The plantation is just 10 miles south of new bern on highway 17. A bestseller, hicks novel brought a longforgotten chapter in the story of. Young jack starts to become a man in the civil war south. Fountain carter house, also nrhplisted in the battlefield. Carnton plantation was home to the person who wrote, the widow of the south. Franklin, tn bloodstained floors of widow of the south. There are 10 rooms open to the public, furnished with antiques, quilts and drayton family heirlooms. Plantation in thibodaux, louisiana, who is famously known as the widow of the south. Jul 25, 2017 carrie mcgavock, the widow of the south photo courtesy of carnton plantation mcgavock cemetery circa 1866 photo courtesy of the tennessee magazine today, carrie and her family rest in the same cemetery. Robert hicks has written an excellent fiction based on the actual diaries and life of carrie mcgavock widow of the south. I cant help but say that this book deeply moved me. As previously mentioned above, you will so much more enjoy this particular tour having read the historical fiction novel widow of the south. Town librarian researches curse with black student. But, wow, what a story is told in the novel based on fact the widow of the south.
Fortunately a handful of people joined together to protect and preserve the historic home. Elizabeth butler bellinger inherited what is now tomotley plantation and sold it to james deveaux. The myrtles plantation is a historic home and former antebellum plantation in st. Even more timeconsuming was the daybyday routine of managing the plantation. Winstead hill, also nrhplisted within the franklin battlefield area. When you enter the iron gates at the entrance, you are immediately taken back to a different time. Nov 17, 2006 the author of widow of the south takes you on a tour of the estate in franklin, tennessee where the bloodiest battle of the civil war took place and the mistress of the house who started and. Walking in the footsteps of the widow of the south. Aug 30, 2005 the widow of the south is an excellent, breathtaking and fascinating read. The plantation became one of the many franklin field hospitals and the rooms still bare today the scars from that period. Listed on the national register of historic places, medway plantation is rich in history and offers a glimpse of a genteel lifestyle on a southern plantation that is both unique and elegant.
And what heroes carrie mcgavock and her slave servant mariah are. Crepe myrtles line the property along the highway and there is an historical marker and signs that identify the location. When island planter thomas henry barksdale died childless in august 1832, leaving his widow, martha sarah stoney barksdale of the otterburn plantation family, as sole heiress, several of his relatives brought court action against the widow and won handsome cash settlements which necessitated the sale of barksdales 2600acre scull creek. Robert hicks born january 30, 1951 is the author of the new york times bestseller the widow of the south and has played a major role in preserving the historic carnton mansion, a focal point in the battle of franklin which occurred on november 30, 1864. Antebellum mansions of the old south highlights those neoclassical mansions built at the height of. After romans death in 1848, his widow almost bankrupted the estate. We recognize this gentle slope that rises to the carnton plantation and. It was used as a hospital in the civil war, and you can still see blood stains on the floor where they did the surgery.
The widow and her son operated a large sugar plantation together and owned more slaves than all other black slave owners in louisiana in 1860, topping off at 152. The widow of the south several years ago i had the opportunity to tell her story to dolly parton when dolly was using my cabin for her album photography. In 1973 the carnton plantation was listed on the national register of historic places and in 1977 the house and ten acres were donated to the carnton association, inc. A bestseller, hicks novel brought a longforgotten chapter in the story of the civil war to. When civil war historian and preservationist robert hicks released his book the widow of the south in 2005, he fictionalized the story of carrie mcgavock, who turned acres of her familys home, carnton plantation, into a cemetery for the confederate dead after the second battle of franklin, tennessee. Built in the 1740s with porticoes and fine interior plasterwork, its a.
As she walks among the dead, an elderly man appearsthe same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. Some of them are of great extent, the magnolia plantation, now owned by exgovernor warmoth, which claims to be one of the banner plantations of the state, having 492 acres in cane last year. In 1866, the family put the plantation up for auction. There are a variety of legends surrounding the myrtles. Sep 07, 2009 thirty years ago, carnton plantation in franklin, tn was run down and in danger of destruction. Chicora research series, archaeological testing of six sites on hilton head island, beaufort county, south carolina, p. The mcgavock family owned the carnton plantation until 1911 when susie lee mcgavock, widow of winder mcgavock, sold it. Widow of the south it is a sacred edifice today, preserved to its original glory, except for the bloodstained wood floors at every light sourcedoors, windows, fireplacesfrom the incurably wounded soldiers representing both sides of the skirmish. Tomotley, brewton, castle hill, bindon, and others were once part of the greater barony.
We have thousands of members waiting to talk to someone just like you. The house that turned into a potboiler the new york times. The widow of the south, and franklin, tennessee off. The widow of the south by hicks, robert, 2005, warner books edition, in english 1st ed. Built in 1796 by general david bradford, it is touted as one of americas most haunted homes. The widow of the south, and franklin, tennessee off the beaten. Carrie mcgavock is an old woman who tends the graves of the almost 1,500 soldiers buried there. May 06, 2019 the widow of the south is a historical novel centered around the carnton plantation during the battle of franklin. Outside charleston, south carolina located along the bend of the back river lies medway plantation. I recently visited the carnton plantation in franklin, tn, which inspired me to read this book.
