Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Union Headquarters

Planning for Battle

— Hood's Campaign —

Union Headquarters Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, December 8, 2012

1. Union Headquarters Marker

Inscription.

Union Headquarters. Planning for Battle. (Preface):In September 1864, after Union Gen. William T. Sherman defeated Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood at Atlanta, Hood led the Army of Tennessee northwest against Sherman's supply lines. Rather than contest Sherman's "March to the Sea," Hood moved north into Tennessee. Gen. John M. Schofield, detached from Sherman's army, delayed Hood at Columbia and Spring Hill before falling back to Franklin. The bloodbath here on November 30 crippled the Confederates, but they followed Schofield to the outskirts of Nashville and Union Gen. George H. Thomas's strong defenses. Hood's campaign ended when Thomas crushed his army on December 15-16., This small building (constructed in 1817 by Dr. Daniel McPhail) was the medical office of Dr. Daniel Cliffe, who lived nearby, in 1864. Cliffe, a former Confederate surgeon, had switched his allegiance to the Union early in the war. After dawn on November 30, 1864, Federal Gen. John M. Schofield arrived in Franklin and established his headquarters in Cliffe's house and office. Throughout the early and midmorning hours, courier and telegraphic activity was brisk here as Schofield directed the construction of defensive positions on the south side of town and made plans for the army to withdraw to Nashville at 6 P.M. , By 2 P.M., Schofield had transferred his headquarters to the Alpheus Truett home, just north of the Harpeth River about a mile away. Schofield did not intend to fight a battle at Franklin, but instead intended to delay the Confederates until the bridge spanning the Harpeth River was repaired, then cross them with his army after dark and march north. But at 4 P.M., Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood launched his attack., At that time Schofield and Gen. David S. Stanley were riding from the Truett House toward downtown Franklin. A courier galloped up and told them that the Southern army was commencing a frontal assault. Stanley spurred his horse toward the front, and Schofield rode to Fort Granger. From there he watched Hood's army crash into the Federal works south of town.

(Preface):In September 1864, after Union Gen. William T. Sherman defeated Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood at Atlanta, Hood led the Army of Tennessee northwest against Sherman's supply lines. Rather than contest Sherman's "March to the Sea," Hood moved north into Tennessee. Gen. John M. Schofield, detached from Sherman's army, delayed Hood at Columbia and Spring Hill before falling back to Franklin. The bloodbath here on November 30 crippled the Confederates, but they followed Schofield to the outskirts of Nashville and Union Gen. George H. Thomas's strong defenses. Hood's campaign ended when Thomas crushed his army on December 15-16.

This small building (constructed in 1817 by Dr. Daniel McPhail) was the medical office of Dr. Daniel Cliffe, who lived nearby, in 1864. Cliffe, a former Confederate surgeon, had switched his allegiance to the Union early in the war. After dawn on November 30, 1864, Federal Gen. John M. Schofield arrived in Franklin and established his headquarters in Cliffe's house and office. Throughout the early and midmorning hours, courier and telegraphic activity was brisk here as Schofield directed the

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

construction of defensive positions on the south side of town and made plans for the army to withdraw to Nashville at 6 P.M.

By 2 P.M., Schofield had transferred his headquarters to the Alpheus Truett home, just north of the Harpeth River about a mile away. Schofield did not intend to fight a battle at Franklin, but instead intended to delay the Confederates until the bridge spanning the Harpeth River was repaired, then cross them with his army after dark and march north. But at 4 P.M., Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood launched his attack.

At that time Schofield and Gen. David S. Stanley were riding from the Truett House toward downtown Franklin. A courier galloped up and told them that the Southern army was commencing a frontal assault. Stanley spurred his horse toward the front, and Schofield rode to Fort Granger. From there he watched Hood's army crash into the Federal works south of town.

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1864.

Location. 35° 55.534′ N,

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, December 8, 2012

2. Union Headquarters Marker

86° 52.071′ W. Memorial is in Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County. It is on Main Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 209 Main Street, Franklin TN 37064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Philip Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Fifth Third Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); John H. Eaton (within shouting distance of this marker); Original St. Philip Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Harpeth Square / Harpeth Square and Historic Neighbors (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Franklin Masonic Hall

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, December 8, 2012

3. Union Headquarters Marker

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Masonic Temple (about 300 feet away); U.S. Model 1841 6-Pounder Field Guns/Franklin Public Square During The Battle (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield

Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Union Headquarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 22, 2022

5. Union Headquarters

The Truett House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 22, 2022

6. The Truett House

Located at 228 Franklin Road (Tennessee Route 6).

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,551 times since then and 79 times this year. Last updated on January 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 4. submitted on January 9, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5, 6. submitted on November 20, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.