After
abandoning Atlanta on September 1, 1864, John
Bell Hood and his Army of Tennessee, reduced to about 35,000 men, launched a bold plan to lure
the Federal forces led by William T.
Sherman away from
Atlanta. Thus began a series of fateful steps that would lead to the
destruction of the proud Army of Tennessee. The plan was to dash across Alabama
into Tennessee, regain Nashville, and then move into Kentucky, thus
transferring the offensive to the Confederate side. Going on the defensive, Sherman
assigned a part of his considerable force to George H. Thomas and placed him in charge of protecting Tennessee.
A race to Nashville
developed. As the Army of Tennessee pushed north, Thomas ordered John M.
Schofield to stop Hood’s advance. With about 22,000 men, Schofield arrived
in Columbia, Tennessee, but Hood outflanked him and continued towards
Nashville. Schofield moved ahead to Spring Hill and by the time Hood’s
advancing forces arrived there, Schofield had entrenched in a strong defensive
position. In late afternoon on November 29, the Confederates bivouacked in
sight of the all-important road but inexplicably made no effort to take it.
During the night, Schofield quietly moved his entire army past the inert
Confederates.
When Hood awoke on the morning
of November 30 and learned that his quarry had escaped, he was outraged.
Lashing his army into a double-quick pursuit, he arrived late in the afternoon
at Franklin where the Federal infantry and artillery awaited him in
strongly fortified entrenchments. Consumed with impatience for combat, Hood
ordered an immediate frontal assault. What followed was virtual suicide. 22,000
Confederates, more than at Gettysburg, attacked across two miles of open
fields. The Army of Tennessee lost more than 6,000 men, including twelve
generals, five of which were killed outright. Among them was Patrick
Cleburne, the “Stonewall of the West,” who was shot through the heart.
Schofield with 2,300 casualties withdrew during the night to Nashville.
Undaunted by the carnage, Hood would follow him to the outskirts of Nashville
where he would face not only Schofield but Thomas as well. This time the defeat
would prove fatal.
After
a Thursday evening overview, we will begin on Friday with a visit
to the historic town of Columbia. We will visit St. John’s Church Graveyard,
where Cleburne was for a time buried, and then will follow Hood’s flank
maneuver. We will visit Rippavilla, site of the famous breakfast meeting
of Hood and his generals on the morning of November 30. We will then explore
the Spring Hill battlefield, and stop at Hood’s headquarters at Oaklawn.
On Saturday, we will spend the entire day exploring the battlefield of Franklin.
We will visit Winstead Hill, the grounds of the Carter House that
witnessed some of the most intense fighting of the war, Fort Granger,
and will walk the battle lines and discuss in detail the attacks on the Federal
breast works. We will end our day at the Confederate Cemetery at
Franklin, the final resting place of so many, who fought so valiantly.
Join
us for this in-depth exploration of the final days of John Bell Hood’s Army of
Tennessee. Our tour will include stops at sites seldom visited and will be led
by the highly acclaimed Eric A. Jacobson. We hope to see you in November
in Spring Hill!
About Our Tour Leader
ERIC
A. JACOBSON is the Director of
Operations of the Battle of Franklin Trust and the author of For Cause and
Country: A Study of the Affair at Spring Hill and the Battle of Franklin.
Thursday, November 3
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Tour Overview – at a
hotel in Spring Hill, Tennessee soon TBA
Friday, November 4
8:00 AM Depart
for Tour
5:00 PM Arrive
Back at base hotel
Saturday, November 5
8:00 AM Depart for Tour
5:00 PM Arrive
Back at base hotel
Registration Fees (Lodging
not Included):
Regular Rate: $325
If You Must Cancel we will refund 100% of your fees paid.
Base Location & Lodging: We will be based at a hotel in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Registrants will soon be
notified about the hotel and how to book a room there, and hotel information
will soon be posted here.
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