Five Tragic Hours Battle Of Franklin

In 1990, I came across a painting of Patrick Cleburne sitting his horse, Red Pepper, just prior to the charge at the Battle of Franklin. I was intrigued and wanted to know more. The local library had a copy of Five Tragic Hours and in about as much time, I had read this excellent volume on what is one of the most interesting and tragic battles of the American Civil War. The author in his preface explains his own personal connections to the battle and this deepens his telling of the events of November 30th, 1864. This book lead me on a journey that continues 15 years later, as I have traveled the country to the various battle sites of Patrick Cleburne's incredible career. My journey began with this book about the end of Cleburne's amazing life. Before you read any other account, read this one. It will create the foundation for understanding and enjoying the other well written acounts by Wiley Sword and Winston Groom.

In my opinion the Battle of Franklin is THE most haunting and interesting battle of the Civil War. What a great waste. Connelly and McDonough put forth a very solid effort on the battle. Their preface to the book is actually worth the price of the book itself. Each man had experience as young men on the battlefields of Tennessee and they do a wonderful job describing how it effected them. For drama and color, Wiley Sword's work on Franklin is best, but for pure military analysis "Five Tragic Hours" can't be beat.

This is a well written, easy to read account of the Battle of Franklin. The authors put the battle into focus, not only in a geographic sense but from the state of mind of the men and commanders who fought there. This work helps to explain much about General Hood (a proven leader and fighter of the war's earlier days) and his decisions made there. From this book it is easy to see the "why" and "how" of the fight at Franklin.

The Battle of Franklin has never had the coverage it deserved - it was the battle that finished the South in the West, a battle fought by a stupid commander who, having decimated his army at Atlanta, refused to accept responsibility for his actions. The result was the massacre at Franklin.I have always been intrigued by the gallantry of Pickett's Division - what this book emphasises is that Franklin was bigger than this charge and even more tragic. Over 17,000 men were sent in a direct charge against entrenched positions - the fact that they came so close is testament to their courage. Their casualties were appauling - 6 generals died, including the best Southern general in the West, Pat Clebourne. One Southern officer charged into battle over ground that was part of the family farm - he died from wounds in his father's house.Franklin was an unnecessary battle - the way was there to outflank Schofield's army. But, spurred on by the debacle at Spring Hill, JB Hood decided to install some offensive spririt into his much abused army. "5 Tragic Hours" later, he had devistated it.I have never had much time for Hood - the book reinforces the picture of a man promoted way beyond his competancy. His battlefield tactics and lack of control doomed the Army of Tennessee at Franklin as surely as it did in the final stages of the Atlanta campaign.The book evokes the tragedy of the Army of Tennessee's last campaign. It was a much abused army, led by a succession of incompetants (Bragg and Hood) or prevaricators (Johnson). The South was poorly served in the crucial Western Theatre - this book underlines how so much promise was squandered.I found this book very sad - sad at so much stupidity and sad at so much squandered bravery. If ever the futility of war needed ramming home, then this book is brilliant.An excellent book

As "A Bridge Too Far" is the definitive account of Arnhem, and Shelby Foote's magnum opus is the definitive account of the Civil War as a whole, so is "Five Tragic Hours" the sine qua non for understanding the significance of this underappreciated battle that spelled the end of the Confederacy in the West.The authors are eminently qualified to cover this subject; college professor McDonough is a self-appointed historian of virtually all the significant battles fought in Tennessee; Connelly is the author of the controversial and brilliant "The Marble Man", a biography of Robert E. Lee, as well as a two-volume history of the Army of Tennessee.While the book has minor flaws as a narrative, it is by far the most detailed account of Hood's abortive campaign, and the battle that spelled the Confederacy's Western high-water mark. If you wish to have anything more than a rudimentary understanding of the Civil War endgame, it is a MUST read.