Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[PINCKNEYUSMCRET]

I believe General Thomas paid the highest compliment one soldier can give another to the AOT rear guard.

Pinckney

[larry_cockerham]

I agree. In my still humble opinion, Bedford Forrest, Edward Walthall and the rear guard of the AOT probably fought during the worst conditions, both the weather and the general morale of the troops, as any soldier ever endured.

[larry_cockerham]

December 21, 1864

CSA Army headquarters still at Mr. Jones', Pulaski. Stevenson's corps marched across Richland Creek and went into camp; Cheatham's and Stewart's corps camped on this side. Forrest fell back from Columbia toward Pulaski as per his official report.

December 21, 1864 (UNION)

Pontoons arrived and were thrown across the creek and Wilson's cavalry continued toward Columbia. The divisions of Johnson and Knipe were turned back to Nashville for the purpose of being remounted. On reaching Columbia, the Duck River was greatly swollen and again they had to wait for the pontoons.

This fact alone probably saved the hide of many a Confederate soldier.

[Insert – from George H. Thomas Jan 20, 1865 report: “The weather had changed from dismal rain to bitter cold, very materially retarding the work in laying the bridge, as the regiment of colored troops to whom that duty was intrusted seemed to become unmanned by the cold and totally unequal to the occasion. On the completion of the bridge at Rutherford's Creek sufficient material for a bridge over Duck River was hastily pushed forward to that point, and the bridge constructed in time to enable Wood to cross late in the afternoon of the 22d and get into position on the Pulaski road, about two miles south of Columbia. The water in the river fell rapidly during the construction of the bridge, necessitating frequent alterations and causing much delay. The enemy, in his hasty retreat, had thrown into the stream several fine pieces of artillery, which were rapidly becoming uncovered, and were subsequently removed.”]

1st Ohio as per the OR had pontoons up at 2 pm. 1st Ohio, 1st Michigan and 1st Kentucky were ordered to cross as soon as the pontoons were laid over the Duck River.

[larry_cockerham]

From History of 33rd Mississippi:

The retreating Confederates were not hard to follow. Numerous accounts tell of the trail of bloody footprints left in the ice and slush of the roads south of Nashville that were put there by shoeless soldiers who marched along clad only in rags. After Nashville, there was not much left of the 33rd Mississippi Infantry. A count done on 21 December 1864 revealed 68 "effectives" out of a total of 84 men. It was a far different regiment from the almost one thousand men strong group who had assembled on the fields at Grenada back in 1862.

[Forrest and his cavalry, and such other detachments as had been sent off from his main army whilst besieging Nashville, had rejoined Hood at Columbia. He had formed a powerful rear guard, made up of detachments from all his organized force, numbering about 4,000 infantry, under General Walthall, and all his available cavalry, under Forrest. With the exception of his rear guard, his army had become a disheartened and disorganized rabble of half-armed and barefooted men, who sought every opportunity to fall out by the wayside and desert their cause to put an end to their sufferings. The rear guard, however, was undaunted and firm, and did its work bravely to the last.

During the 23d General Wilson was occupied crossing his command over Duck River, but took the advance on the 24th, supported by General Wood, and came up with the enemy just south of Lynnville, and also at Buford's Station, at both of which places the enemy made a short stand, but was speedily dislodged, with a loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our advance was so rapid as to prevent the destruction of the bridges over Richland Creek. Christmas morning, the 25th, the enemy, with our cavalry at his heels, evacuated Pulaski, and was pursued toward Lamb's Ferry over an almost impracticable road and through a country devoid of subsistence for man or beast.]

Comparing their respective descriptions, Forrest and Thomas must have been looking through different brands of binoculars!

[samgrant]

Larry,

What do you think of the opinions that he needlessly sacrificed his best, Cleburne, et.al. ?

Do you think Hood actually expected sucess, or was he in a so called "do or die" mentality?

I frankly canot see any rational purpose in Hood's actions. (Maybe that's why the drug stuff comes up?)

Tho I have read that Hood was always well fed on this his crusade to oblivion.

-

[larry_cockerham]

I read an excellent biography on Hood by Richard M. McMurray 1982. Hood was simply in a rush to stop Schofield before he could reach the safety of Nashville. I think Hood was embarrassed at Spring Hill and took the challenge too close to heart. He was a better general than his actions recorded, but not by much. A little headstrong, enough so to sacrifice 7,000 men when it was a very chancey situation. He actually took Franklin by virtue of Scholfield's retreat north, but at far too great a cost. More than likely the guys who died at Franklin would have reached a similiar fate at Nashville instead. Thomas and Wilson were more than ready for the attack. Hood wasn't drugged up as far as the evidence goes, he was just following his usual overly agressive, not too well thought out, notion of attacking the enemy directly with all his force. Forrest and Cleburne gave him sound advice which he promptly ignored. The rest is history.

[larry_cockerham]

December 22, 1864

CSA Army headquarters at Pulaski. Stevenson's corps was directed to move forward on the Lamb's Ferry road, in rear of the pontoon train, and camped about eight miles from Pulaski. General Stewart's corps camped in rear of Stevenson's about six miles from Pulaski, and General Cheatham's on Richland Creek, in the immediate vicinity of town. The wagon train ordered to move at daylight toward Bainbridge, by the Powell road.

The US Army crossed Duck River at Columbia today. The 1st Ohio, 1st Michigan and 1st Kentucky had crossed by 5 pm. The infantry of the 4th Army Corps crossed that evening.

[larry_cockerham]

From Forrest’s report:

The enemy succeeded in crossing Duck River on the morning of the 22d. I at once ordered my troops to fall back in the direction of Pulaski. Brigadier-General Chalmers was ordered on the right down the Bigbyville pike toward Bigbyville. The infantry moved down the main pike from Columbia to Pulaski, the rear protected by both Buford's and Jackson's divisions of cavalry, while a few scouts were thrown out on the left flank. The enemy made his first demonstration on my rear pickets near Warfield's, three miles south of Columbia. He opened upon us with artillery, which forced us to retire ****her down the road in a gap made by two high hills on each side of the road, where he was held in check for some time.

[larry_cockerham]

December 23, 1864 (CONFEDERATE)

Army headquarters on Powell's Ferry road, six miles from Lexington, Ala. The army, after the day's march, camped as follows: Stevenson's corps at the intersection of the Lamb's Ferry road with the Powell road, four miles from Lexington; General Stewart in rear, on the Lamb's Ferry road; General Cheatham moved on the Lawrenceburg road.

The 6th Ohio, 1st Kentucky, 1st Michigan and Pennsylvania Battery B were crossing the Duck when the bridge broke.

Forrest was in a position of defense at Lynnville as per his
official report:

On the night of the 23rd I halted my command at and near Lynnville, in order to hold the enemy in check and to prevent any pressure upon my wagon train and the stock then being driven out. left, and after an engagement of two hours I ordered them to fall back across Richland Creek. I lost 1 killed and 6 wounded in this engagement. The enemy lost heavily. Brigadier-General Buford was wounded in this engagement, and I ordered Brigadier-General Chalmers to assume command of Brigadier-General Buford's division together with his own. I reached Pulaski without further molestation.

December 23, 1864 (UNION)

Crossed the Duck River

[larry_cockerham]

December 24. 1864 (CONFEDERATE)

Army headquarters at Mr. Joiner's, eleven miles from Bainbridge, on the main Bainbridge road. Stevenson's corps reached and camped on Shoal Creek and Stewart's in his rear. General Cheat-ham not yet come into the main road from the Powell road. Forrest was in position of defense at Richland Creek as per his official report. The Federal Corps camped at Lynnville.