation easement.

Potential Easement

An important part of any of these recommen-dations is archeological field work. It shouldoccur prior to any substantial physical workthat might negatively impact resources.

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�%!3� %&'�This Civil War era house, located across thestreet from the Carter House, witnessed in-tense fighting during the battle. It is currentlyused as an office and owned by someone in-terested in eventually creating a historic housemuseum. It is recommended that efforts bemade to link the Lotz House with the CarterHouse, particularly once the old gymnasiumsite directly across from the Lotz House isphysically integrated with the Carter House.The following steps should be taken: • Develop a crosswalk with special pavers across Columbia Pike to link the two sites • Cross-market between the two sites to encourage visitors to one site to visit the other • Coordinate interpretive strategies between the two sites

(%!!%�� !�Although the gin building no longer exists, thissite has great significance because of its rolein the battle as a major landmark. Locatedapproximately 80 yards east of Columbia Pikeon Cleburne Street, the site features a historicmarker and is occupied by a post-Civil War

The Lotz House’s eventual development as a his-toric house museum will add to the overall visitordraw of the Carter House area.

historic house. For several years there havebeen discussions about the acquisition of thetwo pizzarias located at the intersection of Co-lumbia Pike and Cleburne Street so the sitescan be cleared of development. This actionwould remove two high-profile visual intrusions

while enhancing the Carter House’s context.Given the challenges involved, it is not recom-mended as a near-term priority, but it is a high-priority one. Any such work should incorpo-rate an archeological survey at the front end.

Cotton Gin site andhistoric marker

Restaurants located at Columbia Pike and CleburneStreet

Carter House &Outbuildings

Carter HouseVisitors Center

Two propertiesto the south

Old Gym Property

Lotz House

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Carnton Plantation was the home of theMcGavock Family during the Civil War. Thefamily’s home was located on the eastern flankof the battlefield, just south of where some ofthe heaviest fighting occurred. After the battle,it became one of the key hospitals for woundedConfederates, and the bodies of GeneralsCleburne and Adams were laid out on thehome’s back porch.

Today the house and its expansive groundsare owned by the non-profit Historic CarntonAssociation, which operates it as a historichouse museum. The Battle of Franklin andthe house’s role as a hospital is a key focus ofthe site’s interpretation. Great efforts havebeen made to return the site to its Civil War-era appearance, including the installation of agarden and a board fence around the perim-eter of the house.

Carnton Plantation’s current stewards do anexcellent job of managing and interpreting thisimportant site. Therefore, only the followingrecommendations are offered:

• After carefully considering an potential im- pacts to archeological resources, plant a dense row of indigenous evergreen trees, such as cedars, along the western edge of the property to provide a year-round visual screen from the adjacent residential. • Begin marketing and interpreting the expansive grounds of Carnton Plantation as a part of the battlefield to help fill the void that Franklin currently faces in not having a true “battlefield” to tout for tourism. • Continue with the important archeological work currently occuring on the grounds immediately south of the house in order to better tell the story of the building’s origins and evolution.

Front facade ofCarnton Man-sion, which fea-tures a GreekRevival portico

Resting place for generals’ bodies.

Although the deciduous vegetation currently exist-ing along the site’s western boundary provides sub-stantial screening from new houses during mostmonths of the year, evergreens are needed for ayear-round complete screen.

Carnton Plantation’s expansive grounds should bemarketed and interpreted as part of the FranklinBattlefield.

“[Mrs. McGavock’s] house... was inthe rear of our line. The house is oneof the large old-fashioned houses ofthe better class in Tennessee, twostories high, with many rooms... Thiswas taken as a hospital, and thewounded, in hundreds, were brought toit during the battle, and all the nightafter. Every room was filled, every bedhad two poor, bleeding fellows, everyspare space, niche, and corner underthe stairs, in the hall, everywhere - butone room for her own family.”

- Captain William D. Gale Adjunct General to Gen. Stewart’s staff Army of Tennessee

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In 2003, a descendant of the McGavock Fam-ily purchased the 110-acre Franklin CountryClub with the intention of eventually transform-ing the property back to its Civil War-era ap-pearance. The owner hopes to recoup his in-vestment by selling the property to the City andother battlefield supporters so it can becomea public battlefield park. Although it is unclearwhen the land’s transformation will occur, thefollowing recommendations are suggested:

• As a first step to determine the acceptabil- ity of any subsequent work, prepare a Cultural Landscape Report and any needed archeological studies. • Prepare a Master Plan for the property that would remove intrusive existing improvements and might answer the following types of questions:

- Should the tennis courts, outbuildings, and some of the parking be removed? - Should grading and landscaping occur on the golf course to restore the historic terrain based upon research on its historic appearance? - Should the office and gift shop currently located by Carnton Mansion be relocated to the existing Club House? - Should the Club House be transformed into an Interpretive Center for the Battle of Franklin?

The contrast between the Confederate Cemetery’sappearance on the left versus the view on the right,with the country club’s tennis courts in the back-ground, is dramatic. The eventual removal of mostof these improvements will do much toward return-ing a sense of dignity to the cemetery. Landscaperestoration will be aided by aerial photos taken priorto the golf course, as well as the golf course plans.

The countryclub’s clubhouse canserve multiplepurposes forCarnton, includ-ing officespace, interpre-tive exhibits, agift shop, andrest rooms.

RecommendedEvergreen Buffering

Carnton Mansion& Outbuildings

McGavock & ConfederateCemeteries

Franklin CountryClub Complex

“The ground embraced by The Country Clubof Franklin played a crucial role in theBattle of Franklin. It was across this veryland that A.P. Stewart’s Corp advanced... allthe time receiving enemy fire... every bit asbloody and vicious as any fighting alongColumbia Pike..; this plot of land holds anequal importance to our nation as any pieceof battlefield.”

- Ed Bearss, Chief Historian, Emeritus -National Park Service

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“The ground embraced by The CountryClub of Franklin played a crucial role inthe Battle of Franklin... this may well bethe last chance in our lifetime - the lastchance future generations have - torecover and preserve a significant portionof open space battlefield - and return it tobattlefield - at Franklin.”

- Ed Bearss, Chief Historian, Emeritus, NPS

Although page 60 summarizes each key rec-ommendation of this plan with respect to pri-ority levels, it is worth noting the plan’s top pri-ority here: It is recommended that the topbattlefield priority for Franklin be the pro-posed transformation of the Franklin Coun-try Club into the Battlefield Park. Thisproject has been identified as the top priorityfor the following four reasons in order of im-portance:

The Battlefield Park is a once in a life-timeopportunity. Any good plan must be opportu-nistic, and so it is with battlefield preservationplans. It has been many years since any op-portunity such as this one existed -- a largeand significant battlefield site with an owner in-terested in its preservation. Such an opportu-nity will likely never occur again. Although nodevelopment plans have been submitted, thezoning allows residential development.

The Battlefield Park fills the one glaringvoid in Franklin’s current heritage tourismpackage. Franklin boasts a broad range of

historic sites that can draw tourists, includinghistoric house museums, a historic downtownand historic neighborhoods. Despite its richheritage, there is no bonafide “battlefield” todraw tourists. The Carter House and Carntoneach attract approximately 37,500 people an-nually. The Stones River Battlefield in nearbyMurfreesboro attracts approximately 250,000annually. Given its interstate access andmany great attractions, there is no reasonFranklin could not see similar visitation rates.

