One of the most amazing battles of the American Civil War was the running rear guard action of The Army of Tennessee following the Battle of Nashville. The U.S. Army cavalry fought Gen. Hood‘s army for over 100 miles, but lost them after being check-mated more than a dozen times by Lt. Gen. Bedford Forrest. Hood’s Retreat was too late to have changed the outcome of the war, but testimony to the resolve of these grizzled warriors.
In a broader context, the American Civil War developed American military DNA that would provide useful in the the upcoming 20th century.
Suggested reading for this amazing rear guard action:
In the Lion’s Mouth: Hood’s Tragic Retreat from Nashville, 1864 (Stackpole Military History Series) by Derek Smith (Author)
The Battles and Campaigns of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, 1861-1865 Hardcover – November 17, 2017 by John R. Scales (Author)
“What followed over the next twelve days would be one of the most spellbinding and tragic episodes in American military history as hunters and hunted left bloody footprints on the bayonet-sharp ice for more than 100 miles. Grizzled Confederates who survived claimed it was worse than the patriots’ sufferings at Valley Forge. One general wrote ‘that it was a most painful march, characterized by more suffering than had ever before been my misfortune to witness.’ ”
Franklin Pike – Dec. 16, 1864
Location: Franklin Pike (Tennessee Route 31), Nashville, TN
“In this neighborhood, late in the evening of his decisive defeat at Nashville, General Hood reorganized his army for withdrawal southward. Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee’s Corps, supported by Chalmers’ Cavalry Division, covered the withdrawal, fighting continuously until the army bivouacked near Spring Hill, 21 mile south, the night of Dec. 17th.”
Location: U.S. 31, Williamson County, near Hollytree Gap Road
“Falling back to this locality from its first positions along Little Harpeth River, Lee’s Corps, with Chalmer’s cavalry division, stood off the attack of Wood’s IV Corps and Wilson’s cavalry until outflanked on both sides. They then followed Hood’s retreating army south through Franklin.”
South of Holly Tree Gap in 360º Panorama:
Franklin (Harlindale Farm) – Dec. 17, 1864
“After the defeat on December 15-16, 1864, at Nashville, about twenty miles north of here, Confederate Gen. John B. Hood and the dispirited Army of Tennessee retreated south toward Franklin. Union Gen. George H. Thomas’s forces followed closely. Late in the morning of December 17, the rain soaked and chilled the Confederates to the bone, adding to their misery. Across these rolling fields, Federal cavalry units under Gen. James H. Wilson closed in. Hood’s rear guard, Gen. Stephen D. Lee’s hardened veterans, held a line at the Harpeth River near here. Wilson’s 3,000 cavalrymen charged the Confederates on both sides of the Franklin Pike to rout and destroy the remnants of the Army of Tennessee. Confederate cavalrymen and artillery firing from the riverbank slowed the Federal attack and enabled Lee’s men to escape across the river. When Confederate engineers toppled the railroad trestle, some of their comrades were stranded on the northern bank. A few swam across to temporary safety. The Federal cavalry charge, much of it over what is today known as Harlinsdale Farm, was among the largest of the war. As the day progressed, the fighting continued through and south of Franklin. Nightfall finally ended the cavalry attacks on the worn-out Southerners, who continued their flight south.
The Confederates crossed the Harpeth River on a narrow pontoon bridge. Men where panicking and when one slipped and fell, no one helped him. An officer noted years after the event. [The last I saw of him. he was wallowing in the mud and the men where running over him.]” – signage from Harlindale Park
Location: U.S. 31, Williamson County, south of Franklin, TN on the West Harpeth River (360° panorama)
“Moving rapidly south through Franklin, Stephen D. Lee’s Corps, with Chalmers’ cavalry division attacked, took up a delaying position in this area about 1:00 p.m. They beat off attacks by Wood’s IV Corps & Wilson’s cavalry. Here, Gen. Stephen D. Lee was wounded; command passed to Maj. Gen. L. Carter Stevenson. The Army of Tennessee bivouacked that night around Spring Hill.”
Location: U.S. 31, Giles County, near Buford’s, in park (undetermined)
“Leaving Columbia Dec. 20, the Army of Tennessee went south via Pulaski. Forrest’s Cavalry Corps, with Walthall’s infantry division, formed the rear guard. At this creek, pursuit by Wilson’s Cavalry was cheeked here after a hot engagement. The rear guard…
Cool Spring – Anthony’s Hill – Dec. 25, 1864
Wikipedia
TN 11, near Cool Spring Church, TN , USA
“Moving the rear guard infantry of the Army of Tennessee through Pulaski in wagons, Forrest took up a defensive position in this area, with Featherstone’s and Palmer’s infantry supporting Armstrong’s and Ross’s dismounted Cavalry Brigades. Reynolds’ and Fie…
Chestnut Grove Cemetery – Anthony Hill – Chestnut Grove Road in 360º Panorama:
30+ Confederate Solders killed in action December 25-27, 1864
Sugar Creek – Last Stand in Tennessee – Dec. 26,1864
Location: TN 11, Giles County, on north side of Sugar Creek near the Alabama border. (missing December 2015)
“Here Forrest’s Cavalry Corps fought its last Tennessee action. Covering Hood’s retreat, it erected hasty works in the gap to the north. Upon approach of Federals, fire was opened at close range, followed by a charge by two regiments of Ross’s Brigade.”
“Retreating after the battle of Nashville, the rearguard of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, under General’s Nathan B. Forrest and Edward C. Walthall, surprised and halted the federal advance here on the morning of December 26, 1864, in the last battle of the campaign. The Confederate Army then continued the retreat to the Tennessee River.”
