Most people recognize that the land on the west side of Thompson Lane north of Wilkinson Pike is Stones River National Battlefield. But the east side of Thompson Lane, on land now occupied by New Vision Church, was the site of one of the most significant and bloody conflicts in the battle.
As the Union army began their advance from Nashville the day after Christmas, Confederate Commanding Officer General Braxton Bragg began his planning for the inevitable battle. He laid out plans where his line of troops would position themselves and where they could take the offensive against the enemy.
His focus turned to his plans for south of Stones River where a mid-day fight would be possible. One potential problem for an offensive was the Cowan farm, as his troop line would have to split to get around the buildings. 200 yards south of what was then called Nashville Pike, the Cowan family had their house, barn and supporting buildings. A simple solution was to order the burning of the buildings to the ground. A simple order but, as it turns out, a difficult one to execute. As the flames were lit, it started to rain. The cold rain continued for days; it put out the fires and any attempts to follow-up were not successful.
The Confederates made four charges across the Cowan Farm on December 31, 1862. As the attacking lines maneuvered around the farm buildings, the split armies were unable to properly regroup on the other side. The troops to the north of the Cowan house were met by the cannons and troops of the Hazen Brigade positioned in The Round Forest. Hell’s Half Acre between the two armies became impassible to the Confederates. Troops to the south of the house ran into the guns of the Cruft’s Brigade and met a similar fate. Each Confederate wave found them marching through fields littered with casualties of the previous advance. The day ended without much success for Bragg in this area.
Nothing remains of the Cowan house and farm which today lies under the buildings of New Vision Church. Two historical plaques commemorating the charges by Generals Chalmers’ and Donelson’s troops are found in a turn-off area near the base of the Thompson Lane overpass on Old Nashville Highway. Unfortunately, the overpass blocks the view to the battlefields for this important event.
As the Union army began their advance from Nashville the day after Christmas, Confederate Commanding Officer General Braxton Bragg began his planning for the inevitable battle. He laid out plans where his line of troops would position themselves and where they could take the offensive against the enemy.
His focus turned to his plans for south of Stones River where a mid-day fight would be possible. One potential problem for an offensive was the Cowan farm, as his troop line would have to split to get around the buildings. 200 yards south of what was then called Nashville Pike, the Cowan family had their house, barn and supporting buildings. A simple solution was to order the burning of the buildings to the ground. A simple order but, as it turns out, a difficult one to execute. As the flames were lit, it started to rain. The cold rain continued for days; it put out the fires and any attempts to follow-up were not successful.
The Confederates made four charges across the Cowan Farm on December 31, 1862. As the attacking lines maneuvered around the farm buildings, the split armies were unable to properly regroup on the other side. The troops to the north of the Cowan house were met by the cannons and troops of the Hazen Brigade positioned in The Round Forest. Hell’s Half Acre between the two armies became impassible to the Confederates. Troops to the south of the house ran into the guns of the Cruft’s Brigade and met a similar fate. Each Confederate wave found them marching through fields littered with casualties of the previous advance. The day ended without much success for Bragg in this area.
Nothing remains of the Cowan house and farm which today lies under the buildings of New Vision Church. Two historical plaques commemorating the charges by Generals Chalmers’ and Donelson’s troops are found in a turn-off area near the base of the Thompson Lane overpass on Old Nashville Highway. Unfortunately, the overpass blocks the view to the battlefields for this important event.
- By Thomas Zei