Action in front yard at Carter house, Battle of Franklin

[@bigmike9665]

I've been to Franklin twice (I live in nor ca). It's great what they are doing in Franklin. It's such a great, sad, bloody story. If I'm in the area again, I will be back. You hear all the time how old battlefields are being built over. Yet Franklin is trying to reclaim the battlefield. GREAT JOB! For what it's worth. If you take a trip to Nashville. Add Franklin to your list. Even if you only like history a little. You won't be disappointed.

[@jonathanbaggs4275]

If it wasn't for tom's passion then the reclaiming of the Franklin Battlefield probably would never have gotten off the ground. In the late 80s and early 1990s - there was just tom, myself and Doug cubbison. Folks didn't believe portions of the field could ever be reclaimed from development which already had destroyed most of the site. Now - in 2018 - there is the trust and the Franklin battlefield folks and influential people behind the efforts. The pizza hut is gone and that historic portion has been saved - housing projects are gone and original federal lines have been excavated. The work goes on and it is a truly remarkable transformation that has taken place. And Tom deserves much if not most of the credit for refusing to take "no" for an answer.

[@WOMPITUS]

Tim Smith What is Tom’s last name?

[@jacobmasters438]

​@@WOMPITUS 2 years later for what it's worth, his name is Thomas Cartwright.

[@WOMPITUS]

@@jacobmasters438 Wish I could get in contact with him. My great great grandfather was killed and buried their and I’d love to know what part of the battlefield he was killed. From the info I have he was with D Company 36th Mississippi.

[@PennsylvaniaHistoryBuff]

Love Thomas Cartwright and his passion for history.

[@jayuihlein1664]

I highly recommend this tour. Tom Cartwright is amazing. And haunting? Oh, Yes! My sons and I are CSA reenactors and all felt the distinct presence of MANY ghosts. This place is truly haunted. Come and experience one of the most intense battles of the War Between the States. Awesome.

[@civilwaraddict]

Mr. Cartwright is one of the most passionate speakers that I have ever heard. I've been fortunate to have had a tour from him.

[@thewintergardener2873]

I've visited numerous battlefields... I am always impressed by the tour guides.... Their historical knowledge, and ability to bring these events to life with their enthusiasm and attention to detail greatly adds to the experience...

[@Oldirish88]

Thank you Mr. Cartwright! I use information from your presentation to teach my class. I visited Carter House a few years back and you were kind enough to conduct the tour, even though our group was very small.

[@JohnSmith-ju9lf]

I just visited the Carter house two weeks ago. I stood in the basement where the family had hidden from the fighting. I read the names of people who set there that night. I heard the story how Ted Carter was found that night a few yards from the house. I waited till the rest of the tourists left the room and I stood there and wept. It was my first visit to a civil war memorial, I came away realizing what a awful price this country paid during the civil war and questioning if it was worth it. For those who are calling for "reparations" I have come to the opinion that those who are descendants of slaves owe this country more than they can ever repay.

[@forwardobserver6441]

Tom is awesome!!! I had 2 grandfathers fighting there. 39 Mississippi -and 36 Alabama .

[@dyollnibboR]

Proud Texan from Granbury Texas. What a horrible series of events. War is truly hell.

[@littledikkins2]

And this one was especially bad because there were a lot of combatants in a rather small area. I've read accounts of Medieval Battles that had dead on this scale Towton in the Wars of the Roses and Bannockburn.

[@williamcarraway3099]

If you have to mortgage your house to hear Thomas Cartwright speak do so. You would swear he is the last remaining living Civil War Veteran. As a combat veteran, I appreciate that Cartwright refuses to sugar coat our savage history. You are not likely to meet a more passionate advocate of history than Cartwright.

[@brt-jn7kg]

Combat should never be sugar-coated. It should always be presented in the raw brutality that it is. If done properly perhaps maybe it'll prevent others from having to walk into the valley like so many young men myself included have had to do.

[@stevec7770]

Cartwright is a treasure for students of history

[@arlenefaith]

My husband and I were in Franklin yesterday and unfortunately missed this fantastic accounting of the war at the Carter house. I'm so glad someone video taped and shared this with all of us. This is the hard truth about the war.

[@DarkwingsDesending]

+Arlene Faith Kortright That's because he works at the Lotz house now. He still does battle field tours that last two and a half hours in addition to speaking engagements around the U.S.

