General Bragg Greenway Trailhead
Along the Stones River Greenway in Murfreesboro near the General Bragg Trailhead, walkers are provided a peaceful view of the river’s west fork. At the end of 1862, this part of the river was far from peaceful.
As General Braxton Bragg established his line of defense, he anchored his forces on the right flank at this point. This provided a strong anchor for all of his forces on the south side of the Stones River. Here Brig. Gen. James Chalmers took up position with an artillery unit butted up against the shore of the river, ensuring that the Union army could not break around the Confederate forces. In reserve, Brig. Gen Daniel Donelson positioned his troops further upstream.
On the north side of the river, the Confederates folded their line to the east basically along the current Northfield Blvd. to the road heading north to Lebanon, protecting Murfreesboro from any attack in that direction.
Eventually, Chalmer’s troops would become the first unit to attack the Hazen’s Brigade at the Round Forest followed by Donelson’s soldiers. Both units occurred heavy casualties in the area known as Hell’s Half Acre. Eventually, Bragg pulled additional units from the north side of the river crossing a nearby ford to continue the assault in the afternoon. All marched through these lands to face the same consequences near the Round Forest.
Bragg the next day would move his headquarters to this location on January 1, 1863 from across the river. The National Park Service protects a small land parcel where Bragg’s HQ was located. This property lies between the trailhead and Murfreesboro’s dog park along side College Avenue.
Although the property is currently undisturbed, the city has projected an extension of Northfield Blvd across the river near this location.
Along the Stones River Greenway in Murfreesboro near the General Bragg Trailhead, walkers are provided a peaceful view of the river’s west fork. At the end of 1862, this part of the river was far from peaceful.
As General Braxton Bragg established his line of defense, he anchored his forces on the right flank at this point. This provided a strong anchor for all of his forces on the south side of the Stones River. Here Brig. Gen. James Chalmers took up position with an artillery unit butted up against the shore of the river, ensuring that the Union army could not break around the Confederate forces. In reserve, Brig. Gen Daniel Donelson positioned his troops further upstream.
On the north side of the river, the Confederates folded their line to the east basically along the current Northfield Blvd. to the road heading north to Lebanon, protecting Murfreesboro from any attack in that direction.
Eventually, Chalmer’s troops would become the first unit to attack the Hazen’s Brigade at the Round Forest followed by Donelson’s soldiers. Both units occurred heavy casualties in the area known as Hell’s Half Acre. Eventually, Bragg pulled additional units from the north side of the river crossing a nearby ford to continue the assault in the afternoon. All marched through these lands to face the same consequences near the Round Forest.
Bragg the next day would move his headquarters to this location on January 1, 1863 from across the river. The National Park Service protects a small land parcel where Bragg’s HQ was located. This property lies between the trailhead and Murfreesboro’s dog park along side College Avenue.
Although the property is currently undisturbed, the city has projected an extension of Northfield Blvd across the river near this location.