Nashville and Franklin Private Civil War Tour

Nashville and Franklin Private Civil War Tour

Winstead Hill, Carter House, Carnton, Lunch in Franklin, Shy's Hill, Belmont, and Fort Negley

TOUR PRICE

$850 base price plus $100 per person - private parties of 1 to 13 guests

Prices for larger groups, please inquire

TOUR DAYS AND TIMES

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

TOUR OVERVIEW

Join Jenny and historian Myers Brown on this full-day tour private Civil War tour. Founded in 1779 and permanently named the state capital of Tennessee in 1843, Union forces captured Nashville after the fall of Fort Donelson in February 1862. It soon became one of the most heavily fortified cities in North America. Nashville and the surrounding area witnessed several critical events including the Battles of Franklin and Nashville in 1864.

Depart from your Nashville location. On the drive south of the city, you'll get an overview of Tennessee's importance in the Western Theater. Arrive at Winstead Hill and stand in the spot where Confederate General John Bell Hood observed Confederate attacks from this elevation south of Franklin.

Visit Franklin, Tennessee where the devastating Battle of Franklin occurred on November 30, 1864. Take a guided tour of the Carter House, used by Union General Jacob Cox as his headquarters. Walk the site where Federal counterattacks met and drove back Confederate infantry in the area, and elements of Hood's assault broke through the Union line. Next, drive to Carnton, where many of the dead from the Army of Tennessee are interred.

Take in Franklin's picturesque Main Street and enjoy lunch at a local establishment. Then pass through the historic town square and cemeteries, cross the Harpeth River, and head up Franklin Pike towards Nashville where the story continues to unfold.

Drive up to the high ground known as Shy’s Hill, where Hood formed his left flank and was forced to retreat after General John McArthur’s division broke the Confederate line and captured the hill. Take a guided tour of the Belmont Mansion, the location of General Thomas J. Wood's headquarters. His staff of about 20 men and 122 soldiers stayed in the house, along with roughly 4,000 men camped on the mansion's grounds. Learn how Belmont was the scene for many preparations for the Battle of Nashville.

Finally, travel to Fort Negley, designed by Union engineer James St. Clair Morton and built by slaves impressed by the Union army. It was one of several forts that formed the main defenses of Nashville. The two-day battle that raged around the city smashed Hood’s army and ended the Confederate threat to Tennessee. The Battle of Nashville effectively ended the Civil War in the Western Theater.

ITINERARY

9:00 AM Depart from your Nashville location

9:45 AM Arrive at Winstead Hill

10:05 AM Depart

10:15 AM Arrive at Carter House, check in, explore surrounding area, Gin House site, etc.

10:30 PM Carter House guided tour begins

11:35 PM Depart

11:45 PM Arrive at Carnton, pass by the Confederate Cemetery

12:15 PM Lunch in downtown Franklin

1:00 PM Pass through Franklin's historic town square, cemeteries and cross the Harpeth River towards Nashville

1:30 PM Arrive at Shy's Hill

2:00 PM Depart

2:15 PM Arrive at Belmont Mansion, guided Civil War history tour begins

3:45 PM Depart

4:00 PM Arrive at Fort Negley, Visitors Center (closed Sunday and Monday) and walk to the top

4:45 PM Depart

5:00 PM Return to your Nashville location

GUIDING

This tour will be conducted by your driver/guide Jenny, and special guest Myers Brown. Myers is a native of Old Hickory, Tennessee. He received his B.A. in history from Oglethorpe University and his M.A. in public history from Middle Tennessee State University. He is a fellow and a current officer of the Company of Military Historians and is on the board of the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area and the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association. Currently, Myers serves as the Executive Director of Belmont Mansion in Nashville. Prior to joining Belmont, he served as Director of Archival Collection Services and Chief Historian at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. He previously worked as a curator with the Tennessee State Museum, the Alabama Historical Commission, and at the Atlanta History Center. He also served as the chairman of the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. He is the author of two books: Images of Tennessee’s Union Cavalrymen (published in December 2008) and Images of Tennessee Confederates (April 2011). He served as editor of the Best of the Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Volume 5, Nathan Bedford Forrest and the Confederate Cavalry in West Tennessee (published April 2013). 

TRANSPORTATION

Luxury SUV or tour van

Food, drinks, and adult beverages are welcome on board

Vehicle is non-smoking

MEETING LOCATION

Nashville hotel, airbnb, landmark, etc. within 20 minutes of downtown

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Private transportation, guiding, bottled water

Tickets to guided tour at Carter House

Tickets to guided tour at Belmont Mansion

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Personal expenses, souvenirs, food, drinks, snacks