Assessing role of slavery and Civil War in state

Telling the whole story of the Civil War and Reconstruction is never more important than when we consider the impact of slavery on the coming of the Civil War in Tennessee. Anyone interested in this issue will want to attend the one-day symposium, “The Legacy of Stones River: Slavery and the Civil War in Tennessee” set March 6.

Slavery greatly influenced economical, cultural and political life in Tennessee during the ante-bellum period. The role of slavery in leading Tennessee to secede from the Union and move towards Civil War, however, has stirred debate for generations of Tennesseans. The second Legacy of Stones River National Battlefield, held this year at Middle Tennessee State University and Stones River National Battlefield, will give scholars, history professionals and history enthusiasts an opportunity to explore these issues through the presentation of current re-search, open discussion, a demonstration by United States Colored Troops re-enactors and tours of two significant Murfreesboro Civil War sites.

The March 6 symposium will begin at 8 a.m. at MTSU Alumni Center. After a lunch break, the symposium will resume with re-enactments at Fortress Rosecrans at 1:30 p.m. and later move to Stones River Battlefield for tours.

Featured speaker will be Charles Dew, a Virginia native who teaches at William College and wrote the path-breaking book, Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civic War (University Press of Virginia, 2001). Gary Edwards of the University of Memphis, will present his research on slavery in West Tennessee and how slavery differed across the state.

Linda Wynn of the Tennessee Historical Commission and Fisk University, will discuss what slavery was like for enslaved African Americans.

Robert Gudmestad of Southwest Baptist University, will present his research on the enterprise of slave trading.

Registration is $10 and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

To register, call Stones River National Battlefield, 615-893-9501, or the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, 615-494-8910, for a brochure or visit one of the following web sites: www.nps.gov/stri or http://histpres.mtsu.edu/tncivwar.