Battle of Nashville

From Wikinfo

Template:Battlebox The Battle of Nashville, was a two day battle, culminating large scale fighting in the West of the American Civil War. It was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on December 15 and 16, 1864.

The Confederate Army of Tennessee under John Bell Hood, arrived South of the city on December 1. There, it took up position, facing Major General George Henry Thomas's Union forces within the city. Not nearly strong enough to assault the Federal fortifications, Hood opted for the defensive. He entrenched and waited, and he hoped, the same way that he had so disastorously attacked the Federals at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, the Federals would attack him. Then, after decimating their forces, he could counter-attack and take Nashville.

Though Thomas's forces were stronger, he could not ignore Hood's army. By it's sheer presence and ability to maneuver, the Army of Tennessee presented a threat. He had to attack, but rather than do so immediately, at the risk of being relieved, Thomas decided to wait. He prepared. In particular, he concentrated on outfitting his cavalry, commanded by the energetic, young Brigadier General James H. Wilson

It took Thomas over two weeks to move. All the while, the Confederates dug in deeper. Then just before, Thomas came out of his fortifications, Hood made a terrible mistake. He sent away most of his cavalry, commanded by the highly effective Nathan Bedford Forrest, to attack the Union garrison at Murfreesboro. By doing so, he further weakened his already weaker force. When the Union forces finally went into action on December 15, they had 70,000 men, compared to the Confederate's 21,000 men.

The first day's fight was a simple matter of the Union forces bringing overwhelming power and numbers to bear upon the Confederate forces. For example, when one strategic Confederate outpost manned by 148 soldiers and 4 cannons presented more than expected resistance, the Union calmly regrouped and attacked the outpost with 28 cannons and 7000 soldiers. By the end of the day, the Confederates were forced from their position. They headed South, where Hood, rather than continuing to retreat, established a new line. The exhausted Confederates dug in all night, awaiting the arrival of the Federals.

It took most of the morning, on the second day, for the Federals to move into position. Once there, they opened a devastating artillery barrage upon the Confederate position. followed by infantry assaults. When fighting began in earnest, it was a mirror of the first day's fight. At the pivotal Shy's Hill, on the Confederate left, 40,000 Union soldiers attacked 5000 Confederate soldiers. The Confederates were routed in one of the worst defeats of the American Civil War. For all intents and purposes, the Battle of Nashville ended the existence of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.