Sooooooooo! The encampment is over and no one has mentioned how it was! I've been waiting to see if anyone would get out there, and I haven't seen anything in the messages. So, how was it everyone!?
Jenna,
Hello , Franklin was quite an event. sorry I haven't posted on it earlier ( still recovering LOL) First off, A LOT of marching, and as I can't say I enjoyed all of the marching at the time, it was very eye opening ( and as these marches didn't come close to the kind of marching CW soldiers endured , it was quite an experance, to get just a small taste of what they actual did )Second , a lot of fighting from trenches ( Sat. assaulting them and Sun. defending them )
we seemed to be miles from the Sutlers all weekend which helped me save money ( too tired to shop LOL)
Fri. I was able to make a quick trip to the Carnton Plantation where Patrick Cleburne's body was laid after the battle
All and all as I can't speak for everyone , I myself had a good time
Pvt Keith Welch
11th Miss Inf. Co. G
I was at Franklin. I wore the blue as a member of the Western Brigade. Got to site about 10AM friday morning, then after skirmish,we also took the long walk past Rippavilla, over the highway (how about those female cops!), then to camp alongside trenches.
My company was shorthanded. We had 20 boys registered but only 10 showed up-this included one captain, one lieutenant, one sergeant, and one corporal. We did manage to conscript 4 pennsylvannia boys and one from colorado. The PA boys kept complaining that us "western soldiers marched with too long of a stride. The PA boys looked well fed-if you catch my drift. During Sat morn skirmish Colorado popped out his knee (call for an ambulance), our captain had nails of his shoes wear into his feet, the LT had an allergy attack, and the sergeant had an asthma attack. Us orphans fell in with another company after that.
I am 51 years old, 30 pounds overweight, but I managed to get through the excitement without any ailments, except I was so tired after getting back to base camp that I fell asleep and missed the BATTLE OF FRANKLIN.
So I fried bacon and made coffee (while the noise of guns went off behind the hill), then later that evening, I went AWOL. Two confederate boys (I rode from Missouri with) wanted to visit the Carter House Sunday. The 3 of us skeedaddled from the area, in an SUV to a hotel, a cleanup and fine steak dinner, then siteseeing Sunday till 3PM then back to Missouri. I walked into my house at 2AM monday morn.
The part of the Franklin event I liked most was the march. Double bag knapsacks across open ground (except for highway part). It was a challenge for some-many fagged out, passed out boys along the way. I'm proud I made it to and had energy for the skirmish along the trenchlines.
Keith, much different than Pilot Knob. A lot of walking at Franklin to get anywhere! Early Friday afternoon went to sutler row and was ambushed by thousands of kids on a field trip. Did you see the awkward squads? An NCO tried to drill some kids.
Anyway, I had fun, but wish more of my Missouri comrades had been able to make the trip as originally planned.
Next in my area we have Mine Creek, KS Oct 23-24.
Robert, Yes it was quite a bit differant then Pilot Knob.Not sure If I would want to do every event with so much marching but as I said before it was fun to get the feel of an army on the move. We too ran into the school kids, out at the plantation. I seem to remember a few comely teachers in the group LOL
Like Most events there was Good and Bad. Good
Able to meet a friend from Minnesota that I have been corresponding with for 6 year and it was the first time meet. "Waves at Margaret"
Saw Cleburns Kepi and John Adams saddle that were both used at Franklin.
Viewing all the horse and mule drawn artillery. boy what a site to see
Bad
Not being able to meet up with some people I had planed on meeting.
Did a bit of Marching to get to the spring hill site, back to the Franklin sight excluding battles I would say in all we went about 4 maybe 5 miles.
Not really getting a feel for the Franklin battle like i had mentally planned . "or me the battle is such a passion on mine .. when the company on the left wouldn't give left. just kinda threw it off for me off from that your there moment"
This didn't effect my brigade but did others.. One brigade deside to brake the scenario and bypass one brigade and did the hand to hand combat leaving the one that were supose to out of lucjk so to speak.
Heard of people having cars in camp to early on Sunday
Basically the typical stuff you hear from most all events.
Of course theses were just some of the things I saw and heard off.
My only real bad bit was not getting a feel for Franklin like I wanted and the not meeting the people I wanted to meet.
Oh by the way.
I was one the soldiers drilling the school kids on Thursday : )
Even found my self in the paper on Friday after doing so..
Was Able to meet a Gen. Lee impersonator and a Lincoln one as well. Saw the updated version of the Hunley were you could see the hand cranks, etc., a mini Iron Clad, Saw Several friends that I haven't seen in a while. Rob Hodge, David Fraley, Thomas Cartwright.
And was able to play tour guide for my dear friend Margaret Gilbert.
Over all i had A great time and for all those that attended I hope you did as well dispite the few bad things.
regards. Steven
__________________ Steven Noel Cone Living Historian and Battlefield Preservationest
"Silver Spring Mess" ; "Citizens of the Bonnie Blue" ; "46th Tn Inf. Co. K"
Steven,
I wish I had known you where out there,I would have looked you up. I too remember some good ,some bad "things" of the event, but as a whole I would have to say I had a good time.
i to was at Franklin event and it was great. I felt sorry for the infantry doing all the marching. Being in the cavalry and riding w/
General Forrest was a treat. Everything was so far apart if you walked you would be tried before you got there.All in All the Battle of Franklin was a excellant event. Captain Call
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