Wabash Cannon Ball.
I've been singing it for a couple of years now because it had the name Claxton in it. Here's the story which I can't say is true or not but I didn't make it up. George Middleton Clarkson, also Clarkston and Claxton, was the first person executed in what is now the state of Tennessee, then the State of Franklin. The story goes that GMC got in an argument over whether there would be slavery or not (Claxton opposing it)and the argument got so violent that GMC killed the other man. There was a contingent from North Carolina in the area led by a Mr. Tipton. The Judge was named Campbell and he issued a warning from the bench, "If anyone else harms Mr. Tipton or his men he will meet the same fate as Mr. Clarkson." GMC was hanged immediately by then governor of Franklin John Sevier who became the first governor of Tennessee.

Franklin was originally called Frankland, land of the Free, and I think George Middleton Claxton took the name seriously

Whether this is the same Claxton I cannot say, but at least one of his descendants is still remembering him in song.