garrisons along the railroad. He set up his headquarters at Kennesaw Mountain.

By November 30, 1864, leading units of the retreating Federals of Schofield's force under Jacob Cox arrived in Franklin, Tennessee, about dawn. They formed a defensive line south of the town and the Harpeth River. Schofield wished to hold Franklin until he could repair the bridges and get his trains across. Hood moved rapidly toward Franklin on the main pike. A skirmish at Thompson's Station south of the town and other Federal delaying moves slowed the Confederate advance.  About 4 p.m. Hood debauched from the Winstead Hills in a massive frontal attack against the well-posted Federals on the southern edge of Franklin. Gallantly the Confederates pressed ahead, carrying forward works of the enemy, though suffering heavily. After a near break, the Federals rallied on the interior lines. Some of the bloodiest and most tragic fighting of the war occurred in front of the Carter House and up and down the lines of Franklin, but to no avail for Hood. The battle lasted well into the night.

For the Confederates the toil included six generals; the famous and capable Pat Cleburne, S.R. Gist, H.B. Granbury, John Adams, O.F. Strahl, all killed outright, and John C. Carter, mortally wounded. The Confederates had between 20,000 and 27,000 men in action, and lost 1,750 killed 3,800 wounded and 702 missing for 6,252. Schofield's Federals numbered between 22,000 and 27,000 engaged and they suffered many fewer casualties: 189 killed, 1,033 wounded and 1,104 missing for 2,326. For Schofield's valiant defenders, Gen. Jacob D. Cox, commanding the 23rd Corps and really in command of the field, deserves much credit.

During the night, Schofield pulled his battered units north across the Harpeth and headed toward Nashville. The Confederates had failed to break the Union lines and suffered ghastly casualties they could not afford, but they did proceed on to Nashville.

By Dec. 1st, 1864 the Federal troops of John M. Schofield had successfully withdrawn from Franklin Tenn., and were now taking their places in the Nashville defense lines of Gen. George H. Thomas. The Federals formed a rough semicircle south of the Tennessee capital, with both flanks resting on the Cumberland River. John Bell Hood's weary Army of Tennessee moved upon Nashville with little pause to take care of the casualties or to reorganize after the woeful toll exacted at Franklin on Nov. 30. Already he was too late, for the Union had staunchly entrenched on the hills of the city. Hood faced two alternatives: to lie in front of the city in partial siege and await attack, or to bypass Nashville, which would leave Thomas in his rear. Some minor scraps included one at Owens’s Cross Roads.

Sherman was still on his march across Georgia. He was more than halfway from Atlanta to Savannah, proceeding with little difficulty as they approached Millen, Ga., site of a prison camp for northern soldiers. Federals were reported heading toward notorious Andersonville, far to the south, to free the prisoners there.

Advance units of Hood's Army of Tennessee approached the Federal lines at Nashville, establishing their own positions this day and on Dec. 3rd Cavalry carried out operations against blockhouses and outer positions of Thomas' Federal defenders, with some skirmishing. Washington ordered Thomas to attack Hood soon. With both sides dug in at Nashville, that front appeared to be at a standstill for a while.

On Dec. the 6th, Gen. Grant issued new orders to Gen. Thomas at Nashville, "Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for remount of your cavalry. There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign back to the Ohio River." Thomas obediently said he would attack at once, although it would be hazardous without cavalry. Grant told Stanton if Thomas did not attack promptly, he should be removed. By the 10th the bad weather continued at Nashville, making any movement hazardous. Grant again urged Thomas to attack Hood and Thomas replied that he would as soon as the weather improved.

On the 12th of Dec. Thomas informed Halleck in Washington that he had his troops ready to attack Hood as soon as the sleet had melted, for it was now almost impossible to move on the ice-covered ground. Hood and Thomas waited out the ice storm. Thomas still promised to move when the weather abated, but Grant now ordered Maj. Gen. John A Logan to proceed to Nashville to supersede Thomas. Logan was not to take over if Thomas had moved. Grant then headed for Washington, intending to go on to Nashville himself.

On Dec. 14th, Gen. Thomas told Washington that the ice had melted and he would attack Hood south of Nashville the next day.

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Last Update Friday, 09-Mar-2018 02:40:33 CST