Pictures from my visit to Stones River

I would like to take the time to share some pictures of my recent visit to the Stones River National battlefield with my readers. Hope you all enjoy!!

Above is what the two armies saw on the eve of the battle.

The cotton field was a strategic location used by both armies, as they could hide in the tall grass.

Cannons were the weapon of choice for both sides during the battle.

I would much rather be on this side of the cannon, wouldn't you?

Above is a picture of Gen. William S. Rosecrans position during the battle.

Above is a picture of Gen. Braxton Bragg's position during the battle.

Above is a picture of the monument at Stones River. It is the oldest monument from the Civil War. Some soldiers are buried inside.

Above is the monument at the McFadden farm. It was here that many soldiers died while trying to cross the river.

The Stones River runs right through Murfreesboro. Many soldiers drowned while fighting in the battle.

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Fortress Rosecrans

Fortress Rosecrans was the Union armies largest earthen fort. It is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was very vital to the Union armies victory at Stones River. The fort served as a home for many union troops. It also included a dungeon in the center where prisoners of war were kept. The fort was strategically located so that the Union army would have easy access to the Nashville Railroad. Some 40,000 men worked 8 hour shifts in order to build this fort. Most of the men were black slaves. The fort was divided up into sections that each Union commander was in charge of. The above picture is of Redoubt Brannan. Today much of the fort has been destroyed to make way for new development. The surviving part of the fort has been preserved and is part of the Stones River National battlefield park. I highly recommend going there to visit, it is well worth your time.

The above two pictures are of the inside of the fort. The mowed part is the dungeon.

Above is a diagram of Fortress Rosecrans.

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Jackson McDowell

Jackson McDowell was the editor of The Cookeville Times newspaper in Cookeville, Tennessee. He was the son of Curtis McDowell who lived in Sparta, Tennessee and ran Cumberland Institute. The McDowell family lived in the Cherry Creek community in White County. Cherry Creek is near the Calfkiller River where Champ Ferguson lived. At the outbreak of the Civil War the McDowell family split. Jackson chose to side with the Union, and his brother Fayette served with the Confederacy. Jackson was very outspoken about his Union beliefs. He wrote many pro-Union articles in The Cookeville Times. By living so close to Champ Ferguson, many of his friends and brother decided to join the Ferguson gang. Jackson however did not want to fight. He said that he could not fight against his brother. One day Jackson was working in his office in Cookeville, when a drunk Champ Ferguson and his gang raided it. They threatened to kill Jackson for his Union beliefs. Luckily Jackson was able to escape before Ferguson and his men could string him up. Jackson decided that it was too dangerous to stay in Tennessee, so he fled to Kentucky. He promised his family that he would come back as soon as the war ended. As promised he did return at the war's end. Jackson most likely escaped certain death by fleeing to Kentucky. He also proved to be a man of his word by coming back home to Tennessee. He and his brother were able to make up and start a business together. The McDowell family proved that their bond was to great to be broken by the Civil War.

For more information about Jackson McDowell and the Civil War in Tennessee, I suggest that you check out the book Soldiers, Spies, and Spartans.

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Old West Lawmen Facts and Myths

For this blog post I have decided to shift gears, and move from the Civil War and War of 1812, to talking about the Old West. I was inspired to write this after watching the western channel on T.V. this morning. I got to thinking about the historical accuracy of some of the shows. Most of us are familiar with Gunsmoke and Bonanza, but shows like Lawman and Bat Masterson are not as well known. Many of these shows, like Gunsmoke, featured a U.S. Marshall as the main character. Usually these lawmen are considered invincible, but sometimes tragic things happen to them in order to keep the viewer tuned in. Most of these marshals, as we will see also have love interests. Not all of these shows however revolve around a fictional U.S. Marshall or sheriff. Shows like The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson were designed to chronicle the life of that particular person. These shows do not always portray these men accurately. As historians we need to be able to separate the facts from the myths. We can do this by reading books, articles, and primary sources about these men. Some notable lawmen that have been overlooked by Hollywood include Bill Tilghman, and Commodore Perry Owens. Below I will provide pictures and a brief overview of these men as well as the T.V. westerns that were mentioned above.

Wyatt Earp began his law enforcement career in Lamar, Missouri. He took over the job from his father who had passed away earlier. His next job was at Wichita, Kansas. He served as a deputy under Marshall Bill Smith. He was fired after getting into a fistfight with Smith after losing out on his bid to be elected Marshall. Earp later went to Dodge City, Kansas. He became a deputy there like he had in Wichita. Earp became heavily involved with gambling. It was through gambling that he became acquainted with Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson. Earp eventually resigned from the police force and headed further west. He eventually settled in Tombstone, Arizona. He joined the police force, but eventually was promoted to acting sheriff following the death of the sheriff. It was in this role that he got involved in the Shootout at the OK Corral.

