Spring Hill, TN

Date(s): November 29, 1864

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Franklin-Nashville Campaign [1864]

Battles in Campaign:

• Allatoona, GA - October 5, 1864 B

• Decatur, AL - October 26-29, 1864 C¹  

• Johnsonville, TN - November 4-5, 1864 B

• Columbia, TN - November 24 [24-29], 1864 C¹

• Spring Hill, TN - November 29, 1864 B

• Franklin, TN - November 30, 1864 A

• Murfreesboro, TN II - December 5-7, 1864 D¹

• Nashville, TN - December 15-16, 1864 A

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield

• Confederate: Gen. John Bell Hood

Principal Forces:

• Union: IV and XXIII Army Corps

• Confederate: Army of Tennessee

Description:

• Spring Hill was the prelude to the Battle of Franklin. 

• On the night of November 28, 1864, Gen. John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee marched toward Spring Hill to get astride Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield’s Union army’s life line.

• Cavalry skirmishing between Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson’s Union cavalry and Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Confederate troopers continued throughout the day as the Confederates advanced.

• On November 29, Hood’s infantry crossed Duck River and converged on Spring Hill.

• In the meantime, Maj. Gen. Schofield reinforced the troops holding the crossroads at Spring Hill.

• In late afternoon, the Federals repulsed a piecemeal Confederate infantry attack.

• During the night, the rest of Schofield’s command passed from Columbia through Spring Hill to Franklin.

• This was, perhaps, Hood’s best chance to isolate and defeat the Union army.

• The engagement has been described as “one of the most controversial non-fighting events of the entire war."

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³: Unknown

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results:   Union Victory

Battlefield Websites: 

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 07/27/2008