General Franklin

General Henry Franklin (October 5, 1839 - December 3, 1923) served as a 1st lieutenant in Company C, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.



Personal life
General Franklin was born October 5, 1839 in Burke County, North Carolina to Levi and Barbara (Taylor) Franklin. He married Susan Caroline Burleson (1849-1924) with whom he had 13 children.

Civil War service
Franklin first enlisted as a private in Company E, 16th North Carolina Infantry on May 10, 1861 in Morgantown, North Carolina for a period of one year. He was left sick at General Hospital, Petersburg, Virginia from December 7, 1861 to February 10, 1862. Franklin was wounded in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, which resulted in the amputation of his second finger on his left hand to the second phalangeal joint at General Hospital, Farmville, Virginia. He deserted the Confederate service on January 1, 1863.

Changing his allegiance, Franklin enlisted as a private in Company C, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry on September 24, 1863 in Carter's Depot, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in October 28, 1863 at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

In May 1864, Franklin served as company teamster. He was promoted to regimental wagon master (at the rank of sergeant) on June 1, 1864, but no record of him mustering at that rank has been found; he was returned to the ranks of Company C on an unrecorded date. On October 10, 1864, Franklin was assigned detached duty to recruit for the regiment. In February 1865 he was left at Bull's Gap, Tennessee to continue recruiting.

On March 1, 1865, Franklin was offered a commission as 1st lieutenant of Company C when 1st Lieutenant David Jenkins was promoted to captain of Company C. Per military regulations, Franklin was discharged at his rank, then re-enrolled on March 10, 1865 and mustered in at Lenoir, Tennessee as 1st lieutenant on July 1, 1865 with his rank dating to March 10, 1865.

He is described as 22 years old, 5' 8" tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and by occupation a farmer.

Franklin is listed as present for duty throughout his term of service for which muster roll records have survived.

Franklin mustered out on August 23, 1865 in accordance with Paragraph 2, Special Order No. 49, Headquarters of the Department of Tennessee.

Post-war life


Franklin applied for an invalid's pension on September 19, 1889. He was admitted to the Mountain Branch National Home for Disabled Volunteers on August 12, 1906. Franklin's diagnosis was hemorrhoids, enlarged prostate, and chronic rheumatism. He was discharged from the hospital on November 9, 1907 and his pension had been increased from $8 to $12 per month.

He died December 3, 1923 in Valley Forge, Tennessee and is buried there at G. H. Franklin Cemetery. His wife applied for a widow's pension on December 12, 1923.