Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

December 17, 1864 (UNION)

The cavalry continued the pursuit. At Brentwood, Croxton's brigade was ordered to take the Wilson turnpike where the enemy was again routed and fell back toward Franklin. Croxton's brigade skirmished with Hood's rear guard most of the way to Franklin. Hood attempted to make another stand at Franklin, but again his flanks were turned and he fell back toward Columbia. Croxton and Hatch moved to the left of Franklin, swimming Harpeth River at McGavock's Ford and encamped for the night near Douglass Church on the Lewisburg turnpike.

James Patterson Cockerham had plenty of work that night. The horses were the lifeblood of the cavalry and their care was of prime importance. Without transportation, there was no fighting and no protection from the enemy. General Wilson later wrote that he lost over 5,000 animals during this two-week period. James did his best against the horrible weather and extraordinary challenges afforded by the events of the day.

[larry_cockerham]

December 18. 1864

Stewart's corps marched in front to-day, camping in line of battle on Duck River. Cheatham camped on Rutherford's Creek, and General Lee between the creek and Franklin. Army headquarters at Mr. Vaught's, Columbia. Forrest, as per his report, was at Columbia this day.

[Insert- from George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “On the 18th the pursuit of the enemy was continued by General Wilson, who pushed on as far as Rutherford's Creek, three miles from Columbia. Wood's corps crossed to the south side of Harpeth River and closed up with the cavalry. The enemy did not offer to make a stand during the day. On arriving at Rutherford's Creek the stream was found to be impassable on account of high water, and running a perfect torrent.

The Union forces under Wilson, after a hard fight in Nashville, were pursuing their foe as quickly as possible against horrible conditions. Mother Nature was not cooperating. Perhaps she was helping the Confederates who were merely moving as best they could on bloody, bare feet trying to save their very lives.

[larry_cockerham]

December 19, 1864

Army headquarters still at Mr. Vaught's. The army, and such trains and artillery as were not crossed over yesterday, occupied the day in crossing Duck River--Lee first, Cheatham next, and then Stewart. The enemy's cavalry appeared on opposite side of Rutherford's Creek.

[Insert – from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report:

“During the 19th several unsuccessful efforts were made by the advanced troops to cross Rutherford's Creek, although General Hatch succeeded in lodging a few skirmishers on the south bank. The heavy rains of the preceding few days had inundated the whole country and rendered the roads almost impassable. Smith's and Schofield's commands crossed to the south side of Harpeth River, General Smith advancing to Spring Hill, whilst General Schofield encamped at Franklin”]

[larry_cockerham]

From Judge Frank H. Smith in 1904:

Hoods Memorable Retreat.—

Hoods Retreat out of Tennessee that December was one of the most horrible episodes of the Civil War. On the morning of the 18th it began raining. It stormed all day of the 19th, stopping about night and beginning again the next afternoon, winding up with a heavy snow and sleet on the 21st. The weather had turned intensely cold, and it was a mud, mud everywhere with a frozen crust on top, through which men, horses, and wheels continually broke. The previous movements of the armies had cut the roads and adjoining fields into a state that can hardly be imagined; the bridges were all destroyed, and even the culverts were in most cases torn up or damaged. The conditions of the fords and approaches to the pontoon bridges defy description with the mud knee-deep, and dead horses and mules making stepping places for the soldiers.
Probably a third of the Confederate infantry had no shoes and every stop was marched in bleeding feet cut by the frozen ground and ice. These men would tie strings around the bottom of their trousers just at the ankle as the mud and ice would wear this into a fringe and break off. They would tie higher up, and many had the strings so high that with their bare legs below the knee they looked like Highlanders. And for rations, well, there were almost none issued regularly, and few citizens had any to give. Fuel had become extremely scarce, and may people had to cut dawn the shade trees near their homes, as there were no teams to haul wood with. Hoods army was routed, demoralized, and had entirely lost faith in him, and yet, in spite of all the bare-footed veterans plodding along, cracking jokes, singing, and often cursing, in a jolly good-natured way.

Forrest to the Rescue.—

Forrest had been hastily recalled from the right wing where he was operating against the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. He began retreating on the 16th crossing a good part of his command at Lillard’s Mills next day, but the waters rose so rapidly that he had to come down the north bank of the river to Columbia to avail himself of the pontoon bridge,

The Confederates finished crossing Duck River on the 19th of Dec. during a hard storm, and immediately took up the pontoon bridge and moved out of town on the Pulaski Pike, after which the rain ceased. Three of the cannon that could not be put across were spiked ad pitched into the river and were afterwards fished out by the Federals. Forrest remained in town until all the infantry had gone out, deploying skirmishers from about Ashtons Mills to Greenwood Cemetery until this was completed.

[larry_cockerham]

Forrest and Hatch Meet at the River--

After these troops had withdrawn from town the Federal advance which had finally succeeded in getting over Rutherford Creek, appeared across the river, and a battery was placed at the Brown house, which shelled the town. Forrest rode back to Columbia with an escort, carrying a flag of truce, and went to the bridge abutment. Gen. Hatch and an escort soon came to the north side with a flag of truce, in answer, when Forrest told him that the city had been evacuated by the Confederates, and Hatch promised that he would stop the shelling which he did.