The proposed Battlefield Park is a spring-board for other nearby sites. Nearby sitesthat can be leveraged include:• Carnton Plantation & Confederate Cemetery• Collins Farm• Harpeth River & Future Greenway• Historic Lewisburg Pike

The proposed Battlefield Park’s contextretains the highest level of integrity of anyother key Franklin Battlefield resources.Primary boundaries for this property includeCarnton Plantation, the Harpeth River and his-toric Lewisburg Pike, all with great integrity.

Carnton Plantation is a National Historic Land-mark property having a high level of integrityand scenic value. Lewisburg Pike is also his-toric, retains strong aesthetic qualities andplayed an important role as a transportationroute during the Battle of Franklin. The HarpethRiver shares these same qualities with regardto its scenic value and historic signifance tieddirectly to the battle. In contrast, the only otherrelatively large and undeveloped land associ-ated with the battle is located on Columbia Pike,a road dominated with segments of strip com-mercial development, and an adjacent rockquarry and factory.

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The Collins Farmwitnessed heavyfighting as part ofHood’s right flank. Verification of the age of the property’s two build-

ings and their significance might determine the nextsteps that should be taken.

During the Battle of Franklin, Confederate Gen-eral Loring’s Division traversed this propertyand was met by Union cannon fire from FortGranger. After an unsuccessful charge uponthe Union works, many of the Confederatesreturned to this place seeking the protectionfrom enemy fire provided by a natural ravine.The non-profit Save The Franklin Battlefield,Inc. (STFB) purchased the 3.2-acre propertyon the Lewisburg Pike with the intention of pre-serving it as an important part of the battle-field. The property features an old house thathas evolved over the years with additions, aswell as a log outbuilding. It is uncertain whetherthe house’s origins predate the Civil War. Thefollowing recommendations are suggested:

• Conduct a historic structures report to determine the age of the property’s buildings. • If any of the structures date back to the Civil War, consider removal of all buildings and building sections dating after that era, and restore the original structures. • If all of the structures date from after the Civil War and are not eligble for the Natonal Register, consider their eventual removal.

With respect to conducting a historic struc-tures report, STFB should consult with MiddleTennessee State University’s Center for His-toric Preservation to see if such a study couldbe provided at no or little cost through eitherthe Center or the Tennessee Civil War NationalHeritage Area, which is administered by theCenter. Also, it is acknowledged that STFBmust still recoup the costs of purchasing theCollins Farm, so the current leasing of thedwelling for residential use may need to con-tinue for several more years, if not indefinitely. The property’s current use for rental housing helps pay for the mortgage loan and upkeep.

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Confederate General John Bell Hood used theHarrison House, located south of Winstead Hill,as his headquarters during the Battle ofFranklin. Because of their proximity and views,he used Winstead and Breezy Hills as obser-vation points. Furthermore, as confirmed bythe historic accounts quoted on page 32, thebases of Winstead and Breezy Hill were usedas troop staging and deployment areas fromwhich Hood’s numerous disasterous chargesdeparted.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans owns the17-acre portion of Winstead Hill that includesthe observation shelter. The City owns another67 acres surrounding it. A master plan wasprepared for the park in 1995 and many im-provements were added to the existing im-provements, which already included a parkingarea, a paved path, an overlook shelter on thenorth slope of the hill, and interpretive mark-ers. The second phase of improvements oc-curred further down the slope, including restrooms and a more extensive path system.Based on current conditions, the following rec-ommendations are made (see next page):

Sign for Winstead Hill

Aerial view of the more recent parking area andtrail system at the foot of Winstead Hill.

Photograph of one of the more recent interpretive waysides at the base of Winstead Hill.

Public rest rooms and bicycle racks from the morerecent improvements at the base of Winstead Hill.

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• Clear a small area on the south side of Winstead Hill’s summit as an observation point to view the Harrison House, but do so by hand and with expert oversight so as to not signifcantly impact the terrain. • Develop a pathway connecting the existing observation shelter on the north slope of Winstead Hill with the proposed observation point on the south side. • Provide an interpretive wayside exhibit about the Harrison House at the proposed new observation point. • Pursue a fee simple purchase or conservation easement for neighboring Breezy Hill.

View from Winstead Hill looking north toward thenew commercial development on Columbia Pike

Existing observation shelter on the north side ofWinstead Hill

This type of paved pathway at the base of WinsteadHill should be replicated to access a new observa-tion point at the top of the south slope.

Because the Harrison House is privately owned andnot open to the public, a visual connection shouldbe afforded from the top of Winstead Hill.

Proposed NewObservation Point

Historic Harrison HouseViewshed

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• Pursue long-term protective measures, such as a conservation easement, for the house and surrounding lands from any future negative alterations or development. • Integrate the house’s history into all future interpretation efforts, but make it clear that the property is not open to the public. • Provide a wayside exhibit about the Harrison House as part of a new observation point on Winstead Hill (see page 45).

The Harrison House is a two-story brick Ante-bellum home located on the west side of Co-lumbia Pike just south of Winstead Hill. Thehouse was used by Confederate General JohnBell Hood as his headquarters during the Battleof Franklin. From nearby Winstead and BreezyHills he observed the battle’s development andgave orders as needed. The Harrison Housewas the last place where Hood had pre-battlediscussions with several of his generals, someof who would never return from the field.

Today the Harrison House and its surroundingproperty is privately owned. The house hasbeen carefully preserved and its context is inrelatively good condition. Although there areseveral post-war outbuildings near the house,they have been sited in a manner that doesnot visually compete with the house. The sur-rounding land is in an open pasture-like state,retaining much of the character it would havehad during the 1860s. The only significantnegative impact to the house’s context is anelementary school that was recently con-structed across Columbia Pike from the prop-erty. Because of the property’s private owner-ship by a preservation-minded owner, recom-mendations are limited to the following:

General JohnBell Hood

The house’s historic facade needs long-term pro-tective measures to insure its future integrity.

When viewed from the road, the Harrison House’s prominence on the site manages to visually downplaythe adjacent post-war buildings.

Harrison House

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Fort Granger was built by the Union army inearly 1863 following their occupation of Nash-ville and Middle Tennessee. This earthen fortwas strategically located to guard the railroadtressel over the Harpeth River, as well as theFranklin - Murfreesboro Road (Hwy. 96 today).Key features include three bastions for posi-tioning artillery, a sally port for access, and acentrally located powder magazine.

The fort is now part of the City’s Pinkerton Park,and its contours are extremely well preserved.An interpretation plan was prepared in 1995,and several high-quality interpretive waysideexhibits explain the fort’s function and history.However, negative features include poor ac-cess, both to the site and within the site. Also,adjacent industrial development is a visible in-trusion, and there is only one clear view fromthe fort that provides an understanding of itsstrategic position (with the exception of wintermonths when foliage is not an issue). FortGranger is not a well-known resource withinthe broader community, but it has tremendouspotential for increased visitation.

This interpretive wayside is one of several high qual-ity exhibits already existing at Fort Granger.

Detailed view of an interpretive wayside illustrating the layout of Fort Granger

“On the bank of the Harpeth river stood anearthen fort out of whose embrasures weregrinning some hungry guns... Whoever hadthe temerity to make an assault would getseriously hurt.”

- W.A. Keesy, 64th Ohio

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� � � � ' 'Improvements are needed for both vehicularand pedestrian access, as follows:

Vehicular Access & Parking • Provide strategically-placed directional signage for both routes to the fort. • Enhance and expand the small gravel parking lot existing on the north side of the fort. • Consider extending the existing vehicular access and parking in Pinkerton Park further north toward the fort (if sufficient public support exists).

