Middle Tennessee Chronology winter 64-65

[larry_cockerham]

THE BATTLE OF THE CEDARS
Murfreesboro
Wilkinson Pike, Cedars Tennessee
(from National Park Service brochures)

American Civil War December 5-7, 1864

In a last, desperate attempt to force Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's army out of Georgia, Gen. John Bell Hood led the Army of Tennessee north toward Nashville in November 1864. Although he suffered a terrible loss at Franklin, he continued toward Nashville. In operating against Nashville, he decided that destruction of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad and disruption of the Union army supply depot at Murfreesboro would help his cause. He sent Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, on December 4, with an expedition, composed of two cavalry divisions and Maj. Gen. William B. Bate's infantry division, to Murfreesboro. On December 2, Hood had ordered Bate to destroy the railroad and blockhouses between Murfreesboro and Nashville and join Forrest for further operations; on December 4, Bate's division attacked Blockhouse No. 7 protecting the railroad crossing at Overall Creek, but Union forces fought it off. On the morning of the 5th, Forrest headed out toward Murfreesboro, splitting his force, one column to attack the fort on the hill and the other to take Blockhouse No. 4, both at La Vergne. Upon his demand for surrender at both locations, the Union garrisons did so. Outside La Vergne, Forrest hooked up with Bate's division and the command advanced on to Murfreesboro along two roads, driving the Yankees into their Fortress Rosencrans fortifications, and encamped in the city outskirts for the night. The next morning, on the 6th, Forrest ordered Bate's division to "move upon the enemy's works." Fighting flared for a couple of hours, but the Yankees ceased firing and both sides glared at each other for the rest of the day. Brig. Gen. Claudius Sears' and Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Palmer's infantry brigades joined Forrest's command in the evening, further swelling his numbers. On the morning of the 7th, Maj. Gen. Lovell Rousseau, commanding all of the forces at Murfreesboro, sent two brigades out under Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy on the Salem Pike to feel out the enemy. These troops engaged the Confederates and fighting continued. At one point some of Forrest's troops broke and ran causing disorder in the Rebel ranks; even entreaties from Forrest and Bate did not stem the rout of these units. The rest of Forrest's command conducted an orderly retreat from the field and encamped for the night outside Murfreesboro. Forrest had destroyed railroad track, blockhouses, and some homes and generally disrupted Union operations in the area, but he did not accomplish much else. The raid on Murfreesboro was a minor irritation.

Result(s): Union victory
Location: Rutherford County
Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign (1864)
Date(s): December 5-7, 1864
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau and Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy [US]; Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest [CS]
Forces Engaged: District of Tennessee (forces in Murfreesboro area; approx. 8,000) [US]; Forrest's Cavalry, Bate's Infantry Division, and Brig. Gen. Claudius Sears's and Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Palmer's Infantry Brigades (6,500-7,000) [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 422 total (US 225; CS 197)

[larry_cockerham]

Federal General Jacob D. Cox, in his memoir, noted that Palmer’s Brigade, which included the 63rd, was brought up to reinforce Bate’s Division at Murfreesboro on the evening of December 6. The 63rd and Palmer’s Brigade were under General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s command in the Battle of the Cedars at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, fought on December 7, 1864. This event occurred on the southern edge of the battlefield site of 1862 along present-day Manson Pike then known as Wilkinson Pike. The 63rd lost at least one killed, three wounded and seven taken prisoner, but its casualties were probably much greater.

My great-great grandfather Whitfield Monroe Parker is believed to have been with the 63rd Virginia CSA during the events described above and below. Recovering from his wound suffered August 9, he was probably partly mobile by mid winter, but certainly not fit for serious combat. He would have kept close to the wagons carrying supplies. It’s known that Forrest left his livestock and train at Triune during his action around Murfreesboro. I’ll bet that Whit became well acquainted with that little community. That wagon was his life support on the cold rugged journey to Alabama and Mississippi. His time spent with Nathan Bedford Forrest and E.C. Walthall is a subject I would love to discuss with him.

[larry_cockerham]

Captain Clark wrote his last known war-time letter to Martha in January 1865 from the Clayton Hospital Mess at Columbus, Georgia. He noted that he had been wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, a slight wound in the wrist. “I was so exposed coming out of Tennessee that it became very sore… Many men have lost their toes and some their entire feet.”

[larry_cockerham]

From Nathan Bedford Forrest’s official report:

On the evening of the 6th I was re-enforced by Sears' and Palmer's brigades of infantry. I ordered Colonel Palmer in position on the right upon a hill, and to fortify during the night.

December 7.

Nothing new on our line immediately around Nashville. Captain Reid, commanding at Corinth, Miss., reports, under date of December 1, the following, which was repeated by General Hood to General Beauregard, Macon, Ga., with the request that all men belonging to this army, and any re-enforcements that could be spared, be sent forward as soon as possible:

Scouts from the vicinity of Memphis report that Steele, with 15,000 men, landed at that point on last Thursday and passed up the river Saturday.

