The South's' Last Great Offensive

The South's' Last Great Offensive

Compiled by; Randy Maxfield

On September 27, 1864 President Davis met with General Hood at Palmetto, Georgia to discuss strategy. To lure Sherman from making his infamous' March too the Sea" the  Army of Tennessee would invade Tennessee.
 
But Federal Authorities had determined  that Sherman would continue. That Thomas' forces (dispersed in Tennessee would deal with the Army of Tennessee. Thomas, at Nashville and Schofield (a West Point Classmate of Hoods) at Pulaski, each shared matching numerical strength. But if Hood could race past Schofield, he could deal with these armies individually and change the status of the war.
 
On November 16th Sherman left Atlanta for Savannah on-the coast.  The next day  General Hardee, (Corps commander to the 8th. Arkansas) was ordered to Savannah, to take command of all Georgia State Troops, and meet Shermans advance.
 
General Ben Cheatham ascended to replace Hardee. So, in balmy weather and high spirits, on November 22 Hood broke
camp at Tuscumbia, Alabama and the Army of Tennessee moved North to Columbia, Tennessee and its appointment with fate. Appropriately, freezing rain and snow soon developed.  Skirmishing occurred.  And Schofield now surmised Hood's plan. If he beat Hood to Nashville, the Federals would easily outnumber the Rebels two to one.  The race was on, but despite a longer rout over secondary routs, Schofield barely beat Hood to Columbia, and crossed the Duck River. Hood was ecstatic and would employ a Jacksonian strategy. Leaving a portion of  his army at Schofields'  front, he moved Cheathams Corps, first east then north of Columbia, up the Duck River -and began to  cross; in Schofields' rear - at Spring Hill.

Federal calvary was driven off but their commander knew his responsibility and sent  warning back to Schofield.  Despite both cavalry and infantry action, the Army of Tennessee set up camp at twilight. Not 600  yards away Schofields entire army held their breath and hurried past the Army of the Tennessee. Next morning Hood was shocked and outraged. Accusations flew.  Hood had come from the east, from under Lee, and had witnessed the long defensive nature of the Atlanta campaign.   He now convinced himself that the Army of the Tennessee loved only fighting in this fashion. Schofield had meanwhile drawn up at Franklin, and entrenched.
 
The Army of the Tennessee arrived shortly thereafter. Hood coolly resolved on a frontal assault across the flat, open field. His lieutenants were stunned and speechless, with only Cheatham venturing. "I don't like the look of this fight." It was a beautiful, Indian summer day.  The Army of the Tennessee deployed in all its martial beauty. Rank on rank - its alignments perfect. Battle flags fluttered across a mile wide front.  A Federal officer recorded that it was.. 'A grand sight, such as would make a lifelong impression... from the moment we were spellbound.' C.S. General Strahl, who would die in the attack, told his men,  boys, this will be short, but desperate," Cleburne told his Arkansas' and Texans' simply, "If we must die, let us die as men." At 3:30 they stepped off, I an attack that would eclipse Pickets' in magnificence... and carnage. Under Cheatham, and Cleburne, the 8th Arkansas advanced, in the center; along the Columbia Pike. The final one half mile was  made at a run, amid fleeing blue coats, exploding shells and rebel yell.  Cleburnes' Division broke  the center and met Federals headlong. Point  blank firing and  fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued.  CSA casualties ran at 1500 per hour and by 9:00 p.m. Hood called off the attack.   By midnight Schofield abandoned the position and ran for Thomas' Fortress of Nashville.
 
Next morning, the dead were found standing in the trenches, wedged there by their comrades, 7 deep. Hood had wreaked the Army.  Twelve generals were lost and twenty five percent casualties. Bur arguably the greatest loss was the man of whom was said,  "men seemed: to be afraid, to be afraid, of where he was." Cleburne. He was last  seen at the head of his division, on foot, having had two consecutive mounts shot out from under him.  Along the pike he was found, a single bullet through the heart. His boots, sword and watch stolen.
 
Hood wasted little time, moving the armies' remnants to the outside of Nashville Many men are barefoot in the freezing temperature.  Forrest and his cavalry was sent off to harass Federals at Murfreesboro.  Here, for two weeks, Hood awaited Thomas' to attack him.
 
On the 1st he did, with twice Hoods numbers, so opened the second day battle of Nashville.  First day, Chgatham, with the
8th Arkansas is on the right and holds off attacks, then they moved to their left, where the main thrust is being absorbed.  The
Federal force overwhelms the hill, and the Army of the Tennessee breaks and flees in retreat, harassed by Federal cavalry and without benefit of their own.
 
Another 6000 C.S.A. troops - 1500 killed or wounded, lost, cold as rain falls. In two weeks time, Hood has destroyed fully half his army.  The troops will not rally under him, so he rides solemnly south among them. Cold and wet, hungry, depressed and harassed they pass back through Franklin on December 17, 1864.  Spring Hill on the 18th. Forrest arrives this day and receives the army of Federal cavalry harassment. Christmas arrives and the Army of the Tennessee crosses to the safety of the south bank of the Tennessee river. On December 27 they reach Tupelo, Ms. Haggard and disorganized here they went into camp. Hood  has requested the presence of General Beauregard, but he's already on his way; For two reasons.

    *     To personally review the Army of the Tennessee condition.

    *     To draw from it to aid General Hardee, who's been forced from Savanna by Sherman.

He arrives on January 15 and is shocked at the size and state of the 15,000 veterans; one half without shoes or blankets. "An attempt to move Hoods army at this time, would complete its destruction"  President  Davis is wired.  Thirty five hundred were granted immediate furloughs.  By mutual conceit, Hood was replaced on January 23,1865.
 
Where Cleburnes division defended,  rio odds broke its lines, where  attacked no numbers resisted its onslaught, save only    one, and there is  the grave of Cleburne."