Battle of Nashville: Shy's Hill and Wrapping Up our Western Swing Trip

Join Kristopher White and Garry Adelman atop Shy's Hill in Nashville, Tennessee, as they detail the Battle of Nashville and bring our Western Theater trip to a close. #NashvilleBattlefieldTour
This video is part of our Battlefield Tour Series covering Civil War Tennessee and Mississippi. View the full playlist here: • Civil War Tennessee/Mi...
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@debramartin7029]

Absolutely fantastic tour you guys have done. It was concise, informative, and entertaining. I thought Eric was a "Garry Adelman of the West" but learned that Garry is an "Eric Jacobson of the East." There is no substitute for a passionate tour guide, they bring history to life. So many do not know the stories of the Western theater and your efforts will go a long way toward that education. Thanks again for a job very well done.

[@kimwhelan1385]

This series was fantastic. I was struck by how similar the topography of Shiloh is to Saratoga in New York. Parker Hill is amazing. As the series went along, Gary and the "C/Kris's" became so comfortable with each other in front of the camera; that dynamic was fun to watch. This was worth the time and money spent.

[@ronaldlemongello6116]

Absolutely amazing videos, as always!! Enthusiasm from Garry, Kris and Chris makes ABT the best! Thanks so much!

[@mikek7986]

Fantastic series--Thanks to all from ABT and the local preservation individuals who took the time to put all of this Civil War history swing together.

[@noelp4916]

Loved it all. Extremely well done to each one of you. Thank you. 🇦🇺

[@wheelerjohnson7767]

Grew up in Green Hills, went to Franklin Road Academy and played football on top of Peach Orchard hill

[@JPP-ej5wp]

Well done gents

[@tinaphillips7239]

Our favorite…. ALL OF IT! From beginning to end! Being from Chattanooga, these battlefields and sites are relatively close to us and we have been to most of them but missed some things along the way. Now we have even more reason to go and see these perfectly preserved and restored battlefields. You all did a fantastic job on this trip and hope y’all come down to Chattanooga and Chickamauga in our neck of the woods soon!

[@charlescollins9413]

I have a ggggrandfather who was killed at Chattanooga he was in the 36th Alabama infantry and was 27 when he was killed. I live in south Alabama 15 miles north of gulf shores and travel to guntersville often and i try to make it to the confederate cemetery there to see his grave but things come up and I’m unable to. If y’all ever go there can y’all see if his grave is there? His name is Hardy Moore.

[@tinaphillips7239]

@@charlescollins9413 we would b happy to. Where is the confederate cemetery located at in guntersville?

[@larrydemaar409]

Parker Hills and Eric Jacobson videos were my favorites. I would like to see new video of Resaca.

[@NoName-qt6wb]

I think its really cool all these civil war battles were fought in the country away from traffic.

[@ericbentz4597]

As much as I love reading books and looking at maps, it just doesn't feel complete. Watching these videos and seeing the locations, the terrain and the visual perspectives is like adding more pieces to a puzzle, creating a more clear picture. Hopefully one day I'll get to physically walk the ground and finish the puzzle. Thanks so much for all the hard work putting these videos together.

[@stevearchtoe7039]

I can’t pick a favorite. They were all great. I think the Franklin restoration is the most impressive and historically significant.

[@earlyriser8998]

Parker Hills videos were gold. To hear a Soldier talk about the battles, and the thinking and approach, was very interesting. I loved how you all brought the deaths and sacrifice of the battles in the west to life and showed how this wasn't the war of Gettysburg but of a hundred/thousand small costly battles. I never knew about Franklin and, if I did it, was just a skirmish in the west. But you tied it to a much larger campaign, and effort to impact the overall war effort. And Eric from the Franklin test personalized it so that you got a small sense of the overall experience.

