National Park Service

Cultural Landscapes Inventory

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Stones River National Battlefield

 1994
Table of Contents

Inventory Unit Summary & Site Plan

Concurrence Status

Geographic Information and Location Map

Management Information

National Register Information

Chronology & Physical History

Analysis & Evaluation of Integrity

Condition

Treatment

Bibliography & Supplemental Information
Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Inventory Unit Summary & Site Plan

The Cultural Landscapes Inventory Overview:

Inventory Summary

Purpose and Goals of the CLI

The Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI), a comprehensive inventory of all cultural landscapes 

in the national park system, is one of the most ambitious initiatives of the National Park Service 

(NPS) Park Cultural Landscapes Program. The CLI is an evaluated inventory of all 

landscapes having historical significance that are listed on or eligible for listing on the National 

Register of Historic Places, or are otherwise managed as cultural resources through a public 

planning process and in which the NPS has or plans to acquire any legal interest. The CLI 

identifies and documents each landscape’s location, size, physical development, condition, 

landscape characteristics, character-defining features, as well as other valuable information 

useful to park management. Cultural landscapes become approved CLIs when concurrence 

with the findings is obtained from the park superintendent and all required data fields are 

entered into a national database. In addition, for landscapes that are not currently listed on the 

National Register and/or do not have adequate documentation, concurrence is required from the 

State Historic Preservation Officer or the Keeper of the National Register. The CLI, like the List of Classified Structures, assists the NPS in its efforts to fulfill the 

identification and management requirements associated with Section 110(a) of the National 

Historic Preservation Act, National Park Service Management Policies (2006), and Director’s 

Order #28: Cultural Resource Management. Since launching the CLI nationwide, the NPS, in 

response to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), is required to report 

information that respond to NPS strategic plan accomplishments. Two GPRA goals are 

associated with the CLI: bringing certified cultural landscapes into good condition (Goal 1a7) 

and increasing the number of CLI records that have complete, accurate, and reliable 

information (Goal 1b2B).

Scope of the CLI

The information contained within the CLI is gathered from existing secondary sources found in 

park libraries and archives and at NPS regional offices and centers, as well as through on-site 

reconnaissance of the existing landscape. The baseline information collected provides a 

comprehensive look at the historical development and significance of the landscape, placing it in 

context of the site’s overall significance. Documentation and analysis of the existing landscape 

identifies character-defining characteristics and features, and allows for an evaluation of the 

landscape’s overall integrity and an assessment of the landscape’s overall condition. The CLI 

also provides an illustrative site plan that indicates major features within the inventory unit. 

Unlike cultural landscape reports, the CLI does not provide management recommendations or 

CLI General Information:

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

treatment guidelines for the cultural landscape.

Inventory Unit Description:

Located three miles from Murfreesboro, Tennessee along the Nashville Pike, the Stones River National 

Battlefield is composed of six discontiguous parcels that combine to tell the story of one of the pivotal 

battles of the Civil War. Approximately one-tenth of the land over which the Battle of Stones River was 

fought is included within the national park.

The largest parcel, the Nashville Pike Unit (480 acres), acts as the focal point of the park's 

interpretation of the battle, offering a setting similar to that seen on the days of the battle. The Nashville 

Pike Unit represents a portion of the field of battle where General Rosecrans' Union Army of the 

Cumberland and General Bragg's Confederate Army of Tennessee clashed on December 31, 1862 

through January 2, 1863. Located across the street from the Nashville Pike Unit is the 20 acre Stones 

River National Cemetery, created in the late 1800s as part of a national cemetery movement. Also 

across from the Nashville Pike Unit is the .85 acre Hazen Brigade Monument, dedicated to Colonel 

William Hazen’s union brigade. Further north and south of the Nashville Pike Unit are General Bragg’s 

Headquarters Site and General Rosecrans's Headquarters Site, both set aside to honor the locations of 

the two opposing generals of the engagement. Due north of the Nashville Pike Unit , along the Stones 

River, is the McFadden Farm Unit, containing the Artillery Monument. Finally, Curtain Wall No. 2 and 

