- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
* Photo #1
I sent Ranger Jim Lewis an email question last week regarding the cannon positioned outside of the "Slaughter Pen" at the Stones River National Battlefield. During my visit to this NPS venue in 2012, I could not locate the disassembled cannon inside of the "Slaughter Pen" in photo #1. This disassembled cannon was positioned directly behind the historical marker in photo #2. I did observe the same cannon positioned outside of the "Slaughter Pen" on the east side of this battlefield in photo #3.
* Photo #2
* Photo #3
Here is Park Ranger Jim Lewis' response.........
Dear Mr. Bechmann:
Thank you for your interest in Stones River National Battlefield, the site of one of the most important battles in the American Civil War. The cannons that used to lie on the ground at the Slaughter Pen are still there but in a more historically accurate position.
There are no battle accounts that mention any attempt to move cannons through those rocks. The soldiers would have known the terrain well enough to realize any attempt to do so would be futile. Battery G, First Ohio Light Artillery was positioned on the east side of the woods, where the guns stand today, and lost four of its six cannons to damage or capture at that position. The two guns that escaped intact most likely did so along a road cut through the woods by the Pioneer Brigade.
Although the broken down cannons in the rocks were a powerful illustration of the impact of terrain on the battle, we believe that display sometimes led people to mistakenly assume that cannons were in fact damaged that way during the fight. We have added new wayside exhibits and some steel soldier silhouettes so visitors can still appreciate the powerful effect of terrain on the fighting in that area.
If you have any more questions, please write back or call me at 615-893-9501.
Sincerely,
--
Jim Lewis
Park Ranger
Stones River National Battlefield
3501 Old Nashville Highway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Phone: 615-893-9501
Mobile: 615-904-4977
Email: [email protected]
Enjoy,
Bill
I sent Ranger Jim Lewis an email question last week regarding the cannon positioned outside of the "Slaughter Pen" at the Stones River National Battlefield. During my visit to this NPS venue in 2012, I could not locate the disassembled cannon inside of the "Slaughter Pen" in photo #1. This disassembled cannon was positioned directly behind the historical marker in photo #2. I did observe the same cannon positioned outside of the "Slaughter Pen" on the east side of this battlefield in photo #3.
* Photo #2
* Photo #3
Here is Park Ranger Jim Lewis' response.........
Dear Mr. Bechmann:
Thank you for your interest in Stones River National Battlefield, the site of one of the most important battles in the American Civil War. The cannons that used to lie on the ground at the Slaughter Pen are still there but in a more historically accurate position.
There are no battle accounts that mention any attempt to move cannons through those rocks. The soldiers would have known the terrain well enough to realize any attempt to do so would be futile. Battery G, First Ohio Light Artillery was positioned on the east side of the woods, where the guns stand today, and lost four of its six cannons to damage or capture at that position. The two guns that escaped intact most likely did so along a road cut through the woods by the Pioneer Brigade.
Although the broken down cannons in the rocks were a powerful illustration of the impact of terrain on the battle, we believe that display sometimes led people to mistakenly assume that cannons were in fact damaged that way during the fight. We have added new wayside exhibits and some steel soldier silhouettes so visitors can still appreciate the powerful effect of terrain on the fighting in that area.
If you have any more questions, please write back or call me at 615-893-9501.
Sincerely,
--
Jim Lewis
Park Ranger
Stones River National Battlefield
3501 Old Nashville Highway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Phone: 615-893-9501
Mobile: 615-904-4977
Email: [email protected]
Enjoy,
Bill
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