Redoubt Brannan: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Stones River National Battlefield, National Park Service

National Park Service

Redoubt Brannan, a component landscape of Fortress Rosecrans, is located on West College Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The 5.54-acre site contains a portion of the remains of Fortress Rosecrans, the largest earthern fort built during the Civil War era. The fortress once covered almost 225-acres, though presently only two isolated fragments remain: Redoubt Brannan, and Curtain Wall No. 2 and Lunettes. Redoubt Brannan and Fortress Rosecrans, managed by the National Park Service (NPS), are part of the Stones River National Battlefield. The component landscape is significant for its history following the battle, its particular construction, and its potential to yield archeological information. The period of significance spans the construction and use of Fort Rosecrans from 1863 to 1866. The remaining portions, included Redoubt Brannan, are nationally significant to Civil War history immediately following the Battle of Stones River. Additionally, the landscape features are important for illustrating the distinctive construction of the earthen fort, and they continue to have the potential to yield archaeological evidence. Although little remains of the expansive Civil War-era structure, Redoubt Brannan conveys understanding of the overall scale, spatial organization, use, structure, circulation, military significance, construction technique, and views that characterized the historic landscape of Fortress Rosecrans. Redoubt Brannan was the final redoubt of four constructed as part of Fortress Rosecrans in 1863. Union General William Rosecrans ordered its construction soon after the Battle of Stones River, and the earthen rectangle provided a key observation point and protection to the inner blockhouse and magazine. The fort secured Union control over all major transportation routes though Murfreesboro. The redoubt entrance to the northwest allowed access to artillery platforms and ramps, and a ditch provided drainage. At the time of occupation, the landscape included eight lunettes and four redoubts along with demi-lunettes, batteries, curtains, and magazines. The piled earthen fortifications enclosed interior features such as sawmills, living quarters, a commissary, and depots; these were mainly of wooden construction. Redoubt Brannan was planted with warm-season grasses to stabilize the earthworks and remains open. Today’s redoubt is a rectangular earthwork enclosing the remains of the wooden blockhouse with a sally port on the northwest side. A dry ditch lines the perimeter with ramps and gun platforms along the interior. The foundation of the blockhouse is centrally located. The fort was abandoned in 1866. A parking lot is adjacent to the redoubt with a path leading to a boardwalk that overlooks the redoubt. An additional path connects to the Stones River Greenway, and wayside exhibits for interpreting the history of Fortress Rosecrans have been installed. Redoubt Brannan occupies an elevated bluff east of Stones River with historic views of the river, bridge, railroad, and Old Nashville Pike. In 1904, within the period of post-war commemoration of the surrounding Stones River Battlefield landscape, the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railroad acquired Redoubt Brannan as a point of interest along the railroad route. It was transferred to War Department administration from 1927-1933, which was then followed by NPS ownership of the site as a part of the Stones River National Battlefield. Today, the redoubt overlooks the river, bridge, and commercial and residential development. Although views from Redoubt Brannan are somewhat obstructed in the summer by vegetation on the slopes of the river, the component landscape is in good condition and continues to represent the historic significance of the fort.

Redoubt Brannan: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Stones River National Battlefield, National Park Service

Series

Collections