Battle of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
What happened
Union forces under George H. Thomas attacked the Confederate Army of Tennessee under John Bell Hood. After the Battle of Franklin, Hood's army dug in south of Nashville. Thomas waited for his cavalry and for an ice storm to pass, then attacked on 15 December 1864. On the second day the Confederate line broke at Shy's Hill, and Hood's army retreated south.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was one of the largest Union victories of the American Civil War. It ended large-scale fighting west of the coastal states.
What came next
Hood retreated to Tupelo, Mississippi, and resigned his command in January 1865. He was never given another field command.
Did you know?
Thomas, a Virginian who stayed loyal to the Union, was nicknamed the 'Rock of Chickamauga' and, after this battle, the 'Sledge of Nashville'.
Timeline
- 30 November 1864Battle of Franklin.
- 8–12 December 1864An ice storm delays the attack.
- 15–16 December 1864Battle of Nashville.
- 13 January 1865Hood resigns his command.