Fort Granger

It’s Construction and Use During

Civil War Franklin

By Kraig McNutt The Center for the Study of the American Civil War

20110418

Fort Granger was approximately 781 feet long and 346 feet wide, encompassing 11.76 acres and contained two fortified fronts on the northern and eastern sides. The walls surrounding the fort, or rampart, were of packed dirt supported from within by rough timbers. The defensive wall placed on top of the rampart where the troops stood is called a parapet.

By April of 1863, Fort Granger held 18 field guns and two 30 pound siege cannons. With 314 officers and 5,494 men, most of the artillery fired through embrasures (openings in the parapet walls). At full capacity, the fort housed 5,194 infantry troops, 2,728 cavalry and 24 artillery pieces.

Fort Granger Named for General Gordon Granger, commander of Federal forces in Franklin in 1863, this earthen fort was constructed between March and May of that year by laborers working 24 hours a day.

Fort Granger

Who is Fort Granger named after?

General Gordon Granger (1822-1876)

Granger was promoted to major general of volunteers on September 17, 1862, and took command of the Army of Kentucky. He conducted cavalry operations in central Tennessee before his command was merged into the Army of the Cumberland, becoming the Reserve Corps.

General Gordon Granger

Fort Granger

What is a fort, fortress? Why is it called a fort? A “fort” by definition – during the Civil War – consisted of a detached work or a work constructed within the framework of a large fortified area. During the Civil War, the term came to be associated with any important position, no matter the type of military engineering employed to construct it. Why is it not called a fortress (i.e., like Fortress Rosecrans)? A “fortress” was any kind of large fortification so strongly fortified as to be capable of resisting a large and sustained attack. Fortress Rosecrans in Murfreesboro was twenty times larger – in the inside area - than Fort Granger was.

Fort Granger

Other ‘forts’ in Tennessee?

Fort Granger is one of two designed forts in Williamson County. The structure on top of Roper’s Knob is not complex enough to be classified as a fort. The other ‘fort’ in Williamson County is in Triune.

West Tennessee – 6

Middle Tennessee – 12

East Tennessee – 4

Fort Granger

Location of Fort Granger in Franklin? Fort Granger was built on the northern edge of downtown Franklin on the important Harpeth River on a 100-foot bluff overlooking the Harpeth Valley. It was about two miles away from the two knobs just south of Franklin; Winstead and Breezy Hills. The Nashville-Decatur railroad line also passed just west of the fort. Positioned were it lay, Fort Granger was designed to protect against a primary enemy assault coming from the north, or Nashville. It was strategically positioned to be able to cover actions coming from the south as well – as they did during the December 1864 Franklin action. Strategically position as it was, Fort Granger was perfectly suited to protect or defend the main arteries coming in and out of Franklin, including water and railroad routes. It was vital to the Union for transportation and supplies to flow smoothly through Franklin from the north via Nashville, and the south via Alabama.

Fort Granger

Firsthand accounts of the fort’s construction?

The Battalion was immediately assigned to duty in the construction of Fort Granger, on the right bank of the Harpeth river, opposite and commanding the town of Franklin, Tenn.

– History of the 96th Illinois Infantry

Fort Granger

Firsthand accounts of the fort’s construction?

A little hill on the north side of the Harpeth River, opposite the town, was selected as the site for a strong fort, which was named Fort Granger, in honor of our commander. Working parties were detailed daily from all the regiments, and these details were so large that the men came on fatigue duty about every third day. - History of the 115th Illinois Infantry

Emerson Opdycke, 125th Ohio

Fort Granger

Location in Franklin?

Fort Granger

Who designed Fort Granger?

Captain William Merrill, U.S. Topographical Engineers.

Fort Granger Features of Fort Granger?

Fort Granger is 781 feet long and 346 feet wide, encompassing 11.76 acres. It contained two fortified fronts on the northern and eastern sides. The walls surrounding the fort, or rampart, were of packed dirt supported from within by rough timbers. The defensive wall placed on top of the rampart where the troops stood is called a parapet. According to Emerson Opdycke (125th Ohio), it also contained such features as: salient angle, face, flank, parapet, curtain, embrasures, scarp, counterscarp, and a banquette.

Fort Granger

Key to discovering Ft. Granger’s construction?

For the last 2 months and over we have been camped in, near Franklin, Tenn. While our stay there, our time was principally occupied in working on the fortifications and scouting occasionally.

James L. Rogers, 98th Ohio Infantry June 4th, 1863 Letter purchased by Kraig McNutt off eBay in February 2011

Fort Granger

When was it built and who built it?

Fort Granger was built between March and May 1863. It took approximately ten weeks to construct.

It was built by Federal troops who were stationed in Franklin during the winter/spring of 1863. The Federal troops were made up of men from Gilbert’s and Baird’s divisions. Ohio units – regiments from the 40th, 98th, 113th, 121st, 124th, 125th, 9th Ohio Light Artillery, 18th Ohio Light Artillery Indiana units – 84th Indiana Infantry Illinois units – regiments from the 78th , 92nd, 96th, 115th, 1st Illinois Light Artillery

Fort Granger

How many men did it take to build it?

