116-552: Murfreesboro City Schools ( MCS ) is a school district headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee , in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee . The district only operates elementary schools; Rutherford County Schools operates middle and high schools serving Murfreesboro. MCS also operates an Extended School Program (ESP) throughout the year from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. This Tennessee school-related article
232-432: A complete replica Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. There are two main malls located within the city limits. Stones River Mall is a traditional enclosed mall featuring many stores and restaurants and The Avenue Murfreesboro is an outdoor lifestyle center . The Historic Downtown Murfreesboro district also offers a wide variety of shopping and dining experiences that encircle the pre-Civil War Courthouse. Murfreesboro
348-568: A corps under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet from the Army of Northern Virginia . Only five brigades (about 5,000 effectives) from two of Longstreet's divisions arrived in time for the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20. The three infantry corps of Rosecrans's army advanced by separate routes, on the only three roads that were suitable for such movements. On the right flank, McCook's XX Corps moved southwest to Valley Head, Alabama ; in
464-470: A defensive position just east of the crossroads. The two Union divisions then withdrew to Stevens Gap. Hindman's men skirmished with Baird's rear guard, but could not prevent the withdrawal of the Union force. Realizing that part of his force had narrowly escaped a Confederate trap, Rosecrans abandoned his plans for a pursuit and began to concentrate his scattered forces. As he wrote in his official report, it
580-438: A defensive position several hundred yards northwest of Jay's Mill, about equally distant from where the 1st Georgia Cavalry waited through the night south of the mill. At about the time that McCook sent a regiment to destroy Reed's Bridge (which would survive the second attempt in two days to destroy it), Brig. Gen. Henry Davidson of Forrest's Cavalry Corps sent the 1st Georgia forward and they encountered some of McCook's men near
696-504: A destination for many refugee immigrants who have left areas affected by warfare; since 1990 numerous people from Somalia and Kurds from Iraq have settled there. The city has also attracted numerous international students to the university. Beginning in 2010, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro faced protests related to its plan to build a new 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m ) mosque. The county planning council had approved
812-651: A full week passed before they reached the Tennessee River Valley. They encamped while engineers made preparations for crossing the river. Meanwhile, Rosecrans's deception plan was underway. Col. John T. Wilder of the XIV Corps moved his mounted infantry brigade (the Lightning Brigade, which first saw prominence at Hoover's Gap ) to the north of Chattanooga. His men pounded on tubs and sawed boards, sending pieces of wood downstream, to make
928-508: A record high of 109 °F (43 °C) on August 16, 1954. Precipitation is abundant year-round without any major difference, but there is still slight variation. The wet season runs from February through July, reaching its peak in June with 144 millimetres (5.7 in) of rain. The dry season runs from August through January with a September low of 88 millimetres (3.5 in) and a secondary December peak of 141 millimetres (5.6 in). As of
1044-666: A reliable line of communications. His subordinate generals were supportive of this line of reasoning and counseled delay, all except for Brig. Gen. James A. Garfield , Rosecrans's chief of staff, a politician who understood the value of being on the record endorsing the Lincoln administration's priorities. The plan for the Union advance was to cross the Cumberland Plateau into the valley of the Tennessee River, pause briefly to accumulate some supplies, and then cross
1160-450: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Murfreesboro, Tennessee Murfreesboro is a city in, and county seat of, Rutherford County, Tennessee , United States. The population was 165,430 according to the 2023 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010 . Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee , 34 miles (55 km) southeast of downtown Nashville . It served as
1276-751: Is a 19th-century mansion which became involved in the Civil War. It was occupied as a residence until the 1950s, after which it was purchased by the City of Murfreesboro and renovated into a museum by the Oaklands Association. Earth Experience: The Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History is the only natural history museum in Middle Tennessee. The museum opened in September 2014 and features more than 2,000 items on display, including
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#17327808538331392-654: Is a 430-acre (1,700,000 m ) facility with eight baseball fields, 7 miles (11 km) of biking/running trails, an 18-hole championship disc golf course, and ten picnic shelters. Murfreesboro Greenway System is a system of greenways with 12 miles (19 km) of paved paths and 11 trail heads. In 2013, the city council approved a controversial 25-year "master plan" to extend the system by adding 173 miles worth of new greenways, bikeways and blueways at an estimated cost of $ 104.8 million. The city council has six members, all elected at-large for four-year terms, on staggered schedules with elections every two years. The mayor
1508-436: Is also elected at large. City council members have responsibilities for various city departments. Elementary education within the city is overseen by Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS). MCS focuses on prekindergarten through sixth grade learning. The city has 12 schools serving 8,800 students between grades pre-K through 6th. Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga , fought on September 18–20, 1863, between
1624-444: Is close to being humid subtropical ( Cf ) even under Trewartha (March falls 0.9 °F (−17.3 °C) short of the threshold), supported by the fact that subtropical plants like Southern magnolia trees and the occasional dwarf palmetto and needle palm shrubs can thrive long-term there but struggle much further north. The hardiness zone is 7. Temperatures range from a record low of −19 °F (−28 °C) on January 26, 1940, to
