Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery. It was there that I stumbled onto a grave that had two tombstones, old & new. The new claimed that the man had served in the Confederate army, giving his unit. The old stone, flat to the ground, revealed that he had been enslaved. The mystery of this alleged “Black Confederate soldier” led to my first ECW guest post, “A Tale of Two Tombstones.” The rest, as they say, is history.
I am torn between Shiloh and Franklin. Shiloh because it was General Grant’s break-out battle, Franklin because of Hood’s decisions that resulted in the deaths of (among others) six Confederate generals, including one of my favorites — Patrick Cleburn.
I don’t get out that way much. I like the Orchard Knob Knoll. Somehow it survived megalomaniaism of generations of property developers, yea us. There was a small battle to capture it in 1863. You can look over at Missionary Ridge, and say to your right, whether someone is standing there or not, “Who ordered that charge?”
The Round Forest and Stones River National Cemetery area is some of the more evocative terrain I’ve come across. Honorable mention to Missionary Ridge and Shiloh.
One of the reasons that I would choose Shiloh is because the area is still rural so there is a feeling of being in the era. Although there is still much that could be preserved, I like this site because unlike some others lose visual appear must be imagined, should I lose still has the ability to set us back in time
Shiloh is a great battlefield and has the bonus of being 20 minutes or so from the Buford Pusser Home and Museum. It is still open despite the fact that the Walking Tall legend was a fraud who murdered his wife according to a recent state police investigation. If you think Civil War controversies are heated, take a look at the Pusser case.
Lookout Mountain with the tram ride and the view of seven state at the top! Plus staying in a train car hotel make it the most fun for a battlefield but the Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh is the most unexplainable site on any battlefield! You can still hear the minie balls wizzing bye with a slight wind! Franklin gets honorable mention with a the tragic story of Confederate soldier Todd Carter’s death yards from his boyhood home front door!
The Jack Daniel’s Distillery. While it didn’t officially exist yet in the War years, the War did heavily influence the people and events that would have such an impact on it. It’s an interesting story.
This is a difficult question to answer. The Tennessee battlefields offer some of the most unique places in Civil War history. The pristine nature of Shiloh, the view of the Tennessee River from the battery at Fort Donelson, the limestone outcroppings of Stone’s River, the reclaimed fields of Franklin, the views from Lookout Mountain and the fabulous original earthworks at Fort Higley outside Nashville. These are all things that make Tennessee battlefields one of a kind. Tough to pick just one.
I’ve only had a couple visits to Tennessee, but the one that affected me most was Franklin- the bullet holes in the Carter House brought it alive for me. Also, Carnton Plantation. During the tour of the upstairs rooms, the guide talked about the south facing windows where the surgeons did their bloody work and pointed out the area by the fireplace where the amputated limbs were thrown. She knelt down and put her arm atop one of the stains which perfectly matched her arm and the curve of her little finger. For that moment, it was time travel.
Franklin! I got hooked on Franklin after reading “Widow of the South”. I went to visit for the first time in 2012, then got involved with the Save the Franklin Battlefield group and the then Civil WarTrust, to restore the battlefield. I’ve been back a half dozen times, including the 150th anniversary reenactment and the 160th remembrance. Each time I go I am impressed with the restoration efforts, not just in Franklin, but at Spring Hill, Rippavilla, Winstead Hill and Fort Granger. I’m looking forward to the new Visitor’s Center at the Carter House.
Stones River. The first battlefield I ever visited. To stand in The Slaughter Pen and Hell’s Half Acre gave me the shivers. Unfathomable the carnage that was unleashed at the this battlefield. Will be back there this year. The Tennessee battlefields are like non other.
I don’t often get to Tennessee, but I really enjoyed Franklin. Seeing the bullet holes in the side of the Carter House really made it real. Also, the nearby Carnton Plantation with the cemetery. Upstairs, the guide took us to a south facing room where the surgeons did their bloody work near the windows. From the bloodstains on the floor by the fireplace, you could see where they tossed the severed limbs. Our guide knelt down and place her forearm exactly where some poor soldier’s forearm was- you could see where the little finger curled. That was a “time travel” moment for me.
Shiloh
Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery. It was there that I stumbled onto a grave that had two tombstones, old & new. The new claimed that the man had served in the Confederate army, giving his unit. The old stone, flat to the ground, revealed that he had been enslaved. The mystery of this alleged “Black Confederate soldier” led to my first ECW guest post, “A Tale of Two Tombstones.” The rest, as they say, is history.
