Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Fields of Fire
Photographed by Craig Swain, August 28, 2010
1. Fields of Fire Marker
The lunettes of Fortress Rosecrans were primarily artillery platforms. The ground in front of the fort was cleared of trees, and every battery commander carefully sighted each of his guns on a variety of likely targets.
From Lunette Palmer, the gunners picked potential targets nearly a mile away, well beyond Stones River and modern Route 96. No Confederate troops ever came within range of Fortress Rosecrans's cannon.
This diagram, drawn by a Union engineer, shows some of the targets selected by the batteries in Fortress Rosecrans. Note that one battery near Lunette Thomas chose as a target the county courthouse in Murfreesboro, 1,770 yards away. The Federals threatened to shell the town if the Confederates attacked the fort.
A battery at drill. Though this photograph was taken at Stevenson, Alabama, the artillerymen here at Lunette Palmer performed identical tasks with similar equipment.
Erected by Stones River National Battlefield - National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in Greater Nashville. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lunette Palmer (a few steps from this marker); A Vast Depot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle at Stones River (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Fortress Rosecrans (about 400 feet away); Toil and Mud (approx. 0.2 miles away); Covered by Cross Fires (approx. Ό mile away); I Never Saw Anything Like Them Before (approx. Ό mile away); New Citizen Soldiers (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.
Other markers no longer nearby. Battle at Stones River (was about 400 feet away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Fortress Rosecrans (was about 400 feet away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Fortress Rosecrans. National Park Service page. (Submitted on November 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, August 28, 2010
2. Map Showing Targets
Photographed by Craig Swain, August 28, 2010
3. Fields of Fire Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, August 28, 2010
4. Field of Fire Today
Today the view from the fort overlooks a golf course.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,468 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on April 17, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
