Saturday, August 25, 2012

Stones River Battlefield




We visited the Stones River National Battlefield just outside of Murfreesboro, Tennessee yesterday. 
This is one of the biggest battles and the one that turned the tied of the war for the North.  The battle took place just outside of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  Because it was an up and coming community with roads and railroad Murfreesboro became the launching point for war campaigns that slashed through the heart of the South and dealt a deathblow to the Confederacy.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s state capital from 1818 to 1826 was a proud town.  Early legislators included Sam Houston, Davey Crockett, and future Presidents Andrew Jackson and James Polk.  The town was rich in agriculture and feed most of Middle Tennessee.  Turnpikes and a railroad branching out of town carried goods to market. This sleepy town became an important location for the armies to hold.  This was why the North and the South fought for control of this part of the country,  

Driving on the battlefield.  It is so peaceful now it is hard to believe the horror that happened here not that long ago really.
 
Stones River National Cemetery
After the battle most Union and Confederate dead were quickly buried on the field.  In 1865 soldier began the grim job of reburying Union dead in the new Stones River National Cemetery.   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. 
Posted by Picasa

No comments:

Post a Comment