Happy New Year

   A quick post to say Happy New Year to everyone(all 12 of you) who read my blog!

   I would love ideas on what sort of photos to post in the coming year. I have been focusing on a "on this date in history", but eventually I'll have all the days covered and will want to post something new on those dates. I hope to get out more, see more of Middle Tennessee, and will continue to post photos from this area. I wish we had more interesting "tourist" sites that were more photogenic(I don't really get up to Nashville as often as I would like-I want to try to change that this year).
   So, more cemeteries? County courthouses? Abandoned buildings? Billboards? Trips to the flea market? Cat pictures? Lego? What shall 2016 bring?

Opryland Christmas Lights

Battle of Nashville Dec 16, 1864

   December 16, 1862 was the second day of the Battle of Nashville. The Confederate troops were entrenched on what would be called Shy's Hill and east to the Peach Orchard Hill. The attack began in earnest late in the afternoon. Eventually, the Union forces overtook Shy's Hill and Hood would be forced to retreat south along the Franklin Pike and Granny White Pike. Union cavalry would pursue, but lacking supplies, and being bested in numerous skirmishes along the Franklin Pike, would slow the pursuit. Eventually they were confronted by Confederate Cavalry General Nathan Bedford Forrest just north of Columbia, the pursuit was halted. They attempted to send troops on trains to Chattanooga but they arrived too late and Hood was able to escape to Mississippi.

Battle of Nashville Dec 15, 1864

   On December 15, 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood's forces were lined up in an arc around the south end of Nashville. The battle began with an attempt to launch a diversion on the far right of the Confederate's line at Granberry's Lunette and then attack full on the left flank. The diversion did not work as the Confederates were ready. However the Union forces were able to overrun most of the positions on the left and capture the redoubts of the Confederates. The South pulled back and reinforced their line of battle along current Harding Place/Battery Lane at Peach Orchard and Shy's Hills, between the Hillsboro Pike and the railroad.

Battle of Nashville-Kelley's Point

   After the horrific losses in Franklin, Tennessee, Confederate General John Bell Hood followed the Union troops north towards Nashville. A line was established south of Nashville, from the Cumberland River on the west for 12 miles around to the Chattanooga Railroad tracks. This was the largest battlefield geographically in the Civil War. On December 2, 1864, the Confederates set up two artillery batteries at this point, now known as Kelley's Point, as well as a string of mines under the river in order to blockade the Cumberland and keep Union ships from reaching Nashville.

The Flooding of Middle Tennessee

Well, I haven't forgotten and missed my days on purpose. We have had historic flooding here around Nashville. Luckily my home and neighborhood is high and dry, but we have not ventured out at all to see where the damage is. We've been glued to the news on all channels and I simply cannot believe my eyes at the damage being caused.

One thing that really hurts is knowing that the Hurricane Mills Bridge that I just posted last week has been washed away by the flood. I can only imagine what other wonderful places we have lost in Middle Tennessee. I can only hope it isn't too many.

Photos will return tomorrow.

Animal Monday

Monday is for animals. Trying to post something cute to help get the week underway.

This little cutie is a Clouded Leopard cub that had been at the Nashville Zoo with his 2 siblings back in October of 2009. At the time they were about 3 months old and beyond adorable. I spent about an hour watching them, taking around 250 photos!

Nashville

Apologies for being absent for awhile. Things have been crazy. Two computers crashing and my kid broke her arm. Will try to make up by adding a few today and post-dating them(4-28-09).

All the ones I add today will be from the Kentucky trip we took on July 12, 2008. This is a view of downtown Nashville as we went by on Interstate 24.

Brad Paisley!!

In honor of Brad winning the Best Male Artist last night on the Academy of Country Music Awards, I had to post something about him! He also won Video of the Year("Waiting on a Woman") and Event of the Year("Start a Band" with Keith Urban), but those were not shown last night. And Brad wasn't even there, he is home here in Nashville waiting for Kimberly to have their 2nd baby, awwww!

I got this shot along Interstate 24 near Bell Road a few months ago when Brad was scheduled to play at the Opry. I had actually missed the shot while headed north(it's a rotating billboard, there are 3 or 4 other things that could be showing) and got this shot while we were headed back south east sort twisted turned around and almost over my shoulder. But anything for Brad!