Stones River National Battlefield

10/14/2026

🎵 “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky” 🎶

Or are they? 🤔

This month on , we’re featuring some of our misunderstood and not-so-spooky critters!

Dressed in all black and feasting on dead things, it’s kind of hard for the black vulture to beat the creepy allegations, but we think these birds are more cool than creepy!

Vultures are nature’s cleanup crew, eating carrion like roadkill. But they won’t eat just any ol’ dead thing – they prefer food their food as fresh as possible, usually 12-24 hours old.

By cleaning up decaying remains, vultures help keep us and other animals from getting sick. Their stomach acid is so strong that it can kill a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and toxins.

While the black vulture may not win any beauty contests, its bald head also serves a purpose. Their featherless faces help keep them clean and tidy, as there are no feathers to get their food stuck in.

Next time you see a black vulture perched on the telephone pole, soaring through the sky, or huddled together (a group of vultures is called a “wake,” like at a funeral) know that they aren’t just looking moody and goth, but that they are also serving an important role in our ecosystem!



NPS Photo - Volunteer Photographer Jane Powell

10/13/2026

The finale of each series of Celebration programs this Saturday will be Home Sweet Home Band concerts. Their 11 AM and 2 PM performances will include music from the Civil War era as well as contemporary pieces inspired by that critical period in our natin's history.

The band's instrumentalists are respected fixtures on the Nashville/Middle Tennessee music scene. Some have showcased their talents at the Grand Ole Opry. The singing talents of Lisa Law, a widely admired Nashville vocalist, and Amanda Shields will round out the performances.

You can join us for individual programs or set aside a few hours in the morning or afternoon to enjoy a full series. Limited seating will be available. We recommend visitors consider bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets.

Saturday October 17 - Arts In Parks Celebration Event Schedule:
10 AM - Artillery Demonstration
10:30 AM - Two Rivers Fife and Drum Concert
11 AM - Home Sweet Home Band Concert
1 PM - Artillery Demonstration
1:30 PM - Two Rivers Fife and Drum Concert
2 PM - Home Sweet Home Band Concert
3 PM - Artillery Demonstration

10/13/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Joseph Neff was born in 1845, in Grafton, Lorain County, Ohio. His parents, George and Marie, immigrated to the United States in 1841 from Alsace, France. His father was a cooper — a craftsman that makes casks and barrels — by trade. Joseph had nine siblings.

Joseph enlisted in the United States Army on November 1, 1862. He was assigned to Company E, 10th Ohio Cavalry to serve as a bugler. Joseph’s older brother, Frederick, also served as a bugler, but in Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery.

During the Civil War, both sides employed buglers as field musicians. Buglers accompanied troops into battle and used their instruments to give signals to their comrades. The call of the bugle could be heard over the roar of battle, unlike the voice of a shouting officer. Some buglers were as young as 12 years old. Joseph Neff was about 18 when he enlisted.

The 10th Ohio Cavalry was organized in October 1862. On February 27, 1863, the regiment left Cleveland, Ohio, for Nashville, Tennessee. Joseph and his comrades were spared the deadly fighting that took place at the Battle of Stones River. Through Spring 1863, the regiment was on duty in Murfreesboro.

Although trained to give calls from horseback in the heat of battle, Joseph saw little combat. On April 22, 1863, he died of typhoid fever in Murfreesboro.

Joseph Neff was laid to rest in Stones River National Cemetery, plot O-5791.

You can read more about Neff and other stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

10/12/2026

We have another special exhibit on display in addition to those for our celebration this Saturday. Stop by our visitor center and check out "Revolutionary Rutherford: The Revolution's Legacy in Rutherford County."

This exhibit developed by the Rutherford County Archives and the Rutherford County Library System will be on display in the visitor center lobby through noon on Wednesday October 21, 2026.

10/12/2026

This Saturday's Celebration offer families plenty of ways to appreciate the battlefield's power to inspire creativity. After you enjoy the artillery demonstrations and concerts by the Home Seet Home Band and Two Rivers Fife and Drum, be sure to check out the special exhibits throughout our visitor center.

This one features the work of past Artists in Residence. We're happy to report we will host three artists in the coming months. We will be reopening this volunteer opportunity for new applications soon.

The schedule of Saturday's programs and concerts is below. They will all take place behind the visitor center. Limited seating will be available. We suggest visitors consider bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets.

Program & Concert Schedule:

10 AM - Artillery Demonstration
10:30 AM - Two Rivers Fife and Drum Concert
11 AM - Home Sweet Home Band Concert
1 PM - Artillery Demonstration
1:30 PM - Two Rivers Fife and Drum Concert
2 PM - Home Sweet Home Band Concert
3 PM - Artillery Demonstration


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10/10/2026

Two Rivers Fife and Drum will add a flavor tour upcoming Celebration on October 17, 2026. They will share fife and drum music that guided American soldiers into battle since our nation's founding. Their concerts will take place at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM near the park's visitor center.