1740-508: Is often said that Chickamauga is a Cherokee word meaning "river of death". Peter Cozzens, author of This Terrible Sound , wrote that this is a "loose translation". Glenn Tucker presents the translations of "stagnant water" (from the "lower Cherokee tongue"), "good country" (from the Chickasaw ) and "river of death" (dialect of the "upcountry Cherokee"). Tucker claims that the "river of death" came by its name not from early warfare, but from
1856-415: Is ours without a struggle and East Tennessee is free." Bragg was aware of Rosecrans's dispositions and planned to defeat him by attacking his isolated corps individually. The corps were spread out over 40 miles (65 km), too far apart to support each other. Rosecrans was convinced that Bragg was demoralized and fleeing to either Dalton , Rome , or Atlanta , Georgia. Instead, Bragg's Army of Tennessee
1972-484: Is that it is from the Chickasaw word chokma "be good" plus the verb ending -k a . The Chickasaw town of Chickamauga was located at the foot of Lookout Mountain. Rosecrans faced significant logistical challenges if he chose to move forward. The Cumberland Plateau that separated the armies was a rugged, barren country over 30 miles long with poor roads and little opportunity for foraging. If Bragg attacked him during
2088-740: Is the home of a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). It is part of an initiative by the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mail order prescriptions to veterans using computerization at strategic locations throughout the United States. It is located on the campus of the Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital. The City Center building (also known as the Swanson Building) is the tallest building in Murfreesboro. Located in
2204-641: Is water. However, as of 2013 the city reports its total area as 55.94 square miles (144.9 km ). Murfreesboro is the geographic center of the state of Tennessee. A stone monument marks the official site on Old Lascassas Pike, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of MTSU . The West Fork of the Stones River flows through Murfreesboro. A walking trail, the Greenway, parallels the river for several miles. A smaller waterway, Lytle Creek, flows through downtown including historic Cannonsburgh Village. Parts of
2320-453: The 2020 United States census , there were 152,769 people, 52,530 households, and 31,732 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 census , there were 108,755 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 75.62% White , 15.18% Black / African American , 0.35% Native American , 3.36% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 2.79% from other races , and 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.93% of
2436-597: The Army of Northern Virginia . In the resulting rout, Longstreet's attack drove one-third of the U.S. army, including Rosecrans himself, from the field. U.S. Army units spontaneously rallied to create a defensive line on Horseshoe Ridge (" Snodgrass Hill "), forming a new right wing for the line of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas , who assumed overall command of remaining forces. Although the Confederates launched costly and determined assaults, Thomas and his men held until twilight. Union forces then retired to Chattanooga while
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#17327808538332552-407: The Stones River ; two roads provided additional access and transportation. The fort's interior was a huge logistical resource center, including sawmills, warehouses, quartermaster maintenance depots, ammunition magazines, and living quarters for the 2,000 men who handled the operations and defended the post. After the fortress was completed in June 1863, Rosecrans ventured to the south. The fortress
2668-523: The 19-mile (31 km) long creek suffer from pollution due to the urban environment and its use as a storm-water runoff. Murfreesboro is home to a number of natural and man-made lakes plus several small wetlands including Todd's Lake and the Murfree Spring wetland area. Murfreesboro has been in the path of destructive tornados several times. On April 10, 2009, a low-end EF4 tornado with estimated windspeeds up to 170 miles per hour struck
2784-471: The 1930s. Visitors can view the grist mill, school house, doctor's office, Leeman House, Caboose, Wedding Chapel, and other points of interest. It is also home to the World's Largest Cedar Bucket . Old Fort Park is a 50-acre (200,000 m ) park which includes baseball fields, tennis courts, children's playground, an 18-hole championship golf course, picnic shelters and bike trail. Barfield Crescent Park
2900-598: The Army of Tennessee into Wings was ordered the night of September 19 upon the arrival of Longstreet from Virginia. Prior to this, the corps commanders reported directly to Bragg. Bushrod Johnson's division took the wrong road from Ringgold, but eventually headed west on the Reed's Bridge Road. At 7 a.m. his men encountered cavalry pickets from Col. Robert Minty's brigade, guarding the approach to Reed's Bridge. Being outnumbered five to one, Minty's men eventually withdrew across
3016-603: The Army of the Cumberland farther north than Bragg expected when he formulated his plans for an attack on September 20. Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden 's XXI Corps was concentrated around Lee and Gordon's Mill, which Bragg assumed was the left flank, but Thomas was arrayed behind him, covering a wide front from Crawfish Springs (division of Maj. Gen. James S. Negley ), the Widow Glenn's house (Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Reynolds ), Kelly field (Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird ), to around
3132-469: The Army of the Cumberland, was ordered to build Fortress Rosecrans , some 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the town. The fortifications covered about 225 acres (0.91 km ) and were the largest built during the war. Fortress Rosecrans consisted of eight lunettes , four redoubts , and connecting fortifications. The fortress was built around the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and the West Fork of
3248-505: The Arts, close to the Square, entertains with a variety of exhibits, theatre arts, concerts, dances, and magic shows. Murfreesboro Little Theatre has provided the community with popular and alternative forms of theatre arts since 1962. Murfreesboro's International FolkFest began in 1982 and is held annually during the second week in June. Groups from countries spanning the globe participate in
3364-557: The Confederate advance with a concentrated volley at close range. Liddell's exhausted men began to withdraw and Croxton's brigade, returning to the action, pushed them back beyond the Winfrey field. Believing that Rosecrans was attempting to move the center of the battle farther north than Bragg planned, Bragg began rushing heavy reinforcements from all parts of his line to his right, starting with Cheatham's division of Polk's Corps,