Wyatt Earp became popular in Hollywood. There have been countless movies made about him. The show I mentioned above, called The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, which stars Hugh O' Brian, follows him throughout his life, all the way until the Shootout at the OK Corral. One minor problem is that it does not tell of Earp's experiences in gambling, buffalo hunting, and also as a "pimp." Overall the show makes for good entertainment.

Bat Masterson began his career as a lawman in Dodge City, Kansas. He served as a deputy under his brother. Bat's first job as a marshall came at Ford County, Kansas. He also was a gambler, and later a sports editor. He walked with a cane after being shot in the pelvis during a gunfight at Sweetwater, Texas.

The T.V. show, Bat Masterson, starring Gene Barry, featured Bat as a charming gambler and ladies man. The creators also wanted to show off his gunfighting skills by allowing him to fight crime in each town he visited. Barry also used his cane as a weapon, when it came to fighting crime. In the end Bat Masterson always caught the bad guy(s) and got the girl.

Lawman is one of my favorite T.V. westerns. It features John Russell as Marshall Dan Troop, and Peter Brown as deputy Johnny McKay. It is a really good show. It is full of plenty of action, suspense, and some comedy. The creators wanted to give Troop a love interest, so they brought in Lily Merrill (Peggie Castle) who owned the Birdcage Saloon in Laramie, Wyoming. The show lasted from 1958-1962. Lawman has gone down in history as one of the greatest western series of all time.

 Probably the most popular western, Gunsmoke, featured James Arness playing the veteran, no nonsense lawman Matt Dillon. Dillon had three deputies during the show's run. Chester (Dennis Weaver), Festus (Ken Curtis), and Newly (Buck Taylor). Like with Lawman, the show's creators wanted Matt Dillon to have a love interest. Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake) became that love interest. Like Lily Merrill, Kitty owned the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. Along with Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) this show became the longest running T.V. series of all time. It also became the first western series to last a full 60 minutes. Gunsmoke is still one of the most beloved shows of all time.

Other lesser known lawmen include Bill Tilghman of Logan County, OK and Commodore Perry Owens of Apache County, Arizona. Both were very capable lawmen, who served their communities well.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond.

Native Americans in Tennessee

Tennessee has been home to a number of Indian tribes over the years. The most notable tribe that called Tennessee home were the Cherokees. However there were tribes before them who inhabited the state long before the Cherokee and the early settlers got to Tennessee. These early Indian tribes, unlike the Cherokee buried their dead in mounds. This period is known as the Woodland Period. Most historians believe that these mounds were built not only for burying the dead, but for religious purposes as well. The above picture is one of the Pinson Mounds in Madison County, Tennessee. Historians believe that astronomy played a role in the location and function of the mounds. The Old Stone Fort Mounds in Manchester, Tennessee were also used for burial and religious purposes. The Old Stone Fort Mounds feature an entry way that allowed the Indians to go in and out of the mounds to pay their respects to the dead, and perform their religious ceremonies. The first Indians in Tennessee were the Paleo-Indians. They came to Tennessee to hunt and fish. It is unknown if they were the ones who built these mounds or not. The Urey Indians also were early settlers of Tennessee. They built their burial mounds in Jackson County, Tennessee. Most of these mounds are still in good shape. Mounds like the Pinson Mounds and the Old Stone Fort Mound have been made into parks by the state government. Others like the ones the Urey Indians built have not been preserved much, if not at all. Most of these are located on private property. It is important to remember that Indian Mounds are sacred and should be respected for future generations to enjoy.

Above is a picture of the entrance to the Old Stone Fort Mound.

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The Battle of Saltville

The Battle of Saltville was a minor battle that occurred during the Civil War. It took place at the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. There were two battles, but this post will deal with the first one, that took place from October 1st-3rd 1864. The armies from both sides were made up of regular troops, homeguards, and guerrilla troops. There was also a black cavalry regiment. The Confederate forces were led by George Dibrell, and the Union forces were led by Stephen Burbridge. The goal of this battle was to take control of the saltworks. The battle is most famous for what took place afterwards. After the battle Champ Ferguson disobeyed the orders of George Dibrell, and went on a killing spree. Dibrell was actually reprimanded for Ferguson's actions. He killed over 100 black Union troops who were lying wounded on the battlefield. Ferguson cut up the bodies of the soldiers who were laying dead on the battlefield. By the time he was finished many could not be identified. This would become known as the Saltville Massacre. It was a truly horrific event. Many historians believe that this helped to seal Ferguson's fate. The Battle of Saltville, even though it is considered a "minor battle," is important to our understanding of the Civil War.

Above is a picture of Gen. George Dibrell

Above is a picture of Champ Ferguson

Above is a picture of Gen. Stephen Burbridge

For more information on the Battle of Saltville, I suggest that you check out the book Cumberland Blood by Thomas Mays. Mays gives a very detailed account of the Battle of Saltville.

