Chalkboard History: The Official Podcast of the Battle of Franklin Trust

In this episode of Chalkboard History, Eric and Joseph dive into the life of William T. Sherman, the Union general whose bold strategies and relentless campaigns left an indelible mark on the Civil War and the South. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

In episode 20, Joseph and Eric explore the history behind The Widow of the South and how the novel’s popularity helped shape tourism at Carnton for years to come. The episode highlights how individual stories, like that of Carrie McGavock, can influence the way we understand and connect with the past. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust and continue sharing important history. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In a second episode dedicated to the topic, Jeff and Eric explore why many younger people seem disconnected from the history of the Civil War, according to the popular trope in public history. They reflect on how changing education, cultural shifts, and present-day priorities influence whether younger generations find the war relevant, and consider what those trends mean for preserving collective memory of this pivotal period. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust and continue sharing important history. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In this episode, Bella Coyne and Eric Jacobson examine a familiar question in public history: why do younger people seem disengaged from the Civil War? They consider the roles of changing education, cultural shifts, historical distance, and modern priorities, while also challenging this assumption, arguing that many young people aren’t uninterested at all, but instead engage with history in different and often deeper ways than previous generations. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust and continue sharing important history. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In today's episode, Joseph and Eric explore the life and legacy of Tod Carter, a Franklin native whose story has become one of the most well-known human narratives tied to the Battle of Franklin. They discuss who he was, why his experience is remembered, and how his story helps visitors connect more personally with the history of the battlefield and the Carter House today. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust and continue sharing important history. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

In episode 18, Joseph Ricci and Eric Jacobson discuss the newly unveiled monument honoring Texas troops on the Franklin battlefield. They explore the monument’s significance, what it commemorates, and how battlefield memory continues to evolve more than a century later. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

In this episode of Chalkboard History, Eric and Joseph explore how Confederate cavalry legend Nathan Bedford Forrest became involved in the founding of the original Ku Klux Klan. They chart his transformation from Civil-War general to the Klan’s first “Grand Wizard,” and examine how the group used violence and intimidation to undermine Black civil rights and resist Reconstruction. The discussion also touches on Forrest's controversial legacy, and why this history still matters. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In this episode, Eric and Joseph walk us through how Civil War monuments shape, and sometimes distort, public memory. They consider why these memorials were built, whose stories they honor or ignore, and how modern perspectives change the meaning of monuments over time. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

Eric and Joseph discuss the postwar lives of two prominent Confederate generals, James Longstreet and John Bell Hood. 

Eric and Joseph discuss one of the unappreciated sides of public history: "Fan Mail." Just what do people think? Find out now!

Eric and Joseph discuss the long road from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. How interconnected are they? Listen and find out!

Eric and Joseph compete in a Civil War themed gameshow. Who will win?

Join Eric and Joseph as they discuss their personal memories of the Battle of Franklin and working on various research projects connected to the battlefield sites. 

Eric and Joseph discuss Brig. Gen. Francis Cockrell's Missouri Brigade and the Battle of Franklin.

What do the Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin mean to us 160 years later? Join Eric and Joseph as they discuss the events of November 1864 and their legacy.

In this installment of Chalkboard History, Joseph and Eric reflect on The Gettysburg Address. They invite listeners to reconsider why those words still matter today. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In this special "hiatus" episode, Bill, Bailey, and Joseph talk about a letter from the Battle of Franklin Trust's collection written by W.E. Scott, a soldier in the 121st Ohio who was stationed in Franklin in 1863.  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations For a link to our online store, click here: https://store.boft.org/books-and-dvds

In the Dispatch's Season Finale, Bailey, Bill, and Joseph discuss the lead up to the secession of Southern states and the beginning of the Civil War. From December 1860 to June 1861, eleven states left the Union in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln and the breakdown of the political discourse over slavery. Listen in for more! To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations For a link to our online store, click here: https://store.boft.org/books-and-dvds

In episode 10 of Chalkboard History, Joseph and Eric discuss their favorite (or not so favorite) Civil War movies, and examine how the Civil War has been portrayed in movies and popular media. They discuss how film interpretations shape public memory; which myths or truths get reinforced, and what gets lost when Hollywood retells history. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In today's episode of Chalkboard History, Joseph and Eric revisit some of the most persistent legends surrounding the Battle of Franklin and its aftermath. They separate fact from fiction, challenge common misconceptions, and show how stories about the battle have changed over time. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: https://boft.org ⌲Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864/?h... ⌲Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarntonTN/?e... ⌲Podcast: https://boftdispatch.podbean.com