3480-513: The Confederate brigades of Wright and Smith. Smith's brigade bore the brunt of the attack in the Brock field and was replaced by Strahl's brigade, which also had to withdraw under the pressure. Two more Union brigades followed Palmer's division, from Brig. Gen. Horatio Van Cleve 's division of the XXI corps, who formed on the left flank of Wright's brigade. The attack of Brig. Gen. Samuel Beatty 's brigade
3596-502: The Confederates occupied the surrounding heights, besieging the city. In his successful Tullahoma Campaign in the summer of 1863, Rosecrans moved southeast from Murfreesboro, Tennessee , outmaneuvering Bragg and forcing him to abandon Middle Tennessee and withdraw to the city of Chattanooga, suffering only 569 Union casualties along the way. General-in-chief Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck and President Abraham Lincoln were insistent that Rosecrans move quickly to take Chattanooga. Seizing
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3712-488: The Confederates outnumbered Negley's division 3 to 1, but failed to attack. Infuriated that his orders were being defied and a golden opportunity was being lost, Bragg issued new orders for Hindman to attack early September 11. Cleburne, who was not sick as Hill had claimed, cleared the felled timber from Dug Gap and prepared to advance when he heard the sound of Hindman's guns. By this time, however, Baird's division had reached Negley's, and Negley had withdrawn his division to
3828-651: The Confederates retreated to the woods east of the road, Harker realized he was isolated and quickly withdrew. At the Viniard house, Buell's men were attacked by part of Brig. Gen. Evander M. Law 's division of Hood's corps. The brigades of Brig. Gens. Jerome B. Robertson and Henry L. Benning pushed southwest toward the Viniard field, pushing back Brig. Gen. William Carlin 's brigade (Davis's division) and fiercely struck Buell's brigade, pushing them back behind Wilder's line. Hood's and Johnson's men, pushing strongly forward, approached so close to Rosecrans's new headquarters at
3944-467: The Confederates think that rafts were being constructed for a crossing north of the city. His artillery, commanded by Capt. Eli Lilly , bombarded the city from Stringer's Ridge for two weeks, an operation sometimes known as the Second Battle of Chattanooga . The deception worked and Bragg was convinced that the Union crossing would be above the city, in conjunction with Burnside's advancing Army of
4060-673: The Confederates were crossing the creek, Thomas began to arrive in Crittenden's rear area. The land between Chickamauga Creek and the LaFayette Road was gently rolling but almost completely wooded. ... In the woods no officer above brigadier could see all his command at once, and even the brigadiers often could see nobody's troops but their own and perhaps the enemy's. Chickamauga would be a classic "soldiers battle," but it would test officers at every level of command in ways they had not previously been tested. An additional complication
4176-545: The ICM's observance of needed process. The center has a permanent membership of around 250 families and a few hundred students from the university. The case ultimately attracted national media attention as an issue of religious freedom. In June 2023 the city passed an ordinance banning 'public homosexuality' as 'indecent'. In October 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit against
4292-615: The Main Street Jazzfest presented by MTSU's School of Music and the Main Street Association each May. For over 30 years, Uncle Dave Macon Days has celebrated the musical tradition of Uncle Dave Macon . This annual July event includes national competitions for old-time music and dancing. Murfreesboro also hosts an annual DIY not-for-profit music festival called Boro Fondo, which is also a bike tour and local artist feature. The Murfreesboro Center for
4408-532: The McDonald farm (Brig. Gen. John M. Brannan ). Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger 's Reserve Corps was spread along the northern end of the battlefield from Rossville to McAfee's Church. Bragg's plan called for an attack on the supposed Union left flank by the corps of Maj. Gens. Simon B. Buckner , John Bell Hood , and W.H.T. Walker , screened by Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest 's cavalry to the north, with Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham 's division held in reserve in
4524-653: The Ohio from Knoxville. The first crossing of the Tennessee River was accomplished by the XX Corps at Caperton's Ferry, 4 miles from Stevenson on August 29, where construction began on a 1,250-foot pontoon bridge. The second crossing, of the XIV Corps, was at Shellmound, Tennessee, on August 30. They were quickly followed by most of the XXI Corps. The fourth crossing site was at the mouth of Battle Creek, Tennessee, where
4640-574: The Reed's Bridge Road, with Col. John Croxton 's brigade on his right. Col. John Connell's brigade came up behind in reserve. Croxton's men drove back Davidson's advanced cavalrymen and Forrest formed a defensive line of dismounted troopers to stem the tide. Croxton halted his advance because he was unsure of Forrest's strength. Forrest requested reinforcements from Bragg and Walker near Alexander's Bridge and Walker ordered Col. Claudius Wilson 's brigade forward about 9 a.m., hitting Croxton's right flank. Forrest protected his own right flank by deploying
4756-423: The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimated a population of 92,559, with 35,842 households and 20,979 families in the city. Murfreesboro's 2008 special census reported that the population had reached 100,575, while preliminary information from the 2010 U.S. census indicates a population of 108,755. In October 2017, the City of Murfreesboro started another special census. Given the continuous growth in
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4872-805: The United States Army and Confederate forces in the American Civil War , marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign , in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia . It was the first major battle of the war fought in Georgia and the most significant US defeat in the Western Theater , and it involved the second-highest number of casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg . The battle
4988-463: The Viniard house. Col. Heg was mortally wounded during one of these advances. Late in the day, Rosecrans deployed almost his last reserve, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan 's division of McCook's corps. Marching north from Lee and Gordon's Mill, Sheridan took the brigades of Cols. Luther Bradley and Bernard Laiboldt . Bradley's brigade was in the lead and it was able to push the heavily outnumbered brigades of Robertson and Benning out of Viniard field. Bradley
