Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

November 3, 1864

General Hood ordered Forrest’s cavalry to Bainbridge.

Forrest was “busy” at Johnsonville and managed to do some “good” while General Hood was making up his mind. On this day General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard met with Hood at Tuscumbia and the decision was made to ‘invade” Tennessee.

Just as is the case in 2004, the weather in November in north Alabama and Tennessee was horrible. The rains and bitter cold arrived right on schedule. Reports stated wagons sliding off muddy roads making supplies a very precious commodity. The only working railroad to Nashville ran through Tullahoma and was in Union control, thus the route from Florence was Hood’s only option for transportation with wagons, horseback and foot the only mode of travel available. While the Nashville – Decatur railroad was somewhat intact, it, too, was under federal control. It didn’t really matter; the Confederates had no rolling stock or locomotives in the vicinity.

[richard]

I have always wondered what might have happened if Forrest had not destroyed the railroad between Athens and Pulaski in his late September raid. The Union could not repair that section in less than 60 days and it seemed that they were in no hurry to do so at all. Sherman was headed south east and Forrest was busy elsewhere. Wheeler and Roddy had proved inefective on the Nashville and Chattanooga.

Since I have been studying that part of the fall campaign, I have come to the conclusion that If Tayler had told Forrest to old off on this fall raid into Middle Tennessee instead of approving it, the AOT could have used the rail line from just below Athens right on into Nashville or at least to Spring Hill.

That could have made a big difference.

[larry_cockerham]

The Confederates still would have had little or no rolling stock.

[larry_cockerham]

November 5, 1864

Union Cavalry under Edward Hatch including the 10th TN left Pulaski, TN this day enroute to Shoals Creek in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The brigade reached Shoals Creek near it’s junction with the Tennessee River on the 6th.They skirmished with Hood’s advance at different points along Shoals Creek, reporting one man killed. From there brigade headquarters was moved to Taylor’s Springs (now Killen). Orders arrived to guard the fords of Shoals Creek and check the enemy’s advance.

(from another source):

November 5th, 1864

Lt. Colonel Dyer and the First Tennessee were sent out to reconnoiter the enemy's position on the road leading to Florence and about three miles out was met and driven back by a column of rebel infantry. Lt. Colonel Dyer retired slowly contesting every foot of ground and fell back to the north side of Shoal Creek and formed in line of battle to the left of the road. Johnson was able to flank Croxton and the brigade fell back with the First Tennessee and Fourth Kentucky covering the retreat. Croxton fell back and set up a new line of defense at Sugar Creek. Again the line was assaulted and had to fall back. During the night the enemy recrossed the stream and Croxton's pickets re-occupied the line at Shoal Creek. General Edward Hatch with the Fifth Division of Cavalry was sent to Sugar Creek to reinforce Croxton's brigade, and being the ranking officer present, assumed command of all the cavalry at that place.

[BigPrune]

Hey Larry is this leading up to Franklin? I'm not very educated on the westen campaigns. And is the Confederate strength really at 25000? Much obliged

[ole]

To save Larry a little time, Prune, yes. Hood's three divisions left Florence on three different routes to recombine in and around Mt. Pleasant and, he hoped, to catch Schofield in Pulaski.

Larry's narrative will likely contine until the remnants of the Army of Tennessee straggle back into North Mississippi. He tells it well and knows a bunch that you won't find in books.

He's told a different version on another thread that covers the entire campaign from a different slant. Look that up and read it, as well.

ole

[johan_steele]

Larry, I've not said it on this thread but Thank You for some outstanding work... it's good to be able to learn something when I thought I couldn't learn more.

[BigPrune]

Thanks ole. I found two other threads and I'm reading up but I'm afraid of "spoilers" LOL. But I do appreciate it.

[larry_cockerham]

FIFTH DIVISION
Brigadier General Edward Hatch
First Brigade

Col. Robert R. Stewart

2nd Illinois, Lt. Col. Robert H. Carnahan
11th Indiana, Lt. Col. Abram Sharra
12th Missouri, Col. Oliver Wells
10th Tennessee, Maj. William P. Story, Maj. James T. Abernathy (a man for whom James Patterson Cockerham doubtless named his son Abernathy.)

Second Brigade

Col. Datus E. Coon

6th Illinois, Col. John Lynch
7th Illinois, Maj. John M. Graham
9th Illinois, Capt. Joseph W. Harper
2nd Iowa, Maj. Charles C. Horton
12th Tennessee, Col. George Spalding
1st Illinois Light Artillery, Battery I, Lt. Joseph A McCartney

[larry_cockerham]

November 6, 1864

Hatch and the 10th TN US were reported in camp only 10 miles away from Florence at the Jackson military highway crossing of Shoals Creek near Baugh’s or Lauderdale Factory. Alabama highway 47 now has that name, In 1864 it was likely the main road north to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Skirmishes occurred against Forrest’s advanced cavalry on Shoals Creek. One US soldier killed.

This cotton mill which survived the war but not long afterward, was a three story brick stucture with a dam stretching 410 feet across Shoals Creek. Both Hatch and Forrest knew the place very well. An easy crossing of the creek in a defensible position. Lauderdale County, Alabama never quite forgot the "invading" force from the "north" and still haven't. Their economy was wasted by virtue of both armies traveling along the Tennessee River through their towns. They were Unionists for the most part and wanted no particular part of the war, voting against secession as did other folks across the midsouth.