breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

[PogueMahone]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

I just got this in a news alert email from the Williamson Herald newspaper:

A stop work order has been issued for the Columbia Avenue construction site where a worker on Thursday unearthed what are believed to be the remains of a Civil War-era soldier thought to have been killed and buried in 1864.

"The city has issued a stop work order at the construction site involving a two-acre area around the spot where the bones were found," said Milissa Reierson, Franklin communications manager.

"It is now up to the property owner ( Wolfe Properties) to get a private consultant that specializes in archeological digs to determine if there are any other human remains," she said, adding the owner must state law covering the discovery of human remains.

"Once the property owner gets clearance through the state, they can proceed with construction," she said. "The city will work closely with state officials to assure the property owner is abiding by state laws prior to any work resuming."

Historical experts called to the site by Franklin Police said Thursday they thought the remains were that of a Union soldier, given the Eagle uniform buttons found with the bones, which included a jawbone and other matter.

Wolfe Properties is building homes and commercial buildings on the site, which is the former Through the Green golf course. The area where the work has been stopped is closest to Columbia Avenue near the Parkway Commons development.

We'll see what else comes out of the ground now.

[Lucky]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Too bad it wasn't a live artillery shell.........

[PogueMahone]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Too bad it wasn't a live artillery shell.........

Why would you say that? At least the guy did the right thing! He could have tossed it all in his truck and sold it to a collector months from now and no research of the site would have occurred. These guys can't work now, because they did the right thing.

It isn't like the guy digging the ditch was the developer. Get your head out of your ass.

[Sewing Vixen]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Why would you say that? At least the guy did the right thing! He could have tossed it all in his truck and sold it to a collector months from now and no research of the site would have occurred. These guys can't work now, because they did the right thing.

It isn't like the guy digging the ditch was the developer. Get your head out of your ass.

Maybe he was being lighthearted? But really. Back to the story.....

[PogueMahone]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Maybe, but it isn't appropriate to say something like that.

I will be first in line to play the whack-a-developer-mole game, trust me, but I'm not gonna give grief to some blue-collar ditch digger who recognized the importance of the find and stopped digging and notified the authorities.

I'm hoping to hear something from a buddy that works for the state on this. If I do, I will share what I can.

[Lucky]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

I don't like the idea of them developing of digging up that ground regardless of what was found or who found it. He stopped work, great. They found a body. I would think that is standard practice when human remains are found in the earth, anywhere. In a few weeks nobody will care and it will be a foundation or footings for a new Jimmy Johns or what have you.

Point is they shouldn't be digging there in the first place. Is Cool Springs too far away now, so that they have to keep building crap on another CW battlefield?

[Gallinipper]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

When you knowingly allow a Pizza Hut to be built on top of a mass gravesite (also purportedly on or near the spot where Gen. Cleburne fell), it does kind of set a tone for anything else that follows.

[john duffer]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

"When you knowingly allow a Pizza Hut to be buit on top of a mass gravesite"

I'm certainly no expert on Franklin so perhaps one will chime in but I don't think this was the case. The Pizza Hut was reputed to be on the site of Cleburne's death. The Confederate dead that could be located were later reinterred at McGavock's Cemetery.

[Gallinipper]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

I was commenting after having read the posts that immediately follow the article. I would be interested in knowing if this is true or speculation, as well.

[Jon The Beloved]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Site experts agree (Cartwright, Fraley, Jacobson, Warwick, etc.) and I've been told and shown quite a few times that Gen. Cleburne was first wounded charging the Carter Cotton Gin House works within what was the parking lot of the former Pizza Hut. It was said, according to accounts that he was dragged back across the works and breathed his last behind (ironicaly) what is now the Dominos Pizza! and subsequent Latin American market and Tobacco store. [On a side note the owner, much to the chagrin of city officials and preservation associations, is in no mood to sell the property even though is virtually surrounded by protected lots for the purpose of battlefield preservation.]

As far as the battle dead that were buried upon the field en masse.. these mostly Federal soldiers were later meticulously reinterred at Stones River National Cemetery or sent to return home. The Confederate dead were buried in rows on the battlefield, hardwood markers were placed at the heads of each grave. Reinterment was done by locals to the McGavock's Confederate Cemetery at Carnton Plantation. So I really doubt much human remains would be found on either site but little is known as additional burial sites. I don't yet feel that this gentleman's remains uncovered on the site of this former driving range represents a burial pattern in the south end of the battlefield. At least 5 skirmishes or battles occured nearby. Franklin had been a Federally occupied garrison since spring of 1862. This burial spot is within a few yards of one of the major turnpikes through the Midsouth.. So many factors turn up few conclusions.

As to debates whether we have a Federal or Confederate casualty on our hands.. I'm still awating updates. I hope that developers will have a fight on their hands. It is as it must be.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to ring in.

[kaelin]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Here is another article written with pictures as well...

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090518/COUNTY090101/90518028/1164/COUNTY09/Construction+halted+after+bones+discovered

[Rebelkid01]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

I agree with Justin. I personally believe it was a Reb. When I first heard of the location where the body was found, I knew that was too far behind the Confederate line. If it is proven that the remains are of a Confederate soldier, I hope he can be buried at Carnton.

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Pardon my lack of knowledge of Franklin geography. From what I've read so far, as a non-Tennessian it is unclear if the body's proximity was anywhere near the battle. At least I have no idea where the Golf course was. As I said I don't live there and I don't know. Where is this site in relation to the Carter house? or was it closer to some other point on the battlefield? How far down the Columbia road was it?

My class just finished reading Sam Watkin's account of Franklin. We studied the battle, I showed them some pictures of the Carter house and adjacent buildings. I'd like to throw this in. It could back up my speal about preservation.
Frank

[john duffer]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

Frank

Just measuring on Google the site is roughly 2,600 yards south of Carter House and 950 yards north of Winstead Hill.

[Jon The Beloved]

Re: breaking news at Franklin Tn!!!!

No worries on Franklin geography knowledge.. I know little about Missouri battlefields.. ; )

This former golf course and driving range where the body was found is not the former golf course adjacent to Carnton that was purchased by the city recently for battlefield preservation. The site in question is but a few yards off the Franklin-Columbia Pike/Hwy 31. It's proximity from the Carter House is roughly 1.4 miles. It is technically within the confines of the 1864 battlefield as it saw some major skirmishing from George D. Wagner's 1st Division IV Corps and the U.S. Cavalry on the Federal right flank attempting to hold off the assembled AoT from swallowing the unfortunate Federal brigades who were (foolishly) commanded against the greater will of the Army command [accounts say it was a drunken order], to dig in and fight instead of joining the rest of the Federal force behind the breastworks. This would prove to produce mass enfilade fire as retreating Feds and charging Confeds hit the line at nearly the same time. I digress..

Any other founded opinions I have on this matter have been previously stated. This poor soldier could have lost his life in any number of local engagements or run ins with dissenters. All in all.. I'm lovin' the local history attention. This individual has a story and we here locally intend to tell it.