Pedestrian Access • Develop a paved path connecting the parking lot north of the fort to the fort. • Repair and maintain the existing pedestrian facilities (stairways, ramps, etc.) on the south side of the fort.

� � � . 'Some views at Fort Granger need to be opti-mized, while others need to be minimized.

Vista ImprovementsViews to the west and southwest toward theriver, the rail line and the town need to be im-proved by clearing vegetation at key locationsto create vistas that convey the fort’s strate-gic position.

Screening of IntrusionsIndigenous evergreen trees, such as cedars,should be used to visually screen out intru-sive views of adjacent industrial uses.

��%�%!��)� !"�� %�!Although there are still many areas for improve-ment, even in its current state Fort Grangerhas much untapped potential for visitation byboth tourists and Franklin residents. Progresswill first require the following two key steps:

1) Aesthetically enhance the site with an eye for detail. 2) Promote the fort much more vigorously through written marketing materials and other avenues.

“[Fort Granger] was separated from thetown by the river and constituted a perma-nent fort, which had been constructedthere in January, 1863, by Gen. GordonGranger. This fort was frowning withheavy artillery and siege pieces. Fromthat point the Federals could sweep theplain lying south of Franklin for twomiles.”

- Hardin P. Figuers 15 year old Franklin resident

Although the adjacent business permits parkingfor the fort, this gravel lot (above left) is the onlydesignated parking. The City-owned strip of landlinking the fort and parking lot (above right) shouldbe physically enhanced for access with a trail.

Access to the fort from Pinkerton Park includesfacilities in serious need of repair.

Vegetative screening has been employed to screensome incompatible views, but more is needed.

Promoting the fort for increased visitation will re-quire greater attention to aesthetic details, suchas remedying this sign’s peeling paint.

Potential Trail

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Roper’s Knob, the hill on the right, served as a signal point during the Battle of Franklin. Today it servesas an important landmark for Franklin’s historic landscape.

conducted by the State, but no interpretive planhas been prepared. The property is not open tothe public, although Save The Franklin Battlefield(STFB) has gained permission to lead tours tothe summit on several occasions. The followingrecommendations are provided for Roper’sKnob:

• Create a small parking area at a point clos- est to Roper’s Knob via public roads.• Develop an improved trail connecting the proposed parking area with Roper’s Knob.• Provide interpretive wayside exhibits to tell the story of Roper’s Knob.• Conduct an archeological survey prior to any physical work on the site.

Roper’s KnobLocated just fifteen miles south of Nashville,Franklin held a strategic position in the Union’sline of communications and supplies as wellas defense. To secure the Union garrison atFranklin, the army constructed fortificationson surrounding hilltops throughout the area,including a signal station at Roper’s Knob. Thesite served as an important communicationpost with visibility of six miles in all directionsin the Harpeth River Valley. The fortificationsat Roper’s Knob were constructed betweenApril 19 and May 29, 1863. Approximately5,000 men accomplished the operation. Eachday two reliefs of 600 men worked eight-hourshifts until the work was complete. CaptainWilliam E. Merrill, U.S. TopographicalEngineer, supervised the construction of theFranklin defenses. Upon its completion,Roper’s Knob had a redoubt for four heavyguns, inside which was a blockhouse thatcould hold sixty men. The fortifications alsocontained two 4,500-gallon cisterns and alarge magazine. Merrill boasted that the sitewas so secure that “fifty men could hold itagainst 5,000.”

Well fortified, the signal station at Roper’sKnob relayed important communications tofortifications in Triune to the east and LaVergne to the northeast, and then to Nashville.Signal stations were important to the Unionmilitary effort as they transmitted informationregarding the movement of Confederatetroops to Union officers. Communicationsproved especially important during the 1864campaign of Confederate General John BellHood through Middle Tennessee. It is unclearwhether artillery was arranged at Roper’sKnob in defense of the Confederate mission,

but records indicate that it was a possibility.The October 1, 1864 communications ofAssistant Adjutant-General B.H. Polk to MajorGeneral Rousseau state, “I send down toFranklin this evening two 3-inch Parrots and400 rounds of ammunition. Shall any guns goupon Roper’s Knob, or shall all go in the largefort?”

Following the Battle of Franklin on November30, 1864, Roper’s Knob, along with the otherFranklin fortifications, was abandoned by theretreating Federal army. After the Union victoryat the Battle of Nashville in mid-December,Roper’s Knob was again reoccupied byFederal forces until the end of the war. Theouter entrenchment and redoubt at Roper’sKnob remain clearly discernible and welldefined, and have only experienced naturalerosion. The high peak, with its commandingview of the surrounding valley, combined withthe high integrity of the earthworks, conveysa strong sense of its historical period.

Today the 22-acre summit is owned by the Stateof Tennessee, and 36 acres of the south facewas recently given to the City by the HeritageFoundation. An archaeological survey has been

“Once we’ve lost these battlefields, wewill never get them back. It’s like de-stroying a rain forest, you can’t resusci-tate it. These battlefields, they’re soimportant to our history. Unhappily, notenough people in this country reallyrelate to that.”

- Senator Dale Bumpers, Arkansas

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This one-acre parcel is owned by Save TheFranklin Battlefield Association and lies justsouthwest of Liberty Pike and Mack HatcherParkway. The adjoining one-acre parcel to theeast is owned by a neighborhood association.The parcels are landlocked by subdivisions andare not accessible from the street. The propertyis not open to the public. Both parcels arewooded and, together, contain a Civil War lunetteearthwork and were the southeast strong pointof the Fort Granger complex. There are severalhouses on the north face of Cedar Hill that coverabout five acres. If these houses were acquiredand removed, a park of about seven acres couldbe assembled fronting on Liberty Pike. Thefollowing recommendations are provided:

• Create a small parking area at a point clos- est to Cedar Hill via public roads.• Develop an improved trail connecting the proposed parking area with Cedar Hill.• Provide interpretive wayside exhibits to tell the story of Cedar Hill.

Roper’s Knob

Roper’s Knob

Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill

Fort Granger

Roper’s Knob, which consisted of a lunette andfour cannon, is located just north of Cedar Hill.

This USGS map illustates the geographic relation-ship between Cedar Hill and Roper’s Knob.

Compared to today’s Franklin, the 1860s Franklin was simple: a small gridded town, a river, some raillines, and surrounding hills capped with Union fortifications. c

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“It’s what the veterans wanted, to createthese parks, where people from a futuretime could ponder the suffering and terrorof their own time, and realize that some-how we had progressed to a better time.So when these battlefields are destroyed,we lose that, we lost that ability. Andbefore long it’s just one more strip ofasphalt, it’s not a place of sacrifice, it’s nota place to ponder, it’s not a place to learn.It’s just another faceless, nameless bit ofurban sprawl.”

- Brian Pohanka, Civil War Historian

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The Tennessee and Alabama Railroad FreightDepot was constructed ca. 1858 by theTennessee and Alabama Railroad Companyshortly after it built its line through Franklin. Thebrick freight depot was constructed near thebusy intersection of South Margin Street andSecond Avenue, South in a rectangular designcommon among antebellum depots in MiddleTennessee. These structures were typicallyone-story buildings of brick construction, withthick walls and a broad overhanging gable roof.Built for the purpose of shipping and receivingfreight, the building had an open floor plan withthe northern end of the building reserved foroffice space. Freight doors were located oneither side of the building leading to the trackand loading areas for easy transfer of goods.

