Military Markers
Battle of Nashville Confederate Line
Trenches about 20ft. N of this point, held by Loring's Division, were the center of the Confederate main line before the Battle of Nashville. On Dec. 15, 1864, Redoubt #1, a key artillery salient 200 yds. NW, fired on Federal forces until overrun by General Wood's troops late in the day, when Confederates retreated toward Granny White Pike.
Location: 1808 Woodmont Boulevard
Battle of Nashville Federal Main Line
On Dec. 16, 1864, the Federal 16th Corps under General A.J. Smith joined the 23rd Corps under Gen. John M. Schofield at this point. From this line at about 4:00 p.m. the 1st Div. launched the assault that broke the Confederate line at the salient on Shy's Hill to the south which resulted in the route of Hood's Army.
Location: 4515 Shy's Hill Road
Battle of Nashville — Peach Orchard Hill
On Dec. 16, 1864, Gen. S.D. Lee's Corps, Army of Tennessee, held this right flank of Hood's defense line which ran south along the crest of this ridge. Violent artillery fire and infantry attacks by the corps of Wood and Steedman failed to dislodge the defenders who withdrew only after the collapse of the Confederate left and center in late afternoon.
Location: Franklin Road and north side of ridge on Harding Place.
Battle of Nashville — Shy's Hill
On this hill was fought the decisive encounter of the Battle of Nashville, December 16, 1864. At 4:15 p.m. a Federal assault at the angle on top of the hill broke the Confederate line. Col. W. M. Shy, 20th Tenn. Inf., was killed and Gen. T.B. Smith was captured. The Confederates retreated over the Overton Hills to the Franklin Pike.
Location: 4619 Benton Smith Road
Battle of Nashville — Stewart's Line
Loring's division of Stewart's Corps, Hood's Confederate Army of Tennessee, fought behind this stone wall Dec. 16, 1864. All Federal attacks were beaten back until the Confederate line was broken a mile to the west. The division retreated south through the hills toward Brentwood.
Location: 4616 Lealand Lane
Blackwood Field
In 1912 the State rented land west of Shute Lane and erected two hangars here for the 105th Observation Squadron, Tennessee National Guard. The airfield of about 100 acres was named for H. O. Blackwood, who gave $1,000 to aid the project. The first airmail flight was from here to Chicago July 29, 1924. Airplanes used the field until 1928.
Location: Hermitage, Shute Lane, 0.3 mile off Lebanon Road
First Airfield
E. L. Hampton's pasture became "Hampton Field" when transient airplanes began landing here during the first World War. About 2,000 feet long from here west, bounded north and south by Golf Club Lane and Woodmont Boulevard, it continued in use as Nashville's first airfield about five years until the opening of Blackwood Field in 1921.
Location: 2305 Hampton Avenue
Fort Negley Site
The guns of Fort Negley, commanding three turnpikes to the South & Southeast, opened the Battle of Nashville, Dec. 15, 1864. This site was selected by Capt. J.S. Morton as the key strongpoint in the Federal line around the city. The European style fort named for General James S. Negley, was built of stone, logs, earth & railway iron.
Location: Chestnut Street and Ridley Avenue
McConnell Field
In 1927 the City bought 131 acres from Warner Sloan and made this the Nashville airport, named for Lieut. Brower McConnell, a Tennessee National Guard pilot who died that year in an air crash. The hangars were 50 yards east. Aircraft outgrew the field in the 1930s and moved to Sky Harbor and Berry Field. The Park Board began the golf course in 1939.
Location: Murphy Road by club house in McCabe Park