The Battle of Stones River

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National Park Service 1!! _ . /f . HAnoN~l U.S. Department of the Interior f ' •~:~< ., . ~ Stones River National Battlefield • - The Battle of Stones River A Hard Earned Union Victory At dawn on December 31, 1862, the Confederate Army of Tennessee charged across the foggy fields west of Murfreesboro to begin one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. For three days, 81.,000 men struggled here and nearly one third of them became casualties. The Battle of Stones River was a tactical draw, but proved to be a significant strategic victory for the, Union. President Lincoln thanked General William Rosecrans for, "... a hard earned victory which had there been a defe~t instead, the country could have scarcely Lived over." Stand in the "Slaughter Pen" where Confederate and Union soldiers were locked in two hour struggle that left the ground covered with bodies. Gaze across the fields along the Nashville Pike and imagine the thunderous roar of battle: so ear shattering that soldiers paused to stuff their ears with cotton. Examine the nation's oldest intact Civil War monument marking "Hell's Half Acre" - where Unioti soldiers held their ground against four Confederate attacks. Stroll ·through one of the nation's oldest National Cemeteries and reflect on the terrible cost of war. Look out from the heights of Fortress Rosecrans. and consider the impact of the Civil War on the economic, social an d cultural institutions of the nation. Open daily except Christmas day. 8:00 A.M . to 5:00 P.M. Central Time. Free Admission Faci lit ies and Activities: Visitor Center-and Museum Self-guiding Battlefield Tour Ranger Programs and Living History Events Hiking, Biking and Picnic Area Stones River National Battlefield is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 27 miles southeast of Nashville. MURFREESBORO Nonh o......... ~~ 1 _K1_1ome~ tor \.!.)ff\ I Mile Stones River National Battlefield 3501 Old Nashville Highway Murfreesboro, TN 37129-3094 515-893-9501 [email protected] http://www.nps.gov/stri @Recycled fhn pubi(.t!o(ln WiH funde<fbo/ f a11f'm N.Jt'°"""(.HVf'l'I~·...... ·~~ <:-1.0...C..·CNtproO..icts~-~t.:. December. 2005/75,000 ~\F\l~P*llS¥idothtipub "c:l'l.IUS .

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Brochure Design by Communication Design, Inc., Richmond, VA 877-584-8395 Cheatham Co
To Riggins Hill CLARKSVILLE MURFREESBORO and Fort Defiance Scroll flask and .36 caliber Navy Colt bullet mold N found at Camp Trousdale . S P R site in Sumner County. IN G Stones River S T Courtesy Pat Meguiar . 41 National Battlefield The Cannon Ball House 96 and Cemetery in Blountville still 41 Oaklands shows shell damage to Mansion KNOXVILLE ST. the exterior clapboard LEGE Recapture of 441 COL 231 Evergreen in the rear of the house. Clarksville Cemetery Clarksville 275 40 in the Civil War Rutherford To Ramsey Surrender of ST. County Knoxville National Cemetery House MMERCE Clarksville CO 41 96 Courthouse Old Gray Cemetery Plantation Customs House Whitfield, Museum Bradley & Co. Knoxville Mabry-Hazen Court House House 231 40 “Drawing Artillery Across the Mountains,” East Tennessee Saltville 24 Fort History Center Harper’s Weekly, Nov. 21, 1863 (Multiple Sites) Bleak House Sanders Museum 70 60 68 Crew repairing railroad Chilhowie Fort Dickerson 68 track near Murfreesboro 231 after Battle of Stones River, 1863 – Courtesy 421 81 Library of Congress 129 High Ground 441 Abingdon Park “Battle of Shiloh” – Courtesy Library of Congress 58 41 79 23 58 Gen. George H. Thomas Cumberland 421 Courtesy Library of Congress Gap NHP 58 Tennessee Capitol, Nashville, 1864 Cordell Hull Bristol Courtesy Library of Congress Adams Birthplace (East Hill Cemetery) 51 (Ft. Redmond) Cold Spring School Kingsport Riggins Port Royal Duval-Groves House State Park Mountain Hill State Park City 127 (Lincoln and the 33 Blountville 79 Red Boiling Springs Affair at Travisville 431 65 Portland Indian Mountain Cumberland Gap) 70 11W (See Inset) Clarksville 76 (Palace Park) Clay Co.
