Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

December 13 and 14. 1864 (CONFEDERATE)

No change in the line. Jackson captured a supply train south of Murfreesboro along with the 61st Illinois. Forrest clamed 150 captured, 200,000 rations destroyed, along with 17 cars and the locomotives. Forrest and Palmer’s brigade moved east of Murfreesboro

[larry_cockerham]

December 14th, 1864 (UNION)

Special Field Order No. 342 Laid out the plan of attack on Hood's troops

General Smith's Sixteen Corps and Wilson's cavalry took the right.

General Wilson formed his cavalry in the following order: Hatch's Fifth Division on the right of the Sixteenth Corps; Croxton's brigade of McCook's First Division to the right of Hatch. General Johnson's Sixth Division was on Croxton's right.

[larry_cockerham]

December 15. 1864 (CONFEDERATE)
Confederate Report: 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.

[larry_cockerham]

December 15th, 1864 (UNION)

Hatch’s Report for the 1st Brigade, 5th Division including the 10th Tennessee:

The brigade was posted on the right of the entire line. At the first charge the enemy's lines were forced and turned to the left. Three batteries, mounting 12 guns, were captured by the command this day, and several hundred prisoners. More from Thomas’ Report: December 16.--The enemy's entire line gave way and sharp skirmishing kept up during the night, when his rear guard was overtaken, and after a severe engagement our troops encamped on the position they occupied. The command moved on through Franklin, crossing Harpeth Creek, and encountering the enemy in force; 3 pieces of artillery were captured and a number of prisoners.

The effective force of General Wilson's corps was twelve thousand, five hundred men and eighteen guns. It was a fine body of men, but very deficient in horses, many being wholly unfit for active service.

Around 9am, Thomas started his attack on Hood outside Nashville. Steedman, on the left moved first, then General Smith, then Wilsons cavalry. Croxton's brigade had been standing in line of battle during the morning just outside of the entrenchments near the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. About 10am Croxton threw out a strong line of skirmishers and moved his brigade out between the Charlotte turnpike and the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad.

Croxton was ordered to move his brigade from the Charlotte turnpike across the country to the Hillsboro turnpike, and in doing so, skirmished most all the way. Shortly after crossing the Harding turnpike, Croxton encountered a portion of Chalmers's division. The First Tennessee was in the advance and was marching left in front when they were fired upon by the enemy by a stone wall. Lt. Colonel Dyer was ordered to dismount his regiment and dislodge the enemy and in a few minutes the regiment was over the fence in line ready to move. At the command "forward," the men raised the yell and moved forward under a brisk fire, and in a few minutes reached the stone wall, and springing over succeeded in capturing a portion of the Fifth Mississippi Cavalry.

Darkness set in and Croxton's brigade was ordered to bivouac near the Hillsboro turnpike which they were glad to do as they had been in the saddle since morning.
Wilson's cavalry had fought during the day infantry and cavalry, had cleared their front, covered the extreme right of Thomas's infantry, and not only enveloped Hood's flank, but had taken it in reverse, had completely turned his left flank and swept everything before them, and at night bivouacked near his line of retreat.

James Patterson Cockerham had seen considerable fortune in these events. Hatch’s cavalry deployed to the south of Croxton had been held somewhat in reserve and weren’t needed as the Confederate line broke relatively easily. Shy’s Hill was the center of the fighting for control of Nashville, but mercifully the action was brief. I walked that precipice thinking about James Patterson. Exactly where he was positioned, I’ll never know. His presence could, however, still be felt. It just takes the proper genes. Being comparatively fresh, the men of the 10th TN cavalry were pressed into the pursuit of the fleeing Confederates down Granny White and Franklin pikes toward Brentwood.

[larry_cockerham]

December 16, 1864

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.”]

[larry_cockerham]

December 16th, 1864

Wilson moved his troops forward dismounted and by noon was east of the Granny White turnpike and had completely turned Hood's left flank, and cut off his line of retreat by this route. Stewart made several attempts during the forenoon to drive back Wilson's dismounted cavalry and retake the ground lost, but was unsuccessful and was repulsed without difficulty.