[@dancinkindofguy1352]

The backside of the workshed is STILL riddled with bullet holes from the battle, testament to the ferocity that went on at the Carter House.

[@darthroden]

Thomas Cartwright was also best remembered from that History Channel documentary "Eighty Acres Of Hell" about Camp Douglass, the Union Prisoner of War Camp in Chicago, Illinois, which was perhaps the most fair and balanced portrayal of Union prison camps and their brutal treatment of Confederate prisoners.

[@lilsteve68]

Proud descendant of Daniel Marion Craft 22nd Alabama Infantry - Deas Brigade, Ed Johnsons Division ~ Who was in the Night attack and carried torches in to battle. God Bless them All North and South.. Never Forget !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@walterpatton9246]

My Great (x4) uncle was Brig. General Zachariah Cantey Deas. God bless the Blue and the Gray.

[@haynes1776]

Thomas cartwright. Well done with Franklin. I see you doing tours at Stones River. The most endangered battlefield that i know of.

[@leviathantoobz]

I almost forgot to watch this today.

[@joanpellillo2981]

Thanks for graphic - highlights -- and the history... Great Job..

[@imunchienandalusia]

i live walking distance to the Carter House and i have never been. I need to fix that asap

[@forwardobserver6441]

Hopefully I’ll get to hear mr Cartwright speak soon. I plan on visiting Franklin this summer- I also want to follow Sherman’s Georgia moves- resaca where I lost a great uncle, new hope church- peach tree, and Jonesboro. I love CW history. Some of my family missed Franklin (36 Alabama and 5 Washington artillery) the others were 39 miss- 8 Alabama 14 Alabama.

[@shiningstaer]

Oh he was in civil war journal! Y’all are awesome. Miss you pohanka

[@Grumble_Jones_ASL]

Thomas Cartwright is a passionate guy. I met him at the Carter House in 1990. There just is no place in America quite like the Carter House grounds.

[@jimwalker3808]

My great-grandfathers brother died here Never fully understood until now . thanks

[@tennesseebrigadeanv1523]

Awesome tour guide.

[@herberthinton1499]

This man is captivating.

[@black1582]

thomas cartwright is great he turns you on not off to history

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I have lived a hour away and traveled through Franklin many times on the way to Columbia and never been here. Definitely stopping next time to see what’s there!

[@mattpiepenburg8769]

It’s essential every now and then to step away from the history and numbers and “romance” of war and hear it for what it truly is: senseless carnage, suffering and sadness. But bravery too. Perhaps beyond understanding.

[@870Rem12gauge]

Great presentation.

[@WOMPITUS]

I would love to speak with this man. My great great grandfather died there. 36th Mississippi Infantry D Company "Yankee Hunters"

[@vindieseldouble]

My great great great grandfather's brother was Lt. Col Porter Olson whose death he described in the first minute. And he was actually the acting Brigadier General at the time. 36th Illinois Infantry Volunteers Company F.

[@forwardobserver6441]

I believe your grandfather and mine were in the same division. Mine was 39 miss co I under French. I’ll have to look again. Any way hello. Hope all is well.

[@WOMPITUS]

John Connelly Yes sir all is well. Thank you for the notion. Mine served under Maj Gen. Loring. I’ve been to the battlefield one time when I was 12. I really wish I could find out his rank and what part of the battlefield he fell at. I don’t know how much of the story you know but Gen. Hood was not in his right mind and pretty much sent all of those men to their death for no reason. It got so out of hand that Nathan Bedford Forest pulled his saber on Hood that morning at a meeting. He was trying to put a stop to Hoods nonsense but was shut down in the process.

[@forwardobserver6441]

Yep- he was just 2 division away from French. I saw 36 miss on your reply and still thought you said 39 miss. Loring came up the river on the right. It’s amazing anyone walked out of here! The south’s last hurrah (AOT)

[@WOMPITUS]

John Connelly it’s such a shame that most Americans have never even heard of this battle.

[@Bhobbs1985]

I made it here back in 2004 and was a pretty good experience. Though, I must say that it’s depressing how the citizens of that community are letting their heritage be eaten up by commercial zones. It’s sad when you go to the spot in which Cleburne was shot and it’s in a pizza hut parking lot… do something about it people, stand up for your history and existence!

[@091053JG]

Such carnage of brave Americans on both sides.

