20 Jan - I've been looking for an excuse to go to Nashville since I moved to Huntsville, and the UFC show tonight was just what I needed. Get off of work a few hours early, a 2 hour drive north, and arriving at the Bridgestone Arena just as the first fighters walk to the cage. Luckily I was smart enough to throw my Tennessee Civil War trails pamphlet in the car, so I can figure out the plan of attack for tomorrow
21 Jan - Up early, I've planned a busy day. The first stop in the Country Music Hall of Fame, then Fort Negley, and finishing up with a trip to the Stones River Battlefield this afternoon. I'm in the Country Music Hall of fame at 9am just as it opens, there is a little bite in the air as I walked over. Looks like the high for the day is only going to be in the 40's. Luckily the HOF isn't crowded, and I'm able to work my way through it in a little under 2 hours. A quick walk back to the hotel to check out, and pick up the car and I'm on my way to Fort Negley.
Fort Negley is about a 5 minute drive from downtown, and is right next to the baseball stadium for the minor league Nashville Sound. There is not much traffic in this part of town which is nice, and there are only two other cars in the parking lot as I pull up. The lady at the front desk is very helpful as I walk in, and directs me to the video that just started talking about the Fort. The video is good it uses a handful of re-enactors, along with some historians to tell the story of building, and living at Fort Negley.
Fort Negley was built as part of a larger series of Fortifications that made Nashville the second most fortified city in the war, just behind Washington, D.C. It was placed to deny access to any Confederate forces that would be coming directly up from the South. The Union was forced to impress many free blacks, and slaves into service to carry the limestone rocks, wood, and other building supplies up the hill to complete the construction.
After the first video finished up, I was told that there was a 2nd twenty minute video, that talked about the campaign that lead to the Union capturing Nashville, so i decided to sit back down and check that out. This video talked about the Union victories at Fort Henry, and Donelson, and the chaos that erupted in Nashville as citizens tried to escape ahead of advancing Union forces.
Now with the second video complete, I headed outside to walk around the fort, and I'm pretty sure the temperature has dropped at least 5-10 degrees since I walked in. It is also very hazy across the horizon, and looks like it could start raining at any moment. The park has a very good path that circles around the fort, and then enters through the Sallyport to the inside of the fort. Along the way there are signs giving basic facts about the war around Nashville, the fort, and some of the Key personnel responsible for building it. I spend about an hour walking up and around the fort reading the different signs, and checking the place out, and it is now time to get to my car and get warmed up.
The fort had 3 tiers of defense, and each was elevated so that Soldiers and Artillery could support the lower tiers. Heavy Siege Cannons were part of the defense, to include a 32lbs Parrot Cannon, with a range of 3 miles. lived inside the fort, and if the fort was attacked had covered tunnels that they could use to move into position, or shift around inside the fort.
I put the address for the Stones River visitor center in my GPS, and get on the road just about 1pm, but I'm keeping my eye out for somewhere to eat. A quick left out the Fort Negley parking lot, and then another left at the light, and a quarter mile down the road it is right in front of me. At the next stop light there is a small place called "Gabby's Burgers and Fries" now this sounds just like what I'm looking for. The place is packed, and only get fuller as I'm ordering and eating. The Seamus burger with sweet potato fries is worth it, and makes a great lunch. After a little lunch it is back to the car and on the way to Stones River, about 30 minutes away.
Fort Negley was never attacked, but it's artillery did play a role in supporting US troops during the battle of Nashville in December 1864. The fort for the most part was dismantled in 1867, and much of what you can see today at the fort was rebuilt in the 1930, as part of the New Deal programs that put people back to work.
Fort Negley
1100 Fort Negley BLVD
Nashville, TN 37203
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| Entrance to Fort Negley Park |
21 Jan - Up early, I've planned a busy day. The first stop in the Country Music Hall of Fame, then Fort Negley, and finishing up with a trip to the Stones River Battlefield this afternoon. I'm in the Country Music Hall of fame at 9am just as it opens, there is a little bite in the air as I walked over. Looks like the high for the day is only going to be in the 40's. Luckily the HOF isn't crowded, and I'm able to work my way through it in a little under 2 hours. A quick walk back to the hotel to check out, and pick up the car and I'm on my way to Fort Negley.
 |
| Sallyport Entrence to the Fort |
Fort Negley is about a 5 minute drive from downtown, and is right next to the baseball stadium for the minor league Nashville Sound. There is not much traffic in this part of town which is nice, and there are only two other cars in the parking lot as I pull up. The lady at the front desk is very helpful as I walk in, and directs me to the video that just started talking about the Fort. The video is good it uses a handful of re-enactors, along with some historians to tell the story of building, and living at Fort Negley.
Fort Negley was built as part of a larger series of Fortifications that made Nashville the second most fortified city in the war, just behind Washington, D.C. It was placed to deny access to any Confederate forces that would be coming directly up from the South. The Union was forced to impress many free blacks, and slaves into service to carry the limestone rocks, wood, and other building supplies up the hill to complete the construction.
 |
| View looking South |
After the first video finished up, I was told that there was a 2nd twenty minute video, that talked about the campaign that lead to the Union capturing Nashville, so i decided to sit back down and check that out. This video talked about the Union victories at Fort Henry, and Donelson, and the chaos that erupted in Nashville as citizens tried to escape ahead of advancing Union forces.
 |
| Covered tunnels that would allow Soldiers to move under fire |
Now with the second video complete, I headed outside to walk around the fort, and I'm pretty sure the temperature has dropped at least 5-10 degrees since I walked in. It is also very hazy across the horizon, and looks like it could start raining at any moment. The park has a very good path that circles around the fort, and then enters through the Sallyport to the inside of the fort. Along the way there are signs giving basic facts about the war around Nashville, the fort, and some of the Key personnel responsible for building it. I spend about an hour walking up and around the fort reading the different signs, and checking the place out, and it is now time to get to my car and get warmed up.
The fort had 3 tiers of defense, and each was elevated so that Soldiers and Artillery could support the lower tiers. Heavy Siege Cannons were part of the defense, to include a 32lbs Parrot Cannon, with a range of 3 miles. lived inside the fort, and if the fort was attacked had covered tunnels that they could use to move into position, or shift around inside the fort.
 |
| Looking back towards Downtown Nashville |
I put the address for the Stones River visitor center in my GPS, and get on the road just about 1pm, but I'm keeping my eye out for somewhere to eat. A quick left out the Fort Negley parking lot, and then another left at the light, and a quarter mile down the road it is right in front of me. At the next stop light there is a small place called "Gabby's Burgers and Fries" now this sounds just like what I'm looking for. The place is packed, and only get fuller as I'm ordering and eating. The Seamus burger with sweet potato fries is worth it, and makes a great lunch. After a little lunch it is back to the car and on the way to Stones River, about 30 minutes away.
Fort Negley was never attacked, but it's artillery did play a role in supporting US troops during the battle of Nashville in December 1864. The fort for the most part was dismantled in 1867, and much of what you can see today at the fort was rebuilt in the 1930, as part of the New Deal programs that put people back to work.
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| The Outer Bastions of the Fort |
Fort Negley
1100 Fort Negley BLVD
Nashville, TN 37203
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