Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro (mûr`frēzbûr'ə), city (1990 pop. 44,922), seat of Rutherford co., central Tenn., on Stones River; inc. 1817. It is the processing center of a dairy, livestock, and farm area. Manufactures include appliance motors, packaged foods, boats, and outdoor furniture. Murfreesboro was the capital of Tennessee from 1819 to 1826. The Civil War battle of Murfreesboro (or Stones River) was fought from Dec. 31, 1862–Jan. 2, 1863. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg concentrated his army in Murfreesboro after retreating (Oct., 1862) from Kentucky. As Union Gen. William Rosecrans moved toward Chattanooga, Bragg confronted him just N of Murfreesboro. Bragg attacked first and on Dec. 31 nearly routed the Union forces. Rosecrans repulsed an ensuing attack, and on Jan. 3, the Union army occupied Murfreesboro; Bragg retreated to Tullahoma. Stones River National Battlefield (see National Parks and Monuments, table) commemorates the battle, and Civil War dead are buried in Stones River National Cemetery. Oakland Mansion is another historic attraction. Middle Tennessee State Univ. is in the city.