Franklin question

[rgtaylor61]

Any information anyone can share on the 12th or 31st Tennessee Infantry involvement at Franklin..

 

[DixieRifles]

The 12th-47th Tennessee Regiment commanded by Col. Wm. M. Watkins was in Vaughan's Brigade(now commanded by Gordon), Brown's Division(previously, Cheatham's).
The 31st Tennessee Regiment commanded by Lt-Col F. E. P. Stafford, was in Strahl's Brigade, Brown's Division(previously Cheatham's).

See map.

 

[bdtex]

@EricAJacobson . Might you have any information on those 2 regiments at Franklin?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Any information anyone can share on the 12th or 31st Tennessee Infantry involvement at Franklin..

I can try to give a broad outline here of the involvement of the 12th​ Tennessee and 31st​ Tennessee Confederate Infantry Regiments in the actions at Franklin.

The consolidated 12th​ and 47th​ Tennessee (Gordon's Brigade) and the 31st​ Tennessee (Strahl's Brigade), formed part of Brown's Division.

In the Confederate attack on the Union center, Brown's Division advanced northwards on the western side of the Columbia Pike, while Cleburne's Division proceeded forward on the eastern side of the same road.

The consolidated 12th​/ 47th​ Tennessee was placed in the front of the advancing line (Gordon's Brigade was nearest to the pike), the 31st​ Tennessee behind it, in the assault by Brown's Division on the Union center . (The 'Dixie Rifles' map above illustrates deployments and movements). During the attack, most of Gordon's Brigade (which included members of the 12th​ Tennessee), became intermingled with the units of Cleburne's Division attacking the Union center on the eastern side of the pike.

The assaults by Brown's and Cleburne's Divisions broke through the main Union earthworks in the Union center and created a wide hole in the enemy's line on both sides of the pike, (just south of the Carter House) for the attackers to pour through it. On the west of the pike, part of Brown's Division (including the 31st​ Tennessee) rushed towards and beyond the Carter House. However, Opdycke's Union Brigade quickly launched a counter-attack and charged forward from a nearby position north of the Carter House to halt the assault and gradually push the Southerners back to the main Union earthworks that they had originally broken through. This action involved ferocious hand-to-hand fighting around the Carter House (perhaps the most savage of the war). Brown's Division during the assault suffered appalling casualties, losing all four Brigade commanders; Gist and Brown killed, Carter mortally wounded, and Gordon captured, with Brown himself, down wounded. The surviving remnants of Brown's Division remained pinned down at the outer edge of the main Union line of earthworks originally penetrated, until the end of the battle. The Federals never re-occupied this part of the center of the main Union line (west of the Columbia pike and south of the Carter House). The 31st​ Tennessee suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of its leader, Lt.-Col. Stafford, who was killed in the action.

On the east side of the pike, Cleburne's men (added to, by members of the consolidated 12th​/47th​ Tennessee) who reached around the Carter's Cotton Gin, were slowly being pushed back by part of Reilly's Union Brigade and were also being cut down by the enemy's rapid fire weapons in a cross-fire. Cleburne's units got pushed back to the Union entrenchments they first took and beyond. Reilly's units were able to regain the inner side of the main Union earthworks, which protruded forward at an angle from the Union works on the western side of the pike. Cleburne's Division lost Cleburne and one of its Brigade commanders, Granbury, both being killed in the assault. The 12th​ Tennessee also experienced severe losses in the slaughter.

That day, all Confederate attacks were uncoordinated and disjointed, with the Confederate assaults on both flanks being less successful than this one made on the Union center.

Both regiments mentioned (12th and 31st Tennessee) participated in the thick of the most fierce fighting and suffered heavily at Franklin.

 

[rgtaylor61]

Thank you so much

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thank you so much

You are welcome. Hope that helps.