Lunettes, and Redoubt Brannan, located closest to the city of Murfreesboro, are the only remaining 

features of Fortress Rosecrans, the largest earthwork fortress built during the Civil War. The battlefield was, and continues to be defined by Karst topography with shallow soils, limestone 

outcroppings, and sinkholes. A distinctive characteristic of the 1862-1863 battlefield that influenced the 

course of the battle was the cedar glades and thickets endemic to the region. Cedar glades are openings 

in thick stands of red cedar where the shallow soils prohibit permanent invasion by trees. However, the 

shallow soils do support a diverse, endemic plant community dominated by herbaceous annuals and 

mosses. Today, cedar thickets and glades survive in the central portion of the Main Battlefield, and 

serve as tangible links to the setting and its effect on the events of the battle. The natural resource 

value of the existing cedar glades are heightened by the presence of a reintroduced colony of 

endangered species (Tennessee Coneflower, Echinacea tennesseensis).

The park has several landscape features that are extant from the Civil War period, the commemorative 

and conservation periods. These features include: the Nashville Pike, Van Cleve Lane, Manson Pike, 

vegetation massings, monuments, the National Cemetery and associated walls, and earthworks.

No analysis or evaluation of the landscape characteristic features has been undertaken.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Site Plan

Stones River National Battlefield

Property Level and CLI Numbers

Inventory Unit Name: Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Property Level: Landscape

CLI Identification Number: 550109

Parent Landscape: 550109

Park Information

Park Name and Alpha Code: Stones River National Battlefield -STRI

Park Organization Code: 5590

Park Administrative Unit: Stones River National Battlefield

CLI Hierarchy Description

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Stones River National Battlefield is a 709 acre portion of a much larger landscape that encompassed 

the battlefield. Nine cultural landscapes were identified at the property: the Stones River National 

Battlefield Landscape, General Bragg's Headquarters Site, General Rosecrans's Headquarters Site, 

Hazen Brigade Monument, McFadden Farm Unit, Nashville Pike Unit, Curtain Wall No. 2 and 

Lunettes, Redoubt Brannan, and the Stones River National Cemetery.

The STRI National Battlefield landscape unites five component landscapes to tell an overall story of 

the battle. Three of the component landscapes (General Bragg’s Headquarters Site, General 

Rosecrans's Headquarters Site and the McFadden Farm Unit - containing the Artillery Monument) are 

discontinguous properties which are distinctly defined.

The STRI National Cemetery is defined by its enclosing wall which was built in 1927.

Although Fortress Rosecrans lacks integrity, as a whole it is the unifying landscape for two extant 

component landscapes: Curtain Wall No. 2 and Lunettes, and Redoubt Brannan.

CLI Hierarchy, Stones River National Battlefield, 2007.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Concurrence Status

Inventory Status: Complete

Completion Status Explanatory Narrative:

The CLI was updated from CLAIMS data with additional information provided by a draft 

Cultural Landscape Report (75%) and a draft National Register nomination. A site visit by Beth 

Wheeler and David Hasty was conducted in May 2006. The park contact is Gib Backlund.

Concurrence Status:

Park Superintendent Concurrence: Yes

Park Superintendent Date of Concurrence: 08/03/2007

National Register Concurrence: Eligible -- SHPO Consensus Determination

Date of Concurrence Determination: 08/30/2007

Geographic Information & Location Map

Inventory Unit Boundary Description:

The boundaries of the landscape of the Stones River National Battlefield are drawn to correspond with 

the property boundary established by the War Department Commission in 1928. These boundaries 

include an area previously included within the boundaries of the STRI National Register Historic 

District. With the acquisition of several hundred acres since the draft nomination, the boundaries of the 

historic district need to be revisited.