News of our forces in neighborhood of Murfreesborough being driven back by the enemy received to-night. Col. B. J. Hill, with his cavalry command, was ordered today to Bedford, Giles, and Marshall Counties, Tenn., 6, to break up and destroy the home guards, to conscribe men liable to military duty, and to protect the mills in the neighborhood of Shelbyville? (See dispatch to General Forrest, field dispatch book.)

[The rest of Palmer's brigade was with General Nathan Bedford Forrest's command in the Battle of the Cedars , Murfreesboro, Tennessee, fought on December 7, 1864. Jordan and Pryor in their Campaigns of Lt. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, wrote: “Taking post early on the morning of the 7th with Palmer’s Brigade on a hill southwest of the Wilkerson Turnpike, two miles from Murfreesboro, General Forrest presently observed a heavy hostile column swiftly emerging from Murfreesboro by the Salem Road.”

Forrest was mounted on King Phillip during this battle.

[larry_cockerham]

From Gen. Forrest’s official report: On the morning of the 7th I discovered from the position occupied by Colonel Palmer the enemy moving out in strong force on the Salem pike, with infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Being fully satisfied that his object was to make battle, I withdrew my forces to the Wilkinson pike, and formed a new line on a more favorable position. The enemy moved boldly forward, driving in my pickets, when the infantry, with the exception of Smith's brigade, from some cause which I cannot explain, made a shameful retreat, losing two pieces of artillery. I seized the colors of the retreating troops and endeavored to rally them but they could not be moved by any entreaty or appeal to their patriotism. Major-General Bate did the same thing, but was equally as unsuccessful as myself. I hurriedly sent Major Strange, of my staff, to Brigadier-Generals Armstrong and Ross, of Jackson's division, with orders to say to them that everything depended on their cavalry. They proved themselves equal to the emergency by charging on the enemy, thereby checking his ****her advance. I ordered the infantry to retire to Stewart's Creek, while my cavalry encamped during the night at Overall's Creek.

[larry_cockerham]

December 8.

Lieutenant-General Lee made a demonstration on his extreme left to-day, driving in the enemy's pickets without any show of resistance, and establishing his own line in the pits from which he had driven the pickets of the enemy. General Forrest was ordered to drive the enemy back to Murfreesborough, and then give him an opportunity to leave the town in the direction of Lebanon, if he chose. He was also directed to return Bate's division and Sears' brigade to the army, keeping Palmer's (Brown's old) brigade and Mercer's, which was ordered to him to-day, and what artillery he might deem necessary, another division to be sent to him to supply the place of Bate's when the latter shall have joined the army.

[larry_cockerham]

December 9.

All quiet in front. General Forrest advised by General Hood that another division would not be sent him to supply the place of Bate's [division] and Sears' brigade, other dispositions being made to prevent the enemy from re-enforcing Murfreesborough, and in the event of evacuation to secure his defeat. Palmer's and Mercer's brigades ordered to strongly fortify themselves on Stewart's Creek, or at La Vergne, as General Forrest might deem best, "to constitute a force in observation of the enemy," and a brigade of cavalry to picket in the neighborhood of Lebanon.

[larry_cockerham]

December 10.--Generals Stewart's and Lee's corps retired their lines a short distance for the purpose of convenience to wood. No change otherwise. Reports received of the concentration of the enemy's cavalry at Edgefield, and General Forrest directed to meet and drive them back should the force attempt to cross the Cumberland River above. Circular issued to corps commanders directing the construction of self-supporting detached works--General Stewart to select all good points in rear of his left; General Cheatham, all good points in rear of his right; and General Lee, all good points in rear both of his right and left flanks, for the construction of these works.

Edgefield Depot, across the Cumberland from downtown Nashville in what is known as East Nashville was used as a holding pen for Union horses. Farrier James Patterson Cockerham must have spent much time there in early December 1864 prior to the battle for Nashville.

[larry_cockerham]

December 11, 1864

No change in the lines.

From Murfreesboro, Forrest dispatched Buford and his Kentuckians to the Hermitage, a total of less then 300 men.

The Hermitage, home of president Andrew Jackson, is located about 10 miles east from downtown Nashville and is on the Cumberland River. This was well beyond the reaches of the federal posts and may have been viewed as a possible point to cross in the initiation of a flanking move if so ordered. The accommodations were spacious and the barns may have contained some forage.

[larry_cockerham]

December 12, 1864

No change to report. General Hood telegraphed to General Beauregard "for all available cavalry to be sent to this army as soon as Sherman completes his raid."

Forrest destroyed the railroad from LaVergne to Murfreesboro.

Hatch’s command, the 1st Brigade of the 5th Division US Cavalry, including the 10th TN Cavalry, re-crossed the Cumberland and took position on the lines in front of Nashville. General Thomas ordered Wilson to move his cavalry from Edgefield to the south side of the river and take up a position on the right of his line. Farrier James Patterson Cockerham likely made that short trip. It was from this location that he may have witnessed much of the battle on Shy’s Hill, or certainly the results thereof.