Thomas's charging troops pushed Hood out of his works and the enemy fled toward the Franklin turnpike in great confusion. Wilson's cavalry was delayed in the pursuit, caused by the troops being so far from the led horses, as the men leading them made slow progress over the hills and dense forests. Croxton's brigade, which had been in reserve, was not moved to the right of Hammond's brigade of Knipe's division, and in making this move captured several prisoners.

As soon as Wilson's men gained their horses the pursuit was begun, with the commands of Hatch, Knipe and Croxton on the Granny White turnpike and Johnson on the Hillsboro turnpike. Everything indicated a rout, and after moving a short distance the leading division, Hatch's, encountered Chalmers' division about dark. This was called the great cavalry battle of the west, and it is exceedingly doubtful if there was a single battle of the war where so much gallant and meritorious service was rendered by that arm of the service.

[larry_cockerham]

From Donn Piatt and Henry Van Boynton, writing in their General George H. Thomas, A Critical Biography:

“The victory was as complete as it could be made, in a short December day. The pursuit was begun at once, but it must not be forgotten that the entire cavalry force on the field had been dismounted and engaged in the attack against the rear of Hood’s entrenchments. There was absolutely no reserve, and the horses of the entire force were from half to three-quarters of a mile in the rear, and with all the officers could do, aided by the cheerful alacrity of the men, over a half an hour was consumed in getting to the horses, and mounting for the pursuit. There was no warning of the rebel intention to break, except that contained in Hood’s despairing cry to Chalmers. They fought on doggedly and steadily, every man in his place, ‘til the infantry advance began, and then seeing further resistance would be in vain, they broke all at once and hastened to the rear as rapidly as possible. They had evidently held on till the last minute, hoping for night, in which to escape from capture or destruction. The break occurred about four o’clock. The dismounted cavalry picked up all the prisoners they could intercept and after turning them over to the infantry, hastened to find their horses and mount. The pursuit began by the first mounted troops at, or a few minutes after half past four…. The clouds being low and were dense and black. It had already begun to rain and this hastened the oncoming of night. By five o’clock or a few minutes later it was dark, and by six a cavalryman could hardly see his horse’s ears, but there was no hesitation or delay. Using the Granny White turnpike as a directric, the gallant horsemen of Hatch’s Division pushed forward into the darkness picking up prisoners and ruthlessly charging every semblance of a rear guard.

Before the battle of Nashville, it has sleeted and frozen, then it thawed. On the second day of the battle it began to rain and then it rained, snowed, froze, and thawed alternately from that day on until Christmas. The roads, with the exception of the single turnpike ending at Pulaski, on which Hood retreated, were of mud and became almost impassable quagmires. The creeks and rivers were filled and overflowing; the bridges were swept away and destroyed; the forest, fields and swamps were impassable, or so nearly so that cavalry could traverse them only with the greatest of difficulty and with only such speed as early enabled the rebels moving on the turnpike to easily outstrip it. So toilsome was the struggle of the pursuers to get on, that over 6,000 cavalry horses were disabled and many of them had to be abandoned or destroyed because their legs were so frozen and diseased that their hoofs dropped off.”

James Patterson Cockerham must have helped control the horses during the battle and would have assisted with the soldiers attempting to mount prior to the beginning of the pursuit. There is much reason to suspect that he followed closely behind the pursuing cavalry. Caring for the animals in the despicable weather conditions was a major challenge. Apparently he and his comrades were not completely up to the task. I doubt anyone could have done better. The horses pulling the wagon that doubtless carried Whitfield Parker suffered the same, if not worse, challenge for survival. Whit’s life depended on their success. At least he and his horses had been spared the battle of Nashville.

[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.

