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Stones River National Battlefield

, Tennessee

NPCA REGION: Southeast Regional Office

Acreage: 709.33

Category: National Battlefield

Date Established: 04/22/1960

More Info: http://www.nps.gov/stri

Stones River, Tennessee, was the site of one of the most decisive and deadly battles of the Civil War. Here, on New Year’s Eve 1862, the Union armies under Major General William Rosecrans avenged their defeat two weeks earlier at Fredericksburg.

After three days of intense fighting, Confederate troops were permanently forced out of Middle Tennessee. General Rosecrans won the fertile fields he needed to sustain the Union Army, while President Abraham Lincoln claimed the strategic and moral victory he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Those victories came at a significant cost. Casualties claimed nearly a third of the 81,000 troops on both sides. More than 3,000 men lost their lives at Stones River. Another 16,000 lay wounded for days, waiting for help to arrive.

Today, you can ponder Civil War military strategy as you stroll the rolling green hills and cedar glades of Stones River National Battlefield. Seven miles of trails wind through the park. See the earthen boundaries of Fortress Rosecrans, built to protect Union storehouses. Wander between the graves of the Stones River National Cemetery, final resting place of more than 7,100 Union soldiers, veterans, and family.

Threats

According to an assessment by the Center for State of the Parks, the civil war parks of Tennessee face several common challenges. Primary among them are funding shortfalls that limit the Park Service's ability to preserve historic sites and tell the stories of our American heritage.

Also of critical concern at all four parks covered in the report is adjacent development that mars historical and scenic views that are essential to bring the story to life and providing visitors with a memorable experience. Read more about the threats faced by these parks in NPCA's report Tennessee's Civil War National Parks.

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Comments

MY CHILDREN RODE BIKES ON THE TRAIL WHEN THE WWERE SMALL THEY PLAYED ARMY ON THE ROCKY OUTCROPPING. I STROLL THRU WHEN I WANT TO PAUSE AND GET CLOSE TO NATURE. I AM REALY UPSET ABOUT THE DEVELOPEMENT ON WILKINSON AND FEAR OUR PARK IS IN JEOPARDY. WOULD LIKE FOR MY GRAND CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THIS PARK AS WELL. MR. LAMB LOTS OF US IN THE CROSSPARK AND WESTPARK DRIVE AREA AND OUR CHILDREN STILL RIDE BIKES THROUGH THE BATTLEFIELD. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE THERE WITHOUT AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE THAT IS?

Submitted by PAT at: November 18, 2009

Sir, I have many memories of visiting the Stones River Battlefield between 1949 and 1955. During that time my father was stationed at Seward AFB in Smyrna and we lived in Murfreesbor. The battlefield was always an interesting historical spot for us to visit. We got to know the custodian of the National Cemetary and he showed us numerous artifacts which he had found on the battlegrand and suronding areas. I have visited there several times in the last 20 years. I never did get to visit Ft Rosecrans though.

Submitted by Anonymous at: June 14, 2009

William Starke Rosecrans (September 6, 1819 – March 11, 1898) was an inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and United States Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War. He was the victor at prominent Western Theater battles such as Second Corinth, Stones River, and the Tullahoma Campaign, but his military career was effectively ended following his disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863.

Submitted by Wayne at: June 12, 2009

My greatgrandfather's brother, a Union soldier, was wounded in this battle and died from gangrene in an infirmary nearby. I found his grave marker there. Another brother was killed at Chickamauga. My ggfather survived and was discharged near Washington DC after the war was over.

Submitted by Okie Clem at: June 12, 2009

the general named above as William Rosencrans is actually William Rosecrans; i.e., you spelled his name WRONG

Submitted by lorenzo72 at: June 11, 2009