Existing comment:
"I was over the largest portion of Clarksville. There is many nice residences adorned with beautiful shade and ornamental trees... but yet there is a lack of taste in the keeping of their streets in order."
-- Pvt. William Davis, 83rd Illinois Infantry, April 21, 1863
Union Soldier:
Union and Confederate soldiers in Tennessee were mostly from farms or small towns. The war took them the farthest they had ever been from home. After battles like Fort Donelson, garrison and occupation duty seemed dull and tedious. Coming to towns like Clarksville was an appealing change from sleeping in tents in the field. Shopping, dining and having their pictures taken added normalcy to daily life. Besides protecting towns, occupying troops guarded telegraphs, railroads, and other aspects of the Union supply line. It often involved skirmishes with guerrillas. |