In 1862, Gresham Lane extended all the way from Franklin Road (Highway 96 / Old Fort Parkway) north to Wilkinson Pike. The construction of Interstate 24 in the 1960’s separated the roadway into two sections with the northern section roughly becoming Greshampark Drive. This chapter of Battles Beyond Boundaries deals with the conflicts that occurred south of I-24 along Gresham Lane and extending east to a triangle anchored by the I-24 interchange and Old Fort Parkway. This area includes the Lane Agri-Park.
Gresham Lane was actually the site of two conflicts. The first occurred the afternoon prior to the official start of the Battle of Stones River. The Confederates had established their lines from east of Gresham Lane north to the Stones River near the current intersection of Thompson Lane and Broad Street and then across the river along what is now Northfield Blvd. Since they knew the Union Army was moving from Nashville towards Murfreesboro since December 26th, the Confederates had plenty of time to prepare for the enemy’s arrival.
As the troops of General Alexander McCook’s corps took up their position along the right flank, they didn’t dutifully fall into the position afforded them by the Confederate lines. Several Union brigades pressed forward into the designated no-man’s land between the lines. The action was bloody and the number of casualties mounted. As evening fell, the brigades of Generals Carlin, Woodruff and Sill had succeeded to gain a position closer to the established Confederate line but ahead of the remaining Union forces. Unfortunately, this bubble also left them vulnerable to attack on three sides.
On the morning of December 31, 1862, the battle started at the intersection of Gresham Lane and Franklin Road. After the rout of the Union forces, the Confederates continued their advance north on Gresham Lane and into the modern-day triangle east of Gresham. This would take them across the fields where the Lane Agri-Park now stands. The Union forces fought back but were overwhelmed by the larger Southern armies. Scores of wounded were carried north and to the west to the houses taken over by the Union to use as field hospitals. These included the Jenkins and Smith houses near the current interchange of Fortress Blvd and Manson Pike.
Everywhere east of Overall and Puckett Creeks saw the footprints of retreating Union forces followed by victorious Confederate forces. The current barrier of Interstate 24 did not stop the carnage.
- by Thomas Zei
Gresham Lane was actually the site of two conflicts. The first occurred the afternoon prior to the official start of the Battle of Stones River. The Confederates had established their lines from east of Gresham Lane north to the Stones River near the current intersection of Thompson Lane and Broad Street and then across the river along what is now Northfield Blvd. Since they knew the Union Army was moving from Nashville towards Murfreesboro since December 26th, the Confederates had plenty of time to prepare for the enemy’s arrival.
As the troops of General Alexander McCook’s corps took up their position along the right flank, they didn’t dutifully fall into the position afforded them by the Confederate lines. Several Union brigades pressed forward into the designated no-man’s land between the lines. The action was bloody and the number of casualties mounted. As evening fell, the brigades of Generals Carlin, Woodruff and Sill had succeeded to gain a position closer to the established Confederate line but ahead of the remaining Union forces. Unfortunately, this bubble also left them vulnerable to attack on three sides.
On the morning of December 31, 1862, the battle started at the intersection of Gresham Lane and Franklin Road. After the rout of the Union forces, the Confederates continued their advance north on Gresham Lane and into the modern-day triangle east of Gresham. This would take them across the fields where the Lane Agri-Park now stands. The Union forces fought back but were overwhelmed by the larger Southern armies. Scores of wounded were carried north and to the west to the houses taken over by the Union to use as field hospitals. These included the Jenkins and Smith houses near the current interchange of Fortress Blvd and Manson Pike.
Everywhere east of Overall and Puckett Creeks saw the footprints of retreating Union forces followed by victorious Confederate forces. The current barrier of Interstate 24 did not stop the carnage.
- by Thomas Zei