Tour Guide Talk is back with Bill, David, and Joseph! Join the Dispatch hosts as they discuss the life and times of Generals John Bell Hood and John Schofield. For all their similarities, Bill, David, and Joseph, dismantle the legends and lore that cloud our visions of the two leaders and they delve into the "Duel of the Johns." Be sure to Like and Subscribe to The Dispatch: The Official Podcast of the Battle of Franklin Trust.  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations For a link to our online store, click here: https://store.boft.org/books-and-dvds

In this episode, Joseph Ricci and Eric Jacobson examine the November 29, 1864 clash at Spring Hill. The episode highlights how what became a missed opportunity for the Confederacy shaped the fate of the subsequent Battle of Franklin, and why Spring Hill matters beyond its minor casualties. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In episode 4, Shelia Mullican and Eric Jacobson take a hard look at how Abraham Lincoln has been judged in history - as savior, liberator, … or tyrant. They examine criticisms of his wartime policies, question myths and memories around his legacy, and reflect on how public memory shapes our understanding of the Civil War. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

In this episode, Kristi Farrow and Eric Jacobson from The Battle of Franklin Trust dig into the identity behind the name Nathan Perkins - a man whose story reveals surprising connections to the Cheairs family. This episode honors unnamed lives, challenges assumptions, and offers a more inclusive, honest history of the war’s aftermath. Please like, subscribe, and comment for more stories that bring hidden voices and real people into focus! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

Join Joseph, Bill, and Assistant Curator Bailey Lawrence for this bonus episode of Tour Guide Talk. To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations For a link to our online store, click here: https://store.boft.org/books-and-dvds

In today's episode, Joseph and Eric share the Civil War sites they love most, why these places matter, and how visiting them brings history to life. From well-known battlefields to lesser-visited corners across Tennessee and beyond. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support BOFT and Civil War history! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In Episode 3 of Chalkboard History, Joseph Ricci and Eric Jacobson unpack wartime legends, ghost-stories, and family histories passed through generations. Learn how folklore intersects with fact, why certain myths persist, and how public historians work to tell fuller, more truthful stories about the past - and why it matters to remember the real lives behind the names. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support engaging and myth-busting Civil War history! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

Join Joseph, Bill, and David for an episode of Tour Guide Talk. The Civil War is one of the most widely written about historical events, but what are our favorite books? Listen to find out!  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations Check out our YouTube video with Joseph and CEO and Historian Eric Jacobson as they discuss some other titles: https://youtu.be/x9QgcI5bjMs For a link to our online store, click here: https://store.boft.org/books-and-dvds

Join Joseph Ricci and Eric Jacobson for Episode 2 of Chalkboard History as we dive into the leadership of the Army of Tennessee. Discover the key figures who shaped the Confederate army’s decisions, examine their successes and failures, and explore how command dynamics influenced the course of the Western Theater. Please like, subscribe, and comment to support accessible and engaging Civil War history! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: www.boft.org ⌲Instagram: www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲Facebook: www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲Podcast: www.boftdispatch.podbean.com  

Join Joseph Ricci and Bill Clark for Tour Guide Talk as they unpack some of the myths about the Battles of Spring Hill and Franklin. We hear some of these mentioned in conversation all the time and every good myth, deserves a good myth busting!  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Please like, subscribe, and comment. The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲Website: https://boft.org ⌲Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864/?h... ⌲Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarntonTN/?e...

Join Joseph Ricci and Bill Clark for an episode of Tour Guide Talk as they discuss the life and times of theologian, abolitionist, writer, statesman, scientist, and soldier, Jacob Cox! To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Join Joseph Ricci and the Battle of Franklin Trust's Assistant Curator, Bailey Lawrence, as they discuss the evolution of the domestic slave trade in the United States.  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Joseph and Battle of Franklin Trust Curator, Joanna Stephens, discuss the ongoing mission to preserve historic structures at each of the three sites. In addition to the structural conservation of the homes and properties, the curatorial department oversees the material collection of the Battle of Franklin Trust and is instrumental in the maintenance and restoration of artifacts.  For more on the Battle of Franklin Trust's preservation efforts check out BOFT Films most recent YouTube video: https://youtu.be/nD0mRMN9ZQ4 To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Join CEO Eric Jacobson and Joseph Ricci as they discuss the formation of the McGavock Confederate Cemetery located at Carnton. In the years immediately following the American Civil War and the Battle of Franklin, John and Carrie McGavock  became the caretakers for the remains of the Confederates killed on November 30, 1864.  To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Shelia and Joseph finish up their three part discussion of the families featured in our day to day interpretation with an episode on the McGavock family of Carnton. A politically connected, wealthy, slave-holding family before secession and conflict, witnesses to some of the worst moments of the Battle of Franklin, the McGavocks were forever impacted by the war. Their home bore the scars of the immense loss at Franklin- something they carried in their hearts and minds from November 30, 1864 on.  For more on the McGavocks, follow this link to our YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wocA9wcXChg To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Join your Dispatch host, Joseph Ricci, and special guest, David Stumpfl, as they discuss the all too often misunderstood topic of Reconstruction. Why is such an integral period of history so easily overlooked or dismissed? Find out with this episode! 