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Civil War Battles in Tennessee
Civil War Battles in Tennessee Lesson plans for primary sources at the Tennessee State Library & Archives Author: Rebecca Byrd, New Center Elementary Grade Level: 5th grade Date Created: May 2018 Visit http://sos.tn.gov/tsla/education for additional lesson plans. Civil War Battles in Tennessee Introduction: Tennessee’s Civil War experience was unique. Tennessee was the last state to se- cede and the first to rejoin the Union. Middle and West Tennessee supported secession by and large, but the majority of East Tennessee opposed secession. Ironically, Middle and West Tennessee came under Union control early in the war, while East Tennessee remained in Confederate hands. Tennessee is second only to Virginia in number of battles fought in the state. In this lesson, students will explore the economic and emotional effects of the war on the citizens of Tennessee. Guiding Questions How can context clues help determine an author’s point of view? How did Civil War battles affect the short term and long term ability of Tennesseans to earn a living? How did Civil War battles affect the emotions of Tennesseans? Learning Objectives The learner will analyze primary source documents to determine whether the creator/author supported the Union or Confederacy. The learner will make inferences to determine the long term and short term economic effects of Civil War battles on the people of Tennessee. The learner will make inferences to determine the emotional affect the Civil War had on Tennesseans. 1 Curriculum Standards: SSP.02 Critically examine
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Timeline 1864
CIVIL WAR TIMELINE 1864 January Radical Republicans are hostile to Lincoln’s policies, fearing that they do not provide sufficient protection for ex-slaves, that the 10% amnesty plan is not strict enough, and that Southern states should demonstrate more significant efforts to eradicate the slave system before being allowed back into the Union. Consequently, Congress refuses to recognize the governments of Southern states, or to seat their elected representatives. Instead, legislators begin to work on their own Reconstruction plan, which will emerge in July as the Wade-Davis Bill. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/states/sf_timeline.html] [http://www.blackhistory.harpweek.com/4Reconstruction/ReconTimeline.htm] Congress now understands the Confederacy to be the face of a deeply rooted cultural system antagonistic to the principles of a “free labor” society. Many fear that returning home rule to such a system amounts to accepting secession state by state and opening the door for such malicious local legislation as the Black Codes that eventually emerge. [Hunt] Jan. 1 TN Skirmish at Dandridge. Jan. 2 TN Skirmish at LaGrange. Nashville is in the grip of a smallpox epidemic, which will carry off a large number of soldiers, contraband workers, and city residents. It will be late March before it runs its course. Jan 5 TN Skirmish at Lawrence’s Mill. Jan. 10 TN Forrest’s troops in west Tennessee are said to have collected 2,000 recruits, 400 loaded Wagons, 800 beef cattle, and 1,000 horses and mules. Most observers consider these numbers to be exaggerated. “ The Mississippi Squadron publishes a list of the steamboats destroyed on the Mississippi and its tributaries during the war: 104 ships were burned, 71 sunk.
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Chapter One: the Campaign for Chattanooga, June to November 1863
CHAPTER ONE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHATTANOOGA, JUNE TO NOVEMBER 1863 Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park commemorates and preserves the sites of important and bloody contests fought in the fall of 1863. A key prize in the fighting was Chattanooga, Tennessee, an important transportation hub and the gateway to Georgia and Alabama. In the Battle of Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863), the Confederate Army of Tennessee soundly beat the Federal Army of the Cumberland and sent it in full retreat back to Chattanooga. After a brief siege, the reinforced Federals broke the Confeder- ate grip on the city in a series of engagements, known collectively as the Battles for Chatta- nooga. In action at Brown’s Ferry, Wauhatchie, and Lookout Mountain, Union forces eased the pressure on the city. Then, on November 25, 1863, Federal troops achieved an unex- pected breakthrough at Missionary Ridge just southeast of Chattanooga, forcing the Con- federates to fall back on Dalton, Georgia, and paving the way for General William T. Sherman’s advance into Georgia in the spring of 1864. These battles having been the sub- ject of exhaustive study, this context contains only the information needed to evaluate sur- viving historic structures in the park. Following the Battle of Stones River (December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863), the Federal Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General William S. Rosecrans, spent five and one-half months at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, reorganizing and resupplying in preparation for a further advance into Tennessee (Figure 2). General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate Army of Tennessee was concentrated in the Tullahoma, Tennessee, area.