5104-429: The advance, Rosecrans would be forced to fight with his back against the mountains and tenuous supply lines. He did not have the luxury of staying put, however, because he was under intense pressure from Washington to move forward in conjunction with Burnside's advance into East Tennessee. By early August, Halleck was frustrated enough with Rosecrans's delay that he ordered him to move forward immediately and to report daily
5220-426: The army's left flank and the cavalry under Forrest and Wheeler would cover Bragg's right and left flanks, respectively. The U.S. Forces Army of the Cumberland , commanded by Rosecrans, consisted of about 60,000 men, composed of the following major organizations: The Confederate Army of Tennessee , commanded by Bragg, with about 65,000 men, was composed of the following major organizations: The organization of
5336-544: The attack by crossing the LaFayette Road with two brigades in line and one in reserve. The two brigades drifted apart during the attack. On the right, Col. John Fulton's brigade routed King's brigade and linked up with Bate at Brotherton field. On the left, Brig. Gen. John Gregg 's brigade attacked Wilder's Union brigade in its reserve position at the Viniard Farm. Gregg was seriously wounded and his brigade advance halted. Brig. Gen. Evander McNair 's brigade, called up from
5452-566: The bridge after being pressured by elements of Forrest's cavalry, but could not destroy the bridge and prevent Johnson's men from crossing. At 4:30 p.m., when Johnson had reached Jay's Mill, Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood of Longstreet's Corps arrived from the railroad station at Catoosa and took command of the column. He ordered Johnson to use the Jay's Mill Road instead of the Brotherton Road, as Johnson had planned. At Alexander's Bridge to
5568-495: The brigade of Col. George Dibrell , which ran into Van Derveer's brigade and came to a halt under fire. Forrest sent in Brig. Gen. Matthew Ector 's brigade, part of Walker's Reserve Corps, but without Walker's knowledge. Ector's men replaced Dibrell's in line, but they were also unable to drive Van Derveer from his position. Brannan's division was holding its ground against Forrest and his infantry reinforcements, but their ammunition
5684-484: The center and Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne 's division in reserve at Thedford's Ford. Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman 's division faced Crittenden at Lee and Gordon's Mill and Breckinridge's faced Negley. The Battle of Chickamauga opened almost by accident, when pickets from Col. Daniel McCook 's brigade of Granger's Reserve Corps moved toward Jay's Mill in search of water. McCook had moved from Rossville on September 18 to aid Col. Robert Minty's brigade. His men established
5800-457: The center, Thomas's XIV Corps moved just across the border to Trenton, Georgia ; and on the left, Crittenden's XXI Corps moved directly toward Chattanooga around Lookout Mountain. On September 8, after learning that Rosecrans had crossed into his rear, Bragg evacuated Chattanooga and moved his army south along the LaFayette Road toward LaFayette, Georgia . The Union army occupied Chattanooga on September 9. Rosecrans telegraphed Halleck, "Chattanooga
5916-419: The city was $ 39,705, and the median income for a family was $ 52,654. Males had a median income of $ 36,078 versus $ 26,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,219. About 8.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older. Special census estimates in 2005 indicated 81,393 residents, and in 2006
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#17327808538336032-614: The city would open the door for the Union to advance toward Atlanta and the heartland of the South . Chattanooga was a vital rail hub (with lines going north toward Nashville and Knoxville and south toward Atlanta), and an important manufacturing center for the production of iron and coke, located on the navigable Tennessee River. Situated between Lookout Mountain , Missionary Ridge , Raccoon Mountain, and Stringer's Ridge, Chattanooga occupied an important, defensible position. Although Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee had about 52,000 men at
6148-581: The city, in response to the ban and, in December 2023, the ordinance was repealed. Murfreesboro is located at 35°50′46″N 86°23′31″W / 35.846143°N 86.392078°W / 35.846143; -86.392078 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (102 km ). 39.0 square miles (101 km ) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km ) of it (0.54%)
6264-552: The city, while the XX Corps under Maj. Gen. Alexander M. McCook and the Cavalry Corps under Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley would advance even farther to the southeast toward Bragg's railroad supply line leading from Atlanta. If executed correctly, this plan would cause Bragg to evacuate Chattanooga or be trapped in the city without supplies. Rosecrans ordered his army to move on August 16. The difficult road conditions meant
6380-483: The city. On September 17 he headed north, intending to attack the isolated XXI Corps . As Bragg marched north on September 18, his cavalry and infantry fought with Union cavalry and mounted infantry, which were armed with Spencer repeating rifles . The two armies fought at Alexander's Bridge and Reed's Bridge, as the Confederates tried to cross the West Chickamauga Creek. Fighting began in earnest on
6496-424: The cove from the northeast, forcing the Union division to its destruction at the cul-de-sac at the southwest end of the valley. Early on the morning of September 10, Bragg ordered Polk's division under Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman to march 13 miles southwest into the cove and strike Negley's flank. He also ordered D.H. Hill to send Cleburne's division from LaFayette through Dug Gap to strike Negley's front, making sure
6612-414: The creek at Thedford's Ford. Polk's troops were facing Crittenden's at Lee and Gordon's Mill and D.H. Hill's corps guarded crossing sites to the south. Although Bragg had achieved some degree of surprise, he failed to exploit it strongly. Rosecrans, observing the dust raised by the marching Confederates in the morning, anticipated Bragg's plan. He ordered Thomas and McCook to Crittenden's support, and while