State and County:

State: TN

County: Rutherford County

Size (Acres): 709.00

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Boundary UTMS:

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 550,240

UTM Northing: 3,971,630

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 554,320

UTM Northing: 3,968,240

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 551,430

UTM Northing: 3,968,910

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 550,510

UTM Northing: 3,969,010

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 552,420

UTM Northing: 3,969,320

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 550,660

UTM Northing: 3,970,630

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 551,160

UTM Northing: 3,971,000

Source: USGS Map 1:24,000

Type of Point: Area

Datum: NAD 27

UTM Zone: 16

UTM Easting: 551,800

UTM Northing: 3,971,490

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Location Map:

Regional location of Stones River National Battlefield. (Walterhill, Tenn and Murfreesboro, Tenn. USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles. 1950, photorevised 1983/1984).

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Regional Context:

Type of Context: Cultural

Description:

Stones River National Battlefied is located in what was until recent times a rural area outside of 

Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The city limits now surround the park on all sides. The area 

historically supported small farms, and while agriculturally diversified, produced mainly corn and 

livestock. As the area was settled, Murfreesboro prospered with the railroad and turnpike 

routes, eventually making the area a target for Union soldiers during the Civil War. The Stones 

River and Murfreesboro area is also known for raising exceptional horses.

Type of Context: Physiographic

Description:

STRI is located in a karst region, noted for rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and sinkholes. This area 

of Middle Tennessee has thin limestone soils that support cedar and cedar glades. Type of Context: Political

Description:

STRI lies partially within the current boundaries of the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and is 

in the 6th Congressional District of Tennessee. Tract Numbers: 01-101 thru 01-228, 02-101 thru 02-108

Management Information

General Management Information

Management Category: Should be Preserved and Maintained

Management Category Date: 08/01/2007

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Agreements, Legal Interest, and Access

Management Agreement:

Type of Agreement: Special Use Permit

Other Agreement: Middle Tennessee State University

Expiration Date: renewed every 5 years

Management Agreement Explanatory Narrative:

Special Use Permit for agriculture.

Type of Agreement: Memorandum of Understanding

Other Agreement: Emergency Services

Expiration Date: expired

Management Agreement Explanatory Narrative:

MOA with local authorities for emergency services.

NPS Legal Interest:

Type of Interest: Fee Simple

Public Access:

Type of Access: Unrestricted

Adjacent Lands Information

Do Adjacent Lands Contribute? Yes

Adjacent Lands Description:

The lands surrounding the Stones River National Battlefield contribute to the context of the Civil War 

battle that took place December 31, 1862 through January 2, 1863. The battle raged over thousands of 

acres, only a small portion of which is preserved by the NPS today. The key events during the Battle of 

Stones River are within the park boundaries, but all adjacent land contributes ot the significance of the 

Battle of Stones River.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

National Register Information

Existing National Register Status

National Register Landscape Documentation:

Entered Inadequately Documented

National Register Explanatory Narrative:

The entire park was administratively listed on the National Register in 1966 with the passage of the 

National Historic Preservation Act. In 1974, a nomination was prepared to include the recently acquired 

portions of Fortress Rosecrans. The state office accepted documentation for the Stones River park 

historic district in 1978. The existing boundaries of the National Register district encompass the 

federally owned park property (as of the last documentation date). In 2003, a draft of additional 

documentation was submitted to the park for review based on research by Sean Styles (author of the 

HRS). The draft has additional historic contexts, including the early commemoration of the battlefield 

and the African-American ethnic heritage, but does not include the War Department era 

commemoration. SHPO concurrence for the documentation has not been filed.

Existing NRIS Information:

Name in National Register: Stones River National Battlefield

NRIS Number: 66000075

Other Names: Stones River National Military Park

Primary Certification: Listed In The National Register

Primary Certification Date: 10/15/1966

Other Certifications and Date: Fortress Rosecrans nomination - 6/7/1974

Name in National Register: Stones River National Battlefield

NRIS Number: 66000075

Other Names: Stones River National Military Park

Primary Certification: Listed In The National Register

Primary Certification Date: 10/15/1966

Additional Documentation - 1/26/1978

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

National Register Eligibility

National Register Concurrence: Eligible -- SHPO Consensus Determination

Contributing/Individual: Individual

Site National Register Classification:

