During the five hours of fighting that began around 4 p.m. and ended just after 9 p.m., the Carter Family took refuge in the basement of their home located just a short distance from this marker. A total of 23 men, women and children (many under the age of 12) were safely protected while the horrible cries of war rang out above them. The head of the family, Fountain Branch Carter, a 67-year old widower, had seen 3 of his sons fight for the Confederacy. One son, Theodrick (Tod), was serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield and saw his home for the first time in 3 years. Crying out, "Follow me boys, I'm almost home," Captain Tod Carter was mortally wounded and died 2 days later at the Carter House. After the battle, like so many homes in Franklin, the parlor of the Carter House was converted into a Confederate field hospital and witnessed many surgeries and amputations. Around midnight, the Federal Army retreated to Nashville to join the forces of General George Thomas.
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The text of this marker reads:
THE COTTON GIN ASSAULT
"Into this area rushed elements of four Confederated division on November 30, 1864 as they assaulted the Federal lines near the Carter cotton gin. Crossed largely by troops from Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s Division, the area was flooded by men from Maj. Gen. Samuel French’s division, and some from Maj. Gen. John Brown’s and Maj. Gen. Edward Walthall’s division. The Southern troops charged forward, crashing into the section of the Federal line between Columbia Pike and the gin held by Brig. Gen. James Reilly’s Brigade. Two Pieces of Ohio artillery just to the north, near the cotton gin, inflicted horrific Confederate losses. Yet the assault le by Cleburne’s troops broke the Federal lines an vicious hand-to-hand fighting erupted."