The current Asbury Road is still a typical country road passing by random houses on some larger lots and runs along the northern edge of the large Williamson Family Farm property. The threat of development approaches the road as several neighborhoods have come to the western part of Asbury Road. On the eastern side, several larger homes were recently built. The eastern terminus of Asbury Road joins Old Nashville Highway just west of the national battlefield.
On Civil War maps, the dirt road is called Asbury Lane, connecting several large farms with the Nashville Pike and a ford across Overall Creek near the Asbury Church. The McGregor and Burrus families raised livestock and feed crops on their properties. Eliza Burrus took over running the farm after the death of her husband in the 1850’s. None of them could foretell the impact of the events that would occur on December 31, 1862.
After the total collapse of the Union Right Flank in the morning, General William Rosecrans was desperate to halt the Confederate advance. He knew that if the Confederates captured the Nashville Pike, his army would be trapped against the West Fork of the Stones River. He assigned the brigades of Harker, Fyffe and Beatty to positions along Asbury Lane with Harker’s right side anchored to the Widow Burrus’ house.
By mid-day, Generals Cleburne and McCown led their brigades under Liddell, Johnson, Vaughan and Polk to an area now part of the Williamson farm. They commenced their attack against the Union forces forcing them back across Asbury Lane. The wounded were carried to the nearby houses that were pressed into duty as field hospitals. This included the Widow Burrus and the McGregor houses.
The Union forces continued to fall back after each heavy attack. General Bushrod Johnson noted that he saw more casualties than he had ever seen in a battle as his troops advanced to within sight of the Nashville Pike. The Confederates were under constant bombardment from Union cannons. Some of the Confederate troops were able to find protection behind rock outcroppings and higher ground.
Despite coming so close to reaching the goal of capturing the Nashville Pike, the troops fell victim to the strain of fighting for unending hours. One by one, the Confederate brigades began falling back. General Johnson was mystified by the withdraw since he was in a beneficial position but he was now isolated. He had his troops draw back to the new Confederate line to the south of Asbury Lane.
The bloody action that occurred along Asbury Lane saved the Union forces from total defeat. Now the threat comes from future development. The Widow Burrus House and the McGregor houses still remain on Asbury Road but are private property. Please support American Battlefield Trust at battlefields.org to help preserve the battlefield beyond the boundaries of the national park.
On Civil War maps, the dirt road is called Asbury Lane, connecting several large farms with the Nashville Pike and a ford across Overall Creek near the Asbury Church. The McGregor and Burrus families raised livestock and feed crops on their properties. Eliza Burrus took over running the farm after the death of her husband in the 1850’s. None of them could foretell the impact of the events that would occur on December 31, 1862.
After the total collapse of the Union Right Flank in the morning, General William Rosecrans was desperate to halt the Confederate advance. He knew that if the Confederates captured the Nashville Pike, his army would be trapped against the West Fork of the Stones River. He assigned the brigades of Harker, Fyffe and Beatty to positions along Asbury Lane with Harker’s right side anchored to the Widow Burrus’ house.
By mid-day, Generals Cleburne and McCown led their brigades under Liddell, Johnson, Vaughan and Polk to an area now part of the Williamson farm. They commenced their attack against the Union forces forcing them back across Asbury Lane. The wounded were carried to the nearby houses that were pressed into duty as field hospitals. This included the Widow Burrus and the McGregor houses.
The Union forces continued to fall back after each heavy attack. General Bushrod Johnson noted that he saw more casualties than he had ever seen in a battle as his troops advanced to within sight of the Nashville Pike. The Confederates were under constant bombardment from Union cannons. Some of the Confederate troops were able to find protection behind rock outcroppings and higher ground.
Despite coming so close to reaching the goal of capturing the Nashville Pike, the troops fell victim to the strain of fighting for unending hours. One by one, the Confederate brigades began falling back. General Johnson was mystified by the withdraw since he was in a beneficial position but he was now isolated. He had his troops draw back to the new Confederate line to the south of Asbury Lane.
The bloody action that occurred along Asbury Lane saved the Union forces from total defeat. Now the threat comes from future development. The Widow Burrus House and the McGregor houses still remain on Asbury Road but are private property. Please support American Battlefield Trust at battlefields.org to help preserve the battlefield beyond the boundaries of the national park.
- By Thomas Zei