Soon after Union forces occupied MiddleTennessee in 1862, railroads were utilized asvital links in moving troops and suppliesthrough the region. During the war years, thefreight depot in Franklin would have been abusy hub of activity as supplies and munitionswere shipped along the rail line. The depotwas likely one of many buildings in thecommunity converted into a temporary hospitalfollowing the Battle of Franklin, as localhistorians have reported. The freight depotalso continued to house ammunition duringthis time, and Confederate troops attemptedto burn the building as they scrambled toevacuate Franklin on December 18, 1864.Historian Wiley Sword notes that “at the lastminute, Lee’s men set fire to the freight housein town, a building containing sevenwagonloads of ammunition.” Fortunately adevastating explosion was avoided as a citizenrushed to throw buckets of water on the

blazing roof. Following the return of the Unionarmy to Franklin, immediate efforts weremade to evacuate the wounded to Union armyhospitals in Nashville. A history of the U.S.Army Medical Department records notes:“Trains evacuated all the wounded fromFranklin and other communities back toNashville as soon as they were in a conditionto be moved and the track had been repaired.”After the Civil War, the Tennessee andAlabama Railroad Freight Depot went backto its original purpose as a shipping andreceiving facility.

The following recommendations are provided forFranklin’s historic freight depot:

• Provide interpretive wayside exhibits telling the depot’s story.• Include the depot on the recommended walking tour of downtown’s Civil War sites.• Consider the depot as one of the potential sites for the recommended Visitors Center.

This Civil War-era Union map illustrates the town of Franklin, including the railroad depots.

Freight Depot

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��%�� "� �� !".+� 45A swale historically identified as part of theUnion earthworks remains visible adjacent toState Route 96 approximately 500 feet westof the intersection of Fair Street. This sectionof earthworks has not been fully recorded andno archaeological investigations have takenplace. This location holds potential for futureinterpretation, such as a pull-off from StateRoute 96 and wayside exhibits. However, thissection of earthworks should be studied inmore detail to ascertain its length and degreeof integrity. For a map location of this site,see site #9 on the “Downtown FranklinInventory of Resources” map (Appendix E).

�� !&��-��$)�� &!��!Between First Avenue and Bridge Street onthe west bank of the Harpeth River are thecut stone abutments of the Franklin TurnpikeBridge. These abutments pre-date the CivilWar and are remnants of the FranklinTurnpike Bridge, which stood at this locationuntil 1927. The first bridge at this locationwas built in the early 1800s, and a coveredbridge was at this location in 1861. Thisbridge was burned and rebuilt several timesduring the war. The bridge site was thelocation of fighting on December 17, 1864,during Hood’s retreat following the Battle ofNashville. The stone abutments remainvisible, but are overgrown, and the area isgenerally neglected. This location holdspotential for interpretation as Franklin’shistoric bridge crossing and the fighting ofDecember 17th. See recommendations forinterpretation on page 53. For a map locationof this site, see site #14 on the “DowntownFranklin Inventory of Resources” map(Appendix E).

��+� �� -��The Berry Circle parcel consists of a 1.5 acretract at the dead-end of Berry Circle off ofLewisburg Pike. This tract is at the crest of ahill, and two batteries of Union artillery wereposted in this approximate location during thebattle. This high ground west of the railroadprovided an advantageous artillery position tofire upon Stewart’s Corps as it advanced.Battery M of the 4th U.S. artillery and BatteryG of the 1st Ohio Artillery were posted on thishigh ground during the battle. This siteremains in open space and offers anopportunity for acquisition. The location isappropriate for the siting of cannon andwayside exhibits detailing the role of artilleryin the Battle of Franklin. However, given thesites location at the end of a quiet residentialstreet, it is recommended that substantialinput and support be gained from neighboringresidents before pursuing this site’sinterpretation and publicity. For a map locationof this site, see site #19 on the “DowntownFranklin Inventory of Resources” map(Appendix E).

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The original town of Franklin, what is consid-ered the downtown area today, played a cen-tral role in the Civil War and the Battle ofFranklin. In the early days of the war, it wasthe scene of celebration and excitement overthe fresh idea of sessession. After Bragg’sdefeat at Murfreesboro and the constructionof Fort Granger by Federal forces in early1863, it was an occupied community living infear. On November 30, 1864, Franklin’s down-town was a place of terror and carnage. Fol-lowing the battle, it was a place of dispair andsuffering, as many buildings became hospi-tals for the wounded.

There are three important reasons to focusattention on the many Civil War-era buildingslocated in and near Downtown Franklin. First,a complete understanding of the Battle ofFranklin cannot be achieved without an un-derstanding of the role of the town, and thebest way to interprete that history is throughthe surviving tangible buildings. Secondly, with-out such an understanding and appreciationof these buildings by Franklin’s citizens andcommuntiy leaders, their long-term preserva-tion will remain in jeopardy. Thirdly, Franklin’sdowntown is a community treasure far beyondit being a living and breathing Civil War arti-fact. To remain economically vibrant andsafely preserved, it needs to benefit from heri-tage tourism. In a survey conducted severalyears ago by Main Street Gettysburg, it waslearned that only one fourth of their battlefieldvisitors ever visited Downtown Gettysburg. AsFranklin’s Battlefield is better preserved, en-hanced and interpreted in future years, theeconomic benefits of heritage tourism mustbe leveraged for downtown.

“I devoted my time while in Franklin, tovisiting the hospitals; in one room ofBrown’s Division hospital, in the CourtHouse, I dressed a goodly number ofwounds.”

- Dr. Charles Quintard, chaplain and doctor 1st Tennessee

“I started up through the town on thestreet upon which I had come... But what ascene confronts me now! One hour agothis fair street was a thing of beauty... Ican not walk upon the sidewalks now.They are literally covered with wounded,dying and dead men. These are laid withtheir heads toward the fence and build-ings, their feet toward the street.”

- Keesy, 64th Ohio

Court House - used as a post-battle hospital.

Truett House - used as Schofield’s headquarters.

Dr. McPhail’s Office - another Union headquarters.

Masonic Lodge - used as a hospital after the battle.

Historic Bank building on Main Street - used as ahospital after the battle.

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“...he took another big drink and he toldme he didn’t reckon I would live longenough to see it, but that some day therewould be a wonderful Confederate Monu-ment built on the square with the moneythe ladies sewing societies and dinnergroups were making.”

- Horace German - Franklin resident citing his grandfather’s comments in 1896

The following measures are recommended forthe Downtown Franklin area as it relates tothe Battle of Franklin:

6��)� �%&�� %�"&��An excellent driving tour brochure for the over-all battlefield already exists, although it is cur-rently out of print. However, a walking tourbrochure focusing specifically on DowntownFranklin during the Civil War does not pres-ently exist. There are numerous buildings andsites within downtown that have a rich storyto tell, and this would be another way to at-tract battlefield visitors to downtown. The bro-chure should include a map with numberedsites correlated to descriptive text. It shouldalso include high-quality graphics and an at-tractive design.

This type of silhouette wayside exhibit could inter-pret a variety of Civil War-era characters.

Confederate Monument - errected on November 30,1899 - 35 years after the battle.

��'�!%�'� (��!��The recommendation for a downtown VisitorsCenter is already addressed on page 35, butits importance to both the battlefield and down-town make it worth reiterating here. Theformer County Library appears to be the opti-mal site, but a feasibility study of that and othercandidate sites is needed.