Joseph and Shelia discuss the Cheairs family of Rippavilla. Following Nathaniel Cheairs IV, his wife, and four children throughout the war, this episode includes conversations about how the Cheairs existed prior to 1861, how the family was impacted by the war, and how they continued life in the postbellum years.  For more on the Cheairs family, follow this link to BOFT Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3bFiyxgtLc&list=PL9aWioHL3yO4Qbbp3GeIvZmofxS7r3l0f To donate to the Battle of Franklin Trust, follow this link: https://boft.org/general-donations

Join Joseph Ricci and the CEO and Historian of The Battle of Franklin Trust, Eric Jacobson, for a conversation about the 1858 Illinois Senate race and the now famous Lincoln-Douglas debates that redefined American politics and shaped the discourse in the nation in the immediate years before the Civil War.    To support The Dispatch and the efforts of the Battle of Franklin Trust, please visit the link below: https://boft.org/general-donations

Shelia and Joseph discuss the experiences of prisoners of war in the American Civil War. Members of all three families, the Cheairs, Carters, and McGavocks, were imprisoned during the war and each family dealt with that experience in different ways. 

The Carters lived in Franklin before, during, and after the American Civil War and their lives were transformed by the war and the Battle of Franklin which raged across their property on November 30, 1864. Learn more about their story with Joseph and Shelia in this episode and check out our most recent YouTube video on the family by following the link below: https://youtu.be/Y2mzzpgL-8w

For decades the story of Confederate Captain Tod Carter dominated the narrative of the Battle of Franklin. The Dispatch hosts, Shelia and Joseph, discuss the lives of six other soldiers who fought in the battle. Historical interpreters at all three sites tell various individual stories of the soldiers in both the Federal and Confederate Armies engaged here. By telling their stories, we continue our mission to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War.  

Your new hosts, Shelia Mullican and Joseph Ricci, sit down to discuss the Fuller Story Initiative with Historian and CEO of the Battle of Franklin Trust, Eric Jacobson, and Senior Pastor of the Strong Tower Bible Church, Dr. Chris Williamson. Jacobson and Williamson, along with Pastors Hewitt Sawyers and Kevin Riggs were recently named Tennessee's People of the Year for their work reckoning with Franklin's history and the building of a monument dedicated to Williamson County's United States Colored Troops.

"The Dispatch" hosts, Shelia and Joseph, discuss the evolution and role of the United States Colored Troops and their impact on the American Civil War.  Hear their stories and follow their march to freedom. __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

After nearly four years of hosting "TENN in 20," Brad Kinnison says farewell but the podcast is not going anywhere. Be sure to stay up to date as the podcast undergoes a few changes and get all the details of what to expect in the future from this episode! __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

Join us as we discuss the latter half of Mariah Reddick's life.  Link to The Dispatch article about the Franklin Race Riot (page 8): https://boft.org/vol-6-no-2 __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

Join us as we discuss the life of Mariah Otey Reddick, a woman who was born into slavery and spent many years of her life at Carnton. This is the first of a two part series on Mariah. __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

In May of 2021, The Battle of Franklin Trust took over management of Rippa Villa, a historic home that sits on the Spring Hill Battlefield. In this episode, BOFT CEO Eric A. Jacobson discusses the history of Rippa Villa and the BOFT's goals with the site. __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com

"TENN in 20" returns!! Thank you for your patience and for your support. The first new episode of the show will premier on December 7. Learn more about the anniversary commemoration of the Battles of Spring Hill & Franklin at https://boft.org. __________________ Please like, subscribe, and comment to support The Battle of Franklin Trust! The mission of the Battle of Franklin Trust is to preserve, understand, and interpret the story of a people forever impacted by the American Civil War. ⌲ Website: https://www.boft.org ⌲ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boft1864 ⌲ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOFT1864 ⌲ Podcast: https://www.boftdispatch.podbean.com