Hood’s Tennessee Campaign 29 September–30 November 1864

In the aftermath of the Union capture of Atlanta in the US Civil War, Confederate General John Hood decided to use his army, which had been left relatively undamaged, to disrupt Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s supply lines from Atlanta to Chattanooga. On 29–30 September, Hood’s Confederates crossed the Chattahoochee River near Campbelltown. Sherman, concerned about his lines of communications, sent divisions out, including several led by Lieutenant General John Schofield, to thwart Hood. Sherman stayed in charge until 15–16 November when he returned to Atlanta to continue his march to the sea in Georgia. By this time, supported by General Alexander Peter Stewart, Hood had destroyed Federal (Union) depots and railroads, captured a Federal garrison and occupied Florence. Between 21–30 November, Hood met Schofield in Columbia, forcing Schofield to withdraw to Spring Hill, then Franklin. At Franklin, Hood’s forces launched an unsuccessful assault on Schofield and his men, costing him 7,000 casualties. Schofeld withdrew to Nashville where he would confront Hood for the last time.