Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

November 28, 1864. (CONFEDERATE)

Army headquarters continued during the day at Mrs. Warfield's residence, on the Pulaski pike, three miles south of Columbia. The army occupied the same position as designated yesterday. The enemy abandoned Columbia last night and our troops took possession at daylight this morning. General Orders, No. 37, issued to-day, prohibiting plundering by the army of both private and public property, it having been reported to General Hood that Columbia had been "wantonly and disgracefully plundered."

November 28th, 1864 (UNION)

Forrest made several attempts to cross at different fords between Columbia and the Lewisburg turnpike, but at Huey's Mill he drove back the pickets and began crossing. Croxton's brigade was some distance below where Forrest crossed and it was in great danger of being outflanked and captured, Wilson ordered Croxton to fall back to Rally Hill which the brigade reached about dark and then fell back near Hurt's Cross Roads.
The Duck River, now generally unnoticed thanks to modern highway bridges, was to become a major player in the challenge for survival of both armies in Tennessee in the very harsh, wet winter of 1864-65. Forrest held the upper hand in this regard only because he had grown to manhood on the family farm just a few miles from the river in Marshall County and knew all the fords and crossings.

[larry_cockerham]

From Judge Frank H. Smith in 1904:
Confederates Pillage Columbia.—

Before daylight of the 28th, the Confederate pickets discovered that the outer works were abandoned and Col. W. R. Butlers Tennessee troops pressed in, hoping to secure the ford and bridge, but were repulsed by the Federals on the north bank of the river, In a few hours swarms of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevensons command were in town, and the stores and many residences were looted by our own troops more than had occurred during the war. Gen. Hoods headquarters were three miles south of town, and as soon as he heard that Columbia had been wantonly and disgracefully plundered, he issued orders which soon restored discipline.

The 5th Division, 1st Brigade, US Cavalry command was turned over to R.R. Stewart along with the 11th Indiana cavalry and the regiments near Columbia were directed to report to him at Snow Creek about 12 miles below Columbia on the Duck River.

[larry_cockerham]

November 29. 1864 (CONFEDERATE)

General Hood, with Cheatham's and Stewart's corps and Johnson's division, of Lee's corps, flanked the enemy's force remaining opposite Columbia, crossing Duck River about three miles above the town, and moving by a country road to the Columbia and Franklin pike, struck the enemy (who, in the meantime, had begun to retire from Columbia) near Spring Hill, but without success. The command then went into camp near Spring Hill. Army headquarters for the night were at Doctor Thompson's, two and a half miles from Spring Hill and a little to the right of the Columbia and Franklin pike. General Lee, with Clayton's and Stevenson's divisions and the artillery and teams of the army, remained at Columbia.

November 29, 1864 (UNION)

During the previous night, Buford joined Forrest and early in the morning they moved against Wilson. Wilson made a brave and determined resistance, putting Croxton's brigade in the rear, with orders to contest every foot of ground. Wilson began to fall back along the Lewisburg turnpike, and just after passing Hurt's Cross Roads, Forrest made a fierce attack on the rear guard. Croxton dismounted the First Tennessee and Second Michigan and ordered them to build a line of barricades across the turnpike, but before the last rail and log were laid, Forrest drove in the skirmishers and charged upon the works. The brigade unleashed a rapid fire upon the enemy that they broke and fled to the rear. The brigade then mounted and fell back, still pursued by Forrest. Croxton's brigade reached Mount Carmel and passed inside the lines.

[Insert – from General George Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “During the 24th and 25th the enemy skirmished with General Schofield's troops at Columbia, but showed nothing but dismounted cavalry until the morning of the 26th, when his infantry came up and pressed our line strongly during that day and the 27th, but without assaulting. As the enemy's movements showed an undoubted intention to cross above or below the town, General Schofield withdrew to the north bank of Duck River during the night of the 27th and took up a new position, where the command remained during the 28th, undisturbed. Two divisions of the Twenty-third Corps were placed in line in front of the town, holding all the crossings in its vicinity, while Stanley's corps, posted in reserve on the Franklin pike, was held in readiness to repel any vigorous attempt the enemy should make to force a crossing; the cavalry, under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, held the crossings above those guarded by the infantry. About 2 a.m. on the 29th the enemy succeeded in pressing back General Wilson's cavalry, and effected a crossing on the Lewisburg pike; at a later hour part of his infantry crossed at Huey's Mills, six miles above Columbia.”]

