Kelley’s Point Battlefield
VISITING KELLEY’S POINT BATTERY — JANUARY, 2023 UPDATE
The Kelley’s Point Civil War site at Brookmeade Park in West Nashville remains closed to the public, but there is good news about its future. The 14-acre park had been taken over by a homeless community over a five year period, causing the Battle of Nashville Trust (BONT) to recommend against visiting the site in 2020. However, Metro Nashville’s various agencies relating to the homeless population relocated the Park’s camping residents in late December, 2022 and the Park was temporarily closed as of Jan. 4, 2023, for cleanup of camp sites, debris removal, renovation, and fencing. No date has been set for re-opening of the Park. In the meantime, BONT will work with Metro to rehabilitate the Kelley’s Point Civil War site and its interpretative signage.
The Battle of Nashville Trust (then, Battle of Nashville Preservation Society) was responsible for initially preserving the Kelley’s Point battle site. After the homeless community virtually shut down access to the Park, BONT joined in the effort to reclaim it for public use. Maintenance of safety and cleanliness of the Park and Greenway is the sole responsibility of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville.
BONT sent a letter to Mayor John Cooper in October, 2020, after continued community complaints about the area, as exemplified by this story which aired in September, 2020, by NewsChannel 5 WTVF in Nashville. The letter requested clean-up of the area, as well as provision of appropriate housing for the homeless residents, all of which would return the Park, the Greenway and the Kelley’s Point site to public use.
In February, 2021, Metro Nashville began cleaning out some of the debris in the area, but stated that people living in the homeless camps would not be relocated because of difficulties presented by problems such as the coronavirus pandemic and Metro’s financial issues, as shown in these stories by WSMV-TV Channel 4 News and NewsChannel 5 WTVF-TV in February, 2021.
NOTE: The photos on this page were taken in 2011, prior to development of the homeless camp.
The Story
The following article tells the background of this important though less-known area of engagement as part of the Battle of Nashville, not only as to the battle between Confederate artillery and Union warships, but also how the site was saved through efforts by the Battle of Nashville Trust (at that time, the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society). This article was published by the Civil War Preservation Trust on July 7, 2001.
“A long-forgotten portion of the Nashville Battlefield has been rescued from development, thanks to the efforts of the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society (BONPS).
“The site, known as Kelley’s Point Battlefield, has long been written off as “too late to save.” However, after three years of negotiations with the property developer and the Nashville metro city parks administration, BONPS has gotten six acres of the site incorporated into the expanding Nashville “greenway” park system.
Above: Signage at the trailhead of the Brookmeade Park greenway, beginning a one-third mile walk to the river and site of Col. David Campbell Kelley’s two-week clash with the U.S. Navy just prior to the Battle of Nashville in December, 1864. (click to enlarge)
“The new park will be named Brookmeade Park at Kelley’s Point Battlefield. It is located nine miles west of Nashville near Bell’s Bend on the Cumberland River. The American Civil War Roundtable-United Kingdom has donated $2,000 for interpretation at the park.
“Kelley’s Point Battlefield is a significant site rarely mentioned in historical accounts of the battle of Nashville. According to BONPS President Bob Henderson, “Kelley’s Point illustrates that Nashville had the most extensive line of battle during the Civil War. From Kelley’s Point the Confederate line arched over 14 miles across the county from west to east Nashville. The actions at Kelley’s Point were also the largest sustained battle between the Confederate cavalry and the Union navy.”
“For two weeks prior to the battle, four artillery pieces under the command of Confederate cavalry under Lt. Col. D.C. Kelley effectively blockaded the Cumberland River against seven heavily armed Union gunboats. Confederate cavalry and Federal gunboats clashed in six separate engagements.
“During the fourth engagement, on December 6, 1864, the U.S.S. Neosho was hit more than 100 times by cannon fire without sinking. The ironclad narrowly avoided disaster when an unexploded Confederate shell breached the ship’s iron plating and lodged in its powder magazine. John Dizenback, the ship’s quartermaster, was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving the Union colors aboard the Neosho when the flag was shot away by Confederate gunfire.
A full account of the battles is summarized in the interpretative history signage located at the Brookmeade Park trailhead. Click Kelley’s Point signage.
“Kelley’s Point is the third property saved by BONPS in the last few years. They also own several acres on Shy’s Hill and at Confederate Redoubt #1. BONPS thanks member Phil Van Steenwyk of Hawaii, and the Civil War Roundtable United Kingdom for the $2000 raised to fund the interpretive sign for the park. Thanks to Councilman Bob Bogen for his help on see this through, as well as the Metro Parks Department of Nashville.”
Visiting Kelley’s Point:
Note: See Warning to Visitors at the beginning of this page.
Kelley’s Battery site at Bell’s Bend is located in west Nashville off Charlotte Pike between the Lowe’s superstore complex and the river. It has been developed as Brookmeade Park at Kelley’s Point Battlefield, a Metro Parks greenway completed in 2003. The Park contains interpretive signage funded through an auction conducted by the American Civil War Roundtable-United Kingdom and a generous donation by BONPS member Phil Van Steenwyk.
Above: The view of the Cumberland River from one of Col. Kelley’s artillery positions, looking downstream and commanding the western approach to the city. Photo by Tom Lawrence (click to enlarge)
Above: The view Eastward from Kelley’s Point, commanding the upstream leg of the river towards Nashville. Photo by Tom Lawrence (click to enlarge)
Above: Bridge and boardwalk leading to Kelley’s Point Overlook at Brookmeade Park. Photo by Tom Lawrence (click to enlarge)