January 3, 2010, Mike West, The Murfreesboro Post President’s Father died here in 1863 Once a powerful organization, the Grand Army of the Republic has slipped to an almost forgotten footnote to the Civil War. The GAR was organized by Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson on April 6, 1866, in Decatur,…
September 13, 2009, Mike West, The Murfreesboro Post Constant communication was key to Union Army of the Cumberland’s success in Middle Tennessee. Constant communication was key to Union Army of the Cumberland’s success in Middle Tennessee. And what was the secret behind that in the days before radio? The Army…
The Murfreesboro Post, April 3, 2009 Stones River National Cemetery: The federal government established Stones River National Cemetery by means of an order issued by Major Gen. George H. Thomas to Brig. Gen. Horatio Van Cleve on March 29, 1864. Assistant Quartermaster Captain John Means selected the site, designed the…
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, July 10, 2008 Dr. Tom Nolan, director of MTSU’s Laboratory for Spatial Technology, will lead the way in conducting a geospatial archaeological survey this month to recover and map artifacts from the Battle of Stones River and create a permanent spatial record of their…
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, July 6, 2008 Some 40-50 artifacts were recovered July 12 near the Stones River Battlefield on the first day of the Harding House Civil War History Survey, a geospatial/archaeological project that is being conducted this month on land slated for development this summer. Dr.…
The Murfreesboro Post, June 1, 2008 Citizens angered by cemetery desecration During the occupation of Murfreesboro, few things infuriated local residents more than the destruction of First Presbyterian Church and the desecration of the City Cemetery by Union troops. There has been an unprecedented destruction of property both private and…
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Mike West, Managing Editor, March 2, 2008 Editor’s Note: To put our ongoing coverage of the Civil War in perspective, here is a brief recounting of the Battle of Stones River hitting upon some key points. Why fight at Murfreesboro? Only 2,500 people lived…
July 29, 2007, Mike West, The Murfreesboro Post Modern electronic communications was an important tool that helped the United States win the Civil War. “Come to the key” was a message Union commanders received with increasing frequency. Modern electronic communications was an important tool that helped the United States win…
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Mike West, Managing Editor, May 6, 2007 Those familiar with the “literature” and reports about the Battle of Stones River have encountered the Cowan House countless times. Often in official reports of both the Union and Confederate armies it is referred to as the…
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 15, 2006, by Mike West, Managing Editor A 1999 study prepared for the National Park Service determined the most significant actions and sites of the Battle of Stones River. Many of them are outside of the national park’s 570-acre boundaries and are in…