Carnton is a historic home here a former plantation house near the site. The words, carnton, franklin, tennessee, will never have the same meaning to me now that ive read this amazing novel. The plantation became one of the many franklin field hospitals and. Martinville the acadian house was built in 1765 by mr. Her son took over and managed to undo the financial havoc left by his mother. The widow of the south, and franklin, tennessee off the. During the 1730s, the pendarvis family was one of the most prominent in the south, owning the biggest rice plantations in the palmetto region and over 123 slaves. The widow of the south the widow of the south audiobook, by robert hicks. Farther north in south carolina, about 15 miles south of charleston, drayton hall is located on the ashley river. Antebellum homes on southern plantations architectural digest. Thirty years ago, carnton plantation in franklin, tn was run down and in danger of destruction. Next to the house is the second largest confederate cemetery in the usa. Dolly, one of the smartest folks ive ever known, got the importance of carries story when i said that only she, among all of williamson county, would have more obituaries when she died. The widow of the south is an excellent, breathtaking and fascinating read.
If you go, youll discover why the battle of franklin is considered the last great battle of the civil war. Carrie mcgavock, the widow of the south photo courtesy of carnton plantation mcgavock cemetery circa 1866 photo courtesy of the tennessee magazine today, carrie and her family rest in the same cemetery. Carrie quite literally becomes the widow of the south in her role of. The house is reputedly built over an indian burial ground, and the ghost of a young native american woman. Yet, for lovers of historical fiction, the story told in robert hicks novel the widow of the south is gripping enough to inspire travel to franklin, tennessee, to see carnton plantation and other sites where the story takes place. Antebellum mansions of the old south highlights those neoclassical mansions built at the height of the antebellum era. Cotton hope plantation heritage library foundation. In 1973 carnton was listed on the national register of historic places and in 1977 the house and ten acres were donated to the carnton association, inc. He was never at home, and his foreman dick strong, was in charge of the place, most of the time. Also available as a time warner audiobook, in a large print edition and as an ebook. Carnton plantation and the widow of the south the true. Today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more. Search through the newest members below to see if you can find your ideal partner.
This battle lasted 5 hours and nearly 10,000 men lost their lives, many in hand to hand combat. While the fierce fighting rages on carries land, her plantation turns into a confederate army hospital. Tour the carnton plantation with robert hicks youtube. The widow of the south is the product of hickss research about franklin, in particular the restoration of the carnton plantation as a historical site, home to the cemetery carrie mcgavock built to honor the thousands of dead who lost their lives at franklin, tennessee. Robert hicks served on the board of carnton plantation and became fascinated with its story. Hickss big historical first novel, based on true events in his hometown, follows the saga of carrie mcgavock, a lonely confederate wife who finds purpose transforming her tennessee plantation. Aug 07, 2019 yet, for lovers of historical fiction, the story told in robert hicks novel the widow of the south is gripping enough to inspire travel to franklin, tennessee, to see carnton plantation and other sites where the story takes place. The widow of the south was born out of hickss many years of work at carnton and his passion for the preservation of the remaining fragments of the battlefield. The author of widow of the south takes you on a tour of the estate in franklin, tennessee where the bloodiest battle of the civil war took place and the mistress of the house who started and.
The couple had five children but only two would survive to adulthood. The plantation offers halfhour long guided tours taking visitors through the drayton family home the third in more than three centuries and gives a glimpse of what plantation life was like in the 19th century onward. Mar 16, 2009 the widow of the south several years ago i had the opportunity to tell her story to dolly parton when dolly was using my cabin for her album photography. Relationships between carrie, husband john, mariah and her son eli, and. Through it all, the carnton plantation was turned into a hospital for the wounded confederate soldiers. The story of a wife who finds purpose transforming. The widow of the south 2005 carnton is the setting for the novel by author robert hicks. Top 10 black slaveowners the weekly challenger newspaper. Carnton plantation and the widow of the south the true story.
If you have a history buff seeking entertainment, head straight to franklin, tn. But when a wounded soldier named zachariah cashwell. Louisiana plantations, when the crop is in full vigor, are indeed a lovely sight, with their broad expanse of leafy cane. Antebellum mansions of the old south home facebook. In writing the novel, his hope was to bring national attention back to this moment in our nations history, the impact those five bloody hours played in making us a nation, and in the. Missy anne, and her husband, owned a cotton plantation, in south carolina. The widow of the south is a brilliant novel that captures the end of an era, the vast madness of war, and the courage of a remarkable woman to claim life from the grasp of death itself. While the fierce fighting rages on carrie mcgavocks land, her plantation turns into a confederate army hospital. Carnton plantation tennessee crossroads episode 2206. Each morning the slaves had to be assigned to particular jobstending the cotton, hoeing corn, cultivating other food crops, cutting wood, hauling water, feeding livestock, and doing household chores.
In july of 1747 the barony was divided among 14 different grantees and heirs. The widow of the south is a historical novel centered around the carnton plantation during the battle of franklin. The mcgavock family owned carnton until 1911 when susie lee mcgavock, widow of winder mcgavock, sold it. The plantation, was 200 acres, it had 12 slaves for house duties, and 200 slaves, for field duties. The pendarvis family during the 1730s, the pendarvis family was one of the most prominent in the south, owning the biggest rice plantations in the palmetto region and over 123 slaves. Carrie becomes the widow of the south herself and mourns the lost of nearly 1,500 rebel soldiers. However, the civil war and an end to slavery made the plantation a financial vacuum. The origins of the widow of the south writers write. It was used as a hospital in the civil war, and you can still see blood stains on.
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