This Friday is the anv. of the Battle of Franklin. The Carter House and the Carnton Plantion have special events planed.. I plan on going and hopefully some of you will be there as well .. steven
FRANKLIN, Tn — Confederate Sam Watkins believed that common soldiers in America's horrific Civil War would not be remembered.
But all soldiers who fought in the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin will be honored this weekend with events at both the Carter House and Historic Carnton Plantation.
Officials at Carter House, ground zero for fighting at the Battle of Franklin, will lead the 11th memorial walk Friday from Winstead Hill to the house itself on Columbia Avenue to commemorate the 137th anniversary of the battle. On Saturday, a memorial tree to a fallen Confederate brigadier general will be planted, and a lantern tour of the grounds will be guided by reenactors in uniform.
Historic Carnton Plantation, where many wounded were treated and more than 1,500 victims of the battle were buried after the war, will observe the anniversary with a weekend of reenactments, living history exhibits and candlelight tours.
''There will be a hospital scene, but no amputating, to go with our effort to illustrate the role of civilians in Franklin,'' explained Thomas Cartwright, Carter House director.
''Many civilians in town helped take care of wounded
soldiers after the battle.''
A Carter House staff member portraying Sam Watkins will speak in character at
1:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. Watkins enlisted as a private in the First Tennessee Infantry, Company H, in the spring of 1861 and served throughout the duration of the war. In 1881, 20 years after the war began, he wrote his memoirs of the war in the compelling book, Co. Aytch.
''Watkins' reminiscences were originally published in the Columbia newspaper. Later, they were collected and published in a book that has gone through many editions and is still in print today,'' Cartwright said.
''Margaret Mitchell said, 'A better book there never was.' At Franklin, it starts off with the death angel gathering its last harvest: 'Kind listeners here is where my courage and ability fail me. I shrink from butchery. Would to god in heaven I had never witnessed such a scene. I cannot describe it.'''
Reenactors will be available to the public Friday and Saturday, demonstrating firing techniques and telling guests about camp life.
A tree will also be planted at 1 p.m. Friday in honor of Confederate Brig. Gen. John C. Carter, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Franklin. A small grove was planted on the Carter House grounds last month, with trees
dedicated to both Union and Confederate soldiers.
On Nov. 30, 1864, Carter led his brigade at Franklin up to the enemy's works, and fell mortally wounded in the abdomen during the charge. He died at Harrison House 10 days later.
At 4 p.m. Friday, the two-mile memorial walk from Winstead Hill to Carter House will begin. The 35-minute walk follows the route of the Confederate attack, but the march is in honor of soldiers on both sides, Cartwright said.
Saturday activities at the Carter House include living history programs throughout the day, and a lantern walk on the grounds from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
''Eight stops will be on the walk and at each stop there will be a person portraying an actual Confederate of Federal soldier who was in the battle,'' Cartwright explained.
''It's something that brings out the human side, those personal stories — the human side that transcends numbers, facts and details. about these brave Americans.
''Most of those boys had never been on a train before the war. Never been more than 20 miles from home. Every one of those men had a life, had dreams and a family.''
Conducting tours of the grounds by candlelight adds a dimension to experiencing a battle that began in the late afternoon on a cold November day and continued on into the night, Cartwright said.
Admission to Carter House ranges from $3 to $8 this weekend, depending on activities. The house will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 791-1861.
Activities begin from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday with a candlelight walk-through of the mansion.
On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can experience reenactments of camp life, observing the recreation of a soldier's day-to-day activities. More than 200 military reenactors will be on-site, demonstrating infantry, artillery, tactical and cavalry movements.
On Saturday and Sunday, infantry demonstrations are planned at 10 a.m., cavalry demonstrations are scheduled for noon, and artillery demonstrations will take place at 1 p.m.
Guests also will be invited to tour exhibits and hear lectures on medical practices common during the Civil War. Visitors will be able to see medical artifacts from the period, and hear the stories of soldiers who were treated
at Carnton.
Civilian life will be portrayed with such demonstrations as spinning, weaving, quilting and the preparation of period foods.
Actors portraying Carnton owners John and Carrie McGavock will tell the story of Carnton Plantation and its role in the Battle of Franklin, and visitors can hear about the Confederate cemetery that the McGavocks created on Carnton
land. A guided tour of the cemetery includes a discussion of mourning customs during the war.
Carnton hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 per adult and $2 per child for Friday's events; and $10 per adult or $3 per child (ages 6 to 12) for Saturday and Sunday events. Children younger than 6 are free. To reserve
passes, call Carnton at 794-0903.
Two buses will run continuously from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The tour originates at Winstead Hill Park on Columbia Avenue, 2.5 miles south of Main Street in Franklin.
''The front lines of the Battle of Franklin were in and around the already well-established town, and several buildings that survived the battle are still standing and still bear scars,'' explained Nancy Williams, director of
the Downtown Franklin Association. ''Many were used as makeshift hospitals, and these will be pointed out, as well as historic cemeteries.''
Buses will tour the City Cemetery on Fourth Avenue North in downtown Franklin, for example, and the Masonic Temple on Third Avenue South.
The tour is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children younger than 6 will be admitted free.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Carter House, tours and living history programs.
11 a.m., Carter House, lectures begin on Confederate Gen. Patrick Cleburne, chaplains in the Battle of Franklin, and civilian life in Franklin after the battle.
1 p.m., Carter House, tree planting in honor of Confederate Brig. Gen. John C. Carter.
1:30 p.m., Carter House, reenactor portrays Confederate Private Sam Watkins.
4 p.m., Winstead Hill, memorial walk along the route of the Confederate attack, up Columbia Pike to Carter House.
4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Carnton Plantation, candlelight mansion tours.
6:30 p.m., Ramada Inn Limited, Patrick Cleburne Society dinner.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Carter House, living history programs.
10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Carnton Plantation, candlelight mansion tours, lectures on medical practices of the Civil War.
10 a.m., Carnton Plantation, infantry demonstration.
11 a.m., Carnton Plantation, artillery demonstration.
11 a.m., Carter House, lectures about Patrick Cleburne, chaplains in the Battle of Franklin, and civilian life in Franklin after the battle.
Noon, Carnton Plantation, cavalry demonstration.
Noon, Carter House, reenactor portrays Confederate Private Sam Watkins.
2:30 p.m. Carnton Plantation, skirmish reenactment.
3:15 p.m. Carnton Plantation, Confederate hospital scene.
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Carter House, lantern walking tour.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carnton Plantation, living history presentations, lectures on medical practices of the Civil War.
10:15 a.m., Carnton Plantation, infantry demonstration.
Noon, Carnton Plantation, cavalry demonstration.
1 p.m., Carnton Plantation, artillery demonstration.