Greshampark Drive

One of the images in the Stones River National Battlefield archives is a detail map created by Lt. O.R. Dahl of Company B, 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment. Dahl’s duties included being a topographical engineer for his brigade. His map gives a general description of the troop positions by brigade early on December 31, 1862 at the beginning of the Battle of Stones River. Most interesting, though, is that he documents the known grave locations for many of the Union troops on the battlefield, some by name.

In modern day Murfreesboro, Greshampark Drive is a short road north of Interstate 24 that has notable buildings like the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center and a McDonald's

Photo in 2024 of Greshampark Drive near original site of the Gresham House in Murfreesboro, TN. Photo credit: Thomas Zei

But for many years, Greshampark Drive was part of Gresham Lane before I-24 dissected the area. The property in 1862 was dominated by a large farm and buildings owned by the Gresham family. [Note: Many battle maps, including Dahl’s map, spell the family name as Grisom but it is likely that the name of the lane was the true spelling of the family as was the norm of the period. Former NPS Chief Historian Ed Baerrs also spelled it as Gresham.]

The Gresham house probably stood at the current location of the Embassy Suites. When the Union troops arrived on December 30th and began their bloody assault to gain position against the Confederate lines, they confiscated the Gresham property for use as a temporary field hospital. Many troops from Dahl’s own unit of the 15th Wisconsin were carried to the house to treat wounds. Included was the body of Captain John Ingmundson who was killed in the assault. Dahl’s map shows the precise location of Ingmundson’s grave but he also shared it with five other soldiers from the 15th Wisconsin and eighty other soldiers that died of wounds in the Gresham house.

When Stones River National Cemetery was established almost three years later, the eight-six bodies in the mass grave at the Gresham House were moved to the new permanent site. Unfortunately, Captain Ingmundson did not receive the usual reburial in his home town for an officer of his rank. The mass grave made it impossible to identify his specific body. As a result, he is buried in an unknown grave at the cemetery.

Greshampark Drive also contains many sites of significant battle on December 31st. In fact, Union General Joshua Sill’s body was briefly placed at the Gresham house as his comrades were retreating through the fields. Although the Confederates were continuing the rout that started at Franklin Road, there were already signs in the Greshampark area that the Union was ready to put up a defense to slow the Confederate advance.

Although the Gresham house quickly fell behind enemy lines, the Union medical staff continued to provide necessary aid to the wounded of both sides at the property. Eventually the Union doctors were allowed to return to the Federal lines in a good will gesture by General Braxton Bragg.

Excerpts from the Dahl Map drawn by Lt. O. R. Dahl in 1863 showing graves located near the Gresham House. Digital copy of map provided by Stones River National Battlefield.