Hood's Tennessee Campaign

[larry_cockerham]

Can anyone pinpoint the location of Hughes ford near downtown Franklin, upstream on the Harpeth River?? This was a major crossing point for the 4th Cavalry.

[oneplez]

Originally Posted by ole

I don't believe Hood had much of a chance in taking Nashville -- even if he scattered Schofield, didn't bash his troops in Franklin, and Smith didn't arrive on time.
Ole

Not too sure of that.

Schofield's XXIIICorps and Stanley's IV Corps contributed around 20,000 seasoned vets to Thomas defense of Nashville. Had they been scattered at Franklin they may have made it back to Nashville but with much of their transportation, artillery and ammunition captured. Hood may have reached Nashville a day or two sooner. If so, A. J. Smith and his Israelites had not made it to Nashville yet. Neither, I believe, did Steedmans division. All Thomas had were about 30,000 Sherman rejects, wounded and quartermaster employees.

If Hood was able to attack, Thomas may have been in a bind.


Don

[larry_cockerham]

If a frog had wings?

[scone]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

Can anyone pinpoint the location of Hughes ford near downtown Franklin, upstream on the Harpeth River?? This was a major crossing point for the 4th Cavalry.

Larry its between the bypass and the new battlefield park.. not sure of the exact location on the Harpeth.

regards

Btw a few of reenactors will be at Fort Granger April 21st doing some Living History.
Stop by and say hi

[larry_cockerham]

Steven, you ever heard of McGavock's ford? Could it be the same crossing as Hughes ford?

[scone]

I think Hughes ford? is closer to the bypass while the McGavock's ford is closer to the park. But I'm not 100% sure.

[trice]

Originally Posted by oneplez

Not too sure of that.

Schofield's XXIIICorps and Stanley's IV Corps contributed around 20,000 seasoned vets to Thomas defense of Nashville. Had they been scattered at Franklin they may have made it back to Nashville but with much of their transportation, artillery and ammunition captured. Hood may have reached Nashville a day or two sooner. If so, A. J. Smith and his Israelites had not made it to Nashville yet. Neither, I believe, did Steedmans division. All Thomas had were about 30,000 Sherman rejects, wounded and quartermaster employees.

If Hood was able to attack, Thomas may have been in a bind.

Don

Assuming Hood smashes Schofield at Franklin on the evening of the 30th, he can't get to Nashville in any strength before about Noon on the 1st of December. Some part of his force would have to stay at Franklin to handle the wounded, the dead, and the POWS after the battle. So he will be moving with Forrest's cavalry and 2 of his 3 corps, perhaps (probably S. D. Lee's and one of the other 2).

Smith's boats had begun arriving in Nashville before Hood attacked at Franklin on the 30th. On December 1st, Smith deployed his three divisions (10,000 men) in line of battle 3 miles in front of Nashville.

Another 5,000+ troops coming from Chattanooga were expected to be in line with Smith on the 1st, but did not actually arrive until the morning of the 2nd. That makes 15,000 largely veteran troops deployed outside the city by the morning of the 2nd, plus whatever remnants of Schofield's infantry showed up (1 division was north of the Harpeth when Hood attacked) and Wilson's cavalry. The Nashville garrison and the emergency troops probably remain in the lines of the city.

That means a very tough fight on the 1st if Hood tries it, with Federal reinforcements due to show up by Dec. 2. A few thousand more can come from Murfreesboro if Thomas really wants them to, and if it looks like he is being beaten, Thomas can disengage and retreat into the strong lines and forts of Nashville.

It certainly would have been a glorious fight. I can't see where there is a really good chance of Confederate victory, though, against George Thomas in this situation.

If Smith's 10,000 doesn't arrive when they did (comes in a day, 2 days, 3 days later), then Rebel victory at Franklin or Spring Hill might have opened up a tiny crack where Nashville could have been taken by assault. But Nashville was also considered the 2nd most heavily fortified city in America at the time, where the US engineers had spent close to three years on improving the design of their works. There is also an excellent chance the slaughter of Franklin would have been perpetrated on any Confederate force assaulting the city.

Regards,
Tim

[ole]

Schofields two tired corps with a day's digging set up breastworks Hood couldn't smash through -- but let's say he did. He is now crippled up some and heading for Thomas' positions that have had months to prepare. Even if Hood had gotten there before Smith, or if Smith didn't arrive, I wouldn't give Hood even odds on taking Nashville.

Ole

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by ole

Schofields two tired corps with a day's digging set up breastworks Hood couldn't smash through -- but let's say he did. He is now crippled up some and heading for Thomas' positions that have had months to prepare. Even if Hood had gotten there before Smith, or if Smith didn't arrive, I wouldn't give Hood even odds on taking Nashville.

Ole

Much of the breastworks at Franklin had been left there in 1863. A fact I picked up from recent book on Wilson's cavalry. That was a considerable boost to construction efficency.

[ole]

Much of the breastworks at Franklin had been left there in 1863. A fact I picked up from recent book on Wilson's cavalry. That was a considerable boost to construction efficency.

I had thought the same thing, but was disabused of that notion by Eric Jacobson on one of the book chat nights.. According to Eric, there had been some digging done by the picket garrison, but they were further to the west and quite insubstantial. If we are to believe Eric's "fact," then there existed only a starting point when Schofield's exhausted men staggered into Franklin.
Ole