Monday, June 22, 2009

A Haunting Visit

While in Tennessee I visited the Carnton House and gardens


At first glance this garden is peaceful

this garden is beautiful

this garden has survived war

this garden is part of history

this garden weeps silent tears





This garden overlooks The Carnton House in Franklin, Tennessee


it is the historical basis for the book







The grounds are the final resting place of 1,481 men killed in the Battle of Franklin

The largest private military cemetery in the United States



on November 30, 1864
Five terrible hours of combat

2.000 dead

6,500 wounded

1,000 missing



John and Carrie McGavock lived quietly with their children in the Carnton House but on that one day it changed forever




The Carnton House was one of 44 private homes turned into a "field hospital" on that dreadful day.
A staff officer later wrote that "the wounded, in hundreds, were brought to Carnton House during the battle, and all the night after. And when the noble old house could hold no more, the yard was appropriated until the wounded and dead filled that...
Amputated limbs of solder's were thrown out the window and the pile reached past the second story at the back of the house

Today it wears the grace of history, horror and sacrifice

Photos of the interior are not allowed.

Not needed for me...A memory that will stay with me forever.

The house has been restored to it's original condition but still the blood of soldiers stain the wood plank floors.

A visit that was well worth it.

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7 comments:

Joanne Kennedy said...

What a sad story that is behind that beautiful house. You have peaked my interest and I'm going to try to find that book on ebay to read the story!

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Hugs,
Joanne

Tara said...

Wow! How amazing! I think it would have been horrible to live during the civil war, families fighting families. But I guess living during ANY war is terrible for the people directly affected by it. The house is beautiful, I've always loved that time period, even though the war was so horrible. The picture of the cemetery with the house visably through the fog is beautifully haunting, I agree. Thanks for sharing this!

Paint Girl said...

Wow, what a place. That would be a great place to visit. So much history.
Thanks for sharing!

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Oh my! I know this sounds bad, but I love this kind of history! I need to look this up and read more about it. Thank you for sharing this...this may even be on my list to visit soon! We have LOTS of plantation/antebellum homes here in the south with lots of history...I love love love this! (not the war/death stuff, but the history).
If only walls could talk~
(some do)
everything vintage

Rebecca Lewis said...

Facinating history and beautiful images. Thank you for sharing.

Amy M in Indiana said...

Wow --what a story. We were just in Nashville --and saw Andrew Jackson's home --the Hermitage. It was really neat, and other than the few stories of how much Andrew loved his wife, Rachel, not as sad as the home you saw. Blessings-
Amy (granddaugther of Ardis)

kimberly said...

A fascinating story in troubled times. Sad and beautiful at the same time, thanks for sharing!!!

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