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On November 30,1864, the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee took place. The Confederate attack fails with 7,700 casualties. From the article:
"Battle of Franklin, Tennessee
On this day in 1864, the once proud Confederate Army of Tennessee suffers a devastating defeat after its commander, General John Bell Hood, orders a frontal assault on strong Union positions around Franklin, Tennessee. The loss cost Hood six of his finest generals and nearly a third of his force.
Hood assumed command in late July 1864 while the Confederates were pinned inside Atlanta by the armies of Union General William T. Sherman. Hood made a series of desperate attacks against Sherman but finally relinquished the city in early September. No longer able to wage an offensive against the massive Yankee force, Hood retreated into Alabama to regroup. In early November, he moved north into Tennessee to draw Sherman out of the Deep South. By now, Sherman had enough troops to split his army. He dispatched General George Thomas to the Nashville area to deal with Hood’s threat while he took the rest of the force on his March to the Sea, during which his men destroyed most of central Georgia.
Hood approached Franklin, just south of Nashville, on November 29. Thomas waited in Nashville, while another Union force under John Schofield was moving from the south to join Thomas. Schofield was aware of Hood’s position and was attempting to move past the Confederates on his way to rejoining the rest of the Federal army. Hood tried to flank Schofield, buthe marched right past Hood’s army and planted his Yankees in existing defenses at Franklin. Furious, Hood blamed his subordinates for failing to block Schofield’s route, and then prepared for a frontal assault on the formidable Union trenches. Hood was handicapped by the fact that one of his three divisions was still marching toward Franklin and much of his artillery had not yet arrived. Under these circumstances, Hood’s decision to attackcould seem foolish, but he was perhaps motivated by an attempt to discipline his army and rebuild his men’s lost confidence. On November 30, the Confederates charged into the Union defenses. The Rebel lines moved forward in nearly perfect unison, the last great charge of the war. Parts of the Union’s outer trenches fell to Hood’s men, but a Yankee counterattack spelled disaster for the Confederates. They did not penetrate any further and suffered significant casualties.
The fighting continued until after dark before Schofield resumed his march northward. Of 15,000 Union troops engaged, some 200 were killed andmore than 2,000 were wounded. The Confederates had 23,000 men at Franklin; approximately 1,750 died and 5,500 were wounded or captured. The losses among the Confederate leadership were major. Six generals were killed, including Patrick Cleburne, one of the Confederate army’s finest division commanders. Another five were wounded, one more captured, and 60 of Hood’s 100 regimental commanders were killed or wounded. Despite the defeat, Hood continued to move against Thomas. Just two weeks later, Hood hurled the remnants of his army against the Yankees at Nashville with equally disastrous results."
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen TSgt David L. SPC Woody Bullard Lt Col Charlie Brown SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SFC Shirley Whitfield PVT Mark Zehner SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SPC Douglas Bolton Alan K.. CPL Dave Hoover. Sgt Randy Wilber
"Battle of Franklin, Tennessee
On this day in 1864, the once proud Confederate Army of Tennessee suffers a devastating defeat after its commander, General John Bell Hood, orders a frontal assault on strong Union positions around Franklin, Tennessee. The loss cost Hood six of his finest generals and nearly a third of his force.
Hood assumed command in late July 1864 while the Confederates were pinned inside Atlanta by the armies of Union General William T. Sherman. Hood made a series of desperate attacks against Sherman but finally relinquished the city in early September. No longer able to wage an offensive against the massive Yankee force, Hood retreated into Alabama to regroup. In early November, he moved north into Tennessee to draw Sherman out of the Deep South. By now, Sherman had enough troops to split his army. He dispatched General George Thomas to the Nashville area to deal with Hood’s threat while he took the rest of the force on his March to the Sea, during which his men destroyed most of central Georgia.
Hood approached Franklin, just south of Nashville, on November 29. Thomas waited in Nashville, while another Union force under John Schofield was moving from the south to join Thomas. Schofield was aware of Hood’s position and was attempting to move past the Confederates on his way to rejoining the rest of the Federal army. Hood tried to flank Schofield, buthe marched right past Hood’s army and planted his Yankees in existing defenses at Franklin. Furious, Hood blamed his subordinates for failing to block Schofield’s route, and then prepared for a frontal assault on the formidable Union trenches. Hood was handicapped by the fact that one of his three divisions was still marching toward Franklin and much of his artillery had not yet arrived. Under these circumstances, Hood’s decision to attackcould seem foolish, but he was perhaps motivated by an attempt to discipline his army and rebuild his men’s lost confidence. On November 30, the Confederates charged into the Union defenses. The Rebel lines moved forward in nearly perfect unison, the last great charge of the war. Parts of the Union’s outer trenches fell to Hood’s men, but a Yankee counterattack spelled disaster for the Confederates. They did not penetrate any further and suffered significant casualties.
