Jamie's Civil War Story.

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This is a photograph of the Civil War Monument that stands just across from the Macon County Courthouse.

In the final days of the Confederacy,a Union Colonel by the name of George Washinton Kirk marched his regiment from Asheville to Macon County. His main intent was arson because he heard that "Franklin is the hottest hole in rebeldom". The day before he arrived here, a courier  brought word of the surrender at Appmattox. Kirk decided to continue on his journey becaues he felt the Confederates needed to be taught a lesson. The troops entered Franklin from every direction. They converged on the courthoues and obviously intended to intimidate the citizens. They had silver spoons tied to thier bridle reins, which had been looted from homes all along thier path. They also had ropes used for torture and hangings . Kirk commandeered Dixie Hall, a beautiful old home which once stood on the site of today's courthoues here in Franklin. Kirk informed it's mistress, Mrs. Julius T. Siler, that her home was now to be his headquarters.  Mrs. Siler's son was in service with the Army of Northern Virginia.  Her husband, a CSA Captain and her son-in-law were both on "sick leave", and had escaped into the woods an hour before Kik's arrival, as kirk was known to be a ruthless captor.  His men enjoyed little fighting and a lot of stealing.  Those citizens who refused to cooperate by turning over all their money, silver, etc., would find their homes burned to the ground, or worse.  One unfortunate woman, Mary Nicholson Norton, was strund up by her thumbs for refusing to tell Kirk where her gold was hidden.  Her throat was slashed with a razor, but she survived.  Back at Dixie Hall, Alice Siler Robinson, daughter of the owner, showed contempt for Kirk and his men, by creeping yp to the second story porch and spitting upon the Stars and Stripes.  Mrs. Siler humored the men by feeding them and praying they would not destroy her home.  Luckily upon leaving, Krik extended his thanks for her hospitality, leaving her home intact.  Kirk said to her "I regret, Madam, that I am unable to pay for the hospitality you have extended to me and my staff".  Even though Kirk confiscated the swords of her husband and son-in-law, he did not discover the secret garret under the house where the Siler family silver was hidden.  Kird's troops were finally leaving for Tennessee.  They were thwarted by the actions of Captain Steven Porter, who was home after being wounded in Tennessee.  He was made Captain of the Home Guard and assembled a small company of the men left here, mainly very young and very old men.  They pursued Kirk's companym and overtook them north of town at the Iotla ford of the Little Tennessee River.  Porter's man began firing upon Kirk's trops.  No one in Porter's company was killed, but reports were heard of two of Kirk's men floating down the river.  Kirk and the remainder of his unit were caught and returned to town.  On May 14, 1865, Colonel Kirk accepted the surrender of the 80th North Carolina under Major Stephen Whitaker at the Macon County Court House.  This was the last formal surrender of the Confederate force east of the Mississippi Riverm and is commemorated in the Macon County Courthouse. Return to Home Page