Tour Stop 23: Opening The Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro)

In the three days ending 1862 and beginning 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, resulting in the highest percentage of casualties for both sides of any major battle of the American Civil War.
Garry Adelman, Kristopher White and Dr. Chris Mackowski are joined by special guest Jim Lewis, Chief Ranger of Stones River National Battlefield. #StonesRiverBattlefieldTour #MurfreesboroBattlefieldTour
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.

[@RLSchultheiss]

I made the same Battlefield tour you're currently on with my grandfather before he passed away, though we went further south to Vicksburg. Thanks for bringing back those wonderful memories. And thanks for all the great work you do preserving our nation's history. Well done.

[@SuperPhester]

So glad you are Numbering these. I am learning A LOT, About our Civil War. Thank you for sharing your precious knowledge!!!

[@scottjunge5992]

Jim is a great storyteller and has very good knowledge of the western theater. Thanks guys

[@jumpmaster82nd.]

Thats a battlefield morning! Might be miserable to most but those socked in, damp days carry a great aura on these fields. Always loved that battlefield and love the Federals in their Great Coats!

[@texmexfla]

Liked the maps and the close up view of the interpretive wayside marker at the end. Excellent speakers, too.

[@markanway2525]

Fabulous!!!

[@forrestgreene1139]

I like when these videos are filed at the appropriate time of year.

[@davemartin4183]

Awesome episode and a very enjoyable series

[@buffcwbuff9879]

Just got back from there, it was a great experience. I strongly encourage people visit.

[@jasoneb2006]

I was here in June. Didn’t have time to devote like I did at Shiloh. Thank you for the videos.

[@patrickcummins976]

My G.G. Grandfather Private John G. Cummins fought there as a member of the Union Army's KY. 3rd Volunteer Infantry. I've stood on the very locations of where he was stationed on the battlefield. As well as a location in nearby modern day Smyrna TN. Where he helped capture a bridge held by the Confederates. He survived the Civil war and returned to Kentucky afterward after taking part in a number of vicous battles at Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, and Shermans burning of Atlanta and more.

[@crazya3466]

Great info guys thx 4 all u do!!!

[@bradwartman3647]

What a wonderful series. Great job and kudos to everyone :-).

[@susiepittman601]

I lived in Murfreesboro for several years. Stones River battlefield was my favorite place for walking my dog. It is beautiful, and I often sensed that I was not alone.

[@travisbayles870]

Both my great great grandfather and great great great uncle both in the 32nd Tennessee Infantry CSA fought at Murfreesboro

[@danielpuckett7792]

Thanks!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks for the donation!

[@chancewebster7953]

Great video again.

[@myblasphemouslife9052]

My GGrandfather died in this battle. Daniel C. C. Leonard, 11th Michigan Infantry, Company C. 12-31-1862 Civil War ancestors are here and we say hello to all!

[@bjohnson515]

Keep em comin'

[@nathanfisher1826]

Great job

[@lawrencemyers3623]

Have been fascinated by Stones River ever since reading about it in Catton's "Never Call Retreat" as a kid. Given the surprise by the Confederates along with the incredibly savage and desperate fighting, it reminds me of Shiloh. The mist and overcast skies made for a perfect setting of this video. Thanks for posting.

[@ShutTheMuckUp]

Huh... I stayed in Murfreesboro when I was in Tennessee for the solar eclipse back in 2017. I had no idea there was a battle there.

[@exposethenwo6491]

I have visited here twice as well as Shiloh and Corinth over the past few years.

[@christinawallace2051]

I got to visit this battlefield several years ago with a friend from Kentucky. I was surprised that one of the generals under Braxton Bragg was actually an Anglican priest ( Leonidas Polk ).

[@sharkastic4594]

Polk was actually a bishop.

[@spankthatdonkey]

Great videos!

[@jonathanfreeland9574]

Stones River or Murfreesboro as we refer to it had one of the highest if not the highest percentage of casualties compared to the number of troops involved.

