Imagine being in one of twenty Confederate brigades of infantry and two of cavalry (other cavalry and infantry units were either marching towards Franklin or on the Eastern Flank) arriving at Franklin after a hard march, being ordered to attack a fully entrenched position. Further imagine that this charge has to proceed over two miles of open terrain devoid of any obstacles, save a small gully, railroad track and one main road. Your artillery support is still far in the rear, with a couple of exceptions. Much your cavalry support is fighting on foot due to the lack of horses. How do you find the courage to frontally assault the enemy?
Historically, it happened in the Western theatre towards the end of the war. General Hood and his Army of the Tennessee were attempting to stop General Schofield before he could link up with General Thomas in Nashville. Having, literally, let the enemy slip through his lines the previous night, Hood ordered that this fortified position, just outside of the town of Franklin, be taken with a frontal assault. This assault was not supported by artillery (other than eight guns) because in the marching order they were at the end of the march column (they were deployed by sunrise - to no avail).
General Cox (the real commander for the Union in this case) had all morning (by some estimates almost nine hours) to fully entrench his troops. One estimate in a recent Blue&Gray issue, stated that Union troops used 3780 feet of plank, 207 cedar posts, 8 ploughs and several outbuildings (including the cook house) to help construct these breastworks. Behind these works stood 11 federal brigades from two corps. When it was all over, well after the sun set as late as 9:00 pm, with as many as thirteen repeated assaults having been executed against the federal lines. Six Confederate Generals lay dead or dying (four of them had been shot while on foot leading their troops), five others were wounded, and one captured. Fifty-three regimental commanders were out of action and one third of Hood's force were casualties or prisoners against relatively light Union losses. One Confederate described the next morning as "a grand holocaust of death". How many battles have seen this type of loss at the command level? to say nothing of the general carnage.
Sunset was just before 6:00 pm. Attack was launched at 3:45 pm.
Hood curiously sat back away from the battle - by most accounts totally out of touch with events.It is interesting to note, that by now, he had to be tied to his horse in order to travel. By all accounts he was furious at his "cautious" commanders.
Lee's Corps - Johnson's division committed at 7:00 pm - the others arrived after the battle was over. Attack fully over by 9:00 pm.
XXIII Corps - Cox had 9 hours to prepare defenses
Schofield moved 800 wagons across bridge - after planking had been laid across rail bridge/tracks. Wagon Train covers 5 miles. Last wagon crosses somewhere around sunset.
Lee's other 2 divisions with the army artillery 12 miles behind, Johnson 1/2 mile behind Cheatham and Stewart, 3 hours for next division in the column.
Larger Assault on a Narrower front than Picketts Charge - 3x the number of casualties on C.S.A. side.
Scenario works well either as a full blown assault or by concentrating on a particular side. However I would recommend not using the eastern end of the battle except for the Union artillery set up in an ideal field of fire.
Army of Tenn
Gen John Bell Hood - Stayed on Winstead Hill - 2 miles south of Franklin - West of the Pike.
- 7 of 9 infantry divisions participated
- 20 brigades of infantry
- 2 divisions of cavalry
- 2 artillery Batteries (8 guns)
- 108 guns overall - 100 guns were left back with Lee
Fire and Fury rules
- Corps Cmd Stands 3 (1 additional if you want to change history and have Lee show up early)
- Division Cmd Stands 9 (2 additional)
- Infantry Cmd Stands 22* (5 additional)
- Infantry Stands 137 (34 additional)
- Cavalry Cmd Stands 3
- Cavalry Stands 21
- Dismtd Cav Cmd Stands 4
- Dismtd Cav Stands 22
- Artillery Stands 3 (17 additional)
* two of these were late arrivals
List includes Forrest - who was on the extreme eastern flank
Union Army
Gen John M. Schofield
62 guns overall - Infantry (38 on main battleline - on raised gun emplacements (26 on line (5 batteries) - 12 (2 batteries) immediate reserve) Most of the remainder of guns are on Right Wing across the river - 24 (4+1 Batteries). One source 80 guns. (extra 3 Batteries across river ?)
- Corps Cmd Stands 3
- Division Cmd Stands 9
- Infantry Cmd Stands 14
- Infantry Stands 149
- Cavalry Cmd Stands 4
- Cavalry Stands 19
- Dismtd Cav Cmd Stands 4
- Dismtd Cav Stands 24
- Artillery Stands 12 or so
Confederate Order of Battle
Gen John Bell Hood Stayed on Winstead Hill - 2 miles south of Franklin - West of the Pike.
