Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield Stones River National Battlefield preserves over 600 acres of the historic battlefield and National Cemetery near Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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A Hard Earned Victory:

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it changed forever the people who lived and fought here.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice George Helm was born in Northfield, Cook County, Illinois in 1839. In his adulthood, he...
05/31/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

George Helm was born in Northfield, Cook County, Illinois in 1839. In his adulthood, he lived in Wheeling, Cook County, Illinois and worked as a farmer. At the age of 23, Helm enlisted in the Union Army on August 8, 1862, in Chicago, IL. He mustered into Company L of the 88th Illinois Infantry as a private on August 27, 1862, also in Chicago. The Illinois Descripted Muster Rolls describe him as having been 5’ 6 ¾" with dark hair, blue eyes, and a dark complexion.

After the battle of Perryville, the 88th IL went to Nashville, Tennessee. On December 26th, they received orders to march south to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and took a position just east of Gresham Lane. At 6am on December 31st, they quickly became the first line of defense for the Union. Confederate forces went on the attack, forming a J-shaped maneuver around Union troops, including the 88th Illinois. As Confederates swept around their right flank, the 88th Illinois lost its brigadier general, General Sill. This loss severely disoriented the troops as they retreated north towards what they hoped would be reinforcements.

However, the 88th Illinois was pushed into a position forming the right flank of a V-shaped position along Wilkinson Pike and McFadden Road. They took head-on attacks from Confederate artillery and infantry, and around noon on December 31st, they gave way into a hasty retreat northward.

The remnants of the 88th Illinois Infantry reformed a position on the Nashville Pike, where they remained until nightfall. Private Helm was among those to lose their lives in service on December 31, 1862, the first day of the battle of Stones River.

George Helm is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2770.

You can read more about Helm and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice James M Mansfield was born in 1837 in Henry County, Illinois. He later moved to St. Jos...
05/30/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

James M Mansfield was born in 1837 in Henry County, Illinois. He later moved to St. Joseph, Illinois where he met his wife, Elizabeth, and had a child. On August 16th, 1862, he volunteered to serve with the Union Army in the Civil War. He was mustered into Company B of the 51st Illinois Infantry regiment on September 21st, 1862, as a private. At the battle of Stones River, the 51st Illinois was led by Roberts, Sheridan, and McCook.

On December 30th, 1862, General Roberts had his men form a position on the Wilkinson Pike. They held this position into the early morning on December 31st, 1862, the first day of the battle of Stones River. The Confederates in the area planned to sweep around the Union's right flank and collapse them from the right. Roberts and the 51st Illinois were faced head on by this swift attack early on December 31st. The regiment was hit hard and lost 57 men just in this phase of the fighting. Private Mansfield was one of those 57 to lose his life in this first day of fighting.

James M Mansfield is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5504.

You can read more about James Mansfield and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice Henry Day served as a Private in Company H, 37th Indiana Infantry. The 37th Indiana Inf...
05/29/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Henry Day served as a Private in Company H, 37th Indiana Infantry. The 37th Indiana Infantry was mustered on September 18, 1861. They were sent to Kentucky in October of 1861 and later participated in the advance on Bowling Green and Nashville, Tennessee in February 1862. They stayed in Tennessee until mid-April, when they moved to Huntsville, Alabama before they moved back to Nashville in late August and took part in the siege of Nashville. On December 26, they took part in the advance on Murfreesboro, Tennessee and later in the Battle of Stones River. They were most likely still in Murfreesboro when Private Day died on March 12, 1863, which is the estimated location of his death.

He is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot F-2500.

You can read more about Henry Day and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice Hoyte Ray Taylor was born on September 29, 1925, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He wo...
05/28/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Hoyte Ray Taylor was born on September 29, 1925, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He worked at Carnation plant before enlisting on September 27, 1950, joining the US Army as a Private in Company A of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

Taylor served as a Light Weapons Infantryman in the Korean War. He was originally reported missing in action on April 25, 1951, but was later reported killed in action for the same day. Taylor’s body was recovered in 1953. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and is honored at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C..

Taylor is buried at Stones River National Cemetery along with his brother, James Dallas Taylor, who died in World War II. Hoyte is buried in plot P–6353.

If you have a family member buried in Stones River National Cemetery and would like us to share their story, contact us at [email protected] and include any photos or documentation you are willing to share.

You can read more about Hoyte Taylor and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice George Smith was born in 1843. He mustered in with the 21st Ohio Infantry, Company H, a...
05/27/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

George Smith was born in 1843. He mustered in with the 21st Ohio Infantry, Company H, as a private.

In late August of 1862, the 21st Ohio Volunteers marched to Nashville, Tennessee. On December 26th, they received orders to march towards Murfreesboro. They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and began to prepare for the fighting that was ahead.

At the battle of Stones River, the 21st Ohio was positioned near the intersection of Van Cleve Lane and Wilkinson Pike. Around 6am on December 31st, the Confederate troops in the area began to attack the Union's right flank. Their goal was to create a J-shaped motion around the Union's right and cause them to collapse in on themselves. By 9am, the 21st Ohio could hear the sounds of battle inching closer to them, and were beginning to take on some artillery fire from Confederate troops parallel to them.

Eventually, the Confederate forces were able to sweep the Union troops into a tight, V-shaped position on the Wilkinson Pike and Van Cleve, where the 21st had been waiting. The position was extremely vulnerable and eventually the right side of the V-shape collapsed, sending wave after wave of Union troops retreating towards the 21st Ohio. They all retreated north towards the cedar woods, to eventually regroup along the railroad tracks and the Nashville Pike.

Private Smith suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the fighting at the Battle of Stones River. He was transported to Regimental Field Hospital No. 747 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he lingered for several weeks. Despite medical care, complications from his wound proved fatal, and he died there on February 26, 1863.

George Smith is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2694.

You can read more about Smith and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

05/26/2026

A poignant moment occurred just minutes before closed the gates to Stones River National Cemetery closing out weekend.

Video Description: American flags placed in front of rows of headstones wave slightly as “Taps” is played on a bugle.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice Jesse S Lasley was born in 1836 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. He enlisted on October 1...
05/26/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Jesse S Lasley was born in 1836 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. He enlisted on October 1, 1861, into Company I of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment. The regiment was formed in Somerset, Kentucky in September 1861. They spent most of their service time in Tennessee and fought at the Battle of Stones River.

Private Lasley died on February 15th, 1863, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. His cause of death in unknown. He was first interred in Shelbyville but was later reinterred with the formation of the National Cemetery.

Jesse Lasley is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot M-4875. His headstone reads "J.S.L"

If you have a family member buried in Stones River National Cemetery and would like us to share their story, contact us at [email protected] and include any photos or documentation you are willing to share.

You can read more about Jesse Lasley and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

CREST intern Shelby had a great group join her for our very first Stories of Service Sacrifice walk through Stones River...
05/25/2026

CREST intern Shelby had a great group join her for our very first Stories of Service Sacrifice walk through Stones River National Cemetery. She will lead another walk at 1 PM, and Ranger Jim will lead the last group at 3 PM.

Both programs will begin at flagpole in front of our visitor center. We will begin offering these special walks at 1 PM on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sunday June 7, 2026.

You can read stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stones River National Cemetery Memorial Day Service - May 24, 2026Photo by Photographer Jane Powell
05/25/2026

Stones River National Cemetery Memorial Day Service - May 24, 2026

Photo by Photographer Jane Powell

Address

3501 Old Nashville Highway
Murfreesboro, TN
37129

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16158939501

Website

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