Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

BATTLE AT ANTHONY’S HILL

As the Army of Tennessee continued their retreat south of Pulaski, General Forrest noticed a defensive hollow as the army moved slowly up Anthony’s Hill. See earlier in this document the description of the battle and the graveyard and church which are still standing in 2005.

Next is Gen. George Thomas' report of that afternoon’s battle.

[larry_cockerham]

December 24, 1864 (UNION)

Wilson's cavalry continued the pursuit toward Pulaski, with Wood's Fourth Corps following. Croxton's brigade was in the advance, and after moving a short distance began skirmishing with the rear guard of Hood's army. The enemy fell back as the brigade advanced and when Croxton's brigade had reached Lynnville, a point about half way between Columbia and Pulaski, Croxton found the enemy in line and ready for a fight.

Croxton formed his men in line and moved forward and boldly attacked Chalmer's division which resulted in Chalmer's being routed and driven in disorder from the field. The pursuit was continued to Buford Station, near Richland Creek, here Forrest made a desperate effort to hold Wilson's troops in check in order for Hood's weary soldiers might get a little rest. This resulted in the whole of Wilson's cavalry striking Forrest in front and flank, routing him completely and Forrest fled across Richland Creek.

[larry_cockerham]

Insert- George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report. This must have been the battle with Forrest at Anthony’s Hill:

“During the afternoon Harrison's brigade found the enemy strongly intrenched at the head of a heavily wooded and deep ravine, through which ran the road, and into which Colonel Harrison drove the enemy's skirmishers; he then waited for the remainder of the cavalry to close up before attacking; but before this could be accomplished the enemy, with something of his former boldness, sallied from his breast-works and drove back Harrison's skirmishers, capturing and carrying off one gun belonging to Battery I, Fourth U.S. Artillery, which was not recovered by us, notwithstanding the ground lost was almost immediately regained. By night-fall the enemy was driven from his position, with a loss of about 50 prisoners.”

[larry_cockerham]

December 25, 1864

Army headquarters at Bainbridge, on the Tennessee River. The pontoon was being laid across the river as rapidly as the arrival of the boats would allow. General Cheatham came into the main road this morning, and in rear of Stevenson's corps moved to the river, where a line covering the bridge was formed, Cheatham occupying the right and Stevenson the left. General Stewart's corps, upon arriving at the point where Cheatham's corps came into the main road, was put into position so as to protect both roads.

Bainbridge, Alabama just east of downtown Florence, is now well under water due to TVA dams built in the last century. Once this small community, located at a narrow point in the Tennessee River, served as a ferry crossing. General Hood had given orders to prepare for this crossing well in advance.

[larry_cockerham]

From Forrest’s Report:

On the morning of the 25th, after destroying all the ammunition which could not be removed from Pulaski by General Hood and two trains of cars, I ordered General Jackson to remain in town as long as possible and to destroy the bridge at Richland Creek after everything had passed over. The enemy soon pressed General Jackson, but he held him in check for some time, killing and wounding several before retiring. Seven miles from Pulaski I took position on King's Hill, and awaiting the advance of the enemy, repulsed him, with a loss of 150 killed and wounded, besides capturing many prisoners and one piece of artillery. The enemy made no further demonstrations during the day.

I halted my command at Sugar Creek, where it encamped during the night

[samgrant]

I have a question. We know that Forrest and his cavalry were in the fight from at least Ft. Donelson, but was not Forrest a sort of free agent for the most part? Was he ever officially a part of the Army of Tennessee? If so, from when and till when? We know that after the events you describe that the AoT, what was left of it, headed east to the Carolinas, but Forrest headed west to Alabama/ Mississippi. What was the reason for this parting? Why did Forrest not go east?

-

[larry_cockerham]

Yes, indeed, Sam, Forrest had a rather strange relationship with the Army of Tennessee for several reasons. First off he was one of the wealthier Confederate officers at least at the start of the war. Being a Tennessee native he knew his way around and hence was probably one of the better qualified folks to operate in northern Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. His lack of much former education and obviously no military training aside from his participation in several gunfights prior to the war, caused him to be shunned by the West Pointers, particularly Braxton Bragg. Remember it was Forrest who 'separated' from the rest of the western theatre Confederate army at Ft. Donelson, mostly due to the ineptness of the Confederate command and pressure from Grant. Forrest was in the middle of the battle at Shiloh where he was wounded and very much a part of the army. Same thing at Chickamauga when he crossed swords, or at least gloves, with Bragg. That 'discussion' got him sent once again, out of the way to the west where his skill at raiding was exhibited. He operated as a somewhat remote cavalry, but with considerable success such as the 1863 battle at Thompson Station along with Van Dorn when he captured 1,200 Wisconsin boys. The capture of Streight's regiment was another feather in his cavalry hat. It was Forrest who, operating alone, blew up the huge arsenal at New Johnsonville on the Tennessee river before Beauregard ordered him back to the Army just prior to the Tennessee campaign in November 1864. Forrest was under Hood's arm from mid November 1864 until Jan 23, 1865 when Hood 'resigned'. Beauregard then ordered Forrest and Taylor to defend the western theatre, namely Alabama and Mississippi from further Union invasion. Left with essentially no support or hopes of recruiting Forrest fell at Selma struggling with old men and boys against Gen. Wilson's fine, newly outfitted, 13,500 man cavalry. Forrest gave it a hell of a go and had the distinction of being one of very few officers of his stature and length of service still able to ride home in one piece and upright at the end of the war. Forrest was technically still part of the Army of Tennessee until his surrender to Edward Hatch in Citronelle, Alabama in the spring of 1865. He received his third star as recognition of his rear guard action described in this thread. Not bad for a man who could barely write.

