The
Myth of the Six Dead Generals
My
buddy Seab Hunter and I in behind the Carnton Plantation. The bodies
of the generals were laid out on the lower back porch to the right.
The bodies
of the generals were laid out on the far end of this photo.
I
often hear about the six Confederate generals that were killed at
Franklin. When people hear that I'm a Civil War historian and
especially that I've written a book about the Battle of Franklin,
they tend to tell about the bodies of the six Confederate generals
that were laid out on the back porch of the Carnton Mansion. I'm not
the type person to correct people, so I usually just listen politely.
In
truth, there were only four generals brought to Carnton the morning
after the battle. Major General Patrick Cleburne and Brigadier
General John Adams were brought back in the same wagon. Brigadier
General Otho Strahl and Brigadier General Hiram B. Granbury were also
brought to Carnton. Brigadier General John C. Carter was mortally
wounded, gut shot to be exact and lingered for about a week at the
Harrison Home south of Winstead Hill. Brigadier General States Rights
Gist was mortally wounded, shot in a leg and the chest and died
during the night at a field hospital. He would be buried in the yard
of a resident named William White the next day.
So
how did the legend of six Confederate generals being laid out on the
back porch of the Carnton Plantation get started. Usually, when a
legend begins, it is based on some fact. That is the same in this
case. As the bodies were brought in, they were laid out on the lower
back porch of the Carnton plantation. Strahl, Adams, Cleburne, and
Granbury were placed gently on the porch. So how could four bodies be
mistaken for six generals?
There
were two more officers laid out on the porch with the generals.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Young of the 10th Texas was
found near his commander Brigadier General Hiram B. Granbury and also
brought there. He lay on the porch next to his commander. Lieutenant
John Marsh, one of Brigadier General Otho F. Strahl's staff officers
was carried back to Carnton with his commander and placed on the
porch. So we know there were six bodies placed side by side on the
back porch at Carnton and there is where the rumors began.
Me
at the grave of Colonel Robert B. Young, one of the bodies who lay
with the generals at Carnton. Cleburne, Strahl, and Granbury would
have been buried beside him here until removed to their homes.
Lieutenant John Marsh still rests here beside Young.
Somewhere
down the line, knowing there were six generals killed during the
Battle of Franklin and hearing veterans talk about seeing the six
bodies laid out on the back porch, people jumped to the conclusion
that all six were generals rested there momentarily that morning.
People
enjoy telling this story because it makes for a much more interesting
tale. It has just become one more myth produced from that war. The
truth doesn't take anything away from the heroism that occurred on
that field of battle. Below are the pictures of the generals killed
at Franklin and the officers laid out beside the generals at Carnton.
Brigadier
General John C. Carter died a week later at the Harrison home.
Brigadier
General States Rights Gist was buried at William White's house.
Major
General Patrick R. Cleburne was carried to Carnton.
Brigadier
General Hiram B. Granbury placed on the back porch at Carnton.
Brigadier
General John Adams was brought to Carnton.
Brigadier
General Otho F. Strahl was brought to Carnton.
Lieutenant
John Marsh, aide to Strahl was brought back to Carnton. I have yet to
find a photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Young who was also laid
out on the back porch with his commander General Granbury.
