Showing posts with label Stones River National Battlefield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stones River National Battlefield. Show all posts

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Chalmers' Brigade At Murfreesboro: Stones River National Battlefield



CHALMERS’ BRIGADE
AT MURFREESBORO

General James R. Chalmers Mississippi Brigade (CSA) advanced across these fields at 10 a.m. on December 31, 1862, to attack the Union Center at the Round Forest.  Their advance was part of General Braxton Bragg’s Plan to crush the Union right flank early in the morning and then turn on the center.  After holding for 48 hours, Chalmers’ men left muddy rifle pits on a hill 200 yards southeast, and advanced past the Cowan House ruins, 100 yards to the southeast.

(Continued on other side)







CHALMERS’ BRIGADE
AT MURFREESBORO

(Continued from other side)

The Cowan House, which burned before the battle obstructed their advance, and forced the brigade to break and reform in the area under a murderous crossfire of Union artillery and infantry fire from the Round Forest, 200 yards to the northwest.  After Chalmers was knocked senseless by an exploding shell, the unit retreated.  Later in the afternoon it reformed under Colonel T. W. White of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment.





SOURCE:  Interpretive Marker, erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission, Stones River National Battlefield, at the intersection of North Thompson Lane and Old Nashville Highway (the historic Nashville Pike), Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Donelson's Brigade At Mufreesboro: Stones River National Battlefield




DONELSON’S BRIGADE
AT MURFREESBORO

General Daniel P. Donelson’s Tennessee Brigade (CSA) advanced across these fields on December 31, 1862, around 11 a.m. in support of Chalmers’ Brigade.  Donelson’s lines were broken by Chalmers’ retreat and by the Cowan ruins.  The brigade split in two, with part advancing west into the cedar woods, where Colonel William Moore of the 8th Tennessee was killed.  They pushed back General Charles Cruft’s Brigade (USA) and captured over 1000 prisoners and seven cannons.

(Continued on other side)







DONELSON’S BRIGADE
AT MURFREESBORO

(Continued from other side)

The other part of the brigade advanced toward Round Forest which was defended by Colonel William B. Hazen’s Brigade (USA).  There the Savage of the 16th Tennessee were halted in a field of corn stalks, where they held until relieved at 1 p.m. by additional attacks ordered by General Braxton Bragg.  At day’s end, Bragg had thrown four unsuccessful attacks against the Round Forest Position.







SOURCE:  Interpretive Marker, erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission, Stones River National Battlefield, at the intersection of North Thompson Lane and Old Nashville Highway (the historic Nashville Pike), Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Battle of Murfreesboro: Stones River National Battlefield





BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO

– JAN. 2, 1863 –


½ mile north is the hillock commanding a ford over Stone’s River.  Here Capt. John Mendenhall, 4th US Artillery, artillery officer of Gen. Crittenden’s staff, set a groupment of 58 guns which broke up the assault across the river of Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s Confederate Division.  Tablets on the spot give details.

















SOURCE: Interpretive marker and cannon at the corner of NW Broad Street and McFadden’s Lane (present day Van Cleve Lane), Murfrees-boro, Tennessee



Monday, September 26, 2011

The Slaughter Pen: Stones River National Battlefield


Boys you must get out of here!  You are surrounded!
– James Negley, Brigadier General, commanding 2nd Division Center Wing


The jumbled rocks you see here sheltered the four Union regiments of Miller’s brigade during a hard two-hour-long fight.  Rebel bullets whined and ricocheted, wounding many.  Men in blue from Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania grimly held on tight inside this limestone labyrinth.

Then General Sheri-dan’s troops, who had been fighting on our right ran out of bullets, broke ranks, and ran.  General Negley called for a retreat as waves of gray-clad soldiers threatened to overwhelm his men on three sides.  This stone stronghold turned into an ankle-twisting death trap.

Many of the men who fought here had seen the huge slaughter pens of Chicago’s meatpackers.  When they saw so many dead and wounded men stacked here the soldiers called this place “the Slaughter pen.”