[@daveh9551]

This was tour guide excellence

[@andygossard4293]

This must be why Sam Watkins said that it didn't resemble a battle the way killing and volleys usually looked.

[@haynes1776]

@rtb2425 Opdyke's brigade was at the right place at the right time to plug the gap made at the Carter house As for Hood, in my opinion, was a good commander but he made some bad blunders that cost him later.

[@davidtate166]

The battle of franklin tenn should have never had happen.😪

[@leviathantoobz]

True, but the federals _did_ successfully crush the rebels at Franklin and finished them off at Nashville.

[@janetburke8327]

He's great! That spot must be haunted as hell!

[@charlynnevadnais5312]

in memory of Levi Tidwell Co. E 3rd Tenn Cav

[@michaelwoehl8822]

After watching and reading the news my thoughts today are do we want to do this again????

[@a1fixitguy309]

How long did it take to load a canon on average?

[@AsherPriddy]

Question, 4pm on nov 30th 64, does anyone know what time that would correspond to today?

[@snapmalloy5556]

Arthur MacArthur was all of 19 when this battle was fought

[@tcbtn1]

@40AcreMule How anyone can view this video and call it "overly dramatic" is beyond my comprehension. If you were one of the soldiers actually fighting in this battle, I think your view would be quite different.

[@Longhorn-s7z]

Richmond Daily Dispatch, May 1862: "Then call us rebel's if you will for we glory in the name. For bending under unjust laws and swearing faith to an unjust cause, we count as greater shame."

[@Dc328]

War is Hell...

[@Evocati2008]

doubt the "war" would've been different, the south was being overwhelmed by superior numbers across the board. But most assuredly it would have made this theatre of ops alot more complicated for the Union. Schofields troops would never have united with Thomas's at Nashville, and the horrible losses Hood had at Franklin would have been available if Spring Hill would have been "closed". Some historians believe Hood ordered the assault on Franklin as punishment for the prior nights error.

[@haynes1776]

@1957thack Franklin was hell. I compare it to Fredericksburg. Hood should never had carried out that attack on the Union breastworks. It was suicide.

[@joeszymaszek5800]

Only difference is that Franklin was, for about 20-30 minutes, up in the air as to who would win. Fredericksburg was never in doubt.

[@roxiejuju9214]

My class went here on a feild trip there

[@50TNCSA]

mine was in the 50th tenn co.E CSA we caught hell at franklin

[@Irish8594]

@haynes1776 thats right about Gen patrick cleburne but at least he didnt get shot by his own men like Gen Jackson

[@prestonfurlow7582]

This fellow is one heck of a historian! Not at all like the biased arrogant "historian" at the Carnton House

[@WesternStarproductions]

Dam

[@myessyallyahamericus8405]

I'm general Jacob Cox only living child

[@NeoSovrnson]

DAMN! Where did you go to school? Where did you learn sentence structure? Do you ever proofread your posts before sending?

[@Irish8594]

@haynes1776 yea it was suicide also that what the next union line was at the other side of the house it was a stupid plan it was a horrible plan

[@myessyallyahamericus8405]

I'm his only living child and I'm about to die just sitting here crying like a little baby

[@50TNCSA]

in my personal opion hood should have never been put in command of the AoT and cleburne should have been pu in command and probaly would have flanked hince saving the AoT from heavy causalties and possibly changed the history of the civil war

[@iowapeacechief]

Horrible. My great-grandfather was there. (Abner Warner Graham, Co. A, 50th Ohio) --Daniel Graham Clark

[@PolkRidgeAesthete]

How tragic, how horrific, and should have been unnecessary!

[@joeszymaszek5666]

@40acremule It's unfair to make a statement such as that without knowing more than what a video says. Go pick up "For Cause and For Country" by Eric Jacobson and then tell me Verdun was more barbaric and completely inhumane

[@SpockOfRock]

All that death in support of a bad cause... Think before you act children, think before you act.

[@myessyallyahamericus8405]

It's where the first machine guns were fired off and was kept hidden from everyone but the dead

[@TIMOWHITEBUFFALO]

I bet you if he was actually there..he would of been running and hiding ...

[@davidkillen2207]

The war wasn’t over slavery

[@myessyallyahamericus8405]

It's where the first machine guns were fired off and was kept hidden from everyone but the dead