Carter House (Franklin, Tennessee) facts for kids
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Carter House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Carter House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Franklin, Tennessee |
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| Part of | Franklin Battlefield (ID66000734) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated CP | December 19, 1960 |
The Carter House State Historic Site is a historic house in Franklin, Tennessee. This house became famous during the Second Battle of Franklin in 1864. The Carter family bravely hid in their basement while the battle raged outside.
Today, the Carter House is a special place that helps us remember the past. It is a Tennessee Historical Commission State Historic Site. A group called The Battle of Franklin Trust helps manage and care for it. The house is also a very important part of the Franklin Battlefield. This battlefield is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which means it's a place of great historical importance to the entire country.
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Building the Carter House
Fountain Branch Carter finished building this brick farmhouse in 1830. It was built in a style called "Federal style," which was popular back then. Besides the main house, there were other buildings on the property. These included a farm office, a smokehouse, and a kitchen.
In the 1850s, Mr. Carter added a cotton gin to his farm. A cotton gin was a machine that separated cotton fibers from their seeds. This machine became a well-known landmark during the 1864 battle. The cotton gin is no longer there today. However, the main house and the other three buildings are still standing. You can even see over a thousand bullet holes in them from the Civil War battle!
The House During the Battle
The Carter House played a huge role in the Second Battle of Franklin. Before the fighting began, Union soldiers took over the house. It became the headquarters for the Twenty-Third Army Corps. This group of soldiers was led by Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox.
The Union soldiers also built strong dirt walls, called "breastworks," just south of the house. These walls stretched out to the east and west of Columbia Pike. They were built to protect the soldiers during the battle. While the fighting happened, the Carter family stayed safe in the basement of their home.
Tod Carter's Story
Fountain Branch Carter's middle son, Tod Carter, was a soldier in the battle. He was badly wounded during the fight. The morning after the battle, he was found still alive and brought back to the house.
Tod lived for several more hours, surrounded by his sad family. He died from his wounds on December 2, 1864. Tod was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery nearby. He had been away from home for over three years, fighting in the 20th Tennessee Infantry. The room where Tod Carter died is a very important part of the guided tour of the home today.
Visiting the Carter House
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 is one of 18 State Historic Sites managed by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Battle of Franklin Trust, a non-profit group, takes care of the property. They also look after another historic place called Carnton Plantation.
See also
- Winstead Hill, another historic place in the Franklin Battlefield area
- Carnton, also in the battlefield
- Fort Granger, another historic site in the battlefield
- Lotz House, also in the battlefield
