Overview
The Battle of Columbia was fought near Columbia, Tennessee, from November 24-29, 1864, during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. The engagement developed after Lieutenant General John Bell Hood moved the Confederate Army of Tennessee north from Alabama. Hood hoped to defeat Union forces in Tennessee before Major General John M. Schofield could join Major General George H. Thomas near Nashville.
Hood left Alabama on November 21, 1864, after waiting for Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry. Schofield predicted Hood’s plan and raced from Pulaski to Columbia. The Union army arrived only a few hours before the Confederates on November 24. Schofield’s soldiers built two lines of earthworks south of Columbia and fought small clashes with Forrest’s cavalry on November 24 and 25.
Hood advanced his infantry on November 26 but did not order a direct attack. Confederate troops demonstrated in front of the Union defenses while most of Hood’s army crossed the Duck River east of Columbia on November 28. This movement threatened to outflank Schofield and cut off his route to Nashville. Schofield responded by withdrawing toward Franklin, leading to the confrontation at Spring Hill on November 29.
Casualty totals remain unknown because little direct fighting occurred. Schofield delayed Hood for five days, but Hood forced him to retreat, making the battle a Confederate victory.
Essential Facts
- Date: November 24–29, 1864.
- Location: Maury County, Tennessee, near Columbia.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: John M. Schofield.
- CSA Commanders: John Bell Hood.
- Who Won: The Confederate States won the Battle of Columbia.
- Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign.
- Era: Civil War, September–December, 1864.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: Unknown because little direct fighting took place.
- Forces Engaged: Army of the Ohio.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 28,000 soldiers.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: Unknown because little direct fighting took place.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Tennessee.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 35,000 soldiers.
Significance
The Battle of Columbia is important to American History because it was the first engagement of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Union forces led by General John Schofield reached Columbia shortly before Confederates led by General John Bell Hood, which delayed the Confederate advance for five days. Hood avoided a direct attack and moved most of his army across the Duck River east of Columbia. This threatened Schofield’s route to Nashville and forced him to withdraw toward Franklin, Tennessee. The Confederate victory continued Hood’s advance into Tennessee and set the stage for engagements at Spring Hill and Franklin.
History
Siege of Chattanooga
In September 1863, Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his Army of Tennessee were attempting to recapture Chattanooga, Tennessee, from Federal forces by besieging the city. Union leaders responded by sending Major General Ulysses S. Grant and reinforcements to Chattanooga with orders to break the siege. After establishing a new supply line into the city, Grant ordered a breakout offensive in late November that successfully drove Bragg’s army back into northern Georgia. With the “Gateway to the South” secured, Union forces prepared to launch an offensive aimed at capturing Atlanta.
Grant’s Umbrella Strategy
Following the breakout at Chattanooga, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to the special rank of lieutenant general and placed him in command of all Union armies. Grant moved his headquarters to Washington, DC, leaving his trusted subordinate, Major General William T. Sherman, in command of federal operations in the Western Theater. Grant’s primary military strategy was a coordinated effort to attack and defeat the two main Confederate armies in the field, the Army of Northern Virginia in the east, under the command of Robert E. Lee, and Bragg’s Army of Tennessee in the west. On May 5, 1864, Grant launched his Overland Campaign in Virginia. Two days later, Sherman opened his Atlanta Campaign in the West.
Atlanta Campaign
Using a series of flanking maneuvers, Sherman persistently drove the Army of Tennessee south toward Atlanta. On July 17, 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced General Joseph E. Johnston with General John Bell Hood as commander of the Army of Tennessee. Hood proved to be more willing to fight than Johnston, but the results were essentially the same.
By July, Sherman had Hood’s army bottled up in Atlanta. On July 20, Sherman ordered his artillery to bombard Hood’s lines and the city, which still harbored about 3,000 civilians. The shelling lasted for five weeks, but Hood continued to hold on as long as he was receiving supplies.
Toward the end of August, Sherman stopped the flow of supplies into Atlanta. With his main supply line severed, Hood evacuated Atlanta on the night of September 1, burning all military stores and installations. Sherman’s forces occupied the city the next day, ending the Atlanta Campaign.