National Significance Level:

A - Associated with events significant to broad 

patterns of our history

Significance Criteria: 

C - Embodies distinctive construction, work of 

master, or high artistic values

Significance Criteria: 

Criteria Considerations: B -- A building or structure removed from its original location but 

which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is 

the surviving structure most importantly associated with a historic 

person or event

Period of Significance:

Time Period: AD 1862 - 1933

Historic Context Theme: Shaping the Political Landscape

Subtheme: The Civil War

Facet: Battles In The North And South

Other Facet: 1862 - 1863

Time Period: AD 1862 - 1933

Historic Context Theme: Expressing Cultural Values

Subtheme: Landscape Architecture

Facet: Protection Of Natural And Cultural Resources

Other Facet: 1863 - 1933

Area of Significance:

Area of Significance Category: Military

Statement of Significance:

The 709 acre Stones River National Battlefield is a significant landscape because it preserves the 

location of some of the most important events of the Battle of Stones River (December 

31,1862-January 2, 1863). The landscape retains its association to the battle that was one of the major 

engagements of the Union's western campaign that resulted in the occupation of Murfreesboro, control 

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

of the supply network of middle Tennessee, and the initiation of the Union Army's campaign that 

resulted in the "March to the Sea."

The Stones River National Battlefield landscape is also significant due to its association with the early 

movement in the United States of battlefield preservation. The importance of the Battle of Stones River 

was recognized soon after the battle by veterans, private individuals and groups, and the Nashville, 

Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. The interest and support of these groups led to the establishment 

and early development of the Stones River National Battlefield Park by the U.S. War Department in 

1927-1933, as well as the development of the associated national cemetery.

Within these contexts, the Stones River National Battlfield landscape has the potential to contribute to 

the National Register historic district as a cultural resource.

Chronology & Physical History

Cultural Landscape Type and Use

Cultural Landscape Type: Historic Site

Current and Historic Use/Function:

Primary Historic Function: Battle Site

Primary Current Use: Landscape-Other

Other Use/Function Other Type of Use or Function

Agricultural Field Both Current And Historic

Monument (Marker, Plaque) Both Current And Historic

Current and Historic Names:

Name Type of Name

Stones River Battlefield Historic

Stones River National Battlefield Current

Stones River National Military Park Historic

Ethnographic Study Conducted: No Survey Conducted

Chronology:

Year Event Annotation

Military Operation A major battle of the Civil War occurred here from 

December 31, 1862 through January 2, 1863.

AD 1862 - 1863

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

 Bragg, Braxton

 Rosecrans, William S.

Memorialized In 1896, the Stones River Battlefield and Park Association 

was formed by both Union and Confederate veterans to 

encourage the establishment of a National Military Park at 

Stones River. The park was eventually established in 

1927.

AD 1896 - 1927

Established Stones River National Military Park was established by 

Congress and administered by the War Department from 

1927 - 1933.

AD 1927 - 1933

Conserved The National Park Service has administered STRI since 

1933.

AD 1933 - 2007

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Physical History:

(1862-1863) The Battle of Stones River

In the winter of 1862, Gen. Braxton Bragg's 38,000 man Confederate Army and Maj. Gen. 

William Rosecrans's 45,000 man Union Army were vying for control of Middle Tennessee's rich 

farmland and transportation routes. In October 1862, Bragg retreated from Perryville, 

Kentucky and moved south to concentrate his troops in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for the 

remainder of the winter. Rosecrans countered by ordering his troops from Kentucky to 

Nashville. On December 26, 1862, Rosecrans marched his troops further south, intending to 

engage Bragg's army before advancing on Chattanooga to gain control of its important rail 

center.

The two met at Murfreesboro at the end of the day on December 30th. At dawn on December 

31, 1862, the Confederates opened the battle with a charge on the Union right flank. It was not 

until mid-afternoon that the Union army was able to establish a new line of battle along the 

Nashville Pike following a concentrated exchange of fire and the arrival of Federal 

reinforcements. Once the new line was established the days fighting ceased. On the next day 

of the battle, New Years Day, the armies remained in position and there was no exchange of 

fire.

