Stones River

Stones River National Battlefield Tennessee National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Rivers and Railroads I can never forget . . . that about the end of last year and the beginning of this, you gave us a hard earned victory. The Plan to Win—Union Strategy in the West: Control Railroads, Rivers, and Ports MARYLAND Washington –Abraham Lincoln to Major General William Rosecrans, August 1863 VIRGINIA (1863) On December 26, 1862, Rosecrans led his army out of Nash­ ville to seek the victory Lincoln demanded. Their target— Murfreesboro and General Braxton Bragg’s Army of Ten­ nessee. From December 31, 1862 through January 2, 1863, Richmond Cairo Nashville Murfreesboro Chattanooga TENNESSEE Memphis Atlanta ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI Mobile LOUISIANA Pensacola FLORIDA New Orleans U N I O N B LOC K A relieved and grateful Lincoln thanked Rosecrans and his men for a “hard earned victory, which had there been a defeat instead, the country scarcely could have lived over.” Charleston Savannah Vicksburg Stones River’s success bolstered northern spirits. Victory— and the Emancipation Proclamation—crushed Confederate hopes for international assistance and shifted the war’s aims from restoring the Union to remaking the nation. Wilmington SOUTH CAROLINA Corinth N B L OCKADE Union forces held Murfreesboro and much of middle Tennessee in an iron grip. Soon the earthen walls of For­ tress Rosecrans protecting a vast supply base loomed over the town. Murfreesboro became a launching point for campaigns that slashed through the heart of the south and dealt a deathblow to the Confederacy. UNIO ARKANSAS h Lincoln needed a victory soon, and he pushed his generals to strike a blow. In December General Ambrose Burnside’s Army of the Potomac met with disaster at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee proved unable to crack defenses north of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Lincoln’s only hope lay with General William S. Rosecrans’s Army of the Cumberland. the armies ravaged each other. Each side lost nearly one-third of its men. The Confederates limped away from the battlefield. Rosecrans marched his battered Union army into Murfreesboro and declared victory. is i p Lincoln was worried as 1862 came to a close. Confederate attacks in Maryland and Kentucky had shaken Northern confidence. Generals McClellan and Buell wasted victories at Antietam and Perryville by refusing to advance on the Confederates. The Emancipation Proclamation was to take effect on January 1, but military success to enforce it seemed impossible. The Union war effort was stalled. Key Commanders The Union strategy was three-pronged: gain control of the Mis­sis­sippi River, drive a wedge through the Con­­fed­eracy along rivers and railroads across Tennessee and Georgia, and block­ ade major ports­. AD E Planned Union advance Confederate States of American Victory at Stones River opened the way into the Con­ federate heartland. Union advances to Chattanooga, Atlan­ ta, and Savannah crippled the South’s ability to supply its armies and sapped civilian support for the war. North Selected major railroads 0 Braxton Bragg, Con­ federate Commander, was “a puzzling mix­ ture of com­­petence an­d ineptness.” He gained distinction in the US-Mexi­can War. Bragg stayed in com­ mand despite his sub­ ordinates’ criticism of his withdrawal from Murfreesboro. He de­ feated Rose­crans at Chicka­mau­ga but was routed at Chattanooga, a loss that cost him his command. William Rosecrans, Union Commander, left the Army to work as an architect, mining engineer, and inven­ tor. He rejoined at the outbreak of the war. Rosecrans was popular with his troops who called him Old Rosy. His “im­pulsive excit­ able personality” served him well at Murfreesboro but caused problems that led to his defeat at Chickamauga. 13th Amendment ends slavery; 14th defines citizenship, protects civil rights; 15th allows male citi­ zens the right to vote, re­ gardless of race or color. US Army ends Tennesse occupation. December 200 Kilometers 0 200 Miles Highlights of the Civil War Era 1860–1877 Confederate Win Union defeated at Wilson’s Creek, MO., first major battle in the West. August 1861 Union Win Union takes Fort Don­ elson, TN., and state capital Nashville. February–March 1862 December 31, 1862 We were building fires and making coffee, for such permission had been granted just before daylight. . . . Suddenly a succession of long lines of Gray were swarming over the Confederate breastworks and sweeping toward us . . . –Sergeant Major Widney, 34th Illinois, USA, 1862 April 1862 Union Win Antietam, MD., war’s bloodiest single day: 23,000 casualties. August 1862 September 1862 Rosecrans Headquarters ber 1862–January 1863 Union Win Gettysburg, PA. and