Franklin 140th Anniversary Battle Reenactment

[cw1861]

Hi!

I am looking for information about the up-coming Franklin 140th Anniversary Battle Re-enactment on October 1 -2 -3.

Having never been to a re-enactment, I am curious as to what to expect.

Also, any information about Franklin, like where to stay, etc; would be appreciated.

[scone]

Hello, You can visit the 140th Franklin 140th Anniversary Battle
Re-enactment website at http://www.battleoffranklin.com

There is info on places to stay and other info on the sight. I supplied the info for the battle of Franklin and Nashville for the site.

If you have any more questions , I'll do what I can to answer them.

[cw1861]

Steve,

Thanks for the link, but I have visited it several times over the past month and many of the sublinks are still under construction. Thus little information is available such as "Schedule of events"

I was hoping for some "personal" experiences.

Some questions I have include:

1. Is this one of the larger re-enactments?
2. Is the schedule such that it will fill your day?
3. Do they have "seating/bleachers" or do I need to bring a lawn chair?

Thanks!

[scone]

The reason for the sublinks still being under construction, is that they are still working things out.

The planners of the event want to make this a event, One that people will talk about for the years to come. It is a national event and people from all over will be coming to participate in.. Even a few from over seas. I know of 3 re-enactors from Denmark that will be coming. They are planing on close to 10,000 re-enactors.

Senator Glen McConnell Chairman of the Hunley Commission will bring The Model of the Hunley from the ted turner movie "The Hunley". McConnell will give a stte of the art slide presentation and talk on the Hunley and will also bring the new busts of the Hunley Crew" So people can see what the Hunley Crew looked like.

Two original horse drawn cannons complete with limbers will be attend the event. One of theses Cannons was used during the battle of shiloh. 12 other horse drawn cannons and limbers are committed to come. An Authentic Artillery camp will be setup complete with black smith. There are different battles, programs and speakers, all three days of the event.

There will be a battle Friday afternoon , One Sat morning One Sat late afternoon and one Sunday afternoon.

There will be military, and Civilian camps that you can visit and talk to the re-enactors when they aren't shooting at one another.

There should be plenty to see and do for everyone. and if you choose to just come to the battle, there are plenty of historical sites to see in the surrounding 30 miles.

I haven't heard anything on the seating.. but some events have bleachers others don't. Soon as I hear anything i'll let ya know.

Hope to to see ya there.

[cw1861]

Steve,

Thanks for the information. It sounds like it will be a very large and well planned event.

Having never been, I certainly look forward to going and getting a first hand look at my passion.

I forgot I have a Aunt that lives on the Southern outskirts of Nashville, so a hotel expense may be spared!

Thanks again.

[scone]

You are most welcomsoe. I live just East of Nashville in Mt. juliet Its about 40 miles from here to Franklin so i get visit there quite a bit.

The battle of Nashville Preservation society http://www.BONPS.org has a wonderfull web site with info on sites related to the battle of Nashviile. Fort Negley is being restored and should be open for tours in the fall. Murfreesboro "Battle of Stones River" is just east of franklin and

Hartsville were John Hunt Morgan captured almost all of the union force that was there dec. 7 1862.

CW history around here.. lol I know I searched for most of them.

[scone]

Franklin update:

The Battle of Spring Hill (on Saturday morning) is a non-spectator battle. Usually this is done because the battle will be fought in area were its hard for the spectator to see the action.

The battlefield for the Battle of Franklin at 4:00 p.m. Saturday (the time of the original battle) is almost 1 1/2 miles long (the orig field was 2 miles). Replics of the Carter House and the Cotton Gin will be erected. (Trenches/fortifications for both the Franklin and Nashville battles will be dug).

The advance of the Confederate line across the Franklin site will be something to see. Spectators will be to the rear of the Union works and be able to see the advance. And musicians will go in with the troups like in the orginal battle.

The battlefield for the Battle of Nashville 2:00 p.m. Sunday and the Friday afternoon battle (4:30 p.m.); the Battles of Franklin and Spring Hill......are all on seperate fields.
(four different battlefields).

The reenactment is on over 1200 acres on two original Civil War Plantations.....and the plantation homes are beautiful. Gen. Hood slept in one of the plantation homes (Oaklawn), and the next morning had breakfast and a Council of War with his staff before marching to Franklin in the other. (Rippavilla)

Confederate reenactors will camp on one plantation (oaklawn), and the Federals on the other plantation (Rippavilla).....the battlefields are between the camps, and completely out of sight of both camps.

[cw1861]

Steve,

I am sure you are fully aware of this site - http://www.nsalliance.org/

I found some very good information there on the message board.

Thanks again!

[scone]

Yes I visit there often.

I am drawn the Battle of Franklin. I visit the grounds there often and know David Fraley - Military Historian and Thomas Cartwright - Curator of the Carter House as well as Heath mathews Who is the Military Historian at Carnton.

One of my 3rd Great Grand fathers- Daniel M. Craft was in the 22nd Alabama - Deas Brigade of Johnson's Division of stephen D. Lee's Corp.

Johnso'n Division Attacked the south west portion of the Carter house prperty cover the locust grove to the Carter creek pike. They made there way to the works in the fading sunlight with only torches and the flashes from the guns a head as their only source of light.

When I first started re-enacting 2 years ago I desided that some time in the future I wanted to help create a event were as close to the actual battle . and made a sugestion to a friend of mine.
Well that friend is now one of the event cordinators for the 140th Franklin event. I can't say my input to her made any diffrence in the event but some things are there that I suggested.

another goal of mine is to have a Civil War movie made like Saving Private Ryan On the Battle of franklin. Were the true horros of that battle can be seen.

But I have rambled on enough.

[cw1861]

So how do you think this re-enactment will compare to the ones they have in Gettysburg?

Can I expect something even remotely close in size and scale?

As you can see, I am quite the novice!

Thanks.