The Battle of Collierville

Benefits of saving the Collierville Battlefield

Submitted by John Weeks                                       

The city of Collierville has a rich history in the Civil War but we don't have any location dedicated to its preservation.  We are certain that a significant part of the battle took place east of Mount Pleasant Road and south of Halley Road.  The bend in the railroad was the site of the most intense fighting in the Battle of Collierville.  Old-timers have related how in the fields south of this site bullets once littered the ground. We don't know where the Civil War Fort is but we know for sure where the battlefield is.  It is certain that this area is also the location of the old town of Collierville that was burned down during the Civil War.  Right now there is a person who wants to sell this land.  It is located across the street from the railroad and is still largely undisturbed since the Civil War Times.  This site is a bona fide piece of history and qualifies as a place to save in several different ways that are unique to Collierville.  Collierville could have an authentic piece of real estate both on the battlefield and in the old town.  It would also have the earthworks that have been in dispute. These still have value, because whether they were part of the fort, or built in conjunction with the old railroad by our ancestors, they were a unique part of the battlefield and have historical value.  They were used as brestworks during the battle to protect the railroad. This is probably the last practical spot in Collierville that has the credibility necessary to be marked as a National Historic Civil War Site.  Once you have this you have the authenticity to advertise a Civil War Battlefield Site and this will positively impact Collierville’s tourism. According to the Tennessee Wars Commission In 2001 there were 5 million visitors in Tennessee actively seeking Civil War sites and it brought $2 billion into the state's economy.  Collierville would have better draw then some of our neighboring cities to benefit from this segment of the tourism industry. For example Germantown has a Fort but no battlefield, Collierville as a significant battlefield, Civil War era earthworks, the story of Sherman's escape, a plethora of moving stories about the battle such as the Confederate solider who felt horrible about shooting a Yankee soldier and tried to make him as comfortable as possible before he died, and the location of a lost town that was burned to the ground during the war.  If this sounds far-fetched then consider what is left of the battlefield at Franklin Tennessee.  It has been completely lost except for the Carter House.  The Carter house was located on the battlefield and has an interesting story.  One of the soldiers who were injured was taken to this house, which happened to be his own home, where he died in bed saying “finally home, finally home”. The Carter House has a significant number of visitors every year.  I believe Collierville would have a larger site and a more interesting story.  It is also significant that the location in question is directly across from railroad tracks which were a key objective of the entire battle.  Another interesting aspect to this site is that the town was completely destroyed during the war and this is the location of the original Collierville. This also has historical implications not only about the Civil War but also about the current town square.

The key issue that the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen would have to deal with  is the value of building a Civil War interpretive center at this location.  There are some interesting and unique aspects to this issue.  The city is already struggling to keep up with its own growth.  It is currently looking at several locations to expand office space for staff departments.  They have an obligation to the taxpayer to be fiscally responsible.  They also have a responsibility to spend taxpayer money in a way that would be most beneficial for the community.  Some of the interpretive centers I visited in other cities were multi-use facilities.  There was city office space associated with their tourist attraction.  It appears that the site of the Battle of Collierville would be large enough to house a multi-story building that could house an interpretive center on the first floor and city administration offices on the second or third floors.  It could also have a multi-functional auditorium which could be used both by the interpretive center and other departments such as the fire services as needed for training.  This would give the necessary foundation for a high quality Civil War tourist attraction that would benefit the city financially, culturally, educationally and communally.  Based on the experience of similar attractions around the country it is very likely that corporate sponsorship could pay for a large portion of the expense associated with developing educational exhibits.  There is also a significant likelihood that community focused groups would be interested in helping out financially and logistically with the attraction exhibits.  There is normally a small charge for admission to similar attractions which could also help subsidize the venture.  Since this would be a preservation site we may be eligible for matching funds or grant money.  The land itself may be relatively inexpensive due to its location, but as interest in the site garners the price might go up if it is a deal is not accomplished quickly. The city would be killing three  birds with one stone.  They would be buying back a part of their history, a place where the town started, and honoring the men and women who gave their lives. Second they would also be building quality facilities for city departments that would carry it well into the future. Third they would be doing this in a way that would benefit the citizens of Collierville, and the State of Tennessee. When the city takes action it needs to factor how it can best impact the community.  Aother factor to consider about developing this land as city offices and a tourist attraction is that it will have a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.  A Civil War Interpretive center or a least a park designated as a National Historic Site would be better than some future unknown industral business. This is the last and best spot to highlight our rich Civil War history. Most of these people have been longtime residents.  I'm not sure that is fair to rezone property that has been zoned residential for such a long period of time to industrial.  We need to balance that against the impact of some of our oldest residents.  The proposed City facility would be much less intrusive and probably enhance property values in an area that deserves it, and that probably needs our help more than some newer neighborhoods. As we improve each part of our City, everyone benefits. 

There are also some other unique aspects about the proposed site which makes it attractive.  It is located at the end of a dead end road.  Because of this the city could design the site in a way that would use the road as additional parking.  It has ready access to public roads and utilities nearby. Not being able to locate the Civil War Fort could be a blessing in disguise.  If the fort was on the Hill across the railroad tracks it would be almost impossible to develop it as a tourist attraction due to a lack of access, proximity to the railroad, and utility issues.  The city already has $5,000 invested in the property when it admirably did the right thing by getting an archaeological survey.  This in itself is an interesting story.  There may always be a difference of opinion about where this Fort is.  It could become an educational topic for the interpretive center.  We could explain how the archeological and historical process works and then lay out all the facts about the earthworks. Then let people decide what they think, and for fun let them vote on it and keep a running tally. People tend to learn better when they become involved in the process.  Since we will be building on the site of the old town it would be interesting to build the entrance to the facility in the same facade as what the old train depot looked like.  According to historical records it had some interesting features.

The only way that this thing can happen is if you make it happen. I can’t make it happen. A nonprofit group could help out, but it can’t make it happen. The only people who have the credibility, responsibility and the resources to do this are the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Sincerely

John Weeks

Suggestions@battleofcollierville.com

Contact your elected leaders and let them know what you think about preserving Collierville's history.