On the morning of January 2, 1863, Bragg was surprised to find that the Union Army remained 

on the battlefield and had not retreated. Late in the day, Bragg ordered Gen. Breckenridge's 

brigade to launch an attack that eventually drove the Federal's first line back to a shallow 

crossing on Stones River known as McFadden's Ford. The battle came to a close as massive 

Union artillery fire stopped the Confederate advance.

Losses were heavy on both sides yet they each claimed victory. An estimated 13,000 Union 

and 10,000 Confederate solders were killed and wounded. On January 3, 1863, Bragg's Army 

retreated to Tullahoma, Tennessee, and Rosecrans' Army remained to occupy the City of 

Murfreesboro, and construct Fortress Rosecrans - the largest earthen fortification built during 

the Civil War. From Fortress Rosecrans the Union Army was able to launch an attack on the 

Confederate rail center in Chattanooga, successfully dividing the Confederacy along the 

transportation routes running southeast through Tennessee.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

The Battle of Stones River, c. 1860 sketch.

(1896-1927) Early Commemoration and Attempts to Establish Stones River National Miliary 

Park

In 1896, the Stones River Battlefield and Park Association was formed by both Union and 

Confederate veterans to encourage the establishment of a National Military Park at Stones 

River. The Association did not own property at the battlefield though they were responsible for 

erecting a number of wooden monuments to mark and interpret specific locations of the 

battlefield.

In 1897, a local Congressman introduced legislation to establish Stones River National Military 

Park. The bill was approved by Congress with the backing and support of the Stones River 

Battlefield and Park Association, the Grand Army of the Republic, the United Confederate 

Veterans, and the U.S. War Department. This first bill, more ambitious than the one eventually 

passed, called for the acquisition of 3,100 acres of the battlefield. Final approval of the bill was 

opposed by the Director of the Budget due to lack of funding. Establishment of a National 

Military Park at Stones River was not referred to Congress again until 1926.

(1927-1933) Stones River National Military Park, War Department Administration

In 1927, Congress authorized the establishment of Stones River National Military Park. A 

three-member Commission was appointed to research the troop movements and to inspect the 

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

battlefield. The majority of the research was conducted by Lt. Col. H.L. Landers of the Army 

War College. His study resulted in the production of ten maps including seven troop movement 

maps. In 1928, the Commission submitted its written report (supported by the troop movement 

maps prepared by Landis) describing its findings and recommendations for land acquisition and 

park development. The Acting Secretary of War approved the plan and directed the 

Commission to oversee its implementation. The State of Tennessee ceded jurisdiction over all 

lands that would be included in the park (Willett, 1958, pp 62, 95).

The War Department's acquisition of lands closely adhered to the Commission's 

recommendations. No portion of the battlefield north of Stones River was recommended for 

acquisition, in part, because it was inaccessible--no roads crossed the river in the vicinity of the 

battlefield. Central to the Commission's plan was the recognition that available funding was not 

sufficient to allow for the acquisition of the entire field of battle. Previous research has 

underscored that the Commission's final report recognized that only a portion of the 

approximately 3,100 acre battlefield could be acquired. The land that was recommended for 

acquisition was described by the Commission as a nucleus for future acquisition should funding 

be made available (Willett, 1958, pp 65-73).

The War Department's land acquisition at Stones River spanned the period 1928-1934. It 

included the acceptance of four existing commemorative monuments or reservations that were 

present at the battlefield before the 1927 Establishment Act was authorized. This included the 

Stones River National Cemetery and the Hazen Memorial which were already in Federal 

ownership and under the administration of the War Department. The Artillery Monument 

reservation (Monument Lot) and Redoubt Brannan (Old Fort Lot) were donated to the War 

Department by the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad in 1928. These two features had been 

owned and maintained by the railroad company as historical points of interest visible to rail 

passengers.

The Commission report directed the acquisition of additional lands that were privately owned. A 

324 acre tract was selected to compose the Main Battlefield (presently called Nashville Pike 

Unit). The northern boundary of this tract was along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. 

