Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association Presents Annual Awards

By Gregory L. Wade · Originally published July 2016 · p. 2

Eric Jacobson of the Battle of Franklin Trust addresses the TCWPA tour of the Eastern Flank Battlefield. (All photos Greg Wade)

Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association President Joe Smyth presents Billy King with the Harvey Ragland Award.

The Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association (TCWPA) recently held its annual recognition and business meeting at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee. TCWPA identifies for preservation and interpretation Civil War sites across the state, many often not well known or documented. During the past year, teams from each of Tennessee’s three major regions inventoried and updated battle site information in rural as well as urban environments. Along with reports of the progress of this and other initiatives, the organization presented its annual awards to those who have furthered the cause of battlefield preservation. The Bob Ragland Award was presented by association president Joe Smyth to Billy King for his work with the Big Black Creek Historical Association near Jackson and the restoration of Denmark Church in West Tennessee. “Billy has been instrumental in getting markers erected and sites registered in that area,” Smyth noted.

Preservation News – said. This recognition is for a public servant who has helped elevate Civil War Preservation in Tennessee. After the business and awards session, attendees toured Franklin Civil War sites preserved in recent years thru the reclamation efforts of several groups led by Franklin’s Charge and Save the Franklin Battlefield. Included were stops at the Eastern Flank Battlefield, Collins Farm, five acres known as Loring’s Advance and the evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Park. Julian Bibb of Franklin’s Charge discussed how various private and public partnerships enabled local preservationists to purchase key battlefield properties. He elaborated on the complexities presented when structures have to be removed. Bibb quipped, “we are always broke,” but with a lot of help from many groups including the city of Franklin, the Civil War Trust and others, roughly 130 acres at the cost of about twenty-five million dollars have been reclaimed since 2005, Bibb said.

Bob Ragland was an early proponent of battlefield preservation in Tennessee and a charter member of the TCWPA. The Presidents Partnership Award was presented to Tennessee State Congressional Representative Charles Sargent for his work in helping fund several state sponsored Civil War Preservation projects. “Charles’s involvement has been critical in much of the work going on Franklin’s Carter Hill Battlefield including the removal of an old high school gym from the site,” Smyth

Julian Bibb of Franklin’s charge, let, addresses the tour about the evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Park.

President Joe Smyth presents Tennessee State Representative Charles Sargent with President’s Award.

Sam Huffman leads the TCWPA annual meeting tour at Collins Farm.

Daniel Taylor of Jackson, Tennessee (Left), Jim Ogden of Chickamauga Battlefield Center and Dr. Anthony Hodges of Chattanooga at the TCWPA tour.