��"%&�!!�� 6�+'�$�'Silhouette interpretive waysides would consistof the two-dimensional forms of people whorepresent a broad cross-section of peopleassociated with the Battle of Franklin. Theywould be made of metal, painted a single color,and have a form that is distinctive and fittingfor the character portrayed. The charactersshould be based upon historic research, andexamples might include a U.S. general, a C.S.general, a U.S. soldier, a C.S. soldier, a cap-tured soldier, a wounded soldier, a military phy-sician, a female resident, a slave, a child, andperhaps even a dog such as the 104th Ohio’s“Old Dog Harvey” (see “Acknowledgements”page of this document). Each life-size silhou-ette would also be accompanied by a smallplaque with text to tell the story.

(%&�!� %&'�� 7"��!Because the Court House is a public facilityand presently transitioning to serve new uses,this would be a unique opportunity to allocatea small, but very accessible, space in thebuilding to interprete the building’s role as apost-battle hospital. It is recommended thatthe space be displayed and interpreted in amanner that does not require it to be staffed.Plexiglass could be used between any dis-plays and visitors, and displays might includea re-creation of a doctor administering aide toa wounded soldier. The story could be toldwith either written text or an audio tape.

��$)�� !��-��!�!�%�The bridge over the Harpeth was critical totroop movements. The original bridge siteshould be cleared of vegetation to better ex-pose the original stone abuttments, and a high-quality interpretive wayside exhibit should beinstalled. See page 52 for details.

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By 5:00 PM on November 30th, 1864, approxi-mately one hour of combat had occurred atthe Battle of Franklin and casualties were al-ready beginning to mount on both sides. Doz-ens of buildings in Franklin were quickly trans-formed into field hospitals for tending to thewounded. Some buildings continued in useas hospitals for the next two weeks, untilHood’s army retreated from Nashville throughFranklin, in which case the wounded were ei-ther reunited with the army or captured shortlyafterward by the federals. The wide range ofbuildings that were used as hospitals includedchurches, shops, governmental buildings andprivate homes. Over 30 surviving buildingshave been identified in Franklin among thosethat were used as hospitals.

Federal ambulance corpsman and hospitalsteward with flag in background.

Source: The Fighting Men of the Civil War - William C. Davis, 1989

Source: Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union - Time-Life Books, 1991

In 1862 the federal army adopted a yellow flag to designate hospitals and in January of 1864 the greenletter “H” was added.

The Lotz House could display a hospital flag.

The distinctive flag used to designate hos-pitals had a yellow field with a green letter“H” centered in the middle. As a means ofunderscoring the impact of the battle’s af-termath on Franklin, it is recommended thathospital flags be recreated and displayed atall buildings in Franklin that would haveserved as a temporary hospital during orafter the battle. It is recommended that flagsonly be issued to properties that are knownto have been hospitals or are highly likely tohave been hospitals.

See Appendix B for more information onhospital properties in Franklin.

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“When I arrived... at the pontoon bridgeacross Harpeth River, about a half milefrom where I was captured, I saw hundredsof stragglers from the Federal armyhuddled and attempting to cross thestream, but were kept back by officers withdrawn swords and pistols, who wereurging them to return to the field.”

- C.S. Brigadier General Gordon

During the Battle of Franklin, the Harpeth River wasan important landmark. Today it can serve as partof the framework for a greenway system linkingvarious battlefield sites.

This existing pathway links Fort Granger with thehistoric freight depot and associated parking (shownabove) on the other side of the river.

This electrical substation, directly adjacent to theparking area shown at left, needs peripheral ever-green landscaping to visually screen it.

Because so much of the Franklin Battlefieldhas been developed, one of the greatest chal-lenges is to link the few remaining sites in acohesive manner to tell the battle’s story. Thisplan proposes four general approaches toachieving this objective, as follows:

• Enhance the battlefield’s existing greenways • Expand the City’s existing greenway system to link more Civil War sites • Adopt public policies to improve the appearance of key traffic corridors, such as Columbia Pike • Reprint the existing driving tour brochure

Map from the City’s 2004 Land Use Plan showing existing and proposed greenways, including per this plan.

Proposed Segments PerThis Battlefield Plan

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Existing Condition Landscape Screening

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��.�+'��"��!As illustrated on the map on the previous page,Franklin’s existing greenway system consistsprimarily of random isolated trails associatedwith specific park areas. The one exceptionto this rule is the segment of greenway alongthe Harpeth River’s floodplain just north of thedowntown. The greenway segment associ-ated with Fort Granger, as previously dis-cussed on page 48, is a good example of thetypes of improvements needed for the exist-ing greenway system. These improvementsinclude the following:

• Repair greenway facilities such as the dam- aged wooden stairway on the south slope of Fort Granger. • Improve parking areas at greenway trailheads through landscaping and other aesthetic enhancements.

��.�+'� 7-��'�%�The map on the previous page is from theCity’s Land Use Plan, and it illustrates exist-ing and proposed greenways. It also includesnew greenway segments proposed by thisplan. Below is a description of each proposednew section as numbered on the map:

1) New Bridge: A photograph of this site isprovided above right where rip rap has beenrecently installed to stabilize the bank. Thisbridge would get users from the City’s pro-posed greenway system on the north side ofthe river to the south side to connect with thisplan’s recommended segment #2.

In addition to streams such as the Harpeth River,rail lines can serve as excellent corridors forgreenway systems.

This existing pedestrian bridge linking the FortGranger site with the historic train depot parkinglot is a good model for additional future bridges.

Located adjacent to the current Franklin CountryClub, this rip-rap area on the Harpeth River is anideal location for a pedestrian bridge that could linkFort Granger with Carnton Plantation.

This cleared area across the river from the rip-raparea shown at left, and accessed by the LewisburgPike, could serve as an excellent trail headway andparking area for the potential pedestrian bridge.

2) Carnton Segment: This proposed seg-ment would connect the proposed new bridgewith this plan’s proposed greenway segment#3. It would traverse the golf course propertyand Carnton Plantation.

3) Rail Line Segment: This segment con-nects a section of the City’s proposed green-

way along the river with Mack Hatcher Park-way far to the south by paralleling the existingrail line.

4) Mack Hatcher Segment: This proposednew greenway segment connects segment#3 with Winstead Hill and its existinggreenway.

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“You can almost hear the rifles, you canalmost see the men standing eyeball toeyeball a few yards apart firing pointblank at each other. Those things areexhilirating from a historical standpoint,but they are very sobering so far as war isconcerned. Children ought to be exposedto that so they understand why we’re still agreat nation, and why we’re one nationinstead of two.”

- Senator Dale Bumpers, Arkansas

��-�%/��)� (%��$%�'In 2000, the Heritage Foundation commis-sioned a project to prepare design guidelinesfor Columbia Pike from its northern termina-tion downtown at the “Five Points” to the City’sboundary at the south end. That document,funded through an American Battlefield Pro-tection Program grant through the NationalPark Service, has never been adopted. Theguidelines defined three distinct segments ofColumbia Pike, which included:• A historic urban segment from Five Points to the Carter House• A historic residential segment from the Carter House to Fairgrounds Road• An industrial segment from Fairgrounds Road to the City boundary

��/��)� �%&�� %�"&��A wonderful driving tour brochure for the battle-field has already been prepared. It is well writ-ten and well designed, and it is a useful toolfor navigating and understanding the battle-field. Unfortunately, the brochure has beenout of print for several years.

It is recommended that the brochure be re- printed in large numbers for distribution in area hotels, restaurants, visitors centers and similar locations. Depending upon available funding, it should also be distributed along Interstate 65, as far south as Birmingham and as far north as Louisville.

Although adopting development policies to improvethe appearance of Columbia Pike will not savebattlefield lands, improved aesthetics can heightenthe overall visitor experience.

