Fort Donelson National Battlefield 1 mile west of Dover, northwest of Nashville. Visitor center entrance on US 79. See park website for specific directions. This strong Confederate fortification on the bluffs of the Cumberland River was the site of the first major Union victory of the war and the place that introduced the term “unconditional … Read more
Stones River National Battlefield 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro TN 37129 615-893-9501 The battle here Dec. 31, 1862–Jan. 2, 1863, resulted in more than 23,000 total casualties out of about 81,000 soldiers engaged, making this one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Union forces under Gen. William Rosecrans marched toward Murfreesboro Dec. 26, 1862, … Read more
Following the loss of Atlanta in early September 1864, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood led his 38,000-man army north toward Middle Tennessee. The Confederates hoped not only to reclaim territory long lost to Union forces but also to scare Northern officials by moving quickly toward Nashville and the Ohio River. The Confederates also hoped to … Read more