The southern boundary was located just south of the pivot point of the battle maneuver that 

significantly effected the course of the battle on December 31, 1862. This core area of the 

battlefield was selected because it was believed to have encompassed most, but not all of the 

area of the heaviest fighting or most significant actions of the battle. Two discontiguous tracts 

of private land were also acquired. These two quarter-acre sites were selected to preserve and 

interpret the location of the headquarter sites of the battle's two opposing Generals, Bragg and 

Rosecrans.

The Commission recommended that 35 interpretive markers be erected within the park proper, 

two at the Artillery reservation, and one at Redoubt Brannan. An additional seven tablets were 

proposed to be erected on seven parcels of land to interpret and mark specific events of the 

battle. These seven one-eighth acre parcels of land were the only tracts recommended by the 

Commission that were not eventually purchased for the park.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

The War Department's alteration and rehabilitation of the 324 acre core area of the park began 

immediately following its acquisition and was completed for the dedication of the Stones River 

National Military Park in 1932. As part of the rehabilitation of the tract, all the existing domestic 

and agricultural structures and associated features were determined to post-date the battle and 

consequently were removed. A wire fence was erected around the perimeter of the tract to 

exclude free-range cattle. In 1927, the administrative functions of the Stones River Military 

Park and the National Cemetery were consolidated. No new structures were built in the 

Military Park because all administrative, visitor contact, and utility functions were operated out 

of the existing structures located in the National Cemetery. Two existing roads that dated to the 

time of the battle (Nashville Pike and Van Cleve lane) were improved (graded and graveled) 

and incorporated into the park circulation network. Visitor access and interpretation was 

accommodated by the construction of a new tour road leading from Nashville Pike, through the 

core area, to Van Cleve Lane. At both ends of the tour road, formal entrance features were 

constructed that included stone walls, columns, gates and entrance signs. Three cannon 

(relocated from Redoubt Brannan) and a flagstaff were erected adjacent to the northern 

entrance gate (Willett, 1958, pp 74-76).

The War Department's alteration and rehabilitation to the existing vegetation is poorly 

documented. The Commission's 1928 field inspection described the northern section of the 324 

acre tract as open and under cultivation. The central and southern portions were reported as 

rocky and under the cover of cedar. Immediately following acquisition by the War Department 

the open areas of the tract were plowed and seeded with fall oats. More specific information is 

available on the Departments treatment of the park entrance and tour road. Willett states that 

the park roads were "boulevarded" and "landscape plans were prepared...and 2,500 trees, 

plants, and shrubs were planted" (Willett, 1958, pp 73-76). Two maps prepared by the NPS in 

1934, document the continued survival of these formal landscape treatments into the early 

period of NPS administration of the battlefield. These two maps (NPS drawing numbers 

327-1063, 327-1064) document the configuration and species composition of formal plantings of 

exotic flowering tress and shrubs that occurred in association with the main park entrance 

features, along Nashville Pike, and in periodic clusters along the tour road.

(1933 - present) Stones River National Military Park, National Park Service Administration

Less than one year after the War Department's official dedication of the Stones River National 

Military Park in 1932, the park was transferred by Executive Order to the administrative control 

of the NPS. The deeds to several tracts of land that had been authorized for acquisition by the 

War Department (65.6 acres) were not officially transferred to the government until after the 

park has been transferred to the NPS. The transfer of title to these lands brought the total park 

acreage to 344.69 acres. From 1933 until 1955 the park was administered from 

Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. Legislation enacted in 1960 changed the 

name of the park to Stones River National Battlefield. In 1987 and 1991, legislation expanded 

the authorized boundaries of the park by more than 350 additional acres.

NPS physical development and rehabilitation of the park can be divided into three phases: Park 

Development Era (1933-1934), 1940s-1950s, and the Mission 66 period. For the first two years 

after the park was transferred to the NPS, Public Works Administration workers made 

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

improvements. Between 1933-1934 the tour road and Nashville Pike were regraded, vegetative 

buffers were planted along portions of the park's perimeter, and the open fields were disced, 

fertilized, and graded.