This driving tour brochure is currentlyout of print, but it needs to be reprintedin ample supply.

This conceptual site plan from the guidelines illus-trates the desired development pattern for the north-ern and most urban segment of Columbia Pike.

This street cross-section illustrates the rural greenedge character most appropriate for the southernindustrial segment of Columbia Pike.

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The Columbia Pike Design Guidelines wouldreinforce the positive aspects of the road’sexisting character. While substantial publicinput will be required, it is recommended thatthese guidelines be adopted to enhance thisimportant corridor. A streetscape projectwith wider sidewalks, buried power lines,street crosswalks and shade trees wouldalso help the corridor tremendously.

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The 25 key recommendations on the follow-ing page are explained on the pages cited tothe immediate right of each. The recom-mended responsible party is the organizationthat would seem to be most appropriate basedupon the nature of the recommendation andthe mission and activities of the organization.Cited organizations would be appropriate totake the lead, but may require support fromother groups. The three priority levels arebased upon each recommendation’s relativelevel of importance in preserving and interpret-ing the Franklin Battlefield. The cost and time-frame categories are defined below (time-frames are based upon completion dates):

CostLow: Below $25,000Moderate: $25,000 - $100,000High: Above $100,000

Time-FrameShort-Term: Year One (1)Mid-Term: Years Two (2) through Three (3)Long-Term: Years Four (4) through Five (5)

Applying these considerations and definitionsto the 25 key recommendations of the planresults in a total of fifteen recommendationsconsidered to be “high priority,” four consid-ered to be “moderate priority,” and six consid-ered to be “low priority.” Prioritizing the plan’smany recommendations can be a somewhatsubjective process, and the priorities must ul-timately be established - and periodically re-vised - by the community. Therefore, the num-ber sequencing of each recommendation isnot in any particular order of priority.

However, because of the need for the plan toprovide a few large targets on which to aim, a“top three” list has been developed and rankedin order of importance, as follows:

Priority #1:Creation of a Battlefield ParkThis once-in-a-life opportunity can fill the oneglaring void in Franklin’s existing heritage tour-ism package: a single site promoted as a CivilWar battlefield. It entails the transformationof the existing Franklin Country Club back toits original appearance as a historic land-scape. See pages 41-42 for details.

Priority #2:Carnton Plantation Enhancements andBattlefield InterpretationBecause the realization of Priority #1 may beseveral years away, this recommendation canprovide an opportunity to more effectively in-terpret the battle, especially the eastern flankof the battle. It can also help to attract moreheritage tourists. See page 40 for details.

Priority #3:Carter House Integration of the Old HighSchool Gym SiteAs a critical location for the Battle of Franklin,as well as the best existing interpretive cen-ter for the battle, the Carter House property isan extremely valuable resource that needs fur-ther expansion and enhancement. Althoughthe acquisition of the adjacent former highschool property is now a mere technicallitythat will happen in the near future, the suc-cessful integration of the property should bethe third highest priority for this plan. Seepages 37-39 for details.

“This ground was quite literallywatered with blood. People foughtand died here for their beliefs, fortheir ideals, and that’s what we haveto remember about these sites. It’s notabout brigades and divisions andcorps and tactics and strategies. It’sabout human beings.”- Brian Pohanka, Civil War Historian

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The primary source of funds for battlefieldprotection efforts come from governmental andprivate non-profit organizations. Whilegovernmental funding sources are relativelylimited, the number of private non-profitorganizations involved in battlefield protectionissues has grown substantially over the lastfew years. Below is a concise summary ofsuch sources:

�� Private non-profit organizations involved withCivil War heritage protection, as well as thoseindirectly involved with related issues, suchas open space and farmland preservation,include the following:

Civil War OrganizationsSeveral Civil War organizations exist at thenational, state and local levels, and some haveconsiderable funds available for “eleventhhour” land acquisitions. The best-known andmost effective national organization is the CivilWar Preservation Trust (CWPT). The CWPThas preserved more than 16,000 acres ofendangered battlefield land at more than 80sites in 19 different states. This plan’sproposal for the transformation of a golf courseinto a Battlefield Park is an excellent candidatefor CWPT funding. Tennessee’s state-wideprivate organization dedicated specifically tothe preservation of Civil War battlefield landsis the Tennessee Civil War PreservationAssociation (TCWPA). Although thisorganization has not yet actively protected anybattlefield lands, it only recently hired a part-time director and began fund-raising efforts,so gains are expected in the near future. Atthe local level, the Save The Franklin Battlefield

(STFB) group is an extremely capableorganization that has already protected land,most recently at the Collins Farm.

Historical OrganizationsThe historical organization with the greatestpotential for helping to preserve the FranklinBattlefield is the Heritage Foundation ofFranklin and Williamson County. As thesponsors of this plan, the Heritage Foundationhas a history of preserving some ofWilliamson County’s most important Civil Warsites. The group was instrumental inprotecting sites such as Winstead Hill andRopers Knob, and even where it has not beena major financial contributor, the organizationhas served as the catalyst for majorpreservation victories. The HeritageFoundation could serve an important role asthe holder of conservation easements suchas the one suggested for the Harrison House.

Environmental OrganizationsAlthough environmental organizations do nottypically give high priority to Civil War resourceprotection, they are certainly interested inprotecting natural open spaces, so there isclearly an overlap. Groups such as theNature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Landand the Conservation Fund have beenextremely active in protecting thousands ofacres of land all across the country and shouldbe considered potential allies for Franklin’sbattlefield protection efforts. The ConservationFund’s Civil War Battlefield Campaign hasprotected over 81,000 acres of battlefieldlands through 73 projects in 13 states,including helping to save 57 acres atFranklin’s Roper’s Knob. The Land Trust forTennessee was established in 1999 and hasalready preserved thousands of acres of land

through the use of conservation easements.While it would be difficult to solicit their helpwith lands that are already impacted byurbanization, there is potential for protectingbattlefield lands that are relatively unspoiledand retain some ecological value. Anexception might be reclaiming altered lands,such as the Franklin Country Club golf course,by transforming them into moreenvironmentally sensitive lands for aBattlefield Park.

�� Most governmental sources of funding for theprotection of Civil War heritage resources areat the federal level or locally derived fundsgenerated by a specific tax or fee having arational nexus (direct relationship) to thebenefiting cause. While the following sourcesare not an exhaustive list of all possibilities,they do include the most frequently usedfunding methods. Of all governmental fundingsources, the federal level has the strongesttrack record in assisting with the preservationof Civil War resources during the past decade.In addition to direct appropriations fromCongress for national park acquisitions, theDepartment of the Interior and the federaltransportation programs have been goodfunding sources in recent years.

Federal AppropriationsFederal appropriations are often used for theacquisition of additional lands for existingnational parks, and efforts toward that end aregenerally sponsored by a Senator orRepresentative from the state in which thenational park is located. Funds from the Landand Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) havebeen used to protect battlefields, and whilethese funds require a one-to-two match of

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federal-to-local/private funds, they have beenused for properties not part of national parks.In 2002, $293,800 of LWCF funds wereallocated to the Tennessee HistoricalCommission to protect 515 acres at FortDonelson, a national park. However, another$123,000 of LWCF funds were allocated tothe Commission to protect 83 acres at DavisBridge, a non-federal battlefield. Therefore,there may be potential for LWCF funding forFranklin at some point in the future.