[@lakinm1]

Thanks guys for such a comprehensive video of the Battle of Nashville and Stones River. I have a direct connection to both battles. My Maternal Great Great Grandfather was with Schofield’s 23rd Corps at not only the Battle of Nashville, but also Atlanta as well. He served with the 6th Tennessee Infantry Company E U.S.A. And my Paternal Great Great Great Grandfather was mortally wounded at the Battle of Stones River. He was in the 29th Tennessee Infantry Company D C.S.A. Thanks for showing me where they fought so many years ago.

[@lizlittle1641]

My favorite is Stone's River. I have never been there and now I must go. Thank you for sharing the Western Theater. I learned about the Eastern Theater during my life but not a lot about the Western. I see its importance in and for the entire war. People need to learn about this portion of the war.

[@kaycox5555]

Wonderful series, I enjoyed every episode! Can't wait for this California native to be able to visit all the battlefield sights!

[@chevy3gm]

Great job. If I had to pick, I would pick the Stones River videos.

[@HerminiePA]

The book definition is that the military crest of a hill is the highest point on a hill from which the bottom can be seen.

[@paulmartinello1302]

I agree with my fellow NEB member Debbie Martin, great job. It was fun reliving my tours of 2019 in Miss. and TN. and my first time in TN back in 2004.

[@paulkeniston5699]

I love your enthusiastic presentation of this engagement of the Civil War in Nashville. Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas is perhaps the most under appreciated victors of the Civil Wat who prevailed so dominantly in these series of battles

[@susiepittman601]

Murfreesboro. Stones river. I used to live there and hiked those trails many times.

[@timfrye3586]

Magnificient. Great Tour. Evernything spectacular . Sherman's first morning at Shiloh. Best moment

[@irishpride1186]

Keep it up boys! Love this channel!

[@greenriverviews6819]

I clicked like before I watched

[@herberthinton1499]

Thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Tragic ending for a once-vaunted fighting force. The carnage at Franklin is still hard to comprehend. The outcome at Nashville was preordained by the frightful losses suffered by Hood at Franklin.

[@davidsachs4883]

Looking forward to your trans Mississippi trip. The battlefields of Missouri and Arkansas. Especially the pea ridge and the red River campaigns

[@mr.billofcourse.2893]

I visited Nashville several years ago. Being from Leesburg, Va. I enjoyed every minute. I have several books on the battle. It was so good, I made a return trip two years later. I am going to Gettysburg early next week before Holloween. The colors should be at full peak by then, if not already.

[@kevindice1092]

My favorite? Seeing the incredible changes at Franklin in 15 years since we visited. Outstanding!

[@CreatorsKid]

Merry Christmas everybody! Happy New Year! And thanks for the history.

[@davegoodridge8352]

You all have made up my mind. Somehow, someway I’m coming to see these places!!

[@brocksargeant1134]

I just drove by there on I-65 today heading home from Alabama and thought about stopping by, but it was too rainy. Might've run into you fellas!

[@Blobinator1993]

Thanks from across the pond! this whole series has been fascinating.

[@JessicaShull1928]

You boys nailed it! Wonderful series!!

[@joeritchie4554]

These tour stops showed me battlefields that I had never heard of. I learned a lot from these videos. Another thing that amazed me is how the confederates in the west did not work well together. They never stood a chance at victory because of their inability to work and coordinate well together.

[@wheelerjohnson7767]

Well done men.

[@timbodemi]

My g-g-grandfather, Private Michael Herrmann, a new recruit in the 5th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was wounded in the charge on Shy's Hill, fighting under Gen. John McArthur (who, I believe, was from Scotland, not Ireland). Thanks for this great video and series!

[@jonlittle6572]

Franklin and Nashville. Tying the parcels together in a informative way. Thankfully I've been to all of these places but nice to see the experts discuss this.

[@chrissmoot7038]

Wonderfully informative tour. All these videos were superb! I would say my favorite were the videos around Spring Hill and Franklin.

[@donl1846]

Hey Gary, thank you and your team for a wonderful job. This series has been fantastic.

[@zulucowboy]

Storytellers bring history to life. You guys do it so well. Thank you for all the work you put in on these videos. I find it fascinating...

[@michaeldenesyk3195]

You guys are awesome! Happy holidays

[@miwinterdays6707]

Awesome job!

