Carter House (Franklin, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Carter House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Carter House
|
|
 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Franklin, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Part of | Franklin Battlefield (ID66000734) |
| Designated CP | December 19, 1960 |
The Carter House State Historic Site is a very old house in Franklin, Tennessee. It's famous because the Carter family hid in its basement during a big fight called the Second Battle of Franklin in 1864. Today, it's a special place that helps us remember this important part of history.
This historic house is managed by a group called The Battle of Franklin Trust. They work with the Tennessee Historical Commission to keep the site open and teach people about its past. The Carter House is a key part of the Franklin Battlefield, which is a national landmark.
Contents
Building the Carter House
Fountain Branch Carter finished building this brick farmhouse in 1830. It was built in a style called Federal, which was popular back then. Besides the main house, there were other buildings like a farm office, a smokehouse, and a kitchen.
In the 1850s, Mr. Carter also built a cotton gin on his land. A cotton gin was a machine that separated cotton fibers from their seeds. This building became a well-known spot during the Battle of Franklin. Even though the cotton gin is gone, the house and the other three buildings are still standing. You can still see over a thousand bullet holes in them from the battle!
The Carter House During the Battle
The Carter House played a very important role in the Second Battle of Franklin. Before the battle began, soldiers from the Union Army took over the house. It became the headquarters for the Twenty-Third Army Corps, led by Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox.
The Union soldiers built defenses, called breastworks, just south of the house. These defenses stretched out to the east and west. While the battle raged outside, the Carter family stayed safe by hiding in the basement of their home.
A Family's Loss
Fountain Branch Carter's middle son, Tod Carter, was a soldier in the battle. He was badly hurt during the fighting. The morning after the battle, he was found and brought back to his family's house.
Tod lived for several more hours, surrounded by his sad family. He died from his wounds on December 2, 1864. Tod Carter was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery nearby. He had been away from home for over three years before fighting in the Battle of Franklin. Today, visitors can see the room where Tod Carter passed away during guided tours.
Visiting the Historic Site
You can visit the Carter House and its grounds every day. The State of Tennessee bought the house in 1953 to save it from being torn down. It's one of 18 State Historic Sites managed by the Tennessee Historical Commission.
The Battle of Franklin Trust helps run the Carter House. This group also looks after another important historical place nearby, the Carnton Plantation. Visiting these sites helps people understand what life was like during the Civil War.
More Historic Places to Explore
- Winstead Hill, another historic spot in the Franklin Battlefield area
- Carnton, also a historic place in the battlefield
- Fort Granger, another important site in the battlefield
- Lotz House, a historic house also in the battlefield area
