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 peopl...

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...

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...

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 differ...

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,...

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 pr...

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 a...

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 pr...

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. ⌲Webs...

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: ht...

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 Frank...

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 o...

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 T...

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 o...

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 Fra...

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....

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...