Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee
November 30 and December 15-16, 1864
In a last desperate attempt, Gen. John Bell Hood led the Army of Tennessee north from Georgia toward Nashville in November 1864. His ambitious plan was to draw Sherman away from Atlanta and perhaps relieve some pressure from Lee's army in Virginia. On November 29, Hood (with 38,000 men) confronted Union General John Schofield, leading the IV and XXII Corps from George Thomas' Army of the Cumberland (34,000) at Spring Hill (see map 1). Hood sent General Benjamin Cheatham head-on into the Union lines. Battered but not beaten, Schofield withdrew with 32,000 men to Franklin on November 30 and quickly formed a defensive line on the southern edge of town (see map 2). Around 4:00 p.m., Hood launched a frontal attack against the Union perimeter. Two Federal brigades holding a forward position gave way and retreated to the inner works, but their comrades ultimately held in a battle that caused frightening casualties. When the battle ceased that evening, six Confederate generals were dead or had mortal wounds (including Patrick R. Cleburne, the "Stonewall of the West"). Despite suffering terrible losses at Franklin on November 30 (6,200 out of 27,000 engaged), Hood continued toward Nashville. By the next day, the various elements of Thomas' Army of the Cumberland had reached Nashville. Hood reached the outskirts of Nashville on December 2, occupied positions on a line of hills parallel to those of the Union and began erecting fieldworks. For two weeks Thomas made preparations for the Battle of Nashville in which he intended to destroy Hood’s army. (Bad winter weather further delayed the Union offensive; growing impatient with Thomas, Grant prepared to relieve "Old Slow Trot.") But before daylight on the December 15, the first of the Union troops, led by General James Steedman, set out to hit the Confederate right (see map 3). The attack was made and the Union forces held down one Rebel corps there for the rest of the day. The attack on the Confederate left began that afternoon when a charge commenced on Montgomery Hill, followed by attacks on other parts of the Confederate left, all eventually successful. By this time it was dark and fighting stopped for the day. Battered but still confident, Hood established a new line of resistance, throwing up fieldworks and fortifying his flanks on Shy’s Hill and Overton’s Hill. The Union attack began against Hood’s strong right flank on Overton’s Hill. The charge up Overton’s Hill was gallantly conducted but unsuccessful. Other troops successfully assaulted Shy’s Hill, and seeing the success along the line, Union troops charged up Overton’s Hill again and took it. The remains of Hood’s Army of Tennessee fled. Thomas had left one escape route open and for ten days the pursuit continued until Hood's shattered army recrossed the Tennessee River to safety. Hood retreated to Tupelo and resigned his command. Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga, had earned a second nickname: "The Sledge of Nashville."
© 2004 David C. Hanson, Virginia Western Community College
