The Filson Historical Society

The Filson Civil War Field Institute Fall 2011

"Mud and More Mud: The Tullahoma Campaign"

November 3 - 5, 2011

  Tullahoma was a campaign of brilliant maneuver, great logistical planning and command flexibility when the original plan went awry due to weather. What saved the Confederate army from destruction was the incessant rain that plagued the campaign for both sides.  One Confederate officer declared that Tullahoma was a Greek word with "Tulla" meaning mud, and "homa" meaning more mud!

This Fall The Filson Civil War Field Institute will visit a now visually stunning place in Middle Tennessee to explore a campaign that is only just becoming appreciated by Civil War historians as an important campaign that achieved vital goals with very few casualties on either side.

The campaign began in late June and ended on July 4, 1863, the same day that Vicksburg surrendered and Lee began to retreat from his defeat at Gettysburg.  Tullahoma is overshadowed to a great degree by these other Union victories, however strategically it is in the same category as both.  It is still taught at the Military Academies and Service schools as a great example of Maneuver Warfare.

At the end of the campaign, Union General William S. Rosecrans wrote a message to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton who had telegraphed him mentioning the great Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg and wondering if Rosecrans had yet launched his own offensive in Middle TN.  Rosecrans' response cheered the two victories and then, with a few barbs, concluded his reply,

General Rosecrans

"You do not appear to observe the fact that this noble army has driven the rebels from Middle Tennessee...I beg in behalf of this army that the War Department may not overlook so great an event because it is not written in letters of blood!" Rosecrans drove a major Confederate army out of the state suffering only some 1100 casualties.  Had there been 25,000 fallen men then perhaps there would be several books on the campaign, so far, only one book exists on it, that of Michael Bradley who will be our Keynote speaker and co-tour guide alongside Greg Biggs. The Filson Historical Society seeks to preserve and understand this significant story that has "not been written in letters of blood."

  Some sites we will visit

• Fortress Rosecrans at Murfreesboro, which was the main supply base for Union Gen. Rosecrans
• Hoover's Gap, Liberty Gap, Guy's Gap, sites of the three battles for the 1st phase of the campaign
• Shelbyville, TN where Joe Wheeler's CS cavalry was driven from the town in great confusion
• Oaklands Historic House Museum
• The Cowan Railroad Museum 
• The Chockley Tavern which served as a stagecoach stop and Major General Patrick R. Cleburne's HQ
• Sites around Tullahoma including the fights along the Elk River, the fall back to Cowan and the fight up on Sewanee Mountain

 Keynote Speaker on Thursday evening - Michael Bradley

  Co-tour guides - Greg Biggs and Michael Bradley

Fieldtrip Fee

$280 for Filson members;

$330 Non-members

Includes all admission fees to museums and parks, Chartered Bus, Two lunches, a reception and one dinner (Thursday evening)

To reserve your place

A non-refundable deposit of $50 (Due by 9/23/11) per person is required at time of registration and balance is due to the Filson by October 21, 2011

Space is limited. 

The first 25 participants that register will receive an issue of Blue & Gray Magazine (Vol. XXVII, #1) featuring the main article about the Tullahoma campaign written by Michael Bradley including comprehensive maps for the campaign. This issue also includes a two page side bar on the rise of the Union cavalryby Greg Biggs. Issue will be mailed to you by request.

To assure your field trip reservation, fill out form and send along with payment to:

The Filson Historical Society

c/o Scott Scarboro CWFI

1310 S Third Street  

Louisville, KY 40208

open word document of registration form to print

now you can register and pay the full amount online! pay in full

All participants are responsible for their travel arrangements to and from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and making their own hotel accommodations and dinner on Friday evening.  During the fieldtrip we will travel by chartered bus as a group.

Accommodations

Mention FHS for a special group rate

Rooms are $94+tax a night

Fairfield Inn & Suites Murfreesboro

175 Chaffin Pl

Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129

Phone: 615-849-1150 or 800-228-2800