Nashville's Fort Negley: The Fortress That Never Fired a Shot

Nashville, Tennessee. In December 1864, Confederate troops were moving toward Nashville with the plan. Union troops had occupied the southern city for the last two years, and Lieutenant General John Bell Hood wanted to take it back. Luckily, the Union Army had prepared for this very moment by building a 180,000 square foot fortress near downtown Nashville called Fort Negley. The Union garrison armed and braced itself for a full frontal assault.

TIMELINE
1861: When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Nashville, like the rest of Tennessee, sided with the Confederacy, but the Confederate Army made a costly assumption.
1862: In 1862, as forts are being constructed across occupied areas in the south, that number jumped to 1,000 successful escapes every month.
1864: In December 1864, Confederate troops were moving toward Nashville with the plan.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Nashville is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 66 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

If you liked this: Episode 175 (Athens, Tennessee)

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

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