General Thomas had sent
General Schofield southward to confront
Hood's invasion of
Tennessee in 1864, and he took post south of
Duck River, hoping to fight the invaders there.
But two divisions under
A. J. Smith, coming from
Missouri, had not arrived, and
Schofield fell back, first to
Columbia, and then to
Franklin, not far below
Nashville,
General Stanley saving his train from seizure by
Forrest after a sharp fight with the guerilla chief.
At
Franklin,
Schofield disposed his troops in a curved line south and west of the town, his flanks resting on the
Harpeth River.
He cast up a line of light intrenchments along his entire front.
His cavalry, with
Wood's division, were posted on the north bank of the river, and Fort Granger, on a bluff, commanded the gently rolling plain over which
Hood must advance in a direct attack.
Schofield had about 18,000 men. At four
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o'clock on the afternoon of Nov. 30, 1864,
Hood advanced to the attack with all his force.
A greater part of his cavalry, under
Forrest, was on his right, and the remainder were on his left.
The Confederates fell fiercely upon
Schofield's centre, composed of the divisions of
Ruger and
Cox, about 10,000 strong.
Their sudden appearance was almost a surprise.
Schofield was at Fort Granger, and the battle, on the part of the Nationals, was conducted by
General Stanley.
By a furious charge
Hood hurled back the
Union advance in utter confusion upon the main line, when that, too, began to crumble.
A strong position on a hill was carried by the
Confederates, where they seized eight guns.
They forced their way within the second line and planted a Confederate flag upon the intrenchments.
All now seemed lost to the Nationals, who, as their antagonists were preparing to follow up their victory, seemed about to break and fly, when
Stanley rode forward and ordered
Opdyke to advance with his brigade.
Swiftly they charged the
Confederate columns and drove them back.
Conrad, close by, gave assistance.
The works and the guns were recovered; 300 prisoners and ten battleflags were captured; and the
Union line was restored, and not again broken, though
Hood hurled strong bodies of men against it. The struggle continued until long after dark; it was almost midnight when the last shot was fired.
The advantage was with the Naitionals.
The result was disastrous to
Hood.
His men were dispirited, and he lost 6,253 soldiers, of whom 1,750 were killed and 702 made prisoners.
Schofield's loss was 2,326, of whom 180 were killed and 1,104 missing. The
Nationals withdrew from
Franklin a little after midnight, and fell back to
Nashville.