This video features the duo dressed in Revolutionary War era clothing performing at several venues during the past year.

Arts In Parks Celebration - Featuring the Home Sweet Home Band & Two Rivers Fife and Drum

New to Nashville! Authentic martial music from our history as a na...

10/08/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Simon Herring was born in 1835 to Jacob and Lana Herring. He was the second born of eight children in the Herring family. His siblings’ names were Rowlan, Leah, Catharine, Ervin, Manuel, Samuel, and Levy. In 1850, Simon, his father, and his older brother worked together as farmers in Colerain, Hamilton County, Ohio, where they lived.

In the late 1850s, Simon moved to the Allen County, Ohio area, where he met Lydia Piper. The two married on March 14, 1858, and began having children. By the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, they had two boys: a five-year-old listed as “D. L. Herring” and a one-year-old listed as “P. F. Herring”- “P. F.” likely standing for Perry Foster. The family of four lived in Auglaize, Allen County, Ohio, where Simon continued to work as a farmer.

In 1861, Simon was called to service. He enlisted on October 26, 1861, with the U.S. Army, at the age of 26. That same day, he mustered into Company F of the 64th Ohio Infantry as a private.

The 64th Ohio, along with Private Herring, made their way through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi during their early service. In December 1862, they were stationed in Nashville, Tennessee. On December 26th, the 64th Ohio marched to Murfreesboro to capture the area. It was on December 31st, the first day of the battle of Stones River, that Private Herring was killed.

Simon Herring is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot N-5396. Records can be found under the alternate name “Simeon Hering.”

This story was submitted for research by descendant, Jessica Jansen. If you have a family member buried in Stones River National Cemetery and would like us to share their story, contact us at [email protected] and include any photos or documentation you are willing to share.

You can read more at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.

10/08/2026

🎵 “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky” 🎶

Or are they? 🤔

This month on , we’re featuring some of our misunderstood and not-so-spooky critters!

If you’ve ever found a spider in a basement, hanging on a windowsill, or tucked up in the corner of a room, then you have probably seen a common house spider before. These spindly cobweb-weaving spiders are so common they can be found in every US state!

Common house spiders (Parasteatoda tepidariorum) are synanthropic, meaning they like to live in and near human dwellings – but have no fear! These spiders make great roommates.

While they may leave old webs hanging around, their favorite thing to eat are small insects and household pests like flies, mosquitoes, ants, and gnats.

When scared, these spiders (like many spiders) will choose flight over fight, but since they spend so much time near us, common house spiders aren’t often scared of humans and tend not to react much at all. They will only bite if they’re harmed. A common house spider bite is typically no worse than a bee sting.

Next time you see these spiders, know they’re just hanging out (and eating all your bugs)!



NPS Photo

10/06/2026

TRAIL CLOSURE ALERT

The trail connection between the McFadden Farm Unit and the Stones River Greenway will be closed to the public until further notice. Tennessee Department of Transportation crews will be widening the North Thompson Lane bridge across the West Fork of the Stones River. Work is expected to be completed in 2030.

Visitors may still access the McFadden Farm unit via Van Cleve Lane and use the historic McFadden Lane Trail to access interpretive exhibits.

10/06/2026

Stories of Service and Sacrifice

Albert Crist was born in 1842 in the region now known as Querfurt, Germany. He was one of five children of Friedrich Albert, a laborer, and Emilie Crist. At the age of seven, Albert and his family immigrated to the United States, arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 30, 1850. The family’s journey continued as they moved first to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later settled in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio—a small community situated about fifteen miles southeast of Cincinnati.

On June 3, 1861, Albert enlisted in the United States Army, joining Company K of the 10th Ohio Infantry.

Shortly after his enlistment, Albert and the 10th Ohio Infantry marched to Grafton, Virginia (now West Virginia). In September 1862, the regiment pursued General Bragg’s Army of Mississippi, which had invaded Kentucky and threatened Ohio’s southern border.

On October 8, 1862, the U.S. Army of the Ohio confronted the Confederates at Perryville, Kentucky. In the morning, Albert and his comrades supported an artillery battery. After two hours, the battery exhausted its am******on, prompting the 10th Ohio Infantry to move to the front lines.

Throughout the afternoon, the 10th Ohio and their brigade endured intense fire from the Confederate Army. By 4 o’clock, every regiment except the 10th Ohio Infantry had retreated. The 10th held their position until they were nearly surrounded.

The Battle of Perryville proved devastating for the 10th Ohio Infantry, with nearly 45% of the regiment killed, wounded, missing, or captured. Among those lost was Albert Crist, who was killed in action at just nineteen years old.

Albert Crist is buried in Stones River National Cemetery in an unknown grave.

You can read more stories spanning more than 160 years of service to our nation and its ideals at go.nps.gov/sacrifice.

Stories of Service and Sacrifice is an initiative remembering at least 250 individuals buried at Stones River National Cemetery and their contributions to our nation’s 250-year story.