Nashville Then & Now: Union troops in entrenchments in 1864

MID-DECEMBER 1864: Union troops in entrenchments at Nashville.  (Jacob Coonley | Library of Congress)

MARCH 13, 2019: A "Now" image of the 1864 photograph above.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.)

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In mid-December 1864, Jacob Coonley photographed  Union entrenchments stretching toward Fort Casino on a hill in the distance. As the Battle of Nashville was fought nearby, the troops seen in the image were held in reserve. I recently aimed to shoot a passable “Now” version of Coonley’s 1864 image from a hill at the base of old Fort Negley, about a mile or so from downtown Nashville.

Forts Negley and Casino were integral to the defenses of Nashville, the second-most heavily defended city next to Washington during the Civil War. Fort Casino is long gone — it’s site of the 8th Avenue Reservoir. Fort Negley, atop St. Cloud Hill, is a popular spot for joggers, walkers and picnickers. When visiting Nashville, check out the ruins of the fort, which offers a great view of the Nashville skyline. For present-day images of Fort Negley, check out this post on my blog here.

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