[@zachfittro1317]

Thanks guys. Learned a lot! Proud member of the trust.

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

Great series! Saw some new things and stirred some memories of old visits. Been fortunate enough to visit most sites with well known historians and or former rangers and guides. Thanks ABT for all you do!

[@earlyriser8998]

BTW, making an extra donation to the ABT just because of the western swing. It might cover some of the expenses.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks!

[@anglohero6295]

Superb! Have enjoyed every episode on the Western Theater. Thank you Garry, General Parker Hills, and all concerned with this fantastic series. Thank you for your hard work, your commitment and passionate presentation. I too now feel that I have stood upon the hallowed ground which previously have read so much about.

[@chrisdavern9482]

You have done many of these trips over the years this has been the best yet 👍 Have a great Christmas and thanks for all the work you and the American battlefield trust do.

[@Coyjam]

Well done Gentlemen!!! Your enthusiasm is infectious. Keep up the good work.

[@jeffersonmanchild9271]

I live a few hundred yards from shys hill. I got rounds from my backyard i have preserved. This was an amazing spectacle. Federal artillery was spot on at this point.

[@chrisquinn3729]

Excellent series, I learned so much. I particularly enjoyed Franklin, I knew next to nothing about that site. Also, the camera pans at the end of each episode.

[@pelzerd1]

Well done! Really enjoyed the Western Tour. The detailed info about the Battle of Franklin and the tour of the buildings on that battlefield where great! I really appreciate the story telling ability and knowledge of all the guides you brought in. Your maps and Parker’s were very helpful in getting oriented.

[@MorgansRaiders23]

Thank you, Gary, Chris, Chris and all your guest for these great videos of your western swing through Tennessee. If you are ever concerned people won't visit these sites because you have given such a great tour of them, I think anyone who watches these videos and loves history would be MORE likely to want to visit them in person and really get the "feel" for the land and experience those hallowed grounds. I now have those sites on my bucket list to go see.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

We have the same hope. Thanks!

[@edmerkle5688]

Love watching all your videos, with this one being poignant since I live in Nashville near the military cemetary and work on and drive the battle lines daily.

[@Stiglr]

What perfect timing!! Just this week, I finished reading "Embrace An Angry Wind", which details the Nashville "siege" in some detail, as well as the entire Hood Tennessee campaign of late 1864.

[@chestophercolumbo4561]

I think Franklin was my favorite - the virtual death of the Army of Tennessee and the sacrifices of their soldiers in the face of what was by then a lost cause is sad, tragic, and haunting.

[@BemusedHumanist]

Great tour! If I had to choose, I'd give the nod to Stones River. I have never seen anything about the battle there.

[@bobjohnston8316]

Stones River is my favorite, because my ancestor, LTCOL Gilbert C. Kniffin, fought there as a member of GEN Rosecrans staff. I really hope to get out there someday and walk the battlefield. I’m an hour and a half from Gettysburg, but I’ve never visited a western battlefield. Gilbert Kniffin wrote a book on Stones River, BTW. Every once in a while a copy shows up on eBay.

[@moonbeam6585]

Fabulous set of videos! Learned a lot! Thought might be interesting, once y'all have had time to rest and enjoy the holidays, to post a relaxed, behind the scenes video recounting any interesting, odd or humorous things that happened along the way. Will you ever do the same thing along the Liberty Road from Normandy to Bastogne?

[@HighVelocityRips]

I like Kris slapping Doug Douds down 😂

[@jimmyjames9752]

👍

[@billms7448]

Thanks for another nice video. Just wondering when you are going back East and perhaps do one of the South Mountain Battle?

[@MickeyJWind]

Fry was dug up like 40 years ago by grave robbers and it took a bit for people to identify him because his body was in such good condition

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

civil war math cool

[@ramona14220]

@14:04 Did Gary just say y'all ? Better get him back up to Little Round Top quick.

[@jimlofts5433]

"dug in like a flea on a dogs back"

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

The sayings were endless with Parker!

