Norman, Obediah

Obediah Norman

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company H, 11th Kentucky Infantry

Date of Birth:

1840

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

January 2, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Obediah Norman was born in 1840 to Rachel Norman. He enlisted into the Union Army on September 28, 1861, at Calhoon, Kentucky at the age of 22. He later mustered in on December 9, 1861, into Company H of the 11th Kentucky Infantry Regiment as a private. 

The 11th Kentucky was organized in Camp Calhoun, Kentucky in December 1861. The first major battle they participated in was the battle of Shiloh, followed by the siege of Corinth, Miss., Buell’s Campaigns, the battle of Perryville, and Nelson’s crossroads. In October 1862, they arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, and had duty there until December. 

On December 26th, they received orders to march south towards Murfreesboro in pursuit of Bragg. The 11th Kentucky arrived in Murfreesboro on December 29th and were positioned on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. Early on December 31st, they were sent across the west fork of the Stones River near McFadden’s Ford to occupy that area as fighting south of that position began. They remained in this position until around 9:30am, when they were sent toward the Nashville Pike and Asbury Lane to reinforce troops that had been fighting since 6am. 

They put up a stand near Asbury Lane for about an hour before falling back towards the Nashville Pike. They remained in this position along the Nashville Pike for the rest of the first day of fighting. On January 1, 1863, the 11th Kentucky was sent back to their position at McFadden Farm across the west fork of the Stones River. 

At 4pm on January 2nd, Confederate forces charged the McFadden Farm area. Once their presence was known in the area, the 11th Kentucky, along with three other brigades, stopped the Confederate attack in less than an hour. It was during these engagements that Private Norman lost his life in the line of battle.

Obediah Norman was first interred in Lavergne, Tennessee before being laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2837. His headstone is incorrectly marked with the last name “Nolmouth.” This is one of the many name discrepancies found in the national cemetery.