History
The aftermath of the Battle of Franklin, which took place during the night of November 30, 1864, left a total of nearly 9,500 soldiers, Union and Confederate dead, wounded, captured or missing. More than 6200 were Confederate troops. Their final losses were estimated at 1,750 dead; 3800 wounded and the remainder missing or captured.
The population of Franklin in 1860 was just over 900. When Franklin residents awoke on the morning of December 1, their concern was how to bury thousands of soldiers and care for the wounded. Colonel John and Carrie McGavock's plantation home, Carnton, was situated less than one mile (1.6 km) from the center of the action that took place on the Union Eastern flank at Franklin. Due to its geographical proximity, Carnton served as the largest field hospital in the area for hundreds of wounded and dying Confederate soldiers.
Carrie Winder McGavock led the efforts, supervising the logistics, ordering slave workers, and donating food, clothing and supplies to care for the wounded and dying. Carrie's two surviving children, Hattie (age nine) and Winder (age seven), served as medical aides throughout the evening as well. At least 150 Confederate soldiers died the first night at Carnton.
Most of the Confederate (and Union dead) were buried by soldiers and workers "near and along the length of the Federal breastworks, which spanned the southern edge of what was then Franklin.". Union dead were placed by twos in shallow graves in long rows by their comrades without marking the identities. Many of the Union dead were later removed either by family or loved ones, or by the military and relocated in graves at home, or reinterred at the Stones River National Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The 11th United States Colored Troops managed the reinterment of the Union soldiers at Stones River.
It was not until the next day of December 1 that burial teams identified most of the 1,750 Confederate dead near Carnton. Soldier burial teams collected and identified their comrades. They placed makeshift wooden markers at the head of the graves to identify individuals by name, rank, regiment and company.
Most of the Confederate dead were buried on the properties of Fountain Branch Carter and James McNutt. Carter had the largest section of land with interments. He lost his own son, Todd Carter, in the Battle of Franklin. The Carter-McNutt land was temporary rest until the remains were transferred to a permanent cemetery some eighteen months later in June 1866.
Read more about this topic: Mc Gavock Confederate Cemetery
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