Since the Battle of Saltville is considered a "minor battle," it does not have a page on the Civil War Trust website.

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William B. Stokes

William B. Stokes was a prominent attorney, politician, and colonel from Temperance Hall, Tennessee. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives and the Tennessee State Senate. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he was placed in command of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry. Stokes worked closely with Governor Andrew Johnson to rid the state of Tennessee of guerrilla warfare. He and his men's biggest goal was to capture or kill the notorious Champ Ferguson. Stokes also allied with Tinker Dave Beaty in an effort to capture or kill Ferguson. Many historians believe that Beaty fought along side Stokes at the Battle of Dug Hill. The Battle of Dug Hill, or Battle of the Calfkiller hurt the military reputation of Stokes. Colonel Stokes lost most of his men in the battle, as they were defeated by the Confederate forces led by General George Dibrell and Champ Ferguson. Stokes and his 5th Tennessee also fought at the Battle of Stones River. After the war ended Stokes lived the rest of his life as an attorney in Alexandria, Tennessee. He was also reelected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Stokes died on March 14, 1897. He is buried in the East View Cemetery in Alexandria.

For more information about Stokes, check out any of the books written about Champ Ferguson.

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The Battle of Shiloh

The Battle of Shiloh was fought on April 6, 1862. Fighting ended on April 7th. The battle is also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. The Battle of Shiloh was a decisive battle in the Civil War. The goal was to be able to control the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. The Union Army led by Ulysses S. Grant had defeated the Confederate forces at Forts Henry and Donelson. They had also been able to seize Nashville. Their goal was to move into the heart of the Confederacy. They eventually reached Shiloh Church in Hardin County. The Confederate army, led by P.G.T Beauregard were already there. The Union army was unaware of this. They set up camp at Shiloh Church. On April 6th the Confederate forces were ready to fight and fought beautifully. They were able to completely surprise the Union army. They launched an all out assault on Grant's forces from Purdy, Tennessee. One thing that hurt the Confederate army was the strategy they used. Many historians believed that their strategy was confusing to many of the soldiers. The all out assault worked however as many of Grant's men retreated to the Tennessee River. The Confederate army suffered a blow however as Lew Wallace managed to lose his entire army at Crump's Landing. As night fell on the first day of the battle the Confederates thought that they had won. They sent a telegram to President Jefferson Davis telling him of their victory. The next day was a different story for both sides. The Union army combined their forces, and they were now had around 45,000 men and they outnumbered the Confederates. Beauregard was unaware of this, and thought he could continue his attack and force Grant to retreat to the river. The fighting became very intense, and Beauregard was forced to retreat back to Shiloh Church. He had lost around 10,000 men during the fighting. He was forced to surrender to Grant. The Union had won the first major battle in Confederate territory. Many historians believe that if Beauregard had been able to recoup his losses from the first day of the battle, then he would have won. Not all of Beauregard's losses were due to death, he also suffered from desertions. Many of these deserters went and joined small guerrilla bands, like Champ Ferguson's. The state of Tennessee was now under complete Union control. The Union army now had a clear path to the heart of the Confederacy. The Battle of Shiloh will be forever known as "Bloody Shiloh," due to the number of casualties suffered by both sides.

Above is a picture of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant

Above is a picture of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard

Above is a picture of the Shiloh Church as it appears today.

Here is the link to the Battle of Shiloh on the Civil War Trust website: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/shiloh.html

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The Battle of New Orleans

The Battle of New Orleans was the final battle of the War of 1812. It occurred on January 8, 1815. The leader of the U.S. forces was Andrew Jackson. The British were led by Edward Pakenham. The battle happened after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed. The treaty was supposed to have ended the war, but that was not the case. The war would continue until around mid-Feburary. The Battle of New Orleans was part of the Louisiana Campaign. This battle, unlike the Civil War battles was fought primarily on the water. The plan was to have a two pronged assault on Jackson's position. Colonel William Thornton was ordered to go up river and attack the batteries that were commanded by Commodore Daniel Patterson. They thought if Patterson's line was open, then the British forces could get to Jackson. This plan looked good on paper, but it did not work out the way that the British had hoped. On the morning of January 8th, fog filled the air. The fog made it difficult for Thornton to navigate his way up the river to attack Patterson. This delay allowed Jackson to attack and defeat the British Highlanders. By the time Thornton had reached Patterson, the ships were already retreating. The next day the British captured Fort St. Philip. They eventually withdrew their forces on January 18th. The U.S. forces had won. This was considered an upset to many, since the U.S. had been  outnumbered by the British. This victory also allowed the U.S. to protect the land that they had acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. The Battle of New Orleans made Andrew Jackson a hero.

Above is a picture of Andrew Jackson commanding his men as they fight the Highlanders.

Above is Andrew Jackson commanding his men at the Battle of New Orleans.

Above is a picture of Andrew Jackson

Above is a picture of Edward Pakenham

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