[The withdrawal of the main force from in front of Columbia was safely effected after dark on the 29th; Spring Hill was passed without molestation about midnight, and making a night march of twenty-five miles, the whole command got into position at Franklin at an early hour on the morning of the 30th; the cavalry moved on the Lewisburg pike, on the right or east of the infantry.]

The 5th Division, 1st Brigade, US Cavalry was moved out passing Spring Hill and reached Franklin the same day at 4 p.m. They continued to Brentwood and went into camp.

[larry_cockerham]

From Judge Frank H. Smith in 1904:

Hoods Famous Flank Movement.—

The Federal position was so strong and the possibility of a direct attack in front was so apparent, that Hood decided to flank it on the east. The Sappers and Miners were sent up the river to Davis Ford on the 28th, and made good approaches on both banks for the pontoon bridges, which were successfully laid that evening and night without interruption by the Federal cavalry pickets at Hueys Mill, two or three miles below. Some of Forrests cavalry had crossed at Davis Ford, but most of them had been sent further up the river, and had affected a crossing on the 28th, securing a lodgement on the Lewisburg and Franklin Pike. Caprons Brigade of Federal cavalry was guarding the approaches at Hardisons Mills and the fords in the vicinity, holding the peninsula south from Orrs Cross Roads. By some mishap this force was allowed to escape north up the pike, although the Confederates had them as it were in a cul de sac, with nothing to do but pull the string and bag them. The escape of this command had a depressing effect on the Confederates and the Federals were correspondingly elated next day on the retreat to Franklin.

Confederates Cross the River.—

Leaving Stephen D. Lee with a port of his corps to make demonstrations and feints at Columbia, and thus help conceal the flank movement, Hood moved to the right early on the morning of the 29th. He deemed this movement of such importance that he had crossed the river about daylight with his staff and was in personal command. Cheathams corps was in the advance, followed by Stewarts and a division from Lees corps, all in the lightest possible marching order, with only one battery of artillery to the corps. These crossed Duck River on the pontoon bridges near Davis Ford, the small body of accompanying cavalry fording or swimming the river, and by nine of half past nine o’clock, this entire force was across Duck River without discovery or interruption by the Federals.

Following the Old Davis Ford Road north, the command pressed rapidly on, moving by the right flank, the column occupying the road and the woods and fields adjoining, for there were precious few fences left to Maury County. The weather had turned warm, the day was bright and sunny, and the troops were in good spirits. The Duck River Riflemen were pressing on in the advance with Strahl and Cleburne, and passing through a country that was home; yet none dropped out of ranks, although short furloughs had been given to most of the troops from this section but all seemed animated with the desire of the command to complete this movement. [The order by Hood to divert Lee’s Corps from the northward movement probably helped prolong the life of Pvt. Whit Parker, since the 63rd VA under Lee was late to arrive at Franklin on the afternoon of November 30 and were subsequently ordered to guard the ordnance.]

Schofield Was Awake.--

The hills east of the Nashville Pike and west of the Davis Ford Road, it was thought, would partly screen this movement from the observation of the Federals, and with Lees feints and assaults at Columbia, would prevent them from moving until their line of communication could be cut in the rear. But Schofield was far to experienced a soldier to be caught napping quite that badly, and Posts Federal Brigade being sent up what is now the Bear Creek Pike to reconnoiter, reported the movement of infantry in force. The Federals immediately began evacuating the peninsula north of Columbia early in the afternoon, and another race this time to Spring Hill or Franklin was on.

Lee Crosses Duck River.—

Lee’s order was at Columbia were that as soon as the enemy showed signs of retreating, to cross the river and press him north. He had posted Col. J. M. Dedmans Alabama regiment on the bluffs up the river about the lime kiln, while Greenwood Cemetery and the bluff where the jail is now, fairly swarmed with sharpshooter. Col. R. F. Beckham, Gen. Lees Chief of Artillery, superintended the planting of the batteries on the bluff, and was mortally wounded on the 29th, lingering until the 10th of December. He lies in an honored grave in historic St. Johns churchyard at Ashwood, where so many of his gallant brother officers were buried after the battle of Franklin.

