Battlefields in Tennessee

Ranking number one in the total number of soldiers who was in the War Between The States, Tennessee’s Civil War history is abundant with battlefields stretching from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River. 

Franklin Battlefield

The Carter House, built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, was the stage of The Second Battle of Franklin – one of the worst disasters of the Civil War for the Confederate Army. This Registered Historic Landmark, located in Franklin just outside of Nashville, was used as a Federal Command Post while the 23 members of the Carter family hid in the cellar during the five hour battle.

Just down the road also in Franklin, John and Carrie McGavock opened the doors of their Carnton Plantation as a field hospital for the wounded Confederates during the Battle of Franklin. Today the McGavock Confederate Cemetery is the largest privately owned military cemetery in the nation. The Carnton is the setting for The New York Times best selling book, The Widow of the South.

Chickamauga Battlefield

The 5,500 acre Chickamauga Battlefield, scene of the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War, contains numerous monuments, historical tablets, wayside exhibits, and trails. Major points of interest can be reached by following the seven-mile auto tour. The Visitor Center includes exhibits, a bookstore, and the Claud E. and Zenada O. Fuller Collection of American Military Shoulder Arms.

Lookout Mountain Battlefield

The 3,000 acre Lookout Mountain Battlefield contains monuments, historical markers, trails, and scenic vistas. Point Park, a unit of the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, is located on the top of the mountain, and is the most prominent feature. The Visitor Center, located across the street from the Point Park entrance gate, displays James Walker’s 13 x 30 foot painting “Battle of Lookout Mountain”, and other exhibits.

For a complete list of Tennessee’s Civil War Battlefields, visit www.tnvacation.com/listing/battlefields.