MTSU has produced a new pamphlet that will enhance any Civil War buff’s understanding of the combat that took place in Rutherford County.

Click on the image to see a PDF of the complete pamphlet.

“The Country All Around Was Laid Desolate: Rutherford County’s Civil War Battles” is free and available now at the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, 225 W. College St.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Blake Cantrell, an American University of Rome student who interned at the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, wrote the text in collaboration with the staff of the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area.

Maps and illustrations from the Civil War period also help explain the Battle of Murfreesboro, the Battle of Stones River, the Battle of Vaught’s Hill, the Battle of Hoover’s Gap and the Battle of the Cedars.

“This booklet provides a great overview of the battles that raged across our landscape during the Civil War,” said Leigh Ann Gardner, an interpretive specialist for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area.

“It is a fantastic addition to our publications available on the county’s rich history.”

The Heritage Center is a joint venture among the CHP, the Heritage Area, Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County and the city of Murfreesboro. Additional support comes from Rutherford County government and State Farm Insurance.

A digital copy of the pamphlet is available at www.hcmrc.org. For more information, visit that site or call 615-217-8013.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)