“Was the War in Your Backyard?” at Round Table
On Sunday, July 11 at 3 P.M., at the Williamson County Library in Franklin, the Franklin Civil War Round Table will present "Was the War in Your Backyard?" The Roundtable’s Greg Wade and Columbia State’s Thomas Flagel will share fascinating facts about local fighting and its widespread impact upon Williamson County.
While the Battle of Franklin is the seminal event for Williamson County, Wade and Flagel will tell of lesser actions of scouting and fighting in what are often modern-day neighborhoods. “There were a number of events other than the Battle of Franklin that were dramatic and resulted in casualties,” said Wade. “We want to give both new and longtime residents of our area an insight in this aspect of Williamson County’s rich Civil War history. It might just change your perspective on where you call 'home.'"
The presentation will feature many "then and now" photographs and Vann Martin of The Veteran’s Attic will have Civil War artifacts on display.
Thomas Flagel is an instructor of History at Columbia State Community College, and is the author of several books on the Civil War, including “The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War” and a similar work on Gettysburg. He holds a B.A. in History, a M.A. in European History and a M.A. in International History. An Iowan by birth with an ancestor who fought with the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry, he now resides in Franklin.
Greg Wade is the founder of the Franklin Civil War Round Table. He is on the staff of the Civil War News and has written for numerous history related publications, newspapers and Internet sites. Wade has served as President of Save the Franklin Battlefield and is currently a board member of Franklin’s Charge. He has reenacted with both Federal and Confederate units and has assisted the City of Franklin in various archeological surveys.
The event is free to the public. The Franklin Civil War Round Table is an educational program of Franklin’s Charge and meets on the second Sunday of each month at the Williamson County Library. For more information contact Greg Wade at greglwade@yahoo.com, or visit http://www.franklinscharge.com/round-table.
July Franklin Round Table to “hit close to home.”
The Franklin Civil War Round Table presents, “Was the war in your backyard?” The Roundtable’s Greg Wade and Columbia State Instructor Thomas Flagel will share fascinating facts about local fighting and it’s widespread impact across Williamson County. While the Battle of Franklin is the seminal event from that period, many will be surprised to hear of fighting, actions, recons, scouts, battles etc in what are often current day neighborhoods. Come learn how many casualties were from non Battle of Franklin events, where several Medals of Honor were earned and how many fights actually took place in Williamson County.
Flagel is an instructor of History at Columbia state and talented presenter of various Civil War topics. In addition, he is the author of several books on the war. His “History Buffs Guide to the Civil War” and a similar work on Gettysburg have been well received by reviewers and historians. He holds a B.A. in History, a M.A. in European History and a M.A. in International History. An Iowan by birth, he has resided in Europe and has an ancestor who fought with the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Greg Wade is the founder of the Franklin Round Table. He has been published in numerous history related publications and is on the staff of the Civil War News. He has written book reviews for several newspapers as well as Michigan State’s H-Net. He has served as President of Save the Franklin Battle field and is a board member of Franklin’s Charge. Wade has re enacted with both Federal and Confederate units and has assisted the City of Franklin in various archeological surveys.
Invite a guest, bring the kids! The Round Table’s Vann Martin will have artifacts from this period sure to fascinate young and old. Our power point presentation will feature many “then and now” photos. Come hear more about Williamson County’s rich Civil War history. It might change your perspective on where you call “home.”
The event will be held at the Williamson County Library, July 11th and begins at 3:00 PM.
Jim Lewis of Stones River featured at June 13th Franklin Round Table
Our sincere thanks to Ranger Jim Lewis for his informative and fascinating presentation about cavalry activity at the Battle of Stones River. Jim expertly guided the audience through complicated movements, oftentimes many miles from the Stones River battle ground, between cavalry units of both sides. We appreciate Jim and his service to the Park Service and hope we can hear him again in the future!
Nashville Civil War Round Table to present Ohio Infantry discussion in July
The Nashville Civil War Round Table will present Joseph Reinhart and his talk on, “McCook’s Dutchmen: The 9th Ohio Infantry” in their July meeting. The NCWRT meets at the Fort Negley visitor center on a monthly basis. More to come on this event!
The Franklin Civil War Round Table expresses its sympathy to all who have suffered loss in the recent floods. We appreciate all the volunteers, public officials, police officers and rescue personnel who have brought help and comfort to victims and their families.
Jim Lewis of Stones River featured at June 13th Franklin Round Table
Ranger Jim Lewis of Stones River National Battlefield will present, "They fought at Stones River," which brings to life individual stories of several who fought in one of the most intense and destructive battles of the War. Those who have heard Jim in the past will attest to this dynamic presentation. Please mark your calendars for June 13th, 3:00 at the Williamson County Library. We are fortunate Jim is able to commit to this event and hope to see you all there.
Peter Cozzens well received
Franklin, TN-Acclaimed author Peter Cozzens spoke to a Franklin Civil War Round Table audience in excess of 100 attendees at the March meeting. Cozzens, author of several Civil War works as well as biographies and Indian War works, spoke largely on his most recent book, “Shenandoah 1862.”
We thank everyone for their attendance and support of our March meeting. We especially thank the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society who co sponsored this event.
United States Colored Troops featured at February Round Table
On February 14th at 3 P.M., at the Williamson County Library in Franklin, the Franklin Civil War Round Table presented their second program of the New Year. Bill Radcliff gave a presentation on the trials of the African American soldier in the Civil War and their role in the Union Army. Radcliff is a well known re-enactor of United States Colored Troops (USCT) in full uniform.