I am torn between Shiloh and Franklin. Shiloh because it was General Grant’s break-out battle, Franklin because of Hood’s decisions that resulted in the deaths of (among others) six Confederate generals, including one of my favorites — Patrick Cleburn.
I don’t get out that way much. I like the Orchard Knob Knoll. Somehow it survived megalomaniaism of generations of property developers, yea us. There was a small battle to capture it in 1863. You can look over at Missionary Ridge, and say to your right, whether someone is standing there or not, “Who ordered that charge?”
Lookout Mountain is hard to beat……….but I’ll say Shiloh. Just a fantastic battlefield to visit and study.
The Round Forest and Stones River National Cemetery area is some of the more evocative terrain I’ve come across. Honorable mention to Missionary Ridge and Shiloh.
One of the reasons that I would choose Shiloh is because the area is still rural so there is a feeling of being in the era. Although there is still much that could be preserved, I like this site because unlike some others lose visual appear must be imagined, should I lose still has the ability to set us back in time
I would like to put Fort Donelson in the conversation.
Shiloh is a great battlefield and has the bonus of being 20 minutes or so from the Buford Pusser Home and Museum. It is still open despite the fact that the Walking Tall legend was a fraud who murdered his wife according to a recent state police investigation. If you think Civil War controversies are heated, take a look at the Pusser case.
Shiloh. It was the first battlefield I ever visted. I was five.
Lookout Mountain with the tram ride and the view of seven state at the top! Plus staying in a train car hotel make it the most fun for a battlefield but the Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh is the most unexplainable site on any battlefield! You can still hear the minie balls wizzing bye with a slight wind! Franklin gets honorable mention with a the tragic story of Confederate soldier Todd Carter’s death yards from his boyhood home front door!
The Jack Daniel’s Distillery. While it didn’t officially exist yet in the War years, the War did heavily influence the people and events that would have such an impact on it. It’s an interesting story.
Honorable mention to Lookout Mountain.
Shiloh and Franklin
Shiloh because it is so pristine.
This is a difficult question to answer. The Tennessee battlefields offer some of the most unique places in Civil War history. The pristine nature of Shiloh, the view of the Tennessee River from the battery at Fort Donelson, the limestone outcroppings of Stone’s River, the reclaimed fields of Franklin, the views from Lookout Mountain and the fabulous original earthworks at Fort Higley outside Nashville. These are all things that make Tennessee battlefields one of a kind. Tough to pick just one.
Shiloh
I’ve only had a couple visits to Tennessee, but the one that affected me most was Franklin- the bullet holes in the Carter House brought it alive for me. Also, Carnton Plantation. During the tour of the upstairs rooms, the guide talked about the south facing windows where the surgeons did their bloody work and pointed out the area by the fireplace where the amputated limbs were thrown. She knelt down and put her arm atop one of the stains which perfectly matched her arm and the curve of her little finger. For that moment, it was time travel.
Shiloh
Franklin! I got hooked on Franklin after reading “Widow of the South”. I went to visit for the first time in 2012, then got involved with the Save the Franklin Battlefield group and the then Civil WarTrust, to restore the battlefield. I’ve been back a half dozen times, including the 150th anniversary reenactment and the 160th remembrance. Each time I go I am impressed with the restoration efforts, not just in Franklin, but at Spring Hill, Rippavilla, Winstead Hill and Fort Granger. I’m looking forward to the new Visitor’s Center at the Carter House.
Shiloh
Shiloh and Battle of Franklin
Stones River. The first battlefield I ever visited. To stand in The Slaughter Pen and Hell’s Half Acre gave me the shivers. Unfathomable the carnage that was unleashed at the this battlefield. Will be back there this year. The Tennessee battlefields are like non other.
Shiloh and Franklin are tied for my favorite sites. I would also give a thumbs up to the General Longstreet headquarters museum in Russellville,TN.
I don’t often get to Tennessee, but I really enjoyed Franklin. Seeing the bullet holes in the side of the Carter House really made it real. Also, the nearby Carnton Plantation with the cemetery. Upstairs, the guide took us to a south facing room where the surgeons did their bloody work near the windows. From the bloodstains on the floor by the fireplace, you could see where they tossed the severed limbs. Our guide knelt down and place her forearm exactly where some poor soldier’s forearm was- you could see where the little finger curled. That was a “time travel” moment for me.