Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Why Fight Here?

— Stones River National Battlefield —

Photographed By Shane Oliver, January 16, 2021

1. Why Fight Here? Marker

Inscription.

Why Fight Here?. . Here in the quiet fields and forests along Stones River outside Murfreesboro, two great armies fought, and spilled the blood of tens of thousands of Americans in one of the most costly battles of the Civil War. Why here?, The answer is found in two places you cannot see from this location: the Cumberland River wharfs of Nashville, 28 miles to the northwest, and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad tracks hidden behind the national cemetery. For any army, Union or Confederate, to move and fight successfully here in the states west of the Appalachians, railroads and riverboats were the keys to ultimate victory., Pressure from the Top , ...President [Lincoln] is very impatient at your long stay in Nashville. The favorable season for your campaign will soon be over. Twice have I been asked to designate someone else to command your army. If you remain one week more at Nashville, I cannot prevent your removal. As I wrote you when you took command, the Government demands action, and if you cannot respond to that demand then someone else will be tried. , General Halleck writing to General Rosecrans, Major General William S. Rosecrans , For the Union Army of the Cumberland, Nashville was a secure base where steamboats and trains could haul in the thousands of tons of supplies and food that it takes to keep an army fed and ready to fight. But sitting safe near the riverboats and warehouses of Nashville would not break the back of the rebellion, nor restore the Union. To win, Rosecrans's 43,000-man army had to march southeast toward the rail yards of Chattanooga and Atlanta piercing the heart of the Confederacy., General Braxton Bragg , By Christmas 1862, the Confederate Army of the Tennessee was at rest. Their winter quarters spread out more than 65 miles over the rich farmlands of central Tennessee. Then, unexpectedly, scouts announced that their enemy was on the move. The best place for Bragg to pull together his 38,000 men was Murfreesboro, the hub of a spider web of country roads. Two traffic arteries, the Nashville Pike and the railroad, ran side-by-side here. The Federals would have to come this way.

Here in the quiet fields and forests along Stones River outside Murfreesboro, two great armies fought—and spilled the blood of tens of thousands of Americans in one of the most costly battles of the Civil War. Why here?

The answer is found in two places you cannot see from this location: the Cumberland River wharfs of Nashville, 28 miles to the northwest, and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad tracks hidden behind the national cemetery. For any army—Union or Confederate—to move and fight successfully here in the states west of the Appalachians, railroads and riverboats were the keys to ultimate victory.

Pressure from the Top
...President [Lincoln] is very impatient at your long stay in Nashville. The favorable season for your campaign will soon be over. Twice have I been asked to designate someone else to command your army. If you remain one week more at Nashville, I cannot prevent your removal. As I wrote you when you took command, the Government demands action, and if you cannot respond to that demand then someone else will be tried.
General Halleck writing to General Rosecrans

Major General William S. Rosecrans
For the Union Army of the Cumberland, Nashville was a secure base where steamboats and trains could haul in the thousands of tons

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of supplies and food that it takes to keep an army fed and ready to fight. But sitting safe near the riverboats and warehouses of Nashville would not break the back of the rebellion, nor restore the Union. To win, Rosecrans's 43,000-man army had to march southeast toward the rail yards of Chattanooga and Atlanta piercing the heart of the Confederacy.

General Braxton Bragg
By Christmas 1862, the Confederate Army of the Tennessee was at rest. Their winter quarters spread out more than 65 miles over the rich farmlands of central Tennessee. Then, unexpectedly, scouts announced that their enemy was on the move. The best place for Bragg to pull together his 38,000 men was Murfreesboro, the hub of a spider web of country roads. Two traffic arteries—the Nashville Pike and the railroad—ran side-by-side here. The Federals would have to come this way.

Erected by Stones River National Battlefield, National Park Service, US Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 52.09′ N, 86° 25.714′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. Marker is on Park Road west of North Thompson Lane, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the Thompson

Photographed By Duane Marsteller, October 16, 2021

2. Why Fight Here? Marker

This marker is on the left.

Lane entrance to Stones River National Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3501 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro TN 37129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle at Stones River (here, next to this marker); Sheridan Saves the Day (approx. 0.2 miles away); Boys, you must get out of here! You are surrounded! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sheridan's Stand (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michigan (approx. ¼ mile away); Chalmers’ Brigade at Murfreesboro (approx. 0.4 miles away); Donelson’s Brigade at Murfreesboro (approx. 0.4 miles away); They Passed This Way (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.

Also see . . . Stones River National Battlefield. National Park Service (Submitted on March 15, 2021.)

Park Entrance along N Thompson Ln image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, January 16, 2021

3. Park Entrance along N Thompson Ln

The Why Fight Here? marker is located along Park Road, directly behind the N Thompson Ln entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 13, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 17, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on March 13, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.