There were at least 10 regiments who worked on the fort, supplying 50-75 men per detail. After Apr 15th, 1863 details worked 24 hours a day until the work was completed.

Fort Granger

As late as December 24, 1862 the Confederates had control of Franklin as this CSA military pass indicates. The Federals must have taken control shortly thereafter, since they began work on the Fort in mid February.

Timeline – late 1862

Fort Granger

Timeline – March 1863

Mid Feb Union divisions of Gilbert and Baird, respectively, arrive in Franklin area. March 7th General Granger begins work on fortifications. March 15th Men were detailed to work on the entrenchments today from every company I in the corps. Zeboim Carter Patten (1840-1925) , 115th Illinois Infantry, Co H

March 17th Two siege guns from Nashville in Fort. Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th Ill Inf, Co H

March 19th They are building a rousing old fort here and yesterday two big siege guns came in on the cars and they have them mounted. There are three thousand men at work every day on the fort. Letters of Charles F. Walker, 72nd Illinois Infantry.

March 21st Siege guns were tried with shell. Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th Ill Inf, Co H

March 23rd The entrenchments have been hurried as fast as possible. Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th

Illinois Infantry, Co H

Fort Granger

Timeline – April 1863 April 10th The siege guns in the fort and a battery near it had been thundering…. Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th Ill

Inf, Co H

April 13th Last Friday (April 10th) about one o’clock the rebels attacked this place with the intention of rushing in and spiking the guns in the fort, but they got spiked. Our camp is this side of the Big Harpeth and the town of Franklin is on the other side of the river from us . . . All this time our guns and a light horse battery were playing away on them out in the timber . . . The rebels need never expect to take this place for they cannot do it. Letters of Charles F. Walker, 72nd Illinois.

April 15th Gen. Granger report, "main work was only partially finished. . .“ April 21st I was on the detail for the fortifications today. All the well men not doing guard duty were put on the detail. We were put on a new point which they have commenced to fortify. Where the house and out buildings were burned yesterday . . . There was 17 men called from our company for the works, but we had only 12 to furnish. Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th Ill Inf, Co H

April 26th Our fort is nearly completed. – Emerson Opdycke, 125th OVI

We are making several other works hereabouts of lesser magnitude . . . Opdycke, 125th OVI

Fort Granger

Timeline – May 1863

May 7th Still slashing timber. The guns of the fort will have a clear sweep when we finish. Emerson

Opdycke, 125th OVI

May 11th Our regiment has gone out to chop down trees to give us a full view of the rebels if they attempt to come in . . . We have got 4 more guns. They are howitzers. They are to throw shells at old Jeff’s ragged coats. Letters of Charles F. Walker, 72nd Illinois Infantry

May 18th See April 11th note: “ . . . until May 18th, when the work had so far progressed that an order was issued reducing the working force to a daily detail of forty men per regiment.” Opdycke,

125th OVI

May 20th Work is still going on in the entrenchments and drilling by squad, battalion and brigade has been commenced by the latter . . . Zeboim Carter Patten, 115th Ill Inf, Co H

May 29th Report from Merrill; fort is complete.

Fort Granger

SE bastion, looking south

Postern wall on north side of fort

Fort Granger

Impact upon Franklin residents? Fort Granger was built using good timber, dirt, and even brick for some sections. Due to the rapidity with which it was built, the Federal soldiers even used some local existing resources from homes or Franklin structures. One Franklin resident, M.S. Royce, even sought legal remunerations after the war for the total destruction of his home, estimated to be at least $5,000 – a hefty sum in 1863. Moses S. Royce was a member of Forrest’s cavalry and escaped from prison in February 1864. Before the war, Moses Royce was also the rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Franklin. Mrs. Royce did NOT sign the oath.

Account of Dr. J.S. Park

James Dickinson Park 11th TN Cav, Co B

Home of Dr. J.S. Park, saved from destruction by Union soldiers in building of Fort Granger.

Fort Granger

Kind of Armament in Fort Granger?

The armament installed in Fort Granger by April 1863 included two 30-pound siege cannons and 18 field guns.

Fort Granger was used by the Federal troops before it was even completed in mid April 1863 (i.e., the first Battle of Franklin) as CSA General Van Dorn attacked the Federal position in Franklin near Hughe’s Ford. Two large siege guns (30-pounders) were fired during the engagement, and were apparently quite effective in diminishing the Confederate threat. Smaller rifled guns were also deployed in this engagement, taking aim at Confederate position along the Lewisburg Pike and around the Carter Cotton Gin.

Fort Granger

Use of Fort Granger in Franklin Nov 1864 action?

The far left Union flank was supported by artillery fired from Fort Granger during the 30 November 1864 Battle of Franklin.

It appears that Fort Granger was not used significantly again by the Federals until November 30, 1864 when the guns of Granger were deployed against CSA General John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee. During the second Battle of Franklin, the Federals effectively used several guns to decimate the right Confederate flank, protecting the left Union flank positioned adjacent to the Decatur-Nashville railroad and the Harpeth River near downtown Franklin. It is likely that hundreds of Confederate troops of Scott’s and Featherston’s brigade were killed by Union artillery supplied from Fort Granger on November 30, 1864.

Fort Granger

Fort Granger today?