6728-444: The direction of Chattanooga offered their best option. By September 17, McCook's corps had reached Stevens Gap and the three Union corps were now much less vulnerable to individual defeat. Yet Bragg decided that he still had an opportunity. Reinforced with two divisions arriving from Virginia under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet , and a division from Mississippi under Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson , he decided to move his army northward on
6844-471: The division of Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell to the fight, countering Thomas's reinforcements. The brigades of Col. Daniel Govan and Brig. Gen. Edward Walthall advanced along the Alexander's Bridge Road, smashing Baird's right flank. Both Scribner's and Starkweather's brigades retreated in panic, followed by King's regulars, who dashed for the rear through Van Derveer's brigade. Van Derveer's men halted
6960-496: The downtown area it was built by Joseph Swanson in 1989. It has 15 floors, including a large penthouse, and stands 211 feet (64 m) tall. As a commercial building its tenants include Bank of America and is the headquarters for the National Healthcare Corporation (NHC). Cannonsburgh Village is a reproduction of what a working pioneer village would have looked like from the period of the 1830s to
7076-575: The end of July, the Confederate government merged the Department of East Tennessee, under Maj. Gen. Simon B. Buckner , into Bragg's Department of Tennessee, which added 17,800 men to Bragg's army, a total of 69,800 men, but also extended his command responsibilities northward to the Knoxville area. This brought a third subordinate into Bragg's command who had little or no respect for him. Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk and Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee had already made their animosity well known. Buckner's attitude
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#17327808538337192-476: The festival, performing traditional songs and dances while attired in regional apparel. The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a nature center and interactive museum focusing on children and families. The facility includes 20 acres (8 ha) of wetlands with a variety of animals. Bradley Academy Museum contains collectibles and exhibits of the first school in Rutherford County. This school
7308-517: The figurative fog of confusion that bedeviled men on both sides. In retrospect, victory for either side would look simple when unit positions were reviewed on a neat map, but in Chickamauga's torn and smoky woodlands, nothing was simple. Six Armies in Tennessee , Steven E. Woodworth Rosecrans's movement of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas 's XIV Corps the previous day put the left flank of
7424-693: The fringes of Murfreesboro. As a result, two people were killed and 41 others injured. 117 homes were totally destroyed, and 292 had major damage. The tornado is estimated to have caused over $ 40 million in damage. Being in the Sun Belt , Murfreesboro's climate is humid subtropical ( Cfa ) under the Köppen system, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Under the Trewartha system, it is an oceanic ( Do ) climate due to five months of winter chill (monthly means below 50 °F (10 °C)); however, Murfreesboro
7540-415: The general area, the population is expected to exceed the 2016 estimate of 131,947. According to Money.com in 2018, 136,000 people called Murfreesboro home and it would see a nearly 10% expansion of jobs in the coming years. According to Murfreesboro's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in Rutherford County are: Murfreesboro hosts several music-oriented events annually, such as
7656-492: The large number of casualties, the battle was inconclusive. It is usually considered a Union victory, since afterward General Bragg retreated 36 miles (58 km) south to Tullahoma . Even so, the Union army did not move against Bragg until six months later, in June 1863. The battle was significant since the Union gained a base from which it could push its eventual drive further south, which enabled its later advances against Chattanooga and Atlanta . The Union eventually divided
7772-474: The largest in the Army of Tennessee with five brigades. At 11 a.m., Cheatham's men approached Liddell's halted division and formed on its left. Three brigades under Brig. Gens. Marcus Wright , Preston Smith , and John Jackson formed the front line and Brig. Gens. Otho Strahl and George Maney commanded the brigades in the second line. Their advance greatly overlapped Croxton's brigade and had no difficulty pushing it back. As Croxton withdrew, his brigade
7888-511: The largest undergraduate enrollment in the state, including many international students. World War II was an impetus for industrial development, and Murfreesboro diversified into industry, manufacturing, and education. Growth has been steady since that time, creating a stable economy. Since the last decade of the 20th century, Murfreesboro has enjoyed substantial residential and commercial growth, with its population increasing 123.9% between 1990 and 2010, from 44,922 to 108,755. The city has been
8004-636: The largest undergraduate universities in the state of Tennessee, with 20,540 total students as of fall 2024. On October 27, 1811, the Tennessee General Assembly designated the location for a new county seat for Rutherford County, giving it the name Cannonsburgh in honor of Newton Cannon , representative to the Assembly for the local area. At the suggestion of William Lytle, it was renamed Murfreesborough on November 29, 1811, after Revolutionary War hero Colonel Hardy Murfree . The name
8120-582: The location that the Cherokee contracted smallpox. James Mooney , in Myths of the Cherokee , wrote that Chickamauga is the more common spelling for Tsïkäma'gï , a name that "has no meaning in their language" and is possibly "derived from an Algonquian word referring to a fishing or fish-spearing place... if not Shawano it is probably from the Creek or Chickasaw ." The most plausible etymology for Chickamauga
8236-523: The mill. McCook was ordered by Granger to withdraw back to Rossville, and his men were pursued by Davidson's troopers. McCook encountered Thomas at the LaFayette Road, having finished an all-night march from Crawfish Springs. McCook reported to Thomas that a single Confederate infantry brigade was trapped on the west side of Chickamauga Creek. Thomas told Brannan's division to attack and destroy it. Brannan sent three brigades in response to Thomas's order: Col. Ferdinand Van Derveer 's brigade moved southeast on
8352-602: The morning of September 18 and advance toward Chattanooga, forcing Rosecrans's army out to fight or to withdraw. If Rosecrans fought, he risked being driven back into McLemore's Cove. The Confederate army was to move beyond the Federal left flank at Lee and Gordon's Mill and then cross West Chickamauga Creek. He specified four crossing points, from north to south: Johnson's division at Reed's Bridge, Walker's Reserve Corps at Alexander's Bridge, Buckner's corps at Thedford's Ford, and Polk's corps at Dalton's Ford. Hill's corps would anchor