The Grape-Vine Pontoon Train.—

But Lee had to lay a pontoon bridge before the infantry could cross. And when that reserve pontoon train came into town, it was followed by scores of boys who were attracted by the novelty of the sight, and such a sight it was. Those huge canoes probably 25 feet long, only one on each ramshackle wagon, with load after load of bridge timbers on a little better wagons, drawn by the first (and poorest) long-horned Texas steers ever seen here, and instead of leather or ropes or chains to draw the wagons grape vines. One of these pontoon boats had been sent down to the river in advance, and although the men in charge of it were being constantly fired on, they pushed it into the river, and commenced carrying the soldiers over. After the boat had been launched, the troops that were being carried over were comparatively safe, the north bank of the river protecting them from the fire of the rifle pits. After getting to the northside these troops remained under the bank until a great many loads had been charged with a rebel yell, driving the remaining Federals back to the line of works of the Brown house. The pontoon bridge was then laid in a few hours. The last of the Federal soldiers retired from the works after dark and began that perilous night march to Spring Hill and Franklin.

Gen. Hoods Guide.--

Nearly every old citizen knows Mr. J. S. R. Gregory, who although in his 76th year, bears his age well, and his memory in unimpaired. Uncle Sol as he is familiarly called, has told me many of his personal recollections of these and other local events. He was a member of Capt. Groves Company in Biffles Cavalry and had been detailed to act as a guide to Gen. Hood in this flank movement. About ten o’clock on the morning of the 29th, Hood, Cleburne, and some other officers made special inquiries of him about the Davis Ford Road they were then on, as Hoods map, which had been furnished by the Richmond authorities, differed materially from the information then obtained. Mr. Gregory drew a rough sketch on the ground, showing the relative distance and location of the roads, explaining it at some length to the officers. Mr. Jim Smith, who now lives about two miles southwest of town, was there as guide to Gen. (now Senator) W. B. Bate and Gen. Pat Cleburne, and corroborated Gregory’s information. Cleburne made a copy on a piece of paper of Gregory’s map or ground plan and said that having known Gregory when the latter lived in Arkansas, and this information being confirmed by Jim Smith, that he had more confidence in it than in the map which Hood was complaining of as being so imperfect. Hood and Cleburne had quite a discussion on this matter, and the conclusion seemed to Gregory to be that it would require great effort to get to where they intended going by the time they wanted to be there.

Gregory was sent alone to the Eph. Davis hill and from there he saw a Federal line of battle formed on the Beasley place south and southeast of the present location of Mount Olivet Church, the line was facing south down the small ravine from the Beasley spring; this a Posts brigade, which had been sent out to reconnoitre. Gregory returned to Hood; who by that time was at the Amos place at the former site of Old Asbury Church, and reported this fact. At that time there was much timber on the hills between Beasley and Amos places and Hood said that these would help the woods and muddy fields parallel with the Davis Ford Road, even wading Rutherford Creek a few hours later.

Hood at the Loftin Mill.--

When the column crossed the Murfreesboro Road just west of Center Star, Hood rode off a short distance on the Loftin Hill just east, and had his big Dutchman (as Jim Smith calls him) help him off his horse; here he sat down on a log and consulted with some officers and his staff, making frequent references to his map, and inquiries from the guides as to the three (?) roads; if he was not impressed with the view, one of the most beautiful in Maury County, he must have felt elated at the success so far of this brilliant flank movement. Eight miles south of west, the prominent figure in the landscape was Fort Mizner, from which the Confederate flag now floated; while between and beyond lay the fertile valley of Duck River, a country worth fighting for, or dying for, as was remarked by one of the officers

[larry_cockerham]

Lees Artillery Helped.—

The booming of artillery at Columbia could be plainly heard, showing that Lee was keeping the attention of the enemy engaged in his feints and demonstrations of crossing. Almost at their feet were passing column after column of the veterans of the Confederate army, all in high spirits and elated with the idea of getting in the rear of the enemy for the object of this rapid march was now apparent to even the common soldier. Hood remained here some little while, then his big Dutchman helped him on his horse and he again rode forward to the head of the column.

Hood, Cleburne and Granberry Quarrel.—

They halted for dinner at a late hour just south of Blantons Chapel, when there was some more misunderstanding between Hood, Cleburne, and Granberry. Gregory overheard it all but did not pay much attention to it; his present impression is that there were some words between them, as to Cleburne or Granberry being put in the extreme advance and some chafing and dissatisfaction because some of the troops were so slow in coming up.

