Controlling Tennessee was of critical importance during the Civil War. This elongated east-west-running state served as a wide dividing line of sorts. Its waterways, mountain passes and railroads were vital supply lines connecting north and south. Whomever controlled them gained the upper hand. Bloody conflict was common in the Volunteer State during those turbulent times. Today, the National Park Service oversees four parks commemorating the sites where some of the significant battles occurred.
Chattanooga was a crucial strategic locale during the Civil War because of a major waterway and rail line running through it, with the surrounding mountains serving as lookout points. Two significant battles took place in the area: Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain. Today, these sites are part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. The battle of Lookout Mountain was fought on top of the mountain, Chickamauga is in the valley below, in an area that now features a seven-mile driving tour. Head to Point Park on Lookout Mountain for the scenic overlooks and to learn more about the skirmish dubbed the "Battle Above the Clouds."
In February 1862, the Union won a crucial victory at the battle of Fort Donelson along the Cumberland River in north-central Tennessee. The site is commemorated as the Fort Donelson National Battlefield. This National Park Service unit near Cumberland, northwest of Nashville, contains a visitor center, museum and six-mile, self-guided battlefield tour. In an ironic twist of fate, the Confederate-built fort was also used as a refuge stop along the Underground Railroad -- an exhibit at the museum details this remarkable transition.
When National Geographic picked its "Top 10 Civil War Sites," Shiloh National Military Park was 3rd on the list. The battle of Shiloh was one of the largest, bloodiest and costliest battles of the war. The battlefield is so large that it contains a 12.7-mile driving loop. A large museum is on-site, featuring exhibits with artifacts from the battle and films telling its story. Nearby Corinth, Mississippi, also played a crucial role in the campaign and has its own sites -- which are part of the national park site -- including an interpretive center. Between spring and fall, both spots host an array of living history events.
The Battle of Stones River was another of the bloodiest Civil War engagements. The battle took place outside of Murfeesboro, south of Nashville, in late 1862. The Emancipation Proclamation was set to go into effect on January 1, 1863, so when the Union Army edged out a victory at Stones River, it served as a morale boost for the Union's cause. Now the heart of the battlefield site is surrounded by suburban development at the Stones River National Battlefield. A driving and walking tour is available through this surprisingly scenic site where so much blood was shed.