NPS: American Battlefield Protection ProgramThis program of the National Park Service(NPS) focuses primarily on offering a balancedprogram of technical assistance and directfinancial support to organizations involved inpreservation planning and coalition building tosave battlefield resources. ABPP funding goesprimarily toward planning activities, includingthe preparation of this plan for the FranklinBattlefield. While ABPP funding might be usedfor future efforts related to resourcepreservation plans, interpretation plans,interpretive tools, educational efforts, andconsensus building projects, it cannot be usedfor acquisition of battlefield lands. Fundingrounds occur annually, and those seekingfunding must complete an ABPP applicationdescribing: the project need, the proposedmethodology, intended results, merits of theproject, and estimated costs. To date, fundinghas averaged approximately $22,000 perproject.

Federal Transportation ActThe federal Intermodal Surface TransportationEfficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 required that

each state use at least 10% of its federalsurface transportation funds towardtransportation “enhancement” activities, suchas pedestrian and bicycle paths, sceniceasement acquisition, the restoration oftransportation-related historic sites,landscaping and beautification fortransportation facilities, removal of outdooradvertising, and similar activities. Thisprogram, since dubbed “TEA-21”(Transportation Equity Act for the 21stCentury), was considered by the AmericanBattlefield Protection Program’s BattlefieldUpdate newsletter (Issue No. 70) to be “thelargest source of funding for battlefieldpreservation and enhancement projectscurrently available.” Each state allocates itstransportation enhancement funds differently,but local governments must apply for fundingthrough a competitive grant process andmust provide a 20% match to any fundsreceived. While enhancement funds cannotbe used by Tennessee’s local governmentsfor land acquisition, a State agency, such asthe Tennessee Historical Commission, canuse enhancement funds for land acquisition.The TEA-21 program is currently awaitingCongressional reauthorization and is beingtemporarily extended in the meantime.

Investment Tax Credit for RehabilitationThe federal investment tax credit for therehabilitation of historic structures may havesome limited applications for Franklin’s CivilWar resources. This program provides a20% tax credit for qualified rehabilitationsbased upon the following standards:• National Register designation or eligibility• Rehabilitation follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation• Project costs exceed the property’s ad-

justed cost basis (cost of acquisition and rehabilitation work to date)• Property must be income producing (i.e., commercial use or residential rental)

For the purposes of preserving and enhancingFranklin’s Civil War resources, this programwould be limited to buildings with anassociation with the war, such as a formerheadquarters, hospital, home of a Civil Warpersonality, or some similar association.While a non-profit organization cannot benefitfrom the credit, private ventures, such as Bedand Breakfasts, can.

�� At present, with the exception of the State’srole in distributing federal transportation funds,the key State program for funding historicpreservation is through Federal PreservationGrants. Local governments that participatein the Certified Local Government (CLG)program are given higher priority when thesefunds are distributed. CLGs receive aminimum of 10% of the dollars distributedthrough the Federal Preservation GrantsProgram. In order to qualify as a CLG, localgovernments must engage in preservationactivities such as historic sites surveys,historic designation, establishment of apreservation commission, and similaractivities as determined by the state historicpreservation office. Franklin is a designatedCLG.

Other funding available at the state levelincludes Tennessee Wars Commissiongrants and the Department of Environment& Conservation’s “State Lands AcquisitionFund,” which is overseen by the State LandsAcquisition Committee. The State Lands

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Acquisition Committee includes membersfrom the Department of Environment andConservation (TDEC), the Department ofAgriculture, and the Tennessee WildlifeResources Agency. A representative from theTennessee Historical Commission, which ispart of the TDEC, sits on the committee. Thefund receives money from a statewide realestate transfer tax. This fund provides foracquisition of land for state parks, stateforests, state natural areas, boundary areasalong state scenic rivers, and the acquisitionof easements to protect any of the forgoingstate areas. Such funds may also be usedfor trail development in these areas. Aproposed amendment to T.C. A. 67-4-409would allow the purchase of historic propertiesthrough the “State Land Acquisition Fund.” Atpresent, historic properties cannot bepurchased through this fund and, in the past,many otherwise deserving projects have beenturned away due to statutory language. CivilWar resources, such as battlefields, could bestrong candidates for acquisition if theamendment is passed.

�� With the exception of Federal PreservationGrants and the State’s role in distributingfederal transportation enhancement funds,there is a general lack of funding options atthe state and regional levels of government.However, there are several differentpossibilities of funding at the local level ofgovernment that are worth consideration.

�� Use Value TaxationThe Agricultural, Forest and Open Space LandAct of 1976, known as the Greenbelt Law,allows landowners in Tennessee to payproperty taxes based upon their land’s currentuse as opposed to its potential use. Forexample, a 200-acre farm located nearresidential subdivisions or commercialdevelopment might have a high market valuebased on its potential use. Under theGreenbelt Law, the land could be taxed on itscurrent use as farmland, rather than on itsdevelopment potential, if the property is usedonly for agricultural purposes. There are threetypes of land which may qualify for greenbeltclassification: farm, forestry, and open spaceland. If the property is disqualified for anyreason (e.g. the property is sold and is beingconverted to a use other than a greenbelt),the owner is liable for a rollback assessment,which means a repayment of the taxes savedwhile the land was classified as a greenbelt.

This program of “use value taxation” can beused as both an incentive for preservationand as a funding source. The incentive isthat land owners are not penalized by thetaxation system for keeping their land out ofdevelopment. The funding source, on theother hand, could derive from the rollbackassessment that occurs if such lands areeventually developed. Given the clearrelationship (“rational nexus”) between theloss of historic lands and the increasedproperty tax revenue generated by that lossof land, the tax revenue (or a percentage of it)could go towards a funding pool earmarkedfor the acquisition of endangered historiclands. However, this approach would requirethe State to initiate such a policy change,which is a larger task beyond this Franklin

Battlefield project.

Development Impact FeesImpact fees consist of a local governmentlevying a one-time fee for new developmentin order to off-set that government’s futureincurred costs related to such development.A relationship (rational nexus) must beestablished between the impact caused andthe fee charged. Impact fees typically chargemore for residential development thancommercial development, becausecommercial development tends to supportitself to a greater extent through property andretail tax revenues.

Franklin’s program includes a variety ofbuilding permit fees, impact fees and taxes.Building permit fees, for example, are basedupon the value of the development. Roadimpact fees are based on the unit type forresidential development and per square footfor commercial and industrial development,depending upon the specific use.

Although Franklin’s impact fees are currentlyused to pay for basic communityinfrastructure, such as roads, impact feescan also be used to preserve historicresources. The Town of Collierville leviesimpact fees on new commercial constructionthat are dedicated to their “HistoricPreservation Fund.” These funds have beenused for the rehabilitation of historic publicbuildings and for infrastructure improvementson Collierville’s historic town square.

Special TaxesThe primary factor impacting tax rateincreases lies in public sentiments. Taxincreases are perhaps the most politically- fi

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sensitive issue which elected officials mustface. The approval of any sort of special taxfor battlefield protection in Franklin would relyon an unusually favorable political climate.However, such taxes are worth considerationshould opportunities surface for their usesometime in the future, including the followingtypes of taxes:

Dedicated TaxA “dedicated” tax for battlefield preservationwould entail an increase in local property taxesin which the increased revenues would beearmarked for the acquisition, improvementand maintenance of battlefield lands. Becausethis tax would affect so many citizens inFranklin, it might be difficult to generatesufficient support.

