Carter House: History
In 1823, Fountain Branch Carter married Mary Atkinson, who was known as Polly. Around 1830, they built a one-and-a-half story brick house just south of Franklin for their family. The Carter’s had twelve children, eight of whom reached adulthood. The sons included Moscow, James, Tod, and Francis. The daughters were Mary, Sarah, Annie, and Frances.
F.B. Carter had successfully operated a business in town. His new farm soon thrived. In just twenty years the Carter farm grew from nineteen acres to two hundred and eighty-eight. Fountain also added a cotton gin in the early 1850s which increased the farm’s value and production immensely. Polly died in 1852, and by 1860, F.B. Carter owned 28 slaves.
Before daybreak on November 30, 1864, Federal Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox woke the Carter family, took possession of the house and made the parlor his headquarters. The Battle of Franklin began at 4pm in the waning afternoon sunlight when 20,000 Confederates attacked a similar number of entrenched Federals. The Carter family, a neighboring family, and several Carter slaves took refuge in the north room of the basement as the battle raged around their home.
The Battle of Franklin scarred the landscape, claimed the lives of thousands and changed life on the Carter farm forever.
In the years following the war, the Carter family made efforts to rebuild their farm and revive their livelihood. But the farm was never again as profitable as it was before the war. Moscow Carter sold the house and land in 1896.
Carter House was purchased by the State of Tennessee in 1951 and it was first opened to the public in 1953. Today it is managed, along with Carnton and Rippa Villa, by The Battle of Franklin Trust and is dedicated to the Carter family and all Americans who fought in this battle. Their legacy is our mission.