Carter House

The Carter House was built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, in present day Franklin, Tennessee. The house was built in the Federal style. Carter also constructed a kitchen, farm office, and smokehouse. In 1850 Carter built a cotton gin on the property. The Carter house, and its outbuildings are best remembered for the role that they played during the Civil War. The Battle of Franklin was one of the Confederacy's last gasp attempts to take back Tennessee. This battle occurred on November 30, 1864. The main Confederate army, led by General John Bell Hood, marched to Franklin from Florence, Alabama. Along the way they engaged in skirmishes in Pulaski, and Spring Hill, Tennessee. Once the forces reached Franklin, they set up camp on the grounds of the Carter House, and nearby Carnton Plantation. The Union forces were the first to arrive, with Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox setting up his headquarters inside the Carter House. The Carter House became the center of the Union Position. The goals for both sides were simple: the Union had to protect Nashville, and the Confederate had to launch an all out frontal assault on the Union and march on to Nashville. While battle raged outside their home, the Carter family took refuge in their basement. Bullets whizzed into and out of the Carter house. Fighting continued throughout the night, and by the next morning, there were numerous injured, and fallen soldiers in the Carter House yard, as well as numerous bullet holes in the walls of the house, and outbuildings. Among the injured, included Captain "Tod" Carter. Carter was the son of Fountain Branch Carter. He was brought into his childhood home, where he lived for a few hours, before passing away. This was the first time the Carter family had seen their son, since he had left for war. A cannon that had been fired at some time during the night, caused damage to the roof of Carter House. To the east and west of the house, approximately thirteen charges were carried out. The biggest of these charges involved six Confederate infantry divisions, containing eighteen brigades, with 100 regiments, totaling almost 20,000 men decided to charge right for the Union headquarters at the Carter House. As a result, fourteen generals were killed wounded, or captured. A total of 55 regimental commanders were killed. This became known as "Pickett's charge of the West." By the time the fighting was over, the Confederates had suffered 6,252 casualties. The Union only suffered 2,326 casualties. The Battle of Franklin has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. John Bell Hood, despite his losses, still took his army to Nashville for one last attempt to take the state back. At the Carter house, three more generations of Fountain Branch Carter continued to inhabit the home. The family, for whatever reason, chose not to repair the bullet holes that had penetrated the house and outbuildings. It is safe to say that they felt as though those bullet holes represented a part of their heritage. The Carter family continued to reside in the house until the early 1950s. In 1953, the house was put on a list for demolition. Plans called for a gas station to be constructed on the site. The state of Tennessee quickly stepped in and saved the Carter house, its outbuildings, and grounds. The Civil War Trust, based out of Washington D.C., has been instrumental in saving numerous acres of land. This group was involved in the purchase of a Pizza Hut, which had been built over the site where Confederate General Patrick Cleburne was killed. The restaurant was razed, and the site became part of the Battle of Franklin Trust. Other efforts to reclaim developed land, vital in the battle, are still under way. The Carter House is still owned by the state of Tennessee, and overseen by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Battle of Franklin Trust operates the site on the state's behalf. Carter House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It has been since recognized as a contributing property, and the centerpiece of the Franklin Battlefield U.S. National Historic District. The Carter House is truly another great example of historic preservation at its finest.

The smokehouse and farm office at Carter House today. These two buildings are recognized by historic preservationists as the two most heavily damaged buildings to survive the Civil War.

The Carter House and outbuildings as they looked during the Civil War.

Bullet holes in the side of Carter House.

Be sure and come back next week for another installment of Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Whether your need is genealogy, historic litigation, preservation, or anything in between, contact Moore Historical Consulting and put me to work for you today!!