The Widow of the South

Beyond the usual five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—a sixth stage of heavy responsibility may develop when someone dies in the service of a great cause. As the Battle of Franklin played out in the yard of her Carnton Plantation, Carrie MccGavock felt that sense of obligation to the 9000 soldiers who died in that battle. It is in that sense that Carrie called herself the “Widow of the South.” She disinterred over 1000 anonymous bodies, identified them, reburied them in her own cemetery, and sought to give their families a sense of closure. This moving novel,… show more.

I’m a big historical fiction fan, and hold a degree in history, so anything that has a bend in that direction will get my attention. This one takes the reader directly into the life of Carrie McGavock and her role as owner of Carnton plantation in Tennessee. During the battle of Franklin, Carnton became a field hospital, and Carrie worked tirelessly to help wounded soldiers. Her family even dedicated some of the ground on their plantation as a Confederate cemetery. From the first sentence I forgot where I was, what I was doing and what time it was. All that… show more.

I really like this book because it tells the poignant tale of Carrie McGavock, who was forced to deal with the Civil War when it appeared in her front yard. This is based on a true story. Carrie was so compassionate that she buried the solders, both northern and southern, on her property. The cemetery at her home, Carnton Plantation, is still there. I had the opportunity to meet the author, Robert Hicks, at a book signing, and visit Carnton Plantation. The home served as a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin, and bloodstains still remain on the wooden… show more.