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Junior Ranger, Stones River National Battlefield
Stones River National Battlefi eld Stones River National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Explore • Learn • Protect My Name is: Stones River National Battlefi eld Junior Ranger Program Junior Rangers help protect their national parks! In order to earn your Junior Ranger badge and certifi cate, complete six or more activities in your age group. You may attend a ranger program as one of your activities. Have the ranger write his/her name and the date: _____________________________________________________________ If you see a word in bold letters, look for it in the glossary on page 21. Ranger Hat - Ages 6 and under Bison - Ages 7 to 10 Arrowhead - Ages 11 and up Let’s start exploring! 2 Visitor Center Experience Your America! The National Park Service was created in 1916 to protect natural and historic places in the United States. Today there are more than 400 national park areas. Park rangers are stewards of these national park areas. Find the Passport Cancellation Station. Stamp the space below with today’s date. On the map below, draw a house in the state where you live, and a star on the state where Stones River National Battlefi eld is located. THE UNITED STATES 3 The Civil War Visitor Center TThehe CivilCivil WarWar divideddivided thethe UnitedUnited States.States. ManyMany peoplepeople inin thethe nationnation hhadad bbeeneen aarguingrguing ooverver thethe issueissue ofof slavery.slavery. CouldCould statesstates bbreakreak aaway,way, oror ssecedeecede, ooverver aanyny iissue?ssue? TThishis hhadad nnotot bbeeneen ddecidedecided bbyy tthehe UU.S..S. CConstitution.onstitution. AAfterfter manymany ssouthernouthern sstatestates ssecededeceded ffromrom tthehe UUnion,nion, CConfederateonfederate ccannonsannons fi rreded oonn tthehe UUnion-controllednion-controlled FFortort SSumterumter iinn AAprilpril 11861.861.
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Stones River
STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD TENNESSEE Rosecrans Advances the southerly course of the stream. This On December 26, 1862, General Rosecrans movement, if successful, would place part of Stones River marched the Union army out of Nashville the Union army between the Confederates and advanced against Bragg's position. By and their supply base at Murfreesboro. NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD December 30, the Union troops faced the Striking first, the Confederates had the ad Confederates near Stones River. vantage. At daybreak on the 31st, they furi ously assaulted the Union right wing, driving But the advance had not been without it and part of the center back through the The first big battle in the Union campaign destined to end incident. Moving swiftly with cavalry, Brig. surrounding cedar woods to the Nashville in Sherman's "March to the Sea" Gen. Joseph Wheeler raided the Union army, Pike. Only inspired fighting by Brig. Gen. burning and destroying wagon trains and Philip H. Sheridan's right-wing brigade and harassing the rearguard. Starting on the stubborn holding of most of the center by night of December 29, he completely circled Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas averted a of all western Tennessee, as well as Nash the Union army, returning to the Confed Union rout. ville and part of middle Tennessee. How erate lines early on December 31. Wheeler ever, the invasion of Kentucky by Gen. had destroyed nearly a million dollars worth All thought of the Union attack against Braxton Bragg's Confederate army tempo of Federal property and had taken 700 Bragg's right wing was now dropped.