Mr. Radcliff is well-known throughout Middle Tennessee for preserving the history and sharing the stories of the African American troops during the Civil War years. Most recently, he was a member of the honor guard at the recent burial of Franklin's "Unknown Soldier" and was part of the Battle of Nashville anniversary events at Fort Negley this past December.
Radcliff was the model for the statue commemorating the USCT troops interred at Nashville's National Cemetery, a monument not duplicated anywhere else in the United States. He has served the city of Nashville for many years as a member of the Nashville Fire Department and is a veteran of the Vietnam War. His father fought across Europe in World War II with Patton's Army as part of the famed Red Ball Express while his mother served as a member of the Colored United Service Organization (USO). His brother served as an officer in Desert Storm. Radcliff has recently discovered he is a descendant of a Medal of Honor recipient from the 1864 Battle of Chapin's Farm, Virginia.
Franklin’s Charge announces its affiliation with the Franklin Civil War Round Table as part of ongoing efforts to provide educational opportunities about Middle Tennessee and related Civil War history.
The official announcement was May 26th at a kickoff event on the back porch of Carnton. Ernie Bacon, President of Franklin’s Charge, congratulated members of both groups for their vision.
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Franklin’s Charge, known for its efforts in battlefield preservation, already hosts an annual summer symposium featuring well known speakers and tours of various historical landmarks. The Round Table started about two years ago and was then known as the Landmark (bookstore) Civil War book group. “As we grew we needed more space and moved to the (Williamson County) library,” says founder Greg Wade. Round Tables are not officially organized and there is no national organization. “’Round Table’ is a well known name for groups that bring in speakers, especially authors about the Civil War period,” he added. The Franklin group meets the second Sundays of the month.
“We will provide administrative support while the Round Table will help support the group’s preservation efforts,” says Stacey Watson of Franklin’s Charge. “It’s a win win for everybody and will help us round out our mission to learn more about that period’s rich local history,” she added.
Franklin Cilvil War Round Table presents Robert Hicks
On November 8, 2009, at 3 P.M., at the Williamson County Library in Franklin, best-selling author Robert Hicks, spoke to the Franklin Civil War Round Table. Hicks, author of The Widow of the South and A Guitar and a Pen, spoke on his latest historical novel, A Separate Country, which follows John Bell Hood through his post-War years in New Orleans.
Having served on the Boards of Historic Carnton Plantation, the Tennessee State Museum, The Williamson County Historical Society, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, Hicks has been instrumental in battlefield preservation successes here in Williamson County as the founder of Franklin’s Charge. He is a gifted and entertaining story teller and will be discussing John Bell Hood, arguably one of the most controversial generals of the Confederate Army – and one of the most tragic figures. In his book, Hood emerges as a flawed yet decent and good man who struggled with his inability to admit his failures, but managed to create a life in New Orleans following the war.
In addition, the Round Table’s own Vann Martin exhibited part of his most recent acquisition, the largest collection of photos of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain taken during the War.
October Round Table presented Cotton Gin panel
An informative panel discussion took place at the October edition of the Round Table regarding the fighting around the Carter Cotton Gin during the 1864 Battle of Franklin. Eric Jacobson talked about regiments that up until now had received little credit for holding the Union lines in that area. David Fraley discussed the deaths (and where they died) of the six Confederate generals while Rick Warwick informed us about development in the Gin area after the War up to the present. This land included the original location of Battle Ground Academy. Margie Thessin talked of the lore of ghosts as a result of Williamson County fighting and how new students of history develop out of fascination from these stories. We then walked from the library site to the gin area where Franklin’s Charge Ernie Bacon shared his groups vision of land acquisition for continued development of additional battlefield park acreage.
The Franklin Civil War Round Table official membership is rapidly approaching 100 including family and individual memberships. We appreciate your support and attendance at our programs!
For more information contact Greg Wade at greglwade@yahoo.com.
August Round Table a great success
Franklin, TN-A crowd of about 70 enthusiastic attendees and members heard Lt. Col. Tom McKenney speak about his recent book, Jack Hinson’s One Man War. Recalling an exhausting effort of 15 years to produce this work, McKenney told of the sorrows and challenges that faced this Dover, Tennessee family caught in the chaos of two clashing armies. After he spoke, Jack Hinson’s rifle along with some other Forrest related artifacts were on display at the Carter House where Colonel McKenney signed his book. We appreciate working with the Carter House on this presentation.
Franklin’s Charge needs help to save Cotton Gin ground
Franklin, TN-Preservation coalition Franklin’s Charge, is racing against the clock to raise enough funds to pay the first installment for the famous Cotton Gin property where Gen. Pat Cleburne’s troops hit the Union entrenched forces at the Battle of Franklin. The Round Table is a part of this group dedicated to saving hallowed ground in the Franklin area. The organization has until September 16th to make the first $221,000 payment which may be the last best chance to save the ground. Go to www.franklinscharge.com for information on how to donate.
Christie Cookies is sponsoring a contest where the non profit organization with the most votes on line will receive a $10,000 gift which would be huge in the Cotton Gin effort. As it stands now, Franklin’s Charge is in second place. Go to: http://www.ilovechristiecookies.com/contest/form.asp. It will only take a couple of minutes.
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