8468-494: The morning of September 19. Bragg's men strongly assaulted but could not break the US line. The next day, Bragg resumed his assault. In late morning, Rosecrans was misinformed that he had a gap in his line. In moving units to shore up the supposed gap, Rosecrans accidentally created an actual gap directly in the path of an eight-brigade assault on a narrow front by Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet , whose corps had been detached from
8584-486: The movement across the Confederate front and Bragg saw another offensive opportunity. He ordered Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk to attack Crittenden's lead division, under Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood , at dawn on September 13, with Polk's corps and Walker's corps. Bragg rode to the scene after hearing no sound of battle and found that there were no preparations being made to attack. Once again, Bragg was angry that one of his subordinates did not attack as ordered, but by that morning it
8700-528: The movement of each corps until he crossed the Tennessee River. Rosecrans was outraged at the tone of "recklessness, conceit and malice" of Halleck's order and insisted that he would be courting disaster if he were not permitted to delay his advance until at least August 17. Rosecrans knew that he would have difficulty receiving supplies from his base on any advance across the Tennessee River and therefore thought it necessary to accumulate enough supplies and transport wagons that he could cross long distances without
8816-484: The movement was coordinated with Hindman's. Entering the cove with 4,600 men, Negley's division encountered Confederate skirmishers, but pressed forward to Davis's Cross Roads . Informed that there was a large Confederate force approaching on his left, Negley took up a position in the mouth of the cove and remained there until 3 a.m. on September 11. Hill claimed that Bragg's orders reached him very late and began offering excuses for why he could not advance—Cleburne
8932-488: The northern side of the Tennessee River. He concentrated his two infantry corps around Chattanooga and relied upon cavalry to cover his flanks, extending from northern Alabama to near Knoxville. The Confederate government decided to attempt a strategic reversal in the West by sending Bragg reinforcements from Virginia—Lt. Gen. James Longstreet with two divisions from his First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia —in addition to
9048-482: The offensive against Rosecrans if he were given reinforcements from Mississippi. He demurred, concerned about the daunting geographical obstacles and logistical challenges, preferring to wait for Rosecrans to solve those same problems and attack him. He was also concerned about a sizable Union force under Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside that was threatening Knoxville. Bragg withdrew his forces from advanced positions around Bridgeport, which left Rosecrans free to maneuver on
9164-418: The offensive, aiming to force the Confederates out of Chattanooga. In early September, Rosecrans consolidated his forces scattered in Tennessee and Georgia and forced Bragg's army out of Chattanooga, heading south. The Union troops followed it and brushed with it at Davis's Cross Roads . Bragg was determined to reoccupy Chattanooga and decided to meet a part of Rosecrans's army, defeat it, and then move back into
9280-416: The population. In the 2000 census, There were 26,511 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9396-447: The project, but opposition grew in the aftermath, affected by this being a year of elections. Signs on the building site were vandalized, with the first saying "not welcome" sprayed across it and the second being cut in two. Construction equipment was also torched by arsonists. In August 2011, a Rutherford County judge upheld his previous decision allowing the mosque to be built, noting the US constitutional right to religious freedom and
9512-446: The rear, also lost their cohesion during the advance. Union Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood 's division was ordered to march north from Lee and Gordon's Mill around 3 p.m. His brigade under Col. George P. Buell was posted north of the Viniard house while Col. Charles Harker 's brigade continued up the LaFayette Road. Harker's brigade arrived in the rear of Fulton's and McNair's Confederate regiments, firing into their backs. Although
9628-526: The reinforcements from Mississippi. Chickamauga was the first large scale Confederate movement of troops from one theater to another with the aim of achieving a period of numerical superiority and gaining decisive results. Bragg was now more satisfied with the resources provided, and looked to strike the Union Army as soon as he achieved the strength he needed. The campaign and major battle take their name from West Chickamauga Creek. In popular histories, it
9744-463: The rest of the XIV Corps crossed on August 31. Without permanent bridges, the Army of the Cumberland could not be supplied reliably, so another bridge was constructed at Bridgeport by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan 's division, spanning 2,700 feet (820 m) in three days. Virtually all of the Union army, other than elements of the Reserve Corps kept behind to guard the railroad, had safely crossed
9860-511: The river by September 4. They faced more mountainous terrain and road networks that were just as treacherous as the ones they had already traversed. The Confederate high command was concerned about this development and took steps to reinforce the Army of Tennessee. General Joseph E. Johnston 's army dispatched on loan two weak divisions (about 9,000 men) from Mississippi under Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge and Maj. Gen. William H. T. Walker by September 4, and General Robert E. Lee dispatched
9976-451: The river itself. An opposed crossing of the wide river was not feasible and so Rosecrans devised a deception to distract Bragg above Chattanooga while the army crossed downstream. Then the Army would advance on a wide front through the mountains. The XXI Corps under Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden would advance against the city from the west, the XIV Corps under Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas would cross over Lookout Mountain 20 miles south of
