Civil War pt2

You think Nashville is ‘hip’ now, it was the crux of the south con’t

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, everybody. I cannot thank you enough for stopping by
for another episode of the Nashville Minutes podcast, a show
dedicated to all things Nashville. You should be aware that
this week's episode is a continuation. Last week we got
into the role of Nashville in the Civil War. Nashville

(00:23):
has a rich culture and has been a central part
of not just Tennessee, but the South and an integral
part of the United States. If you have not caught
last week's episode, you'll want to go back, as you
missed a lot, and let's dive right into it. We're

(00:46):
going to start off to day with the fortifications and
defense structures around Nashville, not current day at the time
of the Civil War. After Union forces took control of
Nashville in eighteen sixty two, they quickly began constructing a
series of fortifications to protect the city from Confederate counter attacks.

(01:12):
These defensive structures were critical to the city's military importance
and its ability to serve as a base of operations
for the Union forces in the Western Theater. Nashville became
one of the most heavily fortified cities in the South.
In addition to Fort Naglie, the Union Army built over

(01:35):
twenty other forts around the city, creating a defensive network
that included forts Morton, Cummings, and Hendricks, which were strategically
placed to guard the key approaches to Nashville. The fortifications
used a mix of earthworks, timber, and stone to create

(01:59):
deans defensive lines. These structures were manned by a combination
of Union soldiers and African American laborers who were tasked
with building and maintaining the fourth occasions, Nashville's extensive defensive
network allowed Union forces to hold the city despite repeated

(02:21):
Confederate attempts to recapture it, such as during the eighteen
sixty four Battle of Nashville, where the Confederate forces were
decisively defeated. Next, let's take a look at the role
of Nashville's railroads. The railroad network in Nashville was an

(02:43):
immense strategic importance during the Civil War. The city served
as a key railroad junction where multiple lines converged, including
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and the Nashville and Decay Railroad.
These lines facilitated the movement of troops, supplies, and artillery

(03:07):
across the region, making Nashville a crucial logistical hub for
the army after its capture in eighteen sixty two. After
the Union occupation, one of the first priorities was to
repair and improve the railroad system. The Union forces made

(03:28):
extensive use of Nashville's railroads to transport troops and supplies
to critical locations, such as the Battle of Chattanooga and
the subsequent campaigns in Georgia and Alabama. In contrast, the
Confederacy relied on the railroads to move troops and resources,

(03:48):
and Nashville's strategic position made it an important target for
Confederate forces. Confederate attempts to disrupt Union railroad operations in
and around Nashville, including attacks on railroad depots and attracts,
were frequent, but ultimately unsuccessful. While much of Tennessee supported

(04:14):
the Confederacy, there was significant Unionist sentiment, particularly in the
eastern part of the state and in Nashville. Unionists in
Nashville and other parts of the Tennessee were opposed to
succession and hoped to maintain ties with the Union. After

(04:35):
Nashville's fall to the Union forces, many pro Union residents
of the city were able to maintain their loyalty to
the federal government, while others were forced to keep their
political opinions secret to avoid persecution. The unionist movement was
most prominent in East Tennessee, where residents were largely opposed

(04:59):
to slavery and secession. As a result, Nashville became an
important base for Union loyalists in the state, and the
city served as the capital of the loyalist Tennessee government
Throughout the war. Tennessee unionists played a key role in
maintaining morale and supplying troops to the Union army, and

(05:21):
their efforts helped to ensure that the state's eventual return
to the Union was relatively smooth. The Tennessee Campaign was
a series of important military engagements between Union and Confederate
forces in Tennessee, involving several major battles. One of the

(05:43):
most prominent Confederate commanders during the early part of the
war in Tennessee was General Braxton Bragg. Bragg's Army of
Tennessee was responsible for defending much of the South's position
in the western theater. Bragg's initial successes, such as at
the Battle of Perryville in eighteen sixty two, were followed

(06:03):
by a series of defeats and withdrawals that culminated in
his retreat from Nashville. Despite his command of Confederate forces
in the region, Bragg's efforts to retake Nashville in eighteen
sixty two and eighteen sixty three were unsuccessful, largely due
to the Union's strong fortifications, railroad connections, and strategic location.

(06:29):
Bragg's inability to dislodge Union forces from Nashville and secure
vital Confederate supply roots in Tennessee weakened the Confederate position
in the Western theater. Following his defeat at the Battle
of Chattanooga in eighteen sixty three, Bragg was replaced as
the commander of the Army of Tennessee. This marked the

(06:52):
end of his direct involvement in the fight for Nashville,
but his leadership and the efforts of the Confederate army
in Tennessee played a signalant role in the military history
of the region. Nashville served as a site for Confederate
prisoners of war and political detainees during the Civil War.

(07:13):
Nashville makeshift prison camps were established throughout the city and
its outskirts to hold captured Confederate soldiers and individuals suspected
of disloyalty to the Union cause. These camps were often
overcrowded and conditions were harsh, with inadequate food, poor sanitation,

(07:36):
and diseases like dysentery, which contributed to high mortality rates
among the prisoners. The largest Confederate prison in Nashville was
located at the site of the old Tennessee State Penitentiary,
which became overcrowded with the influx of prisoners after key
Confederate defeats. Prisoners were often subjected to long periods of captivity,

(08:02):
and the Union army sought to maintain control over those
deemed to be a threat. However, Nashville's role as a
detention center for Confederate soldiers and civilians was marked by
a tense atmosphere, as many prisoners resented the Union occupation
and continued to resist through sabotage and communication with Confederate forces.

(08:28):
The Civil War had a profound impact on Nashville's economy.
Before the war, Nashville was an important commercial center in
the South, with a thriving manufacturing base, particularly in industries
like iron and coal production. The war, however, severely disrupted

(08:49):
the city's economy. The Union occupation of Nashville and the
construction of military fortifications led to the destruction of local infrastructure,
including railroads and factories. While Union forces commandeered goods and
resources to support the war effort. The blockade of Southern

(09:12):
ports and the constant movement of military supplies also crippled
Nashville's trade. At the same time, the presence of Union
troops in Nashville created some economic opportunities for certain sectors.
African Americans, both enslaved and free, found work in Union
camps and fortifications, contributing to the city's workforce. However, much

(09:37):
of the economy remained focused on the war effort, which
ultimately hurt the city's long term economic growth, particularly as
the Confederate blockade restricted resources and supply lines. Following the
Civil War, Nashville became a center of African American education
and civil rights activism, particularly during the reconstruy production period.

(10:01):
Many freed slaves who had sought refuge in Nashville during
the war remained in the city after the conflict ended,
and the city became home to a burgeoning African American population.
African Americans in Nashville were actively involved in the fight
for civil rights, and the city saw establishment of several

(10:21):
educational institutions dedicated to African American students. Fisk University, founded
in eighteen sixty six, was one of the most notable
institutions created during this time. It became an important center
for African American education in the South, and its faculty
and students were active in promoting civil rights and political participation. Unfortunately,

(10:47):
that's all the time we've got for today's episode of
The Nashville Minutes podcast, a show dedicated to all things Nashville.
I hope you've enjoyed this episode. Thank you so much
for listening, and until next time,