The March 2026 newsletter from the Battle of Nashville Trust highlights preservation updates, an upcoming Nashville Civil War Roundtable program, and reflections on a valued member of the Trust community.
President’s Message As spring approaches, the Trust is continuing its work preserving the Battle of Nashville landscape. Recent ice storms caused tree damage on Shy’s Hill, and the Trust partnered with Casey Pope and his team to clear downed trees and limbs. Visitors are advised to use caution when visiting the area while debris removal continues. President Bobby Whitson also invites neighborhood groups in Green Hills, Oak Hill, West Meade, Brentwood, and Belle Meade to reach out to BONT for informal history sessions about Civil War events that occurred in their communities.
The Trust also honors the memory of longtime friend and board member Bob Henderson, remembered for his deep passion for Nashville Civil War history and aviation history. Henderson played a key role in preserving Kelly’s Point and helped digitize important 1930s aerial photographs of Nashville that continue to assist researchers studying historic battlefield landscapes.
Preservation Advocacy Members and supporters are encouraged to help protect Tennessee’s Civil War sites by contacting Governor Bill Lee and state legislators in support of the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, an important tool for protecting historic battlefield land. Details are in the Newsletter.
Nashville Civil War Roundtable – March Program The next meeting of the Nashville Civil War Roundtable will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Fort Negley Visitors Center in Nashville.
This month’s program, “Thaddeus Lowe, Civil War Balloonism,” will be presented by historian Dr. Cheryl McAuley. The presentation explores the remarkable story of Thaddeus Lowe, Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps, whose pioneering work in aerial reconnaissance during the Civil War helped shape early military aviation. Lowe’s balloons were used to observe Confederate troop movements during campaigns such as the Peninsula Campaign of 1862.
Dr. McAuley is a retired U.S. Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, former intelligence analyst with the Department of Defense, past president of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table, and an author and speaker on Civil War history.
Howard Mann’s Column This month’s historical column continues Howard Mann’s series on “The Provost Marshals of Nashville – February 1862 through 1865.”
Support the Mission The Trust’s preservation work depends on member support and donations. Please remember to renew memberships and contribute to help protect the historic landscapes of the Battle of Nashville.