FORT GRANGER 3. Have them draw a picture of Fort Granger looked like during the Civil War. Location Guide 4. Have them compare their drawings to the drawings on the sign located at the entrance to Fort Granger. 5. Talk about Fort Granger’s main purpose and how the design reflected it. 113 Fort Granger Dr., Franklin, TN 37064 35.925884, -86.859398 Main Purpose of Fort Granger – To protect the Harpeth River leading towards Nashville. The Federal army did not want Confederate troops or ships using the Harpeth River or Franklin to get to Overview: Nashville. In February of 1862, Nashville fell to a Federal army commanded by Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant, becoming, becoming the first Confederate state capital to succumb to Northern forces. For How Fort Granger Protected the Harpeth River – It's placement on the bluffs above the Harpeth the remainder of the war, Nashville was under Federal control. Immediately, Northern soldiers River as well as its U-shaped design places cannons along the Harpeth. stationed in Nashville began constructing fortifications to protect the city. Activity – Signage Questions (20-30 mins) Shortly after the fall of Nashville, Federal forces occupying Franklin began planning construction of Have students read the signage around Ft. Granger and answer the questions below: a fortification that would sit atop Figuers Bluff and protect the railroad line that led to Nashville. Construction was completed in early 1863, and the new fort was named after General Gordon Granger. It was massive earthwork fortification with an interior that encompassed 275,000 square feet. Originally, several thousand soldiers were stationed at Fort Granger, but by the time of the Battle of Franklin only a small garrison remained.

On November 30, 1864, four three-inch rifled guns of Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery Battery were placed here. One Ohio soldier noted that the guns sticking out of the fort looked like, “angry Answers: dogs of war.” Looking toward Fort Granger from , General Hood would have been able to see the guns atop the fort. During the Battle of Franklin, these guns inflicted devastating fire into the eastern flank [side] of the Confederate army, and Confederate soldiers were forced to flee from a grove of trees they were sheltered within artillery fire from the fort tore limbs from the trees. Fort Granger was also used by Major General Schofield as an observation post to oversee the engagements.

Background Information: Confederate Generals: General (Commander of the Confederate Army of at the Battle of Franklin) Federal Generals: Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, and Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield (Commander of the Federal army at the Battle of Franklin)

Vocabulary to Review: Federal – Northern or Fortification and earthworks – trenches and dirt berms dug or piled in order to make a protected area, such as a fort Three-inch rifled gun – a type of cannon that was used by the Federal army at the Battle of Franklin

Activity – What Did a Fort Look Like (20-30 minutes) 1. Read the description of the Fort Granger from above. 2. Have students walk on the pathways and see the remains of the earthworks used to make Fort Granger. Read the signs and descriptions of the purpose of Fort Granger and how it was built. 3. Have them draw a picture of Fort Granger looked like during the Civil War. 4. Have them compare their drawings to the drawings on the sign located at the entrance to Fort Granger. 5. Talk about Fort Granger’s main purpose and how the design reflected it. 113 Fort Granger Dr., Franklin, TN 37064 35.925884, -86.859398 Main Purpose of Fort Granger – To protect the Harpeth River leading towards Nashville. The Federal army did not want Confederate troops or ships using the Harpeth River or Franklin to get to Overview: Nashville. In February of 1862, Nashville fell to a Federal army commanded by Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant, becoming, becoming the first Confederate state capital to succumb to Northern forces. For How Fort Granger Protected the Harpeth River – It's placement on the bluffs above the Harpeth the remainder of the war, Nashville was under Federal control. Immediately, Northern soldiers River as well as its U-shaped design places cannons along the Harpeth. stationed in Nashville began constructing fortifications to protect the city. Activity – Signage Questions (20-30 mins) Shortly after the fall of Nashville, Federal forces occupying Franklin began planning construction of Have students read the signage around Ft. Granger and answer the questions below: a fortification that would sit atop Figuers Bluff and protect the railroad line that led to Nashville. 1. What year did Federal troops hang two Confederate spies at the fort? Construction was completed in early 1863, and the new fort was named after Major General Gordon 2. How many rounds were fired by Captain Giles J. Cockrell’s Battery D from Fort Granger Granger. It was massive earthwork fortification with an interior that encompassed 275,000 square during the Battle of Franklin? feet. Originally, several thousand soldiers were stationed at Fort Granger, but by the time of the 3. Which two critical railroads were in Franklin that the Federal army wanted control over? Battle of Franklin only a small garrison remained. 4. Did the Confederate forces ever capture Fort Granger? 5. Who built Fort Granger? On November 30, 1864, four three-inch rifled guns of Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery Battery were placed here. One Ohio soldier noted that the guns sticking out of the fort looked like, “angry Answers: dogs of war.” Looking toward Fort Granger from Winstead Hill, General Hood would have been 1. June 9, 1863 able to see the guns atop the fort. During the Battle of Franklin, these guns inflicted devastating fire 2. 163 rounds into the eastern flank [side] of the Confederate army, and Confederate soldiers were forced to flee 3. Alabama and Tennessee from a grove of trees they were sheltered within artillery fire from the fort tore limbs from the trees. 4. No. They never did. Fort Granger was also used by Major General Schofield as an observation post to oversee the 5. The vast majority of the labor used to build Fort Granger was escaped slaves who joined the engagements. Federal army. Background Information: Confederate Generals: General John Bell Hood (Commander of the Confederate at the Battle of Franklin) Federal Generals: Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, and Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield (Commander of the Federal army at the Battle of Franklin)

Vocabulary to Review: Federal – Northern or Union army Fortification and earthworks – trenches and dirt berms dug or piled in order to make a protected area, such as a fort Three-inch rifled gun – a type of cannon that was used by the Federal army at the Battle of Franklin

Activity – What Did a Fort Look Like (20-30 minutes) 1. Read the description of the Fort Granger from above. 2. Have students walk on the pathways and see the remains of the earthworks used to make Fort Granger. Read the signs and descriptions of the purpose of Fort Granger and how it was built.