Wilson County isn’t just a stop on the map. It’s a place where history lives. People drive through Lebanon, Watertown and Statesville every day without realizing they’re passing landmarks of Tennessee’s past. But for those who pay attention, Wilson County tells a story of resilience, growth, and tradition.
Tressa Bush knows this story well. She has spent years uncovering and sharing Wilson County’s rich history.
At the Wilson County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, she created press releases, promotional materials, and video content to promote local tourism.
At Wilson County Television, she produced live broadcasts and developed original programming like Walking Through Wilson and Talkin’ With Tatum. She worked closely with county officials and cable providers to keep the community informed. And she produced three dozen videos for the county’s military museum.
Tressa graduated from Cumberland University (founded in 1842 – tied as the state’s 4th oldest). She worked in Wilson County for nearly a decade. She knows a thing or two about its storied history.
In 2021, she founded the Smith County Historical Tourism Society, dedicated to preserving the stories of Tennessee’s past.
One of the most overlooked pieces of history here is the Tennessee Maneuvers. These United States Army field training exercises prepared thousands of soldiers for World War II. The roads, fields, hills, hollows, rivers, streams and small towns in Wilson County played host to one of the largest military exercises in U.S. history.
Wilson County was one of 21 counties used in the Tennessee Maneuvers.
On May 3, 2025, the Tennessee Maneuvers Remembered event will bring these stories to life.
The Tennessee Maneuvers: Training for War in Middle Tennessee
Between 1941 and 1944, more than 850,000 soldiers trained in Middle Tennessee to prepare for battle. They didn’t train on controlled bases. Instead, they learned in real-world conditions across 21 counties, including Wilson County. The area’s rural landscape was perfect for simulating combat scenarios with its winding roads, rolling fields, and unpredictable weather.
Tressa Bush has spent years uncovering the deep impact of these military exercises.
“Wilson County saw a lot of the maneuvers,” she said. “There is probably not one square mile in Wilson County that they didn’t touch.”
One of the most significant sites of the Tennessee Maneuvers was Cumberland University in Lebanon. The historic campus became the Field Headquarters for maneuvers for nearly three years.
The Administration Building at Cumberland University, which still stands today, once housed the offices for the maneuvers’ leaders where they made decisions about the training exercises.
Commanding and training officers planned and reviewed the success/failures of the mock battles inside the three-story building.
Tents to house the soldiers were set up on what is now known as the quad. The sports fields served as a parking lot for a variety of vehicles. The War Department paid the school for being there — the revenue literally saved the private institution from closing.
For Bush, walking on the Cumberland University campus is like stepping back in time.
“I stood where the soldiers and officers stood as they were getting ready to go out in the maneuvers’ area and begin training to go to war,” she said. “It’s humbling to know that history happened right here in our backyard!”
Local Farms Became Field Training Grounds
During the maneuvers, the peaceful farmland of Wilson and surrounding counties became field training zones.
Farmers woke up to find their fields overrun with soldiers, tanks, and military trucks. Their pigs, chickens and cows would be loose because a vehicle accidentally tore down a fence – or a soldier forgot to close a gate. Barns and out buildings were sometimes repurposed as medical stations, storage units, or supply centers.
The sounds of the mock battles would go on for hours, sometimes at night. Livestock was affected by all the noise. There are multiple reports that cows would stop giving milk, until the noise stopped.
“Soldiers didn’t just train here — they lived here,” Bush explained. “When the soldiers had some time off, usually the weekend, they would rent rooms in locals’ homes, shopped at local stores, and built relationships with the locals.”
Some of those relationships led to lots of wartime letter writing and in turn, for hundreds of soldiers, it led to marriages. Many soldiers who trained in Tennessee returned to start families here with their new bride and in some cases, the women moved to their hometown.
“The maneuvers changed the community,” Bush said. “They brought new people, new industries, and a sense of national duty and pride that still lingers today.”
A Tragedy in the Cumberland River
On March 22, 1944, the last night of the Tennessee Maneuvers, soldiers were undertaking their final exercise —- crossing the mighty Cumberland River at Averitt’s Ferry near Lebanon, in Wilson County,
It had been raining for days, the river was flowing fast. The ferry master told the officers it would be a death trap if they attempted the maneuvers. Army leaders opted to move on with the maneuver — the thought was —- if this was a real war — and we needed to try to go to the other side – we would have to go — no matter the risk. And that is what happened.
Twenty-three soldiers boarded an assault boat.
Then, disaster struck.
The boat capsized, it most likely struck a huge log or tree. The strong current pulled the men under. They all struggled to stay afloat, but the weight of their gear made it nearly impossible.
21 soldiers drowned —- all but one body was recovered.
Wilson County mourned. This wasn’t a battlefield casualty. It was a training exercise gone wrong. These men had not yet seen combat, but they died preparing for war.
Today, a Tennessee Maneuvers memorial monument stands in their honor. Their names are engraved in stone, a reminder of their sacrifice. The concrete memorial sits on the campus of Cumberland University, where many decisions regarding the training exercises were made.
Bush believes their story needs to be told.
“This was the worst single tragedy of the Tennessee Maneuvers. Most of the men were from the same unit. They courageously gave their lives before ever stepping onto a battlefield,” she said. “It’s important to remember their sacrifice. The lessons the Army leaders learned from this horrific tragedy, most assuredly saved countless lives in the real battles of WWII”.
Keeping History Alive for Future Generations
The stories of the Tennessee Maneuvers are more than just historical footnotes. They are reminders of Wilson County’s role in shaping the world — yes, shaping the world!
Thanks to Tressa Bush, these memories are not fading into the past. Through her work with the Smith County Historical Tourism Society, she is making sure the sacrifices and contributions of Wilson County are remembered and honored.
The upcoming 2025 Tennessee Maneuvers Remembered event will bring some of these stories to life.
Set for May 3, 2025, the event will transport visitors back to the 1940s, offering an immersive look at how Middle Tennessee became a critical training ground for the U.S. military.
Reenactments, historical displays, and interactive experiences will allow people to see, hear, and feel what life was like during those wartime exercises.
For Bush, this work is personal.
She understands that history isn’t just about dates and facts. It’s about people. The young men who trained here left behind more than footprints. They left behind a legacy. By preserving these stories, she ensures that Wilson County’s history is celebrated.
The land remembers. The people remember. And with the upcoming 2025 Tennessee Maneuvers Remembered event, future generations will remember too.
