Why Is The Stones River Battlefield Important

The Stones River Battlefield is an extremely important part to both Tennessee’s history, as well as the history of the United States as a whole. There were two main goals for the Union army during the civil war. First, the Union wanted to gain control of the Mississippi River, and the second was to drive a wedge in the Confederate supply lined by capturing key railroads including the railroad in Murfreesboro Tennessee. According to Wiss, Janney, and Elstner Associates, “Control of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad was necessary to supply Union forces in a campaign to take Chattanooga. In addition to practical considerations, the Union was anxious for a military victory to boost morale after the disappointing Maryland and Kentucky campaigns.”(Wiss, Janney, & Elstner Associates, 27) Therefore, the Battle of Stones River was not only important because of its railroad location, but as emotional victory to boost the spirits of Union soldiers. This battle was not only a costly defeat for the Confederate army, but was also a sure sign of the imminent defeat of the South as a whole. To start, I have always

The capture of these two created the supply lines needed to feed and fuel the Union arm in the campaign to take Chattanooga. As what was the most significant aspect of the site as a whole, that would have to be the “Round Forest or Hell’s Half Acre”. As the Union army was slowly and steadily pushed back forcing it to fold in on itself almost like a knife folding in on itself, it was at this location that the Union army stationed four regiments and held the point the whole entire time. It was the only Union position that day that did not retreat or fall back. If this location had been taken by Confederate forces, this would have effectively split the Union army in two, thus possibly creating a much different