NASHVILLE: A GREAT BATTLE YESTERDAY; GEN. THOMAS DEFEATS HOOD (12/16/1864)

The department has just received unofficial dispatches from Nashville, announcing that Gen. THOMAS, with the forces under his command, attacked HOOD's army in front of Nashville at nine o'clock this morning, and although the battle is not yet decided, the whole action to-day is described as splendidly successful.

Our line advanced on the right five miles. The enemy were driven from the river, from their intrenchments, from the range of hills on which their left rested, and forced back upon his right and centre, and the centre was pushed back from one to three miles, with the loss of seventeen guns and about fifteen hundred prisoners, and his whole line of earthworks, except a mile of his extreme right, where no serious attempt was made to dislodge him.

HOOD's whole army, except the cavalry and a small force near Murfreesboro, were engaged.

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4284606/posts

Nashville: A Great Battle Yesterday – 2
Highly Important: A New and Formidable Expedition – 2
From Fortress Monroe: Arrival of the Steamer United States with Paroled Prisoners – 2
Sherman’s Army: Dispatches from Admiral Dahlgren – 2-3
News from Rebel Sources – 3
The St. Alban’s Robbers: Excitement in Canada – 3
The Union Martyrs: Their Delivery in Charleston Harbor – 3-5
News from Washington – 5
Thirty-Eighth Congress: Second Session – 5-7
Editorial: The Hostility of Canada – The Anglo-Rebel Alliance – 7-8
The Supplies for Our Prisoners – 8
Editorial: The Battle of Yesterday at Nashville – 8
Editorial: Sherman at Savannah -8
Editorial: Our Prisoners Once More – The Exchange and its Continuance – 8
Amusements – 8

The "narrative" was that Grant was just about to relieve Thomas when Nashville fell. Thomas was probably the Union's best General, but he was from Virginia and was not completely trusted. Grant was pressuring Thomas to attack Hood, but Thomas would never have made the blunder that Grant did at Shiloh. Thomas prepared and had all his ducks in a row before initiating an attack. As he showed at Chickamauga, he could improvise and lead when the odds were against him as well.

The song. The Yellow Rose of Texas became popular among Confederate soldiers in the Texas Brigade; upon taking command of the Army of Tennessee in July 1864, General John Bell Hood introduced it as a marching song. The final verse and chorus were slightly altered by the remains of Hood's force after their crushing defeat at the Battle of Nashville that December:

(Last verse)
And now I'm going southward, for my heart is full of woe
I'm going back to Georgia, to find my Uncle Joe
You may talk about your Beauregard and sing of Bobby Lee
But the gallant Hood of Texas, he played hell in Tennessee

Uncle Joe refers to General Joseph Johnston

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.