The Burleson House

(Federal Army gathers on roof of Burleson House for photograph)

This Greek Revival mansion belonged to Dr. Adair Burleson and his wife, Janet, during the Civil War. Part of an original 778

acre land grant, the brick home covered by Flemish bond, features 18-inch thick walls and contains one of the significant Federal

period interiors in North Alabama. The iron fence work surrounding the property is original and Union soldiers used it for drying

blankets as seen in the accompanying photograph. The original gates, however, are missing and are thought to have been taken by

soldiers for use as fire grates. Before the war, Burleson served as the first President of the Tennessee and Central Alabama Railroad

which became part of the Nashville & Decatur Railroad-a vital north-south transportation link. Burleson served as a physician with the

rank of Major in the Confederate army. Confederate General Albert Sydney Johnston is thought to have stayed in the home while

reorganizing his army here in March, 1862, although his headquarters were actually located in the office of the nearby McCartney Hotel.

When Union Major General Greenville M. Dodge ordered the citizens to evacuate Decatur in early 1864, the Burleson family's

possessions were piled in the street and burned.