From the late 1930s to the late 1950s, a number of Park Master Plans were drawn and 

approved should funding be made available. The common focus of the majority of these plans 

was the rehabilitation of the park through physical development (e.g., relocation of the tour road 

and entrance features, construction of a new visitor center, and the acquisition of more than 

1,000 acres to increase the percentage of the battlefield under federal protection and to connect 

the discontiguous tracts within the park). Preparation of these Master Plans did not include the 

research or preparation of a historic base map, or reference the troop movement maps 

prepared earlier by the War Department. Funding was never made available to carry out the 

recommendations of these plans. During the 1940s-1950s, available funding only allowed for the 

resurfacing of the tour road and Van Cleve Lane. The primary phase of physical development at STRI was associated with the Servicewide 

Mission 66 initiative. The 1963 Master Plan, which included a historic ground cover map 

prepared by NPS Historian Edwin Bearss, guided the physical development in the park. Work 

completed between 1962 and 1965 included construction of a new visitor center and parking lot, 

and the conversion of the tour road into a closed-loop road with a single entrance on the 

Nashville Pike.

The history of NPS vegetation management practices at STRI has not been the focus of 

previous research. This inventory effort has been informed only by the information that can be 

gleaned from the series of maps that have been drawn of the Main Battlefield during its 

administration by the NPS. Two maps prepared in 1934, documented the continued survival of 

the War Department's planting of exotic flowering trees and shrubs at the park entrance and 

along section of the park tour road. These plantings do not survive today and previous research 

has not documented when or why they were removed. It is assumed however, that the exotic 

plantings were removed by the NPS in the 1930s-1940s as part of the Servicewide trend in 

historical parks to reintroduce native species in an attempt to create more historically accurate 

settings. The NPSs treatment of the broad vegetation patterns of the main park area also has 

not been documented in previous research. A comparison of the series of park maps prepared 

in 1936, 1962, and 1978 indicate that there has been no systematic and sustained effort by the 

NPS to restore or preserve the 1862-1863 configuration of woodland and open areas (see 

figure on next page). They also show that the configuration of the forested areas remained 

relatively constant from 1936 to 1962. The period of greatest change to the configuration of 

woodland appears to have occurred between 1962 to 1978. No maps have been produced since 

1978 to allow a comparison with the existing configuration.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Stones River National Military Park main entrance, c. 1938.

View of Main Battlefield (Nashville Pike Unit), c. 1938.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Main entrance to Stones River National Cemetery, c. 1938.

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Analysis & Evaluation of Integrity

Analysis and Evaluation of Integrity Narrative Summary:

Landscape features considered contributing to the significance of the component landscape are 

identified below. Please refer to the individual component landscape CLIs for more detail.

Landscape Characteristic:

Topography

The elevated positions of the Artillery Monument and the National Cemetery (where Rosecrans 

also assembled an artillery park) are key remnants of the STRI historic landscape. The Artillery 

Monument occupies a portion of the Round Forest, a rocky, overgrown position where Union 

troops held off repeated Confederate attacks on Dec. 31, 1862 and Jan. 2, 1863. The National 

Cemetery also occupies one of the few elevated positions on the battlefield, a ridge supporting 

the historic Nashville Pike.

Spatial Organization

The relationship between key natural features such as the Round Forest, McFadden's Ford, 

Stones River, and the Cedar glades, and cultural features like the railroad, the Nashville Pike, 

and split-rail fences strengthens the visitor's understanding of the battle.

Circulation

The circulation patterns of STRI's historic landscape, particularly the Nashville Pike and the 

Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad are contributing features of the historic landscape.

