Honoring an Iowa Soldier in Tennessee

I have written posts on the final resting place of Christian Brenner, a Union soldier from Iowa. My last visit to his Stone's River Battlefield National Cemetery grave in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was on Memorial Day 2019. To my surprise, every gravestone had a US flag in place for the holiday, which was once called Decoration Day, from Civil War era origins. During the Christmas season at the cemetery only the first third of gravesite rows have cedar wreaths placed on them. Those are part of the Wreaths Across America project. Christian's grave is further back from the main road so it doesn't receive a wreath along with hundreds of others. If present, a member of the 42N staff will make sure Christian's grave has some decoration placed on it for the season.

Battle of Nashville Bullets Found

In Livingston, Tennessee an antique dealer sold me these four Civil War bullets. He told me that he had bought them from a 90 year old collector who had dug these with a metal detector near Nashville before the property was commercially developed in the 1970s.

The 90 year old told him that these were most likely part of the Battle of Nashville which was fought on December 15–16, 1864. Union (Federal) troops defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee and marked the end of major Confederate offensives in the Western theater during the Civil War. For now these bullets will reside in Iowa's 42N territory.

Looking for the Jailhouse Keys to Overton County, Tennessee

Back in the day if you found yourself as a guest in the Overton County Jail, chances are you might have seen these keys in action. While now part of the county's history museum in Livingston, these well-worn keys can still seal or open the doors to simulated incarceration or conversely, to freedom. It all depends on your outlook and, of course, bailability.

Holiday Lights of McMinnville, Tennessee

McMinnville, Tennessee is home to the Warren County seat. In the town's square, a running fountain and surrounding displays were decked out with the lights of the season last month.

Despite cold nighttime temperatures in the low teens during the Christmas week, the city display featured a full spectrum of color without a trace of snow.

Main Street's glow was a spectacular sight even for those foolish enough to venture out and photograph the displays in the freezing temperatures.

After seeing me and my tripod gear in or near the street, drivers in passing cars stopped in the middle of the road, rolled down their windows, learned out and snapped photos from their cell phones of the lite landscape. They had the good sense to keep warm and only were exposed for a few moments of the seasonally cold Tennessee weather.

Wreaths Across America and Other Memorials at Stone River National Cemetery December 2017

Today is the 155th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Last week I visited the battlefield to see an adopted Iowa soldier's grave, Christian Brenner. He died following the Battle of Nashville and was later interred at Stones River.

Wreaths Across America, the national organization provides balsam wreaths with hand tied red bows for veteran's graves at participating cemeteries like the Stones River National Cemetery. This year was the second time that I have seen the wreaths placed, in part, within the Murfreesboro landmark.

According to the organization's website their goal is to annually provide wreaths to veterans' graves at all U.S. related cemeteries.

While Wreaths Across America provides a substantial amount of wreaths for Stone River, there is a budget and therefore not all graves receive a wreath. Knowing that Christian Brenner's grave (number 271) is located about two thirds the way from the entrance, his grave doesn't receive an annual wreath. So the 42N team purchased decorative white pine cones and placed them on his grave, having not been able to find a wreath at local floral stores on the day we visited. Nearby another Iowa veteran, I. Harrington, is also buried.  The team placed a white pine cone on his grave too.

The Day After Christmas at Stone's River

This is what the day after Christmas looks like at the Stone's River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Seven months ago I re-visited the site to further understand the grounds and what happened there during the Civil War. Outside of the first class interpretive center visitors will find several well cared for trails. This tree lined path in the park is devoid of signs and monuments but highlights the season during the golden hour with greens and reds. To complement this quiet scene is what the national cemetery located across the park's entrance becomes during the holiday season. See a future blog post.

Corner Music in Chattanooga

A street performer in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee sings a two verse song during a recent visit. I can't really understand his words but he is intent on playing and making sure everyone is happy. Following this performance he boarded a city bus and left the pedestrian-filled area. If you know what song he is playing leave a message or link in the comment section.

A Stone's River Battlefield Cannon Study

A big draw for this Midwesterner is visiting any Civil War battlefield. In this case the reward is spending time in the Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I have been fortunate to visit it briefly twice now. The park consists of two sections. The battlefield and the national cemetery.

Park officials have placed chicken wire down the cannon to prevent animals and small children from crawling in.

I plan to visit the park again, educate myself on its history and showcase more of it.

Iowa Union Soldier Christian Brenner Buried in Tennessee

I visited Stone's River National Battlefield where Union and Confederate forces fought on December 31, 1862 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Across the road from the battlefield park is the National Cemetery where 6,100 Union soldiers are interred among others. While many of those buried in the cemetery are from the battle, several other buried dead are from area battles or other time periods up to the modern day.

On the white headstone markers are the names of the soldier and the State where he was from. I sought out my state, Iowa since that's where 42N Observations is based. Near a small tree in Lot L, a marker (number 271) stands for the Union soldier Christian Brenner, who served in Iowa 5th Cavalry, Company C. He died on Christmas day, 1864.

From web research on the unit and its history, Christian fought in the Battle of Anthony's Hill (also known as the Battle of King's Hill) just south of Pulaski, Tennessee, two years after the Stone's River battle. Christian was born in 1835 in Hancock County, Ohio. At the time of his death he was married to Sarah J and had one daughter, Mary C. Brenner. The family lived in Clarinda, Iowa. Christian enlisted as a Private on September 28, 1861 at the age of 26 and was mustered on Oct. 2, 1861. He re-enlisted and re-mustered January 14, 1864. Christian transferred to Company C, Fifth Veteran Cavalry Consolidated, on August 8, 1864.

Christian Brenner was killed during the Pulaski battle as the Union troops pursued the fleeing Army of Tennessee following the Battle of Nashville. There is a summary on that battle here. Brenner was initially buried near Pulaski (Giles County, Tennessee) and later re-interred at Stone's River National Cemetery with other soldiers who died at the Pulaski battle. The Iowa 5th Cavalry lost 20 men during the skirmishes around Pulaski.

Brenner served just over three years in the Iowa 5th Cavalry. That unit was involved in several major battles in the western theater and would later conclude in Selma. Following the end of the war, the unit was stationed in Atlanta and Nashville during August 1865 before traveling to Clinton, Iowa where the unit was disbanded.

TVA Survey Mark Mag Spike

The 8,000 feet long Kentucky Dam is a TVA project on the Tennessee River that was designed for many uses including electricity generation, commercial navigation and flood control. On top of the dam is this survey marker. Apparently to make it easier to sight, a layer of bright orange paint marks the survey spike's location. Its not hard to miss.

McMinnville's Depot Bottom Trains

Across the street from Depot Bottom Country Store in McMinnville, Tennessee are a collection of retired and working trains. While the 42N team didn't spend enough time there last October, the site was dripping with sights to see and history to explore.

I have no idea whether this is a working locomotive. Seem like it is still in working order and ready to haul the area's timber and nursery products to wherever needed. I was told that this particular area of town known as Depot Bottom is quite old and once settled, the site always was rail related.

A few feet from the green locomotive is this old caboose. Now I know that cabooses are no longer in service and therefore figure this one is retired. I have not researched the CRW (Caney Fork & Western) logo to figure out the history of the line or this particular caboose, but may do so before the next visit.

Lighting Iron and Stone

Light and shadow make enormous contributions to classical forms of iron and stone. Late afternoon fall sunlight washes over these fence and gate components at Riverside Cemetery in McMinnville, Tennessee (some seven degrees south of 42N.)