Topographical Map of the Battle Field of Nashville, Tenn

“If Hood mortally wounded his army at Franklin, he would kill it two weeks later at Nashville.” – David Eicher

Preparing what would eventually become known as the “War of the Rebellion Atlas” started even before the peace was signed at Appatomox. In 1864, Adjt. Gen. E.D. Townsend of the U.S. Army filed the first request for copies of various battle plans and reports, attempting to compile a comprehensive war narrative.

It would be another twelve years before the Secretary of War was provided legislative means to formalize publication, and three more (1874) until the project was finally laid on sound footing by Lieut. Colonel Robert N. Scott. Scott diligently oversaw work on what would become the massive 70-volume Official Records of the American Civil War until his death in 1887. The companion atlas, compiled by Calvin D. Cowle, was published in 1895 by the Government Printing Office on behalf of the War Department.

That impressive two-volume set is the original source of this composite map, which shows the battlefields around Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee in late 1864 and early 1865. Rebel (red) and U.S. (blue) troop dispositions are noted on each neatly engraved plan, identifying geographic features, defensive positions, notable buildings, and other locations of interest. Somewhat incongruously, a map of the field of Gettysburg on July 3rd is shown in the lower right.