Hood Reorganizes
After evacuating Atlanta, Hood reorganized his forces at Lovejoy’s Station, south of Atlanta, and Sherman chose not to pursue. On September 21, 1864, Hood moved north to Palmetto, Georgia, where he met with President Davis on September 25. Davis and Hood devised a plan to have Hood’s 39,000 soldiers move north toward Chattanooga, destroying Sherman’s supply lines back to Tennessee along the way. Sherman learned of Hood’s intentions when Davis foolishly revealed the plan in a series of speeches on his way back to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Sherman responded by sending Major General George H. Thomas to Nashville on September 29, 1864, to organize all the Union troops in Tennessee. Sherman also sent troops to reinforce the garrison at Chattanooga.
During October, Hood’s infantry and Major General Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry conducted a series of raids along the Western & Atlantic Railroad, Sherman’s main supply line from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Sherman’s soldiers quickly repaired the damage, but they could not keep pace with the faster-moving Rebels.
William T. Sherman Divides His Forces
By late October, Sherman convinced Grant to let him “make Georgia howl” by allowing him to march to Savannah rather than chasing Hood around the South. Grant agreed, and Sherman turned the pursuit of Hood over to Thomas and about 60,000 soldiers, 30,000 of whom were in the Nashville area. The other 30,000, commanded by Major General John M. Schofield, moved north from Georgia to join Thomas. Meanwhile, Hood moved into northern Alabama and aimed for Tennessee. He hoped to defeat Thomas near Nashville before he could join forces with Schofield.
Race to Columbia
After waiting to join forces with Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry, Hood left Alabama on November 21, 1864. His goal was Columbia, Tennessee, about midway between Thomas’s army in Nashville and Schofield’s army at Pulaski, about 75 miles south of Nashville. Predicting Hood’s intentions, Schofield raced to Columbia, arriving just hours ahead of the Confederates on November 24. Once there, Schofield’s soldiers built two lines of earthworks south of the town and skirmished with Forrest’s cavalry on November 24 and 25.
On November 26, Hood advanced his infantry but did not attack. Instead, he demonstrated in front of the Union lines, while the bulk of his army crossed the Duck River east of Columbia on November 28. In danger of being outflanked and having Hood’s army cut off access to Nashville, Schofield fell back toward Franklin, setting the stage for the next confrontation at Spring Hill on November 29.
Aftermath
Casualties at the Battle of Columbia are unknown because little actual fighting took place. Although Schofield stalled Hood’s advance into Tennessee for five days, the battle was a Confederate victory because Hood eventually forced Schofield to retreat.
Timeline
- 1863, September — Braxton Bragg and the Army of Tennessee besieged Union forces in Chattanooga.
- 1863, November — Ulysses S. Grant launched an offensive that drove Bragg’s army into northern Georgia.
- 1863, July 17 — Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood as Commander of the Army of Tennessee.
- 1864, May 5 — Grant launched the Overland Campaign in Virginia.
- 1864, May 7 — William T. Sherman opened the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1864, July 20 — Sherman ordered Union artillery to bombard Atlanta and Hood’s defenses.
- 1864, September 1 — Hood evacuated Atlanta and burned Confederate military supplies and facilities.
- 1864, September 2 — Sherman’s forces occupied Atlanta, ending the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1864, September 21 — Hood moved north to Palmetto, Georgia.
- 1864, September 25 — Hood met with Jefferson Davis and planned an advance toward Chattanooga.
- 1864, September 29 — Sherman sent George H. Thomas to Nashville to organize Union forces in Tennessee.
- 1864, October — Hood’s infantry and Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry raided the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
- 1864, October — Sherman received permission from Grant to march toward Savannah and placed Thomas in charge of operations against Hood.
- 1864, November 21 — Hood left Alabama and moved toward Columbia, Tennessee.
- 1864, November 24 — John M. Schofield reached Columbia shortly before Hood’s army and prepared defensive positions south of the town.
- 1864, November 24–25 — Union troops fought with Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry near Columbia.
- 1864, November 26 — Hood advanced his infantry against the Union defenses without launching a direct attack.
- 1864, November 28 — Most of Hood’s army crossed the Duck River east of Columbia.
- 1864, November 29 — Schofield withdrew toward Franklin, setting the stage for the Battle of Spring Hill.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Columbia (1864) — The Battle of Columbia was a series of military clashes fought in Maury County, Tennessee, from November 24-29, 1864, during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. General John M. Schofield reached Columbia shortly before General John Bell Hood and built two defensive lines, blocking Hood’s advance. Hood demonstrated against the Union position while most of his army crossed the Duck River. Threatened with being outflanked and cut off from Nashville, Schofield retreated toward Franklin, giving the Confederates a victory.
Alignment
The Battle of Columbia is part of the following AP US History sections:
