Battle of Nashville: December 15-16, 1864 Thomas saw his chance to deal a decisive blow to Hood. At Nashville, a large force of Yankees faced a rebel force estimated at around half its size, and historians have questioned why Hood even approached the strongly fortified city with the odds so stacked against him. Early in the morning of December 15, Thomas sent a force under General James Steedman (1817-83) against the Confederates’ right flank. The Union troops overran the Confederate trenches and drove the rebels back more than a mile. The short December day halted the fighting, but Thomas struck again on December 16. This time, the entire Confederate line gave way and sent Hood’s men from the field in a total rout. Only the valiant rear-guard action of General Stephen Lee (1833-1908) prevented complete destruction of the Confederate army. Hood and his damaged army retreated to Mississippi, the Army of Tennessee no longer a viable offensive fighting force. In January 1865, Hood resigned his command.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 04:26:16 +0000
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