Thousands of cars pass daily through the intersection of Franklin Road (State Road 96) and Gresham Lane. Maybe on Sundays people attend services at Franklin Road Baptist Church or pick up a pizza at Little Caesar’s. A historical marker that noted what happened here was removed when the road was widened; it was replaced with a generic one discussing Rutherford County. Few realize that the roads and grounds of this area were the site of a major Confederate victory in the opening minutes of the Battle of Stones River.
In the days prior to the battle, the Confederate troops took position from Lebanon Road (Memorial Blvd.) west to the river and southwest all the way to Franklin Road. On December 30, 1862, the Union troops lined up a few hundred yards away from their enemy, from McFadden’s Farm to where Gresham Lane met Franklin Road. There they hooked the end of their line to protect the right flank. By doing so, they fell into the Confederate trap.
Overnight the Confederates moved troops down their line until they greatly outnumbered the thousand Union troops. The Union generals on the right flank accentuated the pending disaster by allowing the troops in the predawn hours to light campfires to warm themselves against the freezing temperatures. The soldiers stacked their black-powder rifles away from the fires as they warmed their hands and brewed their morning coffee. The Confederates attacked at dawn rushing the defenseless soldiers spotlighted in the fire’s glow.
The Union soldiers that escaped the hail of bullets were either easily captured or ran for their lives without their firearms. They ran to the west to Puckett Creek or to the northwest across the large farm fields. The fields provided little protection, especially when the soldiers reached the tall rail fences. The chasing Confederate troops found easy targets as the Union soldiers tried to scramble over the obstacles. Those that escaped ran haphazardly along the bank of Overall Creek until they reached modern day Old Nashville Highway.
Although the Confederates celebrated their tremendous victory at the intersection, tactical errors during this initial stage eventually caused problems later in the day for General Braxton Bragg’s army. The Rebels that pursued the running Yankees left a large gap that required reserve units to fill. The use of these reserve units left the Confederates short of fresh troops when they needed them most.
The grounds of Franklin Road Baptist Church and Academy was the final resting place for many Union soldiers that eventually were moved after the Civil War to Stones River National Cemetery. The decisive Confederate victory at this site deserves recognition and protection from further development.
- by Thomas Zei
In the days prior to the battle, the Confederate troops took position from Lebanon Road (Memorial Blvd.) west to the river and southwest all the way to Franklin Road. On December 30, 1862, the Union troops lined up a few hundred yards away from their enemy, from McFadden’s Farm to where Gresham Lane met Franklin Road. There they hooked the end of their line to protect the right flank. By doing so, they fell into the Confederate trap.
Overnight the Confederates moved troops down their line until they greatly outnumbered the thousand Union troops. The Union generals on the right flank accentuated the pending disaster by allowing the troops in the predawn hours to light campfires to warm themselves against the freezing temperatures. The soldiers stacked their black-powder rifles away from the fires as they warmed their hands and brewed their morning coffee. The Confederates attacked at dawn rushing the defenseless soldiers spotlighted in the fire’s glow.
The Union soldiers that escaped the hail of bullets were either easily captured or ran for their lives without their firearms. They ran to the west to Puckett Creek or to the northwest across the large farm fields. The fields provided little protection, especially when the soldiers reached the tall rail fences. The chasing Confederate troops found easy targets as the Union soldiers tried to scramble over the obstacles. Those that escaped ran haphazardly along the bank of Overall Creek until they reached modern day Old Nashville Highway.
Although the Confederates celebrated their tremendous victory at the intersection, tactical errors during this initial stage eventually caused problems later in the day for General Braxton Bragg’s army. The Rebels that pursued the running Yankees left a large gap that required reserve units to fill. The use of these reserve units left the Confederates short of fresh troops when they needed them most.
The grounds of Franklin Road Baptist Church and Academy was the final resting place for many Union soldiers that eventually were moved after the Civil War to Stones River National Cemetery. The decisive Confederate victory at this site deserves recognition and protection from further development.
- by Thomas Zei