Battle of Nashville & Beyond

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Franklin Civil War Hospital and Barracks

 

Oldest Episcopal Church in Tennessee

510 West Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
615-790-0527

“St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded on August 27, 1827 in a room of the Hiram Masonic Lodge #7 in Franklin, Tennessee. The church edifice was not started until 1831 and when completed in 1834 it was called a “three-decker” building which included the nave, slave galleries, and undercroft. 

When the War Between the States commenced the church closed its doors and the rector of St. Paul’s resigned and joined the Confederate Army of Tennessee.  In February of 1862 with the fall of Ft. Donelson, Franklin became occupied by Union soldiers who used the church as a barracks.  Being winter, the pews and pipe organ were burned for firewood. The interior columns were damaged to build watering troughs for the horses and this evidence is still visible today.  The fair linen became saddlecloths for the commanders’ horses.  Fortunately, the altar silver and Parish Register were saved—but only because they had been buried across the street.

Following the bloody Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, St. Paul’s was used as a hospital for wounded troops—first by the Federals and then later by the Confederates.  When it was all over, nothing much more than the thick walls were left intact.

After the war, the church was used as a carpenter’s shop and a stable for horses!  It was rat-infested in 1869 when Reverend Bradley from Memphis made plans to restore the sacred place.  He went across the country collecting donations and returned with nearly $2,000 in gold (a small fortune for the day).  The back taxes now having been paid, the roof was lowered as they removed the slave galleries that were no longer needed and the bricks were recycled to build Founder’s Hall behind the church to be used as a rectory for the priest’s family. St. Paul’s was re-consecrated in 1871 by Bishop Charles Todd Quintard who succeeded Bishop Otey, who had died during the war.  Later, in 1902, the church won a lawsuit against the United States government for damages sustained during the Civil War and was awarded a judgment of nearly $2,000”… read more about St. Paul’s

Virtual 360º Perspective


#civilwarchurch

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Minnesota Monument

Battle of Nashville:

The Nashville National Cemetery Minnesota Monument in 3D.

*the model takes a moment to render

Minnesota Monument by Aerial 3D360 on Sketchfab

More Minnesotans died in the Battle of Nashville, the last major battle of the Civil War, than any other. 150 years later, a delegation travelled to Nashville to explore the roles of Minnesota regiments in the decisive Battle of Nashville in December 1864.

USCT Monument

Shy’s Hill Virtual Tour

Minnesota State Capitol Virtual Tour

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Spring Hill Cemetery

Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville:

The Nashville National Cemetery actually has it’s origins from the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison Tennessee.

The history of Spring Hill dates back to the 1780s when the first settlers moved in from the Cumberland settlement into an area six miles east of Nashville called Haysboro. The land offered fertile soil for their crops and a plentiful steady water source from several springs. Needing a church and school, James Robertson persuaded the Princeton educated Reverend Thomas B. Craighead of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, to move to Haysboro as a preacher and teacher. With a promise of 640 acres of land he arrived in 1785. The settlers had built a log house on the property for him and his family.

Spring Hill Cemetery is a cemetery located at 5110 Gallatin Pike South in the Nashville, Tennessee neighborhood of Madison, Tennessee.

Prior to the establishment of the cemetery, the Davidson Academy (a precursor to the University of Nashville) was located in a stone house at this location.[1]

In addition to two British Royal Air Force veterans of World War II[2] and circus performer Ella Harper,[3] the cemetery is the final resting place for numerous notable music performers including the following:

360º of Spring Hill Cemetery:

5110 Gallatin Pike S, Nashville, TN 37216

#springhillcemetery

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Born to Battle

Back-water Generals: Forrest and Grant 

 

The focus of this insightful book is not about the battlefield accomplishments of these well know generals, it’s about two elite military commanders that came form nowhere, and how they rose to prominence. This 2012 book signing event at Landmark Booksellers, was author Jack Hurst’s commentary of what may have molded these two opposing American Civil War generals. Grant and Forrest had much in common: humble beginnings and many early challenges in life.

“If opportunity knocks, you better have your hand on the door knob”

#grant #forrest #civilwar

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U.S.C.T. Statue

Honoring the United States Colored Infantry (U.S.C.I.)

 

The Civil War Monuments issue should take 180º turn. It’s time to honor the contributions of the 13th USCT in the Battle of Nashville. Fort Negley Park would be ideal for it’s location. The fort was constructed by African Americans, including the USCT. The grounds around the fort were “contraband camps” of Black refugees from around the region. Some may still be buried there.

Fort Negley Park is currently under threat of commercial development.

 The time is now to act and honor this page of American history. Save the park and honor the USCT.

 

USCT Monument by Aerial 3D360 on Sketchfab

 

The 13th USCT

Five color bearers of the 13th U.S.C.I. — carrying a flag with its origin:  “Presented by the Colored Ladies of Murfreesboro” — were shot down before their banner was captured. The regiment lost 40 percent of its men, the highest casualty rate of the battle of Nashville.  

The 13th U.S.C.T. was comprised of 20 officers and 556 men, most of whom had been enslaved in Tennessee. Ordered to assault Peach Orchard Hill during the battle, after many white Union regiments had failed, the 13th U.S.C.T. was slaughtered by the Confederate troops defending the hill. Yet in undertaking this task these freed slaves, untried in fierce combat, won in their deaths the admiration of friend and foe alike…read more

Blood Proof: USCT and the Battle of Nashville

#usct #usci #nashville