SOURCE: Interpretive Marker, Stones River National Battlefield, pictured at right.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Artillery Protects The Supply Line: Stones River National Battlefield


From this ideal position, Loomis’ Battery (1st Michigan Light Artillery – six 2.9” Parrott rifles and Guenther’s Battery Co. H 5th U. S. Artillery – six 12pdr. Napoleons) smashed Confederate attempts to capture the Nashville Pike, the only supply line open to the Union Army, on the afternoon of December 31, 1862.  Repeated charges of case shot and canister from these guns saved the day for the Union Army.  About 6 p.m. on the 3rd of January 1863, the supporting fire from these two batteries helped two infantry regiments from Beatty’s Brigade and two infantry regiments from Spears’ Brigade drive the Confederates from the field, thus securing the battlefield of Stones River for the Union Army.

SOURCE:  Interpretive marker to the right of the cannon.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Parson’s Battery, 4th U. S. Artillery Co. “H” & “M”: Stones River National Battlefield


The most powerful federal battery on this field armed with four 3” Ordnance rifles and four 12 pdr. Howitzers.  This batter of battle hardened regulars poured charge after charge of canister at less than 100 yards into the oncoming grey ranks – helping stifle attacks on the Round Forest and the Nashville Pike, on the morning and early afternoon of December 31, 1862.  At times the Confederate Infantry were on three sides of the battery but Lt. Charles C. Parsons gave no ground.  During the entire battle Parsons fired more than any battery, 2,299 rounds, and suffered very few casualties due chiefly to the havoc caused by their deadly accurate fire.  Parsons was promoted to the rank of captain for his heroic action at Stones River.







SOURCE: The original interpretive marker at Stones River National Battlefield, pictured at right.



Parson’s Batteries Heavily Engaged

The 200 Regular Army gunners of Batteries H and M set up their eight cannon from here all the way to the Nashville Pike.  For four solid hours at brutal, sort range they fired many hundreds of rounds of munitions into the rebel ranks.  Their steady, punishing barrages helped dishearten their foes and encourage their comrades.

. . . my instructions from General Palmer were to remain in the position where I then was, in order to check the advance of the enemy, should he turn our right [flank].  At about 8 a.m. our infantry came falling back from the pine woods . . . our batteries were swung around and brought at once into action.  The approach of the enemy was parallel . . . to our front, and when he arrived within about 300 yards we opened upon his first line . . . [with] canister . . . the enemy fell back beyond our view.  He reappeared shortly afterward to our left, but again, receiving our fire, he fell back beyond our view . . . At about 12 [noon] just as I had nearly given out of ammunition, I received orders to retire.

Charles Parsons, 1st Lieutenant, commanding battalion, 4th Regiment United States Artillery.








SOURCE: The new interpretive marker at Stones River National Battlefield, pictured at left.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Chicago Board Of Trade Battery: Stones River National Battlefield


December 31, 1862

Panic-stricken Union troops bolted out of the woods, closely pressed by cheering Texans.  Canister from the battery’s six guns placed on this rise, forced back the attackers.  Reinforced by a second battery, the Union artillerymen repulsed a second assault to save the Pike, their lifeline to Nashville, from capture.







SOURCE: Interpretive Marker at Tour Stop 4, Stones River National Battlefield.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Michigan State Marker: Stones River National Battlefield

MICHIGAN REGISTERED
* HISTORIC MARKER *
[Front]

MICHIGAN

THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN
HAS ERECTED
THIS MARKER
TO HER BRAVE AND
CORAGEOUS SONS
WHO FOUGHT AT
STONES RIVER TO
PRESERVE THE UNION


Erected by the Michigan Civil War Centennial
Observance Commission 1966

MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION REGISTERED MARKER NO. 279



MICHIGAN REGISTERED
* HISTORIC MARKER *
[Back]

