More markers depicting Federal trench line have popped up in Franklin, Tenn. Meanwhile, battle-damaged Carter House is breaking ground for new visitor center

At right, Sam Huffman of the Civil War commission and planners Emily Huffer and Elizabeth Bulay (City of Franklin)

The city of Franklin, Tennessee – which makes preservation the name of the game -- has installed new markers identifying where Union Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s troops dug in before the Nov. 30, 1864, assault that cost the Confederacy six generals and 6,200 casualties.

The announcement this week came ahead of a March 28 groundbreaking for a new visitor center at the Carter House, which was in the center of the fierce fighting.

The Federal trench line was crescent-shaped and anchored by the Harpeth River. The city’s Civil War Historical Commission erected six markers this month, according to preservation planner Emily Huffer.

The first two markers were dedicated in November 2023 near the Carter House and Carter Hill Park, “a reclaimed Civil War battlefield site where some of the heaviest fighting took place,” Kelly Dannenfelser, assistant director of long-range planning and historic preservation, told the Picket in an email. Those markers were funded by Save the Franklin Battlefield and the Battle of Franklin Trust.

Huffer said the markers, made of Indiana limestone and standing about 5 feet tall, are being placed on either side of 10 streets (20 markers total). They are labeled "U.S. Army Line."

Currently, there are posts on Columbia Avenue, Hillsboro Road, New Highway 96 W. and Fair Street. (Click map to enlarge to see the 10 locations)

“Using these markers as a reference point, locals and visitors can visually identify where the forces were located to better understand how the battle enveloped much of the central Franklin area and to obtain a sense of how much the landscape has evolved since the time of the Civil War,” Huffer wrote.

The Harpeth River served as the natural barrier for the entrenchment line. The US Army did not dig up the roads on the streets that the entrenchment line went through, only between each of the streets.

The Union soldiers were set up on the streets between the earthen mounds to protect Franklin citizens, she added.

The city is developing new software that integrates mapping, historical documentation and brief descriptions of each site and location, planners said. That is a project of the historic parks audio tour subcommittee of the Civil War Historical Commission. 

Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, has long been known for working to save or reclaim battlefield. (New marker, right)

The Civil War Trust (now known as the American Battlefield Trust) worked with the city and nonprofit groups to do so following decades of rampant development over battle sites.

”Today, well over a hundred acres of battlefield land have been reclaimed and preserved, often one acre at a time over a span of many years,” says the trust.

“In 2005, (a) Pizza Hut property was bought and restored to its 1864 appearance. In 2012, the Civil War Trust and its partners secured the strip mall, another acre and a half, and thus scored another major victory in the historic journey to reclaim the heart of a battlefield that was once considered lost forever. “

Franklin formed a Civil War advisory task force in the early 2000s, said Huffer. It suggested reproduction carriages for four authentic cannons on the Public Square and the establishment of U.S. trench line markers.

The late Sam Gant was the driving force behind the latter.

The visitor center, other buildings are behind the Carter House (Tenn. Historical Commission)

Perhaps the main Civil War attraction in Franklin is the Carter House on Columbia Avenue. Over 1,000 bullet holes remain in the structure.

Among the most popular stories is of Tod Carter, a young Confederate mortally wounded 500 feet from his boyhood home. His family found the captain on the battlefield. “Dying and insensible, Tod was carried back to the Carter House near dawn and set down in his sister Annie’s room.  He died the next day, just one of the nearly ten thousand family tragedies that the battle wrought,” said the American Battlefield Trust.

The Tennessee Historical Commission said this week $8.5 million has been earmarked for the new Herbert Harper Visitor Center at the state site, which is managed by the Battle of Franklin Trust. The trust will sponsor interpretive exhibits.

The existing visitor center, which has been in use since the early 1980s, will be replaced by a new multiuse building designed to blend with its surroundings.

Map of main combat courtesy American Battlefield Trust (https://www.battlefields.org/)

Built in 1830, the brick house served as headquarters for the Federal 23^rd Corps during the Battle of Franklin. The state acquired the property in 1951 when it was threatened by demolition to make way for a gas station.

The loss at Franklin had a mighty influence on Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood and his troops.

“The scale of the Confederate charge at Franklin rivaled that of Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. The action resulted in a disastrous defeat for the South and failed to prevent the Union army from advancing to Nashville,” said the American Battlefield Trust. “The fighting force of the South’s Army of Tennessee was severely diminished.”

