2012 Campaign

As 2012 dawns, we are headed into the second year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, which will be one of the most important years of this incredible commemoratory event. At the Battle of Franklin Trust, we will be remembering how the year 1862 impacted Middle Tennessee and how the war in the Western Theater shaped the final outcome of the great struggle. Of course, we will continue with our primary mission, which is to tell the story of the Battle of Franklin and its importance in the overall history of the Civil War.
This letter comes to you not only to ask for your help, but to tell you about some upcoming Battle of Franklin Trust projects and to let you know how much we have already accomplished.

In 2011, your generosity helped us make great strides at The Carter House and Carnton Plantation. A geothermal HVAC system was installed at The Carter House and for the first time the Carter smokehouse, one of the most bullet-damaged buildings on the property, is open to the public. The slave cabin is now also open to the public. The Carter garden has never looked better!! Throughout the past year, much of the underbrush and debris has been removed from the garden area and guests can now walk the property from one end to the other. This section of ground, on which some of the most intense fighting occurred, is a vital part of the Battle of Franklin story.

At Carnton repair work commenced on the front and back porches and upper balconies and is now complete. Some necessary interior work will begin in the next several weeks. All of this was and is crucially important to protect the house over the long term.

As for 2012, we have several things planned. We are pleased to announce two important exhibits which will open in late February. The Carter House will host “A Forced Union: The Occupation of Nashville 1862-1865” and at the same time Carnton will display “How the West Was Won and Lost,” which focuses on the war in the Western Theater in 1862. Lectures about the exhibits will soon follow so be on the lookout for those details. Also, late this summer we will be conducting a short term exhibit and one day forum on the Emancipation Proclamation. Last but not least, one of our major goals for 2012 is to begin the process of installing a period style fence at The Carter House.

As members and friends of The Battle of Franklin Trust you have clearly shown your desire to help, as indicated most recently by the support we received for The Carter House HVAC system. Please consider helping us as we kick off 2012. Here are the details:

Our rather ambitious goal for this 2012 Campaign is $30,000. Through the generosity of several supporters who have made private matching commitments totaling another $10,000, we could immediately turn the campaign into $40,000. This would allow us to pay for all three exhibits and begin the necessary work on the Carter House fence project. However, for the matching $10,000 commitments to kick in we must first raise $30,000 from you and our deadline is March 31.

I know you want the best for The Carter House and Carnton and to hear the story of the Battle of Franklin told to ever growing numbers of people. Please donate whatever you can so that we may achieve our $20,000 goal and make 2012 another great year!!

Please find enclosed a return envelope for you to mail your check. If you prefer, you may make a secure online donation via PayPal by visiting www.battleoffranklintrust.org/2012campaign. All contributions are tax deductible and you will receive a letter to document your gift for your records.

For any donation of more than $100, you will receive copies of both newly designed Carnton and Carter House guidebooks, which are filled with stories and accounts of the families, both homes, and the battle. The guidebooks also contain a number of stunning historic and modern images.

I look forward to hearing from you as we start the year with our 2012 Campaign.
Thank you so very much.

Eric A. Jacobson
Chief Operating Officer and Historian