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December 8.--Lieutenant-General Lee made a demonstration on his extreme left to-day, driving in the enemy's pickets without any show of resistance, and establishing his own line in the pits from which he had driven the pickets of the enemy. General Forrest was ordered to drive the enemy back to Murfreesborough, and then give him an opportunity to leave the town in the direction of Lebanon, if he chose. He was also directed to return Bate's division and Sears' brigade to the army, keeping Palmer's (Brown's old) brigade and Mercer's, which was ordered to him to-day, and what artillery he might deem necessary, another division to be sent to him to supply the place of Bate's when the latter shall have joined the army.
December 9.--All quiet in front. General Forrest advised by General Hood that another division would not be sent him to supply the place of Bate's [division] and Sears' brigade, other dispositions being made to prevent the enemy from re-enforcing Murfreesborough, and in the event of evacuation to secure his defeat. Palmer's and Mercer's brigades ordered to strongly fortify themselves on Stewart's Creek, or at La Vergne, as General Forrest might deem best, "to constitute a force in observation of the enemy," and a brigade of cavalry to picket in the neighborhood of Lebanon.
December 10.--Generals Stewart's and Lee's corps retired their lines a short distance for the purpose of convenience to wood. No change otherwise. Reports received of the concentration of the enemy's cavalry at Edgefield, and General Forrest directed to meet and drive them back should the force attempt to cross the Cumberland River above. Circular issued to corps commanders directing the construction of self-supporting detached works--General Stewart to select all good points in rear of his left; General Cheatham, all good points in rear of his right; and General Lee, all good points in rear both of his right and left flanks, for the construction of these works.
December 11.--No change in the lines. Forrest ordered Buford to the Hermitage.
December 12.--No change to report. General Hood telegraphed to General Beauregard "for all available cavalry to be sent to this army as soon as Sherman completes his raid." Forrest destroyed the railroad from LaVergne to Murfreesboro.
December 13 and 14.--No change in the line. Jackson captured the train south of Murfreesboro while Forrest and Palmer’s brigade moved east of Murfreesboro.
December 15.--The enemy attacked both of our flanks this morning about the same time, and was repulsed with heavy loss on our right, but toward evening he succeeded in driving in our infantry outposts on the left.
December 16.--A general attack was commenced early this morning on our entire line, and all the enemy's assaults repulsed with heavy loss, till 3.30 p.m., when our line suddenly gave way to the left of the center, causing in a few moments our lines to give way at all points, our troops retreating rapidly and in some 'confusion down the Franklin pike. The army camped all along the pike from Brentwood to and including Franklin. Army headquarters at Mrs. Maney's, near Franklin. General Forrest was advised through a staff officer (Captain Cooper) of the retreat of the army, and directed to make disposition of his troops for protecting it.
[Insert- from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “General Wilson's cavalry, dismounted, attacked the enemy simultaneously with Schofield and Smith, striking him in reverse, and gaining firm possession of the Granny White pike, cut off his retreat by that route. Wood's and Steedman's troops, hearing the shouts of victory coming from the right, rushed impetuously forward, renewing the assault on Overton's Hill, and although meeting a very heavy fire, the onset was irresistible, artillery and innumerable prisoners falling into our hands. The enemy, hopelessly broken, fled in confusion through the Brentwood Pass, the Fourth Corps in a close pursuit, which was continued for several miles, when darkness closed the scene and the troops rested from their labors. As the Fourth Corps pursued the enemy on the Franklin pike, General Wilson hastily mounted Knipe's and Hatch's divisions of his command, and directed them to pursue along the Granny White pike and endeavor to reach Franklin in advance of the enemy. After proceeding about a mile they came upon the enemy's cavalry, under Chalmers, posted across the road and behind barricades. The position was charged by the Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, Colonel Spalding commanding, and the enemy's lines broken, scattering him in all directions and capturing quite a number of prisoners, among them Brig. Gen. E. W. Rucker.”]
These ten characters are to make the software happy?
[Insert from William T. Sherman writing to U.S. Grant on December 16 from Savannah:
“I myself am somewhat astonished at the attitude of things in Tennessee. I purposely delayed at Kingston until General Thomas assured me that he was all ready, and my last dispatch from him of the 12th of November was full of confidence, in which he promised me that he would ruin Hood if he dared to advance from Florence, urging me to go ahead, and give myself no concern about Hood’s army in Tennessee. Why he did not turn on him at Franklin, after checking and discomfiting him, surpasses my understanding. Indeed, I do not approve of his evacuating Decatur, but think he should have assumed the offensive against Hood from Pulaski, in the direction of Waynesburg, I know full well that General Thomas is slow in mind and in action; but he is judicious and brave, and the troops feel great confidence in him. I still hope he will out-maneuvre and destroy Hood.”]
On this day Forrest’s wagon train was at Triune. Pvt. Whitfield Monroe Parker was probably on one of those wagons.
Last edited by larry_cockerham; 12-07-2005 at 11:06 PM.
Reason: type-o
Larry,
I`m not trying to "rag" on you or question your sources, but you got me scamblin` thru my reference materials even to keep up with you. Are you camped out in the national archives? Much like Forrest by the time I catch up to you, youv`e moved on.
Give this ole "Yankee" a breather-eh.
Glad to see a yankee scramble, keeps 'em on their toes. What you are looking at is a time line for the most part trying to track two of my ancestors through middle Tennessee during the period from about June 1 1864 to war's end. The Confederate stayed with the Army of Tennessee until they reached North Carolina in 1865, the other stayed in service until about August 1865 in Tennessee. He was with Hatche's Cavalry as a blacksmith, the other in the 63rd Virginia Infantry. I'm using a combination of the Journal of the Army of Tennessee, Cheatham's Corps reports, and record postings by Thomas and Forrest as well as tidbits I've picked up in my reading and local research. I'll rest to let the date and weather catch up to the actual timing of the events. We just finished the battle of the cedars outside Murfreesboro and will follow the Army of Tennessee as Forrest links back up to the main force and prepares with Gen. E.C. Walthall to fight the rear-guard action heading for Alabama and Mississippi after crossing on pontoons at Bainbridge. This was a most brutal and horrible three days, both because of the fighting and the intense winter weather. Lots of blood, both from frozen feet and gunshots. As you'll see later on the information grows bleaker and thinner as the Army of Tennessee moved east. Any additional notes will be much appreciated. Hope you enjoy the ride. I've been slowly visiting battle and event sites in Tennessee and North Alabama with Mississippi on the list for spring.
Larry, just a short question. In this rear-guard action, did Forrest infact exchange prisioners with the union? I thought that I had read that in the or but am not sure as to where.
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