Stones River

[Borderruffian]

Good Lord willin and criks don't rise. I'll be spending the Christmas Holidays in Murfreesboro with my parents. I've visited Stones River several times over the years but the last time was nearly 5 years ago. I was wondering if any of you highly informed gentlemen/women had any advice for this time around?

[blue_zouave]

Before you go, read "No Better Place to Die" by Peter Cozzens. It's not as thick as his Chickamauga book.

Zou

[Borderruffian]

I've got it and McDounoghs (sp) Bloody Winter in Tennesee that Ill be rereading over the next couple of weeks.

[richard]

Please ask the park guides at the information center why they have a large photograph of Henry Campbell on display there. Henry was a 16 boy from Indiana when he joined the 18th Indiana Light Artillery. Although Campbell and the 18th spent the winter of 1862,1863 in Murfreesboro with the rest of Wilders men, they were never involved in the battle of Stones River.

While you are there, take about a 10 min drive down US 41 south to the area of Hoovers Gap and visit the Confederate Cemetary there. The cemetary is the location of the battle of Hoovers Gap. Have a great trip.

[larry_cockerham]

If you have time ask ranger Lewis about the Battle of the Cedars fought December 7, 1864 near the Stones River Battlefield of 1863. Forrest and Bates against Rousseau and Milroy.

[Borderruffian]

Well my plans were changed as my wife couldn't take off over Christmas. Good news is I'm leaving early tommorrow morning and will be in the 'Boro for New Year's and the anniversry of the battle.

Richard years ago I dated a young thing who lived in the area of Hoovers Gap and I've been by it and to cemetary many times. But now that I think about it yes it will be worth a trip this time also.

[larry_cockerham]

For the past few weeks, I've been assisting with civil engineering drawings for a new regional hospital to be constructed on part of the battlefield for both the Stones River and Battle of the Cedars struggles. At least the hospital will save a few lives in the future and a greenway through part of the site as well as stormwater management areas will preserve the memory of at least a fragment of this area. After 143 years, no one seems to be too worried about preserving our past. Maybe I'm just getting old. Many young folks will pass this site in the future without a clue. I think the soldiers who gave their blood on some of these sites deserve to be at least acknowledged for their trouble and in many cases the sacrifice of their life for support of their reason for fighting, whatever that might have been. Much work left to be done in educating those to follow us.

[richard]

Larry, as you and others are well aware of my efforts to set historical markers, yes more to come, when you can't stop "progress" then you can at least try to mark the past.