The Great Blunder Occurs. –

About sundown Cleburne had got his infantry up to the pike about a mile south of Spring Hill, and there was a sharp skirmish with the Federal forces marching north on the pike, which lasted till after dark. The Duck River Riflemen were with their command in the advance, and the forward movement of the 24th was stopped by a staff officer. The regiment remained in position near McCutcheons creek, throughout the night, eagerly expecting the order to resume the advance and cut the train in retreat on the pike but the order never came.

[larry_cockerham]

That Fatal Tuesday, Night, Nov. 29, 1864.

Hood made army headquarters that night at Capt. Thompsons two miles and a half South of Spring Hill. Almost as soon as headquarters were established, Hood come out of the house and sat on a log some two hundred yards from the house, near the fishpond. Gregory was there in attendance, and saw couriers frequently come, and from what he overheard, then reports were that the enemy were giving way. Granberry was there on the log with Hood for quite a while, but Gregorys impression is that Cleburne did not come up until the skirmish was over, by which time Hood had returned to the house, after a long conference with Gen. Stewart, who had arrived about dark.

Confederate Generals Were Drinking.-- [In 2007, there is considerable difference of opinion about the following incident depending on one’s point of view. Cleburne is generally believed to have been a teetotaler and Forrest’s episode with Willie Forrest is not particularly believed.]

Capt. Thompsons folks spread a big feast that Tuesday evening for these officers and as they were constantly coming and going, it was between eleven and twelve o’clock before it was over. There had been much drinking and hilarity among the officers (and some of the men) that day. Uncle Sol says that Hood and Governor Isham G. Harris had not been drinking, or if they had, they showed no effects of it. Gen. Cheatham was much under the influence of spirits; Walthall, Cleburne and Granberry had also been toasting rather freely, but were not at all drunk.

Stewarts Incompetent Guide.—

Gen. Stewart was given a guide (who proved very incompetent) and told to continue north on the Spring Hill and Rally Hill Pike, connect with Cheathams right, and take position on the pike at or near Spring Hill. After marching north on the pike to where it bends west in the suburbs of Spring Hill his guide took him east up the private pike leading to Col. R. W. McLemores residence; he kept this road probably half a mile, then struck out across the country, and about eleven o’clock bivouacked in the woods and fields near the road on the Military Reservation line.

Whole Federal Army Passed by Unchallenged.--

That night the Confederate Army remained close to the Columbia Pike, in easy hailing distance of the Federal forces that with trains 15 miles long were crowding the pike in the hurried retreat to Franklin and Nashville. One of the Federal officers said that in riding up and down the line they had to remain close to the column to keep from riding over the Confederate pickets. A single column thrown across the road would in all probability have routed Schofields entire command, and that would have given Middle Tennessee, and probably Kentucky, to the Confederacy.

[larry_cockerham]

The Failure at Spring Hill.—

But it is useless in this sketch to moralize on The Failure at Spring Hill, which has been so much discussed (and cussed) for nearly forty years. No satisfactory explanation of it has ever been made but the fact remains that the Commanding General was on the ground in person, and if his orders were not delivered or executed, he should have led the movement himself Or fixed the responsibility of the failure on his subordinate. But if the world does not know the cause of this failure, it does know that through some blunder worse then criminal, the opportunity lost that night the greatest offered in the Civil War caused the frightful useless butchery the next evening at Franklin, which brought desolation to so many thousand southern homes.


Hood awoke the next morning to find that there were no Federals south of Spring Hill on the Columbia Pike, and not believing it possible that they all could have escaped up that pike, he sent Forrest to the Carters Creek and Franklin pike to intercept them.

The Pursuit to Franklin.—

That night march of the Federals was one of the most trying experiences of the war. These soldiers had been on hard duty for some days and nights; they had marched from Lynnville to Columbia by night less than a week and frequently with scanty food and fuel. And now to be again on the retreat by night, with the prospect of a night attack by the Confederates to position and flank with a strong force to say nothing of Lee crowding them in the rear was extremely trying.