[larry_cockerham]

Official report of Nathan Bedford Forrest concerning the battle on the morning of December 26 at Sugar Creek along the county line between Lawrence and Giles counties, about two miles from Alabama.

"On the morning of the 26th the enemy commenced advancing, driving back General Ross' pickets. Owing to the dense fog he could not see the temporary fortifications which the infantry had thrown up and behind which they were secreted. The enemy therefore advanced to within fifty paces of these works, when a volley was opened upon him, causing the wildest confusion. Two mounted regiments of Ross' brigade and Ector's and Granbury's brigades of infantry were ordered to charge upon the discomfited foe, which was done, producing a complete rout. The enemy was pursued for two miles, but showing no disposition to give battle my troops were ordered back. In this engagement he sustained a loss of about 150 in killed and wounded; many prisoners and horses were captured and about 400 horses killed. I held this position for two hours, but the enemy showing no disposition to renew the attack, and fearing he might attempt a flank movement in the dense fog, I resumed the march, after leaving a picket with orders to remain until 4 o'clock. The enemy made no further attack between Sugar Creek and Tennessee River, which stream I crossed on the evening of the 27th of December."

[larry_cockerham]

Richard Young in 2007 provided this description of the battle at Sugar Creek written by a member of the 9th Indiana US:

From the History of the 9th Indiana Cavalry 121 Regiment:

The 26th opened with a heavy fog and gently falling rain. The 2nd Tennessee in advance, supported by the 9th Indiana, struck the enemy about five miles from camp and drove him swiftly back on the main body which was strongly posted on the south bank of Sugar Creek, a deep and rapid stream, with high and steep banks. The 2nd Tennessee going into line was soon hotly engaged. The 9th debouched from the road and went into line in reserve, but so near the first line that we were fully under fire as those in front. To remain under fire from an unseen enemy, without the stimulus of action, is a serious tax upon the courage of the average soldier. The 2nd Tennessee, after a few minutes of exchanging courtesies with the enemy, were moved by the right flank to make room for us. Glad
to move, the regiment took it place in the position lately occupied by the 2nd Tennessee, while the 14th Ohio battery went into position near the line just abandoned by us. All the time the enemy’s fire was unceasing. On reaching our new position we could see under the lifting fog, the creek with its steep banks, and beyond it the log barricades, from which constantly leaped forth the flame and smoke, accentuating the “zip” of the spiteful bullets, which constantly cut the air around us.

From here we could also see the slender thread of road leading to the ford, across which but two horses might pass abreast. As against mounted men the position was impregnable. The situation was not encouraging, contemplating which, an officer of the line got somewhat
excited and riding to and fro in front of the regiment, constantly shouting: “Don’t run, boys; for God’s sake, don’t run!

[larry_cockerham]

The following was written by Gen. James Harrison Wilson who commanded the US Army 4th Corps Cavalry from mid 1864 until the end of the war. His chief competitor was Nathan Bedford Forrest from whom he learned much. This is Wilson’s account of the battle at Sugar Creek, a much different story than Forrest’s.

“Darkness again put an end to the pursuit, but it was continued the next day to Sugar Creek, a clear beautiful stream of limpid water running through an unbroken forest to the river. All efforts to bring the enemy again to anything more than a skirmish were futile. The road was lined with abandoned wagons and broken down mules, giving conclusive evidence that the fighting of that campaign was at an end. Beyond the creek Forrest formed line and made a brief show of resistance, but a flank movement by Hammond’s brigade easily turned him out of his position and sent him again to the rear under the cover of darkness. The country in which we found ourselves was the worst we had yet seen. It was entirely stripped of forage and supplies. Our own trains were far in the rear, or haversacks and forage packs were empty. There was absolutely nothing at hand except the beautiful clear spring water of Sugar Creek, but neither men nor horses could live on water alone.”