Civil War Sites and Battlefields in Tennessee

The number of Civil War sites and battlefields in Tennessee is outnumbered only by the state of Virginia. During this dark period of American history Tennessee saw more than its share of fighting. It was not unheard of for families to have a son fighting for one side of the Civil War and another son fighting for the other side.

Loyalties were so divided between Union and Confederacy that the state of Tennessee was itself almost torn in two. Even today, the state has three distinct sections known simply as "East", "Middle" and "West." Each has its own cultural flavor and has made its own mark on the history of the region, the South and the United States.

The diverse history is reflected among the different Civil War sites and battlefields in Tennessee. Recognition of the 150th anniversary years of the war will be in full swing beginning in 2011. The following is a sample of what you will find when you visit.

Civil war sites and battlefields in East Tennessee include the article already written by this author about Knoxville battles. This is just the beginning of the action that was seen throughout the region.

East
East Tennessee was not known to have a large percentage of slaves. Before he became president, Andrew Johnson was a senator from the state who did not vote to secede. His hometown of Greenville and much of the rest of the region followed this mindset. Loyalties in the area were largely loyal to the Union cause.

My family enjoyed visiting the home of President Andrew Johnson. It's one of the civil war sites and battlefields in East Tennessee. His presidency followed that of Abraham Lincoln and was responsible for overseeing much of the reconstruction of the south. Today, this home is a National Historic Site and is open to visitors.

Middle
Many of the Civil War sites and battlefields in Tennessee have been lost around the Nashville area.

Overall, this state is the home of 400 battlefields, skirmishes and sites. Not all are able to be visited. I was disappointed that large portions Civil War sites and battles in Nashville have been claimed by urban sprawl. It is possible to get information Nashville area battles by contacting VisitMusicCity.com.

The State Capitol has an interesting collection of artifacts from several of the battles that were fought in Tennessee.

West
The famous Battle of Shiloh is one of the civil war sites and battlefields in Middle Tennessee. There are several ways to get to this national park.

If you are traveling on I-40 the battlefield is easy to find. To get there take I-40 to exit 108 (Huntingdon/Lexington) to the west of Nashville. Turn onto Hwy. 22 south and stay on it to get to the battlefield. The visitor center is in Corinth, Mississippi which is a little further south on Hwy. 22.

Visitors who are coming to this civil war site and battlefield in Tennessee from any other direction may want to print a map.

Just off of I-40, exit 108 is the Battle of Parker's Crossroads. This is one of the Civil War sites and battlefields that offers a 2 mile self-guided driving tour. Look for the signs that direct you on the tour after you exit from the interstate.

Sources:
Personal Experience
National Park Service
Civil War Traveler
Tennessee Dept. of Tourism
Nashville Tourism
Tennessee Museum at the State Capitol in Nashville
Deep South USA
Ancestry.com