Battle of Nashville echoes 150 years later
The last big battle of the American Civil War took place in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1864. Today, a trench still exists in Shy Hill, Nashville, where the Confederate soldiers took cover. It was here that the Union army broke the line, as they went on to victory.
This week Nashville held a history day to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Nashville. Visitors took to steep Shy Hill to see what it was like and get a better idea of the experience of the Civil War.
Ten sites in total around the local area came together and told the full story of the war time era and how the city managed during those times. The event was coordinated by the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society. The events also included re-enactments of the battles.
Three main hill areas in Nashville are where the battles took place, Green, Forest and Oak Hills were all battlefields 150 years ago. Today a high school stands on Green Hills.
The Preservation Society has restored a collection of original photographs from the war era. From buildings and landmarks, to troops and battles, the collection is a rare insight into the Civil War, the USA Today reports.
The photographs depict Nashville’s town and key buildings, many of which still stand today, including the town’s capitol building and Church of the Assumption, Werthan Mills Lofts, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, the Planter’s Hotel, the swing railroad bridge across the Cumberland River, a rail yard near Spring Street, the first suspension bridge and the Taylor Depot food warehouse.
The photos also show troops and battle sights such as Fort Negley, battle lines forming south of Nashville, Union troops occupying the capital in February, fortifications and troop tents, a battle line formed at Fort Negley, and even fighting of the Battle of Nashville.
Demonstrations took place of cooking with open fires, medical care and how these old photographs were made at the time. Tennessee trees across the landscape to memorialize Civil War soldiers.
The Preservation Society hopes that the event will enable people from all walks of modern life to learn about and connect with Nashville’s Civil War experiences.