Nashville depot and saltpetre refinery

Then

Nashville held the stores and property of Albert Sidney Johnston's army. A saltpetre refinery completed there by October 9, 1861, refined up to 3,000 pounds a day, and about 100,000 pounds of gunpowder went to Johnston's command before the city fell.

After Fort Donelson fell, Johnston evacuated Nashville on February 17 and 18, 1862, leaving Floyd's brigade to move the stores; heavy rains washed out bridges and railroad, and not all were saved. The refinery's machinery and trained men went to the Augusta powder works, and Nashville became the first state capital taken by Union troops.

Now

Built over

Nashville became a major Union base for the rest of the war and is now the capital of Tennessee.

Lines owned by CSX and smaller railroads run through Nashville today.