Stones River National Battlefield

rickvox79

First Sergeant
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Location
Pace, FL
I was hoping to go to the Shiloh battlefield in December possibly and thought about trying to stop by the Stones River battlefield on the second day. Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that it was a smaller battlefield (in terms of what is still preserved) and thought I'd ask here. May try to mix in a visit to Franklin as well since both of those are pretty close. Thanks for any thoughts or recommendations!
 
Franklin and Stones River, about an hour apart and both easily doable in one day.
 
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I was hoping to go to the Shiloh battlefield in December possibly and thought about trying to stop by the Stones River battlefield on the second day. Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that it was a smaller battlefield (in terms of what is still preserved) and thought I'd ask here. May try to mix in a visit to Franklin as well since both of those are pretty close. Thanks for any thoughts or recommendations!
Shiloh takes more than a day unless you're willing to skim.

I was not impressed with Stone's River, but there we did skim.

Just giving my views. Others' may vary.
 
I was hoping to go to the Shiloh battlefield in December possibly and thought about trying to stop by the Stones River battlefield on the second day. Seems like I read on the forum somewhere that it was a smaller battlefield (in terms of what is still preserved) and thought I'd ask here. May try to mix in a visit to Franklin as well since both of those are pretty close. Thanks for any thoughts or recommendations!

I visited Spring Hill, Thompson's Station, Franklin and Stones River battlefields in one day. Next time, I would definitely make this a two day trip. Make sure you visit the Civil War sites in and near the town of Murfreesboro (especially the Evergreen Cemetery). Here is my video of the Stones River NPS park and the town of Murfreesboro.........

 
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I had relatives at both Stones River and Franklin, so it was a must see for me. Both are fairly small. There are some really interesting places at Stones River though the Slaughter Pen probably being one of the most unique places I have seen on any battlefield.

The best thing I can suggest for you is to not set your expectations for either place too high.
 
This is a past picture of the Slaughter Pen with disabled cannons.........

slaughter pen.jpg


This is my picture I took last year of the same (assembled) cannons now placed outside of the Slaughter Pen.

slaughter pen 2.jpg


I asked a NPS Ranger why they placed the cannons outside of the Slaughter Pen. The Ranger stated, "Because we can not find one shred of evidence that the cannons were ever inside of the pen during this conlflict."
 
Thanks for all the advice and pictures. I have relatives that were at Stone's River so that makes it more interesting for me even if its a smaller park. Just picked up a book on the battle to study up more on it.
 
Thanks for all the advice and pictures. I have relatives that were at Stone's River so that makes it more interesting for me even if its a smaller park. Just picked up a book on the battle to study up more on it.


Hey Rick,
I'd suggest spending a day at Shiloh, drive north to Spring Hill and Franklin for a day. Then over to Stones River/Mboro for a day.
If you'll PM me a week or so prior to your visit I'd be happy to give fill you in on the must see list for each.
 
A lot of the Stones River battlefield hasn't been preserved.....what is there is worth seeing, it's just a lot smaller than Shiloh or Chickamauga. I also remember wandering through an old cemetery in Murfreesboro that was quite interesting.....I think it was the Evergreen Cemetery....we were staying at a B&B nearby and just exploring the old part of town.
 
Thanks for all the advice and pictures. I have relatives that were at Stone's River so that makes it more interesting for me even if its a smaller park. Just picked up a book on the battle to study up more on it.

The truly sad thing about Stones River is that the battle itself was as big and important as Shiloh with comparable casualties, but it just "fell through the cracks" of Civil War history when time came to commemorate it. If it hadn't been for the activities of Hazen and his Brigade Association creating their own memorial and Murfreesboro's central location making it a desirable place for a National Cemetery I doubt there would've been any more effort than at nearby Franklin. Part of that lies I think in the fact that Stones River was so overshadowed for the Confederates by Fredericksburg and that Rosecrans' career "went south" both literally and figuratively so soon afterwards at Chickamauga. Nobody was much interested in a somewhat indecisive battle fought between two second-rate armies led by the likes of Braxton Bragg and Old Rosey!
 
Hey Rick,
I'd suggest spending a day at Shiloh, drive north to Spring Hill and Franklin for a day. Then over to Stones River/Mboro for a day.
If you'll PM me a week or so prior to your visit I'd be happy to give fill you in on the must see list for each.

Thanks, I had two 3rd gen great-uncles in the 6th Indiana Infantry that fought at Shiloh and Stone's River. So I am definitely looking forward to checking out both battlefields. Just got my trailhead graphics map in the mail today so I am going over it and studying up before I go.
 
Thanks, I had two 3rd gen great-uncles in the 6th Indiana Infantry that fought at Shiloh and Stone's River. So I am definitely looking forward to checking out both battlefields. Just got my trailhead graphics map in the mail today so I am going over it and studying up before I go.

Just remember that Shiloh is only twenty miles from Corinth and that easily deserves half a day or more by itself! ( As well as providing a "base of operations" of motels and restaraunts from which to visit Shiloh which has NO facilities. )
 
Mind if I interrupt on a completely unrelated topic? I can't figure where the link is to post a new topic. Some advice would be appeciated. Sorry to hijack the thread - I wouldn't be here if it wasn't interesting.
 
Mind if I interrupt on a completely unrelated topic? I can't figure where the link is to post a new topic. Some advice would be appeciated. Sorry to hijack the thread - I wouldn't be here if it wasn't interesting.

Go to the main page of the forum you want to post it under and you'll see the "button" at top titledPost New Thread.
 
Do not forget Ft. Donnelson. A very underated national park. It should only take you a few hours to go through the park and the surrounding area. Don't forget the Dover Hotel. It is small and unassuming. Hard to believe over 8,000 confederates were down below being shipped to northern prisons. It is only a couple of hours drive from Shiloh on a nice 2 lane road with lots of spots marked by historical markers and preserved areas with a visitor center. Take a couple minutes and stop.
 
Thanks for all the advice and pictures. I have relatives that were at Stone's River so that makes it more interesting for me even if its a smaller park. Just picked up a book on the battle to study up more on it.

Its a smaller park, but I thought it was quite nice, their visitor center was nice as well..
 
This is a past picture of the Slaughter Pen with disabled cannons.........

View attachment 23580

This is my picture I took last year of the same (assembled) cannons now placed outside of the Slaughter Pen.

View attachment 23582

I asked a NPS Ranger why they placed the cannons outside of the Slaughter Pen. The Ranger stated, "Because we can not find one shred of evidence that the cannons were ever inside of the pen during this conlflict."
Nice photo of the Wiard cannon.
 
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