Braxton Bragg

Braxton Bragg was the commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. He was commander for a little over a year. His effectiveness as a general is questioned by many. He was a West Point graduate, and gained his first military experience in the Seminole and Mexican Wars. In 1856, he retired from the military and became a planter. When the Civil War broke out, Jefferson Davis, whom Bragg fought with during the Mexican War, made him a brigadier general. Davis held Bragg in such high regard, because he saved his life during the Mexican War. Bragg eventually moved up the ranks and became a general. His task was to take back Tennessee for the Confederacy. Most of Bragg's men wanted him removed from command, due to his ineptness, but Davis would have none of it. It is believed that Bragg accidentally shot one of his men. Bragg was a very "by the book" commander. After his crucial "tactical" victory at Stones River, Bragg retreated due to the fact that he feared the river was rising, and he did not want to be trapped. In doing this he basically gave up Middle Tennessee, as well as all the momentum he had. To be fair to Bragg, his staff members suggested doing this. Following this incident, Bragg's senior generals Leonidas Polk, and William Hardee requested he be relieved of his duties. After retreating from Stones River, Bragg and his men went to Chattanooga. Bragg passed up a golden opportunity to "smash" the Union forces. Instead he let them retreat to Chattanooga. Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was at the battle, said to Bragg:
You have played the part of a damned scoundrel, and are a coward, and if you were any part of a man I would slap your jaws and force you to resent it. You may as well not issue any orders to me, for I will not obey them. . . I say to you that if you ever again try to interfere with me or cross my path it will be at the peril of your life.
Jefferson Davis continued to stick with Bragg, moving those who did not like him to different commands. Bragg was eventually fired by Joseph Johnston after the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Bragg was given a military advisory role with Jefferson Davis. After the war was over Bragg went home, where he lived out the rest of his days as a civil engineer. Braxton Bragg has gone down in history as one of the worst generals of the Civil War, and the most hated man of the Confederacy.

The book above is the latest book about Braxton Bragg. I won't comment much about it, since I haven't had the chance to read it. Based on reviews it is highly regarded by historians.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond. Go check out the Moore Historical Consulting page for all your historical research needs.

Capshaw Elementary School

Capshaw Elementary School has one of the richest histories of any school in Putnam County. It was founded in 1939, as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. The school was named for Robert Byrd Capshaw, whose farm, the school was constructed on. Capshaw was a prominent attorney in Cookeville, and was also one of the men responsible for the founding of Dixie College (now Tennessee Tech University). He died in 1928, so he never got to see the school bearing his name. The original school was constructed in 1909, and served as the home of the school for seventy-two years. The mascot was a cobra, later changed to a cougar. In 2002, a new school was constructed behind the old one. The original school was then razed, but the front entrance was left standing. Capshaw Elementary's history is second to none, and the legacy of Robert Byrd Capshaw continues to live on through the school named in his honor.

The original Capshaw Elementary School building, constructed in 1939. 

Robert Byrd Capshaw, namesake of Capshaw Elementary, and prominent Cookeville attorney.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond. Be sure to check out the section of the blog on Moore Historical Consulting.

A Brief History of Henry Algood and his Drug Store

This is a history that I wrote for Moore Historical Consulting's first client.

     Henry Algood was a descendant of one of Putnam County’s first families. They settled in the northeast portion of the county as early as 1857. In 1893, Henry Algood’s father Joel sold his land to Alexander Crawford and his Nashville and Knoxville Railroad. A railroad depot was constructed, and eventually the town “Algood,” named for Joel, was born. Henry became a prominent citizen and businessman in Cookeville. Around the turn of the century, he established Henry Algood Drugs. The drug store was located on the western side of Cookeville’s courthouse square. Algood was one of the first pharmacists to sell fitted eye glasses. Algood was also one of two members of the Bank of Cookeville’s board of directors. It is unknown how long the drug store was in operation, but it was one of the first in Cookeville. 

     The building that housed Henry Algood Drugs, is located at 17 South Jefferson Avenue, next door to the iconic Cookeville Arcade Building. The structure was constructed no later then 1890, making it the oldest on the block. Based on photographs, it can be determined that the structure falls into the category of “Italianate storefront.” This is true based on the ornamental features toward the roof of the building. The “Italianate storefront” style was a very popular architectural style for commercial buildings from 1850 to the mid 20th century. Not much is known about the businesses that inhabited the structure after Henry Algood, but based on oral accounts of those who have grown up in Cookeville, the building was home to various other businesses such as law practices, a restaurant, and also housed Congressman Bart Gordon’s office. This building is one of the oldest on the square, and even though it has undergone many changes in tenants, its history rivals that of any other structure around it.

Picture of the Henry Algood Drug Store looking south on Jefferson Avenue. The building is the next to last one. This picture is from the 1930s/1940s.

Picture of the Henry Algood Drug Store from the 1980s.

The Henry Algood Drug Store building as it appears today.

The interior of the Henry Algood Drug Store building.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond. Remember to check out the section of the blog devoted to Moore Historical Consulting.

Monterey Depot

The Monterey Depot is located at milepost 108.4 of the old Tennessee Central Railway route. The town has seen three buildings serve as the depot. It is unknown when the first structure was built, but it burned in 1902. It was not replaced until the late 1920s. Monterey served as the home base for the TC repair shops. The town of Monterey was vital due to its coal mines. The railroad helped the mines to transport their coal across the country. Monterey also was home to a 100,000 gallon water tower as well as a coal hopper. Monterey was important to the TC because it was the central point of the eastern division. This meant that instead of locomotives and other rolling stock having to be taken to Nashville for maintenance, the tasks could be performed at Monterey. Most of the shops were destroyed by fire in 1949. They were replaced by a single metal shed. To get to the coal mines, trains had to take the Crawford Branch Line up to Wilder. The city of Monterey, and their coal mines were not easy to get to, and required trains to double up on locomotives. Monterey also served as a crew change point for mainline freight trains coming from cities such as Nashville, or Cookeville. When the Tennessee Central went bankrupt in 1968, the Louisville and Nashville railroad purchased the Monterey Depot, as well as the Crawford Branch Line. The tracks were removed from Monterey to Harriman, making Monterey the end of the line. At some point along the way, the Depot was demolished. The town of Monterey went without a depot for many years. A sand quarry was formed in the area, with Nashville and Eastern trains hauling sand to and from it. But there was no Depot. Finally, in 2011 ground was broken and a replica of the old depot was completed in February 2012. This new Depot also serves as the Monterey History Museum. While not as unique and stately as the Cookeville Depot, the Monterey Depot is a structure that the citizens of Monterey can be proud of.

Inside the Monterey Depot Museum sits a railway maintenance vehicle. This vehicle would have been used to go down both the main and branch lines and inspect the tracks. 

The Monterey Depot Museum recently acquired an unrestored Tennessee Central Dining Car.

The old Tennessee Central Coal Hopper is still standing.

The old Monterey Depot and the new one bear a strong resemblance.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond, and don't forget to check out the section of the blog devoted to Moore Historical Consulting.