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Civil War Treasures: the Siege of Vicksburg from Without and Within
Civil War Book Review Summer 2021 Article 2 Civil War Treasures: The Siege of Vicksburg From Without and Within Hans Rasmussen Louisiana State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cwbr Recommended Citation Rasmussen, Hans (2021) "Civil War Treasures: The Siege of Vicksburg From Without and Within," Civil War Book Review: Vol. 23 : Iss. 3 . DOI: 10.31390/cwbr.23.3.02 Available at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cwbr/vol23/iss3/2 Rasmussen: Civil War Treasures: The Siege of Vicksburg From Without and With Feature Essay Summer 2021 Rasmussen, Hans. Civil War Treasures: The Siege of Vicksburg From Without and Within. Siege warfare must necessarily produce radically different experiences for those besieging a city and those trapped within its walls. Such distinctly dissimilar impressions from the siege of Vicksburg are recorded in two small diaries contained in the LSU Libraries Special Collections. The Aaron P. Record Diary (Mss. 4869), kept by a private of the 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment, contains accounts of the quick-moving action of the wider Vicksburg campaign in vast strides from the first steamboat landing at Duckport, a trek down the west bank of the Mississippi River to the crossing at Grand Gulf, a mad dash to Jackson, to crisscrossing the road between Jackson and Vicksburg to force their capitulations. The Lewis Guion Diary (Mss. 826) conversely records the static, confined experiences of an officer of the 26th Louisiana Infantry Regiment inside the besieged city with its harassing incoming cannon fire, diminishing rations, and rumors that never cease in both their frequency and absurdity.
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Two Gallant Leaders at the Battle of Murfreesboro*
TWO GALLANT LEADERS AT THE BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO* Harris D. Riley, Jr., M.D. *From the Children's Hospital of Oklahoma, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma "In the cedar-brakes that border the stream of 23 Stone River, in Tennessee, was fought on the last day of 1862 an action that must always be memorable in the history of war. When first its story was flashed over the land, men only saw that a battle, fierce and terrible beyond all previous example in the West, had been delivered. But when the true relations of this contest came to be apprehended, it was perceived to have a weight and meaning beyond that which attaches to any mere passage of arms--it was seen that it bore upon the whole life of the rebellion. .We readily discern that it is one of those few pivotal actions upon which, in very truth, turned the whole issue of the war (1)." This is how William Swinton in his The Twelve Decisive Battles of the War characterized the Civil War battle of Murfreesboro (or Stones River) in Middle Tennessee which took place on December 31, 1862- January 2, 1863. As battles go, the fierce and far-reaching encounter at Murfreesboro between Braxton Bragg 's Confederate Army of Tennessee and William Rosecrans ' s Federal Army of the Cumberland ranks as one of the bloodiest ever (2). Heroes were numerous on each side at Murfreesboro. Of the many, I have selected two — one from each side — to tell about because of the key role each played in the battle.
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Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River Table of Contents Pages 1. Content Essay: 2-5 2. Primary Source 6 1 Battle of Stones River The fall and early winter of 1862 was a difficult time for the Union army and northern morale. Although he had stopped a Confederate invasion, General George B. McClellan had failed to cut off the fleeing Confederates and destroy Robert E. Lee’s army after the Battle of Antietam. Instead, Lee’s army slipped quietly back into Virginia where it would continue to cause frustration for the Federal army. In December, the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by General Ambrose Burnside, was soundly defeated at Fredericksburg. Also, General Ulysses S. Grant, the hero of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, had failed to capture the Mississippi River post at Vicksburg. This failure was largely due to Confederate cavalry raiders, such as Nathan Bedford Forrest and Earl Van Dorn, who ran circles around Grant’s plodding army cutting communication lines and confiscating supplies. Although a Confederate invasion of Kentucky had been repulsed at Perryville, General Don Carlos Buell seemingly refused to deploy his Army of the Cumberland to attack Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s Army of the Tennessee. In October, Buell was replaced by William S. Rosecrans. Lincoln made it clear that if Rosecrans wanted to keep his job, he had better march against Bragg.1 In essence, the Union needed a victory, and Lincoln hoped Rosecrans would provide it. In December, President Jefferson Davis visited Bragg’s headquarters at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Citizens of the small town showered the beloved president with balls and dinners.
