Germantown in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

War Comes to Germantown

Guarding the Railroad

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 20, 2014

1. War Comes to Germantown Marker

Inscription.

War Comes to Germantown. Guarding the Railroad. In 1861, Germantown was divided between secessionists and unionists until the news of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers tilted the balance in favor of secession. Germantown women announced on April 26, “We…offer to the (Confederate) soldiers of Germantown all the assistance in our power with our needles, and promise also to aid in the care and sustenance of their families during their absence. And should the war approach our own homes, we will watch over the sick and wounded (though strangers) as our own brothers or fathers.” Local men and other county residents formed the 4th Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A., which trained briefly at Germantown and later fought in such important battles as Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Nashville., Federal troops entered Germantown in June 1862 and occupied houses, churches, and other buildings. Residents suffered as the soldiers confiscated crops and livestock, while many dwellings and businesses were dismantled or burned. The Presbyterian church became a Federal hospital and headquarters. The Masonic Hall, also used as a hospital, survived because both the Union commander and the Presbyterian minister were Masons., The Memphis and Charleston Railroad depot became the focal point of the Federal garrison. The men built an earthen redoubt and stockade just east of town. Confederate cavalry and Union troops fought at least eleven engagements around this rail line in the Germantown area., By war’s end, Germantown’s population had been reduced by more than half. It would be many years before Germantown recovered and again became a thriving community., (captions) , (lower left) Masonic Hall, which served as a Union hospital (demolished 1985) , (upper center) Germantown Presbyterian Church, constructed 1851 (bell tower added 1867) , (upper right) Germantown railroad depot, constructed 1858 (replaced 1948 , (lower right) Fort Germantown, built June 1863 to guard the railroad (burned and abandoned October 1863) , All images courtesy Germantown Community Library

In 1861, Germantown was divided between secessionists and unionists until the news of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln’s call for volunteers tilted the balance in favor of secession. Germantown women announced on April 26, “We…offer to the (Confederate) soldiers of Germantown all the assistance in our power with our needles, and promise also to aid in the care and sustenance of their families during their absence. And should the war approach our own homes, we will watch over the sick and wounded (though strangers) as our own brothers or fathers.” Local men and other county residents formed the 4th Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A., which trained briefly at Germantown and later fought in such important battles as Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Nashville.

Federal troops entered Germantown in June 1862 and occupied houses, churches, and other buildings. Residents suffered as the soldiers confiscated crops and livestock, while many dwellings and businesses were dismantled or burned. The Presbyterian church became a Federal hospital and headquarters. The Masonic Hall, also used as a hospital, survived because both the Union commander and the Presbyterian minister were Masons.

The Memphis & Charleston Railroad depot became the focal point of the Federal garrison. The men built an earthen redoubt and stockade just

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east of town. Confederate cavalry and Union troops fought at least eleven engagements around this rail line in the Germantown area.

By war’s end, Germantown’s population had been reduced by more than half. It would be many years before Germantown recovered and again became a thriving community.

(captions)
(lower left) Masonic Hall, which served as a Union hospital (demolished 1985)
(upper center) Germantown Presbyterian Church, constructed 1851 (bell tower added 1867)
(upper right) Germantown railroad depot, constructed 1858 (replaced 1948
(lower right) Fort Germantown, built June 1863 to guard the railroad (burned and abandoned October 1863)
All images courtesy Germantown Community Library

Erected by Tennessee Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1864.

Location. 35° 5.218′ N, 89° 48.661′ W. Marker is in Germantown, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It can be reached from the intersection of South Germantown Road and 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located on the grounds of the Germantown

Photographed by Don Morfe, April 20, 2014

2. War Comes to Germantown Marker

Visitor Center and former depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2260 West St, Germantown TN 38138, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee

and in Greater Memphis.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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: Confederate Germantown (here, next to this marker); Southern Railway (a few steps from this marker); Germantown, Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); Glenn's Grocery and Dr. Seay's Office (1940s) (within shouting distance of this marker); Germantown Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Germantown Road (within shouting distance of this marker); S.A. Oakley (within shouting distance of this marker); Germantown Historic Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Germantown.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,408 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.