Vicksburg, MS.; New York City rioters pro­ test draft. July 1863 There was a hill . . . on the left flank of the Federal army, which, could it be taken and held by Confederate forces, would necessitate the evacuation of the Federal position. –Major Pickett, Asst. Inspector General, CSA, 1863 Overall Creek McFadden’s Lane Bragg 1st Headquarters n Wilkinso Pik e Captain Mendenhall, supporting Union troops across the river, had 57 guns aimed at the Confed­erates’ approach. Union gunners fired as enemy soldiers came into range, wounding or killing 1,800 within minutes. Confederates withdrew as Union troops crossed the river to reclaim the heights. Men­den­hall’s artillery turned a dashing charge into a deadly retreat. at ta no og a a og Franklin Road NE S R I V E R TO Murfreesboro’s rich agricultural district was the bread­basket of Middle Tennessee. Turn­ pikes and a railroad branching out from the town carried goods to far-reaching markets. Family farms worked by whites and enslaved blacks produced hogs, horses, corn, cotton, and wheat. (Scenes of downtown Murfreesboro and the courthouse in the 1860s, left.) . . . cannon fire, shells bursting, men yelling, horses neighing and wounded screaming made an awful crescendo. Oscar Pinney, 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery, USA, 1863 RR RR New photo to come The noise of battle was terrible, Southern boys advancing through a cotton field stuffed their ears with the white fibers as ear protection. ke Ch no Fighting Amid Cotton Pi & ta Union forces occupied Murfreesboro after the battle. Soldiers tore down houses for lumber, destroyed churches, desecrated cemeteries, and confiscated supplies. Slaves flocked to Union camps to seize their freedom, leaving hundreds of farms untended. The Union occu­ pation lasted beyond the war’s end into 1866. n Wilkinso Pik e lle at Spirits were high in December 1862. Local sol­ diers reunited with their families. Confederate President Jefferson Davis visited Murfreesboro with the hopeful, but incorrect, news that the Union army was starving in Nashville. Residents and soldiers celebrated the holidays with par­ ties and dances, not realizing that the hard hand of war was about to strike their town. Bragg 2nd Headquarters January 2, 1863 Red indicates Confederate positions Blue indicates Federal positions Life in Murfreesboro and on the Battlefield Murfreesboro—Tennessee’s state capital from 1818 to 1826­­—was a proud town. Early legisla­ tors included Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and future presidents Andrew Jackson and James Polk. By the 1850s Murfreesboro boasted schools, stores, churches, a railroad, nearby estates, and over 2,000 white residents. Many owned enslaved workers. Overall Creek McFadden’s Ford lle ke Ch The Battle of Stones Riv­er cost 13,249 Union casualties and 10,266 Confederate. Bragg left Murfreesboro and Rosecrans claimed victory, boosting northern mo­rale. Pres­i­­dent Lincoln thanked Rose­crans and his soldiers for their “skill, en­dur­ance, and dauntless courage.” Mendenhall’s Artillery vi Pi & BRAGG The assault began in late afternoon, the Confederates gaining the crest. Union soldiers retreated down the back slope to a river crossing at McFad­den’s Ford. There pursuing Confederates encountered a deadly surprise. RO SECRANS Rosecrans Headquarters vi Bragg, confident that Rosecrans would with­ draw, was surprised to find Union troops on a hill east of Stones River, threatening his right flank. Bragg or­dered 4,500 men to seize the high ground and drive the enemy across the river. 1865–January 1877 sh lle lle NE S R I V E R TO April 1865 sh vi vi (8 am) May–November 1864 Lee surrenders at Appomat­ tox; Lincoln assassinated. Na sh sh Franklin Road Sherman begins March to the Sea; Union troops destroy Atlanta. Na Wounded began to fill field hospitals behind Union lines near Murfreesboro. A soldier from Ohio saw surgeons amputate limbs ”then throw the quivering flesh into a pile.” The battle ended at dusk, but few felt like celebrating New Year’s Eve. On January 1 both armies rested and prepared for the next onslaught. Union Win Battle at Stones River; Emancipation Procla­ mation issued. Decem- January 2, 1863 RO SECRANS Na Rose­crans rushed his troops into position along the Nashville Pike and the Nash­ville & Chattanooga Railroad. Ordered to “con­ test ev­ery inch of ground,” they beat back Confederate Win Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), VA. Na Confederates struck first, assaulting the Union right wing at dawn. By 10 am they had driven the Union through the cedar woods to the Wilkinson Pike. Only stubborn fighting in the Slaughter Pen prevented a Union rout. the Confed­er­ates, inflicting heavy cas­u­alties. Bragg tried to re­vive his offensive by striking the