Survey Finds Evidence Of Civil War Action On Franklin Farm
By Gregory L. Wade
(February/March 2009 Civil War News)

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The first archeological survey of Harlinsdale, the historic horse farm owned by the City of Franklin, turned up Civil War and other artifacts.

A group of history enthusiasts worked with Franklin Parks Department officials on a bitter cold late November Saturday, to conduct the survey on three acres of the 200-acre farm.

The farm was known for its beauty and thoroughbred animals some say inspired the birth of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. In recent years it was at risk of development.

Local historians and activists, fearing this bucolic gateway to Franklin would be radically changed, worked with the Harlin family and city officials to purchase the farm and place it in the Franklin city park system. The first phase opened to the public in September 2007.

Previous activity on the land included trolley tracks and trolley system facilities, Indian settlements and a variety of Civil War actions.

During the Union occupation of Franklin large Federal camps were located on part on the farm and skirmishes often took place in the area.

After the December 1864 destruction of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in Nashville, fighting during the retreat came back through Franklin. A massive cavalry charge roared across what is now Harlinsdale.

The city parks department along with City Alderman Michael Skinner realized the importance of saving and cataloging historical objects. They teamed up with Save the Franklin Battlefield and the Middle Tennessee Historic Research Association (MTHRA) to conduct the first formal archeological survey on a small piece of the site.

“This is an incredibly historic property we are responsible for and we understand the importance of making sure we protect its heritage for our public to enjoy,” said Skinner.

Archeologists from the Nashville firm TRC did the plotting, recording and GPS measurements. Fourteen enthusiastic hunters with metal detectors in hand worked assigned plots searching for evidence of fighting across the grounds.

There was a desire to find hard evidence so that Harlinsdale’s Civil War history could be a part of future park interpretative efforts.

“We found several minie balls of various calibers, some fired and some drops,” said Donnie Vaughn of MTHRA. Included were Enfield and .58 caliber three-ring bullets used by both sides.

The real excitement came when a U.S. oval belt buckle was unearthed by MTHRA member Bill Siesser soon after the hunt began.

Julia Vaughn of the MTHRA said, “We found what was apparently an old house site on the premises” noting old brick and what appeared to once have been a well.

The searchers found numerous items, from farm machinery, trash and horseshoes to unidentifiable iron and children’s toys.

Recovered objects were turned over to the city, which prohibits unauthorized use of metal detectors on park properties.

A similar survey was conducted on the Eastern Flank battleground, which is also now part of Franklin’s park system.