Fortress Rosecrans, Tennessee, United States

5jonphil 5:00 PM Dec 17, 2013

Hard To Find, But Worth it
Fortress Rosecrans, like many worthwhile Civil War sites, is not surrounded by brinks, stone masonry and wooden palisades. It is an earthen breastworks, or natural fortress, so common in defenses that had to be hastily erected and that could provide cover for troops and a way to avoid a direct hit from enemy bullets. While not as effective with cannon fire, it did provide some protection. On the Old National Highway, which might sound like a large road but really is not much more than a well maintained, paved country road, it doesn't look like much at first. However, when you actually get to the spot where the headquarters compound was, just in front of a copse of trees, you look out across the road and realize two things: 1) what an excellent view it provides of that part of the Stone River National Battlefield; and 2) how close to the battle the HQ really is. Close by are other similar sights from the battle, one of the bloodiest of the Civil War. The Visitor Center, which is a short, few minutes away, is excellent, as are the National park personnel who work there. It is in the town of Murfreesboro which, due to the proximity of the great, exciting town of Nashville, is often overlooked. It is a very nice town, with plenty of good restaurants and hotels and quite a large medical center right in the vicinity. If you are driving to Nashville on I-24 from the south, say Chattanooga or Atlanta, and you have a little time, do yourself a favor and stop by the town and the battlefield and restaurants and chill before you get to the 24/7 rock n' rollin', countryfyin' Music City! A tip: the new Embassy Suites right by the Medical Center is outstanding!!!!

4catlover004 5:00 PM Aug 10, 2012

What? Another Civil War Site?
As we travel around the eastern United States, we stop at most Civil War sites. We hear of marches, battles, retreats, and on to the next battle. Little did I ever think of how the soldiers, equipment, supplies, etc get from here to there. This fortress, dirt walls is still surviving a hundred years later, 200 acres, holding up to 15,000 troops and having supplies for an army of 65,000 for several months. This, along with railroads, enabled the Union Army to move southeast during the rest of the war. Visiting it, and walking along the interpretative walkways, gave me many new ideas of how this war was fought.