Stones River

https://www.nps.gov/stri/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stones_River_National_Battlefield Stones River National Battlefield, a 570-acre (2.3 km2) park along the Stones River in Rutherford County, Tennessee, three miles (5 km) northwest of Murfreesboro and twenty-eight miles southeast of Nashville, memorializes the Battle of Stones River, a key battle of the American Civil War that took place on December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863, which resulted in a strategic Union victory. The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it changed forever the people who lived and fought here. From Interstate 24 - Take Exit 76 and turn left (eastbound) or right (westbound) onto Medical Center Parkway. Turn left onto Thompson Lane. Turn left at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Follow the tour road to the visitor center. From Interstate 40 - Take Exit 235 onto TN 840. Take Exit 55 onto US 41/TN 70 and follow the signs for Murfreesboro. Turn right onto Thompson Lane at the first traffic light. Turn right at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Visitor Center The park visitor center and restrooms are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Spring and Summer and 9am to 4:00 pm from November 1 through February 29 in fall and winter. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25th. From Interstate 24 - Take Exit 76 and turn left (eastbound) or right (westbound) onto Medical Center Parkway. Turn left onto Thompson Lane. Turn left at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Follow the tour road to the visitor center. From Interstate 40 - Take Exit 235 onto TN 840. Take Exit 55 onto US 41/TN 70 and follow the signs for Murfreesboro. Turn right onto Thompson Lane at the first traffic light. Turn right at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Sunrise at Mendenhall's Artillery Trail The sun rises behind a green field with a cannon in the foreground. On January 2, 1863, fifty-seven Union cannons fired from this line ending the Battle of Stones River by killing or wounding more than 1,800 Confederates in less than an hour. Stones River National Cemetery A ray of sunlight shines on the ground at Stones River National Cemetery. More than 6,100 Union soldiers lie in Stones River National Cemetery. The Chicago Board of Trade Battery Two cannons sit in an icy field. The men of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery got their first taste of combat at the Battle of Stones River and helped stem the Confederate tide from this position during the afternoon of December 31, 1862. Union Infantry Program Union soldiers fire muskets. Living history programs help visitors visualize the trials of soldiers during the Battle of Stones River. Bike Tour Bicyclists ride down a road bracketed by trees. Thousands of visitors enjoy biking and hiking through the park. Listening to the Eclipse: National Park Service scientists join Smithsonian, NASA in nationwide project A solar eclipse is visually stunning, but what will it sound like? NPS scientists will find out by recording sounds in parks across the USA. An NPS scientist installs audio recording equipment in a lush valley at Valles Caldera NP. National Parks and National Cemeteries Currently, the National Park Service manages 14 national cemeteries. These cemeteries represent a continuum of use dating to a period before the establishment of the historical parks of which they are an integral part and are administered to preserve the historic character, uniqueness, and solemn nature of both the cemeteries and the historical parks of which they are a part. Setting sun lights up graves and decorations Death and Dying The somber aftermath of Civil War battles introduced Americans--North and South--to death on an unprecedented scale and of an unnatural kind, often ending in an unmarked grave far from home. Neither individuals, nor institutions, nor governments were prepared to deal with death on such a massive scale, for never before or since have we killed so many of our own. The Civil War revolutionized the American military's approach to caring for the dead, leading to our modern cult Photo of freshly buried marked and unmarked graves near Petersburg, Va. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. high ground and woods Hispanics and the Civil War The Civil War was an American epic and an American tragedy. The bloodiest war in United States history claimed the lives of more than 620,000 Americans. Hispanics were very much a part of this conflict. They knew hardship, fear, death, and destruction. They experienced victory and defeat. Some performed acts of spectacular gallantry. Others provided steady service that attracted little comment or notice. Painting of the Battle of Glorieta Pass Stones River Virtual Ranger Activity While you can earn your Junior Ranger badge on your visit to Stones River National Battlefield, we have also put together an opportunity for you to become a Stones River National Battlefield Virtual Ranger. Using the pages of our website, you can complete the quiz below to earn your Virtual Ranger badge! When you finish, download and print your badge to add to your collection! A badge that reads The Civilian Experience in the Civil War After being mere spectators at the war's early battles, civilians both near and far from the battlefields became unwilling participants and victims of the war as its toll of blood and treasure grew year after year. In response to the hardships imposed upon their fellow citizens by the war, civilians on both sides mobilized to provide comfort, encouragement, and material, and began to expect that their government should do the same. Painting of civilians under fire during the Siege of Vicksburg The Changing War Begun as a purely military effort with the limited political objectives of reunification (North) or independence (South), the Civil War transformed into a social, economic and political revolution with unforeseen consequences. As the war progressed, the Union war effort steadily transformed from a limited to a hard war; it targeted not just Southern armies, but the heart of the Confederacy's economy, morale, and social order-the institution of slavery. Woodcut of spectators watching a train station set fire by Sherman's troops National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate. Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map James A. Garfield and the Civil War (Part II) Part 2 of James A. Garfield and the Civil War explores Garfield involvement during the Battle of Chickamauga and later wartime experiences. Battle of Chickamauga Series: African American History at Gettysburg Abraham Brian, Basil Biggs, James Warfield, and Mag Palm are just a few of the many individuals that were affected by the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, and each has their own story to tell. We have collected their stories in one place so that you can learn more about their various trials during this tumultuous time in American history. A black and white photograph of a black family posing with a white man and his horse in a dirt road. Women in Fire Science: Alicia Schlarb Alicia Schlarb is the lead fire effects monitor for a portion of the National Park Service's Southeast Region. She and her crew provide prescribed burning, monitoring, and wildland fire responses to national parks located within Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. She loves fire and that she can change perceptions about wildland fire through science. Alicia Schlarb. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Guide to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southeast Region Collection This finding aid describes the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southest Region Collection, part of the NPS History Collection. Hidden in Plain Sight: Old Growth Remnant Grasslands During 2024 scouting for a large eastern grassland restoration project funded by IRA and BIL, several old growth remnant grasslands were identified in National Capital and Northeast Region parks that were previously unknown. These remnants preserve the genetic integrity of the original grassland flora of the eastern US and are true unexpected treasures that in some cases, were hidden in plain sight. a grassland landscape with distant trees Volunteer Story: The SCA Dream Team Leaves Their Mark at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP For three short weeks, a remarkable team of Student Conservation Association (SCA) interns brought their skills, teamwork, and boundless energy to Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. Five SCA volunteers stand around the brick sign for the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center Stones River National Cemetery Headstone Alignment Project - 2025 Learn more about a 2025 project to raise, straighten, align, and clean thousands of historic headstones in Stones River National Cemetery Wreaths decorated with red bows lean against hwhite headstones.

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 nec