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Stones River: Creating a Battlefield Park, 1863-1932
STONES RIVER: CREATING A BATTLEFIELD PARK, 1863-1932 by John Riley George A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Graduate Studies at Middle Tennessee State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public History Committee: Dr. C. Brenden Martin, Chair Dr. Derek W. Frisby Dr. Mary S. Hoffschwelle Dr. Carroll Van West Murfreesboro, Tennessee May 2013 Copyright John Riley George, 2013 All Rights Reserved ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My thanks to the many people who have helped me along the way: My major professor, Dr. Bren Martin, for standing with me throughout this process. I will always be grateful for his advice, support, and friendship. The members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Derek Frisby, Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle, and Dr. Carroll Van West, for their encouragement and patience. Kathy Slager of the Department of History for putting out unexpected fires, and my friends and classmates, Dr. Angela Smith and Dr. Brian Hackett, who never failed to offer their insight and expertise. Dean Michael D. Allen and the MTSU Office of Research, and Dr. Rebecca Conard and the Public History Program, for funding my research trip to the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. While there, the assistance of Joe Schwarz and Tim Mulligan guaranteed success. Rodney Ross at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and Christine Windheuser of the Archives Center at the Smithsonian‘s National Museum of American History for going above and beyond in locating important documents. Mary Oliver at Dayton History for help in acquiring Albert Kern‘s photographs, and John Lodl of the Rutherford County Archives for sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for local history.
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Stones River U.S
National Park Service Stones River U.S. Department of the Interior Stones River National Battlefield Courtesty West Point Museum, United States Military Academy "I just can't see how we can live through such suffering" wrote Kate Carney, The Civil War in a young woman who witnessed the storms of war rage in this county. Rutherford County Control of the area shifted between the Union and Confederate armies. Battles carved tales of destruction on soldiers' bodies and the land. Slaves sought their freedom in the midst of these uncertain times. Oaklands Historic House Oaklands Historic House Museum presents Museum the history of the Maney family home and 1500 acre plantation. General Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry captured a Union camp at this site in a July 1862 raid. Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, (615) 893-0022, email: [email protected] Courtesy Oaklands Historic House Museum Stones River National This National Park Service site interprets the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Battlefield Battle of Stones River, a brutal conflict that Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, TN raged from December 31, 1862 to January 2, 37129, (615) 893-9501, 1863 and ended in Union victory. The park email: [email protected], includes a portion of the original battlefield, website: www.nps.gov/stri Stones River National Cemetery, and Fortress Rosecrans, an earthen fort built in 1863. Sam Davis Home This home commemorates the life of Sam Davis Home, 1339 Sam Davis Road, Confederate scout Sam Davis who chose Smyrna, TN 37167, (615) 459-2341 or (888) execution rather than betray his country.
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Western Theatre of the American Civil War (1861 to 1865) Military History Tour
Western Theatre of the American Civil War (1861 to 1865) Military History Tour Including Vicksburg, Shiloh, Battles of Nashville and Franklyn, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Battle of Atlanta The following is the detailed itinerary of the 14 day (13 night) tour of the Western Theatre of the American Civil War. This tour complements our Eastern Campaign Tour and covers the main battles fought in the states west of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Thus we travel through Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia covering such key battles as Vicksburg, Shiloh, Corinth, Franklin, Nashville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta plus many less significant battles but often equally interesting. We engage specialist local battlefield guides on all major battlefield touring days. Most we have chosen in close consultation with the nearby National Park Service Visitors’ Centres. All the key battlefields we visit are now major National Park Service battlefield parks with significant Interpretative Centres with introductory films. As with our Eastern Campaign Tour, the Western Campaign Tour is limited to 7 tour participants and requires a minimum of 4 tour participants to run. To maximise your enjoyment, touring will start between 8.30 a.m. and 9.00 am and we include free time for individual exploring. Breakfast daily, welcome and farewell dinners, plus at least 4 other dinners are included, while other meals are not included to allow for flexibility of choice with regard to cuisine and budget. Superior standard accommodation will be booked (in most cities, the best available). Of the 13 evenings on tour, there are 6 dinners included as part of the tour.
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