10092-451: The south, Col. John T. Wilder 's mounted infantry brigade defended the crossing against the approach of Walker's Corps. Armed with Spencer repeating rifles and Capt. Lilly's four guns of the 18th Indiana Battery, Wilder was able to hold off a brigade of Brig. Gen. St. John Liddell's division, which suffered 105 casualties against Wilder's superior firepower. Walker moved his men downstream a mile to Lambert's Ford, an unguarded crossing, and
10208-420: The state capital from 1818 to 1826. Today, it is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth-most populous city in Tennessee . The city is both the center of population and the geographic center of Tennessee. Since the 1990s, Murfreesboro has been Tennessee's fastest-growing major city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University , one of
10324-563: The territory into the Eastern and Western theaters, followed by Sherman's March to the Sea through the South. The Stones River National Battlefield is now a national historical site. General Rosecrans' move to the south depended on a secure source of provisions, and Murfreesboro was chosen for his supply depot. Soon after the battle, Brigadier General James St. Clair Morton , Chief Engineer of
10440-413: The tiny cabin of Widow Eliza Glenn that the staff officers inside had to shout to make themselves heard over the sounds of battle. There was a significant risk of a Federal rout in this part of the line. Wilder's men eventually held back the Confederate advance, fighting from behind a drainage ditch. The Federals launched several unsuccessful counterattacks late in the afternoon to regain the ground around
10556-642: The town's growth had begun to recover by the early 1900s, in contrast to other areas of the devastated South. In 1911, the state legislature created Middle Tennessee State Normal School, a two-year institute to train teachers. It soon merged with the Tennessee College for Women. In 1925 the Normal School was expanded to a full, four-year curriculum and college. With additional expansion of programs and addition of graduate departments, in 1965 it became Middle Tennessee State University . MTSU now has
10672-417: The two larger Federal brigades and Maney was forced to withdraw as both of his flanks were crushed. Additional Union reinforcements arrived shortly after Johnson. Maj. Gen. John Palmer's division of Crittenden's corps marched from Lee and Gordon's Mill and advanced into the fight with three brigades in line—the brigades of Brig. Gen. William Hazen , Brig. Gen. Charles Cruft , and Col. William Grose —against
10788-604: The west to what he considered a superior defensive position. Richard Johnson's division and Absalom Baird's brigade were in the rear of Thomas's westward migration, covering the withdrawal. At sunset Cleburne launched an attack with three brigades in line—from left to right, Brig. Gens. James Deshler , Sterling Wood , and Lucius Polk . The attack degenerated into chaos in the limited visibility of twilight and smoke from burning underbrush. Some of Absalom Baird's men advanced to support Baldwin's Union brigade, but mistakenly fired at them and were subjected to return friendly fire . Baldwin
10904-518: Was "a matter of life and death." On September 12 he ordered McCook and the cavalry to move northeast to Stevens Gap to join with Thomas, intending for this combined force to continue northeast to link up with Crittenden. The message to McCook took a full day to reach him at Alpine and the route he selected to move northeast required three days of marching 57 miles, retracing his steps over Lookout Mountain. Crittenden's corps began moving from Ringgold toward Lee and Gordon's Mill. Forrest's cavalry reported
11020-407: Was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males. The median income for a household in
11136-533: Was able to cross around 4:30 p.m., considerably behind schedule. Wilder, concerned about his left flank after Minty's loss of Reed's Bridge, withdrew and established a new blocking position east of the Lafayette Road, near the Viniard farm. By dark, Johnson's division had halted in front of Wilder's position. Walker had crossed the creek, but his troops were well scattered along the road behind Johnson. Buckner had been able to push only one brigade across
11252-519: Was caught up in the retreat as they were replenishing their ammunition. Col. James Sheffield's brigade from Hood's division drove back Grose's and Cruft's brigades. Brig. Gen. John Turchin 's brigade (Reynolds's division) counterattacked and briefly held off Sheffield, but the Confederates had caused a major penetration in the Federal line in the area of the Brotherton and Dyer fields. Stewart did not have sufficient forces to maintain that position, and
11368-536: Was colored by Bragg's unsuccessful invasion of Buckner's native Kentucky in 1862, as well as by the loss of his command through the merger. A positive aspect for Bragg was Hardee's request to be transferred to Mississippi in July, but he was replaced by Lt. Gen. D.H. Hill , a general who did not get along with Robert E. Lee in Virginia. The Confederate War Department asked Bragg in early August whether he could assume
11484-570: Was encamped at LaFayette, some 20 miles (32 km) south of Chattanooga. Confederate soldiers who posed as deserters deliberately added to this impression. Thomas firmly cautioned Rosecrans that a pursuit of Bragg was unwise because the Army of the Cumberland was too widely dispersed and its supply lines were tenuous. Rosecrans, exultant at his success in capturing Chattanooga, discounted Thomas's advice. He ordered McCook to swing across Lookout Mountain at Winston's Gap and use his cavalry to break Bragg's railroad supply line at Resaca, Georgia . Crittenden
11600-483: Was forced to order Bate to withdraw east of the Lafayette Road. At around 2 p.m., the division of Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson (Hood's corps) encountered the advance of Union Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis 's two brigade division of the XX corps, marching north from Crawfish Springs. Johnson's men attacked Col. Hans Heg 's brigade on Davis's left and forced it across the LaFayette Road. Hood ordered Johnson to continue
11716-721: Was fought between the US Army Army of the Cumberland under Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg , and was named for Chickamauga Creek . The West Chickamauga Creek meanders near and forms the southeast boundary of the battle area and the park in northwest Georgia. (The South Chickamauga ultimately flows into the Tennessee River about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northeast of downtown Chattanooga ). After his successful Tullahoma Campaign , Rosecrans renewed