The fighting continued until after dark before Schofield resumed his march northward. Of 15,000 Union troops engaged, some 200 were killed andmore than 2,000 were wounded. The Confederates had 23,000 men at Franklin; approximately 1,750 died and 5,500 were wounded or captured. The losses among the Confederate leadership were major. Six generals were killed, including Patrick Cleburne, one of the Confederate army’s finest division commanders. Another five were wounded, one more captured, and 60 of Hood’s 100 regimental commanders were killed or wounded. Despite the defeat, Hood continued to move against Thomas. Just two weeks later, Hood hurled the remnants of his army against the Yankees at Nashville with equally disastrous results."
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen TSgt David L. SPC Woody Bullard Lt Col Charlie Brown SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SFC Shirley Whitfield PVT Mark Zehner SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SPC Douglas Bolton Alan K.. CPL Dave Hoover. Sgt Randy Wilber
Battle of Franklin, Tennessee
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Responses: 8
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
SGT (Join to see), I won’t revisit the Battle of Franklin, except to say that Hood is largely the one responsible for the carnage during the Battle of Franklin by sending thousands of Confederate troops in the open to attack well emplaced and well fortified Federal soldiers. His ignorance, arrogance, drug induced stupor (for wounds) or all three led to the massive slaughter.
The Carter House is the first place to see when learning about the Battle of Franklin. The docent there is incredibly knowledgeable, well educated and has even appeared on national television to speak of the battle. The Carter House is 6.5 miles from my front door and I’ve visited there numerous times. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve driven past the Carter House.
“Tod (Carter) was serving as an aide to Confederate Brig. Gen. Thomas Benton Smith during the Battle of Franklin and was mortally wounded in the fight. He was shot down leading a desperate charge just southwest of his childhood home. Tod was brought to the house where he died two days later (in his own bed).”
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC John Griscom Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SGT Mark Estes SPC Douglas Bolton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PVT Mark Zehner COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SP5 Mark Kuzinski Lt Col Charlie Brown
https://boft.org/the-carter-house/
The Carter House is the first place to see when learning about the Battle of Franklin. The docent there is incredibly knowledgeable, well educated and has even appeared on national television to speak of the battle. The Carter House is 6.5 miles from my front door and I’ve visited there numerous times. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve driven past the Carter House.
“Tod (Carter) was serving as an aide to Confederate Brig. Gen. Thomas Benton Smith during the Battle of Franklin and was mortally wounded in the fight. He was shot down leading a desperate charge just southwest of his childhood home. Tod was brought to the house where he died two days later (in his own bed).”
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen LTC John Griscom Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SGT Mark Estes SPC Douglas Bolton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Donald H "Don" Bates PVT Mark Zehner COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SP5 Mark Kuzinski Lt Col Charlie Brown
https://boft.org/the-carter-house/
The Carter House — The Battle of Franklin Trust
Carter House
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LTC Stephen C.
>1 y
SGT (Join to see), Carnton Plantation is the other “must see” location regarding the Battle of Franklin. It served as a hospital and hundreds if not thousands of wounded were brought there and were treated and/or died. There’s a photo that I’ve seen of four Confederate generals laying side by side on the porch of Carnton. The McGavok family buried many soldiers on their land and it became what I think is now the largest privately owned Confederate cemetery. Carnton is 7+ miles from my front door, and I’ve also visited there numerous times.
https://boft.org/carnton/
SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT Mark Estes SSG Donald H "Don" Bates LTC John Griscom Maj William W. 'Bill' Price PVT Mark Zehner COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SP5 Mark Kuzinski Lt Col Charlie Brown
https://boft.org/carnton/
SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SGT Mark Estes SSG Donald H "Don" Bates LTC John Griscom Maj William W. 'Bill' Price PVT Mark Zehner COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SP5 Mark Kuzinski Lt Col Charlie Brown
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
>1 y
Arrogance of leaders seems to be a common factor, on both sides during the Civil War. Great share.
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SGT (Join to see)
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Good Red Friday, Bill! Boy am I glad it's the end of the week! Have a great day!
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