Benjamin F. Cheatham's Corps
(Left Middle)
-
Patrick R. Cleburne's Division [E Right Side]
- Grandbury - Texas Brigade 9/7/5
Lowrey E 9/6/4
Govan E 10/7/4
Smith - on detached duty
-
Gist E 7/5/3
Maney 5/3/2
Strahl 5/4/3
Vaughan 4/3/2
-
Jackson 5/4/3
Finley 4/3/2
Tyler 4/3/2
Alexander P. Stewart's Corps
Right Middle
-
Samuel G. French's Division [Left Side]
-
Ector (not there)
Cockrell 6/4/2
Sears 10/8/5
-
Quarles 8/7/5
Cantley 6/5/3
Reynold 6/5/3
-
Adams 8/5/3
Scott 10/8/5
Fentherston 10/8/5
-
Bell 5/4/3
Crossland 6/5/3
Stephan D. Lee's Corps
Reserve (LEE was in the rear)
-
Edward Johnson's Division [in reserve - released to battle at 7 pm]
-
Deas 7/6/4
Sharp E 6/4/2
Manigualt 7/5/4
Brantley 6/5/3
Lee and the remainder of his Corps
-
Carter Stevenson's Division [Too far away]
-
Cumming 11/8/6
Pettus 11/8/6
-
Stovall 6/5/3
Gibson 6/5/3
Holtzclaw 5/4/3
Nathan B. Forrest's Cavalry Corps - E
-
Miss Vols and Escort 7/5/4
James R. Chalmer's Division [Left Wing Dsmtd]
-
Rucker 7/5/4
Biffle 8/7/5
-
Armstrong - Mtd 13/10/7
Ross - Texans E 4/3/2
Union Order of Battle
Gen. John M. Schofield Stays at Fort Granger (May assist IV Corps, 3rd Division, the Cav, or help rally troops which come across the bridge).
IV Corps
David Stanley (E) Begins at Fort Granger - Leaves at the sound of the guns.- Stanley wins the Congressional Medal of Honor by rallying troops to plug the gap in the Union lines.
-
1st Division - Nathan Kimball - [Right wing of main line]
-
1st Brigade - Kirby 13/10/7
2nd Brigade - Whitaker 14/11/7
3rd Brigade - Grose 13/10/7
Mostly Green Troops
-
1st Brigade - Opdycke E 9/6/4
"Tigers" is in reserve behind mainline - he ignored an order to stay in front
- In hindsight he was right and his troops played a pivotal role in stopping
the Confederate breakthrough.
2nd Brigade - Lane 11/9/6 on the the knoll - frontline - must stay until fired upon or meleed
3rd Brigade - Conrad 12/10/7 on the the knoll - frontline must stay until fired upon or meleed
Artillery- Goodspeed [1 stand] battery begins at frontline, must limber after Confederates get within 18"
Note: Lane and Conrad had 1,000 plus men as casualties or missing
3rd Division - Wood [across river at Fort Granger]
-
1st Brigade - Streight 11/8/6 Near Bridge: Orders are to protect the bridge
2nd Brigade - Post 12/9/6 Opposite of Kimball
3rd Brigade - Knefler 11/8/6 Above and to the far side of Ft Granger
Artillery [4 Stands]
Most of IV Corps Batteries set up across the river (24 guns - 4 batteries across the river pre-deployed for a field of fire)
XXIII Corps
Jacob Cox (is Corps Cmdr at Franklin only)
-
2nd Division - Ruger [Middle mainline]
-
1st Brigade - Not there
2nd Brigade - Moore 15/13/9
3rd Brigade - Strickland 11/9/6
Art- Wilson [2 stands]
-
1st Brigade - Reilly 12/10/7
2nd Brigade - Casement (Repeating Rifles) 11/9/6
3rd Brigade - Stiles 11/9/6
Art - Wilber [2 stands]
-
1st Brigade - Croxton Near Lewisville Pike
-
8 mtd 6/5/3
7 dsmtd 7/5/4
3rd Brigade - In Kentucky
- 10 mtd 8/6/4
9 dismtd 9/8/5
-
1st Brigade - Stewart
2nd Brigade - Coon
-
1st Brigade - Harrison (N. River) 5/4/3
2nd Brigade - Biddle - Dismtd 9/8/5
Armed with muskets - 5 dismtd stds (formally Capron's Brigade)
Art- 1 Battery
-
1st Brigade - Hammond - mtd 4/-/3
2nd Brigade - Johnson - Dismounted 3/-/2
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© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum
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