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FIELD, Ohio—On April 19, renowned historian and r A. Wilson Greene was ed as the first recipient of ugh G. Earnhart Civil War arship Award presented by ahoning Valley Civil War Table. Named after one e round table’s founding rs, the award is presented recipient for their outstandontributions in the field of War historiography. Mr.
War Scholarship Award; Professor ahoning Valley Civil War Round Tab
Vol. 42, No. 3 Battlefield Of Franklin Land Prese By GreGory L. Wade
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — What is considered the bloodiest acreage i the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Frank is now being reclaimed as part of evolving Carter Hill Battlefield P Local preservation leaders recentl
from owners Reid and Brenda Lovell after a months-long process of coordinating various funding
sources for the critical 1.6 acres adjoin the Carter House, a major battle landmark. Details were recently provided a press conference led by Franklin Charge board member Julian Bibb, who praised the “remarkable transition” of the Franklin battlefiel Franklin’s Charge is a coalition o civic and preservation groups who joined together more than ten year ago to purchase local battleground Over 150 years ago the Army of Tennessee stepped off in a series of charges to be virtually destroy by Federals under John Schofield i hopes of taking Franklin and later Nashville. At that time, most of the terra was open farmland on the outskirts of what was once a small Middle
Tennessee farming community. Over time development covered much of the battlefield with houses, light dustry, and small businesses. All that remained of the critic area where the Confederates temporarily broke the Federal line wa the small farmhouse and a few acre known as the Carter House farm. The 1.6 acres purchased, which adjoin the southern boundary of th Carter House property, is comprise of two lots. Today, they are occup
of Franklin Parks Department by Franklin’s Charge and the Battle o Franklin’s Trust (BOFT), managers of the Carter House the nearby Car ton Plantation. The structures wil removed in coming months, possibly relocated for other use. The purchase is only the latest in a long and arduous effort to re build the Franklin battlefield.
“It had to be a miracle,” quipp Civil War Trust (CWT) President James Lighthizer, referring to the most recent acquisition. Local res ident Michael Grainger, long time Trust board member and former chairman, said, “Local leadership has been incredible and will conti ue to be a partner [with the CWT]. In 2005, after years of frustra attempting to preserve Franklin ba tleground, local preservationists cided it would have to be done the hard way, by buying properties, of ten with buildings on them. The largest parcel of land was originally a local golf course sla to be sold to a developer to build houses on what was the right flank of the Confederate attack north to ward the Federal lines just south
the town. It was then that Franklin’s Cha came into existence. Funds have
chase from private donors, the CWT the City of Franklin and others. T 110-acre segment, now fully interpreted and known as the Eastern Flank Battlefield, is what got the preservation ball rolling in Frank Since that time nine other parc in proximity to the Carter House have been purchased and have been, or will be, turned over to the Fra
at the Lovell purchase regory L. Wade photos)
lin Parks Department, according t Bibb. But it was the land just south Carter House, long considered the most bloodied ground in Franklin, and some say in America, that was the most coveted. BOFT Chief Executive Officer Eric Jacobson noted, “to not have this ground reclaimed and preserv would be like having Omaha Beach cut out of Normandy.”
The most recent acquisition evolved when Franklin’s Charge an the BOFT began discussions with t Lovells, who have a strong sense the history of the land, having g up in Franklin. “I was born and raised in Fran lin on ground many believe should have been a national park,” said
Lovell. He recalled when visitors came to town and had to envision what happened, not walk on ground where it transpired. “My great-grandfather, who fou here, and my parents would be pro of what we are doing here today,” said at the press conference. The Franklin Board of Mayor
and Aldermen voted unanimously in February to fund part of the remaining debt on the Lovell property purchase. The previously
paid by the city on a non-interes basis over seven years. These funds will cover the bal
be derived from the city’s hoteltel tax. Local banker Chuck Isaac was instrumental in working out t loans. All the city funds are all
by his employer, First Farmers an Merchants Bank.
His groundbreaking work led to his appointment as CEO of Pamplin Park, scene of the Uni breakthrough at Petersburg lea ing to the Confederate r Appomattox. Founded in 1982 by Professo Hugh Earnhart, the Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table has grown into a nationally re ognized roundtable leading to this initial recognition of sc arship in the Civil War field. The Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table has been in existence since the early 1980s. Throughout the years, the MVCWRT has enjoyed the company of many renowned local, regional, and national speakers, including Ed Bearss, Chie Historian Emeritus with the National Park Service; former Executive Director of Pamplin Historical Park and the Nation Museum of the Civil War Soldie A. Wilson Greene; Wayne Motts, Chief Executive Officer of the National Civil War Museum, and scores of others. The MVCWRT has also spent dozens of hours volunteering throughout the years on the Gettysburg battlefield, as part of the Adopt Position at Gettysburg Nationa Military Park, as well as buil ing trails at Cedar Creek & Be Grove National Historical Park For the past ten years our org nization has also donated rais funds to over twenty different