Enabled by a historic personal donation, The Battle of Nashville Trust has taken another major step in its long-term Battlefield Preservation Campaign with the acquisition of an additional 1.2-acre tract at 4619 Benton Smith Road on historic Shy’s Hill. The purchase, announced by BONT President Brad Gericke, marks the Trust’s third acquisition of Shy’s Hill battlefield property in just over two years, increasing its preserved holdings on the Hill to nearly six acres.
The $1.5 million acquisition was made possible by an extraordinary anonymous leadership gift of $500,000 from a long-time steward and donor of the Trust—the largest individual contribution in the organization’s history. The donor requested no public recognition, focusing instead on hoping to encourage others to continue financially supporting preservation of this nationally significant battlefield for future generations.
While Shy’s Hill has become the focal point of the Trust’s recent preservation successes, both Gericke and Exec. Dir. Bobby Whitson stressed that the acquisition reflects the Trust’s renewed commitment to identify, acquire, preserve, and interpret significant Battle of Nashville battlefield sites throughout the greater Nashville battlefield wherever opportunities arise. As one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas continues to expand, preserving surviving battlefield land has never been more urgent.
Located immediately south of the Trust’s Benton Smith Road trailhead, the newly-acquired property occupies core battlefield ground where Union troops from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio assaulted Confederate defenders from Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee during the climactic fighting of December 16, 1864. The overwhelming assault on Shy’s Hill broke the Confederate line and helped secure one of the Union Army’s most decisive victories of the Civil War. Unlike the Trust’s previous acquisitions, the property includes an existing residence that will become part of the organization’s long-range planning as Shy’s Hill continues to evolve into an expanded historical park and educational destination.
The Trust’s recent preservation accomplishments illustrate the momentum of this effort. In April 2024, BONT acquired a 1.2-acre tract at the base of Shy’s Hill, preserving the ground crossed by Federal soldiers during the final assault. In November 2025, the Trust secured ownership of the historic Shy’s Hill summit after decades of stewardship and maintenance in partnership with the Tennessee Historical Society. Together with the newest acquisition, these properties now form nearly six acres of permanently protected battlefield land extending from the Benton Smith Road entrance to the summit.
These recent acquisitions have been built upon a growing network of partnerships dedicated to protecting the Battle of Nashville battlefield. In 2025, the Tennessee Historical Commission, through its Tennessee Wars Commission, awarded BONT a landmark $505,000 Civil War Sites Preservation Fund grant that helped support acquisition of the Trust’s 2024 Shy’s Hill property. The Trust also gratefully acknowledges a “Preserving America Grant” from Americana Corner, which has supported improvements to the newly preserved battlefield, as well as technical assistance provided by the American Battlefield Trust.
Plans are already underway to determine how the newest property can best be incorporated into the expanding Shy’s Hill site. In addition to preserving another important section of battlefield ground, the property creates new opportunities for enhanced interpretation, visitor amenities, educational programming, expanded hiking trails, and additional green space. The existing residence will also be evaluated as part of the Trust’s long-term vision for the property.
The $1.5 million acquisition is one of the most significant preservation investments in the Trust’s history. To help complete the acquisition, the Trust has launched a fundraising campaign, inspired by the historically-generous anonymous gift associated with the purchase, asking members, friends, and preservation supporters to participate.
BONT Exec. Dir. Whitson stressed that the Battle of Nashville Trust’s recent acquisitions at Shy’s Hill demonstrate what can be accomplished when preservation-minded citizens, donors, members, volunteers, and partner organizations work together to protect America’s historic landscapes before they disappear. Although Shy’s Hill currently represents the Trust’s most active preservation effort, the organization’s mission extends across the entire Battle of Nashville battlefield. He added that wherever opportunities arise to preserve historically significant battlefield land, the Trust intends to pursue them.
