The Battle of Franklin

There were few battles in the American Civil War that made Confederate soldiers look more gallant, or a Confederate general look more disgraceful, then Franklin.

Nineteen miles to the south of Nashville, Tennessee, John Bell Hood and his Army of Tennessee attacked entrenched Federals under the command of Brigadier General John Schofield. In a brave but costly assault that was compared to Pickett's Charge, the Confederates charged across two miles of open ground before coming into contact with the Yankees.

Hood's men managed to break the center of the Federal line, and captured no less than eight artillery pieces, but they were forced to withdraw after suffering crusing losses. The Southern Confederacy had lost six generals, 32 regimental colors, and 6,252 officers and men. Among the fallen generals were Patrick Cleburne, the 'Stonewall of the West', and States Rights Gist.

Schofield received a Medal of Honor and a promotion to brevet Major General for his victory. Hood, on the other hand, was censored for what practically resembled a deliberate attempt at destroying his army. Franklin was one of only a few Civil War battles that witnessed a substantial amount of hand-to-hand combat.