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Thank you ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: biggsg@charter.net I was at Stones River NBF this past Sunday for a time and spoke with Ranger Jim Lewis about the park's recovery efforts from the recent tornado, now classified by the way as an F4! There's only one higher tornado classification so this was a big storm! On the way up the Old Nashville Highway into the park, I could see heavy equipment dotting the area and also note where large trees had fallen across the highway itself. Jim told me that heavy equipment from a number of other National parks has been sent in to do the heavy lifting of cut trees as well a to take down those still blocking roads and trails in the park. They expect to be there through the end of next week but lots more - years more - work remains to be completed. As I neared the Hazen Monument, I could see where several large trees went down around it. Jim told me that had this monument, the oldest extant Civil War monument on the same site in the nation (built in 1863!), not been repaired some years ago that the tree strikes would have really damaged it. It was evidently totally covered with downed trees. The cemetery wall took a hit from either a tree or phone pole that remains unrepaired. There was storm damage east of the park where the tornado left its grounds crossing US 41 with smashed small factories, gas stations and homes. On the west side of the old highway the tree damage was massive! Jim told me that the famous Round Forest is now called, "the site formerly known as the Round Forest," for it is about devoid of the trees! One of the tour stops will have to have its summer tours rethought for where there once was a shady tree line for people to stand in during ranger programs, there is now no shade at all! This is where Rains' Brigade charged across the field against Union cannons. Jim also told me to pass along how the money from the NPS works. This covers the heavier stuff that still remains to be done, which will take more time than after the end of next week when the heavy equipment leaves (assuming all is completed). Hundreds of trees need inspection to make sure they are safe - but on top of that, a massive replanting program needs to start quickly so that sites that were supposed to have a lot of trees, like the Round Forest and the tree line where Rains attacked from, actually have trees! Smaller trees are always nice but take years to grow to maturity. Larger trees can be planted as well but these are expensive - some ranging upwards of $2000. It will take a number of larger trees to get some of these sites in the park back to something resembling what they were so tours can still use them and the sites of the field can look a bit like they are supposed to. The park area has huge numbers of hard wood trees and these take years to grow. The cedar tree is a popular one in Middle Tennessee and the Murfreesboro area is well known for them and sadly lots of them went down. Where the CWRT donations will really come in handy is to help with buying new trees to replant in the park. The more money raised for these trees the sooner it can get something closer to marking tree lines and the Round Forest, among other sites. The park is really touched by the response and rest assured they really appreciate the help from the CWRTs of the country. My thanks goes out to you all as well for rallying to help one of our nation's most bitterly fought battlefields. Finally, some good news from Middle Tennessee! The new Nashville CWRT kicked off this past Monday with 38 in attendance. The meeting site is the visitor's center at Ft. Negley, one of the only remaining Union forts built to protect Nashville during the Civil War. Not that many CWRTs get to meet at an actual Civil War site! If you are ever in the Middle Tennessee area, three Civil War Roundtables meet on consecutive nights on the third week of each month. Nashville is the third Monday; Middle TN in Murfreesboro is the third Thanks again for helping Stones River National Battlefield! Greg Biggs
Note: Greg Biggs is a former member of Los Angeles Civil War Round Table. |