"Stones river questions....the Railway" Topic

I know the railway featured in the battle, as the union formed a line along it. My question is about the railway itself. Was it a working line at the time of the battle?

I found one reference that it was a raised trackbed, correct?

And last, was the trestle intact over the river?

Thanks, Xin

I believe the Union used it to bring forward supplies, but no trains arrived during the battle that I am aware of. Given that the terrain is low rolling hills, there undoubtedly were spots with embankments. Generally the railroad had no effect on movement. If it had been any impediment or offered shelter, then I'm sure Cozzins would have mentioned this in his book, "No Better Place To Die." He mentions the railroad in a few places, but it seems to have had little impact except as a convenient rally line. In the Richard Berg board game, Dead of Winter, the railroad has no impact on movement or combat. The various railroad bridges are all shown as intact. The only bridge noted as being out is the Nashville Pike bridge which had been burned.

Yes, the railway was working, in the sense that it was not torn up. But there was no activity during the battle. It is mere coincidence that the Union line bent all the way back to the tracks.

If you are doing a scenario for the battle the railroad should be included because railroads look great on game tables. But no effect on movement or fire.

In February of 1862 the Confederates lost Nashville. By April I believe they had largely abandoned the Nashville & Chattanooga RR. During the summer Forrest had raided the line at Murfreesboro and most U.S. forces pulled back to Nashville during the Perryville campaign.

I believe Bragg was using the line south of Murfreesboro to supply his army, but I suspect that since Rosecrans only left Nashville in late December that the line north of Murfreesboro wasn't in use at the time of the battle.