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, will speak to the Franklin Civil War Round Table. Hicks, author of The Widow of the South and A Guitar and a Pen, will speak 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 will be exhibiting part of his most recent acquisition, the largest collection of photos of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain taken during the War.
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.
October Round Table presents 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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