Character-defining Features:

Feature: Wilkinson Pike

Feature Identification Number: 120740

Type of Feature Contribution: Contributing

Feature: Nashville & Chattanooga (CSX) Railroad

Feature Identification Number: 99236

Type of Feature Contribution: Contributing

IDLCS Number: 90232

LCS Structure Name: Nashville & Chattanooga (CSX) Railroad

LCS Structure Number: HS-30

Feature: Old Nashville Highway

Feature Identification Number: 99237

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Type of Feature Contribution: Contributing

IDLCS Number: 7037

LCS Structure Name: Old Nashville Highway

LCS Structure Number: HS-15

Feature: Van Cleve Lane

Feature Identification Number: 99238

Type of Feature Contribution: Contributing

IDLCS Number: 7036

LCS Structure Name: Van Cleve Lane

LCS Structure Number: HS-14

Vegetation

Remnant historic vegetation patterns, particularly the relationship of Cedar glades and other 

forested areas to open fields, are key contributing features of the historic landscape.

Character-defining Features:

Feature: Cedar glades

Feature Identification Number: 120742

Type of Feature Contribution: Contributing

Buildings and Structures

Character-defining Features:

Feature: Visitor Center

Feature Identification Number: 120738

Type of Feature Contribution: Non Contributing

Views and Vistas

The vista between Union artillery parks and Cedar glades is an important feature of STRI's 

historic landscape. Likewise, views across Stones River from the Artillery Monument and 

between Rebdout Brannan and Stones River are contributing features of the historic landscape.

Archeological Sites

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Condition

Condition Assessment and Impacts

Condition Assessment: Good

Assessment Date: 08/01/2007

Condition Assessment Explanatory Narrative:

See inventories of the five component landscapes for more detail about their condition assessments: 

General Bragg's Headquarters Site (Good), General Rosecrans's Headquarters Site (Fair), Hazen 

Brigade Monument (Fair), McFadden Farm Unit (Fair), and Nashville Pike Unit (Good).

Impacts

Type of Impact: Adjacent Lands

External or Internal: External

Impact Description: Noise pollution from industrial and commercial development.

Type of Impact: Vegetation/Invasive Plants

External or Internal: Internal

Impact Description: Exotic species (Kudzu, Privet, and Japanese Honeysuckle) 

threaten both the site's natural and cultural resource values.

Treatment

Treatment

Approved Treatment: Undetermined

Bibliography and Supplemental Information

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Bibliography

Citation Title: A History of Stones River National Military Park

Source Name: CRBIB

Citation Number: 002857

Citation Type: Narrative

Citation Location: SERO

Citation Title: Fence and Ground Cover Map, Part of the Master Plan, Stones 

River National Battlefield

Source Name: CRBIB

Citation Number: 011029

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: SERO files

Citation Title: "Approximate Location of Exotic Plants, With Number and 

Variety, Stones River National Military Park"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-1063

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "Entrance and Drive to Park and Cemetery, Stones River National 

Military Park,"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-1064

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "Existing Conditions, Stones River National Battlefield"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-20033A

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Citation Title: "General Development Plan"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-3002

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "General Development Plan, Part of the Master Plan"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-3027

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "Stones River National Battlefield, Rutherford County, Tennessee, Land Status Map, Segment 01."

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-80,008

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "Topography, Stones River National Military Park"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-6002-1-2

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

Citation Title: "Visitor Center and Residence Area, As Built Drawing"

Source Name: DSC/TIC

Citation Number: NPS Map Number 327-3004

Citation Type: Graphic

Citation Location: On file at SERO

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Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Landscape

Citation Title: Memorandum dated June 10, 1994

Source Name: Other

Citation Type: Narrative

Citation Location: SERO files

Citation Title: "Archeological Investigations at Stones River National Battlefield."

Source Name: Other

Citation Type: Narrative

Citation Location: SERO files

Citation Title: "Cedar Glades Report, Appendix B, General Management Plan, 

Development Concept Plan, Stones River National Battlefield 

Park."

Source Name: Other

Citation Type: Both Graphic And Narrative

Citation Location: STRI files

Citation Title: "Global Positioning Systems Survey of Battlefield Defining 

Features, Stones River Battlefield, Murfreesboro, Tennessee."

Source Name: Other

Citation Type: Both Graphic And Narrative

Citation Location: STRI files

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