Fellow CWRTs,
You have no doubt heard of the tornadoes that hit Middle Tennessee
yesterday in the mid-afternoon. What we thought was a single twister
turned out to be two of them, one going through the town and the other
crossing I-24 right into the core of the Stones River National
Battlefield.
I just got off the phone with Park Ranger Jim Lewis who is a good friend
of mine and he told me that the twister hit Tour Stop Three, moved
through the Round Forest and then hit Tour Stop One and the Hazen
Monument and cemetery. He said the trees now look like they would have
during the battle - thousands of them shattered and blown down. Other
than massive tree damage, the Hazen Monument (the second oldest CW
monument in the country, erected during the war, and the oldest still on
its original site) and the cemetery stones came through just fine. No
cannons of the park were damaged but a caisson was moved and needs to be
replaced. Thankfully, none of the park staff was hurt.
Subdivisions around the park have been smashed quite badly. I am told
that one tornado was an F2 and it grew to F3 by the time it hit the park
itself. A number of reports and pictures came in on the news showing a
very large funnel cloud.
Stones River Park will be closed for quite some time as the staff
assesses the tree damage and what ones need clearing away. I will keep
this list apprised as the Spring and Summer go onward as to the park's
condition. There will be a call for volunteers to help with cleanup at
some point.
I think it would be terrific if each of the CWRTs that gets this email
would pass the hat at your next meeting to take up a donation for the
park to help with its cleanup. The Clarksville CWRT certainly will be
doing so. If you are interested in doing so please let me know and I
will secure the address to send such donations for you.
Another Middle Tennessee Civil War area also affected by tornadoes was
the Tullahoma Campaign. Twisters were reported between Wartrace and
Bell Buckle as well as near Tullahoma itself along with near Estill
Springs (formerly Allisonia where the railroad and road bridges crossed
the Elk River at the time as they still do). I have not heard of damage
down there as yet. I led a tour of that area just a couple weeks ago
for the CWRT in Columbus, OH and it is one of the most beautiful parts
of Tennessee.
A lot of people lost homes and businesses yesterday - and a few lost
their lives. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
Please also pass this around to all of your CWRT members so they know of
the damage and recovery efforts.
Greg Biggs
Clarksville TN CWRT