[@SmedleyDouwright]

Did American Battlefield trust skip over the second day at Shiloh?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Good catch. We did not skip it but we did not cover it in order. If you look on the videos I think shot at Shiloh Church and either Pittsburg Landing or grants last line, you will see what coverage we did provide.

[@carollee8823]

In Texas it's pronounced Cleburne not Clayburn.

[@williamsteele1409]

its pronounced Clayburn. his from the same city in ireland as me cork

[@augustreigns9716]

i was here

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

My GG Grandfather was wounded here and captured, Sent to St Louis Prison and signed oath of allegiance

[@jamesbranum1062]

Are y’all making the trip towards Chattanooga after this?

[@kennyb7883]

Some computer graphics would be awesome. Just basic graphics showing troop movements

[@raylast3873]

I have to say this kind of misses the mark in terms of telling us what both Armies are doing here. Yes, the grand strategy is covered, but why are Rosecrans and Bragg fighting over the town of Murpheesboro, how did their armies get here, what what is their campaign objective, how did they view their assignment and with what preconceptions did they go into the engagement? These are all things worth knowing, especially for an engagement like this where it‘s all much less known than with Shiloh or Antietam.

[@charlesbelser158]

Referencing Kristopher's brief comment pertaining to Antietam; it was a "stalemate" not a Yankee victory ( even with the Union outnumbering Lee 2-1 at least). The only success by McClellan at Antietam was to convince Lee to not proceed farther but Lee definitely made his point ( although the Marylanders did not rise up as one on the side of the south as hoped). Revisiting the discussion of " strategic" vs "tactical" victory might be in order but that one is definitely not cut and dried. That is why many have settled on the conclusion of "stalemate" . I lean towards the south due to what Lee did with what he had available which was a great accomplishment.

[@skymagruder5270]

There’s no consolation prizes in the war. I’m no AoP guy and Little Mac should’ve done more, sure, but stopping an offensive is a W in my book every day. Add in the political victory this allowed Lincoln, there’s no way Antietam can be considered a strategic Confederate victory.

[@charlesbelser158]

@@skymagruder5270 , many astute historians have agreed that it was a " tactical" Confederate victory and a strategic Union victory calling it basically a tie . Lincoln definitely exaggerated with the assistance of the northern press and utilized the propaganda along with the tactical politically driven duplicitous emancipation proclamation to resurrect northern sentiment.

[@skymagruder5270]

@@charlesbelser158 show your cards.. which side do you fancy?

[@pigybak]

Same Bragg as in Ft Bragg???

[@SmedleyDouwright]

I think so. There was a controversy before the 2020 US elections about renaming US military bases because they were named after Confederate Generals.

[@rchrdjms62]

Stones River was the last or most recent battlefield I have visited. I believe that the way with which the battlefields speak of History we might as well bulldoze them all and allow development to occur. At Stones River for instant, one would never know any Confederates had been there. I exaggerate but only a little bit. It'll mention Yankee General position blah blah blah but one gets the impression you're visiting the Yankee Battlefield. At Shiloh, the Confederate dead are still buried in trenches like dogs. It is almost a sacrilege that Robert E Lee and other great people's statues have been removed from the heart of the Confederacy in Richmond and elsewhere. I would find out one other thing and that is that the Yankee troops, except at Gettysburg, were the Invaders. How much more oppressive can it get than federal troops be used against its own people?

[@johnresto1603]

This is the site for this.

[@jared7964]

"History is the victor's tale."

[@rchrdjms62]

@@jared7964 yes it is. And somebody else said "nobody ever asked the winners if they were right."

[@mrkitty1367]

another goodun

[@alanstrong3295]

Another costly battle. So much was against the elements.

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

You were in Corinth and didn't swing by Brices Cross Roads.... SMH

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Don’t speak too soon. We are presenting them in chronological order!

[@chrisgoehring7732]

You can’t see where the ranger is exposing the moves, I was just there last week and wanted to see more details but showing maps of ant read while the ranger explains is off putting

[@clarkbuckner4900]

J lo... Really?

[@tumbleweed2240]

Very poignant band story. 🙏🏻

[@chrisgoehring7732]

Showing pics is a waist of time let te ranger talk!