[@LeeHoFooks]

When is the Atlanta campaign going to get some attention ? Rocky Face, Tunnel Hill, Dalton, etc ?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Next year!

[@LeeHoFooks]

@@AmericanBattlefieldTrust ...I will donate some $

[@Heritage_Not_Hate]

How about covering a few battlefield sites in Texas ...Sabine Pass and Palmito Ranch in Brownsville which were both Confederate victories and Palmito Ranch was the very last battle of the Civil War fought in May 1865

[@Heritage_Not_Hate]

Also please do a feature of the Texas Revolution battlefield sites.....The San Jacinto Battlefield with the actual largest monument in the U.S. Fascinating tour to be featured I assure you and the magnitude of that battle for the US....well worth the time spent there ...

[@stevearchtoe7039]

That would be good. My ggg grandfather was in the NO to Galveston Texas campaign.

[@sl5311]

My 3rd g-grandfather David Morford was in the Ohio 95 O.V.I. and was in this battle and also Franklin. I am trying to find out what exactly happened to them and where they were in hand to hand combat.

[@philipduer7669]

The 95th assaulted Shy's Hill in McArthur's Division. It was in the 1st Brigade under McMillen

[@travisbayles870]

Both my great great grandfather and great great great uncle who were in the 32nd Tennessee Infantry CSA fought at both Franklin and Nashville Hood was a poor choice to command the Army of Tennessee

[@johnh.nickels3832]

Good Citizens, Are you going west of the Mississippi River ?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Eventually we shall go back!

[@americanpatriot910]

IMO after Gettysburg the south never smiled again it was downhill after that and only a matter of time before the end

[@delstanley1349]

4:45 The topographical crest versus military crest. Perhaps for the confederacy this is where the price of losing so many generals and leaders at Franklin bears its highest? It was only about a year ago at Chattanooga, just down the road in the same state that the battle of Missionary Ridge took place. The center of the southern line along Missionary Ridge like Shy Hill was deemed "impregnable." However, union troops successfully stormed up the middle of that ridge in large part because the confederate position was at the topographical crest instead of the military crest. Surely these same soldiers would not have made the SAME mistake when going up steep hills! Cleburne who was at that battle among others was now dead at Nashville. Until I saw this video I wasn't familiar enough with the Battle of Nashville and that there was a topographical crest and a military crest issue. Was this an issue at Kennesaw Mountain? Or, did Johnston's victorious officers know better there? It seems to be one of the the main strategic issues when there are confederate defeats. I guess a soldier in the Army of (the) Tennessee (either side) could say he fought from Shiloh (river level) to Shy-high (hill top)!

[@williamsherman7811]

how Chris said Minnesota was weird being from Wisconsin and Minnesota

[@dougcoleman3697]

Brice's Crossroads

[@lloydtomlin3506]

Rookie mistakes? Most of the offices were killed at Franklin, correct?

[@kentkippes5773]

Garry, I have the scoop on the most controversial story ever mentioned from the Civil War bar none. It is about Lincoln's birthplace cabin and if you did the story or research on this you would be astounded. Get a hold of me, leave a message and I'll call you back

[@williamsherman7811]

i heard the rebs had to sleep in mud with no boots or coats

[@kentkippes5773]

Many had no shoes by then (December). The retreat down the road back to Franklin was very bloody because of this

[@ComplexityComplex]

Whoever made the playlist put the videos backwards.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks. That was for people following along live, so they could see the newest video up. It'll be changed soon.

[@jacobpicquet7601]

Minnesota 1st won the battle of shys Hill-

[@jaylandman4359]

No sound in first min of this vid. Is that on purpose?

[@altonbunnjr]

Why do you keep doing the Google maps thing at the start? We know where Tennessee is.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Not everyone follows the trip from beginning to end. For example, they may have the 17th video suggested to them by KZbin so they view that one first.

[@jeffersonmanchild9271]

He is wrong. It's a.p.stewart on hoods left

[@richardpeterson3116]

what about trans mississippii campaigns