This marker is dedicated to all the Michigan soldiers engaged in this great battle, to the 71 men how lost their lives and to the 6 regiments which fought bravely for their country:

21st Michigan Infantry, commanded by Lt. Col. William B. McCreery (Fling), 18 killed, 89 wounded, 36 missing

11th Michigan Infantry, commanded by Col. William L. Stoughton (Sturgis), 30 killed, 84 wounded, 25 missing

13th Michigan Infantry, commanded by Col. Michael Shoemaker (Jackson), 17 killed, 72 wounded

4th Michigan Cavalry, commanded by Col. Robert H. G. Minty (Detroit), 1 killed, 7 wounded, 12 missing

1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, commanded by Col. William P. Innes (Grand Rapids), 2 killed, 9 wounded, 5 missing

1st Michigan Artillery Battery, Company A, commanded by Co. Cyrus O. Loomis (Coldwater), 1 killed, 10 wounded, 2 missing

Michigan men fought at Stones River for the preservation and perpetuity of the Union

MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION REGISTERED MARKED NO. 279

Saturday, May 7, 2011

43rd Wisconsin Infantry & 180th Ohio Infantry Monument: Stones River National Battlefield

Erected By The
43rd Reg’t Wis.
Vol. Inf. in memory
of deceased soldiers
in that Reg’t and
of the 180th Ohio.

Tennessee
Union Soldiers.

Railroad
Employees, &c.

1865

Monday, April 12, 2010

Bragg's 2nd Headquarters: Stones River National Battlefield


HEADQUARTERS
ARMY OF TENNESSEE
GENERAL BRAXTON BRAGG
JAN. 1, 2 AND 3 1863

It was here that Bragg ordered General Breckenridge’s doomed attack on January 2, 1863.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Artillery Monument at McFadden's Farm: Stones River National Battlefield


ON JANUARY 2ND, 1863. AT 3:00 P.M.,
THERE WERE STATIONED ON THIS HILL
FIFTY-EIGHT CANNON. COMMANDING THE FIELD
ACROSS THE RIVER, AND AS THE CONFEDERATES
ADVANCED OVER THIS FIELD, THE SHOT AND SHELL
FROM THESE GUNS, RESULTED IN A LOSS OF
EIGHTEEN-HUNDRED, KILLED AND WOUNDED,
IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.

SHOPS OF N.C. & ST L. RY. JULY, 1906

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

U.S. Regular Brigade Monument: Stones River National Cemetery


IN MEMORY
OF THE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OF THE
15TH, 16TH, 18TH & 19TH U. S. INFANTRY AND
BATTERY H, 5TH U. S. ARTILLERY, WHO
WERE KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS.
RECEIVED AT
THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER,
TENNESSEE
DECEMBER 31ST, 1862 TO JANUARY 3, 1863


ERECTED
BY
THEIR COMRADS
OF THE
REGULAR BRIGADE,
ARMY OF
THE CUMBERLAND

Monday, August 3, 2009

Artillery Monument Currently Undergoing Renovation

MIKE WEST, Managing Editor
Posted: Sunday, August 2, 2009 8:15 am

An oft-forgotten part of Stones River National Battlefield is the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad monument built in 1906.

It stands at the point where 58 Union cannons poured grapeshot and canister into the advancing troops of Confederate Major Gen. John C. Breckinridge as they waded across frigid Stones River on the afternoon of Jan. 2, 1863.

The Artillery Monument is currently undergoing renovation thanks to the National Park Service.

Interestingly, the monument predates that national battlefield. It was actually built by the NC&StL Railroad, whose designer Hunter McDonald selected the Neoclassical image of a 34-foot-tall concrete obelisk to commemorate the battle.

In the early 1900s, the NC&StL Railroad used Civil War tourism as a way of increasing passenger traffic.

Advertising in Confederate Veteran magazine, the railroad listed Stones River among the sites that would be of interest to veterans and their families.

