The 104th Ohio at the Battle of Franklin (1864)
While I was trying to come up with new ideas for my paintings, I thought it might be a good idea to create oil paintings of Medal of Honor recipients from Ohio during the American Civil War. As I was doing my research, I found out that 6 members of the 104th Ohio received this honor during the Battle of Franklin. I did not know much at all about the battle, so I dug a little deeper.
To quickly summarize, at 4:00 p.m. on November 30th, 1864, Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee launched numerous assaults against fortified Union positions under Maj. Gen. John Schofield in a desperate attempt seize the important manufacturing and supply center of Nashville, currently occupied by Union forces under the command General George H. Thomas, commander of the Army of the Cumberland. Hood almost succeeded at Franklin, launching a frontal assault consisting of 20,000 men against the firmly entrenched Union forces. But around 9:00 p.m., and after many failed attempts to dislodge the Union defenders, the battle is over. The Confederates fall back, the army of Tennessee decimated by huge losses.
It was during a critical time during the battle that the 104th Ohio was able to distinguish itself. Positioned just south of a large cotton gin near the Union Center along with other units, the 104th was able to repulse multiple confederate charges, with the fighting sometimes hand-to-hand. It was at this time that the actions of Joseph Davis, John C. Gaunt, Abraham Greenawalt, Newton H. Hall, George V. Kelleyand and John H. Ricksecker, all of the 104th, would result in them receiving the Medal of Honor.
I am really excited about painting a scene of the 104th Ohio at Franklin. Lots of material and potential scenarios. I will keep updating the progress whenever I can.
Here are some links to Youtube videos produced by the American Battlefield Trust that I found about the Battle of Franklin. Great in giving you an understanding of the battle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNB6bONePaY