Union left in the Round Forest. Soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio stood their ground and left hundreds of Con­ federates lying dead or wounded on Hell’s Half Acre. Union Win Union retakes New Orleans, LA., a strategic victory. S November 1860–April 1861 Confederate Win First battle of Manas­ sas (Bull Run), VA.; shows war won’t end quickly. July 1861 S Lincoln elected; South secedes, Fort Sumter, SC., bombarded; Civil War begins. BRAG G Women Do Their Part A few hundred wom­ en served as soldiers. Thousands worked in factories, hospitals, and schools. They struggled to hold their families together while husbands and sons fought and died. Women also affected the course of the war through organizations like the United States Sanitary Commission. Women took food, clothing, medicine, and other supplies to the front lines. They improved cleanliness in the camps and hos­ pitals, saving thou­ sands of lives. New photo/s and design of this section to come. Veterans’ groups for both armies formed after the war. The Woman’s Relief Corp was an auxiliary of the Union’s Grand Army of the Republic. CREDITS FOR IMAGES WILL GO HERE. Touring Stones River National Battlefield Stones River National Battle­field preserves a small part of the original battlefield. You can reach points of interest on the self-guiding auto tour (below and right). Numbered markers identify stops. Events are explained along short trails and on ex­hibits. Please use caution when crossing highways. Cell phone tour: 585-797-0076. Go out the back door of the visitor center. Look across the field where Union and Confed­er­ate soldiers fought. Imagine op­posing armies totaling 81,000 men battling to control Middle Tennessee in one of the Civil War’s bloodiest encounters. Union troops made their final stand here, de­f­ending Nashville Pike and the railroad—both vital lines of supply. Today’s scene differs little from 1862. The railroad and pike are in the same place, and fields are now planted with native grasses between cedar thickets. 1 Eve of Battle On December 30, after Rosecrans’s Union army arrived at Mur­­­frees­boro, troops occupied this area along Mc­Fad­den’s Lane. Soldiers struggled to sleep in the freezing mud without campfires knowing a major battle was imminent. For thousands, that night would be their last. 4 Defending Nashville Pike Thousands of retreating Union troops burst from the ce­dars in front of these cannon, followed by Confederates. The Chicago Board of Trade Battery sprang to action as the Pioneer Brigade poured volley after volley into the gray ranks. Canister charges forced the Con­federates back to the cedars. 2 Slaughter Pen Union soldiers fiercely defended their position here. Confederates launched attack after failed attack, causing heavy losses to both sides. Bodies piled up in the rocks, and blood soaked the ground. The Union retreated, but the delay gave their army time to form a new line along the Nashville Pike. 5 Round Forest This was the only Union position that held throughout the first day. Artillery and infantry halted the first attack at 10 am and beat back three more as the day wore on. By dusk the fields of Hell’s Half Acre were covered with Confederate dead and wounded. 3 Cotton Field On December 31 Union troops es­tablished a defensive line along the Nashville Pike. Pursuing Confeder­ates entering the cotton field were greeted by cannon fire. A Texan recalled, “the artillery opened up on us . . . and it seemed that the heavens and the earth were coming together.” At dark both sides dug in for the night. Rosecrans’s army had been pushed back three miles, but the Confed­er­ates had failed to capture the pike. 6 McFadden Farm Union soldiers hid behind stone and rail breastworks as men fled across the river chased by Confederates. Union cannon firing from above McFadden’s Ford halted the Confederates with shot, shell, and canister, killing and wounding over 1,800 men in less than an hour. This was the battle’s final action. ✩GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx Reprint 20xx Printed on recycled paper. Planning Your Visit Visitor Center The visitor center has information, museum exhibits, a film, and bookstore. It is open daily except Thanksgiving Day and December 25. For details about activities, special events, and hours, contact park staff or visit www.nps.gov/stri. There’s a Lot to See Here You can see part of Fortress Rosecrans in Old Fort Park on Highway 96. Redoubt Brannan is on West College Street. Paved trails lead to the earthworks. Stones River and Lytle Creek green­ways offer places for activities and the chance to see important battle sites. Don’t miss the Hazen Brigade and Artillery monuments, the National Cemetery (Union) or Evergreen Cemetery (Confederate). Ask at the visitor center about historic sites and places to see in Murfreesboro (see map). Accessibility The visitor center and restrooms are wheelchair-ac­cessible. Some park trails are paved. Service animals are welcome. Safety and Regulations Please be careful. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. • Stay on marked trails. Watch for exposed roots, uneven ground, poison ivy, ticks, and slippery rocks. • Pets must be attended and leashed. • Do not climb or sit on cannon. • Relic hunting and climbing on earthworks are strictly prohibited. • All natural and cultural features are protected by federal law. • For firearms and other regulations check the park website or ask a ranger. Emergencies: call 911. More Information Stones River National Battle­field 3501 Old Nashville Highway Murfreesboro, TN 37129-3094 615-893-9501 www.nps.gov/stri Stones River National Battlefield is one of over 390 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks visit www.nps.gov. A Fortress Like No Other Fortress Rosecrans In 1863 Rosecrans’s army and hundreds of formerly enslaved men built a depot and fort at Murfreesboro to distribute weapons, food, and supplies. Fortress Rosecrans had three miles of earthworks enclosing storehouses, powder magazines, and four interior redoubts (small forts), including Redoubt Brannan. The 200-acre fort could shelter 15,000 troops, and its stores could supply an army of 65,000 men for months. Its strategic location allowed the Union army to attack the Confed­erate rail center in Chatta­nooga and split the Confed­e­r­ acy along transportation routes in Tennessee. This fort was the largest, enclosed earthen fortification built during the war. Black Men in Blue Uniforms Fortress Rosecrans Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters U-S, let him get an eagle on his button . . . and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States. Redoubt Brannan Lunette Palmer –Frederick Douglass By war’s end United States Colored Troops made up 10 percent of the Union Army. Over 20,000 formerly enslaved men from Tennessee chose to fight for their freedom. Several units formed or served at Murfreesboro. Lunette Thomas ILLUSTRATION / © Steven Patricia Keeping Memories Alive Hazen Brigade Monument Stones River National Cemetery Evergreen Cemetery The Community of Cemetery Touring by Rail Artillery Monument Colonel William Hazen’s men were the only Union soldiers who didn’t retreat during the fighting on December 31. They repelled attacks so horrible that soldiers named the place Hell’s Half-Acre. Over 400 of Hazen’s troops fell in the battle, and the survivors didn’t want the world to forget. Hazen’s men built this monument in 1863. It is the oldest intact Civil War memorial (below). After the battle most Union and Confederate dead were quickly buried on the field. In 1865 soldiers of the 111th US Colored Infantry began the grim job of reburying Union dead in the new Stones River National Cemetery. Each mound in the 1866 photo (below) is the grave of a newly buried soldier. Over 6,100 Union soldiers are buried here, 2,500 of them unknown. About 2,000 Confederates are buried in Confederate Circle at Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro. For many, first buried on the battlefield, this was their third resting place. After the war, 111th US Colored Infantry soldiers, including William Holland (tombstone below) and other formerly enslaved people started a new life in the area around the national cemetery (residents below). They built homes, a school, churches, and a store. Their community, named Cemetery, endured until 1927 when creation of the national battlefield park uprooted many residents, beginning a period of decline. Battle sites became tourist attractions after the war. Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway excursions to Stones River brought tourists—and much needed dollars­—to Murfreesboro. Signs along the tracks helped passengers imagine the bloody actions. In 1890 the railway published Southern Battlefields with battle accounts and maps showing rail lines near battlefields (below right). Artillery Monument marks the battle’s final attack on January 2. Here 57 Union cannon fired upon the approaching Confederates, killing or wounding 1,800 men in a short time. In 1906 the railway built this 34-foot tall monument (below) so that passengers could see it from their train windows­—and offered special fares for Confederate veterans. CEMETERY / NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADM. (BELOW). In 1867 their remains were moved to a cemetery south of Murfreesboro. In the 1890s they were moved again, this time to Evergreen Cemetery (monument below right). NPS / MELINDA SCHMITT (BELOW). BOOKLET / Middle Tenn. State univ. (LEFT); All OTHER images NPS, except as credited.