Kix Brooks Donates $10,000 to Help Reclaim Civil War Battlefield

Kix Brooks is lending a hand in preserving Tennessee's Civil War heritage.

The singer-songwriter and radio personality donated $10,000 to the Battle of Franklin Trust to help preserve a 1.6-acre tract of land south of the Carter House museum. The trust is trying to purchase the land for $2.8 million to complete a 20-acre park that's been planned for years.

Brooks' donation was announced last week on the trust's Facebook page. It came just one week after the Civil War Trust donated $200,000 during the kickoff ceremony for the 2014 Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial event.

Park supporters signed a contract in May to purchase the land from the family that currently owns it, and Eric Jacobson, chief executive officer of the Battle of Franklin Trust, tells Nashville's Tennessean newspaper that they've raised nearly half of the needed funds.

“We’re probably getting close to half a million dollars,” he says. “Our goal all along has been to try to get $1 million. We can get a loan for the rest if we need to, but if we get to $1 million we’re probably good.”

The Battle of Franklin was fought on Nov. 30, 1864 in Franklin, Tenn., west of Nashville. It was one of the worst losses of the Civil War for the Confederacy, resulting in staggering casualties to the Army of Tennessee, including 14 generals and 55 regimental commanders. An illumination ceremony will take place at Carnton Plantation on Nov. 30 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle, during which 10,000 luminaries will be lit at dusk in honor of the sesquicentennial.

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