Historical Markers - Military Sites
Visit Civil War Sesquicentennial for additional Civil War Markers.
Battle of Nashville - Assault on the Barricade
During the retreat from Nashville, Colonel Edmund Rucker’s brigade attempted to block the Union pursuit by erecting a barricade of fence rails and logs across Granny White Pike, ½ mile south of this spot. During the ensuing night attack by Union cavalry, fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place until the position finally was overrun around midnight, with Rucker wounded and then captured.
Donated by Richland Country Club
Location: Granny White Pike
Erected: 2008
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Battle of Nashville - Confederate Final Stand, December 16, 1864
After the withdrawal from the main Confederate line at Peach Orchard Hill, Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee formed a battle line across Franklin Pike 400 yards east of here with 200 men from the remnants of Brig. Gen. Henry Clayton’s division and two cannons from the Eufaula Light Artillery. This last line of defense halted the Federal pursuit for the night as the Confederate army retreated through the hills to the southwest.
Location: 827 Tyne Blvd.
Erected: 2008
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Battle of Nashville - Confederate Line
Trenches about 20ft. N of this point, held by Loring’s Division, were the center of the Confederate main line before the Battle of Nashville. On Dec. 15, 1864, Redoubt #1, a key artillery salient 200 yds. NW, fired on Federal forces until overrun by General Wood’s troops late in the day, when Confederates retreated toward Granny White Pike.
Location: 1808 Woodmont Boulevard
Erected: 1992
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Battle of Nashville - Federal Main Line
On Dec., 16, 1864, the Federal 16th Corps under Gen. A.J. Smith joined the 23rd Corps under John M. Schofield at this point. From this line at about 4:00 p.m. the 1st Brigade of Gen. John McArthur’s 1st Div. launched the assault that broke the confederate line at the salient on Shy’s Hill to the south which resulted in the rout of Hood’s Army.
Location: 4515 Shy’s Hill Road
Erected: 1975
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Battle of Nashville — Peach Orchard Hill
On Dec., 16, 1864, Gen. S.D. Lee’s Corps, Army of Tennessee, held this right flank of Hood’s defense line which ran south along the crest of this ridge. Violent artillery fire and infantry attacks by the corps of Wood & Steedman failed to dislodge the defenders who withdrew only after the collapse of the Confederate left and center in late afternoon.
Location: N side of Harding Pl. E of Franklin Rd.
Erected: 1970
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Battle of Nashville — Shy's Hill
On this hill was fought the decisive encounter of the Battle of Nashville December 16, 1864. At 4:15 p.m. a Federal assault at the angle on top of the hill broke the Confederate line. Col. W. M. Shy, 20th Tenn. Inf. was killed and Gen.T. B. Smith was captured. The Confederates retreated over the Overton Hills to the Franklin Pike.
Location: W side of Benton Smith Rd,
S of Harding Pl @ bottom of Shy’s Hill Tl.
Erected: 1968
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Battle of Nashville — Stewart's Line
Loring’s division of Stewart’s Corps, Hood’s confederate Army of Tennessee, fought behind this stone wall Dec. 16, 1864. All Federal attacks were beaten back until the Confederate line was broken a mile to the west. The division retreated south through the hills toward Brentwood.
Location: E side of Lealand Ln S of Battery Ln @ old Kirkman Lane.
Erected:1968
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Blackwood Field
In 1921 the State rented land west of Shute Lane and erected two hangars here for the 105th Observation Squadron, Tennessee National Guard. The airfield of about 100 acres was named for H. O. blackwood, who gave $1,000 to aid the project. the first airmail flight from Nashville was from here to Chicago July 29, 1924. Airplanes used the field until 1928.
Location: Hermitage, on Shute Lane 0.3 miles n of Lebanon Rd.
Erected: 1970
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Dry-Stack Stone Walls
Dry-stack stone walls, a Scots-Irish building tradition adapted by slaves in the early 19th century, were common throughout middle Tennessee. During the 1864 Battle of Nashville, Brigadier General Henry Jackson was captured at this wall on the Middle Franklin Turnpike after the Confederate line collapsed at Shy’s Hill.
Location: 4708 Granny White Pk
Erected: 2008
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First Airfield
E. L. Hampton’s pasture became “Hampton Field” when transient airplanes began landing here during the first World War. About 2,000 feet long from here west, bonded north and south by Golf Club Lane and Woodmont Boulevard, it continued in use as Nashville’s first airfield about five years until the opening of Blackwood Field in 1921.
Location: 2305 Hampton Avenue
Erected: 1970
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Fort Negley Site
The guns of Fort Negley, commanding three turnpikes to the South & Southeast, opened the Battle of Nashville, Dec. 15, 1864. this site was selected by Capt. J.S. Morton as the key strongpoint in the Federal line around the city. The European style fort named for General James S. Negley, was built of stone, logs, earth and railway iron.
Location: Chestnut St & Ridley Avenue
Erected: 1975
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McConnell Field
In 1927 the City bought 131 acres from Warren Sloan and made this the Nashville airport, named for Lieut. Brower McConnell, Tennessee National Guard pilot who died that year in an air crash. the hangars were 50 yards east. Aircraft outgrew the field in the 1930s and moved to Sky Harbor and Berry Field. the Park Board began the golf course in 1939.
Location: Murphy Rd. by clubhouse in McCabe Park
Erected 1970
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