The escape of the entire Confederate army from its perilous situation north of the Duck River was permitted, or at least greatly assisted by one of the most ludicrous mistakes in military annals. But as this incident was not especially connected with the subject of this sketch, it will be reserved for another article.

[larry_cockerham]

December 20, 1864 Confederate

Everything over the river this morning. The march was resumed on the Pulaski pike--Lee in front (Stevenson commanding), Cheatham next, and General Stewart in rear.

General Forrest, with his cavalry and a division of infantry under command of Major-General Walthall (composed of Ector's, Strahl's, Maney's, Granbury's, and Palmer's brigades), directed to oppose the advance of the enemy's cavalry. General Stevenson's corps camped within two miles of Pulaski, and the other two corps in his rear, and in order of march. Army headquarters at Mr. Jones', Pulaski.

[larry_cockerham]

From Judge Frank H. Smith in 1904:

The Famous Rear Guard.—

Hood made army headquarters at the Nathan Vaught place (now R. G. Sparrows) from the 18th to the morning of the 20th of December 1864, when he left for Pulaski. On that morning Forrest was placed in command of the rear guard of the army, and Walthall was ordered to support him with eight brigades of picked infantry. These eight brigades gave him an effective force of 1900 men of whom about 400 were without shoes, and many more were practically bare-footed. Such was the picked infantry of the famous rear guard! Two of these brigades, Maneys and Strahls were commanded by the gallant Col. Hume R. Field, and the field returns next day show a total of only 113 effectives for both brigades. Among them was the wreck of the Duck River Riflemen, which had now become so absorbed in these reorganizations and consolidations that it lost all semblance of existence as a separate organization. Yet these few were true and faithful soldiers unto the end and followed the waning star of the Lost Cause until it sank never more to rise.

[larry_cockerham]

Forrest was aiding the defense of Columbia on the evening of the 20th as per his official report.

On the 20th General Hood, on leaving Columbia, gave me orders to hold the town as long as possible, and when compelled to retire to move in the direction of Florence, Ala., via Pulaski, protecting and guarding his rear. To aid me in this object he ordered Major-General Walthall to report to me with about 1,900 infantry, 400 of whom were unserviceable for want of shoes.

The enemy appeared in front of Columbia on the evening of the 20th and commenced a furious shelling upon the town. Under a flag of truce I proceeded to the river and asked an interview with General Hatch, who I informed by verbal communication across the river that there were no Confederate troops in town, and that his shelling would only result in injury to the women and children and his own wounded, after which interview the shelling was discontinued.

On the morning of the 24th I ordered the infantry back toward Columbia on the main pike and my cavalry on the right and left flanks. After advancing about three miles the enemy was met, where a severe engagement occurred and the enemy was held in check for two hours. I retreated two miles, where I took position at Richland Creek. Briga-dier-General Armstrong was thrown forward in front and General Ross on the right flank. Chalmers and Buford formed a junction, and were ordered on the left flank. Brigadier-General Armstrong was ordered to the support of six pieces of my artillery, which were placed in position immediately on the main pike and on a line with Buford's and Chalmer's divisions and Ross' brigade, of Jackson's division. After severe artillery firing on both sides two pieces of the enemy's artillery were dismounted. The enemy then flanked to the right and left and crossed Richland Creek on my right, with the view of gaining my rear. I immediately ordered Armstrong and Ross, of Jackson's division, to cross the bridge on the main pike and move around and engage the enemy, who were crossing the creek. Both Buford and Chalmers were heavily pressed on the ......

[larry_cockerham]

[Insert – from General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “On the morning of the 20th General Hatch constructed a floating bridge from the debris of the old railroad bridge over Rutherford's Creek, and crossing his entire division pushed out for Columbia, but found, on reaching Duck River, the enemy had succeeded the night before in getting everything across, and had already removed his pontoon bridge; Duck River was very much swollen and impassable without a bridge.”]

Battery G, 1st Ohio were in position at Rutherford’s Creek, no bridges and the water “too high to ford”.

[larry_cockerham]

From History of the 33rd Mississippi:

On 20 December the army had reached Columbia, Tennessee, and what was left of Featherston's Brigade was tasked with being the rear guard of the army and holding off the pursuit of Gen. Wilson's Yankee cavalry. Gen. Featherston's Brigade was temporarily consolidated with Gen. Quarles Brigade for this defense with Gen. Walthall in overall command of the infantry rear guard. Despite all the suffering and privation the men of the 33rd Mississippi had been through they still were brave soldiers and continued to fight on.

The action of the rear guard was complimented by the Yankee commander, Gen. Thomas, when he wrote, "with the exception of the rear guard (Hood's) army had become a disheartened and disorganized rabble of half-armed and barefooted men. The rear guard was undaunted and firm, and did its work bravely to the last."