Franklin Battle Reenactment this Weekend

The Battle of Frankln reenactment is Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16 at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Visitors will get a glimpse into the life of a soldier during the Battle of Franklin, which was fought on Nov. 30, 1864. This year’s event will be twice the size of last year with a battlefield twice as large and double the number of re-enactors, which is estimated at approximately 700. The Battle of Franklin resulted in approximately 10,000 casualties over the course of five hours in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

Large-scale re-enactments of the battle will be held Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. Spectators can view the action from the hillside surrounding the battlefield. Visitors will get a sense of the scope of the combat, with Confederates making repeated frontal assaults against the well-fortified Federal lines. Live cannon fire and the cavalry’s display of horsemanship will help illustrate the drama of the battle.

Other special elements will offer something for everyone – children to adults, Civil War scholars to families enjoying a beautiful October weekend among the rolling hills of Harlinsdale Farm. The Factory at Franklin is the presenting sponsor of the event.

Last year we expected 1,500 visitors, yet more than 4,000 attended the two day event. They expect considerable more people this year.The Battle of Franklin Trust is coordinating the event, in partnership with the City of Franklin’s Civil War Commission, The Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County, Franklin’s Charge, Save the Franklin Battlefield and other preservation organizations. The event will be open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for spectators, with children under the age of 6 admitted free. The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is at 239 Franklin Road in Franklin.

The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501(c)3 management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to a greater understanding and enrich the visitor experience of the Nov. 30, 1864 battle. It’s organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle so as to preserve an important part of the nation’s history.

For information, visit www.battleoffranklintrust.org or call 615-786-1864