The railroad’s president, John Thomas, was friendly to the members of the United Confederate Veterans and promoted its reunions by offering special rates for participants. As part of its Civil War emphasis, the NC&StL published “Southern Battlefields” in 1890. This book and its successor, “Battlefields in Dixie land,” published in 1917, gave a brief history of the battles with maps noting their proximity to the railroad.

In 1904, the railroad acquired 4.64 acres just outside Murfreesboro that included Redoubt Brannan, a major installation of the earthen work Fortress Rosecrans, which was the largest earthen fortress constructed during the Civil War.

The redoubt was maintained by the railway company as a point of historical interest and was easily visible from the windows of its passenger cars as they moved to Nashville to Murfreesboro.

Redoubt Brannan was interpreted to railway passengers in a company-published brochure as “the remains of the earthwork placed there in Civil War times to guard the bridge. Cannon of the period have been mounted on this work.”

The earthwork was not identified as being Union in origin and no mention was made of Fortress Rosecrans in the train company’s brochures.

During that same period, NC&StL acquired a 1.55-acre site overlooking Stones River. In 1906, the company built the 35-foot-tall obelisk on the property to mark the most memorable event of the two-day battle.

Confederate Veteran magazine described the obelisk as “a monument of granite [sic] nearly forty feet high ... set immediately at the battery point, which may easily be seen by passengers on the train.”

The obelisk was the third major battlefield memorial constructed on the battlefield. The first, Hazen’s Monument, was actually constructed in 1863 by men of the 9th Indiana Veterans Volunteers. The 10-foot-tall and 10-foot-square monument was built from native limestone. The monument is surrounded by the graves of 55 soldiers and is enclosed with a limestone wall.

It is, probably, the oldest Civil War monument in the nation.

The second monument is the 1888 U.S. Regulars Monument. Located at Stones River National Cemetery, the Regulars Monument is a 15-foot sandstone column with classical details such as an egg-and-dart molding and carved floral and laurel motifs and is topped with a 300-pound bronze eagle.

It was built by survivors of the Regular Brigade, Army of the Cumberland, in memory of the 15th, 16th, 18th and 19th U.S. Infantry and Battery H, 5th U.S. Artillery, who were killed or died of wounds received during the Battle of Stones River.

Stones River National Battlefield exists as a result of commemorative efforts by the NC&St.L Railway, the Stones River Battlefield and Park Association and lobbying efforts by the Grand Army of the Republic and UCV. Although Stones River did not become a military park until March 3, 1927, attempts by these groups to create a park and mark important sites influenced the government’s eventual decision to establish a park and acquire land.

- Published HERE in the Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sunday, August 2, 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Tornado Damage Closes Portions of Stones River Battlefield

The tornado that hit Murfreesboro Friday passed through the heart of the Nashville Pike unit of Stones River National Battlefield. It left a quarter-mile wide swath of fallen and damaged trees that stretches for approximately one mile across the battlefield, closing parts of the park to tourists.

Numerous fences were destroyed and debris covers nearly the entire section of the battlefield.

The visitor center and other park facilities were not damaged. A 60-foot section of the national cemetery wall was damaged by a fallen tree. The same tree also damaged a cannon display.

The visitor center opened at noon Easter Sunday, but all park areas from the CSX railroad tracks on the north to Wilkinson Pike on the south are closed to the public. The park requests everyone's cooperation in staying out of the closed areas. People who enter these areas are subject to law enforcement action.

The McFadden Farm unit, Redoubt Brannan, Fortress Rosecrans, and the generals' headquarters sites are open to the public.

Work has begun on clearing fallen trees and debris from the park. The park tour road, Stones River National Cemetery, and the Hazen Brigade Monument will open only when the park staff determines it is safe for visitors. The park's trail system may not be safe to enter for months and will be closed indefinitely. The public can check for updates on recovery efforts at the park's Web site, http://www.nps.gov/stri/parkmgmt/tornado.htm.

