Franklin: Animated Battle Map

We at the American Battlefield Trust are re-releasing our original set of Animated Battle Maps with brand new openings and narration. Enjoy learning more about the Battle of Franklin.

Our collection of animated maps bring battles of the American Civil War to life, complete with troop movement animations, narratives, reenactment footage and more.

[EclecticHillbilly]

I've never found anything as easy to understand and as enlightening as these animated battle videos. They really are the best way to show what really happened.

[danstovall]

My great great grandfather fought in Franklin about 10 miles from his home. Our blood line is still here in Williamson county

[bogdangabrielonete]

Seeing how the South had far fewer men to draw from compared to the North, to lose 7k over their 2.5k is quite the disaster

[michaelbruce]

I’m not sure why nobody ever mentions Hood’s charge at Franklin when it comes to pure loss of human life, it was twice as bad as Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg, but Franklin came later in the war and didn’t have that military aura that Gettysburg had.

[charlestemple]

My g-grandfather Marquis D. L. Price was in the 17th/18th Texas Cavalry (dismounted), Granbury's Brigade, Cleburne's Division. He was one of Cleburne's Sharpshooters and right in the middle of the front line of the Franklin attack, within just a few yards of both Cleburne and Granbury when they fell. He later described to my grandmother how when they were pinned in front of the Union barricades, a couple of fellow soldiers loaded rifles for him and he would quickly stand up and fire across. I can't imagine how he survived.

[IowaMoss]

Very honored to have visited this ground. It's a sobering and hallowed feeling to see the bullet holes in the facade of the Carter House and to stand in the front yard where the great hand to hand clash took place. More people need to know about this horrific battle.

[KermitTheGamer]

Since moving to Tennessee, I've been learning a lot more about the Western theater of the Civil War. I'd never even heard of the Battle of Franklin before, and this animation and narration provides a clear and concise overview of a brutal battle.

[ramona]

“We were lavish of blood in those days, and it was thought to be a great thing to charge a battery of artillery or an earthwork lined with infantry.” D.H. Hill.

[charlessaint]

Colonel Opdycke charged into the battle firing his pistol. When he ran out of ammo, he started clubbing Confederates with the grip until it broke. Then he picked up a musket and used that.

[jayrogers]

I've been to the Carter House and Carnton Plantation. Both were truly amazing experiences.

[davidbowman]

Truly an overlooked and underrated battle. One of the bloodiest of the "irrepressible conflict."

[patjacksonpodium]

Hood at Gettysburg: "This assault is ridiculous. PLEASE let me move around them."
Hood at Franklin: "I shall die historic on the Fury Road! WITNESS ME

[Tnkcommander]

Greatly enjoy (and appreciate) all of these, but this one is kind of special since I live in Granbury. Seeing Hood, Granbury, and Cleburne all on the map really brings some of the history - quite literally - home.

[jasonchev]

My G-Great Uncle, Charles Rufus Ellis, was a Pvt in the 57th Indiana, Lane's Brigade, Wagner's Division. He survived the war and rests in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

[johnfleet]

Another show called the Franklin/Nashville campaign the last gasp of the Confederacy. I think that description fits. General Grant had done what multiple Union Commanders had failed to do which was to Take Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia out of the war since they were trapped at Petersburg. Hood's army was the last Confederate Army with freedom of movement. His army was wrecked at Franklin.

[fastsetinthewest]

My gg grandfather was at Franklin in the Union Army. He had moved down by riding the train on flat cars. He described to my grandmother sitting on the side of the flat car looking at a river.

[Brandon_]

This battle really shows the difference in man power between the armies 7k Confederate losses to 2.5k union losses was essentially destroying the army of Tennessee and yet in battles like Cold Harbor and Fredericksburg with 13k+ casualties for the union and less than 5k casualties in either battle for the Confederates and the federal army shakes it off gets more reinforcements and continues moving. Its crazy to think how long the Confederates held out against odds like that.

[jasonc]

My GGG-uncle died here. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Mississippi Battalion Infantry who I believe was ultimately under the control of General A.P. Stewart as mentioned and shown in the video on the right side advance.

[toastnjam]

This was the only civil war battle where the band advance with the troops.
A Confederate soldier later said ""The tooters went in with the shooters.

[williamcahill]

I lived in Franklin, TN for a few years. Knew nothing of this epic battle before moving there. Franklin is buying up the land to preserve the battlefield and I hope they succeed. This is too significant a battle to not have a greater collective awareness of.