Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans say they are the ones who put up markers recognizing fallen Confederate generals from the Battle of Franklin in 1864.
As The Tennessee Star reported this week, Franklin officials took those memorials down because they said they confuse people and they don’t know the identity of the person or persons who put them up.
Meanwhile, a Rutherford County woman, Elizabeth Coker, said the markers have existed since the late 19th century and Eagle Scouts refurbished them in 1964.
But members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans say they put those markers up in the fall of 1999. They say they have filed a formal complaint with the Tennessee Historical Commission concerning their removal.
“The SCV placed those six memorials 20 years ago with the consent and approval of the city of Franklin and all of the relevant property owners,” said James Patterson, Tennessee Division Commander of the SCV, in a press release.
“In fact, their placement was just one of many actions that the SCV has taken in Franklin over the past 100 years in an effort to be sure that the pivotal Battle of Franklin is not forgotten. That includes our continuing ownership and maintenance of Winstead Hill, which served as General Hood’s headquarters during the battle, and our annual memorial march to the Carter House.”
The SVC press release went on to say that in the fall of 1999 there were several historical activities taking place in Franklin, in memorial to the battle’s 135th anniversary.
“The Tennessee Heritage Protection Act is very clear that the removal of military memorials, of any kind, must first gain the approval of the Tennessee Historical Commission, and that did not happen in this case,” Patterson said.
“Plainly, the city of Franklin has tried to circumvent state law using a tactic right out of the playbook of the city of Memphis.”
SCV Lead Counsel Doug Jones told The Star Friday that members of the organization went to the city’s public works and planning departments 20 years ago before they put up the markers.
Patterson, meanwhile, said in an emailed statement that to the best of his knowledge no one at the city of Franklin consulted with the SCV before they removed the markers.
“We have had no correspondence with the city on this matter, but we are always open to dialog and discussion,” Patterson said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Confederate Tombstone in McGavock Confederate Cemetery” by Battle of Franklin.
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