Chronological History of the American Civil War

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Friday, December 16, 1864 : General Hood (CSA) was still confident. He established a main line of resistance along the base of a ridge about two miles south of the former location, throwing up new works and fortifying Shy’s and Overton’s Hills on their flanks. Thomas conveys the news of the battle to Grant. He follows up the attack with another further massive attack, using all the men at his command. The Army of the Tennessee (CSA) put up a good defense, but defeat was almost inevitable. General Stephen D. Lee (CSA) protects the rear of the retreating army, but pursuing Federal troops take many prisoners. A cavalry skirmish east of Brentwood halts the Federals for the night. Lee forms a rear guard, at the Holly Tree Gap on the Franklin Pike. 4,500 Confederate troops surrendered; 1,500 men were either killed or wounded, while 3,000 Yankees lost their lives as well. 59 out of 156 artillery guns were captured. General Hood (CSA) could only order a retreat for those who survived – a retreat that had to be executed in the dead of winter with minimal supplies. There is heavy fighting at Hinesville, Georgia, as Major General William T. Sherman (U.S.) manages to resupply his army with supplies, from the Union vessels off the Atlantic coast. Major General John C. Breckinridge (CSA) commanding, the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee, musters as many Confederates in the region to block General Stoneman’s (U.S.) raid. Saturday, December 17, 1864 : General Hood’s men start their retreat to Columbia, but the fighting catches up again, with them again now back at Franklin, Tennessee, as the Union cavalry pursues General Hood’s retreating Confederate Army of Tennessee (CSA). The Confederate rear guard fights off repeated assaults by Union Cavalry. General Stephen Lee (CSA) is severely wounded in the foot, and command passes to Major General Carter Stevenson (CSA). There is more fighting as the day goes on, as the action moves south toward Hollow Tree Gap and at West Harpeth River. General George Stoneman (U.S.) forces continue with fighting at Marion and destroying valuable Rebel supplies, with the destruction of the Lead Mines in southwest Virginia. The U.S.S. Louisiana , is loaded with 350 tons of gunpowder and towed off Fort Fisher (CSA) near Wilmington, North Carolina to be exploded, as part of the huge naval flotilla, with Major General Benjamin F. Butler’s (U.S.) 6,500 men, that are sailing in from Fortress Monroe (U.S.) Hampton Roads, Virginia. Wilmington, North Carolina was now the last major port of the Confederate States on the Atlantic coast. Sunday, December 18, 1864 : In Savannah, Georgia, General

William Tecumseh Sherman (U.S.) is waiting to see, if Savannah is ready to surrender. General William Hardee still refuses to surrender. The newly promoted to brevet brigadier general in the regular army for his service in the Battle of Nashville, James H. Wilson (U.S.) (pictured) was one of only a few Union officers to best the legendary Southern cavalryman, Major General, Nathan Bedford Forrest (CSA). He was instrumental in saving the Union Army at the Battle of Franklin, but now, he was still chasing after General Hood’s cavalry. It has been raining hard up to this hour 3 p.m. since 8 a.m.; rain is now ceasing, but the mud is very deep. General Wilson’s cavalry (U.S.) has met the General Hood’s (CSA) rear guard about two miles beyond Spring Hill, Tennessee at Rutherford Creek and is now skirmishing with him.