The continuation of the story of two armies, pursued and pursuer, who were engaged in a vicious struggle outside the small town of Franklin, Tennessee in the fall of 1864. This chapter is about the story of a general, his promise, and the brave men who followed him. This part of our story of the fighting at Franklin centered on the Carter Cotton Gin and Cotton Press. A quick meeting was held with Hood’s staff prior to the attack to discuss options. General Hood gave detailed instructions to each Division, including Patrick Cleburne, on how to conduct the attack. A grim smile came across Cleburne’s face after receiving these detailed instructions from General Hood and then remarked to him that he would either take the enemy's works or fall in the attempt. Cleburne then rode off and addressed his men that the works would need to be taken at all hazards. General Govan, upon hearing of the details of the attack, told General Cleburne "Well, general, there will not be many of us that will get back to Arkansas." Cleburne's determined reply was, "Well, Govan, if we are to die let us die like men." One of the landmarks that Cleburne’s Division would use to guide their assault in the fading light was the Carte’s Cotton Gin and Press. The defensive line directly in front of the Cotton Gin and Press was manned by the 100th sand 104th Ohio and was part of John Casement’s Brigade. This line was further bolstered by sections of Napoleons from the 6th Ohio Independent Battery. As Cleburne’s Division approached, Colonel John Casement yelled out "Men, do you see those ****ed Rebel sons of ****** coming?" there was a shout of acknowledgement from his men, "Well I want you to stand here like rocks, and whip the **** out of them." They leveled their guns at the oncoming attack and opened fire.
The first troops of Cleburne’s division that hit the main line were from General Granbury's Texas Brigade followed by General Govan's Arkansas Brigade and then Lowery’s Brigade of Alabamians and Mississippians. The Federal troops staring out of the entrenchments could see the blue and white flags of Cleburne's division approach and understood that they were facing some of the finest troops in the Army of Tennessee.
The Federal lines were bolstered by reserve companies being pulled forward to add to the troops in the works. In some areas defenders in the parapets were 4 or 5 men deep. The fire from the main works was devastating but Cleburne’s Division continued to move forward.
Captain Baldwin of the 6th Ohio Battery would remark how close the Confederates were coming to the muzzles and that he could hear 2 sounds: the detonation of the charges and the crunching of bones in front of the muzzles. At one point in the battle, Confederate dead and wounded needed to be cleared from the embrasures so that the guns could continue to fire. But Cleburne’s Division just kept coming.
A field hospital was set up amongst the 6th Ohio Battery forge, battery wagon and caisson that were between the Cotton Gin and Press to tend to the growing amount of Federal wounded.
As the sun was setting, the 100th Ohio confused by the retreating Federals from the forward works that forced themselves through their ranks and their own officers yelling at the men from the forward works to fall back and reform abandoned the main works and went streaming to the rear. The next defenders in line, the four right companies of the 104th Ohio, were starting to fold from the onslaught from Cleburne’s Division and joined the men withdrawing to the rear past the Cotton Gin and Press. Cleburne’s Division just kept coming and fighting with a reckless fury of mad men.
Federal troops tried to rally around the Cotton Gin and Press as Cleburne’s division poured over the parapet and moved towards the Carter buildings. For 5 minutes, these 2 lines would crash together to create a vortex of vicious fighting around the Cotton Gin and Press to which 2 regiments of Federal Kentucky and a regiment of Ohio troops would soon be added.
At this point, General Cleburne who started out leading his Division mounted, was now on foot following the trailing elements of Govan’s Brigade and the leading elements of Lowrey’s Brigade towards the Cotton Gin and Press. It was about 40 yards in front of the works that Patrick Cleburne would collapse falling backwards to the ground clenching his chest and his sword while dying from a single shot that would end his life. In the end, the assault was stalled and the Confederates would withdraw back to the other side of the parapet. Patrick Cleburne, the “Stonewall Jackson of the West” had kept his promise to General Hood as the attempt to take the works had failed and he had fallen in the attempt.
The next and final installment will be the Epilogue: Angry No More…
Josh, thank you for your kind words and glad you liked it. I did not notice that the wrong image was uploaded. It has a lamp in the upper corner that I edited out in the final version which you see here:
Kind of embarrassing. Got a couple of more images to do and then I will close the book on Franklin for now. I will move on to Vicksburg or Chickamauga or some other western battle or eastern battles depicting western troops.
Tremendous work, Chris. I know I've mentioned before but the failing light effect is really good. Just happy to see the Western Theater represented, especially by such an important battle as Franklin. Look forward to the end chapter and to your depictions of the next battle you choose to do. -- Al
Great diorama! The sheer number of charging Confederate soldiers and defending Union troops really creates an evocative scene. Thanks for sharing your impressive collection.
Cheers,
Brendan
Al, Mike and Brendan, appreciate the positive comments. The number of troops it takes to create authentic 19th century diorama's on a grand scale is a little overwhelming at first. I just picked them up set by set and then got duplicates to augment the firing lines. Britain's ACW offering is the best to balance cost, authenticity and quality as well as providing a number of different sculptures. All of the figures used in the Franklin series with the exception of a few ONTC figures are from WBritians. They do an outstanding job. The new sets offer even more possibilities. This chapter of the Franklin used almost 300 figures and covered a 4 feet by 6 feet table. Here is an image of the diorama from an aerial view:
Again, glad you liked it. Hope that Ken gets around to sculpting some western troops. Even though the new figures are very versatile. I would settle for some limbers and caissons to finish out my batteries of artillery so that we can have some "thunder on Little Kennesaw" or a "Hornet's Nest". Thx Chris
As everyone has said, this is an outstanding set up. You are a master at these grand scale scenes and your large collection of figures is to be envied by all.
Thanks Mark, the flags come from John Sanheim he sells directly and on ebay as lucky 12500. John has made a number of flags for me over the years that I have used in these dioramas. Hope this helps. Chris
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