This remains valuable as a well-composed and judicious commentary on a battle in which Cox played a pivotal role. The work both answered and generated controversy at the time of publication. For example, Cox asserts that the fight justified William T. Sherman's division of his forces and March to the Sea; that George D. Wagner's poor performance resulted from violating Cox's orders; and that by virtue of being the overall commander on the battlefront Cox deserves credit for the splendid Union victory.While this work may not definitively solve any of the three controversies, it does deliver a blow-by-blow account of the action in which Hood's frontal attack demolished much of his army. Written with Cox's usual outstanding literary skill, it provides an overview of the campaign; the march to Franklin; the assault on Wagner's rear guard; the eruptive fighting at the center, left, and right of the Union line; the battle after darkness; Wilson's cavalry engagement; and the Federal retreat from the field. Subsequent chapters examine Franklin in the wake of the battle, provide extensive discussions of Schofield and Wagner, a recapitulation of the fight at the Carter House, a statistical summary of the casualties and Henry Stone's and David Stanley's criticisms of the battle. Appendices present official reports.