Fort Garesche (2)

Fort Garesche (2) (1863-1865) - A Union U.S. Civil War Fort established in 1863 in present day Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Named Fort Garesche in G.O. 43, 19 Jun 1865 (HQ Dept of the Cumberland), after Lt. Colonel Julius P. Garesche, (Cullum 1074), who was decapitated by a cannon ball while riding next to General William S. Rosecrans, (Cullum 1115), at the battle of Stones River 31 Dec 1862. The fort was abandoned by Union troops in 1865 after the end of the war.

History of Fort Garesche

The beginning of the U.S. Civil War found Nashville under Confederate control with Fort Henry and Fort Donelson providing external protection. With the loss of Fort Henry (6 Feb 1862) and Fort Donelson (16 Feb 1862) the Confederate position in Nashville became untenable and they surrendered the city on 25 Feb 1862.

Union forces occupied the city and turned Nashville into a Union logistics hub for the region. Work on the fortifications for the city began in August 1862 using large numbers of conscripted contrabands (runaway slaves) and free Blacks.

Fort Garesche was a large polygonal earthworks fort that mounted fourteen guns with a good field of fire in all directions.

The Battle of Nashville

The Battle of Nashville began on 15 Dec 1864 south of the city and away from Fort Negley. Fort Negley reportedly fired the first shot of the battle which pitted the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt. General John Bell Hood, (Cullum 1622), against Union forces under Major General George H. Thomas, (Cullum 1028). General Hood had been a student of General Thomas at the United States Military Academy, received instruction in artillery from him. The Union forces prevailed and the Confederates fell back with heavy losses.

Fort Garesche was abandoned in 1865 at the end of the war.

Current Status

Unknown status.

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Location: Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Maps & Images Lat: 36.18017 Long: -86.817917 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

See Also:

• Nashville Defense System - U.S. Civil War

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 740.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Garesche

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