[Battalion]

"General Hood at Redoubt No. 4" by Rick Reeves

"In this part of the battlefield, U.S.A. troops formed about 11 a.m. along the ridge approximately ½ mile to the west of Redoubt No.4 (now Estes Road). Meanwhile over 24 U.S. cannons dueled with the redoubt’s 4 cannons fired by the 48 artillery men of Lumsden’s Battery, supported by 148 men of the 29th Alabama Infantry. They were ordered to hold the position at all hazard. 7,000 U.S. infantry and dismounted cavalry troops, armed with Spencer repeating rifles, began an assault at 2:15 p.m. Also, the U.S.A. had captured Redoubt No.5 to the south, and directed its cannon at Lumsden’s position. The Alabama troops were overwhelmed around 3 p.m. and a number were captured. The U.S.A. forces then crossed Hillsboro Pike, attacking the C.S.A. troops sheltered behind rock walls."

http://www.tennesseehistory.org/Hist...al_markers.htm

[larry_cockerham]

Batallion, thanks very much for the post. I had not seen that painting before and am much impressed. Estes Road is still going strong and was the western edge of the fighting on the first day. I believe Steve Cone's Alabama boys were with that regiment you mention. Perhaps he will comment. My Union gg grandpa Cockerham was back holding the horses for those dismounted cavalrymen. This was the key to the battle of Nashville. The Confederates lacked stamina, weather was not cooperating at all, and sufficient firepower was simply not there. Courage was not lacking from the Confederate side, but Thomas was ready to fight. He and Wilson had planned the battle in detail; this was the execution of a well-prepared plan, the performance one would expect from good generals. Too bad Hood didn't have the same sensitivity. One of the rock walls is still standing east of Granny White Pike off Battery Lane.

[larry_cockerham]

December 17, 1864 Confederate

The march was continued toward Columbia--Stewart in front, Cheatham next, and Lee in the rear, with Chalmers' and Buford's cavalry. General Lee's rear harassed considerably by the enemy's cavalry near Spring Hill. Lieutenant-General Lee slightly wounded. The army camped between Franklin and Spring Hill in the order of march. Army headquarters at Spring Hill.

From the official report of Gen. Nathan B. Forrest:

"On the night of the 16th one of General Hood's staff officers arrived, informing me of the disaster at Nashville and ordering me to fall back via Shelbyville and Pulaski. I immediately dispatched orders to Brigadier-General Buford to fall back from the Cumberland River, via La Vergne, to the Nashville Pike, and to protect my rear until I could move my artillery and wagon train. From this position General Buford was ordered across to the Nashville and Columbia pike, for the purpose of protecting the rear of General Hood's retreating army. My sick, wounded, and wagon train being at Triune, I did not retreat via Shelbyville, but moved in the direction of Lillard's Mills, on Duck River. I ordered Brigadier-General Armstrong to the Nashville and Columbia pike. Most of the infantry under my command were barefooted and in a disabled condition, and being encumbered with several hundred head of hogs and cattle, my march along the almost impassable roads was unavoidably slow. On reaching Duck River at Lillard's Mills I ordered everything to be hurried across, as the stream was rapidly rising. After putting over a part of my wagon train the stream became unfordable. I was therefore compelled to change my direction to Columbia, which place I reached on the evening of the 18th."

Forrest’s wagon train at Triune included 400 prisoners, 100 head of cattle, 400 hogs along with sick and wounded soldiers. I suspect the recovering Pvt. Whitfield Monroe Parker owed his life to Forrest. Whit must have been at Lillard’s Mill on December 17, 1864 where half the train was able to cross the quickly rising Duck River. In Goodspeeds’ 1886 History of Tennessee, was found the following:

Rich Creek, located between Chapel Hill and Farmington, has two merchants--J. W. Boren and D. A. Reavis. There are several country stores in the county known by the following names: Robinson Fork, New Hope, Lunn's Store, Beasley, Delina, Lillard's Mills and Cochran's Mill. The mill at the last mentioned place was built by Levi Cochran. It is a saw and grist-mill. Lillard's is a flouring-mill. [Lillard’s Mill is now on the national register of historic places, but for the hydro-electric mill built in the 1920s, the remnant of which still stands.] The river bends and widens at this site and is relatively low terrain for easy access.

Forrest knew where he was, having grown to man-hood just a few miles north. "From here, he rode into legend." Thus reads the inscription placed on the entrance to his boyhood home off Pyles Road near Chapel Hill, TN.