- Published HERE in The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Sunday, April 12, 2009

UPDATE: Stones River National Battlefield - Tornado Damage

I took a drive along Old Nashville Highway earlier this after noon. The battlefield’s visitor center was indeed open, and the good news is the building does not appear to have been damaged in any way. As for the damage to the battlefield, the pictures I posted yesterday from The Daily News Journal do not do justice to the level of damage. From what I could see from the road, trees are down everywhere. Hazen’s monument was completely obscured from view by a downed tree, and I’ll be surprised if there is much of anything left of the Round Forest after the debris removal.

Stones River National Cemetery, from what I could see is nearly untouched. The only damage I was able to observe was a hole knocked out of the southeast stone wall surrounding the cemetery where a tree had fallen on top of it.

Most of the park remains closed to visitors, for obvious safety reasons. The following is a list of the park's sites and facilities and their current status obtained from the park’s website.

Visitor Center: Open (8 AM - 5 PM Daily)

Park Tour Road: Closed

Main Park Trails: Closed

Stones River National Cemetery: Closed

Hazen Brigade Monument: Closed

Fortress Rosecrans: Open

Redoubt Brannan: Open

McFadden Farm Unit: Open

General Rosecrans's Headquarters: Open

General Bragg's Headquarters: Open

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Stones River National Battlefield: Tornado Damage

Damage caused by a tornado which struck Stones River National Battlefield on Friday afternoon, April 10th, 2009.

Tour Stop 5. The Round Forest, Battery F, 1st Ohio Volunteer Artillery.



Another view.


Tour Stop 5. The Round Forest.


Hazen’s Monument.


Hazen’s Monument.


Hazen’s Monument.


McFadden’s Lane, looking south.


Parson’s Battery.


Park road at Tour Stop 1, Looking South.


Park road at Tour Stop 1, Looking South.


Miscellaneous storm damage.


Miscellaneous storm damage.


- Photographs published on the website of the Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Saturday, April 11, 2009

Storm Rumbles Across Battlefield

Stones River visitors, passers-by take shelter in basement of visitor's center.

By MEALAND • RAGLAND-HUDGINS • April 11, 2009

Park Ranger Jim Lewis was shocked Friday when he stepped out of the visitor’s center at the Stones River Battlefield and saw a funnel cloud coming toward him.

“It was headed right this way,” he said, describing the path of Friday’s tornado.

Lewis said about 50 to 60 people took shelter in the basement of the center when word of the tornado was sent out. Some had been at the Murfreesboro Greenway, but many pulled over just to seek shelter.

“People were frantic, especially the ones who had kids at day care,” he said.

The winds toppled wooden fencing and several trees at the battlefield. Power lines were also down. The stretch of Old Nashville Highway in the immediate area was closed for some time because a tree was in the road. Siding from buildings was strewn about the fields but none of it from the visitor’s center, Lewis said.

“All the debris you see came from that way,” he said, motioning toward the West Park subdivision. “You can look at the trees and tell exactly which way it came. It crossed Old Nashville and hit some trees over there. We’ll be busy for a while getting everything cleared out.”

Immediately after the storm, lines for gas at the Texaco Food Mart at the corner of Thompson Lane and Robert Rose Drive were steady. Several pumps were shut down because the storm knocked out some of the computer systems to them. As customers waited their turn, they swapped suggestions on the best way to reach their destinations, since traffic was congested across town.

One man said he was headed to work in Smyrna but had to call in late due to the traffic being tied up on commonly-used routes.

Another man said his car was just about out of gas. When asked where he was headed, “Anywhere but here,” was his response.

Around 2 p.m., no traffic signals were operating in the Cason Lane area. Heavy tree damage was seen at homes near the intersection of Brinkley and Franklin roads. At the intersection of Brinkley/Florence roads and Manson Pike, a man dressed in plain clothes parked his car and directed traffic in the area.

- Published HERE in the Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Saturday, April 11, 2009

Monday, October 6, 2008

Collectors Try To Save Civil War Relics At Construction Site

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The battle of Stones River was one of the biggest of the Civil War.

