Memorials Generals Winstead Hill Park

Winstead Hill Park is a part of the Battle of Franklin National Landmark. From here Confederal Lieutenant-General Hood gave the order for the frontal attack, over open terrain, on the strong Northern defenses in Franklin (Second Battle of Franklin), on 30 November 1864. The attack, the largest single attack in the American Civil War, failed. Of the 19,000 Confederate soldiers, 1750, including six generals, were killed and 3800 were wounded.

This memorial in Winstead Hill Park commemorates:
Brigadier-General Otho F. Strahl, who was killed in the Second Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864.
Brigadier-General States Rights Gist, who was killed in the Second Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864.
Brigadier-General John Adams, who was mortally wounded in the Second Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864. He died in 10 December.
Brigadier-General John Adams, who was killed in the Second Battle of Franklin on 30 November 1864.

An Indiana colonel who witnessed his death later wrote:
General Adams rode up to our works and, cheering his men, made an attempt to leap his horse over them. The horse fell upon the top of the embankment and the general was caught under him, pierced with [nine] bullets. As soon as the charge was repulsed, our men sprang over the works and lifted the horse, while others dragged the general from under him. He was perfectly conscious and knew his fate. He asked for water, as all dying men do in battle as the life-blood drips from the body. One of my men gave him a canteen of water, while another brought an armful of cotton from an old gin near by and made him a pillow. The general gallantly thanked them and in answer to our expressions of sorrow at his sad fate, he said, 'It is the fate of a soldier to die for his country' and expired.

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries
• Photos: Brent Moore (1), Brent Moore (2), Brent Moore (3), Brent Moore (4)