Hood's men were not forgotten, but they had died for a dream. The land they loved was both conquered and occupied. It became apparent that most of these men would never find a way back to Mississippi or Texas or South Carolina.

By 1866, John McGavock could see all of this happening. He could see it so clearly and his compassion was so great that he donated two acres of land adjoining his own family cemetery. With the assistance of others, in this a most dire time for Tennessee, he undertook the process of reinterment for the Confederate dead of Franklin.

The soldiers had been buried by states and the McGavock family continued this tradition. The people involved, at no expense to anyone but themselves, moved the following: 424 men from Mississippi, 230 from Tennessee, 130 from Missouri, 129 from Alabama, 104 from Arkansas, 89 from Texas, 69 from Georgia, 51 from South Carolina, 18 from Louisiana, 5 from Kentucky, 4 from Florida, 2 from North Carolina, and 225 unknown, for a total of 1,480. These burials and the cost to maintain this cemetery has always been paid for by the dedicated few that undertook this mission. Each grave is marked with a small marble number today, so that families may locate the dead.

The only person that is not a Confederate soldier buried here, is a former slave, who died while assisting in the reinterment of the soldiers. His marker is a monument to the relationship of black and white and the issue of family in the old south. It is fine stone engraved as follows; Marcellius Cruppet, Born Jan 16, 1841; Died April 26, 1866; Whilst assisting in the reintering of the Confederate Dead. It would appear to me that this newly freed man could have been most anywhere in 1866, doing most anything, yet he chose to stay at home and give his life in the burial of Confederate soldiers.

Franklin Chapter #14, of the United Daughters of the Confederacy today maintains the home and the cemetery. Often on the anniversary of the battle, they will allow you to tour the cemetery and as you walk through you can meet some of the men who lie here, in a most remarkable way. It is a beautiful ceremony given to raise money for the cause of maintaining this bivouac of the dead. It is your duty to help these women keep this place living, it will be your pleasure to do so by attending one of these ceremonies.

Men from South Carolina known to be buried at McGavock Cemetery are to be found in Sections 82-86.