NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview National Battlefield

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 secured , 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 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 , one of the oldest intact American Civil War monuments, was built on the Stones River American Civil War. battlefield in 1863 by soldiers who served under Col. William Hazen to memorialize the brigade’s actions and losses.

• After the Battle of Stones River, Union forces, with the help of formerly enslaved laborers, constructed Fortress Rosecrans, one of the largest Civil War earthen fortifications, to serve as a major supply depot for both the Chattanooga and Atlanta campaigns. Stones River National Battlefield protects surviving portions of these earthworks.

• Stones River National Cemetery was one of the first national cemeteries authorized by the federal government. The national cemeteries were a response to military and civilian concerns with the way in which the nation cared for war deaths.

• The freedmen’s settlement known as Cemetery, established following the American Civil War on the site of the Battle of Stones River, existed until the designation of Stones River National Battlefield in 1927, and beyond. Some park neighbors are descendants of those early community members. Some of the freedmen who lived there played an integral role in the building of Stones River National Cemetery.

• Stones River National Battlefield protects cedar glades, a specially adapted plant community, including some plants known to occur only within a few select locations within Rutherford County, Tennessee. Fundamental Resources and Values Interpretive Themes

Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting other attributes determined to merit primary consideration a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts during planning and management processes because they are communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining are derived from—and should reflect—park purpose, its significance. significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary • Battlefield Landscape for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore • Stones River National Cemetery and relate to all of the park significances and fundamental resources and values. • Commemorative Landscape and Monuments

• Fortress Rosecrans • Theme 1: Stones River was one of the major Civil War battles in size, complexity, and long-term results. • Archeological Resources

• Museum Collections • Theme 2: The Battle of Stones River significantly changed the course of the Civil War by shifting momentum from the Confederate Army to the and providing a timely boost for the Union cause.

• Theme 3: The battle profoundly affected the lives of countless people—civilian as well as military.

• Theme 4: The rural landscape of Stones River battlefield – especially its terrain, vegetation, and features – notably influenced the battle.

• Theme 5: Stones River National Battlefield represents an Stones River National Battlefield contains other resources important early effort in the movement toward battlefield and values that may not be fundamental to the purpose and commemoration in the . significance of the park, but are important to consider in management and planning decisions. These are referred to as • Theme 6: The Confederate army’s withdrawal from the other important resources and values. area after the battle allowed Union forces to build Fortress Rosecrans, a major supply/logistics/transportation base, and • Appropriate Recreational Opportunities to affect Murfreesboro throughout the rest of the Civil War • Cedar Glades and Reconstruction. Description

Stones River National Battlefield commemorates The Union victory boosted morale in the North, strengthened the Battle of Stones River—an important three-day President Lincoln’s political decision to issue the Emancipation American Civil War battle fought between December Proclamation, and permitted the construction of Fortress Rosecrans, 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863, within the Central Basin the largest earthwork fortress built during the Civil War. In 1863, of Tennessee, near the city of Murfreesboro. During the Hazen Brigade Monument was built and dedicated to Col. this pivotal confrontation, nearly 23,500 soldiers were William Hazen’s Union Brigade. Stones River National Cemetery either killed, wounded, or captured out of the more was authorized the following year as part of a national cemetery than 81,000 engaged. Confederate forces commanded movement to honor Union dead. by Gen. eventually relented, leaving In addition to historical resources, the park protects several cedar Hord House To 40 Stones River(main Union in field control of Union forces, commanded hospital) glades featuring anFeatures indigenous from the time plantShaded community area indicates found only in by Gen. William S. Rosecrans.Exit 55 For the Union army, the of the battle—road extent of original battle. Rutherford County,names, Tennessee. structures, and Stones River National Battlefield To Nashville Fortress Rosecrans—are Tour stop Trail rate of casualties was the highest of any battle in the shown in GRAY. Some 840 also provides a haven for people seeking an outdoor experience. of these features can Stones River Stones River/Lytle war. For the Confederate army, due to the massing of Recreational activitiesstill be seenavailable today. at the parkNational Battlefield include autoCreek greenwaystouring, Please respect private Original extent of P Parking area for Union artillery, the casualty rate was second only to Fortress Rosecrans Stones River/Lytle er biking, bird-watching,property. fishing, hiking, jogging, dogCreek walking, greenways nature iv R s North theTo Battle24 of Gettysburg. e walks,268 interpretive programs,0 and0.5 Kilometer picnicking. n

