June 2026 Battle of Nashville Trust Newsletter

Content

President Brad Gericke
The June 2026 Newsletter highlights the Trust's new leadership, upcoming Nashville Civil War Roundtable program, and an in-depth look at Belle Meade's role in the Battle of Nashville.
In his first newsletter message as President, Brad Gericke reflects on his lifelong interest in Civil War history and outlines a vision for a revitalized, modern Battle of Nashville Trust.
The Nashville Civil War Roundtable will meet on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery at 7:00 p.m. The NCWRT presentation will feature Howard G. Mann, President of the Nashville Civil War Roundtable, speaking on the topic "Love, Tragedy and Redemption," the remarkable story of Nashville native Martha O'Bryan and Confederate officer Robert Yates Beall. Their wartime romance was cut short when Beall was captured and executed near the end of the Civil War after participating in a secret Confederate operation. Martha O'Bryan never married, but dedicated her life to helping others through church-based charitable programs whose legacy continues today. The meeting is open to the public. [NOTE: The Newsletter went to press with an incorrect topic for the Round Table meeting. The correct topic, about Nashvillian Martha O'Bryan, is summarized above.]
This month's featured article, written by Casey Gillespie, Director of Historic Interpretation at Belle Meade, explores the significant role Belle Meade played during the Battle of Nashville.
The newsletter also includes information on the upcoming CWRT Congress Sustainability Conference, membership renewals, and opportunities to support ongoing battlefield preservation efforts as Nashville's historic landscapes continue to face development pressures.
<img src="https://bont.eyecandy.dev/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2026-06-12-100009.png" alt="" />

President Brad Gericke

The June 2026 Newsletter highlights the Trust’s new leadership, upcoming Nashville Civil War Roundtable program, and an in-depth look at Belle Meade’s role in the Battle of Nashville.

In his first newsletter message as President, Brad Gericke reflects on his lifelong interest in Civil War history and outlines a vision for a revitalized, modern Battle of Nashville Trust.

The Nashville Civil War Roundtable will meet on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery at 7:00 p.m. The NCWRT presentation will feature Howard G. Mann, President of the Nashville Civil War Roundtable, speaking on the topic “Love, Tragedy and Redemption,” the remarkable story of Nashville native Martha O’Bryan and Confederate officer Robert Yates Beall. Their wartime romance was cut short when Beall was captured and executed near the end of the Civil War after participating in a secret Confederate operation. Martha O’Bryan never married, but dedicated her life to helping others through church-based charitable programs whose legacy continues today. The meeting is open to the public. [NOTE: The Newsletter went to press with an incorrect topic for the Round Table meeting. The correct topic, about Nashvillian Martha O’Bryan, is summarized above.]

This month’s featured article, written by Casey Gillespie, Director of Historic Interpretation at Belle Meade, explores the significant role Belle Meade played during the Battle of Nashville.

The newsletter also includes information on the upcoming CWRT Congress Sustainability Conference, membership renewals, and opportunities to support ongoing battlefield preservation efforts as Nashville’s historic landscapes continue to face development pressures.