Embrace An Angry Wind Epilogue (1 Viewer)

[7th OVI]

The final chapter 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 is the Epilogue of the story. It is morning after the battle December 1st, 1864. The Federal army has once again escaped in the night and is heading north to the safety of the defenses around Nashville leaving the Army of Tennessee holding the field. Dispatches have been sent to Richmond about the victory as officers prepare the army to move into Franklin. Artillery that had arrived in the night and was deployed is being limbered to prepare to move. Officers are reviewing maps for a ford as the Federals have burnt the bridges over the Harpeth River to slow down the pursuit. This same artillery fired almost 200 rounds at what was thought to be retreating Federal troops in the early morning hours in almost complete darkness. They instead hit houses within Franklin adding to the destruction brought by the battle the previous day. Since most of the fighting was in the evening or at night, it is in the morning light that the Confederates first become aware of the devastation that has befallen their army and the news spreads like wildfire.

 

[7th OVI]

A few Federal prisoners are collected as staff officers and members of various regiments begin to search out the officers who led the assault as well as to ascertain the extent of the causalities. The wreckage of the assaults were everywhere. Hardin Figures, a 14 year old boy, toured the battlefield and remarked that you could have walked on the bodies and never step foot on the ground, they were everywhere. The Confederates looking for surviviors will pass some key positions of the battle such as the retrenchment line or barricade that was across the Columbia Pike surrounded by the dead and dying.

 

[7th OVI]

Next would be the Carter Smokehouse and Office with a barricade thrown up by the Federals as an extension of the final line of defense. Here lie the bodies of the “Shootout at the Carter Buildings” around the Smokehouse and Office. Here is where the climatic fight between Cleburne’s Division, Opdycke’s Brigade, Missouri Federal troops, Ohio Federal Troops and Brown’s Division. The Carters would emerge from their cellar and find bodies everywhere as would the Confederates searching out survivors. The Carter’s would also join the search looking for their wounded son Todd Carter which they will find mortally wounded. The front of the Carter Office:

 

[7th OVI]

The back of the Carter Office:

 

[7th OVI]

The front and back of the Carter Smokehouse:

 

[7th OVI]

Officers and men of Cleburne’s Division upon learning of his death began to search for their beloved commander’s body to “bring him in”. Some went inside the Cotton Gin to see the damage done by the Federals when taking it apart to strengthen their earthworks and build the retrenchment or barricade across the Columbia Pike. They knew he perished near the Cotton Gin House and were searching for his body among the dead when they were informed that he was near the earthworks. They were led to his body and some wept openly. They would take Patrick Cleburne's body and put it into an ambulance next to the body of General John Adams and then taken to Carnton Plantation which had been turned into a hospital. For a time 4 Generals, Cleburne, Adams, Granbury and Strahl, were on the lower viranada of the house awaiting transportation to Columbia.

 

[7th OVI]

This will end this story for now. The Smokehouse and Office would be used by the Carter family after the war. The Office would be moved and attached to the main Carter house. The Cotton Gin and Press would be dismantled as they were in too bad of shape to be saved and a new Cotton Gin House built on the spot after the war. The earthworks and Carter Garden were quickly plowed under and put back to use as originally intended. The casualties were astounding; approximately 7,000 Confederate or 1 out of every 3 of those engaged would become casualties. The Federals would lose about 2,400 casualties or about 1 in 10 in the battle. Six Confederate Generals were killed leading their men in the assault and another 6 were wounded as well as one captured. The Smokehouse would be visited by veterans in later years and still stands today marked with numerous bullet holes and strikes attesting to the level of fighting that occurred around it. General Frank Cheatham, Cleburne’s commanding officer, returned to Franklin many years after the war and met a Federal veteran from Franklin who was startled when he met the General. General Cheatham embraced the man and was heard to say “Any man who was in the battle of Franklin, no matter which side, is my friend”. Like so many other Civil War veterans, they would be angry no more...

Carter Smoke House, House and Garden



Carter Smoke House, House and Garden



Office at the right end of the Carter House attached to the original kitchen



Rebuilt Carter Cotton Gin on the site and foundation of the old Carter Cotton Gin and Lint houses. The Lint houses were torn down by Federal troops before the battle.



Confederate Veterans in front of the Smoke House

 

[thrawn]

Absolutely outstanding work! Your efforts to cover this bloody battle have been nothing less than heroic, and I for one have enjoyed them immensely. Thank you so very much for sharing them with us. I look forward to your future works!
Best,
Josh

 

[lancer]

Thanks for the wonderful job of covering the battle at Franklin. The aftermath revealed by daylight was horrific and you did a powerful job depicting it. What a tragedy for the South and for all involved. -- Al

 

[mestell]

Chris, having been to Franklin, having seen the Carter House and buildings, the Carnton Plantation, and having participated as a Confederate re-enactor in this battle and the battle of Nashville, I must commend you on the development and presentation of this series . . . . . an outstanding accomplishmnet for sure . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[REVWARBUFF]

Chris,

This was a true delight to read. You did an outstanding job with the whole series. Great story telling, nice photography and awesome dio's!!

Well done!

Mark

 

[jazzeum]

An outstanding presentation of the beginning of the destruction of the Army of the Tennessee and the beginning of the end.

UK Reb has some competition in telling a good story.

 

[farmertony]

I have followed this series and have enjoyed it immensely.Your skilled use of the figures has brought to life what must have been a lot of sound historical research.And isn't that what it's all about.Well done that man.

 

[7th OVI]

I have not been on the forum for awhile and just noticed these posts. Thanks everyone for the kind comments. There are some really great dioramas on this forum and it is always nice to be compared with the likes of UK Reb. Did not really understand how much work this was going to take when I started it. The hardest part was duplicating actual historical buildings from scratch. There were at least 2 versions of each and some cases such as the Carter Office there were 4 until I got the look I wanted. And even then, I think I could do better next time. It took almost a year to depict every part of the story but at the end it was worth it.

Glad you enjoyed series. Hopefully this has stirred some interest in the Battle of Franklin, the Western Theater and the American Civil War in general.

I am going to start an ongoing thread to show my work under Britain's as I exclusively use their figures in the dioramas.

Thanks again Chris