o t Exten 0 0.5 Mile S t o f o ri Old Nashville Highway k g r in o a l Nashville Pike F b t a s t Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad t e le CSX Transportation W

Hord Road Artillery Monument January 2, 1863, afternoon General Rosecrans McFadden’s A Confederate bayonet charge Headquarters Site New Nashville Highway drove Union troops from their 231 (Union hillside positions east of Stones McGregor House 10 (Union field hospital) artillery River. position) P S McFadden in ki Farm ng Widow Burris House January 2, 1863, dusk Cr Asbury Road (Union field hospital) ee k

Van Cleve Lane Massed Union artillery fire

Asbury Lane McFadden’s Lane y a crushed the Confederate National w n attack. Cemetery e , 1862, noon e r G Earthworks Trail Union troops made a determined r

Asbury Lane e v stand along Nashville Pike and i Visitor Center C R January 3, 1863 o s in Round Forest, protecting their t Round Lebanon Road to e n n F Forest Confederates withdrew from lifeline to Nashville. ie o t ld Hazen Thompson Lane T S the battlefield and Murfreesboro. ra Brigade il O Monument Harker’s v

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B STONES RIVER Cotton Field NATIONAL Trail Cowan W House C o BATTLEFIELD (site) l le g e P General Bragg

S t Headquarters Site P Bragg 2nd Headquarters (site) Rutherford County Blanton House Chamber of W (site) ilki Exit 76 Commerce nso S n t Pik o e n Historic trace of McFadden’s Ln. e Gresham House s R (site) M December 31, 1862 Garrison Drive iv e Bragg 1st Headquarters Jenkins House (site) (Union field e r d G (site) (temporary Union Gresham Lane ic mid-morning W Clark Blvd hospital) a WilkinsonGateway Pike Boulevard re l e field hospital) C Union forces bought time for nw e a n y t the army to regroup with e r P E Clark Blvd a intense fighting on both sides r k January–June 1863 w of Wilkinson Pike. P 96 a y Union constructed Fortress Harding House (site) Brinkley Ave Rosecrans as supply depot Brick kiln (site) W College St for planned capture of rail

Thompson Lane James House (site) junctions at Chattanooga 24 (Polk Headquarters) Redoubt P Brannan and Atlanta. December 31, 1862 John Rice Boulevard Oaklands Historic House Museum early morning Medical Center Parkway E Confederate troops assaulted x t FORTRESS e Union right flank; heavy fight-

n Highland Avenue OLD FORT GOLF COURSE ROSECRANS Memorial Blvd t NW Broad Street ing near Harding House. o f Lunette Palmer EVERGREEN January 5, 1863 o r CEMETERY i Union Army occupies g (Graves of i n Murfreesboro. Confederate a P soldiers) l

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Exit 78 OLD FORT W College St PARK Old Fort Parkway 96 River Rock Bo Lytle ule v Creek Old Fort Parkway a W Main St Franklin Road r Greenway E Main St 96 Franklin Road d Historic December 31, 1862, dawn Rutherford iver Battle started on Franklin Road k Stones R County For State Street est when Confederate troops Cason Lane Courthouse W way McCulloch House (site) reen overwhelmed the Union right (Hardee Headquarters) Stones River G Key United S Methodist Church E flank. L B Earnshaw School and y ro t a James Chapel New Salem Road l d e S Church St S t (site) re C e r 231 t To Chattanooga 99 e e 41 Mercury Blvd k 10