The real battlefield stretches well beyond the national park that preserves the historic site.

Collectors are trying to save Civil War relics at a Murfreesboro construction site before they disappear forever.

Over the past two days, Gordon Roberts and his friends are finding a lot of items such as a knife handle and bullets.

"It's really exciting, digging up history and holding it in your hand. You know, the last person to touch it was a Civil War soldier," he said.

Months from now, a shopping center will stand on the site, but more than 100 years ago, it was the Harding family's house.

"Once the battle started, it got caught up in the firestorm of the battle and became a makeshift hospital immediately," said Ronnie Dowdy.

Ronnie and Audrie Dowdy sifted for items that can't be found with a metal detector such as marbles and parts of porcelain dolls.

"This was somebody's home. They lived here and had 10 or 12 children," he said.

The work has to be completed quickly before construction begins.

"The development is just going like wildfire and this gives us an opportunity to save a little bit of this," Dowdy said.

"We're all about saving history," Roberts said.

The recovery project is a joint effort between the Cumberland Plateau and Middle Tennessee Metal Detectors clubs and Middle Tennessee State University.

- Article originally posted HERE at http://www.newschannel5.com/, Oct 3, 2008 8:46 PM

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Battle of Stones River: A Driving Tour

Winter Lightning: A Guide to the Battle of Stones River
Matt Spruill & Lee Spruill

In the library of Civil War literature the Battle of Stones River, December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863, is one of the most under represented large scale battles of the war. One can easily count the number of volumes dedicated solely to the battle on the fingers of one hand.

Having moved to Murfreesboro nearly five years ago I am a regular visitor to Stones River National Battlefield, but I have never been able to make much sense of the battle by my battlefield visits, even when using the park brochure’s guided tour. I suppose my confusion about the battle stems from the fact that the park’s current 600 acres represents only about 15% of the total area where fighting took place.

Matt & Lee Spruill have come to my rescue with their book, Winter Lightning: A Guide to the Battle of Stones River. With twenty-one tour stops (as opposed to the National Park’s six) the Spruill’s lead you on a driving tour over the ground, both outside and inside of the park, where the three day battle between the Confederate Army of the Tennessee with General Braxton Bragg at its head, and the Federal Army of the Cumberland under General William S. Rosecrans.

The evening of December 30, 1862 found both armies facing each other northwest of Murfreesboro, Tennessee in opposing lines of battle, stretching diagonally from the town’s west to its north, and each preparing to attack the other’s right. Which ever side to launch their attack first would have the advantage. At sunrise, Bragg and his Confederate Army was the first to strike.

The Spruill’s follow the battle chronologically as it progressed, following the action as the Confederate troops rolled up the Federal right and sending Union regiments, one after another, fleeing to the rear, to the Federal’s stand at The Round Forrest, and finally to the fighting at McFadden’s Ford on January 2nd. At each stop we are provided narration by the authors, giving the reader an overview of what happened, and then we are presented with a balanced view of the action from both sides with first hand accounts from the soldiers who were there, usually from official reports, but some times from diaries or letters.

The book contains 41 maps, which vary widely in scale from theater maps down to maps on the regimental level, depending on the situation or topic being covered. One only reading the book may find the maps a little cumbersome as north is not always oriented to the top of the page. This book was intended to be a tour guide, and the maps are presented to the reader at each of the stops as the reader would see the landscape that is in front of him. Therefore if you are directed to look to the southeast, southeast would be oriented to the top of the page. Not only do the historic roads appear in the maps but also the roads of the present and are clearly marked, for example: “Medical Center Pkwy (today).”

Not only have Matt & Lee Spruill added a book to the small library shelf dedicated to the battle, they have also given me a greater understanding of it. I can now point to a spot of land just south of the present day Medical Center Parkway and say with confidence that is where my great great grandfather, Walter E. Partridge (Company F, 36th Illinois Infantry) was during the battle.