49
The Carter House – 1140 Columbia
Ave., Franklin, 37065. 615-791-1861. A National Historic Landmark,
this home was at the center of the ferocious Battle of Franklin,
during which it was used as a Federal command post. Although
the engagement lasted only 5 hours, more generals died in this
battle than any other, and more Confederate soldiers were killed
than in Pickett’s Charge. Tour includes a museum, video
presentation and guided tour of the house and grounds. Open
daily. Admission is charged. Related Link:
Battle
Summary-Battle of Franklin - NPS
50
Carnton
Plantation – 1345 Carnton Lane, Franklin,
37064. 615-794-0903. This antebellum plantation was built by
Randal McGavock, a former mayor of Nashville. On November 30,
1864, Confederate troops moved through the grounds to engage
well entrenched Federal troops in the Battle of Franklin. Wounded
soldiers were taken to Carnton, which served as a hospital and
furnished an impromptu burial ground. In 1866, two acres were
given by the McGavocks to be used as a Confederate cemetery.
The McGavock Confederate Cemetery is a National Historic
Landmark and the largest private Confederate cemetery in the
nation. A booklet about the cemetery is available by writing
611 W. Main St., Genealogy Dept., Franklin, TN 37064. Open daily.
Admission to the house is charged; the cemetery is free.
51
Winstead
Hill – Mailing address: 4439 Peytonsville
Rd., Franklin, 37064. 615-794-1861. General Hood’s troops
formed on Winstead Hill before their great charge at the Battle
of Franklin. A memorial to the Army of Tennessee stands on the
hill today. The overlook features a large military map and memorials
to the Confederate generals who died in this battle.
52
Fort Granger
– P.O. Box 305, Franklin, 37065. 615-794-1861. In February,
1863, General Rosecrans, in command of the Federal troops in
middle Tennessee, ordered Major General Gordon Granger to fortify
Franklin. During Hood’s attack on November 30, 1864, artillery
fire from this fort slammed into the Confederate right flank.
The fort was abandoned when the Federals retreated toward Nashville
during the night, but was.41 reoccupied two weeks later as Hood’s
defeated army withdrew from Tennessee. Open daily. Admission
is free. Tours arranged through the Carter House, 615-791-1861.
53
Lotz House
– 1111 Columbia Ave., Franklin, 37064. Built
in 1858 by German woodworker Albert Lotz, the house retains
much of his handiwork. The home is located near the Carter House,
and the Lotz family hid there with the Carters during the Battle
of Franklin. The home is not open to the public.
54
Historic Travellers
Rest – 636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville, 37220,
615-832-8197. This house is one of the city’s oldest residences,
built in 1799 by Judge John Overton. During the Civil War, Union troops
camped on the grounds during the Federal occupation of Nashville.
For two weeks prior to the Battle of Nashville, the home was headquarters
of Confederate commander General John Bell Hood. Riding from Murfreesboro
to confer with Hood, General Forrest spent the night on December 11,
1864. During the second day of the Battle of Nashville, Dec. 16, 1864,
U.S. Colored Infantry charged the Confederate right flank on Peach
Orchard Hill, located on the Overton property and within sight of
the house. Open Tues.-Sat. Admission is charged.
55
Battle
of Nashville Driving Tour – c/o Metropolitan
Historical Commission, 209 10th Ave., Suite 414, Nashville,
37203. 615-862-7970. The Battle of Nashville was one of the
final large-scale engagements of the Civil War. Fought on December
15-16, 1864, the Confederacy’s last offensive action finished
the Army of Tennessee as an effective fighting force. The driving
tour includes the main points of the Union defenses of Nashville
and the Confederate lines of battle. Brochures are available
at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Historical
Commission, Mon-Fri. and the Nashville Visitors Center, daily.
There is no charge. Related Link: Battle
of Nashville - Summary
56
Belle Meade
Plantation – 5025 Harding Road, Nashville,
37205. 615-356-0501. Battle of Nashville bullets scar the massive
front porch columns of Belle Meade, which served as Confederate General
James R. Chalmers’s headquarters during the battle. Today the
1850s mansion has been elegantly restored to recall the days when
the "Queen of Tennessee Plantations" was world-renowned
as a 5,400 acre thoroughbred farm and nursery. Guided tours are given
by authentically costumed interpreters. Open daily. Admission is charged.