Coxs Division led the retreat to Franklin, as it had done from Lynnville to Columbia; arriving at Franklin about sunrise on the morning of the 30th, his broken down soldiers were allowed one hour for rest and breakfast, and them immediately began work on the line of entrenchments on the Columbia Pike at the Carter house and the old gin. As the other commands arrived, they too, were put to work on the fortifications, which were already strong from long occupation by the Federals as an outpost of Nashville. By three oclock these works were in good order, and Schofields trains were across Harpeth River and well on the way to Nashville.

By the time the Confederate forces in pursuit came in sight and commenced deploying. Schofield did not think that Hood would attack another flank movement, which would be comparatively easy, with the river fordable almost anywhere, But in this he was mistaken, for Hood at once began to prepare for battle. He evidently was chafing under the disappointment and the blunder of the night before at Spring Hill, and he probably had thought all day of the storm of criticism Schofields escape would provide throughout the country. And then, possibly he had heard mutterings from the men of his army that day and he determined to retrieve everything by defeating Schofield in open battle.

[larry_cockerham]

An Inspiring Scene.--

The history of the world presents few scenes more thrilling than the one at Franklin that beautiful autumn evening. The advance of the Confederate host in battle array to the martial music of the bands, with flags flying, the generals and their staffs mounted, and the regimental officers as carefully dressing the lines as if on parade. In thee near distance directly in front, this the horizon line was the strong fortifications, under whose head logs projected the gleaming rifles which foretold the useless butchery about to take place. At Fort Roper on the northeast the Federal artillery kept up a constant fire on the reforming and advancing lines, but it was not until within close musket range that the carnage was so great, for all other battles this was one principally of infantry and infantry, where the other branches of the service, the cavalry and artillery, played a comparatively unimportant part.

I notice that in the last installment published of the Duck River Riflemen, that I omitted some facts related by Mr. Gregory of that Tuesday night, Nov. 29, 1864, as the Confederate officers were enjoying Capt. Thompsons hospitality near Spring Hill. The Federals were under the impression that Mr. McMeens house, about half a mile south of Capt. Thompsons was the Confederate headquarters for the night; they fired their artillery on it, which set it on fire, and it burned to the ground just about dark, This was after the Duck River Riflemen and Strahls advance was in position just east of the Columbia pike, and after the skirmish there had been.

[larry_cockerham]

Gen. Forrest had a son, a mere boy who was wounded that afternoon in the calf of his leg by a minie ball, and who had been sent to Capt. Thompsons for surgical attention. But Forrest himself had pressed on north with his cavalry and had crossed the pike, burning several wagons and loads of supplies on the pike and at Thompsons Station a few miles further north.

About midnight Forrest came back to Capt. Thompsons to see how seriously his boy was wounded and how he was getting on. As he rode up he seemed astounded at the drinking and carousing going on among the higher officers, and at once asked for Gen. Hood, who with Governor Isham G. Harris, had retired. On being shown to the room by Mr. Gregory, Forrest told Hood that the Yankees were getting through on the pike, and suggested and urged in his emphatic way that a force of infantry be thrown forward immediately and cut the retreating column on the Columbia Pike. He told him of his burning the wagons and the stampede of the teamsters and guards, a few miles up the pike near the Duck River Ridge, and of his success at Thompsons Station a few hours previously. Gregory says that Hood was not at all excited nor had been that evening when the skirmish was going on, and he heard him remark to Forrest in his calm, unmoved way, that hed find the Yankees in the morning. After this interview with Hood, Forrest went out to where his wounded boy was laying, muttering to himself such a rush of expletives that might show what a task it was for his preacher-colonel the Rev. David C. Kelley to convert him into the utmost Christian he finally became.

[larry_cockerham]

The 58th North Carolina was left at Columbia to guard 1,700 Federal Prisoners sent to the unit, and to garrison the town. This detail enabled the regiment to miss Hood's twin disasters at Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. At this time the regiment was reported to have an effective strength of 246 men, total present of 311, with an aggregate present total of 338.

On December 14, 1864, the 58th North Carolina was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi with the prisoners. Here they were relieved of the guard, and on December 26, 1864, was ordered to Okalona, Mississippi to drive off a cavalry raid which had cut the rail line there.

The remainder of the Brigade were not as lucky, and traveled on with Hood to his great defeat. The 58th North Carolina rejoined Palmer's now very small brigade on the return of Hood's Army to Tupelo, Mississippi in January 1865.] As per cousin Jeffrey C. Weaver regarding the 58th North Carolina.