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

This Far, But No Farther

1862 December 31 – early afternoon

By David Graff, April 25, 2012

1. This Far, But No Farther Marker

Inscription. For six hours, the Confederates had been on the attack. Their relentless onslaught had pushed half the Union army back three miles. Tangled cedar woods and rock-filled terrain took their toll. A 1,800-man brigade of tired Tennesseans finally emerged from this tree line at midday. Momentum was slowing. Confidence still ran high.

Facing them across the wide cotton field you see here were dense formations of fresh Federal troops. On the knoll where the trees of the National Cemetery now stand, 38 enemy cannon blasted forth a steady firestorm of death and destruction.

General George Maney sized up the situation. He gave orders to his six regiments to "stack arms" so that they could catch their breath. They rested here under cover.

Erected by National Park Service, Stones River National Battlefield.

Location. 35° 52.535′ N, 86° 26.04′ W. Marker is near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. Marker can be reached from Park Road 0.8 miles north of North Thompson Lane, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. The marker is on a trail off the Park Road leading to Tour Stop 3 - "The Cotton Field." The trail starts at a four-space parking lot and continues westward for about

The Cotton Field and Fence Line image. Click for full size.

By David Graff

2. The Cotton Field and Fence Line

View to North and East. The Stones River Visitor Center is visible at the center.

1150 feet to the marker. To the north of the marker across the Cotton Field is a view to the Visitor Center. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1563 North Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro TN 37129, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Fight for the Cedars (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cotton Field – "No Man's Land" (about 400 feet away); The Federals' Final Rally Turns the Tide (approx. 0.2 miles away); Parsons' Batteries Heavily Engaged (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hazen's Artillery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chicago Board of Trade Battery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Struggle for Round Forest (approx. 0.3 miles away but has been reported missing); Anchoring the Union Line (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.

Regarding This Far, But No Farther. The marker features a 2009 painting by Andy Thomas - "This Far, But No Farther" – Maney's Confederates dropped trees and dug trenches to fortify this line during the day-long lull in fighting on New Year's Day 1863.

Also see . . . Stones River National Battlefield. (Submitted on February 10, 2014, by Bernard Fisher of Mechanicsville, Virginia.)

Categories. • War, US Civil •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on February 10, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 10, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.