NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Stones River National Battlefield Tennessee Contact Information For more information about the Stones River National Battlefield Foundation Document, contact:
[email protected] or (615) 893-9501 or write to: Superintendent, Stones River National Battlefield, 1563 N Thompson Ln, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Purpose Significance Significance statements express why Stones River National Battlefield resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit. • The Battle of Stones River secured middle Tennessee, its vital transportation network, and its rich agricultural lands for the Union, while providing a much needed strategic victory that bolstered Union morale as the American Civil War moved into 1863. • The Union victory at Stones River strengthened political support for President Lincoln and the Emancipation STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863. The proclamation signaled a major shift in American Civil preserves, protects, and promotes War goals—from a fight to preserve the Union to a struggle understanding of the significant sites for freedom. and historic events associated with the Battle of Stones River, fought during the • The Hazen Brigade Monument, one of the oldest intact American Civil War monuments, was built on the Stones River American Civil War.