As the calendar flipped from 1862 to 1863, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place along the Stones River near Murfreesboro. From December 31 to January 2, the Union army marched south from Nashville to stop two advances by the Confederates, turning the tide after recent Union losses like the Battle of Fredericksburg. Almost 80,000 combatants met on the battlefield, resulting in more than 24,000 casualties. To commemorate this important historic event, the Stones River National Battlefield was established in 1927, with 6,850 soldiers buried at the Stones River National Cemetery within the boundaries of the park. Today, history buffs can visit important points of interest on a self-guided audio tour, stop by the visitor center to watch a movie about the battle, and walk through a museum full of artifacts and exhibits detailing the fighting. Park rangers are also available to answer questions and offer guided tours.
