Rutherford troops get taste of war at Fort Donelson
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Mike West, Managing Editor Writer Wednesday, November 12, 2006 First ordered to active duty in Bowling Green, Ky., Joseph B. Palmer’s regiment was largely inactive until one of the first major conflicts in the Western theater of the Civil War – the siege of Fort…
Stones River: Palmer’s life illustrates Tennessee’s plight
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Mike West, Managing Editor Wednesday, November 5, 2006 One of the stateliest houses on East Main Street does little to reveal the character of the battle-scarred general who built it. Brigadier General Joseph B. Palmer, a prominent state military and political leader, built the Italianate…
Key dates of the Civil War
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 15, 2006 By Mike West, Managing Editor Nov. 6, 1860: Lincoln is elected president Dec. 20, 1860: South Carolina secedes. Feb. 9, 1861: Confederate government is formed. March 4, 1861: Lincoln is sworn in as president March 6: Confederate Congress authoritizes establishment of an…
Putting a Face on History
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 29, 2006 By Mike West, Managing Editor It’s not easy to put a face on the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Stones River. Where were they from? How did they end up here? Combined together, the Federal Army of the Cumberland…
Confederate cast of characters
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 29, 2006 By Mike West, Managing Editor Just like their Union counterparts, the Confederate Army of Tennessee had its own share of interesting characters: Maj. Gen. Daniel S. Donelson Donelson had an impressive mix of military and political connections. Born in Tennessee in…
Union army had advantage
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 29, 2006, by Mike West, Managing Editor When the Civil War began in earnest, the U.S. government had one very decided advantage in the form of a trained, standing army with officers trained at West Point. But as Southern states began to succeed,…
The Battle of Stones River: Why here?
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 22, 2006, by Mike West, Managing Editor Why was the little, rural town of Murfreesboro the scene of a major Civil War battle? Only 2,500 people lived here in 1862. So why would 83,000 Federal and Confederate troops fight over such an insignificant…
Civil War talk triggers childhood memories
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 15, 2006, by Mike West, Managing Editor All this talk about the Civil War tickled a few memories loose in Hammerhead’s noggin. And reminded him of a highlight of life. Nope, it wasn’t sticking bits of cotton in his ears while he unsuccessfully…
Many significant Civil War sites outside of Stones River National Battlefield
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…
General’s visit here was ‘farce’
Sam Stockard, The Daily news Journal, October 10, 2006 Fifty-five years ago, Martin “Marty” McCullough was working security for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s visit to Murfreesboro when his National Guard detail grew suddenly tougher. McCullough, who was 19 at the time and serving in the Guard while attending Vanderbilt, was assigned…
Is Stones River Battlefield important?
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 8, 2006 By Mike West, Managing Editor Have you ever visited Stones River National Battlefield? Maybe, it’s just on your to-do list? Perhaps you wonder why you should even bother? Experts say the park is a major resource for Murfreesboro, the state of…
Skirmish surfaces over lot adjacent to battlefield
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 8, 2006 By Erin Edgemon, Post business editor The owner of a small parcel of land along Old Nashville Highway is attempting to have his property rezoned commercial again. Mike Liles went before various Rutherford County boards and commissions 16 years ago trying…
Rare New York Times editions recount Civil War news
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 8, 2006 By Erin Edgemon, Post business editor Murfreesboro splashed across the front page of the New York Times doesn’t happen nowadays. But the Stones River National Battlefield is now in possession of nine such papers that were printed about one of the…
New Heritage Center to tell Murfreesboro’s colorful story
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, October 8, 2006 By Erin Edgemon, Post business editor It is obvious to the casual observer that Murfreesboro’s Public Square is picturesque — with it accent light posts, flags and hanging baskets — and has a long history apparent by the stately Courthouse positioned…
Farms get nod for register; Jenkins may be removed
Doug Davis, The Daily News Journal, September 28, 2006 Two area farms —one in Rutherford County and one in Cannon County— have moved closer to being named on the National Register of Historic Places, but a home on the register since 1989 has been recommended for removal. “It is sad.…
Historic Jenkins House to be removed from National Register of Historic Places
As published in the Murfreesboro Post, Erin Edgemon, Staff Writer Wednesday, September 27, 2006 4:56 pm Historic Jenkins House to be removed from National Register of Historic Places. The review board for the Tennessee Historical Commission voted to remove the demolished Hiram Jenkins House from the National Register of Historic…
Beesley cabin ready to leave
Doug Davis, The Daily news Journal, September 26, 2006 A log home that once graced farmland on Beesley Road has been stripped back to its original size to be moved from Rutherford County. The former home of Pauline and Frank Beesley was acquired and will move to Williamson County as…
Planners to hold Jenkins House hearing Historic home to be removed from National Register after being razed
Erin Edgemon, The Daily News Journal, August 15, 2006 A public hearing to consider removing the Hiram Jenkins House from the National Register of Historic Places is slated before the Murfreesboro Historic Zoning Commission Wednesday. The 1853 home, which was demolished June 10, is listed on the National Register for its architectural significance.…
Group gives up fight to save McCulloch House
Erin Edgemon, The Daily News Journal, July 28, 2006 The Friends of Stones River National Battlefield have halted attempts to purchase the pre-Civil War McCulloch House and save it from demolition. After an assessment completed by the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU, it was determined that the house — originally…
No offer for homes by MTSU
Roger Garfield, The Daily News Journal, July 15, 2006 Residents of Murfreesboro’s historic district continue to fight MTSU’s plans to expand into the district. The residents have formed a steering committee and have tried to meet once every two weeks since their March 21 meeting with MTSU, where the university’s 20-year plan…