TCWPA Three Star Preservation Tour

“160th Anniversary of the Battle of Johnsonville”

Historian / Tour Leader Jerry Wooten

Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, in conjunction with Johnsonville State Historic Park will host a “Three Star Preservation tour” commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Battle, led by Jerry Wooten, Park Manager at Paris Landing State Park, former park manager at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and Johnsonville State Historic Park.  Wooten is a trained historian with a Ph.D. in public history who grew up in Johnsonville and is author of “Johnsonville” a book about the Civil War. 

This tour will provide an overview of the Federal supply depot, key people involved, and the Battle of Johnsonville, as well as the visit to existing earthworks and an update on the park’s Civil War preservation efforts.  Surviving the Civil War are two large earthen fortifications, the upper and lower redoubts of Fort Johnson.  Original Union breastworks (rifle pits), remnant railroad bed, and railroad turntable are preserved throughout the park in various areas. The Crocket Cemetery serves as a final resting place for some of the former residents of Old Johnsonville. The park has interpretive wayside exhibits throughout the park and the reproduction soldier’s huts similar to the type that Union soldiers stayed in who were once stationed at the Johnsonville Depot which are not to be missed. 

The tour will cover 1.5 miles of walking over mild to moderate terrain.  Appropriate walking shoes and attire recommended.  Tour length: 2-3 hours

This will be an exciting tour as Johnsonville State Historic Park will also be hosting their 160^th Anniversary of the Battle of Johnsonville on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Cannons will ring out along the Tennessee River to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Johnsonville. The free event will feature Civil War-era living history presenters, Federal encampment, Civil War authors, and more. The program is a living history educational event, and no battle reenacting will take place. To learn more about this event visit https://bit.ly/Johnsonville160.  The Johnsonville book by Jerry Wooten will be available for the first time in paperback from the gift shop located in the Visitors Center.

Priority registration will be given to members of the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association and Friends of Johnsonville State Historic Park.  To register for the tour please visit https://www.tcwpa.org/tcwpa-three-star-tour/ and complete the registration form.

Questions? Please contact us at info@tcwpa.org.