11832-548: Was later renovated to become the only African American school in Murfreesboro, which closed in 1955. The Stones River National Battlefield is a national park which memorializes the Battle of Stones River , which took place during the American Civil War during December 31, 1862, to January 3, 1863. The grounds include a museum, a national cemetery, monuments, and the remains of a large earthen fortification called Fortress Rosecrans. Oaklands Historic House Museum
11948-409: Was never attacked, in part because the Union troops held the town of Murfreesboro hostage by training their artillery on the courthouse. Major portions of the earthworks still exist and have been incorporated into the battlefield historic site. Murfreesboro was first developed as a mainly agricultural community, but by 1853 the area was home to several colleges and academies. Despite the wartime trauma,
12064-501: Was replaced by Brig. Gen. Richard Johnson 's division of McCook's XX Corps near the LaFayette Road. Johnson's lead brigades, under Col. Philemon Baldwin and Brig. Gen. August Willich engaged Jackson's brigade, protecting Croxton's withdrawal. Although outnumbered, Jackson held under the pressure until his ammunition ran low and he called for reinforcements. Cheatham sent in Maney's small brigade to replace Jackson, but they were no match for
12180-503: Was running low. Thomas sent Baird's division to assist, which advanced with two brigades forward and one in reserve. Brig. Gen. John King 's brigade of U.S. Army regulars relieved Croxton. The brigade of Col. Benjamin Scribner took up a position on King's right and Col. John Starkweather 's brigade remained in reserve. With superior numbers and firepower, Scribner and King were able to start pushing back Wilson and Ector. Bragg committed
12296-468: Was shortened to Murfreesboro in January 1812 when the town was formally chartered. Author Mary Noailles Murfree was his great-granddaughter. As Tennessee settlement expanded to the west, the location of the state capital in Knoxville became inconvenient for much of the population. In 1818, Murfreesboro was designated as the capital of Tennessee and its population boomed. Eight years later, however, it
12412-420: Was shot dead from his horse attempting to lead a counterattack. Deshler's brigade missed their objective entirely and Deshler was shot in the chest while examining ammunition boxes. Brig. Gen. Preston Smith led his brigade forward to support Deshler and mistakenly rode into the lines of Col. Joseph B. Dodge's brigade (Johnson's division), where he was shot down. By 9 p.m. Cleburne's men retained possession of
12528-527: Was sick in bed and the road through Dug Gap was obstructed by felled timber. He advised calling off the operation. Hindman, who had executed Bragg's orders promptly and had advanced to within 4 miles (6.4 km) of Negley's division, became overly cautious when he realized that Hill would not be attacking on schedule and ordered his men to stop. Bragg reinforced Hindman with two divisions of Buckner's corps, which were encamped near Lee and Gordon's Mill . When Buckner reached Hindman at 5 p.m. on September 10,
12644-531: Was superseded by Nashville . On December 31, 1862, the Battle of Stones River , also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought near the city between the Union Army of the Cumberland and the Confederate Army of Tennessee . This was a major engagement of the American Civil War , and between December 31 and January 2, 1863, the rival armies suffered a combined total of 23,515 casualties. It
12760-404: Was that each army would be attempting to fight a shifting battle while shifting its own position. ... Each general would have to conduct a battle while shuffling his own units northward toward an enemy of whose position he could get only the vaguest idea. Strange and wonderful opportunities would loom out of the leaves, vines, and gunsmoke, be touched and vaguely sensed, and then fade away again into
12876-533: Was the bloodiest battle of the war by percentage of casualties. Following the Confederate retreat after the drawn Battle of Perryville in central Kentucky, the Confederate army moved through East Tennessee and turned northwest to defend Murfreesboro. General Braxton Bragg 's veteran cavalry successfully harassed Union General William Rosecrans ' troop movements, capturing and destroying many of his supply trains. However, they could not completely prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching Rosecrans. Despite
12992-485: Was the first to hit three Federal brigades around the Brotherton Farm. Firing until their ammunition was gone, Clayton's men were replaced with Brig. Gen. John Brown 's brigade. Brown drove Beatty's and Dick's men from the woods east of the LaFayette Road and paused to regroup. Stewart committed his last brigade, under Brig. Gen. William Bate , around 3:30 p.m. and routed Van Cleve's division. Hazen's brigade
13108-507: Was the tipping point that caused Wright's brigade to join the retreat with Cheatham's other units. For a third time, Bragg ordered a fresh division to move in, this time Maj. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart 's (Buckner's corps) from its position at Thedford Ford around noon. Stewart encountered Wright's retreating brigade at the Brock farm and decided to attack Van Cleve's position on his left, a decision he made under his own authority. With his brigades deployed in column, Brig. Gen. Henry Clayton 's
13224-484: Was to take Chattanooga and then turn south in pursuit of Bragg. Thomas was to continue his advance toward LaFayette. Thomas's lead division, under Maj. Gen. James Negley , intended to cross McLemore's Cove and use Dug Gap in Pigeon Mountain to reach LaFayette. Negley was 12 hours ahead of Brig. Gen. Absalom Baird 's division, the nearest reinforcements. Braxton Bragg hoped to trap Negley by attacking through
13340-531: Was too late—all of Crittenden's corps had passed by and concentrated at Lee and Gordon's Mill. For the next four days, both armies attempted to improve their dispositions. Rosecrans continued to concentrate his forces, intending to withdraw as a single body to Chattanooga. Bragg, learning of McCook's movement at Alpine, feared the Federals might be planning a double envelopment. At a council of war on September 15, Bragg's corps commanders agreed that an offensive in
13456-494: Was wounded during the attack. By 6 p.m., darkness was falling, and Braxton Bragg had not abandoned his idea of pushing the Federal army to the south. He ordered Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne's division (Hill's corps) to join Polk on the army's right flank. This area of the battlefield had been quiet for several hours as the fighting moved progressively southward. George Thomas had been consolidating his lines, withdrawing slightly to
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