Plantation homes have quite a reputation for themselves. They're either the stunning epitome of southern glamour, or they're the terrifying setting for a ghost story or battlefield. In the case of the Carnton Plantation, we're hitting on all the above. This gorgeous Franklin, Tennessee plantation home is one of the most lauded and toured in the state. The Battle of Franklin raged right outside the front door so many years ago, and the ghosts and memories of the past give a second life to the property.
Built in 1826, the Carnton Plantation has remained a cornerstone in the Franklin and extended Nashville community for almost two centuries. The property is now taken care of by the The Battle of Franklin Trust, in order to keep the stunning spot preserved for prolonged education.
It's a beautiful home, yes. The grounds are stunning, of course. It's the terrifying things that these windows have seen, the blood soaked through the porch that really sets Carnton apart. It sits precisely on the location of the deadly Battle of Franklin.
John and Carrie McGavock owned the plantation home during the war, though John at 46 found himself too old to enlist. Even so, the family sent money and gave support to the Confederate cause, serving in any way they could.
It was on November 30, 1864 that the Carnton truly made its mark on American history. With the Battle of Franklin raging just beyond its front door, the home became the largest temporary hospital field hospital to serve the battlefield.
The family treated over 300 soldiers, with more than half not making it through the night. The heartache and horror that was seen here is unutterable, a terrifying depiction of familial selflessness and patriotism.
Over the next eighteen months, the citizens of Franklin raised enough money to bury the dead soldiers in the newly minted e McGavock Confederate Cemetery. The initial cost of burial was $5 a soldier.
It's a story of great bravery and sadness, one that tinges the plantation with the ache of the war between the states. There are some that say they can still hear the screams of soldiers late at night, others that claim phantom hands reach up and grab at their ankles as they walk through the cemetery.
Whether the home is haunted or not is up to you - take a tour, walk the grounds. You can visit the cemetery free of charge, where the mass graves are marked by states and the number dead. It's a feeling you aren't soon to forget.
If you're looking to visit for yourself, the Carnton Plantation is located at 1345 Eastern Flank Circle. Tours are $15 per adult, and $8 for each child.
Still looking for a creepy story? Read up on the Ade family murder mystery - it's terrifying.
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