Rob Shenk

Civil War

Gallery

Franklin

From Winstead Hill to the breakthrough site at the Carter House, see our collection of Franklin Battlefield images.

(33 photos in gallery)

Satellite Image: 2014 Target Property

Google Earth

The American Battlefield Trust is currently working to save approximately 3 acres of the Franklin battlefield, highlighted in yellow. This land, at the heart of the battlefield, is surrounded by preserved land on three sides.

Successes and Opportunities at Franklin

Franklin's Charge

This rendering by artist Ben Johnson shows the Trust's 2014 target tract right at the heart of the battlefield. Land already saved by the Trust and it's partners surrounds this new 3-acre property.

Saved in 2013: Wagner's Forward Line

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

In 2013, the American Battlefield Trust and its allies preserved this portion of the forward line held by Gen. George Day Wagner's Union division, the first preservation efforts focused on this important tactical position on the Franklin Battlefield.

Saved in 2013: Cleburne's Attack

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

View of second of three tracts that we preserved in 2013. This tract fronts the historic Cotton Gin site - one of the bloodiest sections of this bloody battle.

Saved in 2013: Breakthrough Site

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

In 2013, the American Battlefield Trust worked to reclaim this bloody section of the Franklin battlefield, where hundreds fell, including Brig. Gen. Hiram Granbury.

Franklin Breakthrough: Building on Success

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

View of land saved by the Trust in 2013 from the scene of a preservation victory in 2005 - the removal of a Pizza Hut near the breakthrough site at Franklin.

Greek Food with your Battlefield?

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

View of the marker designating the location of the Union main line next to Columbia Pike. The Trust worked to preserve the land just beyond this marker in 2013.

Carter Cotton Gin

This historic photo of the Carter Cotton Gin depicts the landscape near the Union fortifications as appeared at the time of the battle.

Cotton Gin Assault

Rob Shenk

This marker denotes the site of the Carter Cotton Gin and the violent assault that took place in this vicinity.

Franklin Pizza Hut Demolition

Civil War Trust

In 2005, The American Battlefield Trust and its allies reclaimed a crucial part of the Franklin battlefield, purchasing and then destroying the site of Pizza Hut franchise. The demolition, seen here, marked a key victory in the battle to restore this hallowed ground.

Trust Property from Cotton Gin Site

Rob Shenk

View of the property acquired by the American Battlefield Trust in 2010 from the adjacent Cotton Gin site.

Trust Property Near the Cotton Gin Site

Rob Shenk

The house and property seen here were acquired in a 2010 preservation effort at Franklin. Adjacent to the Cotton Gin property and contiguous to other Trust land, this a crucial part of the Franklin breakthrough region.

Carter House Garden Celebration

Rob Shenk

Confederate reenactors fire a volley in celebration of the American Battlefield Trust’s preservation of the Carter House gardens. This effort protected crucial land at the Franklin breakthrough site.

Pizza Hut Park

Rob Shenk

The Pizza Hut site as it appears today. The monument in this image commemorates the death of Patrick Cleburne, who was killed on this ground in 1864.

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Carter House Outbuildings

Rob Shenk

Stacked rifles sit on the grounds of the Carter House, the site of the Union’s main defensive. The outbuildings seen here are original structures present during the battle.

Union Cannon at the Carter House

Rob Shenk

Federal artillery bolstering the Union line at the Carter House contributed to the vicious slaughter near the Carter House outbuildings.

Bullet Holes - Carter Outbuilding

Rob Shenk

The site of some of the battle’s fiercest fighting, the out-buildings of the Carter House still bear the scars of the 1864 battle.

Columbia Pike at the Breakthrough

Rob Shenk

The Columbia Pike near the site of the Confederate breakthrough as viewed from the Union perspective.

Eastern Flank Attack

Rob Shenk

In one of the most fascinating incidents of the battle of Franklin, Union soldiers posted here, on the Eastern flank, fashioned abatis from Orange Osage trees and laid them in front of their fortifications. This site, like so many others at Franklin, was the scene of horrific carnage. The Trust's current target property is located just to the left of this image.

Walthall's Men

Courtesy of Kraig McNutt

These three soldiers of the 49th Tennessee took part in the deadly assault on the eastern flank.

Wagner's Forward Line

Rob Shenk

Union division commander George D. Wagner posted two of his brigades here in a perilously exposed position several hundred yards in front of the main Federal works. Overwhelmed by the Confederate attack and Wagner’s retreating men served as a human shield for the advancing enemy, allowing the Southerners to breach the Union line.

Eastern Flank Property Saved

Eric Jacobson

The American Battlefield Trust worked to save this 5-acre portion of the Franklin battlefield. On November 30, 1864, Maj. Gen. Edward Walthall's Confederates suffered staggering losses as they assaulted the eastern flank of the Federal line.

Collins Farm

Rob Shenk

Located on the Eastern Flank, the Collins farm saw severe fighting on November 30, 1864 as Walthall's Confederates advanced along the Lewisburg Pike. The Trust's current 5-acre target property is located just behind the trees at right.

Tod Carter's Grave

Rob Shenk

By far one of the most tragic stories of the Battle of Franklin is that of Tod Carter, the Confederate soldier who fell in the fight at the breakthrough and died in his childhood home.

Columbia Pike From Winstead Hill

Rob Shenk

From here, Confederate commander John Bell Hood watched the battle of Franklin unfold. Today, this view is more a testament to the constant development that threatens the Franklin Battlefield.

Carnton Plantation

Rob Shenk

Home to the McGavock family, Carnton Plantation was used as a hospital for the scores of wounded from the battle of Franklin.

Carnton Plantation in Summer

Rob Shenk

View of the Carnton Plantation in the bloom of summer.

Where Generals Lay

Rob Shenk

The battle of Franklin claimed the lives of six Confederate generals, some of whom were laid here, on the back porch of Carnton, where they breathed their last breaths.

Entrance to the McGavock Cemetery

Rob Shenk

The weeks and months following the battle, Mrs. McGavock cared for the Confederate wounded left at her home—and interred the dead on her property. Today, the McGavock Cemetery is the largest privately owned Confederate Cemetery in the United States.

230 Killed at Franklin

Rob Shenk

This simple, evocative monument in the McGavock Cemetery is one of several such epitaphs to the Confederate dead of Franklin.

Graves in the McGavock Cemetery

Rob Shenk

Small, simple headstones mark the final resting place for 230 Confederates killed at Franklin.

View from Fort Granger

Rob Shenk, American Battlefield Trust

Located on the north side of the Harpeth, Fort Granger was host to Union artillery who poured shot and shell into the Confederate ranks as they assailed the eastern flank.