(MURFREESBORO) Dignataries and leaders decended on Murfreesboro on December 22, 1862 for what was described as one of the biggest social events of the time. The beautiful Mattie Ready was to marry Gen. John Hunt Morgan.
The day after the wedding, her husband rode away to the Christmas Raids in Kentucky.
Historians found a letter from Gen. Morgan to his bridge, and it indicated the raid would end in six days.
Morgan said, "And then my precious one I shall try and get back to you as fast as possible and then my pretty one nothing shall induce me to again leave you this winter."
That was Dec. 23, 1862, and a strange feeling of uncertainty was suddenly settling over Murfreesboro. There were rumors of Union troop movements during what was normally a festive Christmas season.
Now, the rest of this local story, as told by Anthropologist and Archaeologist Laura Bartel of the Rutherford County Archaeological Society. It not only takes you back to those deadly days, but it shows the mood of present day relatives searching for information about the past.
SPECIAL POST
This is the 159th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF STONES RIVER, December 31,1862 - January 2,1863
Brief Background A Visit From A Relative of Reuben Searcy: Reuben M. Searcy was a 19 year old Confederate soldier (Lieutenant, Co. F, 34th Alabama Infantry/Regiment, CSA) that fought in the Battle of Stones River, died eight days later from wounds, and is buried in Murfreesboro’s Old City Cemetery.
What a surprise! A few weeks ago, Olivia Thompson(RCAS VP and Assistant Project Director) and I were doing fieldwork in Murfreesboro’s Old City Cemetery (Vine St.) testing different geophysical research machines with a team from UT Knoxville. I noticed a couple waiting at the front gate and walked over to greet them. They were Christopher and Elizabeth (Libby) Miller from Alabama and were looking for the gravestone of a relative of Elizabeth’s, a Confederate soldier.
Bartel said, "Of course come on in; who was your relative?"
The woman commented, "He was Reuben Searcy, I am Elizabeth Searcy Miller."
"Oh my gosh, a relative of Reuben Searcy! I will take you right over there," Bartel noted.
I was excited because we do not have a lot of information about the soldiers buried in this cemetery, but I am familiar with Reuben Searcy as there has been much written about him and his family. Because of this, I discuss or show information about him in my presentations, posters, and Cemetery Open Days/Tours. I think Chris and Libby were amazed that I knew of him, his story, and that I was able to take them directly to his gravesite. We enjoyed each others’ company as we chatted for at least an hour about him, his service, and their shared ancestry.
Libby said that he was a “great-great-great” or “great-great-great-great uncle” of hers. She and the Searcy family relatives have collected information about him and continue to do research about him and his siblings.
There is a lot of documentation about Reuben M. Searcy and his brother, physician and Confederate soldier, James T. Searcy, including their personal accounts of the Civl War as well as others’ contributions about them.
Very briefly, Reuben Searcy was a 19 year old Confederate soldier who was wounded during the evening of the Battle of Stones River, Dec. 31, 1862. He suffered horrific wounds caused by an exploding artillery shell which ripped off the flesh of one of his thighs to the bone and also put a hole in his chest. Nothing could be done for him and he died “a week and a day later” on January 7, 1863. His brother James stayed with him during this time and had him buried in Murfreeboro’s first public cemetery (he called it the Church yard of the old School Presbyterian Church) and of course it is now called “the Old City Cemetery.”
James also remained in Murfreesboro for some time right there on Vine St. and tended to the wounded inside the then First Presbyterian Church being used as a hospital.
The Millers stayed and toured the rest of the cemetery and Olivia and I enjoyed answering the questions they had about the cemetery in general and our project. They thanked us for our care of the cemetery and for remembering her relative Reuben Searcy and sharing his story to the public.
I thought —this is what it is all about—helping to preserve the places of the past for the present and the future. It is about sharing the stories they provide us about our history. Our historic places here in Murfreesboro and throughout Rutherford County are important and 
meaningful treasures.
meaningful treasures.(PHOTO L-R) Libby Searcy Miller and Laura Bartel
Conserve, Preserve, Protect
We must do all we can to conserve, preserve, and protect them. They are not just relics of the past to overlook and forget, they are our “now” and we need to be good caretakers and cherish them today and in the the future.
The Old City Cemetery contains the archaeological remains of the Old First Presbyterian Church, its original burying ground, and the acreage for the city’s first public cemetery. It is a historic jewel of Murfreesboro. Learning its stories provides us with lessons and appreciation of the past days and lives of Murfreesboro.
Links:
The Rutherford County Archaeological Society(RCAS) is an all-volunteer 501 (c)(3) non-profit supported by memberships and donations.
Facebook.com/rcastennessee
Rutherfordarchaeology.org
—This account was researched and written by Laura Bartel, Director/Volunteer, Murfreesboro’s Old City Cemetery Conservation, Restoration, and Public Interpretation Project. She is an Anthropologist and Archaeologist with the Rutherford County Archaeological Society.
