Battlefield monument to be dedicated this month

Memorial stands at the spot where forces fought for possession of city of Nashville in fierce engagement of War Between States.
**[As published in the Nashville Tennessean, October 3, 1926]**

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10-03-1996 5:28 PM —

[As published in the Nashville Tennessean, October 3, 1926. A .jpeg image of the original newspaper page is available at this link (approx. 10 mb).]

Commemoration of the Battle of Nashville has been the constant purpose of the Ladies' Battlefield Association since its organization in 1913. The first work of the association was to secure the small plot of land about four miles south of Nashville which is cut off by the Franklin interurban where it leaves the pike and makes a short detour. The land, which has been beautified and converted into a small park, is considered admirably suited for the erection of a monument, because it commands a magnificent view of the battlefield where Hood struggled with Thomas for the possession of Nashville. Its importance in the Battle of Nashville is proved by the fact that it was the center of the Confederate line and was held by the troops of Brig.-Gen. Stephen D. Lee, in which General Hood placed the greatest confidence.

After the land was obtained the association immediately began to make plans for the erection of a suitable memorial. The first effort to raise funds for it was the ball given in 1914 at the historic Maxwell House hotel. This affair was successful, but because of the beginning of the World War and participation of members of the association in various kinds of war work, no further attempt was made until the summer of 1921, when a pageant was given on the lawn at Longview, the home of Mrs. James E. Caldwell, president and organizer of the association.

Plans Are Presented

Later, a meeting of the association was held at the home of Mrs. Rogers Caldwell. At this meeting, plans for the battlefield memorial were presented and accepted, and over one thousand dollars toward its erection was subscribed by members of the association. With generous gifts from patriotic citizens and contributions from both the state of Tennessee and Davidson county, the fund was completed.

The organization of the Ladies' Battlefield Association was closely connected with that of the Nashville Battlefield Association (an organization of men). This organization, with the Nashville Industrial Bureau,, in 1912 placed twenty markers on sites of important operations during the battle of Nashville. One of these markers was placed on the site of the new memorial to show the place where Gen. Stephen D. Lee's troops fought in the first day's battle.

Account of Battle

W. B. Beard, writing for the Men's Battlefield Association and the Industrial Bureau, gave an account of the military movements during the battle and explained the significance of each of the twenty markers. Mr. Beard's book, which is included is the historical collection at the city library, furnishes a brief, interesting account of the battle.

Among the men who were prominent in the work of the Battlefield Association were: Governor Porter; Major Wilbur E. Foster, Hood's chief engineer who laid out the Nashville battlefield; General Thruston; Park Marshall, historian; Major Hugh Wills, Mr. Palmer, M. B. Morton of the Nashville Banner; A. H. Robinson; Leland Hume; James E. Caldwell and others. Although their work culminated when they completed the erection of the markers, members of the men's organization have been helpful in the activities of the ladies association. Officers of the Ladies' Battlefield Memorial Association are: Mrs. James B. Caldwell, president; Mrs. W. G. Ewing, first vice-president: Mrs. Granbery Jackson, second vice-president; Mrs. Wm. S. Bransford, treasurer; Mrs. Samuel Orr, recording secretary, and Miss Annie Allison, corresponding secretary. Members of the board are: Mrs. Frank Berry, Mrs. Jesse Overton, Mrs. Rogers Caldwell, Mrs. Thomas Malone, Mrs. Hattie Raines Cowan, Mrs. Henry Dickinson and Mrs. Alex S. Caldwell.

Battle of Nashville Monument is of more than ordinary interest