National Park Service Awards $9.5 Million Grant to Preserve 122 Acres at Stones River Battlefield

(Murfreesboro, Tenn.) — The National Park Service has awarded a Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant of $9.5 million to help protect a 122-acre parcel associated with the Battle of Stones River, a desperate struggle in the opening days of 1863 that resulted in a Union victory and gave Federal forces control of middle Tennessee. 

“Every acre of hallowed ground that we preserve is an opportunity for us and for future generations to have a better understanding of the formative conflicts that shaped our nation. As we honor the spirit of America’s 250th anniversary, it is ever more important to protect these historic treasures,” said David Duncan, president of the American Battlefield Trust.

The property connects to a separate 37-acre tract recently preserved by the Trust. The Trust will continue to preserve tracts along Asbury Road with the goal of eventually connecting them to Stones River National Battlefield. With a total transaction cost of nearly $19 million, generous private donations and a grant from the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund made the acquisition possible.

On New Year’s Eve 1862, Union and Confederate forces clashed near Murfreesboro, Tennessee along the banks of Stones River and the surrounding area, including the newly protected property. After a break in the fighting on New Years Day, the Union emerged narrowly victorious from the bloody conflict on January 2nd, giving the army both a boost to morale and control of central Tennessee. The battle resulted in the highest percentage of casualties of any major battle throughout the Civil War, with nearly one-third of all troops engaged either killed, wounded or captured.

“Thanks to this timely acquisition, an important portion of the Stones River Battlefield will be preserved for visitors for generations to come,” said U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). “This public-private partnership will benefit both the Volunteer State and the nation as a whole.”

“This investment is preserving the legacy of the lives lost at Stones River battlefield and will allow for future generations to be able to visit, reflect, and appreciate the struggles our nation has endured,” remarked U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN).

“I am proud to have partnered with the American Battle Trust and National Park Service to expand the protected land of Stones River Battlefield, said U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), whose district includes the battlefield. “I fully believe in the importance of preserving our Nation’s history for our citizens to experience and learn about. The folks at Stones River have done a wonderful job over the years educating the public about the battlefield’s Civil War history and I know that this grant will allow them to continue that important work.”

The Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Program promotes preservation of America’s most historically significant Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War battlegrounds, which is a meaningful commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The program is administered by the American Battlefield Protection Program, an arm of the National Park Service. This latest round of grant awards also included matching grants for the Chalmette, Louisiana and Williamsburg, Virginia battlefields.  Under U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the National Park Service has awarded nearly $50 million in Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants to save historic land at 31 battlefields.

Funds from the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Program have been used to save 40,000 acres in 20 states, including some of the most famous battlefields in American history: Antietam, Md.; Appomattox and Fredericksburg, Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Princeton, N.J.; Saratoga, N.Y. and Shiloh, Tenn. Legislation co-sponsored by Senator Blackburn is currently pending in the U.S. Senate to reauthorize this successful program, ensuring its ability to protect hallowed ground for the next decade.  Companion legislation passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin of 404-13 in June.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 63,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states, including 106 acres associated with the Battle of Stones River. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

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