Stones River

The Battle of Stones River might be the most important battle of the Civil War that you’ve never heard of. Pitting 80,000 men against each other, General Rosecrans’ costly Union victory over General Bragg here at Murfreesboro, Tennessee as 1862 turned to 1863 gave teeth to the Emancipation Proclamation and established a Union foothold in the South that would become a base of operations for the remainder of the war. Portions of Stones River National Battlefield were first preserved by the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway and later expanded as a National Military Park in 1927 before coming to the National Park Service in 1933.

Visitor Rating (write your own review below)

ILNP Rating

ILNP Park Review

Our Visit. I visited Stones River National Battlefield, TN in May as part of a visit to Nashville

Our Weather. mid 70s and sunny

Overall Impression. The natural beauty and peace of Stones River National Battlefield, on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, belie the bloody battle that took place here more than 150 years ago. The park is a balance of historical and natural with many visitors preferring its peaceful trails and grassy knolls to the historical markers and displays. Whatever your reason for visiting, its a great place to learn about an important event in America’s history while enjoying the serenity of Tennessee’s rolling hills, green grass and thick woods.

The Union delayed the Confederate advance by hiding and fighting among these rocks later called the “Slaughter Pen” for the carnage that ensued

Visiting. If you’re just looking to learn about the battle, plan on spending at least 60 minutes in the park. In this time, you’ll have a chance to browse the small but excellent museum in the Visitors Center and drive to at least the first 5 historic sites within the boundary of the main park where you’ll learn about the main battle that occurred on December 31st, 1862. Each of the sites can be reached by car but require a short hike to reach the markers and actual sites of the battle. In addition to the excellent signs, I found the narrated audio tour available on the National Parks App to be very informative at each step of the journey. The sites go in chronological order of the battle, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping around. My favorite site was the Slaughter Pen (site 2) where you can walk among the low maze of rocks in the woods that soldiers fought among in some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle.

This is the first stop on the battlefield tour where Union troops camped awaiting battle

If you have more time, consider walking the 2.2 mile Battlefield Trail to see the first four sites. It’s an easy and level hike on crushed gravel and asphalt, and I was able to complete the trail, including excursions through the sites and markers, in less than an hour. If you’re looking for a hiking experience further from any crowds, you can take the more primitive 2.8 mile Boundary Trail. Once you’ve visited the first four sites in the main area of the park, it’s a short jaunt down the road to visit Stones River National Cemetery where many Civil War dead are buried and the Hazen Brigade site where a small Union force dug in along the railroad devastated a Confederate advance in what became known as “Hell’s Half Acre.” The monument here, erected in 1863, is one of the earliest monuments of the Civil War.

Many dead from the Civil War are buried in Stones River National Cemetery on the battlefield

With a little more time, drive to McFadden Farm which is on the north side of the railroad. This is the site of the last major action of the battle on January 2nd, 1863 when Union artillery atop the hill here pushed back the last Confederate advance across Stones River. Here you’ll find the Artillery Monument erected by the railroad and a trail that takes you down to Stones River and a trail that connects with city trails along the river. Finally, if you have extra time, you can drive into town and visit parts of the earthworks, including Redoubt Brannan, that once made up Fort Rosecrans, a major Union supply depot erected after the battle.

Suggestions. If you’re wanting to know more about the history, make sure you leave enough time for the museum to get a good feeling for the backdrop of events that made this battle important. Also, make sure you download the NPS app before you get there so you can listen to the audio tour (I was able to download it via cell service, but don’t risk it). If you’re driving or hiking Battlefield trail, keep an eye out for runners and bikers as this is a popular area for these activities. Also, be careful when pulling into or out of the small parking areas for the auxiliary sites like Hazen Brigade as the road here is two lanes and busy with no turn lanes and small parking lots.

Nearby Towns Murfreesboro, Nashville (TN)

Other Nearby Attractions Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Mammoth Cave National Park

Official NPS Website Stones River National Battlefield

Write Your Own Review