Two Plantations in One Day

A week ago Hubby and I headed north to historic Murfreesboro, Tennessee the site of Stone's River National Battlefield.  Before visiting the battlefield we toured two plantations - and, no, they wouldn't allow me to take pictures inside!

 

First stop was the Sam Davis Home and Museum.  Sam is known as the "Hero of the Confederacy."  Due to his knowledge of Middle Tennessee he was selected to be part of the elite Coleman Scouts and carried important military messages and reports.

 

He was captured by the Union during a mission in 1863.  They tried him as a spy and sentenced him to hang.  Then they offered to spare his life in exchange for the names of his fellow Scouts and commanding officer.

 

Refusing to betray his friends, 21-year-old Sam Davis was executed on November 27, 1863.  His body was retrieved by his family and brought home to be buried on the family's plantation.

 

Sam began life in this log house before his father built the large white home.

 

There were a lot of outbuildings including the "necessary room" on the right.  It wasn't called an "outhouse" back then because there were so many "houses" outside the main house.

 

Like all the other homes of this time period, the kitchen was located in a separate building from the house.

 

All the food was carried by servants, or slaves, into the house to be served to the family.

 

One of the best collection of log architecture in a historical setting is located at the Sam Davis Home.  At present, four small log buildings remain of the once numerous slave quarters of the plantation.

 

Next stop was Oaklands Plantation.  The house was begun around 1818 and by 1860 was the center of a 1500 acre plantation.

 

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate armies camped on the plantation.  On July 13, 1862, Confederates attacked the Union troops encamped at Oaklands.  Late that afternoon their surrender was accepted during a dinner at the mansion.

 

From a side view of the house you can see how the house was changed.  The middle section was built first, then the back section and finally the Italianate facade and porch in the front.

 

Hopefully, you can zoom in this sign to learn more about the family that lived here.

 

After visiting the plantation were went on to our bed and breakfast, The Manor at Twin Oaks.  We had a wonderful stay!  And they let me take all the pictures I wanted to inside the house!