Battle of Nashville

Battle of Nashville, battle of the American Civil War fought south of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15 and 16, 1864. After the Battle of Franklin, the Confederate general John Bell Hood went to Nashville and waited for the Union general George Henry Thomas to attack. Thomas bided his time, frustrating Union general Ulysses S. Grant. On December 15, Thomas determined to attack Hood, who had placed troops under Alexander Peter Stewart on his right, under Stephen Dill Lee in his center, and under Benjamin Franklin Cheatham on his left. Hood had 44,000 men. Thomas placed General Andrew Jackson Smith on his right, the IV Corps in the center, and John McAllister Schofield on his left. The battle began by Smith and Schofield crushing the left flank of the Confederate forces and capturing the fieldworks of the main lines and reserve. During the night Cheatham was moved back to support the left wing. Thomas sent Union general James Harrison Wilson to work around this line. When a general advance was made at 4 pm, Smith's onset, concentrated on Hood's left, drove the enemy from the field. Union general Thomas John Wood also advanced, and the rout became complete. The Union losses amounted to 3000 men; the Confederate losses were never officially published, but the Union troops took 4500 prisoners and 53 guns.