57
Belmont
Mansion – 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville,
37212. 615-460-5459. This elegant house was built by Joseph
and Adelicia Acklen in 1853 and enlarged in 1859-60. During
the Civil War, it served as headquarters for Union General David
Stanley and, later, for General Thomas J. Wood, commander of
the 4th Army Corps. At Belmont, Wood gave orders to all division
commanders for the first day of the Battle of Nashville. Open
June-August, daily, September-May, Tuesday-Saturday. Admission
is charged. Related Link: Battle
of Nashville-Summary
58
Battle
of Nashville Monument – Granny White
Pike & Battlefield Dr., Nashville, 615-532-1550. The 1926
statue by Giuseppe Moretti has recently been restored and rededicated
on a small tract of the battlefield where the clash of December
15-16, 1864, took place. Nearby, Confederate forces under General
Hood reached their furthest advance in their failed attempt
to retake Nashville. Somewhat unusual in that it was designed
to memorialize both Union and Confederate soldiers, this was
also a peace monument to honor the Americans who fought and
died in World War I. Related Link: Battle
of Nashville-Summary
59
Spring Hill Battlefield
– 5700 Main St., Spring Hill, 37174. 931-486-9037 or
888-852-1860. On Nov. 29, 1864, at Spring Hill, General Hood
lost his best chance to capture Schofield’s army, and the
incident became one of the most controversial events of the
war. Two historic homes associated with the battle, Oaklawn
and Rippavilla, are
available
for tours.The owner of
Rippavilla,
Confederate Major Nathaniel Cheairs, carried the white flag
of surrender to Grant at Fort Donelson and, on November 30,
1864, welcomed Hood and his ranking officers to breakfast. It
was here that Hood angrily accused his staff of letting the
entire Federal army escape to Franklin. Self-driving tour maps
are available at Rippavilla. Open daily. Admission is charged.
Related Link: Battle
of Spring Hill-Summary
60
The Athenaeum
Rectory – 808 Athenaeum St., Columbia,
38401. 931-381-4822. The rectory was the home of the Rev. Franklin
Smith, president of the Columbia Athenaeum, a school renowned
for its progressive 19th century curriculum. Smith outfitted
a company of Confederate soldiers, the Maury Rifles. He also
designed and built a submarine for the Confederacy. The rectory
was headquarters for Generals Negley and Schofield, and General
Forrest was also a frequent visitor. Open February-December.
Admission is charged.
61
Tennessee
Antebellum Trail – 1345 Carnton Lane,
Franklin, TN 37174. 800-381-1865. This is a 90-mile, self-driving
loop tour featuring more than 55 Civil War sites, battlefields,
antebellum homes, and plantations. The route traces Gen. John
Bell Hood’s Nashville campaign from Spring Hill through
Franklin, and north to Nashville. Nine historic homes are open
to the public along the Trail, each of which played an important
role in the campaign. The homes include Belle Meade Plantation,
Belmont Mansion, Travellers Rest, Carter House, Carnton Plantation,
Rippavilla Plantation, The Athenaeum, Polk Home, and Rattle
and Snap. Other significant sites include McGavock Confederate
Cemetery, Winstead Hill, and Spring Hill Battlefield. The trail
is open daily. The nine historic homes have varying fees and
hours but are generally open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 1-5pm.
62
Fort
Negley – Nashville: Intersection of Fort Negley
Blvd and Chestnut Street. Fort Negley was the largest inland
masonry fortification built during the Civil War. Erected during
the Union occupation of Nashville in 1862 (in only four months),
the stone fort is 600 feet long and 300 feet wide. Constructed
by conscript laborers (predominately slaves and free blacks)
Fort Negley became the largest and most important fortification
with in the seven-miles of Union defenses around Nashville.
The Fort Negley complex is a Nashville City Park and in 2004
was updated with a self-guided walking trail system containing
informational plaques and kiosk. Plans for a future development
include an interpretive center. Open daily to the public. Admission
is free.
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USS
Sultana
departing Memphis
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