Among the Southern generals killed were Patrick Cleburne, Hiram Granbury and States Rights Gist.

The markers are visible along the right of way, from sidewalks (City of Franklin)

30th edition of the Civil War show in Dalton, Ga., offers boatloads of relics, three lectures and a familiar place for collectors and vendors to network

The Bullet and Shell table at the 2018 weekend event in Dalton, Ga  (Picket photos)

Patrons at this weekend’s 30^th edition of the Chickamauga Civil War Show in Dalton, Ga., can take in lectures on battlefield preservation, religion during the conflict and Reconstruction.

The annual firearms, artifacts and relics show at the Dalton Convention Center, 2211 Tony Ingle Parkway, takes place Saturday and Sunday. During dealer move-in Friday, people can pay $50 for an “early buyer” badge that gives them the first crack at many items. They can use the pass through the weekend.

Show organizer Mike Kent, who has been producing Civil War shows for 34 years, including 20 at Dalton, said nearly 200 vendors will set up items on 450 tables.

“Standout displays of Confederate buckles by Dr. Bill Blackman, Kenny Copelin and Scott Riddle are always one of the top attractions at the show and Father Bob Miller, who is one of our guest speakers, will also have a display on religion during the war,” Kent (left) told the Picket.

Kent said all Civil War shows have evolved over the years. What started out as mainly a show for dug relics from the Civil War has developed into an all era, militaria-type show with relics, artifacts, weapons and memorabilia from the Revolutionary War up through World War ll.

“As Civil War material becomes more difficult and expensive to acquire, collectors are tending toward items from more recent eras such as WW ll, but the Dalton show is still 80% to 90% Civil War related.” Kent also runs the larger Franklin Civil War Show in Tennessee, held in December.

Beyond sales, relic shows are a major place for sellers, museum curators, authors, collectors and others to network.

While there is a fee to enter the Dalton hall, three lectures Saturday in Room 1-A on the first floor of the trade center are free and those interested do not need to enter the show to listen. The schedule:

11 a.m.: Anthony Hodges, head of the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, and Joe Trahan, president of the Georgia Battlefields Association, will discuss battlefield preservation.

Noon: Father Bob Miller, a Catholic priest and historian, speaks on “Religion is what makes soldiers brave: Seven reasons why faith was important during the Civil War.”

1 p.m.: Historian and author Scott Sallee lectures on Reconstruction following the Civil War, and its three phrases.

Civil War photo collector and expert David Wynn Vaughan of Atlanta plans to attend Friday’s VIP session. “I (always) hope to find a nice Confederate image.”

Ronald S. Coddington,  author, historian and publisher of Military Images magazine, has previously set up shop at the Dalton show -- interacting with patrons by scanning tintypes, ambrotype images and cartes de visite for possible print and online galleries for this magazine, getting story ideas and weighing in on a card’s value.

While he is unable to attend this year, Coddington said he enjoys meeting the public.

“The passion and knowledge these caretakers have for artifacts is inspiration. And the opportunity to be physically present to touch the artifacts is not something you can get in the digital world -- at least not yet.”

A prospective buyer checks out firearms in 2010 (Civil War Picket)

Kent says photo collector and dealer Paul Reeder, known for his Confederate images, will be at the show. Military Images has published some of his collection.

Show hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is $12 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Friday’s VIP session ($50) is 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Harvey was a friend to the 104th Ohio, was wounded and later served as a comfort animal. A monument now has a statue to tell his story, tout vets' mental health

Harvey's collar and Capt. D.M. Stearns (Courtesy Battle of Franklin Trust); replica statue of the dog
at a Civil War memorial in Cleveland (Courtesy Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument)

Harvey was one beloved dog. The mascot of the 104^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was a fixture at camp, bringing cheer and companionship. He was wounded at least once and, after death, remembered in an oil painting perched in front of rows of veterans at an 1880s reunion.

A red, white and blue collar, festooned with military motifs and names of battle in which the regiment fought, survives and is recreated in a bronze statue of the pup, which is on display at The Battle of Franklin Trust’s Carter House in Tennessee. Harvey was with the regiment at Franklin.

Now, a copy of the Harvey statue is at the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument in Cleveland, which commemorates the Civil War and honors the citizens of Cuyahoga County who fought for the Union, officials announced Sept. 26.

The faithful canine will further tell the story of the 104^th Ohio and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Harvey’s owner, Capt. Daniel Merrill Stearns, was said to never be the same after the war and was eventually institutionalized.

