The story of the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee which took place on November 30, 1864 during the American Civil War, has not been complete for more than a century. Although the battle yielded a Federal victory, the division of Brigadier General George D. Wagner sustained 1,241 casualties, the most inflicted upon any Union formation that day. The collapse of his brigades led to a Confederate breakthrough that threatened the security of the Federal position. The traditional narrative places all the blame for these failures at Franklin entirely at Wagner’s feet. A combination of his command incompetence, harsh behavior towards the men, and drunkenness are usually cited as sources of the near disaster. The conclusions drawn by historians, past and present, have oversimplified a complicated series of actions, and drawn conclusions that range from outright fantasy to an incomplete understanding of what took place. A more complete analysis offers an honest insight into the actions of others that contributed to the destruction of the advanced line and the danger posed to the Federal position at Franklin.
Joseph D. Ricci is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is currently a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, where he serves as a graduate assistant in the Department of History and Political Science. Joseph is currently the university’s Distinguished Graduate Fellow for the 2020-2021 term. His concentration is in American Military History, with a particular interest in the American Civil War. He has just concluded his M.A thesis, “An Excess of Bravery?”: Brigadier General George Day Wagner and the Advanced Line at the Battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864, and will graduate in May. Joseph has been a student of history from a young age. In addition to his graduate studies, he has also contributed chapters for two upcoming publications on the Atlanta Campaign and the postwar years of Confederate General John Bell Hood. In his spare time, he hosts an internationally renowned history podcast, Home Brew History, and researches his second love- the British Army in the Second World War.
Place: Drusilla Seafood, 3482 Drusilla Lane http://drusillaplace.com/
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm Doors open, Meeting begins 7:00 pm, End 8:30 to 9:00pm.
Meeting Cost: $30.00 includes tax, tip, food and fun. Purchase of a meal is optional.
Reservations: Please make a reservation(s) to attend this meeting by Tuesday April 13.
Late Reservations: are welcomed and appreciated.
Contact: John Potts (225) 937-2782, or brcwrt@att.net
Book Raffle: There will be a selection of books or items. $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.
Facebook page: Our Facebook page has over 600 members, over 3,000 articles, videos, and photographs. Search for Baton Rouge Civil War Round Table.
Website - http://www.brcwrt.com
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm Doors open, Meeting begins 7:00 pm, End 8:30 to 9:00pm.
Meeting Cost: $30.00 includes tax, tip, food and fun. Purchase of a meal is optional.
Reservations: Please make a reservation(s) to attend this meeting by Tuesday April 13.
Late Reservations: are welcomed and appreciated.
Contact: John Potts (225) 937-2782, or brcwrt@att.net
Book Raffle: There will be a selection of books or items. $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.
Facebook page: Our Facebook page has over 600 members, over 3,000 articles, videos, and photographs. Search for Baton Rouge Civil War Round Table.
Website - http://www.brcwrt.com
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