Stones River

The Stones River (properly Stone's River) is a significant waterway in central Tennessee and a tributary of the Cumberland River. Formed by the confluence of its East, Middle, and West Forks in the Nashville Basin, it flows approximately 32 miles (main stem) northwest through Rutherford County before joining the Cumberland River near Nashville. The river is best known for the Battle of Stones River (also called the Battle of Murfreesboro), a major and extremely bloody engagement of the American Civil War fought along its banks from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863. Today, parts of the historic battlefield are preserved in the Stones River National Battlefield near Murfreesboro.