Real Estate Transfer TaxReal Estate Transfer taxes consist of a taxlevied for any real estate transaction basedupon a percentage of the purchase price.When used as part of a battlefield protectionprogram, such tax revenues would go towardsthe acquisition of fee simple ownership orconservation easements. Because studieshave shown that communities withaggressive open space programs typicallyexperience greater property value increasesthan communities without such programs,there is a relationship (rational nexus) betweenthe tax and those benefiting from the value ofopen space. Real estate transfer taxes aremost commonly employed by state and localgovernments for a specific earmarked fund,such as an open space acquisition program.

Real estate transfer taxes have fueled theState of Maryland’s $60 million annualProgram Open Space (POS), which acquiredeasements on hundreds of acres of farmlandat Antietam Battlefield. In fact, they have beenused for wetland acquisition in WestTennessee. However, to use real estatetransfer taxes for battlefield acquisition inFranklin, special state enabling legislationwould be required. It would be up to thelegislation to determine whether a localreferendum would also be required.

Hotel/Motel TaxA Hotel/Motel Tax, often referred to as an

“occupancy tax,” is typically used to fundtourism activities. Examples of occupancytaxes of various large cities within theSoutheast and Midwest include Louisville at6%, Indianapolis at 6%, and Atlanta at 7%.On the lower end of the scale is Nashville at4%, and on the higher end is Birmingham at8%. At present, the tax for the City of Franklinis 2%, which generates approximately$500,000 annually, but that rate will increaseto 4% in January of 2005. The County’s rateis 4%. Because of the tourism aspect of CivilWar site protection and interpretation, localoccupancy taxes would be one way to fundsome of this plan’s recommendations.

There are still many important sites associated with the Battle of Franklin deserving long-term protection,such as Breezy Hill on Columbia Pike. As illustrated by the new commercial development in the upperright corner of this photograph, time is of the essence. fi

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This excerpt from Hallowed Ground magazine, a publication ofthe Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) appeared in Vol. 5,No. 2 - Summer 2004.

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In the weeks and months following the battle,the town of Franklin was essentially one largehospital with wounded soldiers occupying allof the public buildings and churches, andmost of the private residences. Over 6,000soldiers, the majority of them Confederate,had to be accommodated in the community.The experience of the John McEwen family,whose home stills stands at 612 Fair Street,was typical of the care provided by the citizensof Franklin. On the morning after the battle,his daughter, Frances McEwen, wrote:

“About four o’clock we heard thetramping of feet and the soundof voices. Our hearts jumpedinto our mouths and what joywhen we learned that our ownsoldiers were in possession ofthe town!...Our doors werethrown wide open, and in a fewminutes a big fire was burning inthe parlor. The first man to enterwas Gen. William Bate, allbespattered with mud andblackened with power …who hadbeen a life long friend (of myfather’s). Next came Gen.Thomas BentonSmith…Ambulances were beingfilled with the wounded as fastas possible, and the whole townwas turned into a hospital.Instead of saying lessons atschool the day after the battle, Iwatched the wounded men beingcarried in. Our house was as fullas can be.”

Tradition has that two soldiers died in thehouse, one of whom, Dr. F.P. Sloan, was caredfor by the McEwen family until his death inJune of 1865.

At least thirty-one buildings in downtownFranklin remain standing from the period ofthe battle. These buildings are all within walk-ing distance of one another and tell an im-portant story about the experience of the ci-vilians in the community as well as the suf-fering of thousands of soldiers after the battle.Franklin buildings dating from the period ofthe battle.

328 Bridge Street (Walker-Baagoe House), ca. 1846402 Bridge Street (Walker-Halliburton House), ca. 1833143 S. Fifth Avenue, ca. 1835244 S. First Avenue, ca. 1839136 N. Fourth Avenue, ca. 1838217 North Fourth Avenue, ca. 1810135 S. Fourth Avenue, ca. 1830209 E. Main Street (Dr. McPhail’s Office), ca. 1815Williamson County Courthouse, 1858115 S. Second Avenue (Hiram Masonic Lodge), ca. 1825202 S. Second Avenue (Clouston Hall), ca. 1821211 S. Second Avenue (Bearden-Robinson House), ca. 1838217 S. Second Avenue (Davis-Still House), ca. 1810236 S. Second Avenue (Eelbeck-Johnson Office), ca. 1820117 N. Third Avenue, ca. 1815118 N. Third Avenue (Maney-Gault House), ca. 1828

125 N. Third Avenue (John Eaton House), ca. 1818137 N. Third Avenue, ca. 1820120 S. Third Avenue (Moran-Pope House), ca. 1822224 S. Third Avenue, (Saunders-Marshall House), ca. 1805805 W. Main Street, 18311101 W. Main Street, ca. 18281014 W. Main Street, 18501010 W. Main Street, ca. 1850700 W. Main Street, 1820510 W. Main Street, (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church), 1834, remodeled 18691012 Fair Street, 1850724 Fair Street, ca. 1830612 Fair Street, (McEwen House), 1849501 S. Margin Street, (Otey-Campbell House), ca. 1830119 S. Margin Street, Nashville and Decatur Railroad Depot, 1858

The John McEwen House on Fair Street was oneof many homes used as a hospital after the Battleof Franklin.

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As described on page 9 and 10 of this plan, asecond Battle of Franklin occurred onDecember 17, 1864, when Hood’s armypassed through Franklin as it retreated southafter the Battle of Nashville. The actionsassociated with this combat were explainedon those pages, but this page includes variousgraphics to provide additional detail.

The railroad overpass at Liberty Pike was the sceneof heavy fighting on the afternoon of December17th, 1864.

This open field adjacent to Liberty Pike is a poten-tial location for markers and exhibits to explain theaction on December 17th, 1864.

Acquisition of a portion of this field should be con-sidered to commemorate and interprete the fightngon December 17th, 1864. It is located north of theWest Harpeth River and west of Columbia Pike.

The fighting on December 17th, 1864, was signifi-cant enough to warrant its own map by the US mili-tary after the war. The battle was fought over atwo-mile area from a tributary of the West HarpethRiver shown above to the actual West Harpeth Rivercrossing.

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Archeological work is an important componentfor the preservation and interpretation ofFranklin’s Civil War heritage. Archeologicalsurvey work is a specific recommendation formany of the various sites addressed in thisplan. It is recommended that archeology beapplied to any important lands that are aboutto be disturbed, even if the site is about to bephysically enhanced for preservation andinterpretation purposes. It is also critical thatthose archeologists doing the work are wellversed in historic archeology, includingbattlefields, as opposed to strictly prehistorichabitational sites.

At present, the City has no requirements forarcheological survey work prior todevelopment approval. One option suggestedon page 30 under “Potential PreservationMeasures” is for the City to require a surveyfor developments within the delineatedbattlefield, or perhaps only the “core” battlefieldarea. An alternative to requiring such a surveyfor all developments is to limit the requirementto developments of a certain magnitude, suchas 10 acres or more.

In addition to archeology, it is important thatthe preservation of the cultural landscape alsobe a top priority with respect to any of thisplan’s recommendations that might impactterrain. An example of this issue was citedon page 45, in which it was noted that theclearing of land for an observation point shouldbe done by hand so as to avoid any significantimpactst to the landscape. The National ParkService has prepared several publications thatare useful for landscape preservation at Civil

Archeological work has been conducted recently atCarnton Plantation in the vicinity of the formerkitchen wing. Serving as the original section of thehouse, it was destroyed years ago by a tornado,but the “ghost” of its end wall is visible on the fa-cade shown above.

lWar sites, including Preservation Brief 36:Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning,Treatment and Management of HistoricLandscapes. The brief is an excellentintroduction to the current tenets of landscapepreservation and management.

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