Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Evergreen Cemetery
Confederate Circle
Among those buried here is Robert James Campbell Gailbreath (1829–1863), a Jackson County native, attorney, and state representative (1855–1857). Gailbreath enlisted in 1861 as a private in Co. K, 8th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. He wrote his family on July 27, 1861, “I cannot say now, my Dear Family, when I will see you again, if ever, but should it be the will of God to cut me off from you, rest assured that you shall never be disgraced by any Conduct on my part in this War, for you and my Country.” He was elected second lieutenant in December, but resigned in May 1862, returned to Jackson County, organized Co. E, Murray’s 4th Tennessee Cavalry, and was elected its captain.
Gailbreath and his unit, part of Gen. John A. Wharton’s cavalry brigade, camped near Nolensville late in 1862. Gailbreath wrote on December 18, “I have no idea when the big fight will come, but we look for it soon, which will decide the fate of Tennessee this winter.” The “big fight” was the Battle of Stones River, where on December 31 Gailbreath was wounded and captured. Surgeons amputated Galbreath’s right arm in Thomas Hord’s house on the Nashville Turnpike. He died there on January 12, 1863, and Hord buried him on the farm. After the war, his remains were removed first to a Confederate cemetery on Shelbyville Turnpike and then to the Confederate Circle here.
(captions)
Robert J. C. Gailbreath Courtesy Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp #33, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Battle of Stones River - Courtesy Library of Congress
Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans, and the Tennessee Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1953.
Location. 35° 51.076′ N, 86° 22.856′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. Marker is at the intersection of Greenland Drive and North University Street, on the right when traveling west on Greenland Drive. Located in Evergreen Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Murfreesboro TN 37130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Confederate Circle at Evergreen (a few steps from this marker); Known Confederate Veterans Among 2000 Buried Here (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutherford Hospital / Middle Tennessee Medical Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Agriculture and Gardening (approx. 0.3 miles away); Forrest’s Murfreesboro Raid (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wetland Plants and Animals (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Civil War (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oaklands Mansion (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 12,717 times since then and 11,873 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.