Harvey was believed to be a comfort animal for Stearns, and the monument has used their story in its annual veterans mental health program on the monument grounds, says executive director Greg Palumbo.

“It is a casual event where groups that provide non-traditional mental health therapies specifically directed toward veterans, such as Guitars 4 Vets, Paddle for Heroes, Irreverent Warriors, and many more, are able to interact with the public and hopefully make connections that help someone to find a place where they feel comfortable accepting help,” Palumbo said in an email.

Mental health resources for veterans largely did not exist during the Civil War.

“During the Civil War soldiers were left to deal with their mental health on their own, and if they were lucky enough to return home it was left to the family to quietly care for them behind closed doors (the) best they could,” said Palumbo.

Things got loud for 'Barking Dog Regiment'

Daniel Stearns, a native of Berea, Ohio, served in another regiment before he joined up with the 104^th Ohio. Most histories say he brought Harvey with him to the unit, which was dubbed “The Barking Dog Regiment” for its canine mascots.

“Harvey was treasured by the men. Harvey gave everyone a morale boost,” says the Battle of Franklin Trust. “He may have brought something normal and fun for the men to enjoy during the brutal war.”

A history of the regiment said Harvey “was an aristocrat and wore a brass collar with the legend, “I am Lieutenant D.M. Stearns’ dog, whose dog are you?” (Collar photo, courtesy Battle of Franklin Trust)

The regiment was active in the Atlanta Campaign and Harvey was reportedly wounded and captured at Kennesaw Mountain in June 1864. He recovered and was back with his comrades when they dug in at Franklin before a failed Confederate assault.

On Nov. 30, 1864, Adam Weaver of Company I wrote, “The regiment’s mascot, old dog Harvey, just paid us a visit. He somehow always looks me up. After a little bite and a hand pat too, moves on to Company ‘F’ boys.”

'His wife did the best she could'

Stearns and Harvey survived the fighting at Franklin, but the officer was grievously wounded at Nashville.

While the Battle of Franklin Trust said Harvey’s fate was unknown after Nashville, other accounts say the dog returned with Stearns to Ohio.

The Cleveland memorial said Harvey was an emotional support animal as this master dealt with undiagnosed PTSD. It’s possible other men in the 104^th came to care for the pup.

Palumbo said war trauma had different names before PTSD came into use in the 1970s. (Exterior of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Cleveland)

“No one believed that there was such a thing as a mental condition, there were only mental symptoms of physical conditions. Often you would see otherwise healthy men being diagnosed with things like heatstroke, which is what Daniel was diagnosed with, so that a physical ailment could be linked to their mental issues.”

Stearns, married with several children, carried on as best he could, and worked in Pittsburgh before returning to Ohio.

“His wife did the best she could with her children for as long as she could but eventually had to pass Daniel back to his parents and brothers,” said Palumbo

“They cared for him as well as they could but he was unable to hold a job and his mood swings became more than they could handle and he eventually had to be institutionalized.”

Painting of Harvey (left, foreground) at 1880s 104th Ohio reunion

The veteran contracted a kidney disease and comrades from the 194^th Ohio moved him to a boarding house closer to home. He died in 1890 at age 54.

“As to Harvey’s fate, we have searched but unfortunately, we have not yet been able to determine where he is buried or when he died,” said Joanna Stephens, director of historic sites and collections with The Battle of Franklin Trust.

Harvey’s collar was found with Stearns’ personal effects in the 1990s and is on loan to the trust.

Harvey serves a greater purpose today

The Franklin organization commissioned a likeness of Harvey in 2019 from local sculptor Janel Maher.

“We worked diligently with Janel to create a piece that showcased this beloved animal in the most accurate way possible. She used historic images and information to sculpt the piece, which includes a recreation of his red-white-and-blue collar with battle honors,” said Stephens.

The piece at Soldiers’ and Sailors’ was cast from the original molds with the trust’s blessing, she told the Picket. (Photo, courtesy The Battle of Franklin Trust)

The monument at 3 Public Square in Cleveland is 130 years old. Levi Scofield, the architect and sculptor, engineered the Union’s defensive works at the Battle of Franklin.

The venue has a 125-foot tall shaft topped with a goddess of freedom. Below is a memorial room featuring the names of 9,000 Cuyahoga County veterans who served in the Civil War.

Flower beds outside are in the shape of corps badges.

The Harvey statue is currently inside, but the monument will carve a space out of an existing landscaped bed between the monument and the Moses Cleaveland statue on the south edge of the square, officials said.

Display in Cleveland mentions PTSD, Stearns and Harvey (Soldiers' and Sailors' Monuments)

Harvey lives on in Franklin and Cleveland. His heroism and importance to human comrades is celebrated. His bond with Stearns is especially poignant.

“It is a sad story, one in which Harvey is a shining light,” said Palumbo. “Always a faithful companion. Brave in battle, a lover of music, compassionate to the other animal mascots, and beloved by the entire regiment.”

Civil War author and preservationist Robert Hicks dies at 71

Robert Hicks, whose best-selling novel “The Widow of the South,” set during the 1864 Battle of Franklin, Tenn., evoked the bravery and bloodshed that he sought to memorialize as a leading preservationist of Civil War history, died Feb. 25 at his home in Franklin. He was 71. Mr. Hicks helped lead Franklin’s Charge, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to preserve the Civil War battle sites of Middle Tennessee and to educate the public about the history that transpired there. -- Article

Tennessee city honors US Colored Troops with statue

For the first time in Franklin, Tenn., history, a statue now stands on the historic square honoring the Black enslaved men who enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops, a segregated part of the Union Army during the Civil War. The statue was unveiled Saturday during an emotional ceremony commemorating the troops and their sacrifices. They fought not only for their individual freedoms, but for those millions of enslaved men, women and children across the nation. -- Article

$2.8M needed to buy Tennessee battle land

Five of Reid Lovell’s ancestors fought and survived the cannon blasts and gunfire during the Battle of Franklin on Nov. 30, 1864. On Tuesday, nearly 150 years later, Lovell signed a contract to sell 1.6 acres adjacent to the Carter House for future Civil War park space. The deal is for $2.8 million. • Article

Park plan moves forward in Franklin, Tenn.

Preservationists are heartened that efforts in Franklin, Tenn., are finally paying off. Pieces of the onetime battlefield have been bought one by one. Supporters of a park hope to raise $120,000 so a cotton gin that stood on one of the bloodiest spots of the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin can be rebuilt in time for the event’s 150th anniversary. • Article

Trust buys Franklin, Tenn., shopping center

The Civil War Trust has finalized purchase of a shopping strip center in Franklin to eventually restore the land to its battlefield appearance. This site along with the 110-acre Eastern Flank will expand upon the battleground near the historic Carter House, which is overseen by the Battle of Franklin Trust. •  Article

Petitions begin for Battle of Franklin stamp

A Battle of Franklin first-class postage stamp now has the support of Franklin city aldermen, but its likelihood of becoming a reality is anything but signed, sealed or delivered. Supporters will need all the help they can get. As many as 40,000 requests for stamps come to the postal service annually for consideration. • Article

Residents help save Franklin tract

Neighbors in Franklin, Tenn., sell their five acres of battlefield land for $200,000, raised in grants and pledges by the Civil War Trust. Long before the land was set to be developed to add new homes, the grassy five-acre field was the scene of nightmarish, grisly fighting on Nov. 30, 1864, when thousands of soldiers were mortally wounded or blown to pieces. • Article

Battle of Franklin this weekend

The second-ever large-scale re-enactment of the Battle of Franklin is this weekend at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Tennessee. Organizers expect at least 700 re-enactors — twice as many as last year — to participate. • Article | • Event site

There's an app for Battle of Franklin

Sam Billingsley has created the first free, downloadable app designed to give smart-phone users more information about the Battle of Franklin while they visit Tennessee city. • Article

Family donates bullet that killed soldier

The bullet that killed Theodrick "Tod" Carter at the Battle of Franklin (Tenn.) was handed down from one generation to the next like a family heirloom. That ended Thursday — the anniversary of Carter's death on Dec. 2, 1864 — after family members and supporters of the Carter House unveiled what they believe is the bullet that killed Carter. • Article

Grant will help preserve portion of Franklin

A state grant of $960,000 was awarded to help preserve part of the Franklin, Tenn., battleground upon which a strip mall currently exists. The money will help purchase the property so that preservationists can install a park. • Article

Colonel's coffin moved to plantation

A Civil War soldier’s coffin was moved on to Travellers Rest Plantation in Tennessee as part of a celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Col. William Shy's coffin was moved with care from the Carter House in Franklin. • Article